For the current Chen Rui, even brushing against a trace of that light's afterglow was enough to completely illuminate and rewrite the endless darkness and despair in his memories of his previous life.
In the fortress core defense zone, Zong Shen withdrew his gaze from the direction where Icarus had vanished into the depths of the Eternal Night and casually clapped his hands.
As if dusting off dirt that did not exist.
In the distance, the chaotic energy storm stirred up by Icarus was racing wildly northward into the darkness. Even from a vast distance away, its tremendous momentum could be felt.
"That bait should keep that gluttonous big fellow busy for quite a while. Hopefully, it can gnaw through a tough bone."
He grinned, revealing neat white teeth.
There was not the slightest awareness or coldness on his face of someone who had just plotted against a demigod-level archmage.
Instead, he looked like a youth whose prank had succeeded, radiating pure smugness and anticipation.
Beneath his feet, the newly exchanged [Starcore Power Core] had already been installed.
It gave off the warm glow of a miniature star, its low hum deep and powerful as it supplied surging energy to the entire defense zone.
The silver-gray energy phantom of the [Phase-Folding Outpost] was rapidly solidifying behind the City Wall, establishing a new defensive node.
The alloy base of the [Stasis Field Generator] gleamed with an icy blue light, awaiting the moment of activation.
The exhilaration from spending all his points had yet to fade, but an even fiercer, eager flame was already dancing in Zong Shen's eyes.
It was excitement for the true challenge to come.
Above them, the blood-red countdown for the second stage hung like the Sword of Damocles over everyone's heads.
It ticked down soundlessly against the