The grayish-red humus layer had barely adhered to the wall when the dark-red mass of grotesque flesh ahead loosened.
[Hannibal] had only just breathed half a sigh of relief when the flesh from deeper underground suddenly began to writhe violently. Multiple layers of flesh squeezed and twisted outward at once, drowning the humus membrane and staining its edges an unnatural color. He immediately withdrew the portions he could still control and tossed the necrotic sections into the isolation light screen.
"I can hold down the outer layer," he said, shaking his hand. "No idea whether the flesh inside has a mind of its own, but it definitely doesn't recognize people."
[Bi Ren Liang Mou] stood nearby with a bone staff in hand. "Why don't you try talking to it again?"
"Sure. Stick your head in first."
While the two traded barbs, the investigation team had already entered the lower level of the Old Altar through a gap beneath its foundation. There was no intact ritual hall below, only blackstone walls overturned and crushed together by the Earth Dragon, beast-bone pillars, and sprawling patches of dark-red tissue. Most of the once-broad main passage had been blocked by rubble. The flesh on its surface had long since dried and cracked, showing no reaction when stepped on.
The only thing still active was the narrower side passage nearby.
Every time it swelled, Shadow Psionic Energy flowed along the walls toward the Old Altar.
[Data Maniac] took a quick look. "The main passage is dead. The power is moving through here."
"Follow the active branch." [Tian Ce] unfolded [Mind Network], sharing the flow of Psychic Power with the front line. "There's only one objective: determine whether it's living off old reserves or someone is sustaining it remotely. There's no need to clear out an