Beyond the towering dome of the Heaven-Piercing Tower, a gigantic membrane quietly unfurled, blotting out the sky.
Supported by thick bony frameworks, it slowly spread open like a giant leaf of a celestial canopy hanging from the clouds. The membrane was as thin as a cicada's wing and nearly transparent, yet dense dark-red veins crisscrossed within it. Howling high-altitude winds swept past, sending ripples of faint light across the entire membrane like breathing, making the densely packed players on the floating platforms below flicker in and out of view.
The infrastructure fanatic, [Tree-Chopping Block Person], stood on a hovering lift platform and could not resist reaching out to touch the edge of the leaf.
It felt warm, unbelievably resilient, and he could even sense the faint biological pulse beneath it.
If the thing had not been over a hundred meters long and part of the core of a public building, he would have pulled out his Bone Blade and cut off a piece on the spot.
"Take your hand off!"
The logistics craftsman responsible for joining the framework practically hopped in place behind him, his eyes wide. "Get back, brat! We just connected the neural tubes—don't fucking crush them!"
"What's wrong with touching it? It's not like I can rub off a pound of flesh..." [Tree-Chopping Block Person] sheepishly withdrew his hand and slowly lowered the platform.
Looking out, behind the main leaf, sixteen secondary membranes were unfurling one after another. Together, they were rooted in a bulging living base atop the tower. The base was covered in folds, and several enormous heart-like organs steadily contracted in alternation, injecting streams of warm pale-gold radiance into semi-transparent energy-conducting tubes.
That was highly condensed, harmonized, gentle spiritual energy.
The flow of light surged like blood through vessels, running straight down the tower