Void Cage, Energy Theft

Brooklyn's dimensional distortion incident was like a stone cast into a lake, sending ripples through New York and even the world's supernatural circles. Yet beneath the surface disturbance, deeper undercurrents were beginning to surge.

Within the Thunder Temple, Lin Ye intensified his surveillance of the Sahara Desert while focusing even more on honing and integrating his own power. The Inheritors' bizarre methods and dimensional-level threat made him realize that raw strength alone was not enough; he also needed a deeper understanding of its nature and application.

Several peaceful days passed, but beneath that calm lingered the oppressive feeling of an approaching storm.

That day, Lin Ye was in the training grounds, attempting to more precisely integrate spatial vibration into his Thunder Spear throws, when Remy's alarm sounded again. This time, however, there was an unusual fluctuation in the alert.

"Warning! High-intensity, high-purity spatial energy fluctuations detected! Source cannot be locked! Fluctuation signature highly matches the 'Void Hand'! Forcibly establishing a temporary, one-way spatial passage! Target... target points inside the Sanctuary!"

Lin Ye abruptly looked up. "What?!"

Almost at the same moment Remy's alarm sounded, the space at the center of the training grounds twisted and tore apart without warning! A temporary spatial passage, just large enough for one person to pass through, was forcibly opened, its edges flickering with unstable purple-black light! Beyond it was not a stable location, but a turbulent dimensional current constantly churning with magnificent yet dangerous colors!

Even more strikingly, an object floated at the passage entrance—the severely damaged Void Hand glove! It was currently emitting unprecedentedly intense energy fluctuations. The largest cracked crystal at the center of the glove faced Lin Ye like a greedy eye!

"A trap!" Lin Ye understood instantly! This was an open scheme! They had calculated that he would be interested in the Void Hand, or at the very least, would not allow an unstable spatial passage to open inside his own Sanctuary!

Sure enough, the Void Hand suddenly flared brightly, unleashing a powerful, targeted suction force. It was not aimed at matter, but precisely locked onto and frantically siphoned the Thunder energy around Lin Ye!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!

The protective lightning around Lin Ye's body was pulled out of his control in strands of blue-white electric serpents, drawn toward the Void Hand at the passage entrance! The cracks in the glove began visibly closing, while the dim crystals regained a faint glow!

"You want to drain my energy? You're courting death!" Lin Ye snorted coldly, circulating his power at full force to stabilize his energy as he raised a hand, ready to destroy the damned passage and glove!

However, just as he pushed his power to its peak and lightning energy surged wildly—

The Void Hand's suction force abruptly changed! It no longer crudely extracted energy, but transformed into an eerie form of "resonance" and "guidance"! Like a precise energy regulator, it began frantically "inviting" and amplifying the lightning energy Lin Ye released!

It was not stealing his power, but inducing him to release more!

At the same time, the dimensional turbulence on the other side of the passage seemed to be stimulated, becoming even more violent. A powerful, chaotic spatial pulling force came from within, disrupting Lin Ye's absolute control over his own energy!

"Remy! Cut off the Sanctuary's energy supply! Seal off this area!" Lin Ye immediately ordered!

"Command obstructed! The spatial passage has interfered with the local energy field. The shielding system has failed! External energy is continuously being guided and amplified!"

Lin Ye's eyes turned cold. No longer hesitating, he threw a punch. Violent lightning surged toward the passage entrance like an enraged dragon. He would forcibly destroy this node!

But just as his Thunder power was about to strike the Void Hand—

Hum!!!

All the crystals on the glove suddenly shone to their utmost brilliance, forming a small energy vortex that cleverly "borrowed" most of the force behind Lin Ye's punch. Mixed with its own power and the dimensional turbulence's energy, it was violently injected into the passage itself!

Crack!

The temporary spatial passage's edges abruptly expanded and stabilized! The scene on the other side instantly became clear! It was no longer a chaotic dimensional rift, but a strange world of desolation and deathly silence, where the earth was split apart and twisted bands of light hung in the sky! An unsettling aura of devouring and decay spread from that world!

This is bad! Lin Ye's heart sank. Their objective had never been simply to drain his energy. They wanted to use his power as both a "key" and "fuel" to forcibly stabilize and expand the passage, connecting it to an extremely dangerous specific dimension!

This was a chain of traps! They had first used the Void Hand to draw his attention and attempt to steal his energy. If that failed, they would use the energy from his attack to complete the passage's final stabilization!

Now, the passage had completely stabilized, connecting to an unknown but obviously extremely dangerous dimension!

"Ha ha ha ha ha..." A distorted, overlapping burst of laughter seemed to come from the other side of the passage, yet also seemed to ring directly in Lin Ye's mind. "Success! The gate to the Taotie Realm has opened! Thank you for your energy, Thunder! Now, enjoy the feast we have prepared for you!"

As the voice faded, the Void Hand glove seemed to have completed its mission. Its light instantly dimmed, and with a clatter, it fell to the ground at the passage entrance as though it had become a lifeless object.

From the other side of the stable passage, within the desolate and silent Taotie Realm, came teeth-grating scraping sounds and countless hungry howls! It was as though innumerable terrifying beings, drawn by the suddenly opened passage and the vibrant, powerful energy scent beyond it, were rushing over in a swarm!

Lin Ye could even see dust rising on the distant horizon, blotting out the sky, along with countless twisted, greedy figures within it!

"Bastard!" Lin Ye cursed, his gaze turning completely icy. He had been played!

Only two choices lay before him now:

First, immediately destroy the passage with all his strength. But that would take time, and the passage was already stable. Forcibly destroying it might trigger a violent spatial explosion and even severely damage the Sanctuary.

Second, enter the Taotie Realm, destroy the energy source maintaining the passage from the other side, or kill every ghostly thing drawn over before closing the passage from within!

The first choice was safe but passive, and it might lead to endless future trouble. The second was extremely dangerous, but it could solve the problem completely and perhaps even turn the tables on them!

[Ding! You have fallen into the Inheritors' dimensional trap. The passage is connected to the high-risk dimension, the Taotie Realm.]

[Emergency Choice:]

[Option One: Conservative Strategy. Defend the Sanctuary with all your strength and forcibly destroy the passage at any cost. Risk: The Sanctuary may be damaged, and the passage may not be completely closed, resulting in continued leakage. Reward: [Sanctuary Defense Module Enhancement].]

[Option Two: Aggressive Strategy. Enter the Taotie Realm voluntarily, destroy the energy core maintaining the passage or repel the invaders, and close the passage from within. Risk: Venturing alone into an unknown high-risk dimension, where unpredictable dangers may be encountered. Reward: [Dimensional Survival Adaptability Increase], [Preliminary Understanding of the Taotie Realm's Laws].]

[Option Three: Assistance Strategy. Request support from Kamar-Taj (The Ancient One) and deal with the passage together. Risk: Expose the Sanctuary's location and part of your strength, owing a favor. Reward: [Immediate Support from Kamar-Taj], [Deepened Cooperative Relationship with The Ancient One].]

The options appeared instantly! The situation was critical!

Lin Ye barely hesitated at all!

"Option Two!" He had never been someone who passively defended! Since they dared open the door and invite him in, he did not mind going inside and turning their lair upside down!

[Choice confirmed!]

"Remy! Maintain the Sanctuary's minimum defensive output! If I do not return or send back a signal within an hour, execute the highest alert protocol. If necessary, seek assistance from Kamar-Taj!" Lin Ye gave the orders rapidly as lightning exploded around his body and [Thor Form] fully activated!

Rather than entering through the stable passage, he suddenly punched the spatial barrier beside it!

Crack!

Relying on his understanding of space and overwhelming power, he forcibly tore open a less stable temporary rift beside the passage, just large enough for himself to pass through! Entering this way would let him avoid any ambush waiting at their "front door."

The next moment, he transformed into a brilliant bolt of lightning and charged fearlessly into the desolate, deathly silent Taotie Realm, filled with countless hungry stares!

Soon after he entered, the temporary rift he had torn open rapidly closed and vanished.

Meanwhile, the passage stabilized by the Void Hand still floated within the training grounds like a hideous wound, radiating an ominous aura. The howls and running sounds from the other side grew closer and clearer...

The hunter had stepped into a cage carefully prepared for him.

But who was the hunter, and who was the prey, remained to be seen.

(End of Chapter 34)