Anyone would have been stunned to see such an enormous cocoon in a place human technology could never reach.
At this depth, he had reached the outer edge of the inner core, a world of scorching magma.
Red-hot magma filled the surroundings, yet an enormous sphere occupied a separate space in this hellish place, with veinlike strands of light extending from it in every direction.
It looked... like a fetus?
Spatial power condensed into a humanoid form, and Mercer's consciousness attached itself to it, creating an avatar.
There was no air here, but a powerful energy flowed steadily into the cocoon.
Mercer reached out to touch it. The cocoon seemed to sense him and shuddered several times in resistance.
Mercer, whose actual body remained on the surface, felt the earthquake abruptly intensify.
"This thing can sense my presence. Is it alive?"
Mercer stared at the enormous cocoon in surprise. When he looked up, his gaze met four glowing "holes" that looked like eyes.
He flew upward and narrowed his eyes. Spatial power spread out, enveloping the entire enormous golden cocoon as he examined what lay inside.
The golden cocoon could sense the spatial power, but it could not stop its spread. After struggling in vain, it could only let that power probe its entire body.
A few seconds later, Mercer opened his eyes in astonishment. This really was a living being-a humanoid one!
He had limbs like a human's, but instead of human muscle tissue, his body was covered in a thick layer of golden armor. That seemed to be his flesh.
The glowing holes Mercer had seen earlier were his eyes.
Considering that the being might not understand human language, Mercer sent a wave of brilliant yellow energy from his forehead, establishing a mental link with the other's brain.