"'Abyss Soul,'" Ming Xin sent his final thought to the master of this space. "We are about to depart.
Please interfere with and mislead the Purification Protocol's wide-area scans while we infiltrate, as agreed.
Also, if we return successfully, or... if something happens, preserve the relevant information according to our prior agreement."
"Command... confirmed..." Abyss Soul's thought came with complex "emotions"—concern over the risk of its own possible exposure.
Curiosity toward the unknown operation, and perhaps a trace of inexplicable concern for the fate of these "visitors of Order."
"Interference protocol activated... Will simulate 'natural anomalies in Shadow Energy tides' and 'random residual echoes of Order'... Confusing detection..."
"May... Order... protect you..."
There were no further farewells. Ming Xin looked at Shadowfiend and nodded.
Shadowfiend's dark-gray body abruptly spread outward, turning into a deep, viscous mist of shadows that seemed capable of devouring all light and perception.
It completely enveloped Ming Xin, the Seeker's Light Mist, and itself.
The next instant, the shadow mist seemed to merge into the surrounding gray crystalline ground, sinking away soundlessly and vanishing.
There were no spatial-rending ripples, no brilliant flashes of energy transition—only an extremely obscure sense of "disappearance," as though they had completely returned to nothingness.
They had already left the Stasis Corridor and embarked on a shadow-diving journey toward the ultimate battlefield where Destruction and hope coexisted.
Shadow diving was an experience entirely different from conventional spatial traversal. There were no reference points, no sense of direction, not even the direct sensation of "movement."
It was like sinking into the deepest, coldest ocean floor, surrounded by viscous darkness brimming with malice.
Only Shadowfiend's profound shadow essence, like a sturdy yet silent submarine, carved out a temporary and extremely narrow passage through this "medium."
Ming Xin felt his senses compressed to their