The Language of Soul Beasts, Energy Tides, and the Trial of Symbiosis
The greenery in Sunset Forest is even more lush than in previous years.
The branches and leaves of the towering ancient trees intertwine to form an impenetrable dome, with sunlight only able to filter through the gaps, casting dappled light onto the moss-covered ground. The air is filled with the fragrance of grass and Soul Power mingling, and countless Soul Beast roam through the forest, their fur gleaming with a healthy sheen—since the energy cycle was established, this forest seems to have been infused with new vitality.
Tang San and his group trudged through the soft fallen leaves, venturing deeper into the direction of the abnormal energy fluctuations. The Balance Council's report indicated that energy tides had been occurring in the core area of Sunset Forest for the past month, with a violent torrent of Soul Power sweeping through the surrounding area every seven days. This had frightened many low-level Soul Beast, causing them to migrate, and even leading to conflicts among groups of Soul Beast.
"The source of the energy tide is there." Lin Ye pointed to a valley deep in the forest, the Golden Crow Fire dancing at his fingertips. "The energy inside is chaotic, containing both wood-attribute Soul Power from this continent, Chaos Energy from the nebula, and... a trace of metal-attribute energy that doesn't belong here."
"Golden aura?" Tang San frowned, unleashing his Blue Silver Domain, allowing vines to spread along the ground to probe. "Sunset Forest is mainly inhabited by wood and earth attribute Soul Beast, so how could there be metal attribute energy here?"
Xiao Wu's ears twitched, and she suddenly pointed to the bushes on the left. "There's a Man Faced Demon Spider there, it looks injured."
Following the sound, everyone looked and saw a small Man Faced Demon Spider curled up under a bush, with a deep wound on its abdomen that exposed bone. The edges of the wound gleamed with a silvery-white metallic sheen, clearly indicating that it had been injured by metallic power. As the group approached, it let out a threatening hiss, but due to its severe injuries, it couldn't even spit out its web.
"Its wound is being corroded by metallic energy." Tang San crouched down, his Blue Silver Grass gently touching the wound, sensing a sharp energy destroying the spider's life force. "This isn't metallic Soul Power from this continent; it's more like... it's been modified by Chaos Energy."
Dai Mubai walked to the edge of the valley, his Netherworld Thrust slicing through the air, leaving a black trail. "The metallic energy in the valley is more concentrated, and the source should be at the bottom. Moreover, I can sense subtle fluctuations in the space there, as if... something has been forcibly 'stuffed' in."
"Were you forced in?" Oscar took out a healing sausage and carefully placed it in front of the Man Faced Demon Spider. "You mean, from another dimension?"
"It's highly likely." Tang San stood up, his eyes grave. "After the energy cycle was established, the passage between the continent and the nebula became stable, but 'gaps' could also appear, allowing things from other dimensions to infiltrate. This metallic energy is very likely to have entered through one of these gaps."
They cautiously entered the valley, and the sight before them made everyone gasp in horror.
In the center of the valley, a huge piece of black metal floated in mid-air. The surface of the metal was covered with twisted patterns and constantly spewed out silvery-white energy streams. When these energy streams fell on the grass and trees, the grass and trees withered and carbonized instantly; when they fell on the rocks, the rocks were coated with a metal shell and became extremely hard.
Even more bizarrely, the space around the black metal was distorting, with countless tiny spatial fragments swirling around like butterflies. Within these fragments, glimpses of other dimensions could be seen—land burning with magma, oceans floating with ice crystals, and... a battlefield where countless metal creations were fighting.
"This is ' Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron '!" The old scholar in charge of researching extradimensional energy had mentioned this substance in ancient texts. Tang San's voice carried a hint of solemnity. "Legend has it that it comes from the ' Mechanic Race Plane,' feeds on devouring other energies, and can convert the devoured energy into metallic attacks. It is the nemesis of all organic life."
"The Mechanic Race Plane?" Xiao Wu had never heard of this name before. "Are all the life forms there made of metal?"
"The ancient texts say so," Tang San nodded. "They have no flesh and blood, their bodies are made of metal, they feed on energy, they believe in 'absolute order,' and they consider the 'chaos' of organic life to be a flaw in the universe that must be eliminated."
Dai Mubai gripped the Netherworld Thrust tightly. "So, this thing is here to 'eliminate' us?"
"It might not be intentional." Lin Ye stared at the black metal. "Its aura is very weak, as if it was accidentally swept here by an energy tide. But its instinct is to devour energy. If it stays here for a long time, it will completely disrupt the energy balance of Sunset Forest, and may even attract more Mechanic Race through the passage."
As they were talking, the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron suddenly trembled violently, the patterns on its surface lit up with red light, and the silvery-white energy stream it emitted became even more violent, sweeping towards everyone!
"Watch out!" Tang San roared, and Blue Silver Grass instantly wove into a wall of vines. The power of the Chaos Azure Lotus was poured into it, causing the vines to be dyed with seven-colored light.
"Clang!"
The energy flow struck the vine wall, producing a crisp metallic clang. The vine wall trembled violently, its surface coated with a silvery-white layer, and began to stiffen.
"It's assimilating my Blue Silver Grass!" Tang San's expression changed drastically. "Lin Ye, attack its core with Lotus Flame!"
Lin Ye's Golden Crow Fire condensed into a long spear, fiercely stabbing towards the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron. The flames collided with the metal, producing a sizzling sound, and scorch marks appeared on the black metal surface, but were quickly repaired by the silvery-white energy.
"It can absorb energy to repair itself!" Lin Ye shouted, "Ordinary attacks are useless against it!"
Tai Long transformed into Great Strength Gorilla, his fists glowing with golden light as he slammed into the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron, only to be repelled by the surrounding spatial fragments. His fists slammed into rocks, causing him to grimace in pain. "There's a barrier around this thing!"
Xiao Wu tried to Teleportation closer, but found that spatial fragments interfered with her Teleportation trajectory. Several attempts nearly resulted in her colliding with the metallic energy flow. "The space is too chaotic, I can't get close!"
Oscar threw out all his defensive sausages, forming a golden light shield that barely blocked the energy stream's attack. "This can't go on, the shield is about to give way!"
Tang San watched as the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron continued to repair itself, and suddenly remembered the Mechanic Race's characteristic of "absolute order"—they abhor chaos and rely on rules. Perhaps... Chaos Energy could be used to counteract it?
"Lin Ye, channel the Golden Crow Fire into me!" Tang San shouted, simultaneously activating the Chaos Azure Lotus, "I will use Chaos Energy to disrupt its order!"
Without hesitation, Lin Ye injected the Golden Crow Fire into Tang San's body. The two energies merged in Tang San's palm, forming a golden-purple beam of light that shot fiercely towards the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron!
The moment the beam of light struck the metal, the patterns on the surface of the Energy -Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron suddenly became disordered, and the silvery-white energy flow became violent and chaotic, even beginning to attack each other. The black metal trembled violently, emitting a piercing shriek, clearly its internal order disrupted by the Chaos Energy.
"It works!" A flash of understanding crossed Tang San's eyes. "It relies on absolute order to operate, and the 'chaos' of Chaos Energy is precisely its nemesis!"
He increased the output of the Chaos Azure Lotus, while guiding the Chaos Energy in the nebula to continuously inject into the pillar of light through the energy circulation channel. The vibration of the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron became more and more violent, cracks began to appear on its surface, and spatial fragments dissipated.
Just then, the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron suddenly burst forth with a blinding white light. Within the light, a small metal creation burst forth and flew towards the area where the spatial fluctuations were most intense—it wanted to escape!
"Don't let it get away!" Dai Mubai roared, and spatial power formed a barrier to block the creation's path.
Xiao Wu seized the opportunity and instantly Teleportation behind the Creator, the ribbon wrapping around its body. The Creator let out a sharp screech, attempting to cut the ribbon with its metallic energy, but was interfered with by the Chaos Energy on the ribbon, its movements becoming sluggish.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass arrived just in time, tightly binding the metal creation. The power of the Chaos Azure Lotus was continuously injected, completely disrupting its internal structure. The creation struggled in the vines for a moment, then finally stopped moving, turning into an ordinary black metal block.
As the creation was subdued, the Energy-Devouring Mystic Iron lost its energy source, the patterns on its surface gradually dimmed, and eventually lost its luster, falling to the ground and becoming a lifeless piece of scrap iron.
The energy tides in the valley subsided completely, the silvery-white energy flow dissipated, and the metallized rocks and vegetation began to return to their original state, albeit slowly, but full of vitality.
The injured Man Faced Demon Spider quietly crawled into the valley, looked at the scrap metal on the ground, and let out a hiss, as if expressing gratitude.
"Is it over?" Xiao Wu asked breathlessly, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"For now." Tang San picked up the black metal block; it was cold to the touch, and he could no longer sense any energy fluctuations. "But this reminds us that the energy cycle brings not only benefits but also unknown risks. Things from other dimensions might seep in through the channels, and we need to establish a more comprehensive monitoring mechanism."
Lin Ye nodded. "I will have the council set up monitoring stations at the nodes of the energy cycle, and report any abnormal energy immediately."
Dai Mubai looked at the sky above the valley, where the space had stabilized. "The Mechanic Race Plane... it doesn't sound like something to be trifled with. If they really attack, can we handle it?"
Tang San looked at his companions; each of them wore a weary expression, yet their eyes remained resolute. He smiled and gripped the metal block in his hand tightly, "No matter who it is, if they try to disrupt our balance, we will unite to fight them. That was true before, that's true now, and that will be true in the future."
He put the metal block away. "When we get back, we need to study its properties and find a way to deal with the Mechanic Race. Balance isn't just about coexisting with the known; it's also about being prepared to deal with the unknown."
The setting sun shone through the gaps in the leaves, casting a warm and gentle glow upon the group. Sunset Forest returned to tranquility, save for the distant cries of Soul Beast, a vibrant sound filled with life.
Tang San knew that the trials brought about by the energy cycle had only just begun, and there would be more "accidents" from other dimensions in the future. But he was no longer worried, because he and his companions had learned how to find balance amidst change and how to uphold their beliefs in the face of the unknown.
Their path of protection is made stronger by these trials; their stories are made more compelling by these challenges.
As they left the valley, the Man Faced Demon Spider followed them until they reached the edge of the forest, where it stopped and gently bowed its head to their retreating figures.
This may be the true meaning of symbiosis—even former enemies can find a way to coexist in a balance they jointly protect.