Chapter 2193: Chapter 2193

As the golden power emerged, the oppressive aura unique to a Calamity Beast finally manifested. But since this was merely 3/666ths of its full strength, it was utterly ineffective.

"So this is the golden sin you bear?"

Jenkins called out, the World Tree emblem beneath his feet growing ever larger. He paid no mind to the cost, unleashing all the power the World Tree had just granted him. A phantom image of a tree, symbolizing the World Tree, appeared behind him, then astonishingly, it began to merge with the giant steel tree at his feet.

If there had been over a hundred of these ants, Jenkins would have been in for a major headache. But with only three, the power bestowed by the World Tree was more than enough. In fact, Jenkins was even wasting some of it.

"Speaking of which, although the Church has no records of who sealed you back then, I think I'm beginning to understand now." Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on Nove1Fire.net

The entire metallic giant tree was glowing, dispelling the dense fog on the island. Just like the island in the middle of the lake from Jenkins's dream, flowers and green grass appeared in lush layers on the island's soil. Green motes of light, like mischievous sprites, danced in the wind.

Even without sunlight, even without a blue sky, Jenkins still did his best to recreate the scene from his dream.

The emblem of the World Tree seedling beneath his feet gradually expanded, then shifted to a position beneath the three ants. The power of the World Tree restored the gilded, silver-gray alloy to its original form. On the branches of the metallic giant tree, due to the infusion of the World Tree's power, vine-like patterns began to appear, representing the fusion of life force and metallic power.

The three ants, trapped in a web of green light, were enveloped by the emblem of the World Tree seedling. They struggled with all their might, frantically gnawing at the power surrounding them, attempting to destroy the giant tree just as they had ten thousand years ago.

It was as if an unseen space existed beneath the ants. Completely imprisoned by the World Tree's power, they sank bit by bit into that invisible space, following the ring formed by the emblem, leaving behind only a final, mournful cry. It was the first time Jenkins had ever heard an ant cry out.

The golden ants would once again fall into a deep slumber within this Mysterious Realm, until the next ten-thousand-year cycle. But when that time comes, a new candidate will arrive to seal them away.

The silver-gray crown of the steel tree swayed in the wind, and green motes of light danced around Jenkins, the darkness of the sky unable to suppress their brilliance in the slightest. He had completely unleashed the immense power granted by the World Tree. Because this power was so immense, the unusual scene on the river island would likely persist for some time.

The steel crown and trunk, infused with the spirit of life, developed vine-like patterns and runic inscriptions that the ancient elves had learned from the bark of the World Tree. Moss covered the base of the trunk, and vines hung down from between the metallic branches. After the disaster of metallization, this was a scene no one could have ever imagined.

"But... you've so casually squandered the World Tree's power. Have you forgotten that I'm still here?"

The voice of the metal head once again echoed around him:

"I had assumed you would preserve as much of the blessing given to you by the World Tree as possible, to use in the coming battle against me."

"No, this was the most fitting place to use the World Tree's power."

Jenkins looked up at the sky:

"Come on out. In this Mysterious Realm, the golden ants were only ever an appetizer. You're the real key, aren't you? The one meant to drain all my power so that I'd have to face the ninth floor as a mere mortal."

"You are clever indeed."

A bell tolled, blasting through the sky as the black clouds began to part. A colossal shadow behind the dense fog grew increasingly distinct, as if a moon were appearing high overhead.

Gradually, the dense fog dissipated, revealing a brassy color upon the shadow.

Jenkins saw a mouth like a blade, a nose like a mountain, ears like butterflies, and a pair of brass eyes that seemed capable of seeing through the world.

A gigantic metal head materialized from behind the fog. It was none other than the one Jenkins had dismantled above the church in Nolan, only this one was even larger than the last.

It hovered high in the sky, banishing all the dense fog and allowing Jenkins, who stood atop the tree's crown, to clearly see the cities on both banks of the river and the landscape on the distant horizon.

With the thick clouds parted, the entire world was revealed before him—

Beneath the dark night, a world of metal spontaneously radiated light, cold and silent, yet orderly. Upon this land of steel, all things were mechanical. The chorus of steam engines was the world's only melody. Among the myriad lights of the steel metropolis stood tireless, bustling gear-people who worked day and night.

Steel bridges spanned the river, and iron horses pulled bronze carts laden with coal and fuel in an endless stream, providing the world with a cycle of energy. The towering forests of steel, the fields of metallic sorghum swaying in the wind—everything seemed exactly the same. A cold order ruled over all, propelling the world forward in silence.

Only upon the steel tombstones lining the cemeteries in the outskirts were the names of the rebels still engraved. The names of those brave souls shone with a brassy glint under the night sky, but there were no bodies in the graves, for their transformed steel bodies never ceased to move. They would carry their own matter and energy, becoming a permanent part of the land of steel.

A bell tolled for all of this, and the giant head's voice, booming in surround sound, declared its dominion over all:

"Savior, welcome to my world!"

The range of the Mysterious Realm surely couldn't encompass the entire world. As far as the eye could see, it was impossible to tell where the realm's boundaries lay, and what was simply an illusory backdrop.

But now that the dense fog had completely receded, the black sky was gradually being overlaid with a dim, yellowish glow. Many elevated pipes now crisscrossed the skyline, and giant flying clockwork whales let out clear, sonorous calls at the edge of the sky.

None of this was what it looked like when he first entered the Mysterious Realm. This pointed to a rather terrifying fact: the Difference Engine on the ninth floor was rapidly growing stronger. From the ninth floor, it was manipulating the eighth, bit by bit revealing its gradually increasing power.

The giant head in the sky opened its mouth. As it roared, a deadly red light gathered within its maw. Then, the beam tore through the air, piercing downwards. In that instant, the world before Jenkins's eyes seemed to freeze.

The book representing the Principle of All Machines appeared in his right hand. The silver-gray steel giant beneath his feet answered his call. The powers symbolizing 'machinery' and 'life' gathered simultaneously, mixed with the thick, almost suffocating presence of 'death' in this world. Once again, Jenkins perfectly commanded all three forces.