Chapter 227 - Sinner's Mark
In the middle of the Ravaging Ocean, there was a vacuum that extended for more than fifty thousand kilometers. And this was thanks to the World Consciousness closing the portal extremely fast and suppressing space and time to diminish the might in the attack of that Being of Laws.
Although they were not visible even for Rank 4 life forms, a powerful type of energy had affected the ocean, creating instabilities in the space and twisting time. This would be known from now on as a danger zone of the Beta Heavenly World were even Soul Forging existences could perish.
Every single magic creature, from the weakest Rank 0 to the strongest Rank 4 were disintegrated to an atomic level by the shock wave. Their souls vanished from this world and whether or not they managed to reach The Eternal River of the Afterlife was a mystery.
If that shock wave had landed in the Fornes Continent, then more than ninety percent of the life in it would have been annihilated and it would have become a deserted place where no life could survive.
The portal was shut down and the shock wave disappeared but the vacuum remained there, and even with the millions of tons of pressure that the ocean was generating in every direction, it showed no sign of shrinking.
Everyone in the group was tired and wounded, but none of them could stop looking at the effect that a roar from a Being of Laws could create.
Heinz, Totto, and Zitra had once seen a river of fire in The Ocean of a Thousand Wonders, but that was only on the surface of this one, and in no way did it reach the seabed.
The scene in front of them was created by a shock wave provoked by a roar that passed from dimension to another and weakened by the World Consciousness, and yet the destruction was hundreds of times greater than the once a Rank 6 life form could produce.
Every single one of them had heard fantastic tales of the power a Being of Laws could display and how they were known as the destroyer of worlds. It was only now that they understood those tales were not an exaggeration.
Some of the Fallen stared at the Lich and although they were annoyed with him, no one had died and they did not feel the need to start throwing accusations. It also helped that he used Jupiter's Night to protect them from the explosion.
As they were resting, they felt a powerful presence focusing on them. When Heinz detected, he was sure it was the World Consciousness that was going to throw him out to the void.
But it was not on him, in whom it converged. The World Consciousness targeted Totto and before he could do anything powerful energy invaded his body and reached into his soul.
The energy transformed into a strange rune that branded itself in Totto's True Soul. The Lich felt immense pain when it happened and he almost fainted.
After leaving that rune, the World Consciousness disappeared and did not act on anyone else.
Regarding Heinz fusing with his Law Avatar. The World Consciousness was too focused on the Being of Law to even notice when it happened.
Totto focused on the rune but he could not detect anything. Other than the immense pain it caused when it was branded, it did nothing more.
The Lich was worried, after all, one's True Soul was very important, and having something attached to it and not knowing what it is was extremely dangerous.
"We will ask my brother, I am sure he knows what just happened." Heinz detected the anxiousness that Totto was feeling.
When Totto heard that he relaxed a little. He was certain that Zatiel will know what this rune is but whether or not he will be able to remove it, is a different thing.
The group did not move from where they were. Heinz had detected Zatiel coming their way and they were all very tired so they took the chance to heal some of their wounds and replenish their energies.
After a couple of hours, Zatiel appeared in the vision of everyone. He was on the shoulder of a giant who was covered in red lightning.
Flanking Ezequiel, there were two great obsidian dragons and powerful flames were surrounding their wings, which increased their speed.
This was an impressive view, but for the group who just saw a pupil bigger than an entire city and encountered a roar that could destroy a continent, it was nothing.
Some of the Fallen were surprised when they saw Rank 3 life form coming their way. But after Sebastian gave them a signal, they understood he was part of the Magi invader force.
Zatiel did not go to the group and instead, he went with Ezequiel to the border of the vacuum and focused on it.
If he were able to analyze the energy left by that Being of Laws, he could identify his origin, but with his current power, just touching that energy would mean death. He was, however, still able to obtain some information by the destruction that was present in front of him.
"So who of you was dumb enough to open a portal into a High Plane, draw the attention of a Being of Laws and get marked by the World Consciousness?" Zatiel's voice was calm as if those events were not a big deal.
The Fallen were shocked. This man reached this place a few minutes ago, and without having to speak with anyone he was able to deduce everything that happened.
They were all Rank 4 life forms but this was the first time they experienced anything like this and it shocked them to their core. And yet the man in front of them spoke like it was something common.
Heinz, Totto, and Zitra were not surprised. The trio was already accustomed to Zatiel insight.
After a moment the Lich sighed and he took a step forward.
"It was me, I created a portal to the Negative Energy Plane. However, I don't understand how a mere Rank 4 spell could have drawn the attention of a Being of Laws." Totto was still confused by what just happened and could not understand it.
"Of course he was not drawn to your portal, but you create a connection to a random place of the Negative Energy Plane. You had horrible luck and in that place, there was a Being of Laws. He may not have the power to pierce the Crystal Wall of a Middle World but if someone opens up a portal for him, he will definitely try to pass through it and devour everything inside that world."
The reason why Zatiel knew so much and could speculate what that Being of Laws could have done, it was because more than once the Incarnation of Death and Destruction used the portal some fools opened to the Abyss to enter a world or plane and ravish them.
"Pass me the spell you used to create the portal." Zatiel was still focused on the vacuum as he spoke to Totto.
The Fallen did not understand what was happening and how someone at Rank 3 could know so much and order that powerful Lich. When Sebastian saw their expression, he remained silent since even now he did not understand the man with three eyes.
Even though Gate to the Underworld was a powerful spell that any necromancer would want to have, Totto knew it was not special in Zatiel's eyes so he did not hesitate and gave the Neo-Demon a crystal with the information.
Zatiel took the crystal and after he made some alterations to the spell he launched it back to Totto.
"The spell will now connect to a location of the Negative Energy Plane where no Law Beings are present. It also had a cloaking function to make it more secure. However, you will not be able to use it in the Beta Heavenly World, unless you want your True Soul to perish."
Totto was ecstatic when he heard that Zatiel fixed his spell, and like all the rest was impressed by his words.
Having such a high understanding of the Negative Energy Plane, that you can know where Being of Law resides or not is unbelievable. But everyone could detect the confidence in the Neo-Demon's words
Of course, the Lich cared most about the information regarding his soul being destroyed. Luckily for him, Zatiel did not leave him in suspense.
"The rune in your True Soul has many names, but the most common is Sinner's Mark. Your actions have produced great damage in this world, but since it was an accident, you were only marked. If you ever again try to create a portal to any other plane or world inside the Beta Heavenly World, the mark will pulverize your True Soul. You should be able to get rid of it when you enter Rank 5 and no longer can enter this world."