Chapter 511: The Battle Begins

Once the Energy Array was complete, the Void Energy became so palpable that it wasn’t just Damenevsky who could feel it—even a regular human like Li Ziyu could sense its presence.

It was a very strange sensation.

How to describe it? It was like the constant, prickling presence of static electricity…

“City Lord, I am ready. I can open the Teleportation Gate at any moment.”

After the Energy Array was ready, Bebuta turned to Li Ziyu and spoke in a deep voice.

Li Ziyu looked up at the sky.

Blue flashes of light periodically streaked across the sky, forming lines of energy. A shimmering, barely visible Energy Shield enveloped the Undead Fortress.

“Should we call back the Undead from the mountain range?” Damenevsky suddenly asked.

“No, let them continue mining Void Energy Crystal Stones here,” Li Ziyu said, shaking his head.

He had no intention of abandoning the Void Land. He had even left the Soul Base Station behind, and he wasn’t short on the Skeleton Undead needed for mining.

After returning to the Otherworld, the Wraith Mountain Range held a vast number of skeletons, so the Skeleton Undead could be easily replenished.

Li Ziyu mentally ran through his checklist. ‘There doesn’t seem to be anything else that needs special attention here in the Void Land.’

“Bebuta, open the Teleportation Array. It’s time for us to leave.”

“Alright.”

Bebuta nodded. He made no grand gestures, simply standing quietly in place.

Directly above the Undead Fortress, a black Wormhole the size of a grain of millet suddenly appeared.

The Void didn’t tear, nor was there any sound. It was as if the Wormhole had always been there.

After appearing, the nearly invisible Wormhole began to expand, growing from the size of a millet grain to a grain of rice, then to the size of a fist, a human head, a doorframe…

The ever-expanding Wormhole finally caught the attention of those below.

Just a moment ago, Li Ziyu had been wondering how the Wormhole would unfold, since Bebuta hadn’t moved at all.

Sensing something wasn’t quite right overhead, he looked up and finally spotted the expanding Wormhole.

The Wormhole was quite high up. What looked like a small opening to Li Ziyu’s eyes was, in reality, already a meter in radius.

Bebuta finally moved. Opening a Wormhole to this size was one thing, but he also had to stabilize it.

He waved his arms, drawing in the surrounding Void Energy and channeling it into the Wormhole to expand its area, all while he focused on keeping it stable.

For Void Creatures, opening a Wormhole in the Void is simple. Even many powerful experts from the Otherworld could tear rifts in the Void when they unleashed their power.

The real challenge was stabilizing it.

To open a Wormhole large enough to accommodate the Undead Fortress required more than just a massive amount of Void Energy; it also needed a powerful expert to hold it steady and prevent it from collapsing.

As Void Energy poured into the Wormhole, its expansion accelerated. Bebuta focused all his concentration on the opening, struggling to maintain its shape and keep it from closing.

Void rifts and Wormholes are tears carved into the fabric of the Void itself.

The Void has a natural self-healing property and will automatically repair any such rifts and Wormholes.

Bebuta’s effort was akin to a human using their bare hands to hold open a set of elevator doors, preventing them from closing.

As the Wormhole’s area grew ever larger, Li Ziyu’s jaw slowly dropped. The scene was truly breathtaking.

Just then, a flash of brilliant light suddenly shot toward them from the distance.

BANG!

The light slammed into the shield generated by the Energy Array. The once-calm Energy Shield instantly rippled, and the Void Energy within it surged, distorting the orderly flow of power.

Bebuta’s body shuddered violently.

The edge of the Void Wormhole wavered, its circular shape becoming irregular.

Fortunately, Bebuta quickly stabilized himself, and the Wormhole returned to normal.

‘An attack!’

Li Ziyu looked toward the source of the attack and couldn’t help but frown.

It was a massive Void Beetle. Its scorpion-like tail was arched high, the tip glinting with blue light. Clearly, it was the one that had just attacked.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Bebuta, a Void Lord, is right here in the Fortress. Why would a Void Beetle attack us?’

He had to admit, having a Void Lord like Bebuta around was extremely useful.

Other than that fellow Simo, things had been smooth sailing for Li Ziyu recently. No other Void Creatures had dared to bother him.

Even the Soul Base Station had been left in peace, and the Skeleton Undead did nothing but mine, mine, and mine all day.

He never imagined that just as they were about to leave, a Void Beetle would show up to cause trouble.

‘Is this thing trying to screw with me?!’

‘Besides, what gave it the nerve?’

“Heh!” Damenevsky cracked his knuckles, a joyful grin spreading across his face.

He had been cooped up in the Undead Fortress for so long and was itching to get out and stretch his legs.

Unfortunately, thanks to Bebuta’s intimidating presence, no Void Creatures ever came near. Fighting a few Wild Beasts just wasn’t the same.

He was going stir-crazy, feeling like his joints were about to rust. Damenevsky had been feeling a bit down, frustrated that they were about to head home without any real action.

But he never expected that just as they were leaving, a Void Beetle would pop up on its own.

‘This… isn’t this just perfect?’

“I’ll handle it!”

Before Li Ziyu could even say a word, Damenevsky eagerly volunteered, intending to go and take care of the reckless Void Beetle.

Li Ziyu remained silent, his brow furrowing even deeper.

He didn’t understand what was happening. Why would the Void Beetle attack them for no apparent reason?

From what he understood, any creature daring to attack an Undead Fortress that housed a Void Lord like Bebuta was most likely a Lord-Level Void Creature itself.