Novel Full Chapter 130 - World Of Snow
Glacia Continent
Within Stronghold 06's research center, located roughly 20km away from the border region of Dimensional Rift GC-06, a group of researchers in whitecoat analyzed statistics and conducted experiments.
"Hm? That's strange..."
A male researcher in his 50's suddenly muttered with doubt while reading through a set of data displayed on-screen, resulting in one of his colleagues glancing over in question.
"What is it? Did you notice something?"
"Yes, but actually no..." The male researcher said before turning the screen to his male colleague, who was also a data analyst, "Take a look at these numbers."
"Although these are just estimated values based on observation, the population of marine life seemed to have dropped greatly in the past year."
"Hm? True, you're right."
The colleague nodded before adding, "But considering many people have moved to the Glacia Continent and build strongholds near the Dimensional Rifts, it's not strange for the numbers to drop due to heavy fishing."
"That might be part of the reason for the decrease, but this is too much of a drop. Also, look at these stats over here. The penguin's estimated population dropped by a large margin as well. Since when did humans eat penguins?"
The male researcher said.
"You do have a point here, Martin. Now that I think about it, these numbers do raise some alarming questions. Could it be that—"
Suddenly, the entire research—no, the entirety of Stronghold 06 shook due to a powerful tremor in the ground, causing loose equipment to be knocked over and making a mess of everything.
"W-What happened? How can there be such a sudden and powerful earthquake?" a researcher exclaimed in shock as several glass vials shattered on the hard floor.
Not to mention the researcher, but everyone residing in Stronghold 06 was shocked by the sudden tremor spread across the entire region.
"Everyone, come take a look at this!" Another researcher exclaimed, catching everyone's attention back in the research facility and drawing them over.
"What did you discover? Show us."
"Take a look yourself!" The person immediately said.
The equipment's screen was shortly turned towards them, displaying a set of data directly transmitted from the satellite monitoring Dimension Rift GC-06.
"What kind of stats are these? How can all the numerical values be zero?" One of the whitecoats quickly exclaimed while everyone widened their eyes.
"These numbers... Quickly show us real-time satellite image of Dimensional Rift GC-06!"
"Y-Yes!"
In a short moment, a shattered white land of ice and snow with numerous black dots scattered across the area was shown on the screen.
"As I thought, the Dimensional Rift has disappeared."
"How can this happen? Why would the Dimensional Rift just suddenly disappear out of the blue?" Another whitecoat frowned.
"It didn't just close out of the blue. Remember Professor Dunet's theory on virtual dimensions? Nothing is infinite. The Dimensional Rift must have forcefully closed after being exhausted."
"But if that's the case, Phantasmium will become unobtainable once all virtual dimensions eventually clos—What is that?"
A sudden change on-screen immediately took the male whitecoat by surprise.
...
Meanwhile, at the site of Dimensional Rift GC-06, Xue Xinya raised her head and observed the shattered ice land filled with deep crevices and fissures in her surroundings.
"Is everyone alright?" She asked.
"I'm alright, but damn, what happened here? The Dimensional Rift disappeared," Lucy Walker furrowed brows.
"I'm not sure either..."
Shortly after, Aniker Fischer and the rest of Team Netherfrost responded one by one, all except one person.
"Where's Tenshin?"
"Hahaha, I'm over here," Nakamura Tenshin said, popping his head out from behind a large risen piece of ice before exclaiming, "Woah—!"
Rumble!
The shattered ice region began shaking again, causing Nakamura Tenshin to nearly fall into the deep crevices.
"Be careful, Tenshin. We should retreat back to the stronghold first before figuring out what's going on here. The region is currently unstable."
"I agree with Xin—"
Rumble!
The region shook again!
However, this time, the fragmented ice land in the region began sinking into the abyss from the epicenter of the absent Dimension Rift before spreading outwards.
Boom!
Gigantic chunks of ice fell and crashed with large tremors, quickening the collapse of the shattered-ice surface while also making everyone become aware of an enormous hollow space existing underground below.
"Oh my god, the ground is collapsing!"
"Everyone, run for your lives! Run like you never f*cking run before!"
The face of every Hunter in the region immediately changed abruptly with alarm before they began shouting to all their team members.
"Ahhhh—!"
"Nooo—!"
The closest Hunters to the epicenter of the collapsing surface were the first people to get swallowed into the subterranean abyss the remained obscured by the heavy blizzard.
"Let us leave quickly! Tenshin, hurry up! We need to get out of this broken region!"
"No need to tell me!" Nakamura Tenshin responded to Xue Xinya's urgings after seeing the dangerous situation they were in.
Swoosh~!
In a short moment, the Lv. 46 spear user closed the 30-odd meters between them, catching up to his team before snatching the lead in escaping.
He was the first to charge but also the first to flee.
Sometime later, Team Netherfrost successfully escaped from the collapsing region with several other teams before they were allowed to have a breather while looking back at the enormous opening.
Rumble…
The empty space began to destabilized once more, causing nearly every Hunter in the area to have a serious look.
"This… another Dimensional Rift is opening…" Xue Xinya said gravely while looking at the space distortion that seems to swallow in the surrounding cold air and snow.
"Isn't this a good thing?"Nakamura Tenshin asked with a puzzled look before saying, "The outbreak of a new Dimensional Rift will be thriving with interdimensional creatures. This is a golden opportunity for us to become stronger quicker!"
"It would indeed be a golden opportunity—If the interdimensional creatures coming are not well beyond our capabilities, that is. This Dimensional Rift looks a bit different…"
"Xinya is right! Nothing ever goes inside virtual dimensions, but this Dimensional Rift is swallowing the atmosphere before it even forms completely!" Anika Fischer spoke before he suddenly exclaimed, "Look! There's something on the other side!"
A Dimensional Rift was eventually formed at the bottom of the enormous chasm.
However, it was not the black hole-like Dimensional Rift that everyone was familiar with, but a white sphere with black outer lining—revealing another world of snow inside.
Shortly after, a powerful-looking man with wolf ears walked out of the Dimensional Rift.
"Is that..."
"A demihuman! A real demihuman!"
....