Chapter 851 - 474: Dawn Approaches (Part 2)

The transport craft began the exchange operation, with the starship retrieving the previous flyer and then launching a new one.

During this time, the starship dared not proceed further. Although no dangers were encountered in the previous day and a half, the gravity and physical laws here were too chaotic for anyone to take a gamble.

If the starship ventured into danger, it was likely that no one would survive.

To them, they were the last hope.

"Four more days of journey, dawn is coming!"

"Dawn is coming..." the Bone Dragon echoed.

At this moment, a silent pulse at the edge of the Great Void sent an invisible suction force sweeping over.

The Great Void was expanding again!

"Damn it, damn it!"

The transport craft bore the brunt of it, and instead of struggling, it used its last moments.

"Move quickly... turn right!" was its final message.

It was swept away by the invisible current and vanished into the absolute Great Void, but the starship managed to avoid disaster thanks to the warning.

Yet no one celebrated.

The chaos, disorder, and unexpected events left everyone uncontrollably angry.

Even if a teammate who was chatting moments ago suddenly faced Death, they could do nothing.

"Let me handle the navigation from now on—I am the undying monster, and you all should stay out of this," the Bone Dragon’s voice suddenly emerged.

The voice might have carried hoarseness and numbness.

The voyage continued, with desperation deepening.

The wreckage of Expedition Team No. 8 was even more tragic, the entire ship torn into scattered fragments. After a brief rest and repairs, they set out again.

Yi Shan, the recorder, found the logs left by Expedition Team No. 8.

"We took another step forward, what a delight, but unfortunately the gravity ahead is simply too chaotic. Is this the Great Void? I don’t know how to proceed further."

"Perhaps, using the power of Demon Element to counteract the abnormal gravity? But we have no time for trials, it seems like we’re about to crash. Future generations may find more clues from our corpses. —Expedition Team No. 8 Recorder, Vinnie."

He seemed like a very optimistic predecessor, able to write such a record even moments from crashing, preserving it well such that Yi Shan found it despite the shattered ship.

Perhaps, recorders like him should be the norm here, where Death could be imminent at any moment, even one’s next step could be pulled into pieces by fractured space.

From here onwards, they looked up to see no Light, only the limitless Great Void.

They were now incredibly close to the Great Void.

...

Information suggesting that Demon Element might work in potentially chaotic gravity zones was shared.

The only Magic Element Beacon in the team was guarded by the Fishman operative, kept in a large metallic vessel and well maintained.

In fact, only the beacon within was important, as the Demon Element leaking out was even toxic to them.

During rest, they collected a small amount of the leaking Demon Element, diluted it, and applied it to the head of the starship and transport craft.

Though they applied only a little, they did so with a faint hope that it might work, or not.

It was more like hanging a consecrated charm from a temple at the door, a psychological comfort.

Just like carrying the amulet of Little Fuge for comfort and reassurance in tension.

After a simple rest, they set off again.

From here onwards, they could no longer see any Light in front, completely entering the "Dark Zone."

This area would later be named "Deep Subspace."

The transport craft navigated first, followed closely by the starship, quickly traversing the chaotic gravity zones.

Whether it was luck or the effect of the Demon Element coating, they narrowly escaped danger several times yet pushed through.

They thought, those pioneers must not have struggled as much as they did coming here.

After all, back when the Great Void’s range was far smaller, compared to when Expedition Team No. 1 set out, the Great Void faced by Expedition Team No. 13 had almost doubled.

This was why roads easily passed by predecessors were now such a difficult journey for them.

But soon, the transport ship piloted by the Bone Dragon was caught by a turbulence, uncontrollably speeding towards the Great Void.

"What’s happening! Detach, detach quickly!" Tree-man Dominic’s voice immediately called out.

"Don’t worry, I left a bone on the starship, I am undying," the Bone Dragon’s voice responded, though somewhat chaotic, it was not panicked.

"I will explore further ahead with this life, as long as you protect the bone I left behind, things should be fine," he continued, or perhaps he was long prepared to use his life to explore the road further ahead.

After all, he was undying.

However, suddenly, broken, astonished murmurs came through the communication.

"It... is... disassembling... me..."

"It... is... devouring... me..."

"What happened? What is it?" Dominic’s voice probed, but there was no response.

It wasn’t a powerful attack, but an absolute "nullification" effect, beginning with each particle and energy comprising Bone Dragon’s bones, slowly yet irresistibly stripping away its existence.

His undying, in the face of "non-existence," became a laughable joke.

Even the bone left behind on the starship was seen by others, crumbling like a weathered sandcastle, disassembling bit by bit, elongating until it became a stream of fundamental particles, completely returning to "nothing."

His proud immortality, and peculiar life form were utterly crushed in this area defying physical laws.

Once more, silence overcame everyone on the starship.

...

Consecutive sacrifices dampened morale.

The starship even halted here, as if utterly afraid to advance.

Now, with each step forward, they had to use the transport craft to scout ahead, only moving forward where the craft had explored.

Yet they had lost two to the scouting, even the strongest and most peculiar among them, the Bone Dragon, could not survive.

"I’ll scout next," Tree-man Dominic stated directly.

"Let’s try a different approach. Since the cost of scouting is too high, we should try to deduce patterns through observation and calculation to advance," suggested the Prince of the Eye Tribe.

They were an unusual species, their entire head was a giant eyeball, as if every organ on their body existed to power the giant eye.

He then continued, "I’m not against scouting. As a lookout, I think we can use this method to significantly increase the safety for the lead craft, though it will slow our pace."

The others had no better ideas. Since arriving here, the prior training they’d undergone only ensured they could persist this long, moving forward might rely on luck or trying various other methods.

The lead craft took off again, and the Prince of the Eye Tribe decided to ensure its safety through observation and calculation.

Meanwhile, Yi Shan quietly continued his duties as a recorder.

"Fourth day, and we’ve lost three. We don’t know how long we can hold on, maybe to the destination, or maybe just a few more days."

"The Eye Tribe suggests ensuring the lead craft’s safety through lookout and calculation, hope he succeeds."

"I don’t know who the next one to die will be, my friend Dominic, someone else, or me. Can we really succeed?"

"Dawn is coming, but hopefully no more sacrifices. Wish us luck."

After writing this entry, Yi Shan silently clutched the amulet in his hand.

Far away, many light-years across the starfield, Fuge also clutched the amulet in his hand.

"Come home, Dad."