Chapter 188: The First Countermeasure

The Astral Gate remained open.

On the other side, the black slimes had stopped gathering directly around the entrance. Their initial curiosity had given way to organized activity, with groups returning to their settlements and others establishing observation points throughout the surrounding region.

It was not an ordinary reaction to an unfamiliar phenomenon. The inhabitants of Leo’s world possessed a civilization, and the appearance of a foreign connection had already become a matter of concern for its governing authorities.

Yet, despite their preparations, none of them knew what awaited beyond the gate.

Within a large settlement, several black slimes had gathered in a council chamber.

The room was constructed from a dark material that resembled the bodies of its inhabitants, though its surface was far more rigid. Numerous platforms surrounded a central space where a projection displayed the Astral Gate and the surrounding landscape.

"The connection has remained stable," one slime reported. "We have examined the surrounding space from several positions, but we have yet to identify a weakness."

"Have we determined whether the other side can send forces through?"

"No. The entrance appears to permit observation, but our attempts to approach its boundary have produced inconsistent results."

Another slime shifted its body, displaying a series of images collected by the observation groups.

"The entity responsible for this connection has not revealed itself. We cannot determine whether it intends to invade, establish contact, or conduct some kind of experiment."

"Regardless of its intentions, we cannot leave our civilization unprepared."

The discussion continued.

Some suggested reinforcing the settlements closest to the gate, while others proposed moving important resources farther away. There were also suggestions to develop methods of detecting spatial disturbances, in case the enemy possessed the ability to establish additional connections elsewhere.

Their civilization had no intention of allowing an unknown opponent to dictate the course of its development.

Liam observed the city from beyond the Astral Gate.

The black slimes had already begun organizing their response, and their activities revealed considerably more about their civilization than the initial gathering near the entrance.

Their settlements were not simply clusters of organisms living together. They possessed infrastructure, systems of communication, and institutions capable of coordinating large numbers of inhabitants.

Liam’s consciousness moved across several structures.

Some were clearly residential, while others appeared to serve as production facilities. He even noticed areas where numerous slimes gathered to exchange information, suggesting that knowledge was distributed throughout their society rather than concentrated entirely within Leo’s immediate control.

’Their civilization is more developed than I expected.’

He had initially been interested in the physical characteristics of the black slimes, but their social organization was becoming equally fascinating.

A civilization’s strength was not determined by its individual inhabitants alone. Its ability to distribute information, manage resources, and coordinate its population could be just as important.

Leo seemed to understand that.

Within his domain, Leo examined the reports arriving from the surrounding settlements.

The Astral Gate was still the central concern, but he had already instructed his inhabitants to avoid concentrating their entire strength around it. If the enemy could establish a connection between worlds, there was no guarantee that it could only do so once.

"Have the observation groups detected any movement?"

"Nothing has crossed the entrance. However, we have noticed occasional changes in the surrounding space."

"Record every occurrence. I want to know whether those changes are caused by the connection itself or by the being maintaining it."

The slime acknowledged the order.

Leo then examined another report.

Several settlements had already begun reinforcing their infrastructure, while others were developing additional methods of communication. Their civilization was accustomed to adapting its structures and bodies according to changing circumstances, so the preparations were progressing without significant difficulty.

"Continue the preparations. Do not interrupt the ordinary activities of the inhabitants unless necessary."

He paused before adding another instruction.

"Establish a secondary observation network farther from the gate. If the enemy attempts to bypass our current positions, I want us to notice immediately."

His orders were distributed.

Leo did not know the enemy’s strength, but he knew better than to assume that the gate was its only means of entry.

Near the Astral Gate, a different kind of activity had begun.

The black slimes stationed around the entrance were no longer attempting to interfere with the connection. Instead, they had begun constructing several structures at carefully selected locations.

Their bodies spread across the ground before rising into thick pillars. Smaller portions separated from the main masses, climbing their surfaces and forming platforms that overlooked the surrounding landscape.

The structures were connected through narrow extensions that allowed the slimes to move between them.

Liam watched the process.

’Observation towers?’

The construction was relatively simple, but its placement was deliberate. Each structure covered a different section of the region, allowing the inhabitants to monitor the gate and its surroundings from multiple directions.

Some slimes remained inside the structures, while others moved between them to exchange information.

They were establishing a defensive observation network.

Liam found the decision reasonable. If they could not understand the connection or determine the strength of the invader, gathering information was the safest course of action.

However, he also noticed something else.

The slimes were not abandoning their other responsibilities. Even while the structures were being constructed, groups continued transporting resources and moving between nearby settlements.

Their civilization was preparing for war without allowing the possibility of war to consume everything else.

On Liam’s side, the pantheons and constellations continued observing the developments.

Wias stood among the divine beings, examining the distant structures. Their construction was unusual, especially considering that the inhabitants themselves appeared to be the primary materials used to create them.

Trias remained nearby, her attention focused on the movements of the slimes.

Neither attempted to speak to Liam.

Their god had not manifested before them, and they understood that observing his actions did not mean they could freely demand his attention. The pantheons continued their own observations, discussing the unfamiliar civilization among themselves.

The constellations were similarly occupied.

Some were interested in the black slimes’ physical characteristics, while others were examining their formations and the structures appearing around the gate. The upcoming invasion had become more complicated than a simple confrontation against unfamiliar creatures.

There was an entire civilization standing behind them.

Liam eventually shifted his attention toward the Astral Gate.

He had seen enough to understand that Leo was responding carefully. His inhabitants were not blindly gathering around the entrance, nor were they wasting their strength on an attempt to destroy something they did not understand.

Instead, they were gathering information and preparing their settlements.

’He’s being cautious.’

Liam did not find that surprising.

Leo was another player, and there was no reason to assume that he would allow his world to be invaded without resistance. The black slimes also possessed physical characteristics that could make them particularly troublesome in battle.

Liam wanted to see how those characteristics would translate into actual combat.

For now, however, he continued observing.

Leo received one final report from the affected region.

"The observation network has been established. The surrounding settlements have received the necessary instructions, and the secondary network is currently being constructed."

"Good."

Leo examined the projection.

The Astral Gate remained open, its unfamiliar surface revealing nothing about the world beyond it. The enemy had not crossed through, but its continued presence was enough to justify the preparations.

"Maintain the current arrangements. If anything emerges from the gate, report its movements immediately. Do not engage without first determining what we are dealing with."

The slime acknowledged the command before departing.

Leo remained before the projection.

He could not determine the enemy’s intentions, and he had no reliable way of measuring its strength. But he understood that the being responsible for the gate had deliberately chosen his world.

Whatever the reason, Leo would not allow his civilization to become an easy target.

Beyond the Astral Gate, Liam continued watching the preparations unfold.

The first stage of the invasion had revealed something important. Leo’s world was not simply inhabited by intelligent creatures. It possessed a civilization capable of organizing itself, adapting to unfamiliar circumstances, and preparing for an enemy it knew almost nothing about.

Liam’s interest had only increased.

The next step would be to find out how well that civilization could defend itself.