Chapter 177: Beneath the Collection Pillar

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Beneath the Collection Pillar

The ground continued to split.

Massive pieces of stone broke away from the valley floor, revealing a black structure buried beneath the collection pillar.

It was enormous.

Its surface was covered in ancient inscriptions, some resembling the markings on the collection pillar while others were completely unfamiliar. Thick metallic rings surrounded its upper section, connecting it to several underground channels.

As it rose, the energy within the valley began flowing towards it.

The sleeping creatures stirred.

Some managed to stand, while others struggled to move their weakened bodies. Their energy had been drained for an unknown period, and even the sudden interruption of the collection process wasn’t enough to restore their strength.

Ronan watched the structure emerge.

His attention was fixed on the markings.

The mark on his palm was burning.

Not painfully, but with an intensity he hadn’t experienced before.

Then the voice sounded again.

"Another bearer..."

The armored figure immediately raised his hand.

"Seal the structure!"

The cloaked individual behind him reacted first. He brought his palms together, releasing several dark chains that descended towards the emerging structure.

The other members of the group followed.

Their combined energy formed a massive formation above the valley.

Ronan observed them.

They were frightened.

That was interesting.

A moment earlier, they had been confident enough to attack a Seventh-Star King without hesitation. Yet the appearance of this structure had completely changed their attitude.

Whatever was beneath the pillar was clearly something they didn’t want awakened.

Unfortunately, Ronan had no intention of helping them.

He stepped away from the collection pillar.

The armored figure noticed immediately.

"Don’t move!"

Ronan glanced at him.

"You seem to be under the impression that I work for you."

The armored figure’s expression darkened.

"Do you understand what you’re interfering with?"

"No."

Ronan wiped the blood from his mouth.

"But I’m beginning to understand that you’re afraid of it."

The armored figure’s eyes narrowed.

Before he could respond, the formation above the structure descended.

The chains tightened around its surface.

For a moment, the rising structure stopped.

Then the entire valley shook.

CRACK!

One of the chains broke.

A wave of black energy erupted from beneath the structure, sweeping across the formation.

The cloaked individual screamed.

His body was thrown backwards, and the formation collapsed.

Two other members attempted to stabilize it, but the energy continued spreading.

The armored figure immediately moved.

He appeared above the structure and drove his fist into its upper surface.

BOOM!

The impact produced a deafening explosion.

The rising structure stopped moving.

However, the armored figure didn’t look relieved.

Instead, he stared at the point of impact.

A thin crack had appeared beneath his fist.

Something was pushing against the other side.

"Impossible..." he muttered.

The black surface suddenly split.

A massive metallic hand emerged from within.

It grabbed the armored figure’s arm.

His expression changed.

"Release me!"

The hand tightened.

Metallic energy exploded around his body as he attempted to break free.

Ronan watched from a distance.

He had already decided not to interfere.

The difference between a Nine-Star King and himself was considerable. The armored figure had demonstrated enough strength to overpower him in direct combat, and whatever was emerging from beneath the pillar had managed to restrain that same individual.

There was no reason to become involved in their struggle.

However, he couldn’t leave yet.

The mark on his palm was still reacting.

And he wanted to know why.

---

The black structure continued rising.

More of its body emerged from beneath the valley, revealing a massive humanoid form.

It was covered in dark metallic plates, with several broken rings embedded in its shoulders and back. Its head was featureless except for a single vertical opening that glowed with a faint crimson light.

The creature released the armored figure.

He immediately retreated.

His right arm hung unnaturally, and the metallic armor covering it had been crushed.

"Everyone, withdraw!"

The order was immediate.

The cloaked individual struggled to stand.

"Commander, the collection pillar—"

"Leave it!"

The armored figure turned towards the emerging creature.

"Destroy the bearer before it fully awakens!"

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

So they weren’t merely interested in the structure.

They wanted him dead before it could finish awakening.

That made the situation considerably more troublesome.

Several metallic weapons appeared around the valley.

The remaining members of the group launched them towards Ronan.

He clicked his tongue.

Apparently, they had decided to use him as a sacrifice.

Ronan activated Burst Acceleration.

His body shot sideways as the first weapon struck the ground.

BOOM!

The second followed.

He changed direction using Gravity Affinity, narrowly avoiding the explosion.

But the attacks were coordinated.

A formation spread beneath his feet, and several chains emerged from the ground.

Ronan immediately activated Formation Sense.

He identified the channels feeding the formation.

Metallic Manipulation!

A buried fragment tore through the ground and struck one of the channels.

The formation flickered.

Ronan gathered energy in his palm.

Annihilation Force!

He slammed his hand against the ground.

The remaining channels shattered.

The chains disappeared.

However, the armored figure had already arrived.

His fist descended towards Ronan’s head.

Ronan crossed his arms.

BOOM!

His body was driven into the ground.

A metallic boot pressed against his chest.

"Your existence has become a problem."

The armored figure looked down at him.

"Had you surrendered when we first found you, this wouldn’t have happened."

Ronan coughed up blood.

He looked at the opponent’s damaged arm.

Then he smiled.

"You’re talking too much for someone who couldn’t even keep his arm intact."

The armored figure’s expression turned murderous.

He raised his other hand.

A metallic blade emerged from his forearm.

Before he could strike, the ground beneath them trembled.

The black structure had completely emerged.

Its single crimson eye turned towards Ronan.

"Bearer."

The armored figure immediately turned.

The creature raised one hand.

The metallic weapons scattered throughout the valley suddenly stopped moving.

Then they reversed direction.

The armored figure’s eyes widened.

"Everyone, get down!"

It was too late.

Hundreds of metallic fragments shot towards the group.

The armored figure released a powerful barrier, but the fragments struck from every direction.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Several of his companions were thrown across the valley.

The pressure against Ronan’s chest disappeared.

He didn’t hesitate.

Burst Acceleration!

He escaped from beneath the armored figure and retreated several dozen meters.

The black creature slowly lowered its hand.

Its crimson eye remained fixed on him.

"Come closer."

Ronan didn’t move.

He wasn’t foolish enough to approach something capable of manipulating an entire valley’s worth of metal without knowing what it wanted.

"Who are you?"

The creature remained silent for several seconds.

Then it answered.

"I am a remnant of the first collection."

Ronan’s gaze shifted towards the pillar.

"Collection?"

"The blood of living things. The energy of existence. All were gathered to maintain the path."

The creature’s head tilted slightly.

"But the path was abandoned."

Ronan remembered the inscription on the pillar.

The blood of the marked shall open the path.

He glanced at his palm.

"What path?"

"The Central Anchor."

His eyes narrowed.

The creature continued.

"The first bearer opened it. The others followed. Then the path was sealed, and the collection grounds were abandoned."

Ronan’s expression remained unchanged, but his thoughts accelerated.

The First Bearer.

The Central Anchor.

The same names he had encountered through the Ashen Covenant’s records and the prisoner beneath the Western Anchor.

There was a connection.

A direct one.

"Why does the mark react to these structures?"

"Because it was made to open them."

"Who made it?"

The crimson eye dimmed.

"I do not remember."

Ronan frowned.

That was disappointing.

He had expected more useful information.

"Then tell me what happened to the First Bearer."

The creature remained motionless.

"The first bearer entered the path."

"And?"

"He did not return."

Ronan stared at it.

He had already heard that much from Arden.

He needed something more.

"Why was the path sealed?"

The creature’s crimson eye suddenly brightened.

"Because something came back."

The valley fell silent.

Even the armored figure, who had been gathering his remaining companions, stopped moving.

Ronan’s gaze sharpened.

"What came back?"

The creature slowly turned its head towards the distant northern cliffs.

"Something that should never have found its way here."

A moment later, the energy surrounding the black structure began fluctuating.

Ronan felt a familiar sensation.

It was the same unstable gray energy he had encountered at the Western Anchor.

But there was something else mixed within it.

Something much deeper.

The creature’s body trembled.

"Those who consume..."

Its voice became distorted.

"They have found the collection grounds."

The armored figure immediately raised his head.

A distant explosion echoed across the valley.

Then another.

Several powerful energy signatures appeared beyond the northern cliffs.

Ronan activated Bloodline Tracking.

His expression changed slightly.

He recognized one of the signatures.

The Eight-Star King Realm masked commander he had previously encountered.

But the other presence was different.

Much stronger.

The Nine-Star King Realm armored figure also sensed them.

For the first time, he appeared genuinely alarmed.

"Executor..."

The creature beneath the collection pillar raised its head.

Its crimson eye fixed on the northern cliffs.

"Too late."

A deep vibration travelled through the ground.

The black structure began sinking.

The energy surrounding it was rapidly disappearing, and the broken metallic rings on its body started collapsing.

Ronan stepped backwards.

He didn’t know what the structure was, but he had no intention of being buried alongside it.

The armored figure suddenly turned towards him.

"You! The mark!"

Ronan looked at him.

"What about it?"

"The collection pillar has recognized you. If you leave now, they’ll follow your bloodline wherever you go."

Ronan’s expression darkened.

He had already suspected that his presence would attract attention.

Now he had confirmation.

The armored figure continued.

"You need to come with us. We can conceal your signature."

Ronan stared at him for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"After trying to kill me?"

The armored figure said nothing.

Ronan looked towards the northern cliffs.

The approaching energy signatures were getting closer.

He had no intention of fighting two powerful groups in the same valley.

But he wasn’t going to trust someone who had just attempted to kill him either.

He glanced at the black structure.

A small metallic fragment had broken away from its shoulder and landed near the collection pillar.

Ronan extended his hand.

Metallic Manipulation!

The fragment rose from the ground and flew into his palm.

It was surprisingly heavy.

His eyes narrowed as he sensed the energy contained within it.

There was a faint resonance between the fragment and the mark on his palm.

He immediately stored it away.

Then he turned towards the northern cliffs.

"Where are you going?" the armored figure demanded.

Ronan didn’t answer.

Burst Acceleration activated.

His body shot towards the eastern side of the valley.

The armored figure raised his hand, but before he could pursue, a powerful wave of gray energy descended from the northern cliffs.

A masked figure appeared above the valley.

The Eight-Star King Realm commander.

Behind him stood another individual whose energy signature made the surrounding space tremble.

The armored figure froze.

The newcomer looked at the collapsing structure.

Then his gaze shifted towards Ronan’s retreating figure.

A faint voice travelled across the valley.

"So the marked one is here."

Ronan’s expression turned cold.

The voice continued.

"Don’t kill him."

A pause followed.

"Bring him to me."

Ronan accelerated.

He had learned enough for one day.

The Central Anchor was connected to the collection grounds. The First Bearer had entered it, something had returned, and the Hollow were searching for the marked individual.

Whatever was waiting at the end of this path was clearly more troublesome than he had anticipated.

But one thing interested him more than anything else.

The fragment he had taken from the black structure was still reacting to his mark.

And unlike the other ancient materials he had encountered, it was gradually revealing a faint inscription.

[Central Anchor Access Fragment]

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

For the first time in a while, he smiled genuinely.

He had just obtained something that might lead him directly to the Central Anchor.

Now he only needed to survive long enough to use it.