Chapter 431 - 423: Codename "Celestial Punishment

Chapter 431: Chapter 423: Codename "Celestial Punishment

She extended her left hand and took Qin Xiaoxia’s right, using her special Sound Illusion ability to project the images from his mind.

The entire front half of the conference hall was instantly filled with a faint mist, immediately followed by the appearance of an immersive, lifelike scene.

A vast, dark-red land appeared—the corrupted Kaslopa. Accompanying the image was a nauseating, putrid stench.

Many people in the conference room instinctively covered their mouths and noses.

Their Visual Sense, sense of smell, and even their all-encompassing Perception were affected by the Red Demoness’s power.

The projection omitted Qin Xiaoxia’s leading conversation with the Insectoid Yakrodoth, but everything else was shown. This included the Insectoid being startled into flight by the sudden appearance of the Thought Body, and then being relentlessly tracked as it fled. All of it unfolded before their eyes.

They saw the corruption along the path, various Demons, giant corpses that were rotting yet still moved, a fleeting glimpse of the Sleepers, and other monstrosities so bizarre their nature could only be inferred from the images.

The putrid stench varied in intensity depending on the location they passed through, but it never once faded away.

"Everyone, this is the Fallen World Caslopa! Make no mistake. Though that place is immeasurably vast, it’s almost entirely like this. The same foul stench permeates everything, the same decay is unbearable, and the same Demons and abominations are everywhere."

The Sage’s voice grew somber. This was the first time the nations of the World Alliance had learned the true name of the Otherworld they faced.

"In Dawn’s long history of fighting darkness, we have also studied knowledge from other worlds. This is the origin of the Magic Pattern System you are all familiar with. According to legend, the Caslopa World was once a sacred, blessed land—a place that even the Natural Spirits of the Otherworld longed to visit."

’A sacred, blessed land? This place?’

The same doubt surfaced in the minds of everyone present, but Master Sage’s words quickly drew their attention elsewhere.

"I know many of you are harboring plans to seize the Otherworld’s resources."

"There’s nothing wrong with humanity pursuing its own fundamental interests, but Kaslopa is different. The Fall that corrupted the world also corrupts living beings. It is by no means an Ideal Land ripe for development."

As he spoke, the scene fast-forwarded to the touch point that Qin Xiaoxia had witnessed.

BOOM—

The entire room was in an uproar.

Densely packed monsters and countless tall, gigantic, indescribable abominations surrounded a swamp, filling every inch of space as far as the eye could see.

There wasn’t a single fool in the room. Nearly everyone arrived at the same conclusion, and Qin Xiaoxia didn’t keep them in suspense.

"That’s right. Just as you’ve all surmised, this... is the other side of one of the touch points. Countless Demons are waiting for the connection to deepen."

"They have scraped by for countless years in the Fallen World. They covet everything we have here, and they are filled with hatred for living beings like us."

A General from the United Kingdom raised a clenched fist. Qin Xiaoxia nodded, giving him the floor.

"Master Sage, a few days ago, Dawn informed us that the world’s touch points will deepen in about ten days. Does that mean all of these monsters will come through?"

The serious murmurs in the hall died down. Hearing the question, everyone fell silent, awaiting the Sage’s answer.

"The deepening of the touch points is irreversible, but it is a gradual process. They cannot come through all at once. However, this time, the deepening will allow more, and stronger, Demons to pass through."

"Master Sage, do places like this, where monsters are massed together, exist behind every known touch point?"

The General continued, asking the question on everyone’s mind.

Qin Xiaoxia had actually only seen this one location. However, judging from the monsters that had been emerging from the various touch points on Earth, his conclusion was likely correct.

"It’s highly likely. We can’t afford to get complacent."

Lazov rose from his seat, his burly frame rivaling even that of Baru.

"Since we now know about Earth’s invasive touch points into the Otherworld, let’s just obliterate them!"

As expected, the first to make such a suggestion was the man from Russia.

The representatives from the United States still had reservations. A physicist raised his hand to speak.

"If we use nuclear weapons, three problems need to be addressed. First: if we detonate a high-yield nuclear weapon at the location of an invasive touch point in the Otherworld, will the radiation bleed back to Earth through that same touch point?"

"Second, the residual radiation left in the Otherworld could hinder our ability to develop it in the future, once our technology has advanced sufficiently."

"Third, the problems of weapon delivery and targeting within the Otherworld."

A French diplomat frowned and interjected.

"You seem to have forgotten one thing. What if the radiation causes the monsters to mutate and become even stronger?"

However, as soon as he raised this question, some of the scientists and military commanders present merely smiled and looked at him. No one said a word, leaving the French diplomat feeling rather awkward.

An Officer from his own delegation leaned over and reminded him in a low voice.

The point of nuclear weapons was mass extermination. Even if mutations occurred—a process that took time—the number of survivors would be incomparably smaller than the original horde, making them far easier to eliminate. Moreover, beneficial mutations were not so easily achieved. Nuclear radiation was far more likely to be lethal or crippling, leaving creatures weaker and with shorter lifespans. While a few might genuinely mutate into a greater threat, their numbers would be negligible. To concentrated firepower, it would make little difference.

However, the three points raised by the physicist did indeed require answers.

To Qin Xiaoxia, the first question was indeed the crucial one, and the third was understandable. The second question, however, seemed a bit unrealistic.