Chapter 313: Just a Test

The Blood-Colored Shoal in the second layer of the abyss emits a strange, sweet, and fishy smell.

That is a special aura produced after the body fluids of some unknown creature mixed with abyss energy.

Luo En squats at the edge of a translucent space bubble.

He holds a collector, carefully scraping the pearlescent-colored microbial film from the bubble wall.

These substances, known as "Hetero-bacterial Membranes," are like living silk, trembling with his movements, as if feeling every touch from the outside world.

Through the multi-function display screen of the protective mask, Luo En can clearly observe the real-time reaction of the bacterial membrane.

The color gradually turns from pale purple to deep blue, and the texture also becomes more viscous.

"Truly exquisite self-adaptive mechanism..."

He silently records these details in his heart, while activating "Extraordinary Identification" for deeper analysis.

In his special vision, these seemingly simple microorganisms actually possess complex energy networks.

Each cell is like a miniature energy converter, capable of adjusting its own biological characteristics according to external stimulation.

Just at this moment, a nearly imperceptible abnormal fluctuation quietly enters his perception range.

That feeling is hard to describe, like someone gently stroking a string in the far distance.

The weak vibration produced travels through the air, through layers of obstacles, and finally touches his keen mental tentacles.

But that "string" is composed of space itself, and the power of the "stroking" comes from some kind of terrifying existence trying to forcibly break through the dimensional barrier.

Luo En's movements stop instantly.

The dual perception of "Hermit's Knowledge" and "Extraordinary Identification" acts like a precision radar network, capturing every detail of this twisted fluctuation.

Frequency, intensity, propagation direction, energy characteristics... all data points to the same chilling conclusion.

Chaos Spirit Monster.

This most notorious terrifying monster in the abyss is quietly approaching through some kind of space manipulation technology.

Luo En slowly stands up, while rapidly calculating the precise time for the threat to arrive in his heart.

The acceleration of spatial distortion, the critical point of energy gathering, the time required to break through the dimensional barrier... every variable is included in his calculation.

"Fifteen seconds."

He reaches a precise conclusion and immediately turns to the other members of the team without hesitation:

"Everyone, stop collecting immediately, prepare for a defensive posture!"

Luo En's voice is conveyed to every team member through the communication equipment.

That exceptionally firm tone makes his colleagues, who were originally focused on their work, look up one after another.

"A Chaos Spirit Monster is approaching; a space rift will appear in our northeast direction in about fifteen seconds!"

This sudden warning is like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the quiet atmosphere of the collection work.

Supervisor Wei En, who is in charge of this operation, is the first to react; the petrified half of his face looks exceptionally eerie under the blood-colored light.

Years of abyss work experience have given him a unique habit.

Whenever he encounters a sudden situation, he unconsciously taps his temples with his fingers; that sound of bone hitting stone always helps him stay calm.

At this moment, that familiar "tap-tap" sound rings out again.

"Ralph... what are you talking about?"

Wei En's tone carries obvious confusion, as well as an unnoticeable appreciation.

He quickly checks the multi-function monitor on his wrist; that palm-sized device is displaying various parameters of the surrounding environment in real-time.

"All detection equipment shows normal... spatial stability 94.7%, energy fluctuation intensity 0.3 standard units, threat level..."

His voice gradually becomes smaller, because the green "safe" indicator light on the screen is flashing steadily, as if mocking Luo En's "delusion" just now.

Exploration Team leader Miller's reaction is more direct.

The mechanized left arm of this Silver Ring-level explorer emits a slight humming sound; that is the sound of the built-in weapon system performing a self-check.

But the expression on his face is a cold sneer of near-contempt.

"Newcomer..."

Miller says slowly, his voice carrying the impatience typical of a veteran toward a rookie:

"I know you might feel nervous because of your first contact with the real abyss environment; this is very normal.

I have seen too many scholar-type wizards like you, who learned a bunch of theories in books, but start to be suspicious of every bush and tree once they truly get down to the abyss."

He pats the automatic alert golem "Watcher-7" beside him, making a crisp metallic collision sound:

"But the safety system here is much more reliable than you imagine.

This big guy is equipped with the most advanced threat perception array of the observation station, including space distortion monitors, energy fluctuation analyzers, biological feature identifiers... seventeen different types of sensors in total."

Miller's tone becomes more mocking:

"If there really were a threat of the Chaos Spirit Monster level, it would have been reporting wildly long ago, instead of being like this now..."

He points to the row of green indicator lights flashing normally on the golem's head:

"Peaceful."

Falco, who is responsible for carrying the portable analysis equipment, casts a more complex look.

This young researcher, who appears old due to long-term contact with abyss materials, also has his own habitual actions.

Whenever he feels confused or worried, he subconsciously strokes his silver-white hair, as if confirming that he is still alive.

"Ralph... perhaps..."

Falco strokes his hair, his voice trembling, mixed with sympathy and fear:

"Perhaps you need to accept an emergency inspection? First contact with abyss materials is indeed prone to various... adverse reactions."

He takes out a small mental state detector from the medical kit; the silver metal shell reflects an eerie luster under the blood-colored light:

"This kind of symptom is not rare among newcomers. Early symptoms of mental pollution include auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, and excessive sensitivity to non-existent threats. If not treated in time..."

Falco doesn't finish, but everyone present knows the consequence of that "if."

In the "special containment area" of the observation station, there live too many "former colleagues" who have lost their human form due to mental pollution.

Supervisor Wei En has already started to activate the portable erosion detector he carries with him.

This precision device emits a low hum, and the rune array inside begins to preheat rapidly, preparing to conduct an all-around abyss erosion degree inspection on Luo En.

"Ralph, cooperate with the inspection; this is a standard procedure."

Wei En's tone, although gentle, contains an undeniable sense of refusal:

"If it is indeed a perception abnormality caused by erosion reaction, we need to start the treatment program immediately. The earlier it is discovered, the greater the possibility of cure."

He pauses, the petrified half of his face twitching slightly:

"You should know what the consequence of delaying treatment is."

Facing the questioning of his colleagues and the impending mandatory inspection, Luo En's heart maintains an absolute calmness like an iceberg.

Years of persistent research and meditation have taught him how to maintain rational thinking in the most chaotic situations.

He knows his perception is correct; the threat of the Chaos Spirit Monster is approaching at a terrifying speed.

That kind of spatial distortion fluctuation is strong enough to make him feel slightly nauseous; this is a direct impact of high-intensity space manipulation on the spirit. But in this situation, too much explanation will only be taken as further evidence of "mental abnormality."

"No time for these procedures!"

Luo En's voice becomes more urgent; he can feel the spatial distortion approaching the critical point.

That terrifying power about to tear reality apart makes every one of his nerves warn him frantically:

"Believe me, or don't believe me, but please start all defensive programs immediately! Ten seconds... nine seconds... eight seconds..."

While performing a precise countdown, he quickly checks his equipment configuration.

The tactical bag at his waist, the emergency runes on his cuffs, the amulet on his chest... every item is confirmed for status and order of use in an instant.

These near-mechanical preparation movements instead make the other team members feel even more uneasy.

In their view, Luo En's behavior at this moment completely fits the typical symptoms of "abyss mental pollution":

Excessive sensitivity, paranoid delusions, compulsive behavioral patterns.

James, the Copper Ring explorer on the side, even puts his hand on his weapon, preparing to subdue this "out-of-control" newcomer if necessary.

"Five seconds... four seconds... three seconds..."

Just as Supervisor Wei En sighs lowly, preparing to forcibly start the inspection program, the environment within the entire space bubble suddenly undergoes a shocking change.

Space begins to twist at a speed visible to the naked eye, like viscous liquid being crazily stirred by invisible giant hands.

That distortion is not an ordinary physical phenomenon, but a fundamental change in the structure of reality itself under the action of some power beyond understanding.

On the surface of the Blood-Colored Shoal, that layer of originally calm deep red liquid suddenly surges with eerie ripples.

These ripples do not spread outward, but shrink inward, forming small whirlpools.

The center of each whirlpool presents completely different colors:

Some are pure black, as if leading to nothingness;

Some are blinding white light, making it impossible to look directly;

And others are "colors" that human language cannot describe; just seeing them makes one feel inexplicable panic.

"Warning! Spatial abnormality detected! Threat level: extremely high!"

The alarm system of "Watcher-7" finally starts, and the harsh alarm sound echoes in the Blood-Colored Shoal, like the wailing of hell.

The head of the mechanical structure begins to spin crazily, and seventeen sensors of different types flash with blinding red light simultaneously, emitting urgent buzzing sounds.

But all of this comes too late.

The synthetic voice of "Watcher-7" begins to broadcast detailed data:

"Spatial stability: 12%, continuing to drop!

Energy fluctuation intensity: exceeds measurement range!

Time flow abnormality: detected multiple time flows coexisting!

Threat level: unknown entity!

Suggest immediate evacuation! Suggest immediate evacuation!"

At the precise moment Luo En's countdown ends, an irregular rift several meters long has torn open in the northeast direction.

The edge of the rift flashes with "colors" that should not exist; those lights are not reflected, but projected directly into reality from another dimension.

From this wound in reality, a terrifying figure sufficient to cause the collapse of sanity slowly emerges—the Chaos Spirit Monster.

If the creatures in the shallow abyss barely retain some understandable biological characteristics, then the Chaos Spirit Monster is a complete negation of the concept of "creature."

It has no fixed form, and its body seems to be composed of pure chaotic concepts.

Under the gaze of the observer, it undergoes dazzling changes every second:

Sometimes it presents as a giant tentacle-like aggregate, with countless eyes of different sizes covering the surface of each tentacle; these eyes blink simultaneously, producing an nauseating sense of rhythm;

Sometimes it turns into a composite of countless human faces, but each face is screaming silently, with expressions twisted beyond the limits of human facial muscles.

"This... how is this possible..."

Miller's voice becomes hoarse due to extreme shock; that sense of calm from being through many battles is now gone.

His mechanized left arm begins to tremble uncontrollably under the impact of huge fear.

The built-in weapon system emits chaotic electronic sounds, showing the chaotic state of the system.

"How could the detection equipment fail completely? This is theoretically impossible!"

Supervisor Wei En stares at the monitor in his hand in disbelief.

The screen stubbornly displays a "safe" status, as if the terrifying reality before his eyes is just a collective hallucination.

His petrified fingers tap his temples crazily, making a dense "tap-tap" sound like a machine gun; this is his conditioned reflex in extreme panic.

Luo En frowns, feeling that Miller and Wei En's reactions are too intense to the point of... being somewhat deliberate?

Before he can think more, another researcher, Alice, has already started to vomit violently.

That translucent body allows one to clearly see the entire process of gastric juice surging in the esophagus.

Falco has completely stopped his habitual action of stroking his hair, holding his head tightly with both hands, and emitting suppressed whimpers from his mouth.

"Spatial camouflage technology."

Luo En's voice appears exceptionally calm amidst the chaos:

"The Chaos Spirit Monster creates large-scale spatial illusions when approaching a target, causing all detection equipment based on physical principles to misjudge. This is one of their most lethal hunting techniques."

As soon as he finishes speaking, the "body" of the Chaos Spirit Monster... if that mass of constantly changing chaotic matter can be called a body, begins to undergo new, even more terrifying changes.

Its central area gradually gathers a kind of eerie light that exceeds the limits of human visual perception.

This light changes according to the observer's fear.

Timid people see despairing darkness, angry people see red light burning the soul, and people with complex inner worlds will see a kind of chaotic color that is constantly changing and can never be determined.

"Random teleportation beam!"

Miller warns loudly, his voice revealing unprecedented urgency:

"Everyone, disperse immediately! Do not gather together!"

The Chaos Spirit Monster's teleportation beam is not a simple spatial transfer, but a kind of mandatory "reality reconstruction."

Targets hit by the beam will be randomly sent to any corner of the abyss, including death zones that even many apostles avoid.

Moreover, this kind of teleportation is often incomplete.

Some unfortunate victims are split and teleported, with different parts of their bodies appearing in different locations, the pain of which exceeds any imagination of torture.

Just at the moment when everyone is falling into panic, Luo En has already taken out several silver spherical objects he carefully crafted from his tactical bag.

These specially made scattering projectiles are each poured with his entire heart and soul in alchemy, rune studies, and weapon techniques.

The surface of the projectiles is engraved with extremely complex three-dimensional rune arrays.

Under the stimulation of the abyss environment, the runes are flashing with stable blue light, which is the sign of the normal operation of the spatial interference magic array.

Besides this, through the perfect cooperation of "Extraordinary Identification" and "Hermit's Knowledge," Luo En possesses spatial perception ability that surpasses everyone present.

In his special vision, the seemingly randomly changing form of the Chaos Spirit Monster actually follows a certain deep-seated law.

Although the appearance constantly changes, its energy core—the "true essence" that controls the entire entity—has a relatively fixed position.

This insight allows him to predict every attack the Chaos Spirit Monster is about to launch, including the precise firing direction and coverage range of the teleportation beam.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 314 =====