Chapter 145

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Chapter 145: Shield

Tasha fell into nothingness.

The gravity of the abyss dungeon pulled her like a black hole grabbing a meteor. She was speeding towards the Dungeon Core, but did not crash into the ground, did not see any part of the dungeon – everything she had just seen had receded. Tasha once connected the entire world, from the Primary Material Plane to the abyss, Aryan’s entirety opened up to her, but now this perception became difficult, not severed, just distant.

Because this was no longer Aryan.

The new world derived from Aryan had taken shape, like how a baby about to be born is no longer a part of the mother’s body. How strange it was, something small enough to be stored in the Dungeon Core, when truly immersed in it, became so vast, as if a universe was stored in a box. Tasha might be falling, or rising, in the empty void there was no up, down, left, or right. She was just getting closer to that core, speeding up. A lot of dust accompanied Tasha, they approached her, clung to her, layer by layer enveloping her as if alive.

The battle against the invisible enemy had begun.

Countless heavy materials kept coming one after another, dry yet sticky, like a dough trying to wrap around a filling. The dust of the new world silently invaded, seeping into this body, its form unchanged but its nature gradually altered. Suddenly, Tasha’s three pairs of wings unfolded, flapping heavily through the air, their blade-like feathers fiercely spread out, each trembling at a high frequency, shaking off all the dust clouds that had accumulated, scattering them into the void. The invisible enemy would not cheer or lament; this battle was like fighting against waves, with the outcome completely unseen, a moment of carelessness leading to disaster.

Minutes or countless years later, the long void reached its end, and a sharp, scorching air rushed in. The firelight reflected in Tasha’s eyes, revealing a scorching sea of fire in the new world, the earth blazing fiercely.

With the earth came the sky, the directions, and gravity turned into weight. She was falling into the sea of fire. With each passing second, the temperature rose drastically, her enchanted armor and headband disintegrating in the blink of an eye, fire-resistant talismans offering no protection here. No ordinary person could survive in such high heat. Tasha took a breath, her lungs starting to burn.

Flames ignited from beneath the skin.

The pure white skin vanished in an instant, the jet-black wings ignited and exploded into a blaze, a mass of flames erupted from within Tasha, shifting from orange-red to orange-yellow, then to a platinum color that was unbearable to look at. Not a speck of ash remained; perhaps even the remnants were burnt to nothing. The human form instantly turned into a fiery mass, but did not scatter as it plummeted rapidly.

In the scorching air, the flames opened their eyes.

No flesh and blood body could withstand such high temperatures. The most sturdy armor was bound to deform under the heat, transforming into flames. The agile wings and sharp teeth and claws were of no use at this moment, and Tasha unhesitatingly abandoned them. Every part that could be ignited – hands, feet, torso, head, and internal organs – were all discarded, voluntarily turning herself into flames before being consumed by external flames.

The body of fire element carried Tasha’s soul, and her personal flames would not harm her in the slightest. Thousands of meters were swiftly passed in free fall, as Tasha landed solidly on the ground, shattering into countless sparks, only to gather back in the next moment. The fire element itself had no fixed form.

No one could set foot on this land, as the high temperatures did not allow the ground to solidify; the lava flowed slowly, steadily, and boiling continuously. The scorching heat could melt filaments and coal, but how could flames melt flames? With no feet, Tasha hovered above the magma, the flames forming her body constantly exchanging and merging with the surrounding fire, heating up. She remained unharmed in this fiery hell, at home among the flames, awaiting her enemies.

Magic Demon Rasheda sacrificed herself for the new world, and her remaining soul gained some control over the new world. Temporary authority over a world, even if brief and incomplete, can accomplish many things.

The flow of lava slowed down, as the temperature dropped rapidly. The ground changed from golden to dark red, like cooling syrup. The roaring flames diminished, the earth began to solidify, and cold, hard black and gray appeared at the edges of the lava, spreading out. It seemed as though a river froze, and the golden-red sea solidified into an ugly obsidian continent, motionless. The normal temperature felt quite cold to the fire element, and Tasha felt a chill as if standing naked on ice. Her vibrant body had shrunk and transformed from towering flames into a small flame in a lantern.

As the local fires extinguished, the cooling continued, and frost covered the rocks.

Some delicate layers of rock that had solidified in midair cracked with a crisp sound, unable to bear the weight, falling and shattering. The rapid cooling process made these once molten rocks quite brittle, turning the land into a large cookies heap, filled with gaps and collapses. Tasha leaped away from the collapsed area, stepping onto the shattered rocks, finally finding solid ground.

The low temperature could extinguish the fire element, but her flames transformed just in time to stay lit. Tasha appeared human again, possibly because the human form was the body she initially identified with, transforming to her most basic state during rapid changes.

Shivering slightly from the cold, Tasha’s naked body developed goosebumps in the icy air. She exhaled, her breath turning into white mist in midair.

Fur began to grow.

Starting with her feet, the bare soles sprouted pads of flesh covered in thick fur, like warm snow boots. Sparse, thread-like hairs climbed up from her ankles, blending with the ice crystals creeping across the black obsidian, looking strikingly alike – the thick silver-white fur merging seamlessly with the ice crystals, providing excellent camouflage.

Tasha did not intentionally choose this warm coat style. The element she extracted, from the outer skin of a certain Northern Beast, happened to be this color.

The temperature is still dropping.

This vast land is deserted, not a single living creature in sight. The land has just transformed from a boiling sea of fire to a cold, rocky wasteland with only stones as far as the eye can see. In this monotonous place, even during the sweeping cold wave, there are no signs of wilting plants or trembling animals. The sudden drop in temperature of over a dozen degrees in a minute only makes some stones appear whiter.

In just a few minutes, the Northern Beast’s fur could no longer keep out the cold. The chilling wind pierced through the gaps like a thorny tongue, capable of ripping flesh from bone with a single gust. Tasha closed her eyes, standing still as her frostbitten wounds slowly repaired themselves, tiny hairs rapidly growing and covering the gaps.

If anyone were present at that moment, they might have thought of Tasha as a gigantic, mature dandelion. Her fluffy silver hair rustled softly, and with a gust of wind, large patches of silver hair would lift and flutter away. The Northern Beast’s long hair shed rapidly, only to grow back just as quickly, like the shedding process in spring completed within minutes. Upon closer inspection, the newly grown hair was not that of the Northern Beast, but resembled some kind of bird feather.

Tasha’s body was covered in flat white feathers, shiny large feather layers surpassing even the best fish scales, blocking out the cold wind. Beneath the large feathers, dense down feathers grew, with small and short stems topped with clusters of delicate strands, soft and boneless, forming tiny fluffy tufts. If the dense outer feathers were likened to leaves, the inner down feathers were like reeds.

Large down feathers filled the space below the surface feathers, and under a microscope, countless small gaps could be seen between each downy fiber, filled with still air. These downy fibers containing gaps formed a thick insulating layer, cutting off the exchange of body temperature with the low external temperatures, preventing cold and damp air from reaching the enveloped body. It was like wearing a light, fluffy down coat, almost stopping the decrease in body temperature.

Tasha lifted one foot, shaking off the frost that had stuck to it. The paw pads had shrunk, the hard keratin layer enveloping the flesh and blood. The Arctic Raven clung to the ice with such claws, securing its body without being frozen to the cold cliffs. It was not the Northern Beast but this small bird that inhabited the coldest regions of Aryan, despite the extreme temperatures close to minus one hundred degrees, they continued to frolic.

This was a silent life-and-death struggle, without gun smoke, without shouting or fighting, with victory or defeat silent and unnoticed. The still unstable new world needed to destroy Tasha’s body to obtain her soul, while Tasha needed to maintain herself, resisting the changes of the world with minimal consumption. It was a battle without moves, without physical contact, yet every step was extremely perilous.

The lowest temperature plummeted below the current lowest temperature recorded in Aryan, even the Arctic Raven’s body could not remain unscathed. The temperature drop became faster and more chaotic, the drastic changes even causing the solidified land to collapse haphazardly. Feet stuck on the ground unable to move were covered by the ice layer, eagerly lurching towards Tasha to swallow her.

The hard ice quickly spread to Arctic Raven’s neck, and its mouth opened wide as if in a struggle. Just before the ice sealed its beak shut, a cold light suddenly shot out from its mouth. As soon as it left, the body collapsed.

The fluffy fur in the ice had shrunk, and the collapsed feathers were empty and withered, leaving only a layer of shedding skin. The flesh suddenly transformed before being caught, the concentrated energy escaping like a cocoon, carrying the soul out of its cage. Tasha soared high, watching the body fall into the growing ice, her pale eyes tinged with a hint of green, like frost.

The warm body wrapped in fur had become inappropriate. Tasha’s new body was only as big as an adult’s hand, with tiny transparent wings fluttering quickly like a bee. She looked like a small statue of herself, resembling a human but made entirely of crystal clear ice from head to toe, appearing cold like snow. These magical creatures had long disappeared, said to have played in the icy storms of wizards, and now it seemed true.

Soon after realizing that the low temperature couldn’t destroy Tasha, the cooling stopped.

A streak of light pierced through the dark sky, announcing the beginning of the next clash.

The first meteor streaked a short arc and vanished, followed by a longer second one, then a third, a fourth… A meteor shower descended from the sky, like a summer thunderstorm, with scattered raindrops followed by a downpour.

Countless points of light covered the sky, like a basin of burning coals overhead. Most meteors shattered halfway, but more and more stars broke through the long journey. The giant body screamed towards the earth, wearing away but still intact.

This world was engulfed in a meteor shower, or rather, a "meteorite shower." At such a scale, all the beauty associated with "meteors" was shattered, revealing the mysterious veil of the twinkling stars in the distance, exposing the unattractive truth: fat, fiery boulders. The beautiful points of light in the sky quickly turned into scorching meteorites, with numerous sharp explosions filling the world, followed by deafening rumbling as these stones crashed to the ground.

The falling rocks sped by unbelievably fast, as if someone had grown impatient with gravity and gave each meteor an extra push. Tasha narrowly avoided a meteor’s path, a table-sized stone just grazing her, causing the side of the ice elf’s wing to instantly vaporize.

In the story, a rain of meteors fell, not targeting Tasha specifically, not very dense but covering a wide area. The ice and rocks were badly damaged, causing devastation everywhere. Despite the dangerous atmosphere, Tasha’s body started transforming again. Her delicate wings turned strong, lifting her higher.

Normally a long process in nature, under the power of Magic Demon Rasheda, it happened in an instant.

Countless meteors hit the ground with immense force, causing the temperature to rise and the earth to shake. Eventually, the violent eruption overwhelmed the meteor shower.

Boom!

Finally, the ground erupted with intense fury, rocks splitting open. Hot gas erupted, ripping apart the ground and launching debris into the air, causing massive destruction.

A slender figure moved through this apocalyptic scene, covered in dragon scales, protected. The intense heat triggered volcanic eruptions, wreaking havoc on the world.

Stars fell, volcanoes erupted, in this grand apocalypse, a lone figure traversed, covered in dragon scales. Tasha’s body was transforming immensely, adapting to the chaos.

The dragon scales covering Tasha’s body protected her, with her brain, body, and bones undergoing continuous change.

Dragon scales, resistant to fire and heat, covered her body, and wings similar to demon wings replaced her heavy dragon scales. Tasha’s transformation offered her protection from danger.

The process had already begun. Tasha’s body was adjusting to the toxic air here. Her bones, organs, muscles, and blood were changing with every small shift in the environment. She was adapting like a skilled warrior. Countless evolutions and regressions were condensed in Tasha, as she moved through time in Aryan.

From birth to now, whether in the Heavenly Realm, the Abyss, or the Primary Material Plane, all beings in Aryan existed in Tasha’s genetic library. She was the shield of all Aryan.

This new world, where even the first creatures were not born, could not kill her.

Rasheda sighed softly.

Things reached a standstill. Tasha couldn’t conquer the chaotic environment, and even the environment’s full force couldn’t overwhelm her. Though Rasheda held a world in her hands, the energy it consumed was of world level. The lingering soul of the Magic Demon did not represent the will of this world. It couldn’t target Tasha with just one world; it had to mobilize the entire world, resulting in a futile show of strength, like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

The newly activated world appeared too turbulent. If Rasheda kept using such drastic measures, this completed world might fall apart.

"Stop," Rasheda’s voice echoed in every corner of the world. "The longer this goes on, the greater the internal consumption, and the slimmer the chance of escaping this catastrophe."

"That’s what I wanted to say," Tasha said. "Why don’t you stop and end this peacefully?"

"What’s the point?" Rasheda replied. "As an outsider to this realm, win or lose, your outcome will be the same."

"Don’t need any meaning," Tasha laughed.

She said, "I’m happy to."

Choice.

Self-will.

Soul.

Isn’t this what the world lacks?

As Tasha answered, she saw a mirror.

The sky and the ground were burning, meteors and volcanoes roaring together in this crazy natural disaster, why would there be a mirror here? This mirror had no frame, only Mirror Image, Tasha’s figure reflected in the mirror, gradually becoming three-dimensional from a shadow.

Out of the air, a living Mirror Image walked out.

It has the same face, body as Tasha. Tasha’s body keeps changing, and Mirror Image’s body changes too. It has huge bird wings, dragon scales covering them, quickly shedding and replaced by demon feather sickles. These changes lag behind Tasha a few beats, like a glitch in a video.

Dragon scales, bird wings, demon feather sickles, giant beast tortoise shell, gray fairy eyes, Naga ears… and completely empty eyes very different from Tasha’s.

"Amazing!" Rasheda exclaimed, as if seeing a child walk for the first time, "Miracle! Even in a world without souls, is there still the most basic instinct for survival?"

Mirror Image is not the work of the Magic Demon Lord, it comes from this new world.

Aryan has Tasha, whose full soul makes the new world desire it. In the craving to complete their souls, this unconscious world makes its attempt.

Aryan has Tasha, the new world has its own "Tasha".

"See, this is the difference." Tasha whispered to the familiar face with unfamiliar eyes.

"See, this is the difference." Mirror Image replied, with the same tone and expression.

"Parrot!" Tasha scoffed, "Let’s go!"

"Parrot mimics," Mirror Image said, "come…"

Before it could finish, Tasha crushed its throat.

A thick shell protected the head and body, with a particular weak spot in the throat, perfect for attack. If this body imitates entirely, then the weakness should be in the same place.

Nobody knew themselves better than Tasha.

The wings of the roc bird suddenly retreated, avoiding the claw reaching for its throat. As Tasha stepped back, Mirror Image followed suit, both gracefully like dancing. Tasha’s strike was sudden, while Mirror Image approached clumsily, still imitating. Tasha shed the shell of her torso, and with a swift strike, she pulled out the heart from the chest of the opponent just rid of their armor.

She crushed the beating flesh in her hand, losing a chunk of meat from her chest as well. Tasha dodged fast enough, but Mirror Image also got quicker, closing the time gap. The headless and heartless body fell with a thud, tumbling into the volcano, swallowed by the high-temperature smoke and dust. After a few seconds, the volcano extinguished, the smoke cleared, and the apocalyptic scene miraculously halted a small area. In that safeguarded space by heaven and earth, the headless body unsteadily stood up.

The wound wriggled to heal, the head grew like inflating, still identical to Tasha. The son of the hollow-eyed world flew up again, even more agile and powerful than before.

Tasha remained unfazed, knowing this battle would not end quickly.

But it wouldn’t drag on for too long either.

Outside the Dungeon Core, the ground of the Abyss began to shake. A slender hand felt around on the ground, picking up a limb and reattaching it to the body. Victor looked up next to the Balrog Lord’s corpse, seeing stars falling from the sky.

The Abyss, drained of energy by the new world, was just steps away from total collapse.