Hell Difficulty Tutorial Chapter 807 - I'd better clean it up

I rise and brush the sand from my attire, pausing to examine the fragment adhered to the back of my left hand. With half of it now detached, I grip it between my index finger and thumb, holding it up to the brilliant light of this level to get a better look. Subsequently, I channel all the mana from my crown into it and cast it into the sandy expanse.

It begins to sprout with haste, initially manifesting as a mere trunk with a few branches devoid of leaves. However, as it expands, delicate, transparent green leaves unfurl, within which faint lights gracefully shimmer.

The structure attains my own height. Utilizing it as a central point, I employ my newly acquired skill to establish connections, forming linear pathways. The Nameless Tree reinforces these conduits, rendering them more resilient and stable, even as I integrate them with the pre-existing network that extends to everyone within Group 4.

While not exceptionally efficient, and requiring my active focus through the half-crystal embedded in my hand to sustain the absorption process, the exertion is minimal. All the kinetic energy absorbed is then directed to the tree, promoting its growth in height, enhancing its capabilities, expanding its reach, and strengthening my connection to it, alongside the power I can transmit through it.

True to my word, I commence my journey toward a region where I detected elevated mana levels during my initial aerial survey of the surroundings. Still unhurried, I proceed on foot, occasionally traversing greater distances using Wraith Dance. At intervals, I ascend the crest of a dune to admire the vista.

To my surprise, I also discover that resisting the ambient heat consumes an unexpectedly large quantity of mana. While the temperature is indeed high, it should not be depleting my reserves to such an extent. Fortunately, I am not on the verge of depletion; I could sustain this for months if desired. However, for individuals at lower cultivation levels, the surface would be utterly inhospitable. A person possessing a robust physique might withstand it through sheer physical resilience, or perhaps with suitable passive abilities or artifacts. Yet, without adequate preparation or finding a sanctuary offering respite, this planet could prove fatal with considerable rapidity.

Thus far, my senses have not registered any sign of monsters or fauna. As is often the case, this prompts contemplation: is it merely a feature of the floor's configuration, a reflection of the environment upon which this locale is based, an element beyond my current understanding, or a confluence of all these factors?

While traversing the landscape, I also dedicate time to training my eyesight using the specialized glasses. This process essentially involves channeling small amounts of my mana through the frame, which activates the lenses and initiates the training regimen devised by the Magi. I surmise that the frame meticulously tracks my ocular movements and responses, adapting the visual feed accordingly.

Occasionally, the ambient mana becomes perceptible, either spontaneously or through an arcane mechanism I have yet to decipher, manifesting with colors designed to capture my attention. This coloration intensifies progressively, reaching a point where, should I falter in the exercise, visual clarity becomes nearly unattainable. The function of the glasses is to amplify the ambient mana, monitor my gaze, and employ the lenses as a protective barrier, thereby preventing the influence of my eyes from extending beyond manageable limits.

Subsequently, the glasses necessitate that I direct my attention toward this intensified ambient mana and strive to comprehend its nature.

The precise method by which the glasses ascertain the success or failure of my practice remains enigmatic. Furthermore, they periodically execute a

As a group of individuals comes into view nearby, I make my way toward them, tuning into their conversation.

"The Aurate Consortium has seized control of the Shades' second base, the one located in the night sector. They've reportedly discovered another two packets of Talnium there, worth harvesting. Honestly, I'd be willing to slit all their throats for even half that amount."

"Damn it, didn't the Shades recently recruit some kind of Absolute Candidate?"

"Indeed, two of those conceited bastards, you know how those types usually are. The boss mentioned that a Consortium Adjudicator showed up, so they're presumably deceased."

"Alright, understood. We're leaving."

"Don't fool yourself. They wouldn't dispatch an Adjudicator for a small contingent like ours. Simply keep a low profile, continue our extraction, and abscond with the next shipment. I have no intention of lingering here any longer, given the current circumstances."

Approaching closer, I examine them under the faint illumination provided by small, glowing orbs housed within vials attached to their waists. They all appear to be around levels 200 to 300. Each is clad in peculiar attire that completely conceals their bodies, leaving no skin exposed from the neck down. Even their faces are hidden, as each possesses a helmet designed to cover the entire head and integrate with the rest of the suit.

The suits themselves are white, conspicuously visible despite the layers of dirt and patches of dried mud and sand clinging to them. They are not thin; rather, they seem to be composed of numerous tubes, approximately the width of a pinkie finger, covering most of the surface and connecting to several reservoirs containing various liquids.

Finally, each suit is equipped with a mana battery integrated into the helmet and another located in the center of the chest. This chest component appears adaptable; it could potentially be powered by the mana generated by the wearer's heart, given the presence of a specific structure in that area. Each of the men carries a weapon. The tunnel walls are adorned with various mechanical components and ventilation systems, and a small teleportation array, currently powered by a full mana stone, stands ready for use nearby.

At last, they register my presence, and a dark blue projectile tinged with purple mana is launched directly at my head. Shielding the back of my hand with oscillating mana, I bat it aside. The projectile fragments into a cloud of minuscule particles that drift in the air before being drawn into the crown atop my head.

A barrage of subsequent attacks follows, each deflected in the same fashion. Several of the men advance towards me, and surprisingly, many then encase themselves in protective mana armor. Utilizing my Preeminence Eyes, I analyze the structure of each defensive shell, identify vulnerabilities, and then, through my gaze alone, each suit of armor disintegrates before the men can even close the distance. A surge of kinetic energy propels them back, ricocheting off the walls and sending them sliding until they manage to halt their momentum.

Even within the comfortably temperate tunnels, a few of them exhibit beads of perspiration on their foreheads, and some cautiously retreat towards the teleportation array, unnoticed by their companions who are closer to me.

“So, I have a few questions,” I state, employing a tone I intend to be both polite and soothing.

Another assault is launched my way; the projectile is disrupted just before it reaches my head, and its constituent particles are drawn to the crown.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

[You have defeated Hexblade - lvl 295]

The lance dissipates, causing his body to slide down the wall and collapse to the ground amidst the ensuing silence.

“I still have a few questions,” I reiterate.

“Screw you! You know we can’t reveal anything! Who are you associated with?” one of them, a Velnar male whose bulk barely allows him to fit within the tunnel, shouts at me.

“And precisely why are you unable to speak?”

“You... you genuinely have no clue?” the Velnar stares at me, disbelief warring with mounting suspicion, a sentiment shared by the rest of the group. “It’s because of the neural implant we all possess. Everyone who arrives on Xyphos is fitted with one; it allows them to eliminate us if we violate the regulations and purges the coordinates of this location from our memories!”

Disregarding his raised, near-shouting voice, I proceed to scan his physique, searching for the implant without concern for whether he notices. Just as I pinpoint its location in the center of his head, the Velnar emits a groan of discomfort and collapses onto his knees, clutching his head.

Even as I observe this reaction, I deflect several more incoming attacks, careful to avoid fatal blows.

How peculiar. I would have wagered that I hadn't interfered with any of the implant's sensors in a manner that would trigger such a response. Either the creators were of exceptional skill, perhaps on the level of a Champion or higher, or these implants possess a design beyond my current understanding.

One of the men attempts a desperate dash towards the teleportation array. One of my lances pierces through his skull, and his body crumples to the floor as I contemplate my next course of action.

Since I had already eliminated a few individuals, simply releasing them would be illogical, and the outcome would likely mirror or even worsen compared to their permanent removal. However, the presence of the teleportation array poses a significant concern; I cannot be certain if additional individuals will emerge from it, potentially bringing powerful allies. Therefore, I cannot disregard its existence.

While I am compelled to question the men before me, I do not believe they are withholding information, and the implant most likely prevents any further revelations. Even if Lily and I collaborated to extract it, the result would remain unchanged. I confirm this suspicion as I reach towards the implant embedded in the velnar’s head, eliciting another pained cry. Several veins in his eyes rupture, causing them to bleed profusely.

I suspect that destroying it, teleporting it elsewhere, or any similar action is beyond my current capabilities. At least, not before it claims the man's life. The more I scrutinize the implant, the more I recognize its sophisticated design.

The assaults directed at me escalate with a palpable sense of desperation. Projectiles fly, arrays are triggered, and the mana batteries powering the suit are overclocked for intensified output. Despite this onslaught, I remain stationary, nullifying all incoming movements and disrupting all mana flow.

“Bastard! I swear my brother will obliterate you along with the organization backing you! I…” The velnar’s tirade is abruptly ended as his head disintegrates from a precisely aimed kinetic energy blast I unleash, which carves a considerable cavity into the wall behind him.

It takes me a mere second to process the events that have unfolded, and my brow furrows in thought.

This situation could easily devolve into a complex and perilous predicament. Consequently, I must address it comprehensively.

The remaining men perish in a similar fashion. Proceeding past their remains, I arrive at the teleportation array. It appears a specific code is necessary for its activation. As I delve deeper, I deduce that this code must be in possession of the fallen men. I commence my search while a portion of my focus remains dedicated to deciphering the array's intricate workings.

Meanwhile, I take a seat on a nearby crate. Another part of my attention is allocated to searching for any talnium they might have carried, despite my lack of familiarity with its appearance. Nevertheless, I find neither ore nor any material resembling it. Subsequently, I turn my attention to my own status panel.

Name:

Title:

Difficulty:

Rank:

Guild:

Floor:

Time left until forced return:

Traits (3/3):

Lvl 407

Primary Class:

Sub-class:

Active skills (8/10):

Constructs:

Passive skills (5/5):

Tokens:

Shards:

After a few minutes, my task is complete. I step onto the array, initiating its activation and teleporting to an unknown destination.