Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2051: The middle of nowhere

Previously on Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure...

Shota confronted Solista with frustration over the withheld truths about the gods and his path, but she remained firm, bound by restrictions that prevented full disclosure. She explained that revelations would come gradually through trials, starting with an oracle guiding him to aid those in need at a mysterious location, a task that puzzled him with its simplicity compared to empowering the Mark of God. Unwilling to reveal details on the people or place, Solista dismissed inquiries about the other gods, claiming she had sent them away to avoid complications, before abruptly returning Shota to the mortal world where the popes awaited with the freshly arrived oracle.

"There’s nothing here."

Those words echoed in my mind as I gazed upon the vast emptiness stretching out ahead.

I needed to verify once more that this truly was the correct location, yet every piece of evidence I possessed confirmed it without a doubt. From every angle, this spot should have held those who required my aid.

Yet, in reality, the area stood utterly devoid of life or presence.

Nestled in the heart of isolation, this barren stretch offered no signs of habitation or activity.

Prior to our arrival, I had cross-checked the details with representatives from all four human empires and several other races. The Holy Empire had hesitated to reveal the oracle's message, but ultimately they relented, recognizing the urgency for the common cause.

Every source agreed: this was the precise spot.

Still, the desolation persisted without interruption.

"What exactly am I meant to accomplish in this void?" I whispered under my breath while scanning the barren vista.

This region ranked among the continent's most forsaken wilds.

Nothing could take root here, as the soil lay utterly lifeless and infertile. That explained the total absence of any creatures or plants in the vicinity.

One might expect nature to reclaim such a wasteland over the ages, but some unseen force appeared to block any regeneration.

Thus, the area remained a true void, barren and unchanging.

"Any discoveries?" I inquired of Klein as he returned alongside his royal guards.

Klein simply shook his head and replied, "We’ve scoured the surroundings thoroughly, but not a trace turned up."

My brows furrowed involuntarily at his words, though I held no resentment toward him.

Upon reaching this desolate site and noting its emptiness, we had immediately dispatched search parties to comb the terrain. Predictably, their efforts yielded zero results.

Frowning, I surveyed the landscape once more, anticipating some development.

In the process, I lifted the hand bearing the Mark of God, observing for any response.

Given that the gods had directed me to this trial ground, I anticipated the Mark of God would ignite an event here. It aligned with how the Mark of God had previously linked me to the divine realm.

"With no response yet, it must operate on a limited radius. I need to enter that zone for it to manifest."

Doubt flickered in the eyes of Klein and his companions as they regarded me, but I dismissed their skepticism.

Truth be told, I shared their uncertainty and recognized the slim odds, yet options were scarce in this empty expanse.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I guided our party through the wilderness, hoping to stumble upon a clue.

Only when we approached a massive heap of stones did I sense...

"Are you certain nothing else lies in this area?"

The question startled Klein and his guards, but he quickly denied it with a shake of his head: "No, absolutely nothing was uncovered here."

Even so, a handful of royal guards stepped closer, ready to inspect the spot anew.

I held up my hand to halt them and explained, "This isn’t visible to the unaided eye. It’s more like..."

Words failed to capture it adequately, but demonstrating proved straightforward.

As I extended my hand, the Mark of God began emitting a subtle luminescence, indicating a reaction to the surroundings.

And the source of that reaction...

My gaze fixed on the cluster of rocks before us.

Squinting intently, I probed for anomalies, yet the formation appeared entirely ordinary.

Nevertheless, I detected an undeniable trace of divine energy emanating from it.

Faint though it was, it evaded neither my senses nor the Mark of God.

Unable to pinpoint the anomaly, I reached out and placed my palm against the stone pile.

Instantly, a radiant aura enveloped the rocks.

This illumination didn’t stem solely from the Mark of God’s divine energy; it surged from beneath the earth itself. The stones seemed linked to an underground source pulsing with divine power.

I also sensed a contribution from the Mark of God’s own divine energy.

It acted like a spark, igniting the hidden mechanism.

When the glow intensified to a peak, additional beams erupted from the ground below.

The light formed merely a slender trail etched into the soil.

Yet this trail didn’t end nearby; it stretched onward in a deliberate path.

Simultaneously, a parallel streak of light emerged in the contrary direction.

These luminous paths converged toward unseen destinations, hinting at deeper connections.

"This looks like an...array?"