Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2119: Tenacity

Progress proved sluggish in the end, yet it remained far swifter than skulking behind barriers to push ahead.

Thanks to the countless lightning rods I fashioned, our group ventured far into the depths of this taboo zone.

Undoubtedly, this method outshone relying on barriers for advancement by a wide margin.

Yet ultimately, it fell short of flawlessness.

Occasional lightning bolts slipped past the lightning rods regardless. Thus, although we avoided deploying barriers against every descending strike, a few still demanded defense from our shields.

Nevertheless, the burden on the magicians lightened considerably.

Handling one lone lightning bolt differed vastly from enduring a barrage of them.

Simply put, our traversal through this area yielded no discoveries so far.

Pushing beyond any depths charted by the races, we discovered nothing here. As the grandest taboo zone on the continent, it stood to reason that secrets eluded us thus far.

Actually, we hadn't encountered utter emptiness.

"Is that really growing here?" I blurted out upon spotting the plant sprouting from the earth.

No replies came, as astonishment gripped everyone just like me.

A solitary flower bloomed right before us from the soil.

Its very existence there stunned us, but more marvels surrounded it—arcs of electricity danced in the air nearby.

This sight suggested the flower had thrived by drawing in the might of the ceaseless lightning downpour.

Such absorption clearly accounted for its survival in this harsh spot.

No common bloom could endure amid such fury.

"This really is an amazing sample...If only we can take it back with us..."

The Sorcery Empire's magicians reacted just as expected to this bloom, though denying my own intrigue would ring false.

The resilience needed for it to thrive here defied the ordinary.

I couldn't stop pondering what trait enabled this flower to conquer such a deadly realm.

Meanwhile, curiosity stirred in me about applying that same resilience elsewhere—a trait invaluable for countless uses.

Still, this wasn't our sought-after prize.

"Let’s go." I commanded the Sorcery Empire magicians.

Disappointment etched their faces, yet they obeyed, abandoning the plant. Their primary obstacle remained transport impossibility.

Harvesting and preserving such a specimen demanded unique techniques they hadn't prepped for, forcing them to forsake it temporarily.

Further steps ahead brought fresh astonishment.

"There are even living beings in this place?"

Tiny as they were, these qualified as lifeforms.

Tiny lizards scurried across the ground ahead, crackling with the same electric aura, proof they'd harnessed the lightning's power too.

Shock rippled through us, for no parallels existed in other zones.

Every other area lacked even a hint of vitality.

This stark contrast to elsewhere puzzled greatly.

"Just what is it about this place that allows these living beings to survive? Is it because it’s just electricity and it’s easier to adapt to?"

Common sense dictated lightning adaptation tougher than other perils, yet past-life knowledge assured me otherwise.

My previous existence brimmed with beasts generating and wielding electricity, proving its adaptability.

Grasping this changed little, as I'd never delved into such studies—experts in the field should ponder it.

"Let’s go," I repeated.

Sorcery Empire magicians struggled to depart, but they weren't alone in that reluctance.

Our companions specialized in research, drawn by elemental lore.

Novel encounters drove these scholars wild with excitement.

Such spectacles gripped them fiercely.

Ultimately, duty recalled them, sharpening their resolve.

Thus, they trailed me toward the pillars.

Finding it left me utterly stunned.

"Why is it in this form?"