As Han Dong caught the old man’s skull, a foul-smelling slime splattered from within its crevices.
Han Dong was in no rush for mental invasion; the consciousness of this Bone Engraver was nearly overwhelmed by the stench, of course... The skull as a whole was still enshrouded in a direct fear from being devoured alive, so there was no worry at all.
"Yuck! Nicholas, can’t you clean it up a bit before handing it over?"
When Han Dong made this request...
Nicholas extended a dark green tongue, licking around the entire surface of the skull before slithering into the nasal cavity, sucking everything inside clean.
Though it appeared spotless, the odor grew even stronger.
After all, it was an important clue tool, so Han Dong still stored it in the archives room for a slow mental invasion.
While marveling at Nicholas’s brilliant battle, Han Dong pondered a question.
"This group of Dead Spirits clearly possesses a ’Consciousness Network,’ allowing them to communicate with each other, otherwise, the first female wouldn’t have known that a similar conflict was occurring on the other side of the frozen ground.
This group of Dead Spirits not only doesn’t dispatch a large force to obliterate us, but instead, each bunker deliberately leaves one behind, as if purposely letting us eliminate them one by one.
Are they trying to lead us to the center via this method, or are they using individual Dead Spirits to fight us, collecting intelligence on us?"
Pope seemed to be pondering a similar question.
After exchanging glances, the two continued towards the next bunker.
Since Han Dong and Nicholas had already shown their skills, now it was Pope’s turn.
They were both curious if Pope, as a Demon specializing in ’Space Magic,’ would use such physical means to defeat his opponents, perhaps even deploying the "Void Lightsaber" he used in the Ladybug Game.
Yet the reality surprised both of them.
A Dead Spirit with a gigantic head hadn’t even finished its introductory speech.
As Pope raised his hand,
A space cube, visible to the naked eye, already enveloped the Dead Spirit’s body.
"Atomic Disintegration" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novelFirｅ.net
Disassembling it into microscopic units by pure physical means, only the skull remained.
As the Dead Spirit attempted to reconstitute its body with Ice Crystals, Han Dong’s laughter simultaneously assaulted it, completing the collection of the third skull.
With a serious demeanor, Pope stated the battle conclusion:
"Though these Dead Spirits can survive for years, their combat power is rather mediocre... They should be the most basic ’Dead Spirit Units’ of this frozen land.
The purpose of a single presence in the bunkers is likely to test, verify, and lure us.
With minimal resources, they can verify the invader’s information without any loss.
Nicholas, how goes the invasion on your side?"
"The first skull is nearly done, basically enslaved; anyone can question it... Pope, why don’t you go question it? I’m completely unfamiliar with this ancient race, so I might miss some key points later on."
Pope nodded, transforming into star particles and diving into the "Void Meatball" Han Dong held.
Inside the established archive room.
Three skulls were neatly arranged on an individual archive shelf, the first skull of a female with white hair, presenting a ’clown-like’ makeup.
The red smile was smeared evenly along the mouth corners,
Even balloons were squeezed into the eye sockets, simulating eyeballs protruding from them,
Most bizarre, Pope could even faintly hear a kind of laughter.
The other two skulls were similarly stricken, a strange balloon already lodged in their cranial cavities, and when the balloon fills, their minds are entirely obliterated.
"This Nicholas’s ’Madness Nature’, another example simply wouldn’t exist throughout the Center of Chaos.
No wonder Green is so focused... even able to enslave the consciousness of Dead Spirits, such fearsome ability.
Luckily, this guy isn’t our enemy."
In Pope’s eyes, the archives room’s scene appeared even more bizarre than the frozen ground.
Whenever he asked a question, the skull would emit a burst of laughter before obediently answering... However, just as Pope expected, these Dead Spirits are ’basic units’.
Once it involved deep matters, they had no knowledge at all.
Yet, Pope did manage to unearth some crucial information.
This group hailing from ancient Vodas Ice Demons indeed underwent a Dead Spirit transformation under the influence of the "Book of Dead Spirit-Bone True Text"... But any information regarding the Book of Dead Spirit, its storage place remains entirely unknown.
They undergo a systematic transformation process.
As the Dead Spirit transformation completes, they rely less on extreme cold and more on [Bone] development.
The stronger and purer the Dead Spirits, the higher the bone’s attributes and purity.
Consequently, these formerly collective cooling bunkers are entirely abandoned; they’ve become able to function at temperatures significantly higher.
With some transformation rates on the lower end, still fundamentally extreme cold Dead Spirits belong to inferior grades,
Being rejected, individually stationed in bunkers as surface reconnaissance units.
If they can kill outsiders, bringing sufficient fresh bone marrow to the ’Temple’, they might be exceptionally granted residence within the Temple.
This explains why upon encountering Han Dong and others, there’s no room for negotiation, direct conflict erupted.
With bunker abandonment,
This transformed Vodas Ice Demons group constructs a ’Temple’ more conducive to Dead Spirit transformation,
Located right below the unique shining white Stone tablet drawing outsiders here,
Yet specific about Temple details remains unknown; after all, these low transformation creatures simply lack the qualification to enter.
"’Transformation Rate’"
It appears they’ve developed a relatively stable Dead Spirit system, perhaps with Demons already mastering Dead Spirit Remnants... Solely we three infiltrating the Temple’s lair bears too high a risk.
Since there’s another team advancing, let them be the first to enter.
If those can manage disorder within the Temple, our opportunity naturally arrives."
When Pope emerged from the meat bubble, Han Dong with Nicholas had just slain another Dead Spirit.
"No need to advance bunker by bunker anymore..."
As Pope described the situation clearly, Han Dong agreed.
Letting another team trail ahead surely is an excellent strategy,
The only concern Han Dong had is the identity of this team, why they also appear here.
"Since we’re letting them advance first, let’s just rest here; anyway, the bunkers have already been abandoned, it’s relatively warmer inside (-190℃), and it also features a group bedroom."
Utilizing the unexpectedly freed leisure, the three cramped within a narrow bedroom, sat on the lower bunks conversing.
Already having slept considerably within the spaceship, they could only sit this way and chat.
About the current situation, Pope had thoroughly analyzed it; nothing much remained to discuss... The topic shifted to Han Dong, discussing the secret intelligence he displayed to "Mr. Teacher" within the Void.
Pope had been seeking an opportunity to understand this matter, what exactly interested the teacher so.
Han Dong began recounting his experience visiting the Black Tower Control Bureau with Sally and Headless Bro,
First elucidating the bureau’s intricate design, then proceeding from general to details.
This section Pope listened with eyes wide, generating a yearning also for visiting.
Upon discussing situations concerning the uncontrolled original versions, like [The-Deepest-House] and heavyweight [Mr. Teacher],
Even Nicholas, who pretended to pay little attention, adjusted his posture, listening earnestly.
He even grew excited about the prospect of these bizarre Out of Control individuals potentially invading S-01,
Sensing a War opportunity, a chance to gain greater benefits and status for the Shoggoth Clan.