It only took a moment and the voidling emitted a pulse of cold energy. It was subtle and barely noticeable but Liam could sense it and apparently so could the other voidlings. The next instant the whole environment shifted. Dozens of voidlings started clumping together instantaneously and their numbers in total probably ranged in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. However, it only took a fraction of a second for the whole gang or at least most of them to band together.
For a moment Liam stood completely mesmerized by the beautiful scene. As they clumped together, their bodies seemed to merge into a larger, more coherent form. The swirling mass of void energy coalesced into a towering figure, looming like a titan made of dark, icy tendrils and frost. The sheer scale of this transformation was staggering, and Liam felt a mix of awe and dread as he watched the phenomenon unfold before him. This wasn't just a group of voidlings anymore; it was as if they had summoned a primeval force from the depths of the void itself. The air around the entity crackled with chilling energy, the temperature dropping even further, making the harsh winds seem almost mild in comparison. The ground beneath Liam's feet vibrated with the power of the voidling conglomerate, a deep rumbling that threatened to shatter the ice itself.
But the combined attack couldn't possibly be strong enough? Was numbers everything? Liam knew that individually each of the voidling couldn't match his dao seed's potential. Perhaps there was a way he could stand ground and take care of the monstrosity?
No. Scratch that. It was a bad idea. It turned out quantity could out match quality after a certain point because the power he felt thrumming from the gigantic thing was definitely more than he could handle. A lot more than he could handle.
Liam did not hesitate for another second as he quickly swapped places with one of the soul minions he had left behind. A dispensable soul minion among the many similar ones he had created exactly for this purpose.
The activation of the skill took a moment and it was barely in time to avoid the first attack that came to him, rippling with waves of power enough to shred the reality in that spot. Liam might be wrong but he was sure he could even feel the skill's instantaneous teleportation slightly distorted this time around.
The voidlings were definitely not something he could underestimate.
Liam felt his soul minion bear the brunt of the attack. The landscape around the initial point of impact warped and twisted, ice shattering and reforming in unnatural patterns. It was a clear demonstration of the entity's destructive capabilities.
Liam's decision to retreat was validated further as he observed the entity's movements. It wasn't just powerful; it was also incredibly agile for its size, moving through the icy terrain with a fluidity that defied its monstrous form.
Its domain also was widespread. It hunted for him with a primordial fervor before snuffing out two other of his soul minions that he had left nearby. After that he had no idea what the heck was the abomination up to. He had a few more minions set up here and there but the thing hadn't reached them yet. He was now completely in the dark.
More importantly, he was now back at square one which he was not quite a fan of. He had to start all over again and he had to take a much longer detour. On the plus side, the voidlings seemed to have cast a wide net and called in for more reinforcements. The entire area was stripped clean of all voidlings which gave him a lot more freedom to move.
Liam blasted forward at full speed, taking advantage of the brief reprieve. His goal was clear: reach the frozen lake and retrieve the rock before any more complications arose. With the majority of voidlings distracted or merged into the colossal entity, the landscape was eerily quiet, almost too quiet for comfort.
The cold, biting wind whipped around him, but his focus remained unshaken. Thankfully, the rest of the journey was uneventful. The only enemy he had was the terrain itself. The closer he got, the more intense the environment became. The icy winds seemed to howl with a greater ferocity, and the snow underfoot grew deeper, making each step laborious and taxing.
Despite these challenges, Liam reached the edge of the frozen lake. The vast expanse of ice stretched before him, its surface shimmering under the dim light that managed to pierce the cloud-covered sky. He stood at the shore, catching his breath, his eyes scanning the seemingly tranquil landscape for any signs of danger.
Once again this place too was devoid of any voidlings. At least on the surface. Below the surface, the scene could be completely different. He tried extending his mana sense but he would have to step in to know the situation firsthand.
Liam took a deep breath before plunging into the ice cold water. Fuck! He immediately swore. Ice cold held a different meaning here. In just a second his being froze in place and his body started to freeze over. He was already extracting every bit of his ice dao seed and nether dao seed and it was still not enough.
Liam flinched in pain. He needed to think quickly. He had two choices. Leave or continue. If he decided to leave then everything would be easy but he had already come so far and he was not about to leave when the thing he was looking for was right in front of his doorstep.
Liam inhaled deeply and started rotating yet another one of his dao seeds. The dao seed of forging that he had formed. While not exactly compatible, the three dao seeds did not necessarily repel each other.
The mingling of his three dao seeds created a unique synergy, a trifecta of power that slowly began to counteract the oppressive cold. The Dao of Forging, primarily utilized for creation and transformation, lent its strength, allowing Liam to manipulate the ice surrounding him, reducing its inhibitory effects on his movements.
As the ice began to thin around him, Liam moved deeper into the lake. The light was dim, filtered through the thick ice above. The cold was intense, seeping into every pore, but Liam's combination of Dao seeds protected him from being frozen solid. He descended further slowly and steadily.