Chrysalis Chapter 1608: 1716 - Beam of the Heavens

If I do say so myself, Singularity is one hell of a spell. It’s easily one of my personal favorites and packs a massive punch, having been unlocked once I reached the next rank of Gravity Mana specialization. To balance that ridiculous damage potential, however, the difficulty of casting the damn thing is absolutely mind-shattering.

The pattern is more intricate than a sculpture made of jelly, and simply holding the mana in place is an exhausting ordeal.

To produce the catastrophic beam of doom that erupts from the singularity, I essentially have to stabilize two gravity bombs and force them to bleed into one another. Managing that much mana is a giant pain in the thorax; doing it with such precision is twice as frustrating!

Even so, I make no effort to conceal my actions as I pull out the mana and begin the weaving process. Since there is no immediate time pressure, I don’t hurry, allowing the energy to flow like a crashing river while I mold it and give it form. It isn't long before power begins radiating from me, acting as a screaming warning and a clanging alarm to anyone sensing the mana in the vicinity.

I can only hope these delvers don't underestimate what is coming. If they have any sense, they should be fleeing for their lives right now. Their position has clearly been compromised, so why are they still trying to hold their ground? It will be even worse for them if they attempt to raise shields.

I have never actually tested the singularity against defensive magic, but holy moly, a shield would have to be incredible to withstand this.

As the casting continues, maintaining a slow and controlled pace becomes increasingly difficult. The more mana I weave into the spell, the harder it is to keep it contained. It feels like a boulder I am trying to hold up on a hillside, one that grows heavier with every passing second. Soon, I won't be able to restrain it anymore, and it will begin rolling regardless of my will.

Two dense spheres of Gravity Mana manifest above my head, swallowing the light and bathing me in a purple-hued darkness. Each orb rotates with an inevitable momentum, drawing closer and closer until a violent reaction is sparked between them.

Delvers, please, for your own sake, don't be there when this goes off.

When the beam is finally unleashed, it's as if every drop of light in the world is consumed. Faster than light and beyond blinding, it slices through the atmosphere, leaving a screaming void in its path.

A distant rumbling transforms into a disastrous roar that vibrates the ground even where I stand, kilometers away, as my magic carves through the earth, the air, the heavens, and the hells alike.

As the light flickers and starts to dim, I am met with nothing but a wall of wreckage and rising clouds of dust. From this distance, sensing exactly what is happening at the ambush site isn't easy, but if any delvers stayed put... let’s just say they aren’t having a good time.

Satisfied that whatever was waiting to strike me is likely in ruins, I march forward with determination, ready to face my enemies.

[Crinis, can you start attacking me? Just lightly, don't overdo it.]

[Uh… I would really rather not… Master,] she answers.

Hiding within my shadow, Crinis has been on her best behavior lately, only attempting to sneak inside my carapace a few times an hour. I think she suffered from some kind of withdrawal while I was asleep for so long. She’s even more clingy than usual, which is really saying something.

[It’s just to get my healing network running, okay? It’s nothing weird. In fact, you’ll be helping me.]

[Well… alright.]

A few tentacles emerge from my shadow and begin to poke at the underside of my carapace.

[Come on, Crinis! That doesn’t even count as an attack! Put some effort into it!]

[Fine!]

Her strikes could still be described as gentle—little more than an aggressive tickling—but it’s at least enough to finally get the healing network to start functioning. Barely.

Advancing through the dust, I keep my wits about me and my senses sharp. Hundreds of delvers are still out here, so I must remain cautious. While the singularity likely destroyed most of their preparations, I can't afford to underestimate them. This fight will probably be the most challenging one I’ve faced since waking up from my evolution.

With my mind constructs spinning, I draw out mana and prepare my spells. I carefully sniff out the faint gravitational fields being emitted by the delvers. They are nearby, hidden within the dust clouds. It appears they have huddled together in the debris to pool their strength.

A clever tactic. I should probably clear this dust to get a better view. While tracking enemies via gravitational fields during a fight is possible, it’s barely manageable, and I’d much prefer to use my eyes.

I just reset them, so I might as well use them!

A powerful gust of wind surges through the tunnel, clearing the dust clouds and exposing the absolute carnage that has been inflicted here.

It… isn't a pretty sight.

The singularity has torn a horrific trench through the stone, vaporizing everything in its path and shredding the traps set by the delvers. Several devices appear to have detonated, and two separate rockfall traps were triggered prematurely. There are scorch marks everywhere; some rocks have been turned to slag, while others are frozen solid.

Yikes! They really had some nasty things waiting for me over here!

Now, what are they up to? I expected them to have started their assault by now…

The wind continues to howl, blowing away the thick dust and finally revealing the gathered delvers.

They are all huddled together, down on their knees.

Uhhh… what?

I extend a mind bridge to the delver closest to me.

[What… what on earth are you doing?]

[Surrendering!]