Philip, Justine, Mark, Celine, and Tenshi continued to go down the chasm. As they go deeper, it becomes darker and darker, until it was completely black
"Hey, it's too dark. Can you see where you're going?"
Mark's voice was heard
"Yes, I have a Night Vision ability and I can see everything"
"Oh, lucky you... How long do we have to go?"
"I'm not sure either"
Since Mark and the rest can't see anything around them. They thought that Justine is supporting Philip's fall, but in reality, he is actually free falling with his head first. Tenshi was flying straight down and Justine is supporting both Mark and Celine
The only thing that they can see inside the chasm is the dim opening of the mouth behind them that becomes darker as they go deeper and Tenshi's Halo and the Eight Heavenly Discs behind her back. Also, Philip's right hand is glowing and it's sticking like an eyesore to everyone
A Halo suddenly appeared on Tenshi's position and the Halo moved from the right side towards the front. The Halo then increased its rotation speed and emanated light
"Solitude!"
Tenshi declared the Eight Heavenly Prayer and her blue eyes and entire body glowed brightly that served as a beacon in the dark chasm
"Why'd you do that?"
Philip asked curiously
"Just in case"
It was then that a beam of yellow light came down in the chasm coming from the sky and into the mouth of the unstable Mana Hotspot. The light had sparkles and glitters raining down as they fall through the chasm. A few moments later, a large white octagram came down from above and passed everyone. The octagram was spinning and went further away from them. Eight yellow glowing pillars then also came down a few seconds later and passed them too. Yellow chains followed afterwards
As the Heavenly Prayer of Solitude has been declared and invoked, Tenshi domain will be established, but in a condition of she must be standing on a ground. So, the domain will be erected at the bottom of the chasm, on the ground
"I'll erect my domain just in case. It's also to have light so we can see"
Tenshi's main reason is actually have light for everyone to see and to see what's ahead of them. Philip quickly adjusted his eyes from the light
Justine then waved her hand and manipulated the light coming from Tenshi's Solitude prayer. She expanded and spread the illumination around the chasm and eevry nook and cranny of the chasm has been illuminated. Nothing escaped from the light and nothing can hide in the shadows or darkness
She couldn't manipulate the light itself coming from Tenshi's Solitude because it has a different type of energy and vector flowing through. Though, she has analyzed the Holy Energy present in the light. She couldn't figure out the other energy signatures and vectors present in the beam of light. So, she just manipulated the light that is being release, the illumination, the photons that she can easily analyze and manipulate
They then continued falling down the chasm
~~~
After a few more minutes, the walls of the chasm suddenly illuminated, brighter than the illumination the Justine placed. The color of the light varied from blue, purple, and green
"What? What are these?"
Mark asked. Celine and Tenshi were also looking with interest and curiosity
"These are the different types and kinds of Mana Stones"
The reason why Philip included the "kinds" of Mana Stones is because he can see other levels of Mana Stones that are growing from the wall. These include Spirit Gems, Spirit Crystals, and Mystical Gems
"Kinds and types?"
"The Mystical Academy doesn't know this information and only I and the Old Man knows about this, perhaps the higher beings if you include them, but... Mana stones has different levels and tiers. Think like 10+10=20 and 10x10=100"
"Wait... So, you're saying that there are stones that can hold more Mana and they are differentiated by types and kinds?"
"That's basically it"
Philip then went ahead and told Mark, Celine, and Tenshi about the Mana Stones. From stones to stars kinds, and spirits to atomic types. He also told them the conversion system and the comparison, application, and function of each of them
"...and that's why there are no kinds lower than star of the divine type"
"..."
The three of them were silent from taking in all the information at once
"There's something bigger out there that we don't know, huh?"
Mark's eyes were opened. Even if Mark is the leader of a secret elite squadron that is deployed whenever a country or the world needs them, there are still information that he doesn't know or doesn't have any access to it. The squadrons around the world aren't a secret organization anyways, unlike the Anonymous, the Octagon, and many more
"There's a lot that you guys don't know... I hope you get to know more, but we have to overcome this anomaly first..."
Philip said in a melancholic tone and the others remained silent
"Don't worry though! I'll tell you guys everything half that I know... Of course, I'll keep the secrets safe with me for now"
"..."
Mark and the rest were silent for a moment before Mark asked a question
"Why do you decide to tell us everything right now when you refuse to say anything yesterday?"
"No reason really... It's because a lot is changing... Depending on our actions, we may be heading straight to our doom or saving the world"
"What do you mean?"
Mark asked with worry. Celine and Tenshi's faces were also filled with worry
"We might die"
"..."
"Even if I saw each of your prowess and potential... We might die, even if I have the power of Fate Control and other abilities. Even if Justine is here..."
Everyone was stunned and silent from Philip's words. They suddenly realized the underlying consequences of having the ability to see into the future and to change fate. Just thinking about it, they think that Philip is constantly suffering and that he has to endure everything and set things in the right path the best that he can
"So, you admit to having an ability that is that of a god"
"I'm not a god... I'm just an unfortunate mortal that happened to have this fraudulent ability... Though, I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry, I'll carry the world on my back if I have to... I have things to protect"
If this present Philip met the past Philip, past Philip would be utterly disgusted at present Philip. It's because Philip used to hate the world to his very soul as he wished to die to escape it or wished for the world to end in an apocalypse
Alas, Philip gave the world a second chance and change the fate of the world in the very last minute, not towards apocalypse, but towards fantasy development
So far, he is liking what he sees, witness, and learn. He would like to explore the world more from the hidden standpoint of view and meet the higher beings and judge them if they are suitable in governing on Earth. He doesn't care about human societies but he would like to watch them whenever they managed to harness Mana. He would also like to learn the Underworld, where the Secret Organizations and alot of other shady entities are dwelling on Earth
"Maybe it's because I also have a god complex, a delusional bastard, the feeling of having superiority over others, and thr mindset of being the Embodiment of Neutrality... Only perhaps. But it's fine, I know what to feel at the right time at the right place, and this time and place is that time and place"
Philip was mumbling to himself and the others could only listen closely. Even if he's saying gibberish, there are meaning behind his words and they want to decipher that
After a few more minutes, they reached the layers of the Soul Stones and Atomic Stones and the bottom of the chasm can be seen due to Tenshi's Solitude illuminating the ground brightly like a star
Eventually, they reached the ground. Philip shifted his body to where his feet will land on the ground. If he were to land at the same speed, he would definitely die because they were falling for quite a while now. He trusted that Justine knew this and gave his life to Justine. Of course, Justine had an idea that Philip will do this earlier, Philip just wanted to feel the sense of danger and death looming around him
Justine extended her hand and circled her finger around Philip in a distance. She controlled the air flow and gravity and made Philip land softly. The same goes for Mark and Celine
Tenshi landed in the middle of the octagon and eight pillars. With this, the domain has been successfully erected and Tenshi will be unstoppable as long as she's inside the formation
"Order!"
Tenshi declared the First Heavenly Prayer and the Solitude prayer just became more powerful. Yellow light filled the area, along with other colorful lights coming from the stones on the walls and the ground
Justine, Mark, Celine, and Tenshi looked around, seemingly in awe by the sheer beauty that they are seeing. However, Philip is stunned and his eyes are opened wide
"No way..."
"What's the matter?"
Justine asked in worry and curiosity
"These Mana Stones... They're not normal stones..."
"These are Mana Stones? They do have different colors. Red, orange, white, brown, blue, light green, deep blue, black, and many more"
Maek confirmed the different colors of Mana Stones
"I can't believe that they occur naturally! These are not ordinary Mana Stones nor they are a type or kind... These are attributed Mana Stones! Fire, light, earth, water, air, poison, dark, and many more!"
Everyone had their eyes wide open. Without Philip explaining, they already know what this could mean. This means that with these attributed Mana Stones, anyone can harness a certain attribute that is attached to the Mana Stone. This can also be used on everyday objects like the Fire Stone being used on a stove with Mana circuits to generate fire, rather than just using gas. Of course, none of the squadron members knew about Philip's research yet
"This is an amazing discovery! If we manage to deactivate this unstable Mana Hotspot, we should bring everything and excavate these stones"
Mark proposed an idea to everyone
"Yeah, you can do that"
That's the only thing that Philip could say. He refrained from saying Mark's doomed fate. Though, he still can't see his future
"Let's ignore these first and find the Divine Star"
Philip commanded everyone and they nodded. They then searched as to where the Divine Star's location could be
When there's no one looking, Philip opened his hand and raised it in fron of his eyes. He was performing something or controling something
After a few seconds, the ground slightly rumbled and each kind of attributed Mana Stones detached from the ground and walls and flew towards Philip's hand. The stones clustered into one chunk and he now has an attributed Mana chunk. The size of the chunk is only the size of his palm and he hid it in front pocket of his sweater
At this point, the light on his right arm has shattered into glass shards and his arm is completely repaired
~~~
After a while, Celine shouted and called out to everyone
"Guys! I think I found it!"
She was waving her hand from an opening towards the west of the chasm. Philip and Mark quickly went towards there while Tenshi stayed to maintain the domain, Justine also stayed to protect Tenshi just in case something bad where to happen. Philip was wary and had his guard up this entire time, then she was to put her guard up also and be extremely wary and cautious
The moment they entered the opening, Philip was overwhelmed. Not only does the Divine Star looked exactly like the one in the Mystical Academy, it's vibrating violently around its place. There is also a big mountain of Divine Dust just below it
His hair stood up from his back and a chull went through his spine
"This isn't normal... Stay here!"
Philip urged Mark ane Celine to stay by the opening. He ran towards the mountain lf Divine Dust and inspected it. The height of the mountain is more than 100 meters high in a pyramid form
"This amount of Divine Dust shouldn't be possible... How's it generating this much?!"
Philip pinched some of the Divine Dust and inspected it on his palm. He then lifted his head up and noticed that the room is larger than he thought. The opening expands further back into the mountain and the Divine Star
Suddenly, the True Mana around him began to be agitated as it flickered like dying fire and his golden eyes glowed brighter. Philip ignored the subtle change on him and walked around the mountain of Divine Dust
The closer he went around the corner, the more he sees what abomination and abnormality is behind the mountain of dust
"No..."
Philip began to shiver as he saw several Mana Blobs scattered around the ground and the walls. The blobs looked like pods that have what looked like shadows, a housing of sorts. Not only that, three of the blobs are missing and blue liquid are scattered everywhere
In the middle of everything, there is a larger Mana Blob, a tumor, sitting against the wall with an obvious humanoid figure inside being incubated or something. There are even tentacle like wires that are attached at the edge of the Mana Blob and going to the other Mana Blobs. Thousands of Mana Stones of different types are also scattered across the area
Philip looked up as he saw a gold line in his peripheral and saw a line connecting the Mana Blobs on the unstable Divine Star like some sort of an ethereal string
Philip's peripheral, pupils, and retina were rapidly flashing due to his Future Vision, golden eyes, and Eye of Sai. He knew he and the others had to leave immediately. Forget the unstable Divine Star, they need to leave and send a nuke inside the chasm or have the Old Man and some other higher beings deal with whatever's inside the hotspot
But before Philip could turn around and leave, he heard steps coming from the direction of the Mana Blobs. The steps were light and hard to hear but with his improved hearing, he could hear it and he wished that he never heard it
A little girl suddenly came out, carrying a Mana Blob around her arms on her chest. The little girl doesn't look anything like a human but a humanoid figure with glowing body parts, a complete facial structure, and flowing hair, almost like water. The girl's is giving an expression of anxiety, confusion, wariness, and wrath on her face
"Ekf hdu hrp... Kueeck kueeck"
The littl girl spoke but it was a bunch of gargling noises. She then cleared her throat and a creepy sound was created. She tried to speak again
"Kwho kware kwryou"
"..."
Even if the little girl's words were slightly comprehensible, Philip decided to not reply and stand still while observing the entity. The little girl frowned and raised her arm to point at Philip, her palm is opened directly at him. It was then that a violent rumble occured within the chasm that it made the mountain of Divine Dust crumble and flood the opening
The Divine Dust then sunk on the ground and the ground suddenly rose up. Glowing blue rocks emerged from the ground and two towering boulders loomed over Philip. The boulders were moving and slowly turned around and faced Philip. At the location of what seemed to be their heads, an Atomic Core is glinting at Philip
'Run'
That was what was running in Philip's head. He could confront these glowing stones giants by himself but he couldn't afford to fight them because of the powerful Atomic Cores in their heads, the mysterious Mana Blobs and the little girl, and the squadron's safety
He immediately dashed towards the exit, where he first came in, and saw Mark and Celine entering
"Get out! Mana Golems!"
Philip shouted at the top of his lungs and they immediately stepped out and dash away with Philip
~~~
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Time till catastrophe:
>_ 0:20:01
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