Chapter 17: Traces of God
Time eludes our grasp, swift as a spirited stallion dashing through the chasm of space, slipping away in the blink of an eye.
Decades have passed since the devastating war, fading the flames of conflict from the collective memory of the younger generation. Only the elder ones remain vigilant, their watchful gaze fixed upon the ants, clandestinely thwarting their insatiable hunger and preventing them from ravaging the Earth once more, just as they did in the desolate wasteland of .
In a united effort, the human sovereign and countless tribes devised a formidable diamond armor, capable of traversing mountains and rocks with ease, serving as a bulwark against the ants' subterranean assaults. Alas, the armor was limited to the terrestrial realm, incapable of delving thousands of meters beneath the surface.
Defense stood resolute, while offense remained wanting. Rumors circulated that the ant queens had burrowed their subterranean fortresses to unfathomable depths, tens of thousands of meters beneath the ground!
Years passed, and still, the indomitable ant queen persisted. Astonishingly, despite her ceaseless toil, she had not birthed a hero ant in decades. Even the common soldier ants struggled to survive, and sightings of metallic ants became increasingly rare.
This phenomenon ignited contemplation among the ant heroes.
"Could it be that the queen's fecundity wanes as her time draws near, her fertility diminishing? If such is the case, it would be prudent to swiftly nurture the next generation of queens, ensuring the group's survival," whispered a cunning ant hero in clandestine calculation.
The spirits of the ant clan entwined, and when news of the hero's speculations reached the queen's ears, her wrath blazed forth, promptly remaking the audacious speaker.
Such was the magnitude of her retribution that the other heroes trembled in abject terror, their speculations quelled. None could fathom the conniving schemes harbored by the astute ant queen.
Within the ever-present shadow of impending catastrophe, both humankind and the voracious ants relentlessly advanced, ceaselessly striving forward. The mantle of rulership had passed down to the ninth generation of human emperors, committed to technological progress and unraveling the intricate fabric of the world's order.
They had even begun the production of rudimentary firearms, potent weapons that harnessed minimal mana yet wielded substantial might.
Wang Qi, a scion of the Ninth Generation, believed that mastering firearms and harnessing their amplified potency would spell the demise of the devouring ants once and for all!
A precarious peace prevailed between the two factions, but unbeknownst to all, this delicate balance would be shattered by an inconsequential occurrence, thrusting both clans into an all-consuming war!
On this fateful day, a human expeditionary force ventured deep into the frigid recesses of the extreme north.
Their objective: excavating the frosty depths in search of the rare profound ice, renowned for its ability to stabilize the mind and bestow extraordinary benefits upon cultivators. In the northernmost reaches, the ice sheet spanned tens of thousands of feet, concealing an array of enigmatic wonders.
"Legend has it that the ice beneath our very feet hails from the primordial epoch, when the world was in its infancy," remarked a jubilant young woman, her footsteps resonating upon the ice. Draped in multiple layers of animal pelts, her figure appeared stout, yet her fervor remained unbridled.
The captain's countenance softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Indeed, this lore bears the mark of truth. During our last expedition, the elders studied a fossil and ascertained its age to be beyond comprehension. It is conceivable that it dates back to the era of the sacred tree."
A myriad of secrets lay shrouded within the frozen expanse, and at that very moment, the young woman's eyes lit up, her corpulent frame quivering as she eagerly pointed a finger. "Behold, these appear to be the fossilized remains of a tetralobite, an ancient creature that vanished in the bygone era!"
Her exuberance was directed toward a diminutive creature clinging to the ice cliff, which, due to rising temperatures, had gradually thawed and crumbled over the years. The expeditionary force, with unwavering resolve, had chanced upon the tetralobite fossils encased within the ice.
Suddenly, a surreal sight unfolded before her eyes, leaving the young woman bewildered as she tremulously uttered, "Why... why do I perceive these unmistakable footprints upon the tetralobite? How could footprints exist from a time before time itself, when the tetralobites succumbed to the frozen cataclysm?"
The captain, too, sensed that something was amiss and hastened to scrutinize the perplexing discovery. For half an hour, he meticulously examined the fossil, until a gasp escaped his lips, recognizing the unmistakable imprint left by an inconceivable entity—a trace that could only be ascribed to the divine hand of the Creator!
Immediately, the captain issued an order to his comrades, urging them to excavate with utmost care. Hours passed, and the tetralobite fossils were finally unearthed. To ensure the preservation of these precious relics, they meticulously excavated half a meter around them, cautious of inadvertently causing harm.
After an arduous process of meticulous excavation and diligent examination, a revelation of undeniable reality emerged before their astonished eyes. Etched upon the tetralobite lay an indelible and unmistakable footprint. These traces seemed to possess an ethereal essence, resonating with an unparalleled sense of advanced technology at first glance.
"Yes! Could it be that the Divine Artificer himself has graced this relic with His presence?" The young woman's excitement peaked as she fervently pointed at the fossilized tetralobite, her cheeks flushed with eager anticipation.
Truly, it appeared unfathomable that any mortal being could have withstood the cataclysmic events that preceded this era. It was essential to acknowledge that even the venerable sacred tree could only endure through the crucible of Nirvana. Yet, here lay unequivocal evidence that beings capable of traversing the frigid expanse of planets still existed—a notion that transcended the boundaries of imagination.
If any creatures had managed to endure the cataclysmic epoch, they could only be the divine architects who meticulously crafted this world.
Overwhelmed by profound awe, the young woman yearned to touch the fossil once more. This marked a potential footprint left by the Creator God—a rare opportunity to draw closer to this sacred pilgrimage.
Snap!
Unexpectedly, the captain swiftly intercepted the girl's hand with a commanding gesture. "This artifact is sacred and must not be handled with frivolity. What if it were to shatter?" The captain's stern gaze fixed upon the girl, reinforcing the gravity of the situation.
Confronted with the suspected sacred relic left by God, the captain dared not underestimate its significance. Setting aside their prior mission, he urgently summoned the team to gather their belongings and commence their swift return.
The expedition team had endured a laborious fifteen-day journey to reach their destination, but their return expedition lasted a mere five days. Through tireless exertion day and night, they even relinquished some of the excavated resources to expedite their homecoming.
The elders themselves expressed profound astonishment upon the team's unexpectedly early arrival. However, upon discovering the unearthed sacred relic, even the Emperor was thunderstruck, immediately forsaking his distant construction workshop and racing back.
After extensive research conducted by the wise elders, Wang Qi personally scrutinized and meticulously compared the patterns on the Spear of Destiny with those of the footprints. Finally, he became unequivocally convinced that these were indeed the footprints left by the Creator God.
"This remnant hails from millions of years ago, during the frigid calamity when the earth was enveloped in a shroud of ice and snow, when all life withered away, and the physical manifestation of God descended upon our world!" Wang Qi proclaimed with unwavering conviction.
Treating this fossil with utmost care, the human race classified it as an irrefutable sacred object, enveloping the news of its discovery in a veil of utmost secrecy—a testament to the indubitable presence of God.
When it came to God, no trifling matter could be overlooked. If these fossilized footprints held even a fragment of truth about the world, the looming menace of the ravaging ants could potentially be eradicated, bringing resolution to this grave threat once and for all.
Unfortunately, there exist no impregnable fortifications in this world, especially considering the expedition team's prior lack of vigilance. After all, their deduction regarding the divine origin of the footprints remained mere conjecture, far from the realm of certainty.
"Have you heard the recent tidings? Rumor has it that the human race has unearthed the sacred relics left behind by God in the farthest reaches of the extreme north."
"It appears to be true! What secrets did God leave behind?"
"I heard it is an artifact that rivals the awe-inspiring Spear of Destiny."
"No, no, I heard it is a fossil adorned with inscrutable runes, akin to the long-lost Stone Slate of Truth. It supposedly unveils the mysteries of the cosmos, housing the most eminent cultivation technique in the entire world. Whosoever comprehends it shall ascend to the pinnacle as a world dominator."
"That cannot be right! The elders of the human race informed me that it is a mighty creature, resembling a tetralobite, said to possess combat prowess surpassing even that of a dragon!"
The rumors continued to proliferate, sweeping across the entire world. Nevertheless, one certainty prevailed—the human race had indeed acquired the sacred object left behind by God.
"Your Majesty, we have an urgent matter at hand. Leaders from all races have gathered, demanding to pay homage to the sacred artifact. Their forces are unstoppable!"
Emperor Wang Qi trembled, plagued by a throbbing headache. How had news of the sacred relic permeated the world? He couldn't afford to alienate the hearts of all races, especially with the looming menace of the ravaging ants.
"That will be all. Grant the kings of all other races permission to enter," the Emperors decreed, realizing he couldn't disregard the sentiments of all the world's races for the sake of this singular sacred object.