Chapter 111: The Void
The wind power plant—Gu Hang and his team were still there.
After issuing several commands, Gu Hang directed all his attention to the problem at hand.
Abandoning Revival City, and the hard-won achievements he’d painstakingly established over time, was the last resort.
Even though he had already made this decision and ordered his subordinates to begin executing it, he continued to make every effort to save the city until the very last moment.
He wasn’t just standing there idly, determined but without a plan.
In fact, with his Psionic Vision fully activated, Gu Hang was gathering every bit of information on the flow of psionic energy and analyzing it in his mind.
Gradually, Gu Hang observed something.
He had an idea.
After twice shattering the reformed body of the Fury Owl’s avatar using mortar shells, Gu Hang gave an order.
“Increase the pace. The moment you see even the smallest sign, blast it.”
In the midst of the storm, conveying orders wasn’t easy, but for Gu Hang, this obstacle was inconsequential. Using the power of psionics, his voice reached each mortar crew’s ears with precision and clarity.
In the rain, the soldiers followed the Governor’s orders.
Previously, they hadn’t done so, considering their limited stock of ammunition. No one knew how long this method would need to hold up, and each fired shell was one less in their reserves. In any case, the monster’s body required a certain amount of time to reform. Blasting it after it had reformed to a certain degree would have a similar effect, keeping it from fully forming and saving ammunition.
But since the Governor had given a direct order, they would follow it.
And during this process, Gu Hang more frequently and closely observed the psionic flow that occurred when the Fury Owl’s avatar was blasted apart and began reconstituting for the first time.
Finally, through this, he solidified a theory.
“Stop,” he ordered once more.
The soldiers stopped on command.
Gu Hang walked forward, his eyes alight as he carefully observed and positioned himself based on the information he’d previously analyzed.
He was standing in a crater.
Actually, the area where the Fury Owl’s avatar could revive was quite limited, and after being bombarded by artillery and mortars repeatedly, finding an intact piece of ground was already challenging.
Gu Hang waved his hand, allowing his psionic energy to seep forward. Intentionally, he infused the emitted energy with a faint blue color, which stained a small area ahead.
Moments later, when Gu Hang stopped releasing energy, the blue psionic energy that belonged to him was quickly washed away by the rain, except for a small, floating, elliptical core of psionic energy about twenty centimeters in diameter.
This was not something Gu Hang had created. The blue psionic energy he had just released was not functional but simply added color to highlight this object.
Sister Superior Gretel, Chaplain Rizo, and Battalion Leader Martins noticed the situation here and moved closer.
Without needing them to ask, Gu Hang took the initiative to explain, “During my earlier observations, I discovered that each time the Fury Owl’s avatar reconstitutes, it starts from an initial core point. This core point, amid all the bombardments, has never been affected. I believe this core may lack physical substance and cannot be hit by shells.”
He extended his hand again. Using telekinesis, he attempted to manipulate this invisible, psionically marked, elliptical core, but it did not budge.
“Telekinetic control is ineffective, which likely supports my theory.”
Next, he tried to influence it through Mind Manipulation and Soul Sever techniques.
“Mind Manipulation is ineffective, so it’s unlikely to be a living entity, or it lacks cognitive abilities. Soul Sever has some effect, but it’s minimal; I can’t sever the core’s lingering influence on the surroundings following the ritual. This thing is less of a sphere and more of a rift in reality.”
As she listened, Gretel stepped forward.
Seeing her reach out her hand as if to touch it, Gu Hang instinctively moved to stop her.
However, seeing the golden glow from her hand, he swallowed his words.
A Sister Superior blessed by the God Emperor might have some unique means. While she might act impulsively, she was experienced; if she dared to touch it, she likely wouldn’t risk herself in vain.
Gu Hang watched as she touched the stained void.
Instantly, in just a brief moment, it was as if she encountered an immense force, and she was thrown back, staggering several steps before steadying herself.
She removed her helmet, her hands visibly trembling as she did so.
Once the helmet was off, everyone could see blood trickling from her nose. Her short white hair quickly soaked from the rain, mixing with the blood, leaving her looking quite battered.
“I thought you wouldn’t risk yourself recklessly… so you did?”
At least nothing serious happened.
She wiped away some of the water, but seeing it had no effect, she gave up and turned to the others, saying, “I think I know how to resolve this.”
“What is it?” Gu Hang immediately asked.
“Challenge it, then defeat it,” Gretel replied, giving an answer that was somewhat perplexing, but she quickly explained. “Just as Governor Gu mentioned, this is a void connected to a powerful, insane entity. This is likely the primordial Fury Owl that these cultists revere. Regardless of its origins, it is now a formidable psionic being. I just confronted it, and it’s beyond my ability to handle.”
Gretel candidly admitted her own limitations.
Even though it was merely a fleeting glimpse on the psionic level, she had sustained significant mental trauma.
Of course, if they met in the real world, the outcome wouldn’t be as severe. A spiritual confrontation without protection was inherently risky.
Nevertheless, she deserved admiration. Even as a Battle Nun, she had directly faced a godlike, possibly deranged, powerful psionic entity, and only ended up with a nosebleed, which was almost a full retreat under the circumstances.
Her impulsiveness was backed by strength.
Gretel continued to share the valuable information she had just gleaned.
“Its power, through this void, projects into the real world. We must defeat it to close the passage, preventing the Fury Owl’s avatar from regenerating, and also stop this storm.”
“And this will need to be done perhaps eight times. Besides here, each wind power plant must be closed.”