It was a race against time. Fortunately, Varian had already used the secret teleportation formations once. So, he quickly used them to reach Uranus.
Then came a problem.
"Where are the eight spaceships going?" Enigma asked.
"They…" Varian found himself at a loss for words.
The bots only detected they were going away from Uranus' planetoids and towards Despair Abyss.
But where exactly?
The space between Uranus' planetoids and Despair Abyss was too vast. Even though the federation had already deployed millions of bots, their surveillance was in no way exhaustive.
"The Abyssals are going to use those crystals for something." Varian walked back and forth near the window as he ruffled his hair.
"The original plan must be to let them fully collect the special energy from death. But it's thwarted. So, they either abandoned the plan—which their current actions don't indicate—or started it in advance." He muttered as he dashed into the Command Room.
Boo swiped through the reports and gave Varian a helpless glance. "Master, Boo has hacked the bots and changed their locations to a better position. And one bot found their tracks."
A hologram popped up, displaying eight spaceships heading towards a giant green crack in space—Despair Abyss.
"Boo, to Despair Abyss. Hurry." After ordering, Varian lowered his head and fell into deep thought.
Even if they hurried up now, they wouldn't be able to intercept the spaceships in the middle.
They'd have to barge into the Despair Abyss. But after the recent changes by the Abyss Rulers, the Abysses could detect the incomers.
Varian hadn't forgotten the hellish experience at Mirage Abyss' entrance. Forget him, even a peak level 9 would've died trying to enter.
Simply put, the Abyss Will turned into a gatekeeper and prevented anyone from entering.
But if he had to solve the current problem, he'd have to barge into the Mirage Abyss. He was fairly confident that Irene could do that, but he had no clue if the risk was really worth it.
"Well," Enigma walked beside him and checked the status of the planetoids.
Varian didn't understand why she was doing this when they should be worried about the Crystals. But he did realize she might be looking at this situation through another lens.
For better or worse, Enigma was someone who understood him in a weird way. So, she must've known what was on his mind.
Her smooth fingers danced in the air as hundreds of screens popped up. Enigma showed them to Varian and raised a brow. "Do you realize?"
Varian scanned through the documents and realized they were all the 'Before' and 'After' comparisons of the planetoids where the crystals were taken away by the Abyssals.
Almost twenty level 9s and more than two hundred level 8s were missing from these planetoids!
That meant all of them were assigned to protect the spaceships carrying the crystals!
"What the? They pulled out powerful troops even from planetoids that need them the most?" Varian tilted his head in confusion. "They'll quickly lose those planetoids at this rate. At least forty of them!"
Enigma kept looking at Varian with a silent gaze.
Varian's gaze alternated between the screen and Enigma before he slapped his forehead with a sigh. "Oh shit."
The Abyssals were willing to lose 10% of the planetoids. That only meant whatever they were about to, it was guaranteed to not only recuperate these losses and give much greater results.
What else was there better than planetoids? More planetoids? Perhaps. But Varian had a feeling that they were aiming for the planets. And planets couldn't be occupied since the Sovereigns…
A chill shot down Varian's spine and he said in a gloomy voice. "Call Sovereign Irene and tell her to rush to Despair Abyss."
Boo gave Varian a helpless smile. "She's already on the way along with a bunch of level 9s and almost a hundred level 8s."
Varian opened his mouth in surprise.
He forgot that once the Abyssals take out significant powers from planetoids, the military could use equivalent strength against the Abyssals.
Just like now.
With Irene here, Varian wouldn't have to worry about Mirage Queen and her forces.
But he still left the room with a solemn face. Everything depended on whether they could thwart Abyssals' plan or not.
Enigma silently followed.
The next twenty minutes were perhaps the shortest twenty minutes Varian ever lived through.
He was in the middle of intense brainstorming with Enigma when Boo informed them they arrived at the Abyss entrance.
The spaceship nearby slowly stopped next to Ghostship and a connection was established.
"I can only hope the premature execution screws up their plan." Varian sighed as he collapsed on the couch.
"Don't cope." Enigma rolled her eyes.
"Whatever happens, we have no choice but to fight once we're in, right?"
Ghostship's door opened and a beautiful woman looking to be in her thirties walked in.
Irene Nial swept her glance across the ghostship for a second in curiosity before driving her attention to the young man and woman on the couch. "Are you two ready?"
"…I got caught in an illusion the last time we tried to enter Mirage Abyss. I would've died." Varian said.
"My artifact specializes in defense. I can take you in without any danger. But once we're in, you two are on your own." Irene explained upfront.
Despair Queen wouldn't let her wander. Her forces would be entangled by the Abyssals.
No one could protect Varian.
To be honest, Irene didn't want Varian to risk his life here. Such a promising genius, no, this deadly monster must be allowed to grow to his fullest.
Only when Humanity gains a powerful protector beyond the Sovereign ranks could they gain protection.
That's why,
"Do you still want to come?" Irene looked at Varian with a worried gaze.
"I have to." The young man gave nodded.
"No, he won't." Enigma suddenly said and turned to him. "Did you just forget your promise you won't go anywhere after cleaning up the planetoids?"
"That…" Varian coughed.
When he's about to clean up the last planetoid, Undead came in. He, who was supposed to leave the war already, was still fighting.
What's more, he's about to participate in a deadly mission.
Enigma rolled her eyes and gave Sovereign Irene an apology. "Sorry for delaying the time. But you can start now. Varian will stay here in the Ghostship. I'll join the mission."
Varian wanted to argue at this sudden change, but after remembering that he already broke a promise, he snorted and closed his mouth.
Irene Nial covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "I don't have a problem talking to you two, my team has to a few minutes analyzing the entrance anyway."
The level 9s Plantae in her ship were scanning through the Entrance of Despair Abyss.
The entrance was just a green crack but it contained a very thick prana. The Plantae users concluded that whenever someone tried to enter in, they'd be attacked by poisonous vines hiding behind the crack.
Their job was to find the best place to enter for the least amount of effort spent.
That's why Irene was in the mood to even talk. Or she'd have already barged into the Abyss.
And the reason Irene came here was because she felt the upcoming trip was too dangerous. Not just for Varian. But also for her.
She had a feeling that she might or might not survive. If that's the case, it's best for Varian to not enter.
Now that her small mission was finished, Irene smiled and started a small talk with Enigma and Varian.
Even though Varian answered from time to time, his gaze kept returning to the Abyss entrance.
His heart thumped violently and Varian had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.
[Don't think about it. It's definitely something bad.] The System which was silent recently chirped.
'Is there any way out?' Varian asked. 'Without high risk.'
[It's simple.] The System said.
'Really?' Varian's eyes lit up in anticipation. Even though he didn't understand why this System was suddenly being all helpful, he just wanted to know what to do right now.
[Really.]
'What is it?'
[Just go into seclusion and come out after a few months. Even if you reach high level 9, you can kick the Sovereigns. Once you reach peak level 9, no one is your opponent.]
Varian flipped a mental middle finger to the System.
[Or what? Did you really think there was an easy way out of this mess? Be thankful that Abyssals are only about to execute a half-assed plan. Or else, billions would've died today.]
"…"
A few minutes later, Enigma entered Irene's ship.
Sovereign Irene activated her artifact—the crystal armor—and covered her spaceship with a strong defense. Enigma activated her special treasure and covered the spaceship in shadows.
The spaceship dashed into the crack. It was attacked by deadly vines almost instantly. But thanks to the defense, the spaceship safely entered the Despair Abyss.
After all, unlike the new Sovereign Bali who didn't have an artifact, Irene was not only significantly stronger, but she had a very suitable artifact.
A few seconds later, Varian swiped his comm, and the bots Boo secretly sneaked into Irene's spaceship activated and started showing what was happening in the Abyss.
"Fuck."
