Chapter 53: Loss of Control and Curse

An hour and a half later.

Gunie had transferred from Saint Haigar to the small secret chamber of the Star Observation Tower.

At this moment, the Transcendent Gate was still glowing.

Gunie pressed one hand against the Transcendent Gate and chanted the incantation.

"Crack, crack..."

The Transcendent Gate slowly opened.

What came into view was Mulander Elkeri, dressed in a blue robe, standing at the entrance with a solemn expression.

"Senior, has something happened?"

After coming out, Gunie asked directly.

Mulander Elkeri, however, swept his gaze over Gunie and revealed a look of astonishment.

"You... are already at the peak of the eighth tier of Transcendence?"

"Mm." Gunie nodded.

"During this time, the refining of the Divine Crown has entered a favorable phase, and my cultivation speed has been increasing rapidly. In a few more months, I'll reach the peak of the ninth tier. Breaking through to the Saint rank is just a matter of a year or two."

Upon hearing this good news, a hint of a smile appeared on Mulander Elkeri's face.

But the smile quickly faded.

"This time, disturbing your cultivation was unavoidable. The Star Observation Tower is about to fall."

Mulander Elkeri said with a grave expression.

"Fall?" Gunie was startled.

"Have the enemies attacked?"

"No, it's because of another very棘手 matter. Come with me."

Mulander Elkeri walked forward.

"Another matter?" Gunie frowned slightly and followed Mulander Elkeri.

"A few days ago, did you feel the changes in the world?" Mulander Elkeri said as they walked.

"I did. The rate of extraction of the world's essence dropped sharply, to less than one-thirtieth of before." Gunie nodded lightly.

"Indeed, such a peculiar change was truly strange. But later, we learned from those visitors from the alien stars that someone had likely cast an expensive treasure called the World Anchor into the world's essence."

"We don't know who did it yet, but we initially suspect it might be the Old Man of the Ghost Sea."

"After all, only he could possess such a treasure."

"Mm, it could indeed be the work of Senior Old Man of the Ghost Sea." Gunie nodded lightly.

For Gunie, whether or not to claim this achievement was irrelevant.

After all, what mattered most to Gunie was that he had been recognized by the will of the world's essence and could actively communicate with it.

"Originally, this was great news for us. The world's withering period would be greatly delayed, and the power of those evil gods would continue to be suppressed."

"But... as our Transcendent World draws closer to the Land of Alienation, the alienated creatures at the edge of the world's barrier channels have undergone an unimaginable change."

"An unimaginable change?" Gunie's heart stirred.

"What change?"

"Alienated Transcendent loss of control." Mulander Elkeri said in a deep voice.

"Loss of control?" Gunie frowned slightly.

In the Transcendent cultivation system,

as one's strength increases, the risk of loss of control greatly decreases.

In fact, high-level Transcendents basically have no risk of losing control.

And for Transcendent Masters, almost no one has heard of them losing control.

The fact that Mulander Elkeri was treating this loss of control so seriously indicated that it was no ordinary loss of control.

"About half a month ago," Mulander Elkeri began to explain slowly.

"All members of a squad stationed at the forefront of the alienated creature channel suddenly disappeared."

"We immediately investigated and found that all members of that squad stationed at the channel edge had lost control."

"All lost control?" Gunie's heart stirred, and he asked in a low voice.

"Caused by the alienated creatures?"

"That's the current speculation." Mulander Elkeri said softly.

"This loss of power control manifests in three comprehensive aspects: the physical body, the soul, and energy."

"Among them, the physical form shows an alienated increase in power, such as a substantial increase in strength, significant enhancement and proliferation of the skeletal framework, rapid muscle growth, and so on."

"Most importantly, the 'genes' that control the form of the physical body have also undergone alien mutations."

"As a result, their body sizes have grown to three meters, four meters, and some knights even possess massive bodies up to five meters tall."

"Some have grown exoskeletal armor, some have grown two extra arms, and others have grown wings. At the same time, their sensory organs—eyes, nose, ears, etc.—have also undergone various strange mutations, even changes in function."

"This supernatural loss of control has greatly enhanced their physical strength."

"If it were only that, it would be bearable. But their souls have also changed."

"Every one of them has become bloodthirsty, fond of killing, extremely difficult to communicate with, and has even completely lost their original human rationality, turning into bloodthirsty and greedy terrifying monsters."

"Coupled with the loss of control over their energy, this makes them even more reckless in destruction and combat."

"It can be said that after losing control, they have completely become cold, mad slaves of supernatural power without self-will, born solely for killing and fighting."

"After discovering this situation, we immediately sealed off the subsequent passages and ordered the many supernatural guards not to get too close to those alien creatures."

"Because in our findings, even with the barrier of energy isolation, that kind of alien loss of control seems to have a memetic infection capability."

"Once you get too close, you will be infected by the alien power, then over time enter a state of loss of control, and eventually completely lose control."

"Even though we took corresponding measures in time, it was still a bit late."

"In the following days, one after another, supernatural guards lost control, and several suspected infected supernaturals are also in isolation."

"Their condition is not optimistic."

"Currently, our researchers are studying this supernatural meme to see if they can find a way to deal with it."

"But there has been almost no progress."

"Just yesterday, a second-rank female student who had no direct or indirect contact with any guard also lost control. In the dormitory, she killed three female students and ate their hearts."

"Currently, we speculate that the Star Observation Tower is very likely already filled with the loss-of-control meme."

"Everyone could be a potential infected person who has lost control."

Gunie was startled by Muland Elkeri's words.

"The entire Star Observation Tower is in a state of infection?" Gunie rubbed his slightly furrowed brow.

If so, then... this would indeed be a terrible disaster.

As for how great the impact would be, it's still hard to say now.

"Without a doubt, this is a disaster, a terrible disaster." Muland Elkeri's expression grew even more solemn.

"The current decision from above is to seal off the entire Star Observation Tower. No personnel are allowed to leave, including ourselves."

"If a large-scale supernatural loss of control really occurs, it will be better to completely contain the situation within this area, rather than triggering a full-scale supernatural loss of control in the human regions of the Oya Continent."

"Trapped here?" Gunie thought to himself.

To be honest, Gunie wasn't worried about this so-called loss of control.

Even after losing control and mutating, Gunie could still use reincarnation to absorb the loss-of-control meme, then gain corresponding supernatural resistance and convert it into his own supernatural talent.

But for others, it would be a disaster.

"I hope you can understand the actions of the higher-ups." Muland Elkeri looked at Gunie.

Gunie spread his hands.

"Fortunately, you told me; otherwise, I wouldn't know what's happening here. Facing the potential risk of loss of control, sealing off this place is clearly the right decision."

Gunie didn't dislike this approach. If they really let it go and allowed the infected to wander around, that would be foolish.

"The good news is that, currently, experts at the Grandmaster level seem to have good resistance to this loss-of-control meme, with no cases of loss of control occurring. You don't need to worry."

"Mm." Gunie nodded.

Gunie really wasn't worried about anything.

"Now, the place I'm taking you to is the highest level of the observation tower, far from below. It's where I and several other Divine Envoys practice in seclusion."

"Until this matter is resolved, you'd better practice there in seclusion."

"If a large-scale loss of control really happens, that place will also be the safest."

"Then thank you very much, Senior Muland Elkeri." Gunie said.

Muland Elkeri shook his head and smiled bitterly twice.

This Star Observation Tower was built by Muland Elkeri himself. The place he personally created might become a site of loss of control, and his mood was indeed not good.

"Senior Muland Elkeri, has anyone gone to check the main passage at the edge of the world? After all, that is the main passage for a large number of alien creatures to enter. If there are any clues, that should be the most revealing place." After thinking, Gunie asked.

"Not yet. The main passage is currently completely sealed off, and so is the entire Star Observation Tower. All efforts are focused on studying the loss-of-control meme."

"Even the Supernatural Association has sent many magical items and sealed objects to help with the research here."

"As for the main passage, there is simply no time to go and check, nor enough strength to do so. After all, there are powerful Grandmaster-level alien creatures at the main passage."

After thinking for a moment, Gunie said in a deep voice.

"Senior Muland Elkeri, with the loss-of-control incident happening here at the Star Observation Tower, I can't practice in peace either, since I am also a potential infected person who might lose control."

"I think it would be better for me to go and investigate the main passage."