v2c18 : Rebecca’s World Transformation Plan
“It seems my initial assessment was correct,” Rebecca said, glancing back at Abyss as she led the way. “The moment I arrived here, I realized these structures, disguised as altars but functioning as factories, must be connected to the toxins in the air.”
They had entered the factory within the altar through the hole Leona had created, granting them easy access.
Abyss recounted his vision, describing the scene he had witnessed upon touching the statue. Flora expressed concern for his safety, while Leona, intrigued by the deity worshipped by the inhabitants of this world, was eager to learn more. Having subdued the Lord of Submergence, she was experiencing the benefits of controlling an Outer God and was eager for more power.
Rebecca, meanwhile, connected Abyss’s account to her own observations and theories, confirming her suspicions. Although she couldn’t verify the authenticity of the vision, she doubted a civilization on the brink of extinction would bother with elaborate deceptions. If her deductions were correct, these altars, each containing a factory, were strategically placed throughout the world, releasing toxins into the atmosphere while the inhabitants worshipped a mysterious “Lord of Silence.” They had embraced these toxins as sacred, ultimately leading to their self-inflicted demise.
Even before Abyss confirmed her suspicions, Rebecca had already taken action. While crafting the magic crystals, she had also brewed a potion, intending to introduce it into the factory’s machinery.
She led Abyss and the girls to a massive machine, its presence dominating the altar’s top floor.
The machine, now silent and still, occupied the entire floor space. Numerous chimneys extended from its top, connecting to vents that led outside the structure.
“I found the storage tanks for the toxin-producing potion earlier, but I was too afraid of its potency to open them. But now, as an undead, I’m immune to toxins,” Rebecca said, holding the vial she had been carrying on her belt. “Abyss, you need to stay back. I’m going to open one of the tanks and conduct an experiment. Keep your nose buried in that antidote bottle I gave you. The toxin concentration will increase rapidly once I open the tank.”
Abyss nodded, acknowledging her warning, and stepped back, holding the antidote bottle to his nose, inhaling the pink smoke.
“This world might be uninhabitable for humans, but I believe it can be transformed… If I can make it suitable for living, I can travel back and forth freely, turning this place into my personal potion factory!” Rebecca said, her voice filled with excitement, as she slowly opened a heavy hatch on the machine. Leona, initially wanting to assist her, realized that Rebecca, now undead, possessed enhanced strength and managed to open it effortlessly. A pungent odor wafted from the tank, making the girls wrinkle their noses.
Then, Rebecca poured her potion into the tank.
Bang!
An explosion echoed from within the tank, shaking the machine. The original potion reacted violently with Rebecca’s concoction, a bubbling sound emanating from the tank as hot gas erupted, its odor less offensive than before.
“Success! My concentrated potion neutralized the toxins!” Rebecca exclaimed, clapping her hands. “Abyss, I need your magical catfish!”
Rebecca had used her previously developed antidote as a foundation, creating a more potent and effective version. Introducing it into the factory’s toxin supply seemed to have successfully neutralized some of its toxicity. But this was just the beginning. The machine had multiple tanks. She moved to another tank, carefully extracting a sample of the toxin using a tool. The toxin, after years of storage, was murky and discolored. Rebecca sealed it in a tightly sealed bottle—she didn’t want it to leak and contaminate Hai-Teweru.
Abyss, unconcerned, casually tossed the bottle into his magical catfish’s mouth. Time was frozen within the catfish’s belly, so the toxin wouldn’t change or degrade.
Having completed her experiment, Rebecca was ready to return home. With the World Conduit dismantled, there was no urgency to repair the factory’s machinery. She would deal with it later.
…
The Gateway to the New World was also located within the altar, closer to the bottom level. Upon arriving in this world, Rebecca had assembled the portal in a suitable location, even improvising a base for it using scavenged parts from the factory’s machinery.
They stood before the Gateway, Rebecca nervously embedding the magic crystal into the slightly rusted device.
The crystal settled into the slot, seemingly stable.
Then, Rebecca placed her hand on the metal plate, the mana input point, and carefully channeled her magic into it.
The embedded crystal glowed, then shattered with a crack, falling from its slot and crumbling into dust.
“Ah… It happened again… What’s wrong…?” Rebecca sighed, turning to face them. “This happened before I died, and I ended up using all my crystals… Something is interfering with the mana flow within the crystal… What could it be…?”
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