Chapter 547: Golden road
When the soldiers finally caught sight of the fortress, broad smiles lit their faces. In a Doomsday World, these bastions of civilization were the only places where people could feel truly secure—the only locations that might offer them the luxury of peaceful sleep. The imposing sight of those towering walls and ramparts brought relief as palpable as the air they breathed.
"On guard!" Zalasar roared, urging the caravan onward. Though he spoke loudly, there was an undercurrent of excitement in his voice, as if returning to the safety of Graecia’s stronghold gave even this seasoned warrior a measure of solace.
Within minutes, Vlad, Jormugandr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir found themselves standing beneath the dazzling canopy of golden flames that illuminated the sky above the fortress. At first glance, the phenomenon looked like a shimmering aurora, but as soon as they stepped beneath its glow, the robotic voices of their respective A.I. Chips echoed in their minds:
[Beep! Radiation detected. It is invading the Host’s body. Does the Host wish to block it?]
All four Depravitas exchanged meaningful looks. The source of this radiation clearly lay in the colossal fiery sky that stretched for over a thousand kilometers around the fortress. Vlad’s expression turned grim, and he mentally communicated with his A.I. Chip.
"Is there any harm in allowing the radiation to enter my body?"
The response was immediate:
[Beep! This radiation is tuned against chaotic beings—particularly those aligned with The Darkness. It should not damage the Host, but there is no certainty how your Depravita Constitution will react.]
A flash of understanding crossed Vlad’s eyes. Evidently, the golden sky acted as a subtle test, revealing anyone affiliated with The Darkness. If Vlad or any of the other Sky Seed Depravitas displayed symptoms of distress, their fledgling alliance with Graecia would unravel in an instant. Moreover, they were so close to the fortress walls that failure to pass this test could leave them trapped in a deadly predicament.
After a quick glance toward Jormugandr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir, Vlad gave a decisive nod. None of them resisted the infiltration of the golden radiation, hoping their Depravita Constitutions would adapt without issue.
At first, the sensation was jarring. A burning heat surged through their limbs, flaring within their muscles and searing their veins. But mere seconds later, all four Depravitas felt a profound shock that gave way to delight.
Instead of harming them, the radiation fed directly into the Depravita Seeds dwelling within their Soul Dimensions. This unusual energy nourished a core component of their cultivation, the part that connected them to their path toward True Depravita Bodies—and ultimately, to the promise of an immortal flesh.