Chapter 140: Drink Medicine! Break Out!

The calls Tan Lingyun had sent to Lan Jue and Wang Hongyuan were in fact received, only theyd chosen not to answer. He hadnt expected she would stay behind on Taihua and judging by the sheer number of curse words in her messages to them, he judged the only reason she did remain, was to find them.

The woman was cold as ice on the outside, but did indeed have a good heart as Jin Yan assured.

A dim blue light reached from Thors chest. When it receded, Tan Lingyun was gone, safe inside the mecha. Thors cockpit wasnt small, easily big enough to accommodate two people. Years ago hed built it that way for when he rambled with Hera.

Tan Lingyun was covered in grime, passed out, and stinking up his cockpit but Lan Jue didnt concern himself with that. He reached out to feel her pulse. When he was sure it was simply exhaustion, he breathed a sigh of relief.

For her to last so long out there without a mecha was testament to her strength and ability.

It was time to retreat. It meant conceding Taihua to these beasts, but even something as strong as Thor could get exhausted. He was off again, flying towards the encampment. Idoloclast was already waiting.

There were still a number of empty airships remaining. Wang Hongyuan chose one without a pilot. These ships were mostly run automatically, so piloting one was nothing difficult.

Professor Lan, on your way back? Weve got to get out of here as soon as possible. Radars picking up several more of the monsters heading our way. ****1, do all these things know were here?!

Ill be there in a moment, Lan Jue replied. And Im bringing Tan Lingyun along for the ride. I think she came to save us. She pushed too hard and lost consciousness.

Youre not talking about the Savage Goddess

Thats her, he said. Thor continued towards the encampment, only stopping to dispatch two more monsters on the way.

The stabbing pain in his chest was worse. Lan Jue once more cursed the damn angel Michael for what hed done. If he were at peak condition hed have been able to sustain the fight for at least twice as long without issue.

Wang Hongyuan tapped in their intended coordinates and lifted off, first towards Lan Jues location. Idoloclast had already withdrawn, so he was only waiting for the etiquette teacher to make their escape.

Lan Jue appeared in a sudden flash of light. That mechas speed! A light reached out from its chest and deposited Lan Jue on the ground. He carried Tan Lingyun on to the waiting airship.

He turned once on board and motioned with Thors Promise. It flashed, and Thor vanished through interdimensional space. Lets get out of here!

Got it! Wang Hongyuan roared with maniacal laughter 2 and blasted off towards space. But the laugh was short lived, as suddenly the ship pitched to the side.

Lan Jue, just managing to shut the doors, then slammed against the cabin wall. He shouted angrily towards the pilot. What the hell are you doing?!

Wang Hongyuans tense voice responded. Look for yourself.

Lan Jue stuck his face against the nearest porthole, and his heart sank.

Their escape was cut off by the erratic flight of a colossal monstrosity. Volley after volley of energy salvos launched at them from the creatures head. Ten ships had taken off before them, and already two were falling to earth as flaming debris. The terrifying attack was as impressive as Thors Forest of Lightning.

This was easily the deadliest beast theyd encountered so far, worse than the Tyrannosaurus Lan Jue had dispatched. From what they were seeing, he estimated the beast to be equivalent to a ninth level Talent. More than a match for an average mecha.

Weve done enough, Wang Hongyuan said, his voice low and defeated.

They were still quite a distance from the behemoth. The earlier roll was made to avoid an errant beam of energy that had swung their way. So far they hadnt captured the monsters attention. Now was their chance to get clear.

Wang Hongyuans words reminded Lan Jue of something. A small smile spread across his face. His eyes were clear and sharp.

My wife died, three years ago. When she left she took my heart with her. You really dont need to worry about Jin Yan and I. I know everyone whos lost a loved one hurts. I might not be able to save everyone, but even saving one more person means I spare someone the pain I feel. I can save a family.

When you get back, if the Savage Goddess wakes up, dont tell her it was I who saved her. Promise youll keep my secret. Now get out of here.

His left hand had risen, and that familiar green glow once more called Thor from the abyss. He waved towards the cockpit, then yanked open the cabin door and leapt out before Wang Hongyuan could lock it shut.

Almost immediately he was caught in a beam of light, and found himself in Thors cockpit. He settled in, then reached in to jacket. He pulled a small vial from within, and took a deep breath.

Lan Jue poured the contents down his throat. Almost immediately his power began to pulse erratically. His gloomy expression became alive with vitality. The aura that surrounded him was magnificent and terrifying.

Thor trembled from the unstable bursts of energy from its pilot. Zeus, in consuming this unknown medicine your bodys energy is swelling. Estimates read you can only sustain this level of power for thirty minutes. Your body will be unable to endure the medicines effects after that. Your Core will be in danger of being annihilated.

Thirty minutes eh? Lan Jue fixed his eyes on the distant monster. Thats enough. Thor, time for a real fight!

Lights of all shades and hues were seeping from Lan Jues pores. The energy surrounding him was growing more unstable by the second. But in the same instant an intense flood of energy was welling up inside him. It washed over his Core, injecting it with power.

Thor had already passed critical energy levels, but suddenly its energy reserves began to quickly replenish. A shimmering azure light bloomed out around it, stark against the grey sky.

If Wang Hongyuan had understood what Lan Jue had chosen to do, then hed have seen true insanity.

If Jin Tao had known what was to occur, hed understand the suffering he was enduring amounted to nothing.

Piao Hong had given him two Fantascia Genetica decoctions for his promise to aid them. Hed diluted one, and given in to Hua Li for use with Jin Tao. Three doses, spread three months apart.

Hed just taken the entire vial of highly concentrated Fantascia.

Lan Jue knew precisely what hed done, and what it meant. He also knew what the decoction was capable of. Its basic function was to catalyze a persons inner potential, and increase their genetic capabilities.

It was a useful decoction for anyone below ninth level. Taken successively it was sure to increase ones abilities. Of course something that powerful didnt come without risks. The sudden rearrangement of ones DNA sequence meant the future trials involved in becoming a Paragon were almost impossible. Whats more, ninth level adepts were not permitted to take it.

Ninth level Adepts were already in possession of energy levels no normal human could sustain. Taking the decoction meant their power levels instantly catapulted them in to the realm of the Paragons. It was a level of power they had no foundation to keep in check, and as a result their power eventually spun out of control and exploded outward.

Lan Jue knew all this, but he had no other option. Of course he could have left with Wang Hongyuan, but theyd only be able to watch helplessly as boatloads of innocents were slaughtered.

Hera was already gone. Like hed said, these last three years hed been living without hope or purpose. At this very moment he faced the circumstances with a calm heart. Almost cold. His earlier encounter with that young soldier still swam in his memory. Responsibility, guardians of humanity. Were these not the marks of a true man? Nobility?

Lan Jue didnt know what fate was in store for him, whether or not hed succumb to the overwhelming power of the decoction. He didnt care. Hed taken the vial, its effects were already under way. His weakened Discipline, stagnate for these three years, writhed within. It surged up, unprecedented levels of power bursting forth.

It came paired with a blinding pain. Indescribably agony wracked his body, so bad it threatened to suffocate him. But his eyes were sharp, and his hands were steady. His discipline surged through him and into Thor, filling it as well.

The beast had become aware of something in the distance. It turned its massive girth through the air and, upon seeing the glimmering jewel that was Thor racing directly towards it, opened its hideous maw in a bloodcurdling roar!

Lan Jue stared back at it with hard eyes. With a flash, Thor was suddenly behind the beast.

The monsters roars faded in to the wind. It remained rooted in place, hanging in the air. Waves of staggering energy pulsed outward, and its body began to glow. Piercing rays of blue light began to shoot out from it as great tears appeared over its flesh.

Booooommmm!

One moment the beast was there, its cruel jaws poised. In the next it was a fine red mist, scattering with the winds.

Go! Thors thunderous and majestic voice rang out through the cabin of each and every ship remaining. Their engines fired up, flinging them towards the heavens. Thor was right behind them.

Lan Jue sat within the sapphire mecha, clad in golden robes, a golden mask, and a golden mantle, watching the sky race by dispassionately.

1. The Chinese calque here is very funny, the mandarin equivalent of the f-word, for those interested.

2. I dunno, thats what the translation says. Brings to mind images of KSP.