130: The ruins reveal secrets of destiny; the remnants of the abyss return to the world.

Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Three: The Secret of the Ruins Reveals Fate, the Abyss Remnants Return to the World

On the seventh day after the suppression of the ore vein disturbance in the North, the joint reconstruction team from the Five Major Settlement Areas entered the forest zone. Engineering robots cleared the debris, soil restoration units repaired the damaged earth, and scientific research personnel gathered around the core of the vein. This crisis not only allowed humanity to witness Ancient Creatures but also revealed that the secrets beneath the ore veins were far more profound than imagined.

"Commander! A massive underground cavern has been discovered beneath the core of the ore vein!" Chen Ye's voice, filled with shock, came through the communicator. "The walls of the cavern are covered with ancient runes, their patterns consistent with the rock paintings in the Civilization Spark Museum. This is definitely a prehistoric ruin!"

Lin Zhou immediately led Dr. Mary, Professor Ivan, and the core red alert squad deep underground. The passage was long and winding, the runes on the walls glowing faintly with a golden light under the illumination of purification energy, as if narrating a forgotten history.

"These runes record a great war!" Dr. Mary gently touched the wall, her expression grave. "Look here—dark purple monsters surged from the fissures, and humans alongside creatures resembling the ancient beings resisted together. They used a massive golden energy to seal the fissures!"

As they went deeper, the passage suddenly opened up into a vast underground palace. In the center stood a stone tower over ten meters high, covered with spiral patterns. At the top of the tower, a crystal the size of a fist emitted a gentle golden glow—this was the source of the ore vein energy.

The murals around the stone tower clearly depicted the truth: in ancient times, a civilization called the "Star Core Civilization" coexisted with the Ancient Creatures, utilizing the energy from the Star Core Crystal. However, the Abyssal Demonic Realm invaded, attempting to seize the Star Core energy. To protect their homeland, the Star Core Civilization's survivors sealed the main fissure connecting to the Abyssal Demonic Realm with the last of the Star Core energy and the power of the Ancient Creatures, turning this place into an ore vein.

"So, the disturbances in the ore veins were actually caused by the Abyssal Demonic Realm trying to break the seal?" Professor Ivan's voice trembled.

Lin Xiaoyu stared at the final mural, his voice low: "The last mural shows the seal weakening. The accompanying runes state: 'When the guardian of the Star Core weakens, the Gate of the Abyss will open again.'"

His words sent a chill down everyone's spine. At that moment, the golden runes on the stone tower suddenly flickered, and faint dark purple light emanated from its base, exactly matching the signs of the seal weakening in the mural.

"Not good! The Star Core Crystal's energy is being siphoned!" Dr. Mary suddenly exclaimed. The monitor in her hand showed the crystal's energy levels dropping rapidly, and the dark purple glow at the base was the fluctuation of dark matter energy.

Just then, a violent explosion sounded at the palace entrance. Dark purple mist poured in, accompanied by a piercing shriek: "Didn't expect this, did you, Lin Zhou? You humans guarded the surface, but you never discovered that the Will of the Abyss had already infiltrated here!"

A familiar figure walked out from the mist, clad in tattered Dark Matter Armor, a ferocious smile on his face—it was the leader of the Hell Envoys, Morgan, who was believed to have perished in the battle to destroy the abyss core!

Beside him stood dozens of Abyssal warriors of various forms, their bodies covered in dark purple scales, holding Dark Matter Weapons. Their eyes were cold, exuding an aura of destruction.

"Morgan! How are you still alive?" Lin Zhou tightened his grip on his Purification Warblade, golden energy instantly flooding the blade.

Morgan sneered coldly: "The abyss core was just an avatar. The true Will of the Abyss has long been parasitic within the dark matter energy! I have lain dormant beneath the ore veins for a century, waiting for this moment when the Star Core guardian weakens, to seize the Star Core energy and open the true Gate of the Abyss!"

With a wave of his hand, the Abyssal warriors immediately launched their attack. Dark purple energy bolts whistled through the air. The red alert squad instantly deployed defenses. Magnetic Storm Shields clashed with the dark purple energy, producing violent roars as stones within the palace fell like rain.

"Five Districts Emergency Response! Immediate support to the North underground palace!" Lin Zhou shouted into his communicator. "North Territory Defense Belt, seal the cavern entrance, prevent Abyssal warriors from escaping! Northwest Heavy Industry Zone, deploy heavy Magnetic Storm Cannon to breach the cavern ceiling and establish a support channel! Southwest Purification Zone, dispatch high-concentration Purification Potions! East Sea Base research team, immediately develop a Star Core Energy Amplification Device! Lingnan Coastal Area, hold coastal defense, prevent surprise attacks by Abyssal reinforcements!"

The moment the orders were issued, Morgan had already charged towards the stone tower: "The Star Core energy is mine! No one can stop me!"

His palm touched the base of the tower, and dark purple energy poured in madly. The golden runes on the tower instantly dimmed, and the Star Core Crystal's energy depletion rate sharply accelerated. Sensing the crisis, the ancient creature charged from the depths of the palace, its antlers blooming with golden light as it rammed towards Morgan.

"Meddlesome beast!" Morgan turned and threw a punch. A dark purple energy fist wind slammed heavily into the ancient creature. It let out a mournful cry, was sent flying backward, and the golden light from its antlers instantly dimmed.

"Don't you hurt it!" Ivan roared, charging forward, his Miniature Purification Dagger thrusting at Morgan. Lin Xiaoyu quickly climbed the stone tower, shouting into his communicator: "Dr. Mary! The Star Core Crystal's energy needs to be guided through the tower's runes to unleash its maximum power. I've deciphered the guiding sequence. Activate the Energy Amplification Device now!"

Dr. Mary immediately acted, remotely operating the research team at the East Sea Base to transmit the energy amplification protocol to the Star Core Crystal via the communicator. The golden runes on the tower reignited, their light merging with the crystal's glow. The golden energy within the palace surged instantly. Abyssal warriors touched by the golden energy let out miserable shrieks as their bodies began to dissolve piece by piece.

Morgan's expression changed drastically. He frantically urged his dark matter energy: "Stop this!" He charged madly towards the Star Core Crystal, attempting to seize it by force.

Lin Zhou leaped into the air, his Purification Warblade, infused with golden energy, slashing down towards Morgan: "Your opponent is me!"

The two collided. Golden and dark purple energies intertwined, forming a massive energy storm. The stone tower within the palace shook violently, and the Star Core Crystal's light flickered unsteadily. Morgan's strength far exceeded before; dark matter energy raged within him, each attack carrying destructive force. Lin Zhou gradually fell to a disadvantage. His arm was grazed by dark matter energy, leaving a blackened wound that burned with pain.

"Lin Zhou, you are no match for me!" Morgan sneered, dark matter energy coalescing into a massive axe that he swung towards Lin Zhou. "Today, you and this decaying civilization shall perish together!"

At this critical moment, a beam of golden light shot from the palace entrance, accurately striking Morgan's back. Morgan staggered forward, the dark matter axe nearly slipping from his grasp.

"We're here to help!" Ivan arrived with engineering robots from the Northwest Heavy Industry Zone. The robots' heavy magnetic storm cannons fired continuously, arcs of electricity striking Morgan. Warriors from the North's Genetic-enhanced Soldiers and the Lingnan Coast Guard also poured in. The forces of the Five Districts converged into an unstoppable torrent within the underground palace.

Lin Xiaoyu seized the opportunity to press his palm against the key rune on the stone tower. The Star Core Crystal's light erupted like a sun, golden energy cascading down like a waterfall, enveloping the entire palace. Morgan, shrouded in the golden energy, let out a roar of agony. The Dark Matter Armor on his surface melted, and his body rapidly withered.

"No... I refuse to accept this! The Abyss... will surely open! You humans... are destined for destruction!" Morgan's voice grew weaker and weaker, eventually turning into a wisp of dark purple smoke, utterly devoured by the Star Core Crystal's golden energy.

The remaining Abyssal warriors, under the dual assault from the Five Districts' forces and the golden energy, were quickly eliminated. The dark purple mist within the palace gradually dissipated. The Star Core Crystal's light stabilized, and the sealing runes at the base of the stone tower glowed brightly once more.

The ancient creature slowly stood up and walked to Lin Xiaoyu's side, gently nudging him with its head. Lin Xiaoyu closed his eyes, and a stream of information flowed into his mind: the rise and fall of the Star Core Civilization, the ambition of the Abyssal Demonic Realm, the method to strengthen the seal... When he opened his eyes again, his gaze held unprecedented determination. "It told me that Morgan was just a vanguard. The true masters of the Abyssal Demonic Realm are still lurking in the depths of the dark matter dimension. They will not give up on the Star Core energy. Our battle has only just begun."

Lin Zhou looked at the restored stone tower and the ancient creature standing guard beside it, a complex emotion welling up in his heart. This crisis made humanity realize that they were not only survivors in the post-apocalyptic era but also inheritors of an ancient civilization and guardians of the planet.

"Notify all settlements," Lin Zhou spoke into the communicator, his voice resounding throughout the underground palace. "From today onward, the Eternal Kingdom enters a state of highest alert. All zones must accelerate technological research, strengthen military forces, and prepare for the next invasion from the Abyssal Demonic Realm. We must let those creatures in the dark know that Earth is not to be trifled with!"

Affirmative responses came from the communicators of various zones, filled with unwavering resolve.

Within the underground palace, warriors from the Five Districts began clearing the battlefield. Lin Xiaoyu and Ivan stood beside the stone tower, gazing at the Star Core Crystal emitting a gentle glow. The ancient creature lay quietly nearby, its golden antlers faintly shimmering, as if guarding this sacred land that had endured for millennia.