Chapter 344 The Critical Choices of Companions
As Liam and General Howard made their decisions, the battle between Jeremy and the instance boss reached its most intense phase. The fierce clash between them began to affect the entire space of The Lost Realm instance, causing significant spatial distortions. Every region within The Lost Realm showed varying degrees of spatial disruption. Previously separate spaces were now connected in unexpected ways, which not only impacted the humans who had ventured into The Lost Realm but also disturbed the monsters inhabiting it.
At the heart of the battlefield, Jeremy had fully unleashed the spatial energy contained within his white orb of light. Meanwhile, the instance boss of The Lost Realm had transformed entirely into a black hole. This black hole was fundamentally different from any seen before. The previous black holes could be understood either as a skill of the instance boss or as high-dimensional data causing spatial distortions within the real world. While these black holes could influence space, they lacked the destructive power to consume entire planets.
However, the black hole formed by The Lost Realm's instance boss was a genuine black hole in every sense. From the moment of its creation, Jeremy felt an overwhelming gravitational force. He quickly gripped his mortal combat weapon, using its power to anchor himself to his position.
"So, you really intend to take me down with you in this way? I'll never let you succeed! I'll confine all your power within the instance!" Jeremy had grasped the instance boss's ultimate plan. Realizing he could not defeat Jeremy outright, the instance boss was now prepared to use his black hole form to force a mutual destruction. If successful, this would not only kill Jeremy but also obliterate the entire Lost Realm instance. The collapse of the instance would have severe repercussions on the surrounding real-world space, causing intense shockwaves. By doing this, the masterminds behind the apocalypse game would no longer have to worry about the threat posed by Jeremy and his allies.
Jeremy gathered all his power, swiftly activating his King of Time and Space talent. A golden portal shimmered into existence before him.
The other side of the portal actually led into a special space tied to the mortal combat weapon. Jeremy understood all too well that relying solely on his King of Time and Space talent and his command of spatial powers would not be enough to stop the instance boss. To even have a chance at halting the enemy's moves, he needed the strength of mortal combat as well.
Jeremy's efforts did indeed yield some results. The gravitational force from the instance boss's black hole transformation couldn't completely envelop the entire instance. However, this also placed Jeremy under far greater pressure than before. By using this unique space to seal off the instance boss's power, Jeremy found himself trapped within this enclosed space as well.
Jeremy's sudden disappearance on the battlefield immediately alarmed his companions. Claire and Emma exchanged worried looks, both visibly tense. Emma, her voice trembling, asked Bonnie and Ritchie, "Where's Jeremy? Why did he suddenly disappear? Is he facing some terrible danger? Shouldn't we be helping him now?"
Emma's nervousness was palpable, and although Claire thought her questions were somewhat unnecessary, she couldn't help feeling a hint of fear herself. Bonnie and Ritchie didn't answer, but they shared the same anxious gaze, staring intently in the direction where Jeremy had last been seen.
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After watching the spot for a moment, Ritchie abruptly stood up. "Stay here, and don't act on your own! I'm going to scout the area where Jeremy was last seen!" With that, he prepared to shift into a shadow and head toward Jeremy's last location.
But before Ritchie could make a move, Bonnie stopped him. "I think it's too dangerous for you to go alone! I'm coming with you. If we work together, we'll have a better chance of succeeding."
Ritchie gave Bonnie a scrutinizing look. "You already used up most of your strength in the last fight. If we run into any trouble, you won't have enough power left to escape."
Ritchie didn't want Bonnie to come along, concerned that her weakened state could put both of them at risk.
In Ritchie's view, he had the ability to shift into shadow and escape if things turned dangerous. But Bonnie didn't have that advantage—escaping wouldn't be as easy for her. Yet Bonnie shook her head firmly.
"Yes, I did expend a lot of my strength in the battle," she admitted. "But after a brief rest, I feel my energy has mostly recovered. I'm ready to join the fight again."
Bonnie was determined to act alongside Ritchie. From her perspective, Jeremy was in serious trouble, and as his ally, she felt a responsibility to assist him. She couldn't simply stand by while he faced such grave danger.
Ritchie looked into her resolute eyes and realized he wouldn't be able to change her mind. With a sigh, he conceded. "Alright, let's go together. But let me be clear—if we run into real trouble, I may not be able to help you. You'll have to rely on your own abilities to escape."
Bonnie nodded in acknowledgment. "Focus on your own safety. Even though my level may not be as high as yours, I can hold my own just as well." With that, she grasped her staff, summoning a glowing blue magic circle at her feet. The circle cast a frost spell around her, forming a thin barrier of cold air. This barrier wasn't strong enough to fully withstand the instance boss's powerful attacks, but it would provide Bonnie a moment of protection should they face an unexpected threat.
Together, Ritchie and Bonnie headed toward the area where Jeremy had last been seen. As they moved, Emma and Claire felt the urgency to take action as well. Claire turned to Emma with a look of determination.
"We may not be the strongest, but we can still use our skills and talents to support them," Claire said. "I'll use my mental sensing talent to try locating Jeremy. Meanwhile, you can focus on using your healing abilities to support Ritchie and Bonnie. Even though they've mostly recovered, I doubt they're entirely healed from their previous injuries."
Emma listened to Claire's suggestion and nodded firmly in agreement, understanding that every bit of support could make a difference.
"I think you're absolutely right! Even though we aren't that powerful, we have to help Jeremy when he's in trouble!"
And so, each of Jeremy's companions set out to take what they believed were the most effective actions they could. Although none of them had overwhelming strength, and despite the risk of endangering themselves, they stepped up without hesitation. As Jeremy faced his peril, his allies threw themselves into helping him, proving their loyalty and determination.
This collective decision ultimately gave Jeremy an immense boost. When Ritchie and Bonnie arrived in the area where Jeremy had last been, they quickly sensed a unique space taking shape around them. In that instant, Ritchie immediately thought of the special abilities tied to the mortal combat weapon.
"I'm pretty sure Jeremy activated the mortal combat's skill. He's likely sealed himself and the instance boss together inside that special space," Ritchie said, his tone one of conviction.
Bonnie's eyes widened in shock at his words. "Isn't he being a bit too overconfident? Does he really think he can take down the instance boss in a one-on-one showdown?!"
The audacity of Jeremy's move stunned her. A one-on-one battle against such a formidable opponent was beyond reckless—it was almost unfathomable. However, Ritchie, observing Bonnie's reaction, gave a slight, knowing nod. He seemed to understand Jeremy's mindset, that Jeremy would do whatever was necessary to eliminate the threat, no matter the cost.
In Bonnie's view, the instance boss was immensely powerful—there was no way Jeremy could defeat it alone. But Ritchie offered no reply. He knew Jeremy well enough to understand his intense self-confidence; Jeremy undoubtedly believed he could bring down the instance boss by himself.
"Let's set that aside for now! We need to focus on figuring out how we can support Jeremy in this fight!" Ritchie urged. "Ordinarily, no force can penetrate the special space created by the mortal combat skill. But maybe we can use our own resources. We have plenty of High-Dimensional Data storage units—let's gather all the High-Dimensional Data around us and store it in those units. If we can deprive the instance boss of its High-Dimensional Data support, its power should weaken, at least to some degree. That could give Jeremy a better chance at victory."
Ritchie's plan offered a glimmer of hope, and Bonnie, after a moment's thought, reluctantly nodded. Although she wasn't certain it would succeed, this was the only idea they had to potentially help Jeremy in his struggle.
"Then let's get started! There's no time to waste—Jeremy could already be in serious trouble by now!" Bonnie's voice was tense but resolute, and they both knew that every second mattered.