Chapter 107: Gift of ancient

If his not mistaken, this structure is made of bone. Zyro had seen plenty of skeletons so he knew when he saw one. Even Aizra supported his claim, confirming that the ivory texture of the structure matched that of a creature skeletal framework - bone.

It took some time for him to process the information, his mind was reluctant to believe this humongous thing once supported a creature anatomy.

Added the fact that this is just a part of it made him wonder what kind of abominable being would require a skeleton of this scale. He previous thought Eyeless hounds were terrifying, so did the beasts of higher marks he came across. There are also some he dare not go near. The creatures here were already far beyond in comparison to Earth's animals in terms of ferociousness. Actually, his former world animals are adorable pets in comparison.

Still, Zyro underestimated this world life cycle. Living creatures here aren't dominated by Intelligent creatures for a reason. Because creatures here grew even bigger than skyscrapers. Does it even stop there?

His not sure.

Out of his daze, Zyro lingered for a bit before looking around. A distance away, a silhouette of another similar structure stood like a white pillar on barren ground. He slowly went there, discovering the other structure was almost an exact copy of the previous one. To his surprise, one more akin bone structure is placed further away at the same distance.

Zyro even wondered if his in a loop of repeating events, cycling endlessly until he died of suffocation or hunger. That said, he would go mad first before that due to the creepiness of this place. Here, his like diving in the deep sea without liquid effecting him. It's dark and silent enough to drive an average person insane. However, this thoughts banished when he looked at the direction where another bone tower were supposed to be. But instead of a standing ivory pillar, he saw huge bone stump, it's upper part laying near in shattered fragments.

Zyro went there and studied the broken bones, when he reconstructed the fragments in his mind, he gasped.

'I knew it.'

He had been marveling what kind of titan this skeleton belonged to. If his guess is right, this cyclopean framework are from a snake-like creature. The white towers were mere rib of the titan partially buried in the ground, stretching further and further into the fog.

Of course, even the biggest snake can't be compared to this titanic abomination. That said, why is such humongous remains are not known to the world? He didn't even hear anyone in Foggy Ring tell related information about giant bones inside the Great Wall of Fog.

The answer is obvious. Because the entirety of the skeleton was hidden within the wall itself.

'Huh. Does that mean... Gods, don't tell me these things spanned around Foggy Ring?!'

The Great Wall of Fog is circular by nature, earning it the name of Foggy Ring. The Great Wall of Fog had always been a mystery to everyone. No one knew what formed it not it's origins, even the Gricks. Having discovered that it hid a titan carcass made him conclude that the Great Wall of Fog was a titan itself, curled in a circle in its death.

Disbelief was written on his face, baffled by this creature sheer size. Grick, Aster, Argon and Helios were renowned as beast of legends, their glory and might are respected even today. Specially Grick, a powerful Phenix that made the winged race, giving them racial inheritance they're so proud of. Grick was said to have claimed Foggy Ring as her own territory, using the circular castle as her nest which is now lifted to the sky by the crimson tree roots.

Having a castle as a nest does sound impressive, one could only imagine how big and mighty Grick was. However, this unknown snake-like creature would probably crushed the castle by merely passing by. It's body surrounded the entire Foggy Ring, after all. Even in death, no one dare step over its remains. Serving as an uncrossable barrier separating the terrors outside from the civilization within.

Grick, along the other Devine Beast aren't that powerful at all. At least, compared to this dead abomination.

Speaking of snake within the fog. Zyro's eyes widened upon recalling certain murals in the very bottom of the Mine. It was the masterful engravings Baron showed him when they venture into the underground ruins beneath the mine.

The murals describe an absurd story, telling about a prosperous Empire assaulted by a serpent made of fog. The people defended their Empire, which suddenly disappeared. Left without a home, the people fought bravely to vanquish the disastrous serpent. Eventually, after countless sacrifices, they achieved triumph over the serpentine mists. The monster fall and at the very last mural displayed something coming out from raging sea.

That Great Serpent... His probably looking at its corpse right now.

Looking at the murky fog in a daze, he realized that the Great Wall of Fog was an ancient abomination carcass all along! It's what remains of the beast that took down an entire Empire by itself!

'Does that mean it's all true?'

Although, the forbidden scriptures beside the murals were truly maddening for some unknown reason. The tales those exquisite engravings told were too absurd to believe. Now, however, seeing an undeniable proof of the bizarre story forced his mortal mind to accept it.

'My common sense is really broken now.' he sighed internally.

The vanished Empire was true, along the Great Serpent and darkness rising from raging waters. Even though the Serpentine remains are right Infront of him, the disappearance of an whole Empire were too hard to swallow. How did they made it work and why? The sudden banishment of their stronghold is what forced them to fight to the end and claim victory at the expense of countless lives. Did they fail on some grand scheme? Where did the Empire go?

Additionally, what rose from the depths of sea in the murals end? What's the falling star at the beginning? What's ashen tree that reach the sky after the Great Serpent had fallen?

'Too many questions yet so little answers.'

The only thing he solved was the Serpent outcome and where it layed. Which is a clue to the mysterious tree on the murals. Because that tree was carved the same way as the foggy serpent. Meaning both were made of the same insidious mists.

Did the tree sprout from the Serpent? He wouldn't think so if such phenomenon didn't happen before. Everyone was aware of Highland - Gricks root-lifted island - Possess a majestic tree that was said to sprout from Grick carcass itself. Which grew unnaturally bigger, eventually lifting the land known as Highland today.

A similar case transpired in The Burning City of Arden, making the fiery tree that had been aflame for years even now, it's fire stayed burning.

He heard those two were enormous in size, he saw it himself just how big the Gricks crimson tree is in the night of his escape.

Unlike those two, the ashen tree are no more. With the Great Serpent as the base, it would have been bigger than the crimson and flaming tree. Surely, the ashed tree should have been here, in Foggy Ring, where the Serpent lay.

But it's clearly not here.

'Where is it, then?' his clueless.

Then again, why did mystical tree's sprouts from dead abominations? If anything would come from monstrosities demise, that would be...

Zyro's eyes widened slightly.

His thoughts slipping out.

"Soul core... Soul cores are manifestations of soul and consciousness shaped by strong reluctance to part with life. Those grudges along some of its creator power would then be bestowed to whoever consumed its essence by breaking it, just like what I received from Blinker. But what will happen if no one found it?"

Therefore, no one would consume it, turning the whole spiritual process meaningless. Normally, unconsumed soul cores would fade over time as the will of its creators weakened. Soul core period of existence depends on its owners former glory, after all. However, what if the soul core came from exceptionally powerful creatures, like the Great Serpent, Grick and Helios?

Then, like all beings. Soul cores will evolve to adapt, using it's essence to bloom akin to seed, eventually turning into a colossal tree for challengers to find and claim its power.

"As for the Serpent ashen tree unnatural case. If my guess is right, the lack of mystical tree are due to exhaustion! It had been standing so long without anyone taking it's core, eventually decaying to this point!"

He looked around, seeing murky grey fog everywhere.

Zyro grinned.

"A stump."

Theoretically speaking, the Foggy Ring was indeed a mere stump of the ashen tree. It's former size spanning as wide as Foggy Ring, with height as high as Highland.

Suddenly motivated, Zyro stopped contemplating and began moving. Activating Shroud of Night exoskeleton, while also hasting his speed with raw strength of his own. He ran, passing by ribs by ribs. That's when Zyro saw it, a faint ghostly light of pale white. Without hesitation, he walk over in awe.

Indeed, his theories were correct.

The Great Serpent soul core was here, awaiting someone to take it's gift and will for thousands of years.

And now, it was finally found.