Ultraman: The Dark Shadow Mage, Creating a Magic Empire

Chapter 24 Erica Alice

"Look, this is the latest mercury thermometer developed by the Science and Technology Bureau. Although it's only the first version, the teacher said that they didn't have such a useful instrument back then."

The little girl is Erica's younger sister, named Alice, and is one of the few geniuses in the royal family.

She was very fond of Norman's three laws of thermodynamics and specifically studied these scientific knowledge under Dean Allen.

However, some experiments could not be conducted, so it was impossible to verify some of Norman's claims.

Norman was merely providing direction to reduce the number of times civilization went astray. As for future developments, Norman could wait, and he had plenty of time to wait!

Alice was Norman's most devout follower.

Now that she has completed her studies, she voluntarily applied to join the exploration team, responsible for measuring the temperature changes inside the hollow Earth's core.

Alice showed the simple thermometer in her hand to everyone, and then began to measure the temperature outside the hollow center of the earth.

"The temperature here is usually between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius, which is a typical temperate climate of the Five Rivers region. The former Earl of Golden Sunflower and the southern kingdoms were all in this climate zone, so their climate was pleasant and able to support a larger population."

"So, besides confirming how long the hollow core can last, what else are we checking the temperature for?"

"The Emerald Treant, dressed in a magic robe, asked."

His name is Mance Noldor, and he is one of the most talented young magical beings among the awakened Noldor.

He was also one of the first to receive the system's blessing, transforming from a Shadow Treant into an Emerald Treant.

After enrolling, Mans focused solely on magical knowledge, only attending the nine-year compulsory education curriculum for other academic subjects.

They know very little about more advanced physics.

Alice explained, "We also need to identify the plants in the Earth's core cavity, selecting those suitable for survival and preserving those unsuitable."

"For example, the optimal temperature range for plant growth in tropical regions is 30 to 35°C; for temperate plants it is mostly 25 to 30°C; while for cold-climate plants it is generally slightly above 0°C."

"This is the most suitable range. We need to collect data, determine this range, and then store the plants that need to be preserved to ensure species diversity."

「同时，热带植物生长的最低温度在10～15℃；温带植物生长的最低温度在5～10℃；寒带植物在0℃，甚至低于零度的环境下仍能生存。」

"We need to find cold-climate plants that can still survive at around -200°C. Even if we don't have any, we have to cultivate them ourselves!"

This determines whether we will see plants again in the endless darkness, and whether we can rely on these plants to develop magic and technology.

"This is the power of resources. Without resources, or with resources that are too singular, our development could be severely hampered! Many crucial components would become impossible to manufacture!"

"You know about spinning machines, right? If it weren't for the discovery of a special plant fiber mushroom, spinning machines would never have been usable, you wouldn't have this magical robe, and we wouldn't have been able to get cheap clothes."

"Junior sister is right."

Kate, Alice's senior from the Academy of Science and Technology, said, "Even our bloodline, or the bloodline of the Treants, cannot completely resist the coming long, cold winter. Robes with anti-cold magic are necessary, and can be said to be one of the greatest inventions of the last decade."

"I see."

Mans nodded and said, "I didn't know why they wanted me to come before, but now I understand."

"It is my mission to preserve the plants here. As one of the first Emerald Tree People in my tribe, this is perhaps the meaning of my birth."

"My mission is also to gather information on the monsters here, tame them, and incorporate them into the empire so that they can bring about more apocalypses and changes!"

Another tree-man spoke up; he was Mandy, Mans's brother, a shadow tree spirit, and also the group's zoologist.

"The gathering is complete, let's continue our journey."

Alice smiled as she wrote down the data, and the group set off again.

A team of ten people travels through the bizarre and fantastical inner world of the earth.

As they ventured deeper, witnessing the increasingly towering forests and unique flora and fauna, the group, while initially delighted, gradually became more cautious.

The lead expert from the Hollow Earth Institute, Oni, spoke up: "Ahead lies the first level, the last remaining territory of carnivorous monsters. Everyone, be careful..."

"roar!"

As soon as Oni finished speaking, a terrifying monster roared from ahead.

After the roar, a five-meter-tall monster resembling a cheetah suddenly leaped out of the jungle ahead.

The moment the monster landed, several tentacles shot out from its body and flew towards Oni, who was standing at the front.

At the same time, the monster's head split open, revealing a huge mouth like flower petals, indicating that it was ready to feed!

"Be careful!"

Erica, who was standing to the side, reacted immediately by pulling Oni away. Then, the blood flowing from her hand transformed into a three-meter-long greatsword, which she swung out with her movements, slicing the monster in two.

"Snapped!"

As the flesh and blood fell to the ground, another hollow expert, Pat, finally realized what was happening and shouted, "These are Rift-Mouthed Beasts! They are social monsters with no intelligence, only the ability to kill! Retreat!"

At his roar, two bodyguards moved at the front, took out their weapons, and raised their shields to block in front of the crowd.

The brothers Mandy and Mance also came to their senses and began to cast Shadow Cloak and Nature's Blessing on everyone.

As the two spells landed on them, all ten people were enveloped in a faint gray film and a green barrier.

The Shadow Cloak allows a person to disappear into the shadows, making them invisible and achieving an effect similar to optical invisibility.

Natural blessing allows one's aura to harmonize with nature, meaning one merges with nature and remains undisturbed even by close contact with monsters.

Two spells were not enough to ensure everyone's immediate safety; they needed to create some distance so that the slit-mouthed beasts would lose their target.

"Walk!"

The group ran deeper into the area, with two bodyguards, who were also members of the squad, responsible for protecting them.

Of course, the real protector of this team is actually a member of the royal family—Erica!

"There's no need to run away; I can handle them all by myself!"

Erica said confidently, it was hard to imagine that her petite frame could carry such a large sword.

Even more unimaginable is that she could release so much blood and condense it into a three-meter-long broadsword!

Moreover, it is very solid, just like a real physical greatsword!

What this signifies is self-evident.

Her blood magic cultivation and her bloodline level are very high!

The Blood Sword was classified by Norman as a first-tier blood magic, but the strength of this move is directly proportional to the bloodline level and the user's own mastery of blood magic.

At best, one could be like Norman, who could casually condense a blood sword that would possess power comparable to a fifth-tier magic, capable of piercing the head of a surface-level blue dragon with a single strike!

"It's not that I'm afraid of them, it's that I'm afraid the noise and smell of blood here will attract even more powerful monsters from the vicinity!"

(End of this chapter)