Chương 106: Dangerous Objects
When events remain static and reach a time cycle, the nightmare world will return the non-existent creatures to the place they entered and continue their journey through space. Currently, the movement trajectory of the nightmare world cannot be determined.
The second method involves completing certain events to alter the course of tragedy. Nightmares are born from despair, but if this world is given hope, it will collapse, redeeming the despair within it.
The ultimate goal is to locate the core of this world, which is tied to the rules governing the Xia continent, thus allowing control over it.
However, aside from the first method, which is backed by solid evidence, the other two are based on scholarly inference, drawn from the characteristics of the nightmare world. Their authenticity remains unconfirmed.
Bai Yi's brows furrowed as he listened to Ling's report. He rose, carefully approached the window, and cracked it open, peering outside.
The buildings here were old, mostly constructed of stone. The streets were littered with garbage, and the area seemed devoid of both people and corpses, creating a sense of desolation.
The coughs that had echoed through the nightmare world grew louder after Bai Yi opened the window.
It seems I have neighbors, and quite a few of them.
He asked in his mind, "Look up the architectural style and compare it with Xia's history to pinpoint when this occurred. It would be ideal to determine the specific time period."
Also, what benefits are there to entering the nightmare world? Why did the ancient gods and their followers come here en masse?"
Zero: "Processing data. Please wait."
After a brief pause, Zero's voice returned: "Based on the terms 'diseased body C-306,' 'immortality,' and 'containment' mentioned by the natives, I propose the following historical inferences."
Dark History: Black Death – Pathogen
Probability: 65%
Dark History: Distortion and Eternal Life
Probability: 28%
Dark History: Fall of Gods and Catastrophes
Probability: 7%
Zero continued: "While the nightmare world brings disaster, it also brings opportunity. In sub-time and space, not only are time and space reset, but the resources and magic energy are as well. These can be taken."
In other words, if the 'core of the world' is found and the nightmare world is controlled, assuming there is a large soul crystal core inside, each reset would also reset this core, providing nearly infinite resources."
Additionally, after the collapse of the nightmare world, a rare resource known as the 'Origin Stone' will emerge. This material, a manifestation of the rules, is regarded as the fossil of the Godhead. Scholars define it as the source of despair in the Ancient God Era.
The 'Origin Stone' enables legends to ascend to demigod status and boosts gods' powers, making it an ultra-rare top-tier resource, essential for approaching demigodhood.
Bai Yi paused, some doubts fading from his mind. No wonder he only knew Charles and the one favored by the God of Disaster among the chosen. If the others had perished and Charles emerged victorious, it made sense.
Bai Yi thought about the strange occurrences, such as space debris falling into the Federation and the Black Death Curse killing NPCs. Players were unaware of the source of these events, but there was still much to be discovered.
Bai Yi's concerns began to ease. It was simple: Charles had the chance to escape and gain benefits, so why couldn't he?
He thought further and asked: "Can you sense the bone dragon?"
Zero: "Magic parameters have significantly changed. The bone dragon's tracking devices are being interfered with, and its location cannot be determined."
Bai Yi: "Where is the city lord?"
Zero: "No relevant data available."
Bai Yi: "Is entry into the nightmare world random? How vast is it?"
Zero: "Teleportation is random. The size of the nightmare world depends on the range of despair that formed it. The larger the despair, the greater the world's size. Historical records suggest that the Black Death and Pathogen originated in a kingdom called 'Beacon,' which had a diameter of about 10,000 kilometers."
Bai Yi's eyes flickered. After thinking for a moment, he opened the door and stepped out. "Compile all information on this kingdom into a document. I need to review it at any time."
Zero: "Compiling data. Please wait."
Kingdom Name: Beacon Fire Kingdom
Era: Mid-Ancient God Era
Official Organizations: Plague Doctors' Shelter, Knights of Light, Catastrophic Objects Detention Center
Current City: Fenghuo City
As Bai Yi scanned through the records, though incomplete, they provided a quick understanding of the kingdom's tragic state.
The information came from travel notes left by ancient wizards and were categorized under history in the Hall of Knowledge. The Federation's scholars, despite lacking cultivation talent, were astute, researching various fields in an attempt to resurrect the new gods from multiple perspectives, including wonders and history.
They were the foundation of Xia's continuous history, as no wizard would waste time on travel notes—mages preferred studying spells, and alchemists sought profit through their creations.
The stench of decay in the street worsened, and an unusual scent began to permeate the air, creeping into his body.
Bai Yi's thoughts shifted, and suddenly, gold-eating bugs poured from his space ring, covering his body to block the oppressive air.
More importantly, he felt an overwhelming presence of magic in this decaying world. Compared to the current Xia continent, the magic concentration here was at least a hundred times greater.
The world had been healthy in the earlier eras, at least before the ancient gods had shattered its foundation.
Sub-time and space—essentially a series of small worlds?
Suddenly, a sharp male voice pierced through his thoughts. "What are you doing? Stay out of the room!"
Bai Yi turned and saw a man in a black bird-beak mask, death robe, and holding a scalpel, approaching rapidly. The warm yellow light in the mask's eyes gave off a heavy sense of pressure. Bai Yi could almost sense death emanating from him.
Noticing the "Future Star" badge Bai Yi wore, the plague doctor hesitated. "Are you from outside?"
Feeling the clean aura emanating from Bai Yi, an aura free from disease, the doctor's expression shifted.
"Yes," Bai Yi replied with a helpless shrug. "My companions and I got lost in space and ended up here. We didn't want to come, but I have to find my companions before I can leave."
The doctor's voice softened, still laced with doubt. "Has the space blockade of Fenghuo Kingdom been lifted?"
Bai Yi shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know much about you folks."
The doctor, now clearly disappointed, responded: "Then come with me. Fortunately, it's daytime, and the air pollution index is 0.3. At night, with pollution at 0.8, exposure can't be blocked by silver."
Bai Yi, recalling his knowledge and the Plague Doctor set, considered whether it might be effective against the Black Death Curse. He followed the doctor, asking, "What happened here? Let me introduce myself—I'm an alchemist named Bai Yi. Perhaps I can help you?"
Plague doctors were a unique profession born from the Black Death Curse. The curse not only gave them power but also brought despair.
"Alchemist?" The doctor said, his tone flat. "You can call me Fang Heng. The only help you can offer is to stay at the headquarters. There's a virus-blocking device there. As long as you don't leave, you could survive for another ten years."
"Ten years?" Bai Yi asked curiously. "How do you know that?"
"This is the average lifespan of an alchemist," Fang Heng answered solemnly.
Just then, he suddenly froze, sensing something, and rushed toward a building at the corner of the street. Bai Yi followed quickly. The time node of this world was still unknown, but he knew the end was inevitable—the Plague Doctors and this kingdom would disappear from history.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream echoed from the building. Fang Heng kicked open the door, pulling a syringe filled with green liquid from his robe. He stabbed it into a figure curled on the bed, the liquid vanishing instantly. The scream ceased, replaced by a strange, airless moan.
"Huh~" Fang Heng relaxed momentarily, but the atmosphere shifted instantly.
"Retreat!" Fang Heng shouted, his voice trembling with urgency.
They sprinted down the street, Fang Heng pulling out a walkie-talkie. "Headquarters, this is Fang Heng. A dangerous object A-031, 'Embrace of Pain,' has appeared at 135 Sunset Street. I've confirmed it. I need support."
As they ran, Bai Yi noticed something strange. A figure stood at the doorway of the room they had just left. Its expression was stiff—half-smile, half-cry.
Their eyes met, and Bai Yi felt an odd unease, a growing sense of danger.
Fang Heng sensed something and shouted, "Don't look at it! Anyone who looks at that mask will be possessed, and it will consume your soul!"
As Fang Heng spoke, Bai Yi felt the rising sense of crisis. The gold-eating insects clinging to his body began to die off, and a curse seemed to be drawing closer.
In Bai Yi's vision, the human figure with the strange expression suddenly vanished. The body, blood and flesh splattered, began to collapse. Then, an illusory black shadow with human skin shot toward them at an astonishing speed.
It was moving so fast that it far exceeded the plague doctor's capabilities to respond.
Bai Yi fixed his gaze on the approaching figure, his suspicions deepening. Something felt off about the nightmare world—was it really as dangerous as they made it out to be?
A flash of scarlet flickered in his eyes, and a malicious intent sparkled within him.
In that instant, the mask in the sky hesitated, slowing down as it focused on Bai Yi. It still tried to inch closer, but there was an uncertainty in its movements.
Fang Heng noticed the change and abruptly stopped, sensing the shift. An unnerving chill erupted from him as he extended his hand. The freezing aura spread rapidly toward the "Embrace of Pain," but it was clear that Fang Heng's power was too weak. The icy air only slowed the mask's flight; it didn't freeze it.
Despair flickered in Fang Heng's eyes. He prepared for the inevitable as death seemed to draw nearer.
Then, with a soft pah sound, a burst of energy exploded around them, making Fang Heng's hair stand on end.
He turned in disbelief, witnessing an astonishing sight. Shocked and wide-eyed behind his bird-beak mask, Fang Heng saw something he couldn't have expected.
Bai Yi was holding an A-class dangerous object in his hand, the very same one that had been threatening their lives moments before. The once-friendly young man, who had seemed so noble and harmless, now emanated an aura so dangerous that Fang Heng felt it rivaled or even surpassed that of the dangerous object itself.
Bai Yi's scarlet pupils gleamed with excitement, and he finally understood what had been odd all along.
He turned to Fang Heng, smiling. "I caught it!"
Pah!
At that moment, a sticky tentacle exploded from Bai Yi's face, drastically changing the tone of the scene. In an instant, he transformed from a handsome young man into something far more unsettling.
Fang Heng collapsed to the ground, staring at Bai Yi with a stunned silence. The man he had gone to great lengths to protect... was far more than he appeared.
It seemed, to Fang Heng's horror, that he had just saved an S-class dangerous creature.
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