Chapter 382: The Godforsaken Land

Chapter 382: The Godforsaken Land

Waste Gas Treatment Process Optimized, Great Smog May Finally End

Sound and Image Transmission Technology Breakthrough, Barkeland Becomes Pilot, Nationwide Free Promotion

"Steam Lady" Surpasses Roselle? Renowned Writer Fours Sparks a Technological Revolution!

Weather Experts Advise Reducing Outdoors During Thunderstorms to Prevent Accidents

Intis Republic Stirs, Forsack Empire Ambitious, Fenepot with Ill Intent?

King George Iii Urges: Make the Rune Kingdom Great Again!

2 Narcissus Street.

Klein sat on the sofa, flipping through the Tingen Daily. He fell silent when he saw a significant section dedicated to "sound and image transmission technology."

Isn't this just radio and screen projection?

Radio can be understood as a legacy technology pushed forward by Roselle after arriving in this era, but what about screen projection? Is it a new technological revolution, or a fusion of existing technology and Beyonder abilities?

He looked at the newspaper's portrayal of Miss Fours, a writer and scientist who is described as working tirelessly and conducting research experiments, and noticed something off about her weary, beautiful face.

Could Miss Fours also be a time traveler, someone who has crossed over from another era? How can someone excel so well in both the humanities and sciences?

And the weariness on her face doesn't seem like the result of grueling experiments; it feels more like... the exhaustion he used to feel after staying up late to watch videos or play games before he crossed over.

Klein pondered this as he glanced at the magic mirror on the table.

This borrowed interdimensional "ipad" from his fellow traveler is incredibly powerful.

It can even show videos from Earth before he crossed over, though the images are often incomplete and flicker with static and black shadows, much like an old, patched-up television.

Compared to the somewhat useless function of watching videos during meals, the magic mirror's most impressive feature is its ability to spy on current events.

No matter what scene Klein asks to see, the mirror can search and display the corresponding content after asking if he wants to "change channels."

When he tested it, the mirror showed him Benson shaving, Melina fiddling with mechanical parts, Old Neil filling out reimbursement forms, Roshan slacking off at her desk, and the Captain trying to lower his hairline in front of the mirror.

The mirror even showed the Chanis Gate in Tingen City, where various sealed items are stored with various protective measures. In the center was a box that gave off a deep, dark aura.

That must be the most important sealed item in the Church of the Night in Tingen City—Saint Selena's Ashes.

Based on the information from his fellow traveler, Klein estimated that "Saint Selena's Ashes" is likely a Sequence 4 Extraordinary Trait from the "Insomnia" pathway, or the "Night" pathway.

Because of this ash box, the sealed items remain relatively calm and dormant.

Realizing that the mirror can even spy on sealed items with divinity, Klein understood just how powerful this mirror truly is.

There were only two things that seemed off. When the mirror showed his colleague Leonard, who always thinks he's a chosen one, the image would sometimes blur and stutter.

The second issue was with his mysterious and calm fellow traveler, Luke, who gave him this mirror.

While the mirror only showed slight distortions with Leonard, it completely failed to display anything related to Luke. Whenever he mentioned Luke, the mirror would show only a pitch-black screen with nothing visible.

His fellow traveler has secrets...

Klein sighed. He had his own secrets too, about that mysterious gray fog space.

Mr. Emperor's words hinted at stormy times ahead, suggesting he truly intends to spark a world-wide war.

Klein had always thought Mr. Emperor was a powerful Beyonder, but he never imagined the extent of his power.

To be able to protect a being that defies the gods, he must be nearly a god himself. In comparison, Klein's role as the "Fool" is nothing more than a paper tiger.

Recalling their first meeting, Klein was once again struck by the implications of Mr. Emperor's words.

If a being as close to a god as Mr. Emperor can be hunted, how terrifying must the beings hunting him be...

Why does Mr. Emperor want to start a war?

Klein thought seriously. Every action is driven by a purpose. Mr. Emperor's decision to start a war must be to escape his pursuers... a ritual?

A ritual so vast that it can affect the entire world?

Klein suddenly had a realization, but it was quickly followed by a deep sense of helplessness. Matters between gods are beyond his control.

He took a deep breath, giving up on pondering these distant and powerless matters, and picked up the Magic Mirror.

"Show me the scene around Fours."

"Change the channel?"

"Yes."

The mirror's surface rippled slightly, and Klein watched nervously. However, all he saw was a dark, blurry image, completely indecipherable, just like when he asked Luke.

Is this Miss Fours connected to Luke, or is she also a time traveler?

Klein furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment, then went to the neighboring apartment to inquire. As he approached the door and entered, he faintly heard some muffled conversation through the door.

"Keep the knife steady, and apply force with your fingers like this, following the grain."

"Um, like this?"

"Yes, let me show you..."

Click—

Klein took a step forward and saw his old friend in the kitchen, standing a person's length from the stove, arms crossed but empty.

He looked around in surprise, "I thought I heard someone talking. Did you have any guests?"

"They were here, but you scared them off."

Luke glanced at Klein, who had entered without knocking, and slumped onto the sofa with a sullen face.

"Do you know what you just interrupted?"

Just now, he had called Bernadette over, luring her with the promise of food, telling her it was a dish from Roselle’s hometown, successfully piquing her curiosity. He then used the pretext of teaching her cooking to gradually get closer, and he was just a few steps away from hugging her!

"Uh... should I come back later? It’s not a big deal."

Klein replied considerately; he had only come to ask about Fours.

"Never mind, everyone will be busy soon."

Luke glanced at him, "What’s up?"

Klein sat down beside him and handed over the newspaper, "Do you know this Miss Fours?"

"Hmm, one of my girlfriends in Barkland."

Luke took the newspaper and glanced at it, chuckling at the sight of Fours being portrayed as the "Steam Lady."

It was clear that her "Master of Illusions" had fully digested her abilities, and with the help of the "Star Mages", ancient astronomers of the Steam Church, the next Sequence, "Astrologist", would also be digested quickly.

It seemed Stiano, after trying to win Roselle’s favor by offering a shortcut to make his child an angel and failing, had decided to change his approach, using a more gentle method to earn favor.

Klein fell silent, mulling over the word "one."

Damn womanizer!

"So, she’s not from our world?"

"No."

Luke shrugged. Apart from Klein, who had just arrived and hadn’t had time to develop, the "Ancient Sun God", "Night Goddess", "Demon King", "Earth Mother", and other Old Gods were all true deities. Even Roselle, a half-dead true deity, was considered to have fared poorly. What did a slacker like Fours have to compare with them?

"Alright."

Klein seemed somewhat disappointed, pursing his lips, "I need to go to work."

He got up and started to leave, then seemed to remember something and waved the Magic Mirror.

"By the way, this Mirror seems to be an important and powerful Sealed Item. Is it okay for me to keep it?"

"No problem, it’s perfect for you to have it."

"I’m mainly worried about accidentally breaking it... I can’t afford to replace it."

"Don’t worry, it’s made of special material. You could shatter it, and it wouldn’t break. I suggest you keep it close to your heart; it will be an excellent heart mirror."

Luke spoke calmly, a faint glint in his eyes as he observed Klein’s fate from a higher dimension.

In his vision, a series of complex, mercury-like symbols appeared around Klein, intertwining like small rivers. Klein himself seemed to be running in a shimmering, illusory stream composed of these symbols, with more indistinct tributaries ahead.

At this moment, those tributaries sharply turned downward, leading to a black, deathly end. The future beyond that was incredibly blurry and hard to see.

This situation made Luke’s brow furrow slightly.

"Alright, I got it."

Unaware of what was happening, Klein nodded and obediently tucked the Magic Mirror into his chest.

Luke pondered for a few seconds and then added, "Be careful when you go on missions. Your safety is the top priority. Don’t take unnecessary risks."

"Nothing much has been happening lately... Okay, I’ll be careful. By the way, do I really seem that reckless to you?"

Klein looked at Luke speechlessly, unsure of what the other man thought of him.

He glanced at the time, realizing his commute was almost over, and didn’t linger further.

"I’m off. I’ll come back after work."

"Hmm."

Luke watched as Klein turned and left, and a transparent worm suddenly emerged from his body, floating in the air. This was the "Spirit Worm" of a Sequence 4 "Trickster", a demigod of the "Fortune Teller" pathway.

The "Spirit Worm" silently entered Klein's body, merging with his spirit.

After witnessing Ammun's "parasitism", Luke had "imitated" a similar ability, granting the "Spirit Worm" the parasitic capabilities of a "Worm of Time."

He looked at the dog lying on the floor and spoke in a low voice:

"Follow Klein and protect him in secret."

Even without the extraordinary abilities of an "Ancient Scholar", the dog was still a Sequence 4 "Trickster" of the "Fortune Teller" pathway.

The dog wagged its tail rapidly and disappeared into thin air.

In the room, which had returned to its tranquil state, Luke walked to the window. He gazed at the overly bright sun for a moment and then spoke softly.

"I'm preparing to hunt the 'Hidden Sage.'"

Luke's tone was casual and relaxed, as if he were discussing the morning weather or tomorrow's lunch, not the killing of an evil god.

As soon as he finished speaking, the blinding sunlight vanished, plunging the apartment room into a deep, serene darkness.

Then, a gentle female voice, like a requiem, whispered in his ear.

"Why?"

Luke responded calmly:

"An evil god that constantly whispers to all the 'Seers' of the 'Secret Keeper' pathway, driving countless individuals to madness and causing countless deaths directly or indirectly. Killing It should help me digest the 'Sage's' Extraordinary Trait."

"...The 'Hidden Sage' has been corrupted by the 'Wilderness of Knowledge' and fully activated, possessing a fragment of the 'Emperor of Knowledge.' Its power is nearly that of a true god."

Luke's expression was indifferent, and he lifted his chin emotionlessly.

"So what, can't a true god be slain?"

"..."

His domineering and arrogant attitude left the voice silent for a moment before it resumed.

"If the 'Hidden Sage' wants to escape, even the true god Stiano might not be able to stop It."

"It won't escape, and it can't escape."

Luke replied indifferently, as if making a foregone conclusion.

During their first encounter, he was a Sequence 7 "Magician." In less than two weeks, he became a Sequence 4 "Mystic", and a few days later, he became a Sequence 3 "Ancient Scholar."

The 'Hidden Sage' wouldn't miss any chance to kill him, knowing that the next time they meet, he might have grown strong enough to crush It effortlessly!

"What do you need from me?"

Luke turned around, resting his forearm on the window, relaxing his legs, and spoke casually.

"There's nothing you need to do. If you must, give me the coordinates of the 'Godforsaken Land.' Only there can our battle remain undetected by other deities and free from interference."

The 'Godforsaken Land' was a place of isolation and despair.

It was where the "Banquet of Betrayal" took place, where the "Ancient Sun God" fell, and where the "War of the Gods" began.

There was no sunlight, only desolation and chaos. The chaotic divine power caused distortions, and the abyssal Chaos Sea brought great terror. Even the Seven Gods could not intervene, making it the sanctuary of the "True Creator."

Luke closed his eyes and listened carefully to the information. A few seconds later, his body rapidly became transparent and vanished from the spot.

He saw around him indescribable, ethereal, and transparent entities, all colors vivid and distinct but overlapping. A gray mist faintly permeated everything.

In the depths, high above, seven different-colored, clear rays of light slowly moved. They seemed to possess life, containing boundless knowledge.

Luke calmly overlooked the information repository, which defied concepts of time, space, and direction, and successfully pinpointed a location.

His journey through the Spirit Realm was suddenly interrupted, and Luke's figure appeared above a vast sea. Below him was a massive chasm, where the azure waters were cut off and plunged vertically into the unfathomable "Darkness", yet never filled it.

This was the entrance to the ruins of the divine war.

The 'Godforsaken Land' could not be reached through the Spirit Realm, but this posed no problem for Luke.

Vast divinity flowed into his body through some connection, and his eyes reflected endless radiance.

The symbol of "Invasion"!

Luke's body vanished from the spot and reappeared on solid ground.

Around him was pitch-black darkness, oppressive and impenetrable. Twisted plants and monsters lurked in the shadows, some greedy, some terrified, and some watching with ill intent.

The 'Godforsaken Land'!

...

Number 1 Narcissus Street.

The deep, tranquil darkness had not yet dissipated, and gentle ripples rippled through the air, accompanied by a long sigh.

"Is it really just to hunt the 'Hidden Sage'?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end