Chapter 407 - 344: My Old Ancestor Was Here

Chapter 407: Chapter 344: My Old Ancestor Was Here

As the two fled for their lives in a frenzy, Lloyd felt for the first time the unparalleled, absolute advantage of the [Manifestation] system.

He also came to a profound understanding of how his butler could have been so daring in his youth, antagonizing everyone and everything, yet still live to such a ripe old age.

The escape speed of the [Manifestation] system was truly something other systems could hardly hope to match...

Lloyd and Little Olga moved with incredible speed. One was completely enveloped by his [Projection] while the other was carried by his ancestor. They were so fast it was as if they were wearing boots of speed, seemingly capable of outrunning lightning itself.

The power lurking in the darkness had only just begun to stir, but the two of them had already escaped the underground area...

Then, Little Olga had his ancestor take the lead, plowing straight through and sending the ruined walls in their path flying, forcibly clearing the shortest possible straight-line path.

By the time that formless, mysterious power began to truly activate and spread, the two of them were already an unknown distance away...

If Lloyd hadn’t felt they were far enough and signaled for them to stop, the two of them probably could have charged all the way back to the small town below...

They turned to look back and saw exactly what Little Olga had predicted earlier.

The building fragments that the ancestor had sent flying and scattering had already recovered their vitality, returning to their original positions and reassuming their original postures and angles without the slightest change.

It was the exact same method of [Reduction] as with the skeleton before.

And all the traces Lloyd and the other had left behind were swept clean along with it, as if they had never been there.

’If we hadn’t escaped in time, we probably would have been subjected to an instant [Reduction], wouldn’t we?’

"So that’s what makes this damn place so terrifying... Good thing you had that sudden idea earlier..."

Lloyd remarked with lingering fear.

Little Olga also let out a long breath and said in a low voice:

"To be honest, I didn’t realize it at all at first. I even let my guard down a little. But luckily, I had my family crest with me. It warned me at the critical moment that danger was approaching, which is what made me suddenly think of this."

’A [Holy Relic] of a pay-to-win player is really on another level...’

Lloyd couldn’t help but nod repeatedly. He then sat down on the ground to organize the current clues and discuss their next move with Little Olga.

"The real mystery here should be that terrifying [Reduction] from before. It’s exceptionally stealthy and bizarre. And because of the influence of the Twisting forces in the air, it interferes with one’s inspiration and [Intuition], making it difficult to sense the approaching danger..."

Little Olga also sat down next to Lloyd. Then, as if by [Magic], he pulled exquisite pastries and tasty dried rations from his pockets. He even set up a small coffee percolator and, while brewing coffee, said with lingering fear:

"Yes, I’ve never heard of such a bizarre power. It’s truly difficult to comprehend. What is it? An [Orbit] left over from the [Era of Brilliance]? Or some kind of uncontained [Sealed Object]? Do you have any ideas?"

He was clearly still clueless and could only hope that Lloyd had encountered something like this during his time with [Mizkatoke].

"Let me think."

Lloyd looked out at the ancient ruins, which had returned to a state of calm. As dusk fell, they were gradually shrouded in darkness. Although they appeared empty, they concealed an incomprehensible terror...

’The unknown is what’s truly frightening...’

’[Hildina] must have encouraged me to come to this damn place for this power, right?’

’But I don’t know anything about it either. How am I supposed to eliminate it? Or... master it?’

Lloyd clearly had no leads at the moment, so he could only open his status panel to take stock of the cards he had to play.

He went through his skills one by one, his gaze finally landing on the [Special Skill] section, where he saw [Incomplete Miracle].

Although the skill was currently grayed out, indicating it couldn’t be used, Lloyd had a vague feeling that the dangerous power lingering in the ruins was likely related to this kind of ancient [Miracle Magic].

’Perhaps it’s some unique, ’instant [Reduction]’-style [Miracle]?’

’So, is that it? The blizzard that hasn’t stopped for two months, the skeleton uncle who kept sending letters... are they all a kind of ’fixed’ effect created by this [Reduction]?’

’This power of [Reduction] isn’t even limited to this area. The expiration date on the letter is probably part of the ’[Reduction]’ too, right?’

’Huh? Wait, an expiration date?’

Lloyd first made a bold hypothesis, which then led him to think about that inexplicable expiration date, and an even bolder, baseless association immediately formed in his mind.

’Is it possible that the letter-sending skeleton didn’t intend to lure people here to murder them, but was actually hoping someone would come to save it? Or rather, that someone would come resolve this incident?’

’That skeleton... is it a dead soul, forever locked in this place, trying to find release this way?’

’Could it be that it originally wanted to write a letter for help? But because of its resentment from when it was alive, plus the effects of the [Twist] and the [Reduction], the letter’s contents became ’Uncle’s Inheritance’?’

’That would explain why even [High-ranking Powerhouses] received this letter. It would also explain why the contents of the letters were all identical, and why the letters weren’t imbued with any power to interfere with one’s thoughts.’

’However, even if my guess is correct, it doesn’t really help the current situation, does it?’

Thinking this, Lloyd scratched his head helplessly. He had no choice but to switch gears. First, using [Spatial Domination], he roughly reconstructed a 3D map of the underground area in his mind. After observing it carefully, he spoke up:

"The structure and layout of this underground complex are very peculiar. It looks like blocks of cheese stacked together in an irregular way."

"Hmm? What kind of irregular? Can you demonstrate?"

Little Olga asked curiously. He actually pulled out a large pile of cheese blocks wrapped in wax paper from his pocket and gestured for Lloyd to show him.

"Er... you carry this much food with you?"

"Of course. Even in a harsh environment like this, one must not lower one’s quality of life. That’s why I always carry at least five [Spatial Storage Bags] on me, all specialty products from the [Order Sect]... Do you want almonds in your coffee?"

"Yes, thanks. The sweeter, the better."

Lloyd replied casually, then picked up the cheese blocks and built a rather irregular, cube-like structure on the spot. It looked a bit like a brick-and-mud stove, only less orderly. The layout was slightly messy, with a section in the middle intentionally left empty, like a firebox.

’This is the rough structural layout of that underground area. I really don’t know if the contractor who designed this place was on something. How did they even come up with such a messy and ugly layout? Didn’t the construction team curse them out?’

But when Little Olga saw this strange structure, his eyes widened, and he exclaimed in astonishment:

"This structure... I think I’ve seen it in my ancestor’s biography?"

Lloyd was taken aback and turned to look at the half-an-ancestor beside them, who was helping to block the wind and snow.

"Not him now, but when he was alive. Wait, let me think back carefully."

As Little Olga spoke, he frowned and began to think hard, all while continuously dropping sugar cubes and cheese into the coffee pot.

It wasn’t until the entire pot of coffee had nearly turned into syrup that he snapped out of it and said hurriedly:

"I remember now! My ancestor mentioned in the family biography that he was once selected by a [Radiant Gold]. Since you’re from [Mizkatoke], you should know what a [Radiant Gold] is, right?

They were the powerhouses who stood at the absolute peak of that era. To the mortals below, they were like Deities!

So, my ancestor was always proud of this matter and described the process in considerable detail...

At the time, he seemed to be participating in some kind of assessment, or a selection? The location was a magnificent fortress that he described as the grandest he had ever seen in his life, but the actual selection process took place in an underground area.

He also described the fortress and its underground area as extremely complex, like a subterranean labyrinth. Even by the time he left, he hadn’t managed to grasp its full layout.

The entire selection process consisted of defeating opponents encountered in one room after another. It wasn’t necessarily a competition of martial prowess; it also tested aspects like wisdom, willpower, and perception. The assessments were extremely detailed and complicated.

In comparison, personal combat strength was actually a minor factor...

Many people participated in the selection, including some famous ’stars’ of the time. My ancestor, however, was just a young man who was only starting to make a name for himself. But he feared no challenge, clearing one trial after another and defeating many opponents.

Unfortunately, my ancestor didn’t win in the end. His artistic taste wasn’t up to par, and he was eliminated after losing to an opponent in a [Painting] appreciation segment...

There was nothing to be done. My ancestor was still young back then, and our family was still weak, lacking foundation and accumulation in many areas...

But even so, the [Radiant Gold] who invited him gave him ample rewards and benefits. Our family’s rise was precisely thanks to that [Radiant Gold]’s [Blessing]. The only regret is that, up until the day he died, my ancestor never got to meet the powerhouse who had helped him so much..."

After Little Olga finished, he pointed to the empty area surrounded by the pile of cheese and said:

"If my ancestor had won in the end, he should have been able to go to the very center and meet that [Radiant Gold]... Uh... why did I add so much sugar to this coffee? No, no, I have to make a new pot."

"No, no, no, let me have it, let me have it."

Lloyd unceremoniously snatched the pot of syrup, added a bit of ketchup and hot sauce to it, and then used it as a dip for the white bread in his hand.

Little Olga didn’t have the energy to comment on his strange taste and continued asking:

"So, are you saying this might be the place my ancestor came to all those years ago?"

"Compared to that... I’m more curious about what kind of person that powerhouse was trying to select by gathering so many people for such a wide range of assessments."

Lloyd asked back in a low voice.

’Could it be... they were selecting a [Saint]?’

And this led to an even worse possibility...

’Deep in the center of these ruins... there isn’t actually still a [Radiant Gold] here, is there?’