Death… And Me

Chapter 4474: What Is There?

Clasou continued to explain.

-You found that teleport array in the fortress ruins, didn’t you?-

”So?” Rean asked back as he absentmindedly stroked the little fox’s fur.

-The Godly Subjugation Guild is considering checking it out.-

”Oh?!” Rean was immediately interested. ”Why would you do that? You have no idea where it sends you. You don’t know if the other side is still intact, and you don’t know if it could break midway. That sounds like a very big risk if you ask me.”

-I bet it does,- Clasou answered. -However, we obviously have a good reason to try that.-

He then continued.

-You do know how the Besgol Region uses its Long-Distance Communication Arrays once every week to get in contact with other regions, don’t you?-

”Everyone knows that.”

-Good. During those fifteen minutes of communication, all the information that has to be shared between regions is sent and received simultaneously. Naturally, that includes all the newly charted areas. If someone charts a new region in Natak, we receive that information here. Likewise, if Besgol discovers something new, all the other regions receive the same information.-

”As expected of the regional alliance, I guess.”

-Exactly. Going back to the main topic, the charted area your group revealed was sent to all the other regions. That included everything related to the fortress ruins you discovered. Around two months ago, we received an envoy from Natak to discuss your findings.-

”An envoy from Natak?” Rean was genuinely surprised. ”That region is extremely far away. They didn’t even send Law Gods when Senior Tobao requested assistance because the distance was simply too great. Yet they still sent someone all the way here?”

-That alone should tell you how important this matter is. Their envoy crossed five different regions before finally reaching Besgol.-

Clasou paused for a moment before continuing.

-Anyway, the envoy came specifically because of the teleport array and the fortress you discovered during your Elite Exploration Mission.-

”Alright...” Rean nodded. ”And what exactly is so special about it?”

-For that, it would be better if the envoy spoke to you directly. I’ll add him to the call, if you don’t mind.-

”Go ahead.”

A moment later, another figure appeared on the communication screen.

Rean immediately noticed that the newcomer was humanoid, although he clearly belonged to a different race. Numerous markings covered his skin, spreading across his face, neck, arms, and even the visible parts of his chest. They resembled countless runes intertwined with one another, almost as if someone had inscribed an enormous array directly onto his body.

The strange thing was that the markings seemed alive. Every now and then, some of them flickered faintly before returning to normal.

-Nice to meet you, Friend Rean. My name is Thery, an envoy from Natak.-

His voice was calm and measured, yet it somehow carried a scholarly air.

-I’m pleased to hear that you refused Friend Clasou’s request to remain in Besgol. I sincerely hope you will agree to guide me to the teleport array you discovered.-

Clasou immediately frowned. -How did you know about that?-

Thery smiled. -Friend Clasou, I’m not an idiot. During the weekly communications, the various guilds also exchange information. I am fully aware of Friend Rean’s group’s contributions to blacksmithing, arrays, and alchemy. Cooperation is essential for our survival, so such information is shared openly among the regions.-

He then shrugged.

-That being said, it would have been very strange if you had truly wanted Friend Rean to leave. If I were in your position, I would have done everything possible to keep him here. The fact that you eventually contacted me only means that your efforts failed.-

Clasou’s expression darkened. -Sigh... fine. You’re right. Your Thousand-Script Race is as annoying as ever.-

Rean, however, had become even more interested. ”Thousand-Script Race? This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

-It cannot be helped,- Thery explained patiently. -Our race originated in the Glogau Great Void. There are very few regions connected to it, and Natak happens to be the only one located in this part of the Celestial Plane. Unless two members of our race have children after ascending, it is impossible to encounter a naturally born one of us here.-

Rean nodded in understanding. ”I see. No wonder I haven’t heard of your race before. Are those markings on your body a trait of your race?”

-Naturally. Every member of the Thousand-Script Race is born with them. They evolve alongside our cultivation and reflect our understanding of the laws of the world.-

Rean leaned a little closer to the screen. ”So they really are runes?”

-You could think of them that way. Our race possesses extraordinary memory and a natural affinity for arrays, inscriptions, formations, and laws. Many of our people devote their entire lives to studying the mysteries of the world rather than pursuing power directly.-

-They are much more famous as scholars than cultivators,- Clasou added.

-That is true,- Thery admitted. -Although I should point out that knowledge itself is also a form of strength.-

”Hahaha! Fair enough.”

Thery nodded before returning to the main subject.

-Traveling deep into the Godly Creatures’ Territories is extraordinarily dangerous. Even our Natak Region would struggle to send a team to such a location. That is why I specifically requested that the same group responsible for discovering the fortress lead me there.-

”That still doesn’t explain why.”

-I was getting to that.-

Rean shook his head.

”Not fast enough. You see, my group was planning to travel in a completely different direction this time. Not only that, but we intend to remain outside the influence of the Sacred Relic for even longer than before.”

-Wait! Really?!- Clasou almost jumped from his seat. -You want to stay out there for even longer? Have you completely forgotten about the dangers? The longer cultivators remain outside, the farther their presence spreads. More and more Godly Creatures will gather around you.-

Rean simply shrugged.

”We already broke through. Besides that, I upgraded the airplane. It shouldn’t be a major problem. In fact, other groups should eventually be able to remain outside for longer periods as well once they start using the new arrays.”

Clasou looked as though he had suddenly developed a headache.

-Alright, forget about that for now.-

Rean smiled before turning his attention back to Thery.

”So you understand the problem, Friend Thery? We won’t simply escort you to those ruins and immediately return to Besgol. We have our own objectives. If you want to change our plans, you’ll have to tell us exactly what is waiting there.”

-That is perfectly reasonable.-

Thery’s expression became noticeably more serious.

-According to our records, that teleport array should be connected to the Ancient City Prison of Woster. If our conclusion is correct, there is a small possibility that the city still exists somewhere beyond the reach of the modern regions. More importantly, there is a chance that descendants of the ancient civilizations are still alive there.-

Rean blinked. ”Ancient survivors?”

-Even after all this time, yes.-

Rean narrowed his eyes. ”That sounds impossible.”

-Ordinarily, I would agree,- Thery replied. -However, the City Prison of Woster was never an ordinary place. According to our records, it was built to isolate individuals whom the ancient civilizations considered too dangerous to kill and too valuable to lose. The entire city was transformed into a prison and then hidden away from the outside world.-

”And you believe that teleport array leads there?”

-We believe so.-

”Based on what?”

Thery raised one hand. Immediately, several glowing runes spread across his arm. -Because we have seen those symbols before.-

Rean’s expression immediately changed. Those matched the symbols he had seen in the fortress.