Wasteland Echoer.

Chapter 603: Light? (Part )
"Anno 81: The prologue will not stop once it begins, just as the explosion of a singularity will make it difficult to collapse. The one who started it will have no descendants. When the Creator awakens, the universe is born, and it will not be silent until the Creator dies. But no matter what, the Creator cannot return to lifeless energy, and similarly, the universe cannot return to the point of absolute heat." - "Dark Book"

"Anno 82: The Creator once said that He came to this world in a deep sleep. He has endless life in this plane, but He can never create endless people of His kind. Humans are created by Himself. Humans look similar to the Creator and have the right to inherit His great power. But in fact, whether it is immortals or magicians, even if they have eternal life, they have never come before the lonely Creator. Because human history is an endless cycle again and again. A group of humans gain wisdom and will eventually end in war. Over and over again, in a cycle, they have never been able to break through the shackles of the planet and come to the universe." - "Dark Book"

at the same time.

Cruzde Federation, Far Northeast Region, Outer Nebuya Region, Outer Nebuya Fan, "Former No. 03" Military Fortress, Underground of "God's Abandoned Fortress".

The clear sound of dripping water, accompanied by the "tapping" sound of leather shoes stepping on bluestone tiles, echoed continuously in this dim, damp and cold space.

It is like a ghost silently surrounding everyone. Although it cannot directly launch substantial attacks, it can gradually cause people's tense spirits to collapse by creating various strange noises and movements that make people gradually collapse.

After pushing aside some vines dotted with green and purple leaves, "Xianyan" finally brought the fully armed Dak and Anthony to the bottom of the military fortress, an underground territory that was empty enough but filled with mechanical equipment that was not sure whether it could be operated.

Looking around, Xianyan took out a stack of parchment from the Khitanris Wind Wristguard, which had already turned deep black. On the parchment were detailed drawings of some puzzling mechanical devices, as well as some "Central Language" characters used for explanation.

"It seems that after two and a half years, the erosion of nature here has gradually slowed down. Perhaps the vegetation here has smelled the 'smell of humans', so it has not continued to destroy this 'dwarf territory'." "Xianyan" sighed to himself and handed the parchment to a lost person wearing a "Dragon and Demon Eye" mask behind him.

Then, with a few low "wolf howls", dozens of Lost Ones behind "Xianyan" scattered together and walked towards the abandoned railways and mechanical equipment scattered throughout the "Dwarf Territory".

Staring at the underground railway that stretched to a very far place not far in front of him, Dake scratched his head and asked curiously:

"'Xianyan', is this the huge underground transportation network hidden deep in the Outer Nebuya Mountains that you mentioned? Is it these... these scraps of copper and iron that have kept Nebrius alive until now?"

"Of course. These are the masterpieces of the dwarves and goblins. These 'underground railway networks' existed in Crusde more than a thousand years ago." "Xianyan" answered Dak's question, but his eyes were fixed on the railroad tracks in front of him that were covered with some vines, and a distant sense of admiration was revealed in his words.

He stared intently at these mechanical objects that were thousands of years old, his eyes revealing admiration for the ancestors and regret for humanity.

If the Steam Age had not ended due to Ivan XXII's personal desires, and if the "New Construction Project" had been successfully terminated by Ivan XXV, humans would have been able to create more advanced and fantastic technology, and even through the combination of magic and steam, they would have been able to glimpse the great universe that "brought about" the Creator.

After a brief silence, the surrounding environment gradually changed from pure darkness to "dusk" with a gloomy atmosphere under the repair of the lost ones of the "Devotion Group".

Although it was still dark around them, Dak and Anthony could already roughly see the overall picture of this underground territory.

"These 'underground railway networks' made a huge contribution to the Cruzde Empire's resistance to the invasion of Aventlai 1,500 years ago. When the Aventlai soldiers who clamored to 'slaughter' the Cruzde people were complacent with their temporary victory, they did not know that the defeat on the Nebsk Plain, including the fall of the Nebsk city, was just a pocket created for this group of stupid, arrogant, greedy and cruel guys.

"They are like fruit flies. When they encounter the fresh, delicious, sweet and mellow honey, they can't wait to pounce forward without hesitation. They never thought that it was not a warm beehive, but a cage of Venus flytrap. The killing behavior of the Aventre people in Nebsk made the Crusad people gain sympathy from the Rhine people, the Putoya people, and even the Khitanris people." "What you want to say is, 'The righteous will have many supporters, while the unrighteous will have few'?" Dak asked. As he had some understanding of the culture of the Eastern Flame Empire, he blurted out this sentence in the Flame Empire language which was not pronounced in standard way.

"Yes, but that's not all." Xian Yan further explained:

"The 'Special Assault Team' composed of the Nebusk Local Army and the First Royal Guard of the Cruzd Empire, relying on the 'Ground Line 22' created by the dwarf ancestors, launched an assault operation called 'Light'. Since the dwarves and goblins fled to the Arctic Zone and the Pustot Desert as early as the time of Charles XI, the Aventre people naturally did not know about these ruins.

"So, with the help of the 'underground railway', the imperial warriors appeared behind the Aventre people and easily defeated their defenses, including their spirit. A crucial battle was enough to change the entire war situation and affect the fate of a country. You must be very familiar with the history that followed. After recovering all the lost territories, Cruzd occupied the entire Aventre, starting their history of vassalage that lasted for hundreds of years."

While chatting, the lost ones of the "Devotion Group" had already laid the nearly 100-meter-long electric wires they brought. With the operation of dozens of diesel generators installed on the ground of the "God's Forsaken Fortress", the "railway core hub" located in the central area of ​​the entire "Dwarf Territory" began to emit a faint golden glow of the same color as hope, the "ding-dong" sound of the metal machinery began to echo continuously, and the machinery that had been sealed for many years began to gradually start to operate.

"By the way, Dark. I remember you said yesterday that you wanted to go to the East with the successor of the 'Red Magic Power' after this adventure, right?" "Xianyan" suddenly asked, looking at Dark with some anticipation in his eyes.

"Yes, that's right." Dak nodded slightly, without any intention of hiding his purpose. "Wright said that the power that caused him pain came from Qidanris. And... that mysterious, prosperous and hopeful country has a similar culture to the country he was in before he crossed over. Before the end of the wasteland era, Wright... didn't want to go back. The culture of Qidanris can give him some sense of home."

"Perhaps he has a lot of genes from the Flame Empire. In the entire world, including the five empires, only the Khitanris have such a desire and obsession with their hometown. 'Homesickness' is a topic we can never escape. Yes, I have 'Khitanris bloodline', and I have also fantasized about setting foot on that homeland before the end of my life. Therefore, I still keep this rank monster, even though every time I use it, it consumes my magic power and life."

"Xian Yan" said, and I don't know if he was pretending to match his statement or if he was really unwell, but he coughed violently for a long time until black blood oozed from the corners of his mouth, and then he gasped for breath and slowed down.

"Are you okay?" Dak walked forward and asked with concern.

"It's okay. The bodies of the Lost Ones are not as fragile as you think. We want to die, unless our hearts are broken or our heads are chopped off. Any other diseases and mental damage will only make us degenerate into 'heartless people' or 'alien monsters'. By the way, this wristband..." "Xianyan" pointed to the wristband on his right wrist, which was engraved with the Khitan Reese wind beast, and said:
"It's called 'Mysterious Wrist Box'. I stole it from a Lost One who called himself an 'Immortal'. That so-called 'Immortal' was a madman who only knew how to snatch the internal organs of human babies to refine 'pills'. The funny thing is, he was only at the 'Sequence 6' level. In just a breath, I 'took out' his heart. He lived a ridiculous life, and died a cowardly death. However, this 'Mysterious Wrist Box' has enough extraordinary properties that I have been using it until now.

"Later, I learned from the documents left by the old empire found in the 'Hoptov City Archives' that the banned organization had opened a branch in Qidanris and included this wristband in the rank monsters. Its number...if I remember correctly, it should be 'MB-199'. Dak, I think, if possible, please bring him back to Qidanris for me?"

"Why? Aren't you using it fine?" Dak was puzzled and looked at "Xianyan" in doubt.

"For the people of Qidanlisi, before death, one of their bodies and spirits must return to their hometown. People's souls will be immersed in objects that have been used more than a hundred times. When it returns to Qidanlisi, it means that my soul has returned to my hometown." "Xianyan" explained:

"The soul's return to its homeland means that it can go to the 'paradise' where light and happiness last forever."

The audio drama of the same name as this book has been launched on Himalaya. Readers are welcome to go to Himalaya to support the audio drama "Wasteland Echoes" and support the host Mr. Shui Zhonghuo Kev.