Wasteland Echoer.

Chapter 700 The Melted Box

February 18, 558 AD (New Calendar), 12 noon.

Nebusk, on the first basement floor of the "Magnificent Building," inside the "Between of Truth."

“This place is completely different from what I imagined, ‘Blood Wolf’.” Wright looked around, carefully examined the surroundings, and then said with a hint of disappointment.

"Different?" A knowing smile appeared on "Blood Wolf's" lips. He waved away the "Sacrifice" who had escorted Wright there, as well as the four or five members of the "Dedication Group" wearing "wolf masks." Pointing to the simple furnishings inside the "Room of Truth," he laughed:
“Indeed, the ‘Dark Night Investigation Team’ has exaggerated the sacredness of this place. After all, in the eyes of the late Kazama Reiji and Nebrius, this is indeed a sacred place. This place was once the administrative center of Nebusk City, but due to Vasily’s serious strategic mistakes, those who should not have stepped into the limelight were forced to show their faces.”

“‘The Dark Night Investigation Team,’ what a pity. They should have been an absolutely covert force carrying out missions assigned by Nebrius, like the ninjas of Japan, lurking in the darkness, like wolves deep in the jungle. The moment they revealed a weakness, their sharp fangs would pierce the throat of their target, completing the mission.” Wright shook his head, gazing with a slight sigh at the carpet in the center of the small space, a “six-pointed star array” composed of different colors and patterns, and said:
"They are not evil people, nor are they ignorant or greedy. Hoshino Shota is very capable and has noble ideals. It was only because of Atlanca's stupidity and jealousy that he lost his loved ones. I heard that he has not woken up since the battle a few days ago and is still lying in a hospital bed in the Nebusk Central Hospital."

“Yes, that’s true. However, now that the entire city is under the control of our ‘Dedication Group,’ at least in terms of healthcare and food, we have abandoned the unequal rules set by Atlanca and Nebrius. Anyone willing to become a builder of the city or defend it will be eligible for sufficient food and medical care. Here, there will be no more discrimination, no more man-made inequalities.” “Blood Wolf” paused, then stared intently into Wright’s dark eyes and said seriously:
"However, resources are always limited. If we always use the city's resources for defense and war, causing the city to fall into a state of resource depletion, then the fate that awaits the city and its people can only be to repeat the injustice, or... destruction."

“So, you need the ‘Box of Hades,’ that’s the only reason you brought me here, right?” Wright sneered, tilting his head slightly to the side, out of “Blood Wolf’s” sight.

However, he still reached into his coat and took out a plain oak box of medium size from inside his coat. After a couple of seconds of deliberation, he handed it to "Blood Wolf".

"This is... the 'Box of Hades'?" Blood Wolf looked at the box in disbelief, carefully weighed it in his hand, and then sniffed it a few times.

However, apart from its slightly heavy feel, the box only has a faint woody fragrance and a faint smell of blood, making it not much different from an ordinary wooden box.

“I have no reason to lie to you, ‘Blood Wolf.’ This is indeed an item that Ronnie gave me before he died. Under the dual pressure of the Light of the Mechanical Spirit and the ‘Master of Machines,’ no lie could come out of his mouth.” Seeing that “Blood Wolf” had some doubts about “Hades’ Box,” Wright quickly explained.

"No, I'm not questioning it, but I want to feel its presence. You know, Wright, the more ordinary an object appears on the surface, the more likely it is to hide extraordinary power behind it, while those magnificent and splendid buildings, those perfectly carved and jeweled objects, will always fall into the dust and turn into wasteland after a war."

As "Blood Wolf" spoke, he slowly stroked "Hades' Box" with both hands, as if grooming a pet or gently stroking a sleeping infant. Then, he leaned against the small black wall of "The Chamber of Truth," which was carved with simple geometric patterns, closed his eyes, and assumed a thoughtful posture.

Soon, the only remaining Crusader-style candlestick in this exceptionally simple, even somewhat sparsely decorated space began to emit a dim, yellowish light. The few remaining books on the bookshelf related to the Creator began to be read under the rock-constructed arms. A heavy earthy smell mixed with a strong metallic scent permeated the air until a faint, eerie fragrance dispelled all the smells, lingering and filling the entire room. Only then did the "Box of Hades" slowly shed its simple wooden shell and replace it with a simpler yet extremely realistic pure metal shell.

“Without a single carving or embellishment, this is the true form of the ‘Box of Hades.’ It has slumbered among the earth for too long, so much so that it has absorbed a great deal of the earth’s essence. Now, I have completely absorbed all the earth-elemental magical power within its outer shell. Next, it will depend on your strength, Wright.” The Blood Wolf’s tense face relaxed slightly.

Then, he handed the brand-new, off-white "Hades Box" back to Wright.

“Roney didn’t tell me anything more about the ‘Box of Hades.’ Now, what should I do?” Wright asked.

"The Khitan Ris people often say that fire can melt metal. Your red magical energy belongs to a higher-dimensional flame. As long as you unleash the power within you, the 'Box of Hades' will naturally tell you what to do," Blood Wolf reminded him.

Soon, after a flurry of whispers and a chaotic, ear-piercing metallic roar, Wright's red magical energy gathered entirely between his hands. The gentle, compliant red light transformed into countless sparks the instant it touched the metal shell, while the "Box of Hades" melted into strands of molten iron under the influence of this power.

“It’s melting,” Wright murmured, staring at the molten iron floating outwards. “No, it’s revealing its truest form. Any metal can only become a true weapon after being tempered in the most violent and cruel way. Gods are no exception. They are not eternal beings. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of years are just a fleeting moment in the eyes of the Creator. In His dimension, the universe and time have long lost their meaning.” Blood Wolf spoke to himself, then stepped forward and tried to push aside the molten iron surrounding the core of the “Box of Hades” with his bare hands.

boom!
boom!
Just as the "Blood Wolf" was trying to touch the molten iron that was leaking out, the giant gate of the "Between of Truth" suddenly closed due to the airflow caused by the temperature difference between the inside and outside. Different types of magical energy clashed with each other in this narrow space, causing a minor earthquake.

Then, strange "strips of light" erupted from the churning, lava-like object inside the "Box of Hades," appearing chaotic and dazzling. The flying sparks, upon touching the "Blood Wolf's" arms and cheeks, left conspicuous wounds, which then mysteriously charred, forming a thick, coal-ash-like scab.

Fortunately, a few seconds later, Wright's earlier injection of red magical energy gained the upper hand in his superior position, and then completely suppressed the remaining power in the "Box of Hades". The messy "light bars", the flying molten iron and the splashing sparks all condensed in mid-air and fell to the ground. After emitting the last bright light, they quickly went out and became a pool of charred dust that could only be vaguely seen on the ruins.

"This is the treasure inside the 'Box of Hades,' the toy that the Lord of the Underworld... no, he should be called the 'Lord of the Night,' once desperately guarded. I once gave it a flawless name in a dream, 'The Key to the Mystery of the Mechanism.'" "Blood Wolf" gripped the brand-new "Key to the Mystery of the Mechanism," which had been extracted from the "Box of Hades," tightly in his hand, but did not use it immediately. Instead, he used his sharp, signature canine teeth to bite through his wrist.

Instantly, the intoxicatingly hot blood, steaming and bubbling, poured down, and guided by the earth and dark magic power within the "Blood Wolf," it formed a new totem that combined the "Dedication Group Magic Emblem" and the iconic blood moon.

He then pressed the palm-sized "Mechanical Key," which shimmered with a blue glow, into the totem.

Glug glug, glug glug.

The moment the "Mechanical Key" was pressed in, the "Blood Wolf's" blood surged upwards, completely engulfing the artifact, and continuously emitting bubbles that smelled of engine oil.

Soon, the blood and the "Mechanical Key" disappeared beneath the wooden floor of the "Between of Truth," replaced by a steel door that suddenly rose from the ground and fit perfectly into the roof.

“The ‘Magnificent Tower’ is the core of the entire city, and the ‘Room of Truth’ is the heart of that core. Nabrius is incapable of touching the city’s deepest secrets, even if he transforms into an omnipotent and supremely powerful ‘monster,’ it will be to no avail. However…” Blood Wolf said, slowly walking to the door and forcefully pulling it open.

Soon, a chaotic light, like a "leapfrog array," appeared before the two of them.

"Now, the secrets of this city belong to you and me."

“It belongs to you, not to me,” Wright immediately denied.

“I have glimpsed your future, Wright. The whole world will belong to you. Naturally, the functional red domain behind this small iron gate also belongs to you. However, the secret organizations existing in the area under Nebusk's jurisdiction are not limited to the ‘Dark Night Investigation Team’, and the ideologies and beliefs they uphold are also different.”

“There are moderates, there are fanatics, there are believers in the Creator, there are also those of us who have abandoned God, and there are even troublemakers who believe in the twilight of the world and the true God. If you want to truly and thoroughly manage this city, there is only one way to go.” As “Blood Wolf” spoke, he reached out and grabbed Wright’s arm, one foot already stepping into the chaotic realm behind the iron gate.

"What road?" Wright asked curiously.

"To acquire the power to suppress everything."

Thank you to the slug for the monthly pass.