We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 63 [The Immortal Mushroom]

In the center of room B01 is a cylindrical life support device, connected to several bronze pipes.

The device should have contained the embryos and nutrient solution of the "Heavenly Sound Suzuka".

However, when Shane entered the room, he only saw shards of broken glass scattered all over the floor.

The embryo of the "Suzuka" was nowhere to be found, not even a single bone was left.

There were large splattered bloodstains on the ground and walls, suggesting that a very brutal massacre had taken place here.

"Something's wrong..."

Xia En frowned.

Even the most reckless and greedy treasure hunters wouldn't do something like this.

He went out of the room and searched several nearby rooms that started with the letter B.

Sure enough, without exception, all the ancient creatures that were originally stored in these rooms had vanished without a trace.

Only the bloodstains left at the scene and the documents in the room prove that they once existed.

It wasn't until she entered room B12 that Shane made an unexpected discovery.

There were two corpses lying in the room.

A skeleton that was highly decomposed, with only a white coat covering it.

The other one still has some merman characteristics that can be barely discerned.

This reminded Shane of "Andrei," who was forever left at the treasure's location in the shipwreck log.

Coincidentally, the two bodies had something in common: they had both lost their heads.

Just like the crew members who were "beheaded" in the shipwreck.

Xia En walked over to the white coat, searched casually for a moment, and found a yellowed diary inside.

[Salary History 287 Years]

[3 month 24 day]

[This is my first day at Ember Sanctuary No. 21. I am honored to be selected for His Majesty's "Spark Project."]

Although the reason is unknown, according to the shelter's requirements, each researcher must write a diary entry every day.

[I don't know what to write, so I'll just write whatever comes to mind.]

After that, there were many short diary entries, which contained little information, so Shane quickly skipped over them.

[...I have gradually gotten used to life in the shelter.]

The seeds in section C and the animals in section B are both fine; just check the incubators daily for leaks.

But the monsters in Area A... even through the door sealed with magic, I dare not approach.

[It is said that the King once intended to render all Class A beings harmless, but the director of the sanctuary refused.]

I now believe that the King's decision was correct.

Tomorrow marks the official start of my "long-term hibernation," and for some reason, I feel uneasy.

Hopefully, while we're asleep, the little creatures in Area A won't cause any trouble.

……

……

My hibernation has been forcibly ended!

I don't know what happened, but I heard A09 screaming in the hallway, and A11's distinctive scent wafted through the door.

Wait, is A18...crying?

[Damn it, how did it even get on the scene?]

If A06 is released too, everyone will be beheaded sooner or later! No one will escape!

I possess a suppression device distributed by the shelter; perhaps I can lock one of the Class A beings back in.

To be honest, I'm terrified of death and have absolutely no desire to take any risks.

But if I don't do these things, who will?

[To my colleagues, or those who come after me: if anyone reads this diary, please at least remember my name, and remember that in this sanctuary of embers, someone once struggled with all their might.]

I, Sigvar Lance, am setting off now!

【May the flame of knowledge endure!】After quickly reading through the contents of this diary, Xia En felt a surge of emotion.

The information in the diary revealed a corner of the mystery surrounding the "Ember Sanctuary."

Just as he suspected, the creatures in Sector B and Sector C were "sparks" deliberately left behind by the Lord of Cinder.

However, besides these two ordinary types of creatures, there is also a very dangerous and bizarre Type A.

It seems that the riot by the Class A beings caused a huge upheaval in the entire shelter, forcing "Sigurd Lance" to awaken from his hibernation.

However, judging from Sigwa's missing head and the absence of the animals from Zone B, his operation was most likely a failure.

"These animals probably all became food for the Class A beings, so there wasn't even a bone left."

Having reached this conclusion, Shane left the room and headed deeper into the passage.

Bloodstains and signs of struggle began to appear in the passageway, along with some strange, damaged instruments.

Perhaps it is the "suppression device" mentioned in the diary.

Soon, Shane arrived at the door of a room numbered [A01].

His pupils contracted instantly after he saw the words on the door.

【A01-Coral Primitive】

[A creature capable of transforming the entire population of a city into coral; extremely active and polluting; requires no feeding; requires director-level access to interact with.]

[Weakness: Fire; Divine magic of the Lord of Light.]

The king of the Kingdom of Shuddon has embarked on a wrong path.

He attempted to use divine power to merge humans and coral into one, thus surviving the Great Flood.

In fact, he did successfully create several Transformers who could maintain their sanity. They only needed to be baptized by the radiance of the Lord of Light to melt away the coral and restore them to their original state.

However, I dare say that blindly relying on deities is destined to lead to self-destruction.

Another kingdom is about to fall. —The Lord of Cinder

Unlike the previous brief labels, the doors in Category A areas have longer annotations explaining their weaknesses and origins.

And this [Coral Primarch] is clearly the culprit that turned the capital of Shudon into a coral city!

"hiss……"

Xia En took a slight breath of cool air.

If A01 is already this significant, then the existence of Class A must also be extraordinary.

That's exactly what happened.

【A02 - Wandering Darkness】

[A non-physical creature that lives in the shadows; if you make eye contact with it for three seconds, you will be dragged into the shadows.]

It is said that those who exist in the shadows have not died, but are imprisoned in corners that cannot be observed or touched, emitting mournful cries that no one can hear, day after day, year after year.

Weaknesses: Light; Fire; Dark Chocolate.

……

【A03 - Longevity Ganoderma】

[The Ganoderma lucidum, which, when ingested, is believed to prolong life.]

The price of having an extremely long lifespan is that you will continuously transform from old age to youth, then to infancy, until you are an embryo before consciousness has even begun to develop, and then die completely.

Your entire long life will serve as nourishment for this creature.

[Weakness: None]

"……Um?"

Upon seeing these descriptions, Xia En suddenly thought of Lutishia, the queen of the sea tribe.

Doesn't her condition exactly match that of someone who has ingested the "Lingzhi Mushroom of Immortality"?

Xia En looked at the door of room A03, which was slightly ajar, and the container inside the room was completely empty.

This means that someone took the Immortal Mushroom from this Ember Sanctuary and gave it to Rutishia!

Were they later treasure hunters?
Or are they indigenous people in the shelter?
Just as Xia En was pondering, a vast and melodious boat song suddenly rang in his ears...

(End of this chapter)