From the end of the world

Chapter 137: Virtual Realm 3
Hearing the footsteps again, No. 5 was still a little wary. It might also be because it was Xuan Ming who showed up just now, and because we talked about "future people", he had some strange expectations for future visitors.

Will it be the second bowl that appears this time? I look in the direction of the sound with anticipation.

However, the reality did not match my expectations.

The owner of the footsteps soon came to us. The black figure that emerged from the gray mist was not the petite figure of No. 2 Xiaowan, but a tall and thin figure. I recognized it at a glance. This is No. 1.

"Newcomer?" Number One looked at Number Five.

Number Five was also observing the other person: "Hello, I'm Number Five."

Number One nodded and gave his numerical number: "Number One."

I didn't continue to pay attention to their conversation, but looked into the depths of the fog again.

I was worried about the fact that the second bowl had not arrived yet. Although it was possible that it was just late, I couldn't help but feel worried considering her poor condition.

And the more I think about it, the more I feel that the situation is not optimistic. The speed of time in the doomsday world where Xiaowan No. 2 lives is uneven. Although she said that she can only last for ten days at most, what if she enters an area where the speed of time is very fast? Maybe only a few days have passed here, but weeks, months, or even years have passed there.

No, after all, comparing the speed of time in the "present" and the "future" is not reliable. They are not two different places, but two different periods of time. How can I assume that if a few days pass here, the same number of days will pass there?

The operating mechanism of this foggy dream is also full of mysteries. If the condition for entering the foggy dream is sleep, then what if one of us just didn't sleep, or even didn't need to sleep at all? Or is it because some of us didn't sleep in the past few days that the foggy dream didn't open?
Considering that there are even people from the future among us, is it possible that the No. 4 Xuanming who just talked to me is also out of sync with me in time? For example, the Xuanming in reality is actually awake now, while the No. 4 Xuanming who was talking to me is the Xuanming who fell asleep a few hours ago or hours later?

It's really interesting, I want to find out more... No, no, now I have to focus on small bowl number two first.

"Number Two hasn't arrived yet?" Number One asked me.

"Not yet." I shook my head while observing Number One.

He seemed to care about No. 2 Xiaowan as well. Perhaps it was because he and No. 2 Xiaowan were the first people to meet in the misty dream, and in the past, he could vaguely see that he cared for his acquaintances despite his indifference.

So, would he be Ying Lingyun?

In terms of physique, there is no visible difference between No. 1 and the Monster Maker. It is also difficult to judge based on personality performance, and the personality shown by No. 1 in the foggy dream may not be his true personality.

Number One did not continue to talk to me, but walked away from Number Four Xuanming. Number Four Xuanming did not pay attention to us, but continued to stare at the giant. For a moment, the atmosphere fell into silence. Number Five seemed to want to ask Number Four Xuanming something, but he hesitated because he was afraid.

Probably because he thought I might be easier to talk to, No. 5 turned his attention to me, leaned over and asked quietly, "Are you familiar with Xuanming?"

"We just met once and exchanged a few words. It was also in this place." I also wanted to ask him a question, "From what you said before, it seems that the two Great Impermanence attacked by Xuan Ming both have fragments of the Divine Seal? Are the Great Impermanence collecting fragments of the Divine Seal?"

Number Five said conservatively, "...I'm not sure. I just had my suspicions in the past. After all, the divine seal is just a legend..."

"Really? But I said before that you were pulled into this dream by the fragment of the divine seal, and you didn't seem to have any doubts about it."

At this point, I just realized that the people gathered in this misty dreamland had never doubted that the fragments they held were "fragments of the legendary divine seal". Even No. 1, who had said last time that "a wishing machine that fulfills all wishes is just a foolish dream", had never doubted that he was holding a fragment of the divine seal.

The term "divine seal fragment" was first mentioned by No. 4 Xuanming. No. 2 Xiaowan probably confirmed it with Ma Zao a long time ago, so let's not talk about it for now. No. 1 accepted it immediately, and so did No. 5 in front of him. As for me, I regarded the divine seal fragment more as a prop to keep Ma Zao by my side, and never had any expectations for its legendary power to change the world.

"Of course." Number Five said, "After all, I have used the power of the Divine Seal fragment myself. It would be difficult for me not to believe it."

Hearing this, I couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and subconsciously looked at the reactions of the other two. Number Five said this openly, and Number One and Number Four Xuanming must have heard it. But they all had no reaction to it, as if Number Five had said something that was extremely natural.

Wait, what does this mean? Using the power of the God Seal Fragment with my own hands? It turns out that the power of the God Seal Fragment not only pulls us into the misty dream, but also makes it impossible to get rid of it?
Although I suspected that Ying Lingyun might have gained some power by studying the fragments of the divine seal, but before this, No. 5 didn't even know what the fragments of the divine seal were. Could it be that the fragments of the divine seal are convenient magic weapons that can be used to use the power contained in them as long as you get them?

I wanted to ask carefully, but I couldn't find the right measure. If what he said was common sense here, then I, who didn't know this common sense, was undoubtedly an alien. Although I didn't know what this meant, exposing my abnormality so rashly might arouse No. 5's vigilance and I wouldn't get the answer I wanted.

"What's wrong? Did I say something weird?"

Number Five seemed to have caught something from my reaction, and he reflexively checked the reactions of Number One and Number Four. "Don't worry, you just said something very normal."

I answered casually, and he seemed to verify my words through the other two people's usual attitude, as if he was temporarily relieved.

The next moment, footsteps were heard again in the distance. The new changes attracted my attention and made me look into the depths of the fog again.

Will it be the second bowl that appears this time, or another newcomer?
Number One suddenly tensed up, turned his head sharply, and shouted, "Who?"

Number Five seemed to have gotten used to the sudden footsteps, but he didn't expect Number One to react so violently. He was also startled and became nervous.

I don't really understand why No. 1 would react like this. But after a brief recollection, I found that he seemed to react like this every time to a new visit. The last time Xuanming and I came here together, and the last time I visited the misty dreamland alone, he also suddenly turned around and growled.

Perhaps because of the shouting, the footsteps stopped in the distance.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked.

Number One stared solemnly into the depths of the gray mist, and after a moment replied, "You should also be careful, there are ghosts in this misty dream."

"Oh, there's a ghost?" Xuanming No. 4 turned around and asked with interest, "Where is this place?"

"Ghost... does it mean spirit?" asked No. 5.

"I don't know what that thing is. I can only refer to it as 'ghost'." Number One said, "That happened before Number Three and Number Four entered this misty dream. At that time, there were only Number Two, me, and Number Zero - the giant."

Without turning his head, he pointed at the giant in the distance and continued, "Zero once told me and Two that only he and the holders of the divine seal fragments chosen by him can enter this misty dream. There are only seven of them at most, and they are all human.

"However, after he fell into a deep sleep, strange things other than us inexplicably entered the misty dream."

Hearing this, I became very interested: "Strange things?"

"That thing is invisible and colorless. Number Two and I can only sense its presence and gaze. It wanders in the fog like a ghost. Although it has only appeared once so far, its true identity, origin, and purpose are unknown. It is probably a strange thing beyond the control of Number Zero." Number One said fearfully, "And here we can't exert the power of the real world. If it is a dangerous monster, we are helpless."

“To be honest…”

After hearing the explanation, I became nervous, but at the same time I was looking forward to it. I didn't expect that there was such a danger lurking in the misty dream. I was walking through the gray mist without knowing it, and I didn't even know if I had passed by that strange thing before.

But wait, why do I feel like his description sounds familiar?

Invisible and colorless, and only appeared once?
The first time I came to the Misty Dream, I visited it in a bodyless form, like the ghost perspective in a shooting game, and I have never visited it in that form again since then.

Could it be that number one is talking about me?
"The other party seems to have stopped moving?" Number Five looked into the depths of the fog in confusion.

"Yeah, it was the same the last time that strange thing appeared. As soon as I made a sound, it suddenly disappeared." Number One seemed to be listening to the movements in the depths of the fog. "But it seems that the other party hasn't disappeared yet. I can hear breathing..."

I became more and more certain of my speculation, and then I said, "The strange thing you mentioned should have no footsteps or breathing sounds, right?"

"Right..." Number One nodded.

As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps sounded again in the depths of the fog. Number One and Number Five stood still, becoming more alert. Number Four Xuan Ming seemed to sense something, shook his head and turned away. I simply took the initiative to step forward to confirm whether the person coming was Number Two Xiao Wan.

The newcomer soon revealed himself from the gray mist.

It was a black figure that looked like a little girl.

"That..." Little Bowl No. 2 said cautiously, "It's me."

(End of this chapter)