Alone and Infinite

The Vaal Hazak glared angrily at the metal door, hesitated for a moment, and then simply lay down on the door.

A rustling sound came from all around, and the paralyzed dragon with a dazed look appeared out of nowhere.

Like tireless robots, they picked up the scattered corpses again and piled them up like ants carrying food.

"Click"

A beam of light illuminated the pitch-black passage.

Li Xia turned on the flashlight and saw that in the straight vertical passage, Aowu was grabbing the observer's shoulder, while Heitan and Detel were hugging the observer's legs.

It was struggling to stay suspended in the air.

"Your Highness?"

Out of caution, Aowu didn't speak directly, but instead asked a question in the team channel.

Li Xia thought for a moment and replied:

"You all stay here. I'll go down and check to make sure it's safe before coming back down."

After giving a brief explanation, Li Xia slowly descended along the circular passage, which was exceptionally long.

He also discovered that there should have been a ladder in the passage, but it had disappeared.

Only two connection points remained on the wall of the passageway.

After descending approximately 1000 meters, the surrounding environment suddenly widened.

The moment the foot touched the ground, it seemed to have triggered some kind of sensor.

A soft light suddenly appeared, illuminating the entire space.

Li Xia's pupils contracted, her body tensed, and she scanned the surroundings warily.

There was complete silence all around; there was not a sound.

This looks like a large hall, with a style completely different from the New World Survey Base.

If the Hunter's Guild's decorations and architecture are somewhat primitive, with a rugged steampunk style.

The style here is a strange blend of modernity and mysticism.

Metal cabinets and rather Western-style exquisite armchairs, with yellowed papers scattered everywhere.

And dozens of skeletons in the hall.

The entire hall looked quite messy, giving the impression of someone fleeing for their life and knocking over everything around them in a panic.

My gaze finally settled on the carpet.

The carpet, covered in dust, bore messy footprints, which, though also dusty, remained fairly clear.

Li Xia looked thoughtfully at the human footprints and the cat's paw prints.

This must be Tissna and Dettel who arrived here more than 50 years ago.

Perhaps the clue lies in following the footprints!

After thinking for a moment, he simply said in the team chat;

"Awoo, come down first."

As things stand, there doesn't seem to be any danger in this hall.

It was several minutes later when Aowu carefully carried the three 'accessories' down.

Li Xia had already collected the scattered papers on the ground and was using a flashlight to barely read the text on them.

Of course, I paid for it.

Ancient Shureid script discovered; the Executioner has been detected to have obtained the world's secrets and is currently exploring a hidden area.

[Would you like to spend 100 points to get the translation feature?]

After payment, the obscure and difficult-to-understand text was abruptly transformed into Chinese characters, and the translation was extremely accurate and elegant.

For example, an article that seemed to be about researchers secretly criticizing their superiors appeared in large numbers, using terms such as "dog's," "idiot," "brain-dead," and "absolutely Tang."

Li Xia suspected that the temple was using the subconscious projection technique again.

Skipping over a lot of useless chapters, we finally arrived at a piece of paper with a 'black dragon' emblem.

Li Xia saw something interesting.

[Top Secret]

[Ancient Technology Restoration: Project Dragonstrike]

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1. Monthly pass 2. Recommendation vote

Chapter 175 Monarch-level Creature

The paper is of excellent quality and quite exquisite.

Even after thousands of years, it remains in remarkably good condition.

I don't know what kind of cutting-edge technology it is, but Li Xia guessed that it probably incorporated creature materials unique to Monster Hunter.

At the very top of the paper is a badge, and the monster in the middle is a black dragon?

Li Xia continued reading:

[Top Secret]

[Ancient Technology Restoration: Project Dragonstrike]

Shured Ancient Technology Research Institute:

Following the resolution of the Noble Council, we will fully advance the 'Dragon Strike' plan.

The original First, Fourth, and Sixth Research Institutes will be merged into the Ancient Technology Research Institute.

Data from the excavation of the ancient ruins will also be transferred simultaneously.

The dark calamity is about to awaken, and we need equal status to maintain balance.

The rise and fall of the kingdom will be in your hands.

[Resolution 231 of the Seven-Member Council of the Kingdom's Noble Council]

So much information was recorded on that thin piece of paper.

"Your Highness, what does it say?"

The translation function, which cost 100 points, only works for one person; the hall is always unusually stingy in strange ways.

Li Xia gave a brief description of the content.

The observer pinched his chin, frowned, and thought carefully for a moment before slowly saying:

"I haven't heard of Dragonstriders, but there are some rumors about the ancient ruins."

She simply grabbed whatever was available as a pen, and the thick layer of dust became her canvas.

First, a simple circle was drawn on the ground.

"This is our era today—"

Another circle was drawn above the first one:

"This is the ancient Kingdom of Shureid, which possesses many technologies that we cannot understand. For example, the current spread bombs, dragon-slaying bombs, and the transformation of the Switch Axe are all derived from the technology of the ancient Kingdom of Shureid."

Furthermore, the guild's strongest weapon, the Dragon Slayer Spear, was also replicated using technology from the Kingdom of Shured.

She held up one finger:

"That was about 1000 years ago!"

The observer then drew a circle above the Kingdom of Shured:

"However, the students generally believe that there was a mysterious country, or civilization, before the ancient Shured."

This ancient civilization possessed far more advanced technology; sometimes we discover ruins that are completely beyond the scope of our current technological capabilities to analyze!

The observer suddenly became agitated, his eyes widening and his fists clenching:

"Partner, do you think there might be information here about the Kingdom of Xiureid's restoration of ancient technology? If so..."

This discovery will surely shock everyone! It must be the greatest discovery ever made!

Li Xia opened his mouth, but he didn't know how to tell the observer that the Hunter's Guild was practically digging up Xiu Reid's ancestral grave.

The Dark Night Investigation Team, which belongs to the Dragon Calendar Academy, possesses an unknown amount of advanced technology.

The Hunter's Guild has simply kept it blocked because they were worried about causing serious consequences.

But the research has never stopped.

For example, I've had some access to the equipment myself, and to be honest, it's really powerful.

It can even customize attributes; it's absolutely impossible to say that it didn't have ancient technology.

There are also ancient secret medicines, whose names reveal their origins.

[Executioner, you have arrived at the hidden area: the Ancient Technology Research Institute of the Kingdom of Shured]

[Executioner, you have obtained relevant clues: an order to restore ancient technology]

[Hidden Quest: Unlock the Ultimate Secret of This World]

Mission Objective: Defeat the ultimate weapon of the ancient civilization, the 'Dragon Slayer,' and uncover the truth of the world.

Task Rewards: 3 Time-Space Copper Coins, 5 Attribute Points, ? ? ?

Penalty for mission failure: None

Mission deadline: Before leaving this world

Li Xia's gaze turned serious as he stared at the penalty for failing the mission.

No punishment.

Judging from the usual style of the hall.

There is a very small chance that hidden quests don't have any penalties.

But the greater possibility

The Hall of Fame felt that if he couldn't win, he would die!

What kind of 'Dragon Striker' is this that's so powerful?

Even if it's a nine-star ancient dragon, even if I can't win, I can definitely run away if I want to.

Could it be a forbidden existence?

Li Xia frowned. If it really was a forbidden level...

Aowu and Heitan also saw the mission prompt.

Black Charcoal only recently joined this world. Although the Hall has imparted some basic information to him, his understanding of the mission system is not as profound as Awoo's.

"Your Highness, this task seems to be extremely difficult."

"Ok!"

Li Xia nodded, took a deep breath, and said in the team channel:

"Regardless, let's test our strength first. They're already at the top of the second tier. If they don't even dare to take on missions in a second-tier world, they should just run away."

He smiled and said, "That's how it will be from now on."

"Let's go—as usual, I'll go first, and you all follow behind."

Having said that, the spear appeared in his hand. Without further hesitation, Li Xia walked towards the only passage.

The observer stared blankly at Li Xia's retreating figure. From her perspective, her companion suddenly paused for a moment, then abruptly stood up to continue walking inside.

Should we stop searching?

Maybe there are still clues?

Awoo knew why; the quest clearly stated that defeating the 'Dragon Striker' would reveal the truth.