Chapter 763 — The Phantom Town
Blade of Dawn · Page 1 of 4
Gao Yang's astonishment knew no bounds.
Yet he still maintained his concealment within the mind, and let no sign of his shock show on his face.
He merely examined Selena Gale once more, and once more confirmed her relevant records through the back end.
His first reaction was that the address-recognition function had malfunctioned—after all, the system had only just been completed, and there was still much to be debugged—but he also knew that blaming the system at the first sign of trouble was the least advisable line of thinking.
It was highly possible that Selena Gale really was in Cecil, lurking somewhere in the Southern Region!
And moreover, in soul form.
His gaze lingered long upon those words.
Luminary Order (deceased), soul body...
This part of the content stirred him somewhat as well, though not strongly. Selena was, after all, only a figure from the memories of Gao Yang Cecil—and a figure from seven centuries past. For a human to have endured so long, it was no wonder whatever state she had become; besides, Gao Yang had personally witnessed one that could photosynthesize, so his capacity for acceptance in this regard was rather high.
What concerned him more was the question of just what state Selena Gale—"alive" to this day as a soul body—was in as she hid herself in the Southern Region at this very moment.
And while he was pondering, the conversation among Daniel and the others was already drawing to a close.
"...Such is the situation. The newly appeared overflow contamination zone is still in the 'imaginary number zone' outside the city; for the time being, we call it the 'Phantom Town,'" said the one named Yuri of the Nether Order. "His Holiness the Pope believes that the twisted, uncanny state this zone presents is highly unusual, and has therefore ordered that no reset be carried out for now, and that an investigation be conducted first."
Selena nodded as well. "The area has already been shrouded; the residents of Illusion Pivot City will not notice it. Daniel of the Luminary Order, this is your first time entering an overflow contamination zone—the main purpose is to familiarize yourself with the environment and the circumstances. Please bear that in mind."
"I understand, Selena of the Chaste Order," Daniel replied earnestly. "I am ready."
"Very good. We set out now," said Yuri of the Luminary Order, turning his head to glance at the clock dial floating in midair. At the same time, layer upon layer of rune circles surfaced beneath his feet, and his whole figure began to turn illusory. "Everyone, enter the teleportation zone. Transfer begins in fifteen seconds."
The three of the Nether Order and the three high-ranking clerics wearing owl masks all stepped within the range of the rune circles. Gao Yang likewise stood silently among them—each of them exactly one elbow's length from him—yet no one sensed anything amiss.
In the flicker of light and shadow, the scenery around everyone changed with dizzying speed.
Gao Yang felt as though he had passed through a "tunnel" filled with chaotic mist; the resplendent Illusion Pivot City flashed past upon the chaotic barrier surrounding the tunnel, and when the scenery around him stabilized, he was already standing in the center of a town steeped in the air of twilight and decay.
Was that "tunnel" just now symbolic of an "unmarked port" within the mind?
A few thoughts flickered through his mind, but Gao Yang had already fixed his attention upon the dilapidated town before him.
Gloomy, chaotic clouds covered the sky, shrouding everything in sight. Beneath that sky were ancient houses scattered in irregular array, their style unlike that of any nation in the real world: they had black slanted or pointed roofs, their outer walls mottled and faded, and always upon one wall was painted a strange image—a hand, seemingly symbolizing some mighty power, covering the sky, covering the earth below.