Death... and me
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chapter-2125
Back inside the Ruins of the Stars, the twins successfully crossed the barrier within the ring, leading them into a seemingly interminable tunnel enveloped in darkness. From that point onward, Spiegel and Waremis took charge of the group, as their cultivations far surpassed the twins'.
Rean glanced back at the entrance from which they had come, unable to resist asking, "Shouldn't we consider setting up a trap or some sort of deterrent for those who follow us? Since we know we can't exit through the same place we entered, there's no need to worry about causing any destruction." Spiegel had informed the twins that the entrance served as a way in but not as an escape. That they would have to find their own way out once inside the Ruins.
However, Spiegel shook his head dismissively. "Not only do we not know who will be the next to pass through the barrier, but our limited time and resources would severely hinder any trap we attempt to set up. The subsequent groups should be arriving not too long after us too." Unaware of the turmoil the twins had caused during their own crossing, Spiegel disregarded the idea of traps.
Rean's notion of a trap did not involve the entrance barrier anyway. Once they had passed through, the barrier vanished, leaving behind an empty wall. Instead, Rean contemplated setting a formation or collapsing the tunnel behind them. "So you're concerned about the Angels, uh? I thought you didn't care about them. Your clan behaves differently compared to the rest of your Angel Race."
Spiegel narrowed his eyes, his voice filled with conviction. "Of course, we care about them. Do not mistake our clan for Devils. Our behavior deviates from the others for a reason."Waremis intervened, halting their discussion. "No traps. We must not harm our allies either. Let us capitalize on our head start and exit this tunnel before others catch up to us. There were eight additional experts attempting to breach the barrier alongside us, so they may be in close proximity. It would be detrimental if we became their targets."
Rean shrugged nonchalantly, choosing not to pursue the topic further. Both he and Roan comprehended that they need not fret about the experts from the Vruve Organization. The injuries they had inflicted would dissuade anyone from attempting to cross the barrier in the near future. Even if they dared to try, it was unlikely they would send more than one or two people at a time, fearful of losing more lives.
"I can see the end of the tunnel," Spiegel said with caution, maintaining a vigilant stance. Possessing the strongest Divine Sense, he could perceive far beyond the others. A few minutes later, the twins' Divine Senses also detected the tunnel's termination. Nevertheless, upon extending their Divine Senses outward, their perception came to an abrupt halt after a few meters. Clearly, a restrictive measure prevented the use of Divine Senses beyond that point.
*Whoooooooooosssshhhhhh...*
As they gradually emerged from the tunnel, a powerful gust of wind assaulted their faces. Yet, there was little to behold. The tunnel terminated in an open expanse, an infinite flat land stretching as far as their eyes could discern.
Spiegel surveyed the surroundings, contemplating their next course of action. "Where shall we proceed from here...?"
However, it was Waremis who noticed something of significance. The twins' attention had been captivated by an entirely different matter.*Ding!*
[Universe Foundation Fragment Detected!]
[The system cannot ascertain the general location of the Universe Foundation Fragment due to its feeble wavelength.]
[New Quest Available: Acquire the Universe Foundation Fragment located within the Dimensional Yin Yang Spaceship.]
[Time Limit: Unlimited]
[Reward: 600,000 Destiny Points]
[Fail Conditions: Depart from the Dimensional Yin Yang Spaceship without obtaining the fragment.]
[Penalty for Failure: 500,000 Destiny Points.]
The twins were taken aback by the announcement, and Rean was the first to voice his astonishment. 'Hold on, there are far too many inconsistencies. Firstly, was I right? Is this truly a spaceship?'
Roan nodded in agreement. 'Thus far, the system has consistently provided accurate information regarding its quests. So, at the very least, we can trust that much.'
Sister Orb, too, had heard their conversation. [That's not all. How did a fragment of the Universe end up here? According to the information shared by Spiegel's clan, these Ruins have existed here for longer than the calamity that Divided the Universe in two due to the Extinction Sphere. Is it just a coincidence that the fragment landed in this precise location, or was it drawn here by some force?]
Celis also added his piece from inside the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm. 'Didn't the power of the Dark and Light Elements create the barrier protecting the Ruins of the Stars, or rather, the Dimensional Yin Yang Spaceship? We are well aware that the Universe Foundation Fragments possess the power of the Light and Dark Elements.' He quite agreed with Sister Orb's idea of it not being a coincidence.
Roan saw the connection emerging. 'It's plausible that the fragment was attracted to this place when the Universe Foundation Pillar was damaged. But if it was made on purpose, then this Spaceship is anything but empty.'
'The name Dimensional Yin Yang Spaceship does seem fitting in this context. The idea of constructing a spaceship of such magnitude, comparable to a small continent in the Realm of Gods, is mind-boggling. One wonders how long it took to construct such a ship,' mused Rean, his curiosity piqued by the concept.
*Tap, tap, tap...*
Spiegel noticed the twins' silence and approached them. "What's the matter, both of you? Are you alright? We must continue onward before other experts catch up to us."
Their attention was diverted by the sound of Spiegel's footsteps, which caused the twins to look down in unison. "Spiegel, Waremis, look at what lies beneath your feet. This isn't ordinary earth; it's deliberately constructed metal!" Given their newfound understanding of the structure as a spaceship, walking upon metal seemed entirely plausible. "Things here aren't so simple..."