Chapter 225 Chapter223-Chronicles of the Lost City
In the waiting space of the Hot Spring Ruins, Ethan opened the "Chronicles of the Lost City."
This wasn't a hefty tome, unlike some biographies that spanned hundreds of pages.
It only contained a little over ten pages, resembling less a book and more a sort of booklet.
However, the steep price in the exchange store ensured that Ethan didn't dare underestimate it.
That was a whole 5,000 points!
Subsequently, Ethan opened the book. It didn't dally with superfluous words but delved straight into the main topic.
[...The Lost City, a term denoting a forsaken city.]
[What constitutes being forsaken?]
[Destroyed. Annihilated, or conquered and trampled by monsters? No, no, none of these. To be forsaken means to be forgotten by the whole world, to have no mention in any historical record, to be thoroughly forgotten, left in a corner of the world!]
"Is that so?"
Reading the explanation in the book, Ethan couldn't help but express his astonishment.
Erased from the world's memory, what exactly happened to Maya City?
"Moreover," Ethan mumbled to himself again, "looking at the current situation, Maya City seems to have existed in the past. So, the previous trial didn't transport us to an unknown location, but to a past timeline and a forgotten city. Yet, what was the purpose?"
Ethan never believed that the master of the Hot Spring Ruins trial simply intended to test everyone before bestowing rewards.
In anything, what you receive must be equal to what you give in return.
This was an unchanging truth since ancient times.
Yet now, the cost remained unclear.
Ethan became vigilant in his heart, and then turned another page to continue reading. This page mainly introduced some conditions of The Lost City.
[The Lost City, its original name has become untraceable.]
[But according to some records, The Lost City was once named Maya City, a magnificent fortress that withstood the onslaught of monsters at the border for over a hundred years. Yet even such a grand city met its demise one day, forgotten by the world.]
[The reason Maya City could hold out for so long was due to—]
On the page was appended an illustration, depicting a dragon.
The golden-hued dragon spread its massive wings, obscuring the sky above the people. Ferocious flames erupted from the dragon's maw.
Where the dragon traversed, humans prostrated on the ground, praying devoutly. Rays of light emanated from the dragon, resembling a deity's blessing, instantly alleviating everyone's suffering and wounds.
At the end of the illustration stood a Lady Knight.
The Lady Knight wielded a broadsword and shield, standing atop the dragon's head with a resolute gaze.
Beside her, a note specially emphasized: "I will forever guard this city until its destruction. The brutal monsters will not induce fear in me, only bolstering my courage; the protracted nights will not dishearten me, being but a necessary prelude to the arrival of dawn. We will prevail in the end; this is our unalterable belief!"
She was a true knight, with an incredibly firm spirit. Ethan saw shades of Eileen in her.
Conveniently, the illustration also labeled information about the Lady Knight.
[Lady Knight Eileen: The Legion Commander of Maya City, continuously fought on the front lines defending Maya City. Additionally, she was the guild leader of the Guild of Golden Flame Guardian Dragon, playing a pivotal role in framing the guild's constitution and organizing various gatherings, considered to be the Golden Flame Guardian Dragon's Dependent. Following the demise of Maya City, her whereabouts remained unknown. However, according to numerous records, there is a high likelihood that this Lady Knight Eileen ascended to the status of a deity.]
"Eileen..." Ethan uttered involuntarily, unable to contain his agitation.
Who could have imagined, that their separation in the underground command post wasn't marked by vast distances but by an expanse of long and separated timelines, signifying a parting with no hope of reunion, for no ordinary person could live that long.
And then there was the following news; Eileen had become a deity...
A sliver of consolation arose in Ethan's heart. Compared to mortals, a deity was naturally much mightier, accompanied by a drastically extended lifespan.
Even the weakest of deities could easily live for a thousand years, as long as they weren't killed midway.
And for the powerful ones, living for tens of thousands of years was not a stretch.
There were even rumors of natural deities born with the world itself, who still lived, representing the primal forces of heaven and earth, with strength incomparable to common deities.
But these were just hearsays, and the veracity was utterly indeterminable.
Ethan ardently wished for Eileen to have become a deity.
This was a prerequisite for a possible reunion, but one thing perplexed him enormously: if Eileen had indeed ascended to godhood, why hadn't she sought him out?
"Based on the information recorded in the book, I can assert that the final trial of the Hot Spring Ruins brought us back to the past," he voiced, his thoughts whirling.
"In Maya City, all those people are from a bygone era."
He decided to temporarily overlook the discussion on this reversal of time's flow.
"But individuals like Rhine, old John, and Eileen referred to us specifically as outsiders, clearly sensing something amiss about our presence."
"And then, there's Rhine!"
Ethan's gaze sharpened, as the figure of Commander Rhine left a deep imprint on him.
Possessing the foresight of the future, had she known all along that he came from a time yet to be?
Another puzzling element was during the retreat after the monster's eradication on the frontlines; Ethan had intended to probe deeper into the monster's origin but chose to return to the command post upon receiving strange news.
Yet later, Rhine decided against the investigation, an uncommon move, especially now knowing Maya City's existence in the past and its eventual downfall.
"What exactly is going on there?"
Questions burgeoned in Ethan's mind, and he also theorized a potential reason for Eileen, having become a deity, not seeking him out.
He murmured to himself, analyzing, "Either some mishap occurred that prevented Eileen from finding me, or it was due to me. If Eileen had sought me out prematurely, it might have drastically altered the original course of events, perhaps then I wouldn't have participated in the trial of the Hot Spring Ruins."
It was a cycle, involving time, where complexity burgeoned unimaginably.
For the moment, Ethan set aside the whirlpool of queries in his heart.
At that moment, the others turned to look at Ethan.
Dark Lord Rock approached him with a smile, clearly having obtained quite a few precious items.
He walked over to Ethan and said sincerely, "Black Dragon, I must apologize to you here. I did conceal some information from you all at the very beginning. However, I am grateful that you saved my life in the end. If you ever need assistance in the future, feel free to call on me."
With that, Dark Lord Rock handed over a fiery red stone.
"This is a Lava Stone, originating from my own body. As long as you crush it, I will be able to sense it," he explained.
Ethan accepted the Lava Stone and bid farewell to Dark Lord Rock.
The other surviving Dark Lord Blood also bestowed upon him a chant that could summon him.
Wearing a smile as well, he even shared a piece of information, saying, "Black Dragon, I am profoundly grateful to you this time. Unfortunately, I have no precious item to offer as a reward. So, let me give you a piece of information instead."
"What information?" Ethan was intrigued.
Although Dark Lord Blood seemed somewhat unreliable, it was due to his Bloodline.
The use of his powerful methods required his own blood, causing him to become easily weakened.
"It seems you are investigating the Glacial Lair, and I happen to know a thing or two," Dark Lord Blood said with a smile.
A surge of elation arose in Ethan's heart, and he hurriedly asked, "Where is it?"
Dark Lord Blood responded, "The Glacial Lair does indeed exist, but it is not as mystical as the rumors suggest. However, entering it isn't something achievable by ordinary means. You need to be at the right place, at the right time, and most importantly, during the appropriate weather conditions to gain access. Just like with this Hot Spring Ruins adventure."
Subsequently, Dark Lord Blood elaborated in detail.
According to Dark Lord Blood's account, the Glacial Lair was located deep within a snowy mountain, concealed within a pond.
At exactly noon under a bright and sunny sky, the water in the pond would gradually disappear, revealing the entrance to the Glacial Lair.
At that moment, one could venture inside.
Finding the pond was relatively simple; all one needed to do was to follow the creatures dwelling in the snowy mountain.
Upon receiving this information, Ethan extended his heartfelt thanks to Dark Lord Blood.
Subsequently, the group dispersed from the waiting area, going their separate ways. The Dark Lords, Rock and Blood, left the Snowy Plains directly while Sherry followed Ethan back to Frosty City.
However, throughout the journey, Sherry seemed somewhat downcast.
Concerned, Ethan asked gently, "Sherry, what's the matter?"
Lifting her head, Sherry responded earnestly, "Ethan, once we find Henry Powell, I'd like to take some time off to resolve my Bloodline issues on my own."
Meeting her determined gaze, Ethan nodded gravely.
"Alright," he agreed.
He understood Sherry's concerns deeply.
By his side, she was safe.
However, Sherry was different from Mia.
Having grown up in the harsh environments of the Snowy Plains where survival often necessitated struggle, Sherry needed to face challenges and undergo her own set of trials and tribulations to forge a stronger self.
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