Chapter 637: Problem
"You know Rachel?" Jade's voice carried a mix of surprise and intrigue.
Before he could nod, she let out a deep sigh and spoke.
"You are correct; I am her mother's elder sister Jade. She has not left the Ember Kingdom in the past eighteen years and has been on a search for someone. Now that I think about it, she also entrusted me with finding an artifact capable of curing a dream-related curse. Do you know what she is up to?"
When hearing about Rachel's connection to the Ember Kingdom, Charles's mind buzzed with questions. A memory flashed before his eyes, an image of an elderly man he had encountered before.
'Didn't Oswald Raven journey to the Ember Kingdom to negotiate with the Nightwind Family regarding the Dream Curse afflicting the Raven Family?' Charles's intuition pieced together the events of the past eighteen years, prompting him to release a heavy sigh.
"It's a complex tale, Lady Jade. But rest assured; I will visit the Ember Kingdom in due time and resolve that issue once and for all." Charles evaded delving into the details, opting instead to change the subject. "Now, may I inquire about this layer?"
Jade's gaze remained vigilant, scanning their surroundings, as she responded, "You may call me Jade. Before I reveal the answer, could you clarify which faction you belong to?" She maintained her cautious demeanor, seeking information while keeping a watchful eye.
"I am a First Order Holy Knight of the Sun Church," Charles replied solemnly, his true allegiance hidden behind his current guise. "Though I am in disguise, I mean no harm to anyone from the Life Church."
Meanwhile, Jade retrieved a worn leather map from her space ring, opening it wide as she began to speak. "Sun Church, I suspected as much. But your fire spells appear indeed unique. This Layer is a hundred times larger and significantly more dangerous, unlike the previous sub-layer. To make things worse, I cannot draw upon the 'Divine Power' bestowed by the Divine One of Life." Pausing for a moment, she continued in a solemn tone, "While you possess strength, the chances of survival for you and your group are slim. No, nearly all churches will face a devastating blow this time."
Jade's foreboding words fully captured Charles's attention. Sensing the situation's gravity, he asked, "What do you mean?" Detecting the shift in her tone, he sought clarification.
"Even I am uncertain why this is happening, but something hinders our ability to access the Divine Power. Have you attempted to utilize it?" Jade asked, her confusion evident.
"No, Lady Jade. I am a Fire Mage from the Sun Church, and I do not rely on the power of the Divine to cast spells," Charles clarified, correcting her misunderstanding.
Curiosity glimmered in Jade's eyes at his revelation.
"Oh? This is the first time I have encountered a Fire Mage from the Sun Church who does not utilize any Divine Power." She gave him a questioning look before continuing.
"In any case, I suspect that this predicament is connected to the appearance of the massive pillar in the Edhen World. As the Star Tombs Dungeon fully materialized, our World Will may have reacted by blocking divine interference and all other divine powers. If my assumptions are correct, this situation bears similarity to the time of the previous Planar Invasion. This Star Tombs and even the other Dungeon entrances may have also appeared throughout the Edhen World."
"Other dungeon entrances?" Charles couldn't help but get startled.
"It's understandable that you are unaware of the other dungeon entrances. This peculiar phenomenon occurs only once every few centuries and persists for two decades," Jade explained, her tone tinged with a hint of gravity. "During this time, the gods lose their control over believers. Their divine powers cease to function, and even divine revelations cease to appear, placing the churches in a precarious position. We refer to this period as the 'Chaos Era.' The last occurrence took place approximately 400 years ago." While speaking, Jade swiftly dispatched a Rank-5 [Ice Shard] spell, obliterating a Rank-4 ostrich-like Magical Beast that obstructed their path, decapitating it with precision.
"There are more than ten hidden dungeon entrances scattered throughout the Edhen World," Jade continued, her words punctuated by caution. "Each of these dungeons is linked to different dimensions and holds both dangers and opportunities. Furthermore, each Dungeon possesses unique characteristics and imposes severe restrictions, making entry a privilege granted to few. Now, let us focus on the present situation. As soon as the churches realize that it's impossible to summon the 'Divine Power,' they will likely abandon their efforts to activate the teleportation gates and instead strive to survive within this layer for the next 30 days."
Charles remained attentive, walking close to Jade as he sought further understanding. "Why 30 days? Is it a time limit?"
"Yes," Jade affirmed. "Upon entering a dungeon, one must locate and activate the teleportation gate in each layer to progress further. However, suppose one desires to exit the Dungeon entirely. In that case, they must remain within the same layer for 30 days and await the intervention of the Dungeon Guardian, who will teleport them out."
Charles absorbed the information, gaining a deeper comprehension of the challenges presented within the First Layer of Star Tombs.
"In this layer, you will encounter many mysterious Legendary Magical Beasts throughout, necessitating utmost caution when employing your wisdom power," Jade warned, her voice laced with seriousness. "Trust should be extended sparingly, even toward your fellow church members." Her words struck Charles with profound surprise.
"Not even members of the Sun Church?" Charles inquired, unable to conceal his astonishment. While he maintained vigilance toward all, Jade's candidness caught him off guard.
Jade let out a sigh. "Truly, if you were not acquainted with Rachel, I would have gone my separate way after a brief exchange. Allow me to pose a simple question. Suppose we stumble upon ancient ruins or tombs and discover precious artifacts or potions. What would you do? Would you surrender them without putting up a fight? Naturally, you would seek your fair share." Pausing momentarily, she conjured a ball of water, swiftly transforming it into a barrage of ice needles scattered in various directions, neutralizing the lurking, shadowy eyes. Afterward, she resumed speaking with conviction.
"But here, in this lawless land, only the victor reaps the rewards, while the defeated perish. Furthermore, only some people you meet might be human. Some dangerous Nightmare creatures lurking in this land cannot only shapeshift by eating the corpse but can even retain the corpse's memories and abilities. So, it's almost impossible to discern who the real person is or who is a Nightmare Creature."
"I understand," Charles nodded solemnly and decided what to do next. Although he had Rune Eye ability to discern the identity of any person or beast, he didn't dare to rely too much on it.
And the next thing that made him think deeply was his next course of action.
'Should I advance and reach a higher Layer or stay here for the next 30 days and leave?' As he was thinking, a sudden memory appeared within the deepest part of his Inner World. It was the memory of Head Deacon Colt, Edwin's father!
'He has reunited with two Order Church members and is going to Dream Palace? Hmm, Dream Palace is located in the farthest North, huh?'
Charles furrowed his brows and suddenly asked.
"How do we find the direction?"
"That's an excellent question," Jade remarked, appreciating Charles's curiosity. "Whenever you venture into a new layer of the Dungeon, gazing upwards and scanning the sky is crucial. Look for the presence of a sun, a moon, or an exceptionally bright star. Most of these dimensions feature at least one or two other stars. When there is a single star, it follows a predictable path, revolving consistently. This allows you to discern the rising side, which corresponds to the east, and the descending side, which aligns with the west. However, in the case of two stars, they typically rotate in opposite directions. Identify the star that shines the brightest among the two in such instances. By doing so, you can effectively navigate your surroundings and minimize the risk of becoming disoriented or lost within the Dungeon."
Charles had been observant of the sky's movements throughout their journey, and it didn't take long for him to deduce that they were heading in a western direction.
"Why are we traveling westward?" Charles inquired, seeking an explanation for their chosen path.
Jade, surprised by Charles's astute observation, nodded approvingly before responding. "You have a keen eye. We are heading westward due to a prior agreement among all members of the Life Church. Before entering this Dungeon, we collectively decided to rendezvous at a specific location in the western territory. If my calculations are correct, it should take us approximately four to five days to reach our destination by foot."
Charles couldn't help but express his concern. "Does that mean it will be nearly impossible for Sun Church members to join the gathering?"
A chuckle escaped Jade's lips as she replied. "That is precisely why I mentioned that your church's survival will prove challenging. Unlike other churches, the Sun Church lacks privileged inside information. In this unforgiving environment, no other church will willingly share crucial information without some form of payment or exchange. Understanding that even the smallest pieces of information hold great value here is crucial. Those who possess a monopoly on information stand to gain significant advantages."
'So, the reason she gave all this crucial information is only because of I'm an acquaintance of Lady Rachel, huh?' Charles could only nod at this situation and follow her closely.
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