Fantasy Game: Infinite City

Chapter 616 2 The Prince's Magic Book (6)

"So fast?"

The older researcher—clearly the team leader—speaks with a calm and powerful voice. Even after hearing the bad news from his team members, he remains composed and quickly calms everyone down.

"The guard team should stand guard at the entrance and deploy stone cones for defense; the rest of you should immediately activate the star array for positioning."

Two guards immediately sprang into action, inserting their stone spikes into the ground on either side of the crack to form a makeshift defensive line. Their machetes were held horizontally in front of their chests, their eyes warily fixed on the corridor. The young researcher, meanwhile, took three rune-engraved stone tablets from his backpack and, following the star pattern on the map, placed them in the three corners of the altar. The captain opened his notebook, adjusting the angle of the stone tablets according to the map.

"According to the notes, the star array needs to be activated with 'active energy' - we don't have an energy detector, but the solvent from the explosion just now has residual mithril energy, which should be usable."

A young guard immediately picked up a piece of gravel soaked in solvent from the ground and handed it to the captain. The captain placed the gravel in the center of the star array and gently tapped it with a stone shard; the runes on the shard instantly emitted a faint blue glow. Under the cover of shadow, Han Zu quietly moved behind a stone pillar on the inner side of the secret chamber, where his view became clearer. He noticed a line of extremely small writing marked on the edge of the map: "Twin Serpent Keys open the tower, Corpse Oil nourishes Obsidian"—this matched the part of the summoning ritual he had seen on the parchment earlier. Clearly, this star array could not only locate locations but was also related to some forbidden ritual. Just then, a sharp whistle sounded from outside the corridor, accompanied by the sound of stones rubbing together—someone was chasing them.

"They're here!" the captain shouted immediately, his stone shard striking faster, the rubble in the center of the star array heating up and glowing red. Two guards gripped their weapons, their eyes fixed on the dark figures appearing at the end of the corridor—three people dressed in coarse cloth, wielding stone spears, their faces painted black—the descendants of the "Bone-Eating Sorcerers." In a flash, the three charged forward, launching an attack without warning. Fortunately, the guards were prepared and remained calm, charging back at them as well.

The clash of stone spears against machetes produced a piercing sound. A guard was slashed on the arm by a stone spear, and blood splattered onto the edge of the altar, dripping onto the stone fragments of the star array. This seemingly minor incident instantly put those controlling the star array within the secret chamber in danger.

"Oh no, energy disorder! The star array has prematurely overloaded!"

"The captain exclaimed, trying to adjust the angle of the stone shard, but it was too late," the captain cried. The star array spun faster and faster, and a blurry black silhouette gradually emerged from the red light. It was somewhat similar to the black shadow Han Zu had encountered in the room where the box was located, but it was much larger, and the outline of its wings was much clearer—it was the "Faceless Shadow" the team members had mentioned. But Han Zu realized that it looked almost exactly like the black shadow that had turned into flames in the secret room where he had found the box.

The faceless figure let out a silent roar, instantly cooling the surrounding air and causing a bluish-black energy mist to spread. Seeing this, the "Bone-Eating Sorcerers'" pupils dilated; they immediately abandoned their attack and turned to flee, only to be instantly overtaken by the energy mist. Their bodies were enveloped in it, emitting shrill screams, and moments later, they dissolved into a pool of bluish-black liquid. Han Zu seized the opportunity to approach the altar, his gaze quickly sweeping across the markings on the map—the location of the secret chamber on the top floor of the western tower was clearly visible, next to which was a stone coffin image, marked "Tomb of the Five Dynasties." He noticed a slight bulge on the back of the map; touching it with his fingertip through the shadow, he could feel engravings. Just then, the captain suddenly shouted…

"There are stone slabs below the star array! It's the tomb of the fifth patriarch!"

Han Zu looked down and indeed found that the stone slab in the center of the altar was different from the other stone slabs. It was engraved with a pattern of an ouroboros, which was consistent with the mark he had seen in the hidden compartment of the box.

The chaos within the sealed chamber had reached a fever pitch. One guard, struck by the faceless figure's energy wave, suffered a bluish-black burn on his shoulder, yet gritted his teeth and continued wielding his machete, dispersing the approaching energy mist. A young researcher tried to help the captain pry open the stone slab but was forced back by the energy blast, his notebook scattering from his backpack. Seeing this, the captain pulled the last can of mithril solvent from his waist and hurled it at the faceless figure. The white light from the solvent's explosion temporarily repelled the shadowy form, and he seized the opportunity to shout to the others…

"Abandon the star array! Find the ring in the tomb first!"

Two researchers immediately stepped forward and used stone picks to pry open the stone slab. A dull thud came from beneath the slab, gradually revealing a dark opening. Han Zu's eyes were fixed on the opening, and he could vaguely see the outline of a stone coffin inside. Beside the coffin, there seemed to be a wooden box—that must be where the Ouroboros Ring was kept.

Just as the stone slab was completely pried open, the faceless energy mist attacked again. A young researcher, unable to dodge in time, was stung by the mist on his arm, letting out a painful roar. The captain immediately rushed over, applying herbal ointment he carried with him to the wound, and gave a stern order...

"Retreat!!! Head towards the tower! We can look for the things in the tomb later!"

Without further hesitation, the guards brought up the rear, while the researchers packed up their maps and notebooks and ran towards the passage on the other side of the secret chamber—the direction leading to the western tower. Han Zu didn't follow immediately. Instead, using the faceless energy mist as cover, he silently approached the entrance and used his night vision to examine the interior of the tomb. The wooden box beside the stone coffin was open, empty except for a small amount of silvery-white powder, consistent with the powder he had found on the corpse in the north corridor—the Ouroboros Ring had been taken.

Han Zu stood up, preparing to track down the retrieval team, when he noticed a tiny crack on the side of the stone coffin. Wedged in the crack was half a broken silver badge. The pattern engraved on the badge was identical to the "Exiled's" emblem, and there were teeth marks on the edges, clearly indicating it had been forcibly broken off. He carefully put the badge away, and the clues in his mind gradually began to connect.

The "Exiled Ones" had their apprentices hide their research findings. The apprentices' descendants—the "Bone-Eating Sorcerers"—found the tomb of the fifth patriarch, stole the Ouroboros Ring, and it's highly likely that the fifth patriarch was murdered by them and buried here. Han Zu turned and chased after the retrieval team. Traces left behind by them were scattered on the corridor floor: linen stained with herbal ointment, broken stone cones, and a torn page of a notebook that read, "There is a spare key on the top floor of the tower."

The staircase to the west tower was narrow and steep, the candlesticks on the walls long since decayed, leaving only rusty bases. Using his night vision, Han Zu climbed swiftly, making no sound under the contamination field. He could hear the footsteps of the retrieval team above, interspersed with the captain's commands.

"Everyone, maintain social distancing and be aware of the energy fluctuations at the corner of the stairs!"

Han Zu slowed down, entered a state of mist, and hid in the shadows around a corner, watching the team members pass by one by one. The captain walked at the front, holding a rusty knight's sword found in the castle. Although the blade was rusty, it was still sharp. Two researchers followed in the middle, carefully carrying maps and notebooks. The guards walked at the back, constantly looking back to observe, their machetes ready to be drawn at any moment.

The team members were clearly prepared for this environment; every so often, they would carve marks on the walls with stone shards to avoid getting lost. Upon reaching the top floor of the tower, the captain immediately ordered the guards to stand watch at the stairwell, while he and the researchers inspected the secret chamber door on the top floor. The door was made of heavy black stone, engraved with an ouroboros pattern, consistent with the markings on the map. The captain tapped the door with his knight's sword; the door made a dull thud, indicating that it was solid inside.

“The journal says the spare key is hidden in the eye of the statue next to the door,” a researcher reminded him, pointing to the knight statue on the left side of the door. The captain immediately stepped forward, pried open the statue’s right eye with his sword sheath, and sure enough, there was a stone key inside, engraved with runes corresponding to the star array.

The key clicked as it was inserted into the lock, and the door slowly opened to one side. The interior of the secret chamber was small, with a stone coffin in the center, engraved with the Ferdinand family crest, clearly the tomb of the fifth patriarch. On a stone table beside the coffin were several open wooden boxes, empty except for a small amount of silvery-white powder—the same powder found in the tomb. The captain crouched down, picked up a speck of powder with his fingers, and sniffed it lightly. His expression instantly turned serious.

"It's mithril solder powder. The ring was taken not long ago, and the marks haven't disappeared yet."

A researcher flipped through his notebook and suddenly said, "Captain, there's a supplementary entry in the journal: the fifth patriarch had a personal bodyguard who later defected to an abandoned monastery outside the city. The ring might be in his possession."

Han Zu, hiding in the shadows at the corner of the stairs, witnessed everything. A thought struck him—the abandoned monastery was the place he'd seen in the parchment fragments, though he hadn't known its exact location then, only recognizing its religious architectural style. The captain, clearly knowing more than he did, immediately ordered everyone to pack their belongings.

"Take all the records and head to the monastery immediately! The 'Bone-Eating Sorcerers' will definitely be there too."

Just then, the entire tower suddenly began to shake violently, stones rained down from the ceiling, accompanied by a muffled roar coming from below. The guards' expressions changed drastically, and they hurriedly shouted...

"That's the voice of the Stone-Skinned Giant! How did that thing get up here?"

Han Zu's gaze sharpened instantly. "Stone-skinned Giant"—he had seen this name and the accompanying illustration on the parchment that hadn't yet been burned by the flames. It was the elemental creature that Han Zu had encountered in front of Bastin Castle, the one that had slapped him into Bastin Castle. This thing was a monster unique to Bastin Castle, enormous in size, with skin as hard as stone, lacking intelligence, and only attacking living things on instinct. It was an existence that none of the monsters in Bastin Castle wanted to provoke.

The tremors grew more intense, the sound of breaking stones echoed down the stairs, and the roars grew closer. The captain, pale but not panicked, immediately ordered, "Take the emergency exit in the tower! It's a secret passage that leads directly to the first floor of the castle! We must leave the second floor immediately!"

He pulled a folded parchment from his backpack, which unfolded to reveal a map of the castle's emergency exits—clearly prepared beforehand.

"Second floor?"

The captain's words made Han Zu fall into deep thought. Indeed, the reason he was able to get to this place was through the staircase on the first floor of the Basting Castle, which was the secret door behind the bookshelf on the first floor of the library. But as soon as Han Zu landed and saw the vast black forest outside, he thought that he had been teleported to another location in some way. But now, according to the captain, it seems that he is still in the lower part of the main body of the Basting Castle.

While Han Zu pondered, the others immediately followed their captain towards a hidden door in the corner of the secret room—the entrance to the emergency exit. Han Zu noticed the distance between them gradually increasing and, using the vibrations as cover, silently followed, maintaining a safe distance. The passage behind the hidden door was narrow and low, allowing only one person to pass at a time. Ancient runes were engraved on the walls, resonating with the runes on Han Zu's gauntlets, emitting a faint reddish glow. The team members entered the passage one by one, with the captain bringing up the rear, constantly looking back, his knight's sword ready to strike at any moment. The passage reeked of damp earth, and the ground was muddy and slippery, clearly untouched for a long time.

After walking for about ten minutes, the captain's voice came from ahead.

"We're almost at the exit! Everyone, get your weapons ready! There might be 'Bone-Eating Sorcerers' lying in ambush outside!"

Han Zu immediately hid in a recess in the side wall of the passage, pressing his body against the cold stone. The team members filed out, and outside the exit was a dense forest. Judging from the wood, they were also part of the Black Forest. Based on the surrounding environment, Han Zu could roughly confirm that the location of this secret exit was not far from the entrance he had used to enter this building buried in mud, probably only a few dozen meters away.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the footprints on the ground. The captain gestured for everyone to crouch down and carefully observe their surroundings, while the guards spread out to form a perimeter.

“There are no signs of an ambush, but there are fresh footprints left by the ‘Bone-Eating Sorcerers.’ They left before us,” a guard reported in a low voice.

The captain nodded and pulled a compass from his backpack. It was clearly something he had obtained in Bastinburg, or perhaps found in this very building. Although the high-tech equipment, like that of his contractors, had malfunctioned, this primitive tool seemed to still be usable.

"The monastery is to the northeast, about five kilometers from here."

He put away the compass and addressed the crowd.

"The 'Bone-Corroding Mist' hasn't spread here yet; we must reach the monastery as soon as possible."

The group immediately got up and ran northeast, their steps light and steady, clearly the result of long-distance running training. Han Zu emerged from the depression, observed the footprints on the ground by the moonlight, confirmed the direction, and then silently followed.

The forest was dimly lit and overgrown with vines, yet the team members moved with ease, marking the trees with stone shards at regular intervals and erasing their footprints behind them—clearly to avoid being tracked by the "Bone-Eating Sorcerers." Han Zu followed behind, memorizing these details—this Ferdinand family's recycling team was indeed quite capable, even more reliable than some of the gray teams from the Infinite Corporation. Even with their high-tech equipment malfunctioning and lacking superior weapons and tools, they maintained an exceptionally high level of discipline and professionalism.

"No wonder Sebastian dares to have such ambitions."

After running about one and a half kilometers, the captain suddenly raised his hand to signal everyone to stop. He made several hand gestures, meaning: "There's movement, fifty paces ahead."

Upon seeing the captain's hand signal, everyone immediately crouched down and hid behind the dense bushes. Han Zu also stopped and hid in the shadow of a large tree, using his night vision to look ahead.