Chapter 162: Hidden Events in the Cathedral?
I spent a few days wandering around the Inner Cloister, and my Level also increased to over Level 19. This place truly lives up to being the Advance region of the Jail. Not only were troublesome Enemies like the Black Archer added, who can use Obscuring Technique for Sneak attack, the most important thing is, perhaps because I was Approach Andariel's lair, the Elite and Chieftain here suddenly increased. Elite Monster that were rarely encountered even in ten days or half a month before, now I can kill one or two on average every day, and Chieftain appear once every few batches. For ordinary Adventurers, this is indeed not a Situation worth celebrating. Although the Item dropped by Elite Monster are relatively good, you also have to consider if you have the Body to kill them.
However, ha... I had a small harvest. Except for a few Monster that I really didn't have the Confidence to provoke (for example, hundreds of Corrupted Monster gathered together), I unceremoniously implemented the "Three Lights" policy on the others. Although nothing particularly good dropped among them, compared to those Adventurers who find it difficult to even gather a complete Set of Equipment, I can definitely be considered a small Parvenu. Charsi will definitely be very happy after seeing so much Equipment, but I can't let her sell too much, otherwise Akara might cry.
I continued walking like this for several days, Feeling that I was getting closer and closer to the Target I was looking for—the Cathedral. Of course, it's not that my Directionally Challenged problem was cured. The Inner Cloister's area is not smaller than the Outer Cloister's at all, but there is a very obvious distinction between the two. The Outer Cloister basically has a popular Building Style, most of the Corridor, Garden, and Church have similarities, so getting lost is understandable. However, the Building in the Inner Cloister are very easy to distinguish. Almost every place has a different Style. This way, I could leave a certain Impression of most places I had been to, and then slowly use the process of elimination, supplemented by the simple Road Marker I learned from Baal. If I could still get lost like this, I wouldn't be called Directionally Challenged, but an idiot.
Therefore, finally, relying on my half-baked Sense of Direction, I arrived at this Plaza...
Although I prefer to use Garden to describe those decorated with flowers, plants, and pools, or wide flat ground, because it makes them look more picturesque. But when the scene In Front of me came into view, the first thing that popped into my mind was Plaza, and it very forcefully pushed the term Garden out.
Because, it was simply too big!!
The tall, coordinated, and compact Building structure of the Inner Cloister enveloped everyone and everything inside in cool Shadow. Even at high noon, Sunlight was rarely seen, but this Plaza was an exception. Although the Surroundings were also enclosed by Building reaching up to a hundred meters high, this could not prevent it from enjoying the shining of the Sunlight. It was as if it were the favored child of the entire Inner Cloister, a unique Existence.
The entire Plaza was divided into inner and outer layers. The outer layer was a flat Grassland, on which grew many plants with fluffy flower buds resembling dandelions, emitting a pure white Glow. A gentle Wind blew, causing these slender plants to sway gracefully. Countless Light points drifted from the flower buds, dancing lightly above the entire Plaza like fireflies, beautiful as a dream. The Glow emitted by each Light point was very soft, but surprisingly, even the fiercest Sun at noon could not compete with it.
The inner layer was paved with pure white Marble, unexpectedly making people feel very plain. But that smooth, reflective Floor, reflecting the countless Light points in the Sky, was like adding the final touch to a painting, giving a sense of beauty like a bright moon in the Sky reflecting in a mirror-like Lake.
But all of this was just a backdrop. No, perhaps even the entire Inner Cloister, the entire Monastery, existed merely to set it off.
What I meant by 'big' wasn't just the vastness of the Plaza. On the contrary, this was precisely a Fact that was easily overlooked. Because the Sculpture standing tall in the very center of the Plaza was the truly Dumbfounded sight.
This was a stone Statue of an Angel. A pure white Angel with its feet straight and slightly apart, holding a Sword and standing firm. On its Body, it wore only a simple white robe. The lines of its face were exquisite and beautiful, but its Features seemed deliberately blurred, making it appear with a hazy sense of Mysteriousness, giving a strong sense of untouchable and Blasphemy-inducing Authority. And behind its slender back was a pair of slightly spread huge Wings. The pure white feathers, depicted in full detail, surrounded by countless Light points and bathed in brilliant golden Sunlight, appeared so dazzling and Holy. That authoritative posture made it look solemn and majestic, as if ruling the world, and also had the peace and forgiveness of a benevolent father. Although they were two completely different Temperaments, they were so perfectly blended together.
I even suspected that the structure of the entire Inner Cloister was so tall and dense that Sunlight could not penetrate at all, precisely to highlight the Existence of this Statue. Only here, under 'its' protection, could we enjoy the shining of the Light.
No matter how I looked at it, this Statue was so perfect. Except for the blurred Features, the carving of the other parts could even be described as divinely crafted. Especially the dark tone of the Inner Cloister, and the strong contrast formed between it and the Statue's Body, which shimmered with golden Sunlight, was even more inwardly Shocking.
I sighed and calculated, how much Strength from master craftsmen would need to be gathered? How much Time would it take? to create such a perfect Statue! Or perhaps, this Statue was originally an Angel with a tragic and beautiful story that transformed into it?
The only thing that puzzled me was, although I didn't know which important figure this Statue was dedicated to, but according to the Level distinction of Angels, the highest Level should be the Six-Winged Angel, how could it be the Two-Winged Angel In Front of me?!
However, it seemed there was something different. The pure white Two-Winged behind the Angel In Front of me seemed to be more than twice as large as the Two-Winged Angel I saw on the Doomsday Battlefield. Could it be a Mutated variety of Angel? Or did the people back then simply never see a real Angel, and just randomly set the Wing proportions? Also, I always felt that the Sword this Angel was holding looked a bit familiar, but no matter how I searched through all my memories, I just couldn't remember. This vague Feeling of déjà vu... Could it be that I, at such a young Age, have already contracted Alzheimer's?
Forget it, forget it, my Target isn't it anyway. I suppressed the doubt in my heart, withdrew my Gaze from the Statue, and placed it on a Cathedral directly opposite it. This Cathedral was also particularly unusual. On its Body, which was a circle taller than other Church, was surprisingly a twin-tower structure, looking as if it was echoing the pair of huge Wings on the Angel Statue opposite it from afar.
It seems there's no need to consider. If what's In Front of me isn't the Main Cathedral (Cathedral), then I really have nothing to say.
Following the Corridor, passing through a Courtyard the size of two football fields, I finally arrived In Front of the Cathedral's Door. Just the Door In Front of me, carved with exquisite Pattern, was dozens of meters high. If it were opened, twenty people walking side-by-side would definitely not be a problem. The pathetic Small West Gate in Rogue Encampment, said to be the proud work of the Mage Guild, compared to it, was like a Barbarian and a child.
Fortunately, the Door was slightly ajar, a small Crevice wide enough for one person had already been opened. Compared to the size of the Door, it was indeed a quite small Crevice. Otherwise, I would have to consider breaking through the Wall to enter.
Without the slightest hesitation, I stepped inside. But I found that the Light immediately dimmed. The Light of the Realm behind the Crevice seemed to be blocked by something, completely unable to reach inside. Between the Door, it was as if two completely different Realms were separated. And the Realm In Front of me was so pure and void, as if even the Air had settled. The circular Ceiling, reaching up to a hundred meters, gave an even stronger Feeling of being isolated from the Realm. The magnificent lights hanging on the Wall were clearly so bright, but the Light seemed to be bound and unable to spread out, looking like large red lanterns in the darkness, making it appear even more eerie and terrifying.
"Tap, tap..."
I swallowed a mouthful of saliva, carefully lifted my tiptoes, letting them fall step by step onto the blue and white tiled Floor. But no matter how I lightened my Footsteps, the faint Footsteps would continuously amplify through the enclosed Space, finally echoing in every Corner of the Church.
Monster, appear quickly! Monster, appear quickly! I prayed silently in my heart. If I stayed in this Atmosphere that made my heart feel like it was on a scale for a moment longer, I would definitely be driven mad.
As if hearing my prayer, or perhaps attracted by my exaggerated Footsteps, a group of flickering Shadow finally appeared In Front of me. Oh! Thank you for Saving me from this ghostly Atmosphere. I almost rushed forward to hug and kiss them, but when I found out they were a dozen drooling Corrupted Monster, I wisely stopped my grateful Pace, Summoned Light Snow and the others, and left this glorious Quest to them.
After reluctantly dealing with the Corrupted Monster I had finally hoped for, I handed the Battlefield over to Lazy Crow to manage. Nowadays, it is increasingly capable of fulfilling the role of "Scavenger". I then lit a special Torch. This thing, which a peddler with a Merchant-like face claimed could "illuminate a ten-meter range", I hadn't really used since I bought it. Either I didn't dare to use it, or I was too lazy to use it. But now it came in handy. Anyway, my Footsteps were already very conspicuous.
Obviously, I was tricked by the Merchant. I bought a low-quality burning stick for the price of three pieces of good Jerky. Although I don't rule out the possibility that the strange Energy in the Church is causing trouble, but a Torch can only Barely illuminate the area within one meter of my feet. This is too ridiculous! It's basically no different from not lighting it. After I go back, I must complain to the Merchant Union, and also tell Kashya that the Ale sold there is mixed with one-third Domestic Sewage. Hmm, that's what I'll do!
I swung the "Torch" in my hand, which was remarkably similar to a Glow Stick, and roughly circled the Surroundings (there are also many Side Room in the Church). Then I quickly decided on the Operation Plan. Go straight to the heart of the enemy and take down that... what was it called? Anyway, it's a very poisonous and violent Skeleton Leader. I remember there was indeed such a Mini-Boss in the Game, although Cain's Book didn't mention it...
After roughly surveying the Terrain of the Church, I avoided the Side Room, and walked straight towards the direction directly opposite the Door.
"Tap, tap..."
"Are we considered to be deep inside the Enemy's lair now?"
The crisp Footsteps continuously echoed in the empty Church Ceiling. That "Glow Stick" had already been put away by me. Looking at the countless "small light bulbs" patrolling the Surroundings not far away, I pulled a face and softly asked Lazy Crow, who was standing on my shoulder. I hadn't expected this little thing to answer, but seeing its trembling Body, and its black bean-like eyes trembling violently, I still inexplicably found a little comfort.
"You say, if they all surrounded us together, could we escape...?"
I continued to train Lazy Crow's courage. This poor little thing, like encountering a Bear in a deep forest, its Body immediately stiffened, and then slid off my shoulder like a stone Statue, lying motionless on the Ground, its Effort at playing dead could be called reaching the peak.
Walking forward, finding joy in hardship, we still inevitably encountered several waves of Monster. Fortunately, the Quantity was not large, and with me and Light Snow giving our full Effort, it didn't cause much Movement. Finally, we managed to sneak into the depths of the Church. Actually, what I didn't know was that all other Adventurers slowly advanced from the Side Room, because the Light there was more sufficient, and there were many fewer Monster. A method like mine, simply believing that a straight path is the safest and most convenient, is probably unprecedented and will never be repeated... a fool, right...?
Who told someone not to properly gather News before Depart...?
The center of the Church, which is also the most Holy location—the Prayer Hall, finally appeared in my sight. The Quantity of Monster in the Surroundings suddenly decreased, allowing me to breathe a huge sigh of relief. I really can't be careless for a single moment! Otherwise, I don't know when I'll be pulled out as a pile of fertilizer from some Monster's excretion Passage.
Calming down, I carefully examined the so-called Prayer Hall. The most eye-catching thing inside was the tall, pure white Cross directly In Front. Perhaps influenced by the remaining Holy Power on the Cross, there were no Monster nearby.
"Huh... huh...??"
Where is my Mini-Boss? I remember there was indeed a Minor Boss Level Monster nearby! Unwillingly, I circled the Surroundings. Besides the huge Cross, I still found nothing.
"Could there be some Mechanism hidden...?"
Finally, I placed my Gaze on the Cross. I stepped closer and pondered for a moment, and then randomly knocked on it a few times. I hadn't held any Hope, but unexpectedly, I don't know what I touched, and suddenly a rumbling, heavy friction sound came from behind.
I turned my Head back vigilantly. On the rectangular Prayer Table closest to the Cross, the tabletop suddenly moved aside. A graceful "Corpse" appeared inside. A moment later, the fingertip of this "Corpse" moved imperceptibly, and then its eyes slowly opened.