Chapter 1980 Gears, Destiny, Initial Heart <TOC> Chapter 1982 A Pair of Leather Shoes
Translator: SumTLMan
Sanders wasn’t inclined to elaborate further on the choice of the Time Thief.
If it were before the choice was made, speaking more could have instilled a sense of urgency in Angel. But now that it’s confirmed the Time Thief intends to act in the Wilderness of Dreams, further discussion might only heighten anxiety.
Thus, once Sanders noticed a resolute look in Angel’s eyes, he subtly changed the subject.
Sanders said, “Speaking of which, you’ve never asked about the issues regarding these ruins.”
Angel shrugged, “Since we’ve arrived at the entrance of the ruins, I’d prefer to set aside other impressions and personally experience the ruins themselves.”
That’s why Angel hadn’t asked anyone about the ruins. He planned to explore and then discuss his experiences.
Sanders, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, nodded, “You said we’ve arrived at the entrance of the ruins, so you must know where the ruins are, right?”
“The place Mentor brought me to, isn’t that the entrance?” Angel’s gaze fixed on a spot not far away, the central point of a triangle formed by three observation pavilions, also the very heart of the ruins’ Star Pool.
Though nothing seemed out of the ordinary to the naked eye, Angel could distinctly feel a dense aura of the Nightmare Plane emanating from there. The fog in the sky, almost tangible and impossible to dispel, likely originated from that very spot.
Sanders shook his head, “That is indeed an entrance, but it’s not the only one.”
As Angel looked on puzzled, Sanders lowered his gaze to the shimmering Star Pool.
“You might want to look at your feet,” Sanders said softly.
Following Sanders’s suggestion, Angel looked down. The ripples and waves they created disturbed the celestial reflections in the water, fragmenting their own images into shards of light and shadow.
As if the space itself was rippling, the distance between reality and the illusionary play of light and shadow was cleaved and distinct.
At the moment when Angel was intently gazing at the water’s surface, his view suddenly transformed.
The water turned into a mirror, the mirror into a membrane of space, and beyond that membrane, amidst the shimmering ripples, a different dimension unfolded. A long, ancient path, complex and traditional attics, and rooms obscured by rainbow clouds, their appearances unclear.
A flicker of astonishment crossed Angel’s eyes: “Is that…”
“What you see is the original appearance of the ruins,” Sanders said, his gaze sweeping across the entire Star Pool: “And the entrance to the ruins isn’t confined to the center. Every part of this Star Pool is an entrance to the ruins.”
Despite saying this, Sanders didn’t stop walking. He continued forward until he reached the center of the ruins, where he finally stopped.
Both Angel and Sanders, upon reaching the center of the ruins, felt an inner joy emerging. It was an involuntary thought produced by the brain when the aura of the Nightmare Plane backflowed into their bodies.
Sanders said, “Now, look down again.”
Even without Sanders’s reminder, Angel had already turned his gaze back to the water’s surface. At first, it was still the lake reflecting the stars, but as he continued to gaze, the world behind the water once again emerged.
What was different this time was that Angel saw a dark and profound passage.
It lacked complex structures and various rooms obscured by rainbow clouds. There was only this one passage, as if it could lead to the Abyss.
As Angel focused on the end of the passage, he vaguely felt as though a pair of eyes, in the deepest and darkest place, were gazing back at him.
“What do you see?” Sanders asked.
“A seemingly endless passage,” Angel said, then asked, “Where does this passage lead?”
Sanders shook his head: “Unknown, but the only whisper of the Nightmare Plane in the entire Star Pool emanates from this passage. The few wizards who vanished with the Song of the Deep Sea entered this passage as well.”
“We’ve discussed this with Lord Rhine, and we unanimously believe this passage might lead to the true heart of the ruins.”
Angel pondered and felt this made sense. After all, the emanation of the Nightmare Plane’s aura was peculiar, and while other areas of the Star Pool had visible ends, this place had only a dark and deep passage.
“Are those live wire eruptions and Nightmare Plane creatures also coming from this passage?” Angel inquired.
Sanders replied, “No, live wire eruptions can occur anywhere in the Star Pool, and creatures of the Nightmare Plane mostly enter in large numbers but seldom leave. Even if they do exit, they aren’t limited to this passage.”
After speaking, Sanders slowly extended his hand.
In Angel’s puzzled gaze, Sanders said, “Next, I will open this passage.”
“Didn’t Lord Rhine say…” not to enter the ruins rashly?!
Sanders continued, “I’m merely opening the ruins, not sending you in. I need you to sense some emotions within the ruins.”
Before Angel could react, Sanders’s fingertips had already conjured a mist of light, sending a beam straight into the water.
The surface created no ripples but slowly opened into a dark passage.
As the passage to the ruins was opened, a more intense aura of the Nightmare Plane surged out, carrying with it the wind from the depths of the passage, causing Angel’s unrestrained red hair to dance wildly in the wind.
A gentle mental wave rested upon Angel, and upon his acceptance, it transformed into a mental bond. From the other end of this bond, Sanders’ thoughts transmitted: “Ignore any external distractions, focus intently on the emotions lingering within the ruins.”
Rhine and Tree Spirit were unaware of the main reason Sanders insisted on Angel visiting these ruins: Angel’s innate ability to sense and interpret the emotions of creatures from the Nightmare Plane.
Sanders knew well that without involving themselves directly with the ruins, the only way to obtain information from within was through Angel interpreting the residual emotions of these Nightmare Plane creatures.
Hence, Sanders risked opening the passage to the ruins.
As long as Angel did not step into the passage, he should be safe. Sanders believed that if Angel did encounter creatures from the Nightmare Plane, he would still be safe.
However, this was only under the premise of encountering Nightmare Plane creatures.
The true horror of these ruins lies not only in the creatures of the Nightmare Plane but in the ruins themselves. Initially, when the ruins were discovered, they had not yet been occupied by creatures from the Nightmare Plane, yet they still devoured the wizards of the Song of the Deep Sea.
Therefore, without complete preparation, it’s not just Angel who is at risk; even Sanders himself wouldn’t dare to enter.
Chapter 1980 Gears, Destiny, Initial Heart <TOC> Chapter 1982 A Pair of Leather Shoes