Translator: SumTLMan
Due to the physical disconnection of the external corridors, the situation on the fourth level has become irreversible, appearing like an isolated island, but this is only limited to the researchers trapped on the fourth level.
Nisi and Canter on the fourth level, basically, would not encounter any danger.
Therefore, when Nisi went to the archives, Angel was not worried and immersed himself again in the research of the magic formation.
Angel had basically mastered the magic formation on the fourth level. To grasp further or more core permissions in a short time was not feasible. Therefore, Angel shifted his focus to other areas.
The area that now interested him the most was undoubtedly the runes that Number x0 wanted to activate, as well as the situation on the fifth level.
In terms of urgency, Angel started studying the runes first, as this could involve the internal security of the main control node. Moreover, he had already locked onto the runes previously, making the research more convenient.
As time went by, Angel delved deeper into the exploration within the realm of runes.
“Blood pact, permissions, level restrictions, activation.”
As Angel deciphered one exotic rune after another, the runes hidden beneath the level gradually surfaced.
“A magic formation that can be activated only with blood of specific permissions.” Angel murmured softly: “The activation area’s coordinates are in the center…”
Angel’s perceptive force radiated from his forehead, extending to the center of the runes.
Then, after suppressing the rune representing “activation,” Angel gradually infiltrated his perception beneath the level.
Seconds later, Angel withdrew his perception.
“So that’s how it is.” A flash of realization crossed Angel’s eyes; he had perceived what was beneath the level, a being with the symbol “x” engraved on the left side of the face and the number “0” on the right… the Hunt and Kill Numbers.
Angel had been pondering that if the sub-control nodes on the first, second, and even the third levels correspond to the Hunt and Kill Numbers numbers 5, 4, and 3 respectively, then by this logic, the fourth level might correspond to Number 2, and the fifth level to number 1.
Then, who would correspond to the main control node?
Initially, Angel speculated that it might be the legendary still-dormant Number 00, which is why he was eager to study the runes beneath the ground. However, he was mistaken in the end; Number 00 was still not here. The runes beneath required the blood of Number x0 to activate another Hunt and Kill Numbers.
Through perception, observing this Number 00 Hunt and Kill Number, Angel had already discovered that this aura exceeded the upper limits of other Hunt and Kill Numbers.
In terms of aura, it was stronger. But not by much, even if Number x0 activated this Hunt and Kill Number, Angel believed he could handle it.
Moreover, with the two powerhouses, Eremy and Toby, available, if one wasn’t enough, they could simply gang up on it. No matter how strong, it would have to kneel.
However, now that it is asleep, Angel has not activated it. If there is time and opportunity, he even wants to try to bring out the Hunt and Kill Number without activation.
Such mechanical puppets, which surpass the realm of ordinary wizards, are rare in the Southern Region, and Angel really wants to study.
However, given the current urgency, the matter of retrieving the Hunt and Kill Numbers has to be postponed.
Since the runes under the first level have already been deciphered, Angel relaxed and prepared to study another area that interested him——the fifth level.
What is the situation on the fifth level? Are there really only three rooms? Where is the legendary Number 00 sleeping?
Angel believes that these previously difficult questions can be answered within this magic formation that encompasses the entire area.
…
After Nisi arrived in the archive room, he immediately saw a researcher controlled within a very small area by a circular light arc.
This researcher, Number 50, was continuously pressing a miniature light screen floating in mid-air. The light screen displayed a cross-section of the entire fourth level, with several glowing points.
However, no matter how he pressed, the map in the light screen did not respond at all, as if it had crashed.
Nisi immediately understood what he saw. Angel had mentioned in the mental connection, “The person controlling the fourth level’s magic formation is not at the control node; he might be using some kind of external object.” The “external object” here likely refers to the floating light screen in front of him.
Looking at the crashed light screen, Nisi felt fortunate that Angel was here this time; otherwise, Number 50 could have easily run circles around them with just the light screen.
While feeling fortunate, Nisi also felt angry towards Number 50. It was because of this guy that they were forced to be trapped on the fourth level.
However, Nisi restrained his indignation for the time being.
After all, the more important task was to search for the archives. Besides, Number 50 was trapped by the circular light arc set up by Angel and couldn’t move, so it was okay to deal with him later.
Nisi glared at Number 50 and then went straight into the archive area. As for Number 50, hearing the door to the archive room open behind him and seeing the red light on the light screen map indicating intruders outside, he didn’t hesitate to bow his head and close his eyes.
Not to see, not to listen, not to speak, and not to ask.
As if showing a certain attitude: I didn’t see your faces, I don’t know who you are, I don’t know what you’re here in the archive room for, I’m just an emotionless wooden person.
This attitude seems calm, but the logic hidden deep within is actually a form of implicit… pleading.
Indeed, Number 50’s inner feelings were completely different from his outward expression. The more composed his expression was, the more his heart trembled, and he even wanted to scream in horror: Why does he, an apprentice, have to face this group of wizard level thugs? He is just a poor, weak researcher. And… why did the light screen suddenly malfunction?
Number 50 was internally conflicted, but Nisi and the others couldn’t care less. However, the attitude he displayed was a smart move.
Nisi and the others walked into the archive area.
The archive area is quite extensive, similar in size to a small exhibition hall in High Cloud Library. The interior layout resembles that of High Cloud Library, with rows of neatly arranged steel bookshelves categorized accordingly. These shelves display research materials, thematic reports, and related books produced by various researchers in the laboratory.
Due to the requirement of authorization to access materials, Reynolds ends up retrieving books, with Nisi and Canter quickly selecting the importance of books and materials.
Reynolds always takes the maximum number of books his authorization allows——six, three for Nisi and three for Canter, returning them to the shelves before fetching another six. Despite this, their pace is remarkably swift.
Typically, they spend only one to three minutes at each bookshelf before moving on to the next.
Time swiftly passes as they sift through approximately eighty percent of the materials. At this point, Angel’s voice transmits through the mental connection.
“Wizard Nisi, how goes your search? Have you found any research materials on Soul Armor?” Nisi, while continuing his search, finds a moment to reply, “Yes, but the information is scattered across different researchers. It’s unclear how extensive the coverage is. A final integration is needed. However, I suspect the core content won’t be abundant.”
In essence, these are peripheral studies on Soul Armor. The core content likely lies within the fifth level. Nonetheless, Nisi is eager to collect even these fringe studies. Combined with the organ possessing Soul Armor he has obtained, he’s confident in deciphering the essence even if the core content remains elusive.
“What about you? You’ve been quiet for a while. Have you encountered any new developments? Is the fourth level really devoid of passages to other levels?” Nisi inquires.
Angel confirms the absence of passages from the fourth level to others but shares an observation about the magic formation on the fifth level. The discovery reveals that the fifth level is accessible only through the passage from the fourth level. Now, with the external corridor of the fourth level severed, the fifth level…
Before Angel can finish, Nisi interjects, “Has the fifth level become an isolated island?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes, the fifth level has become isolated, but my point is… the entrance to the fifth level is now vacant,” Angel explains.
Nisi, puzzled, seeks clarification.
Canter interjects, mocking Nisi’s momentarily dulled understanding due to multitasking, “Angel’s point is clear. With the external corridor between the fourth and fifth levels severed, the sole entrance to the fifth level has become exposed. This means a new external corridor can be connected to this entrance.”
Angel agrees with Canter’s interpretation.
Nisi, now fully comprehending the situation, eagerly asks, “So, you can connect the external corridors from other levels, excluding the fourth, directly to the fifth level?”
“Yes, including the external corridor from the first level,” confirms Angel.
This means, as long as the external corridor connects with the fifth level, one can bypass the other levels and directly go from the first to the fifth level.
“That’s great!” Nisi exclaimed in surprise. “Angel, you…”
Suddenly, Nisi paused, coughed twice, and with a slightly more serious tone said, “You should now be able to go from the first to the fifth level, right? How about we make a deal, and you go to the archive room on the fifth level to help me look for something?”
Nisi spoke cautiously, already thinking about what benefits could persuade Angel.
However, Angel wasn’t thinking about benefits at all and directly said, “Sure.”
Angel was also interested in the fifth level and, in observing the layout of the fifth level, had actually discovered several very hidden spaces.
There, perhaps, lay some secrets.
Moreover, he was also interested in the lab’s data, including Soul Armor, mechanical puppets, and even the information about the River Legacy Society and the Source World mentioned by Number 03, which might be found on the fifth level.
“You’re agreeing just like that?” Nisi was stunned for a moment and asked subconsciously.
“Why not agree?” Angel retorted.
Nisi replied somewhat dryly, “Nothing, it’s good that you agreed, good that you agreed.”
After speaking, to ease the awkwardness, Nisi turned back and glanced at Number 50, who still had his eyes closed in the distance: “This guy arrogantly cut off the external corridor between the fifth and fourth levels, he probably never thought it would backfire in the end.”
The direct connection between the first and fifth levels even saved Angel some time.
Canter: “If you’re really going to the fifth level, be aware that there may be traps and mechanisms.”
Angel: “Don’t worry, I’ve already briefly observed the situation on the fifth level, and all mechanisms involving magic formations, I will suppress in advance.”
As for the mechanisms involving magic formations… there should be few, if any. After all, with the convenience of magic formations, bothering with other mechanisms would be a waste.
…
Although Angel decided to check out the fifth level, he didn’t go immediately.
He first briefly reviewed the entire lab’s magic formations to ensure there was no dangerous linkage; then, through the main control node, Angel accessed the fifth level’s Authority Eye.
Through the Authority Eye, he directly observed the situation on the fifth level.
Of course, this observation was limited to the surface of three rooms and the corridor; as for hidden rooms, the Authority Eye could not observe. If Angel wanted to investigate, he would have to go in person.
Angel’s observation of the fifth level was mainly to see the Fire Scale Familiar that had intruded into the fifth level.
Before, he had only briefly scanned the layout of the fifth level, not paying much attention to that Fire Scale Familiar. But now that he was going to the fifth level, he naturally had to consider all situations.
Analyzing the details provided previously, both Angel and Nisi, as well as Canter, felt that the Flame Scale Familiar was somewhat peculiar.
Unexpectedly, according to Reynolds, this Flame Scale Familiar should have escaped from the Beast Garden.
The Beast Garden is on the first level.
And this Flame Scale Familiar is now on the fifth level.
A Flame Scale Familiar, able to take Shortcuts like Angel, must have started from the first level and scurried down level by level to reach the fifth.
Normal Flame Scale Familiars, being low-intelligence magical creatures, would absolutely not be able to so accurately find the passages leading downward.
Even highly intelligent magical creatures, navigating within a laboratory that resembles a maze filled with magical energy traps, would hardly be able to find their way in a short period.
It’s incredibly unbelievable that this Flame Scale Familiar managed to do this.
Nisi had previously speculated, could someone be in collusion with the Flame Scale Familiar? Otherwise, without someone familiar with the paths leading it, it would be difficult for the Flame Scale Familiar to know the way.
It’s unknown, but Angel personally feels that the Flame Scale Familiar might indeed have obtained the correct routes from someone inside the laboratory, but it might not be a collusion.
Perhaps the Flame Scale Familiar coerced someone with force?
Though, Flame Scale Familiars are quite weak… but, this Flame Scale Familiar is different. Being able to see through Canter’s Nocturne Shadow in the fourth level experiment center, can that be called weak?
Moreover, if nothing goes wrong, the incident at the third level medical center with Number 23 was probably caused by the Flame Scale Familiar.
Number 23, although a medical staff, being numbered within 30, could barely be considered a combatant. If the Flame Scale Familiar could deal with Number 23, threatening an ordinary researcher wouldn’t be a problem.
It’s precisely because of the information above that people find this Flame Scale Familiar strange.
It seems to have a specific goal in mind.
And, if nothing goes wrong, its goal is likely on the fifth level.
This makes Angel curious too, what is it going to do once it reaches the fifth level?