Chapter 51: Fifth Era, Year 1068 |
As Shad stepped through the misty white door, he felt nothing unusual. It was as if he were taking an ordinary step forward. Beneath his feet remained solid ground, while the surrounding world was enveloped in a dense white mist, like entering the dreamlike realm of a fantastical vision.
Amidst this hazy and surreal fog, the whispers around him seemed to speak far more words than they ever had before, just as Professor Garcia had described:
[Outsider, you have entered the "Time Corridor."]
[Message from the Ancient God, "Father of the Infinite Tree":]
[Autumn, Year 1068 of the Fifth Epoch, Southern Continent, Hope Town.]
[Event: The Old God, "Creator of Innocence," falls.]
[Duration: 10 minutes.]
Apart from the sudden appearance of specific terms like "Time Corridor" and "Ancient God," the information so far matched what Professor Garcia had previously explained.
[You have gained additional information.]
[The Ancient God of Time has set a trial for you.]
[Before the fall of the Old God, "Creator of Innocence," witness Their final wish.]
[The Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you: Miracle - Blade of Temporal Disorder, and Miracle Rune - Echo.]
The voice ceased. Shad's eyes widened as he stood amidst the white fog, muttering in confusion:
"Ancient God? Time Corridor? What is all this?"
[Your soul is highly sensitive, so I can access more information than a typical Ring Warlock's 'other self.' However, I do not understand its meaning.]
"And the task?"
[The Ancient God of Time has given you a trial...]
"Don't repeat what I've already heard. You're not a recorder. I mean, what does this mean? Have I encountered one of those extremely rare cases Professor Garcia mentioned? And why is this... Ancient God 'watching over' me? Does that mean They still exist and haven't fallen?"
He stared into the depths of the fog but saw no signs of anything unusual. It felt as though this place, the so-called "Time Corridor," was filled with nothing but mist and endless void. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized this world was far more complex than it seemed.
[The Ancient God has given you a task. Complete it and receive Their reward. At least for now, it seems harmless. Additionally, you have 9 minutes and 23 seconds remaining.]
"Can't you be a bit clearer?"
[I would if I could, but I cannot provide an answer.]
With a determined step forward, Shad found the surrounding mist suddenly dissipated. This was strange—Professor Garcia had clearly mentioned that an investigator crossing time would normally remain surrounded by mist.
What made matters worse was that Shad realized he was standing on a street that resembled a backward medieval town. Filthy wastewater and muddy stones covered the road. The air reeked of animal dung and rotting food. Low, shabby houses lined the streets, and the sky was ominously overcast, thick with clouds about to burst into rain.
The scrawny, indifferent townsfolk in their dark, tattered clothes turned their heads to stare at the well-dressed young man. This was nothing like the scenario described by Professor Garcia, where not actively interacting with the past ensured no connection to the time stream.
The people of the past had noticed someone from the future.
"And now... what is this?"
[Look up.]
Following the instruction, Shad raised his head and saw a colorful sign that read "Hope Town Toy Shop." The bright sign stood out as the sole patch of color in this black-and-white, dilapidated scene. Shad immediately understood his objective. Before the townsfolk could converge, he reached out and pushed the door open, stepping into the shop.
The doorbell chimed as the townsfolk were left outside. The interior and exterior of the shop seemed to belong to entirely different worlds. Inside, the sweet scent of candy filled the air, and shelves were packed with all kinds of colorful wooden, metal, and ceramic toys.
Behind the counter, a young man with a garish red-and-white polka-dot clown hat lifted his head drowsily. His clean, bright attire sharply contrasted with the drab, lifeless garb of the townsfolk. If Shad hadn’t glimpsed the streets through the shop’s display window, he might have doubted whether he was still in "Hope Town."
"Welcome to Hope Town Toy Shop. May I help you..."
The young man’s words trailed off as his eyes locked with Shad's. At that moment, Shad felt as though his heart might stop beating.
An immense pressure emanated from the man behind the counter. It was like standing at the edge of an abyss or staring into the boundless expanse of the sky. Shad staggered back a step, leaning against the door.
Blood suddenly filled his vision. He reached up and realized that not just his eyes but also his ears, nose, and even the corners of his mouth were bleeding. His insides ached terribly, his head felt like it would explode, and his mind was on the verge of unraveling. The being before him, though human-sized, occupied a presence in the world far beyond ordinary comprehension.
The toys on the shelves appeared to come to life, and the eerie laughter of children echoed in his ears:
"Saint..."
Shad recalled the lessons he had read about gods. Deities were higher-dimensional beings who needed physical vessels to manifest in the material world without distorting its rules. This manifestation was called the "Saint Form." The figure behind the counter was undoubtedly the Saint Form of the Old God, Creator of Innocence. If not for the deity’s benevolent nature and severely diminished power, Shad’s injuries would have been far worse.
Barely able to stand, Shad clung to the door. His senses were overwhelmed by hallucinations and phantom sounds, yet his mind grew sharper than ever, almost as if he were separating from his body. Amid this surreal clarity, he heard a song—innocent children’s voices forming a melody that teased his sanity.
The whispers from before hinted at the appearance of the "Miracle" element but not "Blasphemy," confirming that this deity was a benign one.
"How fascinating—a man from the future," the young man said softly. The words were not in Drarian, but Shad understood them.
"Professor Garcia said I was only supposed to witness events. Why am I directly confronting an Old God?" he muttered in agony. A woman’s whisper tried to speak in his ear, but the words were indistinguishable. However, the soothing tone seemed to shield him from immediate collapse.
"What do you want?"
The ancient deity spoke gently, exuding an inexplicable aura of age despite the young appearance. Seeing Shad’s pained expression, the deity pointed a finger at him.
No light or dramatic effect followed, but the agony vanished instantly. Shad felt as if waking from a nightmare, though his body was drenched in sweat. Only faint memories of the pain lingered in his mind.
"I... I’m here to witness your final wish. Thank you for your mercy," Shad stammered, his voice trembling. While the pain was gone, the overwhelming pressure persisted, making his body instinctively recoil. The gods of this world were truly higher-dimensional beings, not merely exalted mortals. Mortals could not gaze directly at divinity.
The Saint shook his head.
"I merely shielded you from the essence of godhood. This protection won’t last long. As for my wish? No, you are too weak. At the very least, you need to bear the ‘Radiance of a God’ to undertake such a task. Return for now. You do not belong here yet."
"What is the Radiance of a God?"
"I cannot tell you. It is a secret of the gods. Knowledge has weight, and you cannot bear it."
The Saint’s voice was soft and gentle.
"In that case, may I ask just one question? Only one," Shad said, holding up a single finger. This was a rare opportunity, one he could not waste. Despite feeling lightheaded as if suffocating, he remained focused.
"What is... an Ancient God?"
