Chapter 666: Mystic Castle
Mystic Castle.
It was one of the 'unexplored regions' of Trian Ruins.
Situated in the northern sector, near the great valleys, the great castle floated thirty-three miles above the ground.
It was first discovered during the 440s. There were several small-scale expeditions led by individuals. However, the strongest awakeners of these expeditions never exceeded level 7.
All these teams crossed the silver barrier and entered Mystic Castle. No one returned.
It happened again and again. Before long, the mystic castle gained a fearsome reputation.
There were other unexplored places too. But none as scary as this one.
Because no one knew what was happening inside. Through the silver barrier, you could only see the castle. You couldn't see the people even if they just went in.
So, the strategy changed.
Powerful awakeners grouped up and attacked the silver barrier. Even level 9s were invited. Hundreds of high awakeners worked together to bring down the barrier and uncover the mystery.
It was futile.
The silver barrier perfectly bounced back the attacks.
It didn't matter if they were a level 7 or level 8 or even a level 9.
In the end, Ceaser Xander himself decided to attack the barrier. Even he, the strongest sovereign of his time and the second strongest to date, failed to pierce the barrier.
"Don't risk it. We're still in post-war recovery." He said before leaving.
Thus, the official expedition to this place stalled for two decades.
Finally, in the year of 463 YAB, the federation sent a team consisting of three high level 9s and five level 8s.
All of them were awakeners who were about to pass away due to internal injuries or low vitality.
Still, it was a significant risk.
The expedition team went inside the barrier carrying all the support they could receive.
...And never returned.
The federation sent three more teams in 473, 483, and 503 before giving up and classifying this location as 'Unexplored'.
'Unexplored' regions were treated as those beyond the power of even Sovereigns.
"I really, really want to barge in and kill those two!" A voice laced with killing intent resounded around the mystic castle.
"If you want to die, then go ahead. Remember, even people far stronger than you never made it returned from that damn place." An old man floating a few miles from the mystic castle sighed.
"Arghh!" A man with a hood covering most of his face clenched his fist as he let out a frustrated groan. "Not only am I not allowed to kill the devils that killed my grandson, I have to stand guard for them? Bitch please!"
After ordering them to stand guard, Julius revealed that Charles was killed by Dreamer and Enigma. As a result, everyone here was seething and grieving.
"This isn't the place for personal relationships." The old man shook his head, but his gritted teeth showed that he too was holding in his anger.
"He is your grandson for heaven's sake! Why aren't you feeling anything?" The hooded man's aura burst out. A monstrous level 9 pressure enveloped the air.
Facing such pressure, the old man felt uncomfortable. Yet, he opened his mouth with a sigh. "Liam Xander."
Liam Xander, the only level 9 of Charles' team, lowered his head. He gave up at the three doors because his chances of survival were abysmal.
He was the one who worked the hardest to win that precious treasure that improved Charles' level tremendously. He wouldn't do it if he didn't treasure his grandson.
"How can I not feel any anger when my beloved grandson died?" The old man's voice was filled with sorrow.
But equal to the sorrow was helplessness.
"But." His voice suddenly raised and the temperature rose all of a sudden.
The hooded man raised his head and looked at the old man. To be precise, his eyes.
Those old eyes saw the world with Ceaser Xander, watched Julius Xander's ascendance, and watched Charles Xander's growth.
Tears welled in those eyes.
"J-Just a few days ago, Julius killed our brother in public. W-What wrong did he do? The sin of destroying shadow guardians was on Julius' hands...yet, he killed his own uncle to save his reputation." The old man's eyes trembled with rage.
Liam Xander's hands trembled and he took deep breaths to prevent himself from going on a rampage.
Killing his own uncle.
Killing his own niece.
To the outsiders, it might appear that he was trying to save Xander's name. But they knew clearly that he only did it to keep his own reputation stainless.
"...Is such a person really worth listening to?" The old man laughed in sadness.
His wrinkled forehead creased as he looked at the sky with a tired gaze. "The Xander family reach its peak in the era of our older brother Ceaser. We were called the guardians of the earth.
But now? All I see is the slow death of a behemoth. Even in the rotten bunch, I could console myself that Charles, despite his personality, was a better fit than Julius.
Now, he's gone as well. The Xanders...are doomed."
"Thanks to our 'Patriarch'." Liam Xander, the hooded man, said in a chilling voice.
"He changed after his father's death." Eve Xander shook his head. "Julius...that one time when a space city was destroyed, he didn't eat anything for a whole week. He cherished life so much. Who would've thought...alas."
Only a sigh escaped his lips in the end.
The two brothers turned their gazes to the giant castle.
It was just two minutes before midnight. Once the 45th ended, it'd be the fourth month—the ruins on earth would close while the ones on mars would open.
Everyone inside earth's ruins would be expelled.
There's no way Dreamer or Enigma could come out now.
...At least, that's what everyone thought.
"...W-What is that?" A shout filled with disbelief jolted everyone.
The level 8s and level 9s quickly alerted their keen senses.
"W-What?!"
"Impossible!"
"Fuuuck!"
Their eyes widened and they let out words of disbelief.
An invisible spaceship that their senses could barely perceive shot out from the silver barrier!
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A/N: The arc is ending. It felt like this arc was a bit dragged. The next arc will be shorter. Hope you enjoy it more!