Chapter 51: Fifth Era · 1068

Entering that white fog door, he did not feel any abnormality, just walking forward normally. Under his feet was still solid flat ground, and everything around was shrouded in white fog, as if he had come to the world of an illusory dream.

And in this hazy and strange fog, just as Professor Garcia said, the whispers in his ears seemed to have never spoken so many words at once:

【Outsider, you have stepped into the "Corridor of Time".】

【Message from the Old God "Father of the Infinite Tree":】

【Autumn, 1068, Fifth Era, Southern Continent, Hope Town.】

【Event: The Old God "Innocent Creator" falls.】

【Duration: 10 minutes.】

Aside from the suddenly appearing specialized terms "Corridor of Time" and "Old God," the information so far was the same as what Professor Garcia had said.

【You have obtained additional information.】

【The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches you.】

【The Old God of Time gives you a test.】

【Before the Old God "Innocent Creator" falls, witness His final wish.】

【The Father of the Infinite Tree will give you a reward: Miracle - Blade of Chaotic Time, Miracle Spirit Rune - Echo.】

The voice stopped. Xia De widened his eyes, standing in the white fog and asking in surprise:

"Old God? Corridor of Time? What are all these?"

【Your soul is very sensitive, so the information I obtained is more than the "other me" of ordinary Ring Warlocks. I do not understand the meaning of it.】

"Then the task?"

【The Old God of Time gives you a te...】

"No need to repeat the words I heard; I know you are not a repeater. I mean, what does this mean? Did I encounter the extremely rare situation mentioned by Professor Garcia? Also, why is this... Old God, why is the 'figure watching' me? Could it be that He has always existed and has not fallen?"

He widened his eyes and looked into the depths of the white fog, but could not see any clues, as if this world called the "Corridor of Time" only had fog and endless nothingness. Thinking of this, Xia De inexplicably felt his hair stand on end. This world was definitely not as simple as what he saw at present.

【The Old God gives you a task; complete it and obtain the Old God's reward. This at least seems to have no harm. Also, there are 9 minutes and 23 seconds remaining.】

"Can't you explain it more clearly?"

【I also want to tell you, but I cannot give an answer.】

Xia De lifted his leg and walked forward, but just taking one step, the white fog around him actually disappeared. Professor Garcia had clearly said that for investigators traveling through time, being wrapped in white fog was the normal situation.

And what was even more serious was that Xia De found himself standing on the street of a town that seemed like a backward medieval town. Everywhere on the street was sewage and gravel mud, and the air was filled with the smell of animal feces and rotting food. The houses nearby were low and dilapidated, and the sky was unusually gloomy, covered by dark clouds about to rain.

The thin and indifferent townspeople wearing dark, tattered clothes turned their heads and looked at the young man dressed in decent clothes. This was not at all like not proactively making contact would mean not having a connection with past time.

People in past time had observed people in future time.

"This is again..."

【Look up.】

Looking up, in front was the huge colorful signboard of "Hope Town Toy Store," as if it were the only color in this black-and-white dilapidated photo scene. Xia De understood his purpose in his heart, and before the townspeople could surround him, he reached out and pushed the door to enter the toy store.

The townspeople were isolated outside; inside and outside the door seemed like two worlds.

The bell at the door rang, and the sweet smell of candy permeated the store. Various colorful wooden, metal, and ceramic toys almost filled the shelves, and the young man who was drowsy behind the counter raised his head.

His clothes were bright and clean, and he wore a ridiculous clown hat with white dots on a red background on his head. It was completely different from the attire of the townspeople who were as numb as corpses on the street. If it weren't for being able to see the outside from the toy store's display window, Xia De would have doubted whether this was still that "Hope Town."

"Welcome to Hope Town Toy Store, may I..."

The words of the young man wearing the ridiculous hat stopped abruptly. He stared at Xia De, who was standing at the door and did not dare to move. The detective from the future time, at this moment, suddenly had the feeling that his heart was about to stop beating.

A huge pressure came from the man behind the counter. That feeling of facing the abyss, facing the fall of the infinite sky, made Xia De unable to help but take a step back and lean against the door.

Blood color suddenly appeared before his eyes, and only then did he discover his eyes were bleeding. Reaching out to touch, his ears, nose, and even the corners of his mouth were actually bleeding. His internal organs were in severe pain, his head was swelling, and even his spirit was gradually becoming scattered. Although the space occupied by the existence in front of him was only the size of a normal person, the position occupied by the existence in front of him in the world was by no means that of an ordinary person.

The toys in the store came alive in his vision, and the creepy laughter composed of children's voices came to his ears:

"Saint..."

Knowledge about gods was the first thing Xia De flipped through after obtaining the textbook.

Gods were high-dimensional existences. If they did not want to distort the rules of the material world after appearing, they must have a dependent object in the material world to descend, which was called the Saint form of the gods. And the one behind the counter was undoubtedly the Saint form of the Old God 【Innocent Creator】. If it weren't for the fact that the other party had no malice and the power was at the lowest level, the damage Xia De received would definitely be more than this.

He leaned against the door behind him, almost unable to stand. Hallucinations and auditory hallucinations occupied his senses, but his spirit was exceptionally concentrated at this moment, and he even had the illusion that he was about to leave his flesh. He actually heard singing at this moment, singing composed of childish voices, constantly tempting his spirit toward madness.

The "Miracle" element reminded by the whispering voice appeared in his ears, but there was no "Profanity," indicating that this god was a benevolent god.

"Interesting, person of the future."

The young man behind the counter said softly. This was naturally not Deraerion, but Xia De could understand it.

"Didn't Professor Garcia say that one only needs to witness? How did I directly face the Old God?"

He leaned painfully against the door, and the whispering voice of the woman in his ears seemed to be saying something, but he could no longer distinguish it. Only, the whispering voice of the woman seemed to have some kind of power, helping him at least not to faint immediately.

"What do you want to do?"

The Old God asked softly. Although the appearance was a young man, it inexplicably made Xia De feel that the other party was already old. Seeing Xia De's painful appearance, he reached out and pointed at him.

There was no light and shadow effect, but the pain of flesh and senses actually disappeared. Xia De, who felt like he had just woken from a dream, felt his whole body was about to be soaked in sweat, with only a slight memory of pain in his brain.

"I want to... witness your final wish. Thank you for your treatment."

Xia De said with a trembling tone. Although the pain was gone, the terrifying pressure he perceived was still making his body instinctively uncomfortable. The gods of this world were truly high-dimensional existences, not powerful mortals. Mortals could not look directly at gods.

The Saint shook his head:

"I only protect you from being affected by the essence of the god; this protection cannot last for too long. As for my wish? No, you are still too weak; at least you must have the afterglow of a god to do this kind of thing. Go back; at least for now, you should not have come here."

"What is the afterglow of a god?"

"I cannot tell; this is the secret of gods. Knowledge has weight, and you cannot bear it."

The Saint's voice was very gentle.

"Then, can you at least answer one of my questions, just one question."

Xia De extended a finger. This was a rare opportunity; he could not let it go. Although he now had the feeling of his head swelling due to lack of oxygen, he was still clear and understood what he wanted to do:

"What is... an Old God?" ===== CHAPTER 52 =====