Chapter 1354: The Camp In the Mountains

Ten minutes after their arrival at the Gloom Mountains, the sky dimmed. The clouds above seemingly blocked off all the air and light. Their surroundings were dim. It was an unnatural phenomenon. The Lorissian Wall was not only preventing the energy on the mountains from escaping, but also keeping something from coming up the hills.

“The Lorissian Wall not only trap the creatures on the Gloom Mountains, but the energy field around the mountains also affects the adventurers who come,” Becky said. She was the guide for this trip. “Stronger adventurers and mercenaries will not be affected, but the weaker ones will experience various side effects such as disorientation, memory loss, difficulty in casting a spell, and even injury. The deeper they go, the threat from the energy field becomes stronger. So the hunters and herb collectors in this neighborhood are usually only active at the foothills. Only the professionals will challenge the mountains. But no one has ever been to the highest peak.”

Hao Ren casually said, “But overall, the Lorissian Wall seems to have more effect on living things on the Gloom Mountain.”

“Well, it was supposed to keep things in but not out,” Becky said. “A scholar has speculated that the ancient magic empire has been using the energy barrier to block off the test site and prevent things from getting out. But it was a long time ago, the energy barrier has begun to malfunction and become a threat to outside visitors.”

A gust of wind blew through the forest, the lush Shadow Fir swayed. The faint light shone through the branches and leaves and cast swinging shadows on the ground. Between the trees and the weeds and shrubs, it was steep slope strewn with boulders. Trekking on this rocky terrain was challenging as there was almost no “road.” The hunters at the foothill only enter the mountains via some nature trails. These trails did not extend deep into the forest. With courage and experience, the adventurers mostly found their way in by themselves. Becky brought Hao Ren on the easiest route. It was a beaten path where the Royal Knights had laid marks along the way. It was much better than the rugged mountain slope.

Lily had shapeshifted into a werewolf. She moved with her eyes wide opened and crouched to sniff around from time to time. The golden eyes of her glinted in the dark, and she looked somber. Unlike her usual carefree behavior, Lily seemed to have “installed a mod,” so to speak, becoming extremely vigilant, as if a beast with her natural instinct in her natural habitat.

“There are a smells of other beasts,” Lily said as she sniffled. “The stronger beasts live deep in the mountains. Most of them are orcs. It is truly a testing ground left by the Ancient Magic Empire. Most of the native creatures here have mutated so much that not even their mothers could recognize them.”

“The deeper we go, the more dangerous it gets. There were even dragons living in seclusion on the Gloom Mountains.” Becky clenched the magic sword in her hand. She was eager to draw it. “Hah, without the knights, I have finally found excitement in being a mercenary!”

It was through Ophra that they got permission to explore the Gloom Mountains, but they did not bring the guardian knights. Hao Ren felt that he did not need those followers, which would only become a burden. With Becky as a guide, it was much more efficient. Besides, she was easy to get along with. Of course, Becky had no problems with that. Her only regret was that Marshal Ophra did not come with her. As the highest military commander of the kingdom, the female marshal was one of the busiest people in the kingdom; the occasionally unusual changes on the Gloom Mountains was not worth her time.

After all, such incidents were not unusual and would happen once or twice every decade.

It was a smooth sail all the way so far. The dangerous orcs on the Gloom Mountains may have been a threat to the native people, but not to Hao Ren and the two killers around him. They had not encountered any orc attacks. It was not that Hao Ren did not go through the monster’s territory, but it was because Lily and Vivian’s energy field had scared away the observant orcs.

Survival 101 on the Gloom Mountains was to stay away from danger.

There was a rustling sound in the distance. Hao Ren vaguely saw a large shadow moved under the shades. Lily looked up, bared her fangs, and lunged at the direction where the sound came from. But the rustling stopped before she even got there.

The husky maiden twitched her mouth disdainfully. “It looks scary, but just a coward!”

“We are only at the periphery where the orcs are relatively timid. When you get deeper into the mountains, those guys will not flinch.” Becky shrugged. “By then, you can enjoy a field day fighting them.”

Lily was suddenly wide-eyed, and she hid behind Hao Ren. “Oh, I don’t have the time to entertain them.”

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Vivian’s response to the husky girl was quite contemptuous. “Coward! Where are your abilities from drinking salt soda and eating Spicy Stricks?”

“Battie, I dare you to take a hit from my Doggoblast with your face!”

It seemed that Lily had been fooled into accepting the name of the skill in just a few days.

The four of them passed through the outer zone of the Gloom Mountains like a walk in the park literally. Hao Ren had collected a massive amount of data on the way. They sped up their pace and finally arrived at the base camp of Holletta investigation team before the sky became totally dark. The camp was situated on a clearing deep in woods on the hillside halfway up the main peak.

As soon as arriving at the camp, Hao Ren noticed the sporadic ancient ruins around the site. Thick moss covered the broken slabs, vines and weeds grew even on the metal debris that had become part of the soil. He also saw stone pillars and collapsed altars in between some Shadow Firs. All of which showed that they were near an ancient ruin.

The ancient ruin of a magic empire.

Observation camp was not large. Occupying only 100 meters of area in diameter on a clearing in the wood, there were several slatted wooden houses, which seemed to be the living quarters of soldiers and support crew. In the middle of these houses were three better-looking buildings with the emblems of the Royal Knights of Holleta hanging on the outside. These buildings had to be the dwellings of the knights and apprentice magicians. At the center of all these was a small magic tower. Suspended five meters in the air and at three stories tall, the tower was well-constructed with masonry and covered in an intricate pattern of magic despite its small size. The tower was not an ad-hoc structure built on site.

“That is the mini magic tower of the chief investigator, Master Hymer. He specifically summoned the tower directly from the headquarters of the Royal Mage Guild,” Becky said with an envious face. As a magic swordswoman, Becky could cast spells and had knowledge of magic but not at the level of the master. “For a magician, the mage tower brings not only the increase of strength, the laboratory and auxiliaries inside could help in the exploration of the ruins. His personal assistant works in the tower, and the houses around the tower are the barracks.”

Hao Ren nodded as he began to get a general idea about the investigation team. Meanwhile, the sentinels at the camp had noticed the uninvited guests. They were surprised that someone could come into the Gloom Mountains so quickly without a fight or triggering the sensors about the camp. But the soldiers quickly recognized Becky.

“It’s Captain Becky!” a soldier called on the tower.

“Open the gate! Inform Master Hymer!” Becky came before the entrance of the camp and yelled. “You should have received the instructions of Marshal Ohpra before us.”

“Yes, we just received her order this morning,” a soldier at the gate replied as he instructed his men to spool the winch. The heavy gate slowly squeaked open. “Master Hymer is expecting you all.”

At first, Hao Ren thought that Master Hymer must be an old man. But the truth surprised him. The mage master turned out to be a young man at his thirties, slightly reserved, wearing a dark-blue mage robe with a pair of round gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. Master Hymer seemed to be well-mannered; he first greeted Hao Ren in his usual mage ritual, and then said nervously, “I’m pleased to see you here. Never had I expected that you would come to this place.”

“Well, I just come to check out the situation.” Hao Ren was not used to the overly enthusiastic reception. “Do you know me?” he asked curiously.

“I was there when you removed the First Born from the Volcano of Dusk,” replied Hymer, who had earned the title of Archmage at a young age. “I have also participated in the lifting of Hodeceus and studied the crystal pits that you left behind for a long time. My achievements today are largely attributed to the research and experience from that time.”

“I see.” Hao Ren nodded and began to understand why the young man was so enthusiastic.

“Let’s talk about the current down there,” Becky interjected. “It’s not every day an expert would come here.”

Hymer had no idea what “expert” Becky meant, but he roughly knew what she was trying to say. Hymer quickly nodded. “Please follow me. There have been several energy bursts for the last few days. I’m about to unravel the secret of the second door. It would be a discovery that shocks the world: I’ve found a perfectly intact ancient facility underneath! Can you believe it? It’s perfectly intact! As though time never visited the cave behind the stone wall! I even suspect that time has stood still in that space!”