Deep Sea Embers

This time, the wind in this desert seemed more turbulent than ever.

The disorderly wind almost swept through the sand dunes covered with jagged rocks again and again. The raised sand and dust swirled and danced dozens of meters in the air. In the distance, there was a huge earth-yellow "barrier" gradually rising into the sky - —A bigger storm is brewing within that barrier, as if it is accumulating enough power to sweep across the world.

But all these turbulent winds and sands suddenly stopped a few meters away from Vanna and the giant. The raised sands and dust were swirling around, like the scenery in the eye of the storm.

Fanna immediately noticed the changes in the surrounding environment. She looked at the turbulent sand and dust in the distance in amazement, especially the earthy yellow sandstorm in the distance that was like a sky-high barrier and was gradually rising from the earth. , having never seen such a scene, she felt uneasy for the first time: "What is that?"

The old giant in a tattered robe lowered his head and looked gently into Vanna's eyes: "It's a storm, Traveler, a storm you started with your own hands."

"The storm I caused?" Fanna was stunned when she heard this, and looked at the giant in astonishment, "When did I..."

"Not yet, but soon - time is flowing again, traveler, it's flowing in all directions, do you feel it? The world is changing... after such a long period of stasis. Then the stone, imprisoned and covered in dust, will finally start rolling again."

Vanna was stunned as she listened to the unclear words that the giant suddenly said to her. She thought of something from these vague words, but before she asked, the giant had already waved his hand towards her: "Don't ask. Too much, traveler, this place is finally coming to an end. The more you know about it at this time, the more you will establish an inseparable connection with it. I don’t want you to be the next one to wander in this desert. people."

Vanna finally saw something different in the giant's words and his eyes burning with dim flames.

This "god who lost his memory" came to say goodbye to him.

"Come with me, traveler," the giant waved to her, "come with me one last time to bring this journey to an end."

Fanna was slightly startled, and while quickly following the giant's footsteps, she asked: "Where are you taking me to? What exactly is happening here?"

"Let's go back to the 'big pit'." The giant slowed down and lowered his head slightly. "I started to recall some things. There is what I have been looking for... maybe, there is also what you want."

In the sudden wind and sand, the figures of Vanna and the giant disappeared into the depths of the sand sea at the same time.

…

The sun has almost completely sunk below the sea level - in the vast and boundless sea, only the huge "luminous geometry" is still floating quietly on the sea, and the endless "sunlight" it emits spreads gently. , spreading to infinity along the gently undulating waves.

The Qingfeng Port that was once illuminated by this "sunlight" has disappeared on the sea. Where the Qingfeng Port was originally located, an astonishing and magnificent phantom stands at this moment - countless strands of invisible hair-like objects. Things rose from the sea, entangled and intertwined between the sky and the sea, turning into tree projections that were even larger than the city-state.

This giant tree between reality and reality is still growing, as if it is still absorbing nutrients from the disappeared Breeze Harbor. It is moving one step closer from illusion to reality every minute. After every breeze blows, After each wave, its trunk becomes clearer and its majestic crown becomes more solid - now, it stands blocking out the sky in the sunlight that permeates the sea, even the trees on the sea in the distance This magnificent church ark seems to be a "small boat" compared with it.

The fleet of the Academy of Truth has been ordered to withdraw from the projection range of Silantis, and now the ark and the escort fleet are wandering on the sea outside the giant tree phantom.

However, within the projection range of the giant tree, on the sea covered by the towering tree canopy, a sailing ship burning with blazing ghost flames was moving forward in the direction of the "tree trunk".

The translucent spiritual sail has been raised, and the invisible force is instigating the Lost Home, pushing it towards the distant World Tree that looks like a giant mountain reaching the sky. In the burning flames, the entire body of this huge ghost ship There was a low, disturbing creaking sound from above and below, as if it was facing heavy pressure and fighting against a repulsive force.

After the Lost Home sailed within twelve nautical miles of the tree trunk, the expected "conflict" appeared.

The waves were swelling up, gradually turning into a storm. Waves higher than the other surged over from the direction of Sirantes, and began to violently hit the bow of the Lost Home, and even once reached the deck, and there were roaring and roaring sounds. Roaring sounds came from the direction of the giant tree, and every loud noise seemed to shatter the ghost ship that was constantly moving forward in the wind and waves.

And in this constant influx of power, there is almost substantial resistance and... anger.

Silantis did not like the ship, the ghost whose keel had been forged from her branches and reborn on Saslokar's spine.

She was confused, angry, and even frightened by it.

But the stormy waves outside the cabin and the roar of the World Tree barely affected the internal stability of the ship.

Duncan walked down the steps, through the long dark corridors, the sloping ancient stairs, through the warehouses with reversed lights, and the cabins that made strange noises, walking step by step towards the deepest part of the ship.

In one hand, he held the lantern that exuded a faint green flame, and in the other hand, he held the "square wood" obtained from the city-state of Puland.

He could feel that the wooden block in his hand was emitting slight heat and vibration. This "sample" cut from the original keel of the Lost Home seemed to feel something and was becoming more and more restless.

Agatha's voice came from the shadows beside him: "The wind and waves outside are very strong, and Silantes is preventing the Homeless Ship from approaching."

"You can hardly hear any movement here," Duncan just smiled, "It seems like the sound insulation down here is quite good."

"Alice tied the old man to the pillar with a rope, saying that she was afraid that the old man would be thrown out - Lu En was in poor condition and could not resist... I tried to persuade her, but Alice didn't listen. She said this was common sense when going to sea, and she also said she was an old sailor on the ship..."

"...As long as she's happy," Duncan said without stopping, "Are those ropes happy?"

"...You should be quite happy. It's not often you have the experience of tying the Pope to a boat."

"That's good."

Duncan said calmly, and then pushed open the last door leading to the bilge.

The shattered bottom structure of the Lost Home appeared before his eyes.

No matter how raging the storm above the sea is, this "bottom tank" semi-immersed in subspace remains as quiet as ever - the broken hull structure is still floating quietly in nothingness, and the chaotic stream of light from subspace is still there. The huge cracks in the ship's hull flowed disorderly, just as it did a century ago, and it still does today a century later.

Duncan slowly came to the middle of the broken cabin and stood next to the largest crack.

Agatha's figure rose from his side and spoke with a hint of caution: "Is this really okay?"

Duncan lowered his head and stared at the crack under his feet and the light flowing in the crack.

"The keel of the Lost Home was once made of the branches of Silantis. Then, the spine of Sasloka replaced the keel, and with the authority of the 'King of Dreams', the Lost Home was swallowed by the subspace. The number is once again shaped by the way of 'conversion between virtual and real', so in a sense - the lost number is another Silantes."

He slowly bent down and placed the piece of wood on the ground in front of him.

"Memory and dreams, Saslokar wandered in the realm of virtuality and reality. He created Sirandis in his dream, and reconstructed the Lost Home in his dream. He extracted everything from his memory, But the only problem is, He doesn’t remember Himself—He doesn’t even know He can dream.”

Duncan tapped his finger lightly on the wooden surface.

A cluster of green fire jumped up from the corner of the wood, swallowing up the entire piece of wood almost in the blink of an eye. In the rapid spiritual flames, it presented the same ghostly and illusory and transparent body as Duncan's body at the moment. texture.

"Saslokar was the original 'Dreamless' - the simplest truth contained within the most deviant of doctrines."

Duncan stood up and kicked the burning piece of wood towards the crack leading to the subspace.

It rolled and fell from the edge of the hull, disappearing into the dark and chaotic space in almost the blink of an eye, disappearing into the undulating and chaotic light.

An eerie creaking sound began to come from the distance.

“So the key for us to enter the depths of Selendis’ dream is not to wake up Selendis at all – Selendis is already awake, and she doesn’t need to be awakened at all.

"What we want to awaken is Saslokar, this spine soaked in subspace.

"We are going to establish communication between Saslokar and Silantis - to make the 'Dreamless One' aware of His dreams after so many years."

The weird creaking sound gradually reached its peak, and then suddenly, green flames began to surge and rise from the gaps in the broken hulls!

The spiritual fire flows rapidly throughout the cabin. Wherever the flames go, huge cracks begin to heal and disappear at a speed visible to the naked eye. The broken hull begins to be gradually repaired, and the bottom structure of the Lost Home becomes complete!

Before the largest crack healed, Duncan saw the scene under the crack from the corner of his eye.

That is the real "bottom" structure of the Lost Home, the real bottom tank that wraps the keel.

The huge and desolate spine of the ancient god is immersed in the subspace, floating and sailing in the chaotic void.

Emerald green branches grew from the cracks in the bones, spreading to every part of the spine as the flames spread.

"Now, the two keels become one."

Duncan said softly.

In front of him, the last crack in the bilge of the Lost Home slowly healed.

He raised his head and called out from the bottom of his heart: "Sasloka."

Then the goat-headed voice sounded: "I'm here, Captain."

"Full sail, full speed, let's go find your sapling."

"Aye captain!"