Wasteland Echoer

"Brother? So you were actually not much older than me when you came down... to this other world underwater?" A bitter smile appeared on Wright's lips.

"Forty-five years old, I have a very deep memory. To be honest, people here have very deep memories before entering this world. But here, after being restrained by diving suits and being eroded by the lake water, our memories may More or less will be affected, including consciousness.”

As Wind spoke, he lightly tapped his head with his broad palm, which was covered by a dark white "diving suit." He made a dull tapping sound and the sound of water shaking in the container.

"Am I... going to be like this?" Wright suddenly felt an extreme dizziness that penetrated into the spiritual realm, followed by an inexplicable sense of fear.

He suddenly felt that he was sinking deep into the hot yellow sand, and he seemed to be standing on the mountainside of a white-hot ice field that towered into the clouds.

The endless heat wave was mixed with the extreme cold before he could feel the cold. In his fantasy, he actually felt suppressed and breathless.

Fortunately, there was some kind of oxygen-producing device in the underwater alien plane, or in this lobby on the first floor that looked like a villa or a castle, allowing him to quickly breathe heavily in the breath of the fine flowing wind. Relieves depressing feelings.

"You probably can't." Wen De said firmly:

“Since you didn’t experience any changes when you first entered here, you won’t have any changes later either.

I remember a senior who came here earlier than me, almost before the New Yuan Dynasty, told me before he died that even if the people here did not enter here by mistake because of exploring the city ruins, they would be wrapped in thick diving suits after entering.

He died completely a hundred years ago. Not long after his death, several explorers who claimed to be 'extraordinary people' came in with human appearances and identities, but they died after all. "

"Dead?" Wright murmured, his eyes slightly dull as he stared at Wind in front of him, a "monster" in a thick dark white diving suit.

"It was here, in this house, that they died. It is said that they could see the second and third floors of this house, and even walked up to it.

But we can't, all we see is darkness.

They explored the house, the huge underwater machinery, and the ruins of the old city.

But one day, when I came in here to get some fresh air as usual, I found a few of them sitting quietly on the stairs. well. "

Wen De sighed and continued:

"They were sitting as if they were asleep normally. After all, all humans need sleep, and 'extraordinary people' are no exception.

There is no bedroom that can be opened in this house, but there is one bathroom, but it smells of the evil god and few people dare to approach it.

It seems that the topic is a little off topic... Let's talk about their deaths. They usually sleep on the handrails and sit on the stairs to take a nap. But that day, they sat quietly like this, and then died quietly without moving or making any more noise or breath.

A few days later, their bodies turned into a pile of black powder. I recognized those things as carbon, the product of humans being burned by fire or struck by lightning. "

"Well," Wright felt that his mind was slightly clearer. After thinking for a few seconds, he guessed "cautiously" and with a scientific spirit:

"Could they have starved to death? After all, there is no food here."

"Starved to death?" Wen De's tone suddenly raised an octave, and he said in surprise:

"I thought the humans who came here didn't need to eat."

Wright gave a bitter smile, his facial expression first became numb, then began to twist, then the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, and finally he let out a long sigh.

Then, he moved his legs, which were numb from standing for a long time, and his arms, which were aching and sore, and continued:

"Speaking of being like you...I would venture to call you monsters. Will humans who look like monsters like this also die? You just mentioned that a senior died, but you also said before that you are in the middle of survival and Between death, my understanding is that it is in a state of superposition of survival and death, just like the cat that is both alive and dead. Isn't this a contradiction?"

"Our state is intertwined with life and death, there is no doubt about it. But our consciousness will eventually dissipate one day. Maybe there is not enough energy to maintain our physical state, maybe it is because of the things that bind us here. The monster has abandoned us.

In short, our complete death is instantaneous, either because the lake water invades the diving suit, or we naturally explore inward, anyway, we will become a pile of rags, broken metal, and broken glass.

Oh, by the way..." Wen De seemed to have remembered something, stretched out a finger in his broad palm, gestured, and said:

“I remember there were many human bodies near the ruins of the old city.

There are old and bloated existences, and there are white and new ones. Although they are all swallowed up by the huge machinery that keeps running from time to time, I have noticed that they have all lost their eyes and mouths. I even found a body that is very similar to mine.

We live here. In addition to patrolling the ruins of the old city according to some voices heard in our heads, we also grab some light balls of various colors and place them near the huge machinery. We just look up and dream about leaving one day. Here, back to my family. Of course, looking at those human bodies is also a way of entertainment. "

"Your family..." Wright scratched his head and said:

"Although I shouldn't say this, they should have left this miserable world long ago. But according to the laws related to the empire's military, your family should have received a large amount of pensions and compensation. In any city They can all live their lives smoothly and securely. I believe that although they will always worry about you and miss you, they will also be proud of you as an imperial soldier and will carry this honor with them. And smiling."

After Wright finished speaking, he forced out a heartfelt smile, trying to create a rare feeling of happiness and warmth.

This point also resonated deep in Wen De's soul.

He paused slightly, thought for a while, then supported the ground on one side with his broad palm, lifted his legs from the cross-legged posture, and stood up.

Immediately afterwards, he turned around, stepped forward with his wide feet, walked to one side of the wall, and hung

Near the portrait of "Ivan XXII".

The feeling like a small earthquake on the ground as he walked still made Wright feel extremely uncomfortable, and also made his body feel shaky while standing.

Therefore, it was not until Wende stopped that Wright followed him with a slight stagger.

"I would like to take the liberty to ask, Wright... Brother, are you an upper-level professional? Those previous 'extraordinary people' left something here after exploring the ruins. If you are an upper-level professional, There should be a way to open it." Wind asked with his back to Wright.

"[Order], the upper-level profession [Order], has passed the test of sequence cards." Wright said without thinking.

"That's no problem. Brother Wright, you've also seen that my hands can't open the lids and drawers at the back, nor can I grab some small objects. So I want to ask you to take off Ivan II first. Twelve’s photo frame, there is a personal item of mine behind it." Wende said in a pleading tone.

"Okay, okay." Wright agreed.

Then, he quickly stepped forward, stretched out his hand and easily took off the portrait of "Ivan XXII" under the oil lamp that was parallel to his head.

Wright subconsciously weighed the weight of the portrait. After all, it was mounted in a glass frame, and the metal with a rich golden texture on the edge looked like brilliant gold, so it should be very heavy.

But he soon realized that the photo frame was very light, unusually light. He didn't know whether it was because he had become stronger or because he was in an underwater alien world.

It obviously feels extremely metallic to the touch, but it always feels like you are holding a piece of plastic.

However, even though he carefully inspected the portrait and photo frame from beginning to end, he never dared to touch the fair and sharp face of "Ivan XXII".

The feeling of looking down at all things, as if to make all life, even souls, surrender at his feet, made Wright shudder, but there seemed to be a kind of admiration, even... longing.

After placing the portrait respectfully at his feet, Wright followed the direction directed by Wind, opened a pure black cover on the back of the portrait, and took out a small object inside.

"What is this?" Wright pinched the small chain part of the small object and asked.

"This is something that represents longing. It's my object. You can play with it as you like. When I came here for some air for the first time, the thing in my arms automatically flew in. Then, those portraits Hanging on the wall under the support of magical power."

"Yes, this is your personal belongings." Wright smiled sheepishly.

Wright took the object in his hand and examined it carefully.

The small items are not big. Except for the small chain on top that looks like a necklace, the piece of metal underneath looks to be made of silver and is only twice the size of a fingernail.

The whole shape was oval, with some patterns of flowers he didn't recognize carved on the front, and a hieroglyph on the back.

If you look closely, you can see that the text is a little distorted. It must have been carved by someone who didn't know how to write.

It is somewhat similar to Chinese characters, but after thinking about it, Wright thought about it and realized that it was neither simplified nor traditional Chinese characters. If this was Wen De's personal belongings, then the writing should only belong to the Fire Empire.

"The meaning of this word is 'life, survival'." Wende suddenly added.

"'Life, survival'? Do you pronounce it as 'sheng'?" Wright pronounced it in Chinese.

"Have you ever understood the language of that great country to the east? As for the pronunciation of this word, brother, you are the most standard pronunciation of this word that I have ever heard. Our language and writing are greatly different from those of the Fire Empire to the east. Difference. I heard that one of their characters has one pronunciation and represents one meaning, while we need the spelling of the word, and a word requires many letters." Wende commented in popular language.

"Sure enough, Fire Empire." Wright said without knowing why.

That country to the east, that country to the east, the culture and writing of the Flame Empire now seem to be very similar to the Foodie Empire that I lived in before I traveled through it. Even the pronunciation of some words are exactly the same.

It seems that if there is a chance, after the battle of Silent Highlands is over, if the empire really fails and goes to collapse and destruction, I will go to the Crusted Empire for a few years, or I will definitely go to the east in more than ten years. Take a look at the Fire Empire, or the country that is now the Fire Federation.

Maybe if I have the same culture, it will be easier for me to be accepted by them. Maybe there are some immortal cultivators there who can create a magic circle and ritual for me to travel back.

After thinking for a few seconds, Wright focused on the small object in his hand.

This small object appears to be two semi-oval objects buckled together.

After Wright gently pressed a metal button on it, which was similar to a pocket watch, the small object split from the middle, revealing... a photo?

"Photograph? This is a rare thing. Nowadays, supplies are in short supply. There are few photo studios in Chekavsk and even Sokra. Most of the big shots are now accustomed to using portraits instead of photos. It seems that this The people in the photos are very important to you," Wright guessed.

"Yes. This is my child. I seem to have forgotten his name. But I hope you can take this thing to Zhenetsk and find my family... Descendants, give this thing to him.

Also, among the things left behind by the 'Extraordinary Man' is a vital search device. As an upper-level professional, you will definitely be able to use it to enter the core of the sequential monster and find the 'Emblem of Tomorrow'. Thereby destroying the sequence monster or cutting off its energy source. In this way, you can get out of here. "Wend said, pointing to the object in Wright's hand where the photo was stored.

"So, this is a deal?" Wright guessed:

"Use the search device to find the emblem, and after destroying the monsters, you monster-like humans can escape from here, and it can also allow me to leave. And your condition is just to pass on to you the thoughts of your existence here for more than two hundred years... … Descendants, that’s all?”

"That's all." Wen De nodded and said:

"And I don't want more people to turn into monsters and lose their lives while exploring the ruins of the old city that sank after the ocean turned into a lake. I and they should not have to suffer such a fate, especially those who entered by mistake. , they did nothing evil that would offend God.”

"Okay, I promise you." Wright nodded, his eyes showing a firm look.

Immediately afterwards, under Wen De's further instructions, he opened a drawer embedded in the wall behind the portrait.

He took out a revolver-like object with a dark purple aura and inlaid with several red gems.