r18novel Chapter 39 Legend of Gods and Demons 6
Chapter 39 Legend of Gods and Demons 6
Hamunaptra's Valley of Death is a true "dead end." Light loses its power here, seemingly swallowed up by the towering, inky black cliffs on either side, leaving only a faint, eerie phosphorescence, like will-o'-the-wisps, seeping down from who-knows-where, barely outlining the jagged rocks and mountains of broken bones. The air is stagnant, thick with impenetrable dust and decay, and an aura of pure death that has settled for three thousand years. Every breath feels like inhaling icy despair into one's lungs, life force slowly draining away silently. An invisible pressure weighs on everyone, not just a mental fear, but a physical, soul-crushing sense of stagnation.
Wang Lin felt his mental energy, which had only recovered to 30%, was like being stuck in viscous asphalt, difficult to mobilize. The range of his mental energy resonance network was compressed to a pitiful ten meters, and the information transmitted was also blurry and unclear. Zhan Lan's situation was even worse. Her mental energy had already been overdrawn in the previous battle, and now she could only barely maintain the defense of her own mental sea, resisting the omnipresent erosion of death intent from the outside world. Even the crimson electronic eye of Guide 7341-ZJ had dimmed considerably, and the frequency of scanning and analysis had obviously decreased, only providing the most basic environmental data.
"Negative energy concentration... rising exponentially... slight disturbance in physical constants..." The guide's cold voice rang out in the deathly silence, carrying a barely perceptible electronic noise. "Warning: Continued exposure will lead to accelerated loss of life force, a 97% reduction in mental energy recovery efficiency, and an increased probability of confusion between physical and spiritual perception..."
"Damn it... this godforsaken place..." Overlord cursed under his breath, instinctively gripping the handle of the heavy machine gun, the muzzle scanning the surrounding darkness warily. His breathing was noticeably heavy, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Li Shuaixi, Zhao Yingkong, Ming Yanwei, and the others also wore grave expressions, as if facing a formidable enemy. O'Connor, Evelyn, and the old curator were even more pale, huddled together, their teeth chattering. The three newcomers were already terrified out of their wits, slumped to the ground, practically being dragged along.
Under the eerie green phosphorescent light, Chu Xuan's face appeared sickly pale. Although the wound on his ribs had been treated simply, it was clearly healing slowly in this harsh environment. He still gripped his portable terminal tightly, the faint light from the screen illuminating his eyes behind his glasses—there was no fear in them, only an almost cold focus and a rapidly calculating stream of data.
"Traces of the Indian team?" he asked in a low voice.
Zero was like a stone statue blending into the shadows, with only the muzzle of the sniper rifle moving slightly. "About 300 meters ahead, a fork in the road on the right. The marks are fresh, with bloodstains (a mixture of energy corrosion marks and Buddha's blood) and disordered energy residue. The movement is slow, seemingly... tending to injuries, or encountering an obstacle."
"No signs of an ambush?" Zheng Zha pressed, carrying Wang Lin, who was still weak but could barely walk. Blood clan energy and internal energy circulated slowly within his body, resisting external erosion, but he also felt waves of chills from the bone marrow.
"No obvious energy traps or life forms were detected. But..." Zero paused, "the 'darkness' itself in this area is flowing. Something... is watching us. Not eyes, but some kind of... perception."
Wang Lin, enduring the headache and discomfort on a spiritual level, focused his remaining mental energy on his eyes and activated his psychic vision. The sight before him made him gasp.
The canyon was no longer merely a physical canyon. In psychic vision, it transformed into a boiling black ocean composed of countless twisted, wailing fragments of souls, filled with resentment and pain! These remnant soul fragments filled every inch of space like mist, constantly attempting to burrow into the bodies of the living, drawing upon their meager warmth and life force. The honeycomb-like tombs on the cliff face, in psychic vision, were pustules oozing dark red, foul energy, connecting to some unspeakable, terrifying source deep beneath the earth. The traces left by the Indian team ahead resembled a wound branded with a red-hot iron, starkly glaring in the black sea of souls, yet rapidly being eroded and assimilated by the surrounding "darkness."
"It's the spirits of the dead... countless fragments of spirits, combined with Imhotep's dissipating resentment, forming the 'will' of this area." Wang Lin's voice was hoarse. "They don't have complete consciousness, only instinctive hunger and resentment. Physical attacks are of limited effectiveness. The bald captain of the Indian team, his Buddhist power mixed with the power of the dead, is like a torch in the darkness here, both a deterrent and an attraction. They won't go far."
"Follow them. Keep your distance," Chu Xuan decided. "They're more conspicuous than us now. Let the 'master' of this canyon entertain them first. We'll find an opportunity."
In the boundless silence and darkness, the team trudged on, following the faint, flickering tracks left by the Indian team. Beneath their feet lay a thick, soft substance, whether ashes or gravel, its crunch sending chills down their spines. The twisted bas-reliefs on the cliff faces, bathed in a ghostly phosphorescent light, seemed to come alive, silently recounting ancient curses and bloody sacrifices. A low, inaudible murmur, like the simultaneous whispers of millions, began to fill the air, yet upon closer listening, it was all blurred, leaving only a disturbing cacophony that clouded their senses.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, a more open fork in the road appeared ahead. The traces of the Indian team became more chaotic here, and there was more blood. In the center of the fork stood a broken obelisk, soaked in filth and blood. The obelisk was engraved with the open Eye of Horus, but in psychic vision, that eye was constantly flowing with a black, viscous liquid like oil.
"The traces have separated," Zero whispered. "Most of them went into the wider passage on the left, where the blood and energy reactions are strongest. A small number of traces (possibly from the smoke assassin) went around to the narrow crack on the right."
"Did they split up their forces? Or... sacrifice a pawn to save the king?" Chu Xuan pondered.
Just then, something unexpected happened!
From the depths of the left passage, a bloodcurdling scream suddenly erupted! The sound was filled with indescribable pain and despair, followed by a frenzied roar like that of a wild beast, and... a teeth-grinding muffled sound of something being torn apart and chewed! At the same time, a powerful energy surge mixed with the stench of blood, like the shockwave of an explosion, surged out of the passage!
It's the Indian team! They've been attacked! And it sounds like they've suffered heavy losses!
Almost simultaneously, from the narrow crevice on the right, a wisp of extremely thin gray smoke, almost blending into the environment, silently drifted out. The smoke lingered briefly at the fork in the road, as if glancing in the direction of the Central Continent Team, before rapidly drifting deeper into the canyon to the core area where the deathly pressure was most concentrated, at an astonishing speed.
It's that smoke assassin! He (or she) broke away from the group, heading straight for the deepest part of Hamunaptra! Is he/she on a secret mission? Or... to activate or retrieve something crucial?
"The commotion in the left passage... at least one person is dead, and another is seriously injured." Zero, relying on his astonishing hearing, judged, "The energy reaction is rapidly weakening."
"Is it Imhotep's guard? Or is it a 'trap' in the canyon itself?" Zhan Lan asked weakly.
"It doesn't matter anymore." A cold glint flashed in Chu Xuan's eyes. "The Indian team's main player has been severely injured, and the Smoke Assassin has escaped. This is our best chance to seize the initiative, and even... obtain the Necronomicon! We can't let him get there first!"
"You mean...we're chasing that assassin?" Zheng Zha frowned. "He's too fast, and the direction he's heading..."
"No, we won't chase him," Chu Xuan said quickly, his finger swiping across the terminal screen to bring up a rudimentary diagram of the canyon's structure, constructed from previous scans and mural information. "Based on the bone fragment information, the mural clues, and the Indian team's current pattern of action, the most likely location for the Book of the Dead isn't Imhotep's coffin at the deepest part of the canyon (where the guards would be heaviest), but rather in a side hall or secret chamber related to the 'Judgment' and 'Weighing the Heart' rituals along the 'Corridor of the Dead' leading to the coffin. The smoke assassin's target is likely Imhotep's coffin itself, or the Book of the Sun (if he received incorrect intelligence or has other plans). We'll split into two groups!"
He quickly gave orders: "Zheng Zha, you take Ba Wang, Li Shuaixi, Zhao Yingkong, as well as O'Connor, Evelyn, and the Curator, and immediately enter the left passage! The Indian team's main force has just suffered heavy losses, and the survivors are greatly weakened and tied down by an unknown threat. Your tasks are: 1. Confirm the results of the battle, and finish off the remaining enemies if possible to obtain kill rewards; 2. Clear the passage to ensure your escape route; 3. If possible, extract information from the remaining Indian team members about the Book of the Dead, the Book of the Sun, and Imhotep's current situation! But remember, safety is paramount, do not linger in battle, and if the threat in the passage becomes too great, retreat immediately!"
"Wang Lin, Zhan Lan, Zero, Ming Yanwei, the guide, and the newcomer, follow me to the right—the more concealed path, which might lead to the 'Between of Judgments'! According to the model, that path is shorter, but there might be more traps. Wang Lin, your psychic vision is crucial. Zero, Ming Yanwei, keep watch and clear traps from a distance. We must find the Necronomicon before the Smoke Assassins, or any other unforeseen events, occur!"
"Understood!" Zheng Zha didn't hesitate. With a wave of his hand, he led Ba Wang and the others, like cheetahs, silently sneaking into the dark passage on the left that was filled with blood and screams.
Chu Xuan, leading another group, turned without hesitation into the narrow, sideways rock crevice on the right. The crevice was even darker and colder, its slippery walls covered in viscous, unidentified moss-like organisms, emitting a musty, faint, sweet, and fishy smell. Wang Lin pushed his psionic vision to its limit, his mental energy acting like the finest tentacles, sensing the energy flow and structural stability of every inch of space ahead. He saw deep within the crevice, energy veins like a chaotic spiderweb, some nodes emitting an ominous red glow—clearly trigger-based curses or mechanisms. In other places, the "thickness" of space was unusually thin, as if a touch would plunge one into an unknown dimension.
"Three steps ahead, on the left stone wall, there is an energy gathering point, which may be a pressure trap."
"There are loose rocks overhead, connected by fragile energy threads, which could be falling rocks or poisoned arrows."
"After turning right, the ground energy field is chaotic, and there may be spatial distortion or teleportation traps. Avoid the central area."
Wang Lin's voice was low and urgent, echoing in the deathly silence of the cracks. Following his instructions, Zero used a silenced sniper rifle to precisely destroy suspicious energy nodes in the distance, or used a specially made grappling hook to secure loose structures. Ming Yanwei used energy arrows to trigger unavoidable traps from a safe distance. Chu Xuan followed closely behind, recording everything with his terminal and constantly adjusting their route. Zhan Lan struggled to stay afloat, using her meager mental energy to help Wang Lin stabilize his senses. The three newcomers followed cautiously at the back, with Guide 7341-ZJ bringing up the rear like an escort, his scarlet electronic eyes like two will-o'-the-wisps in the absolute darkness.
The progress was slow, but each step was taken on relatively safe points. The cracks seemed endless, extending downwards, towards the earth's core, into the deeper reaches of death and darkness. The surrounding air grew colder, and the wails of the dead became clearer and more mournful, as if echoing right beside their ears. The terrifying will of Imhotep, originating from the heart of the canyon, grew ever clearer and heavier, like a tangible mountain pressing down on everyone's hearts.
I don't know how much time passed, maybe only a dozen minutes, but it felt like centuries. Ahead, the crack finally came to an end, and the view opened up.
Before them lay a massive, hemispherical natural grotto. The grotto's dome was inlaid with countless strange gems emitting eerie green, pale white, and dark red light, simulating a starry sky, but the arrangement of these "stars" was bizarre and malevolent, causing dizziness and disorientation. In the center of the grotto was a stone platform several meters above the ground, shaped like a balance scale. One end was empty, while the other end held a huge, heavy ancient book—its cover forged from some kind of black metal, inlaid with dark red gems, and radiating a chilling, ominous aura!
The Book of the Dead!
Below the platform, a dried-up, dark brown pool lies surrounded by countless twisted, desiccated skeletons, their postures suggesting struggle or prayer before death. The walls of the grotto are covered with even more intricate and grotesque reliefs depicting the terrifying scene of Anubis, the god of death, weighing hearts and devouring the souls of sinners.
Between the platform and the entrance, there was more than just emptiness. On the ground, a massive, intricate magic circle was outlined with dark red, seemingly still-wet bloodstains. The circle's patterns flowed and shifted slowly, emanating a powerful aura of binding and death. At each node of the circle stood seven black stone statues, each with a different form, yet all undeniably ferocious and terrifying. Some had dog heads and human bodies, others had bat wings, and still others were coiled with venomous snakes, their empty eye sockets burning with eerie green flames. They were not inanimate objects; in Wang Lin's psychic vision, each statue imprisoned a powerful and tormented evil spirit, connected to the negative energy field of the entire grotto, forming an extremely treacherous protective barrier.
"The Barrier of Judgment... the protective barrier of the Necronomicon." Chu Xuan's voice carried a hint of suppressed excitement. "It really is here. That smoke assassin didn't come here; his target was elsewhere."
"How do we get across? That magic circle and those statues... it feels very dangerous." Ming Yanwei drew her bowstring taut, aiming her energy arrow at the nearest dog-headed statue.
"Forced entry will inevitably trigger the strongest counterattack. We need to break through it, or... meet some kind of 'condition'." Chu Xuan quickly observed the structure of the magic array and the surrounding environment. "Look at the skeletons by the pool, and the balance platform... the other side is empty. This is likely a ritual—only those whose hearts weigh 'lighter than the feather of truth' (i.e., innocent or recognized) can safely pass through the barrier and obtain the scriptures. Or, sufficient 'sacrifices' need to be offered."
"Where do we find innocent people? And where do we find sacrifices?" Zhan Lan smiled bitterly.
Wang Lin remained silent, his gaze fixed on the Necronomicon and the few inconspicuous, slightly different-styled engravings on the edge of the platform beneath it. These engravings seemed to be a more ancient and concise form of symbolism, vaguely echoing the energy codes he had deciphered from the fragments of Relic Zero. Moreover, the yellow gem "Tear of the Sun" in his arms was radiating a faint warmth here, though extremely weak, it clearly conveyed a complex emotion intertwined with longing and…repulsion.
Do you yearn to be close to the Book of the Dead? Or do you repel its power?
"Perhaps... innocence is unnecessary, nor are sacrifices required." Wang Lin spoke slowly, his voice sounding somewhat ethereal in the empty cave. "This barrier, this ritual, is essentially set up by Imhotep to test whether the visitor is qualified to use (or steal) the power of the Book of the Dead. It may be testing not only good and evil, but also... understanding of the rules of death, affinity for the power of the ancient Egyptian underworld, or... whether one possesses a certain 'key'."
He took out the warm yellow gem: "This 'Tear of the Sun' contains the power of 'order' and 'purification' that originates from the same source as the Book of the Sun, but its power attributes are completely opposite to, even antagonistic to, the Book of the Dead. However, the bone fragment says that it can be used to purify 'illegal resurrections.' Perhaps... its function is not to forcibly resist, but rather... as a 'certificate'? Proving that the holder understands the balance of life and death and is 'qualified' to use (or resist) the power of the dead?"
Chu Xuan's eyes flashed with data: "The possibility exists. The Book of the Dead and the Book of the Sun are the supreme manifestations of the two sides of life and death in ancient Egypt. Imhotep himself is proficient in the Book of the Dead, but he also fears the power of the Book of the Sun. An existence that can possess or understand the power characteristics of both might be regarded as a 'special existence' by the barrier and thus allowed to pass. But this is just speculation, and the risk is extremely high. If the judgment is wrong and the barrier is triggered to counterattack, we may be wiped out instantly."
"We still have to try. We don't have time. Zheng Zha's situation is unclear, the Smoke Assassin is nowhere to be found, and we don't know when Imhotep will fully wake up." Wang Lin gripped the gem tightly, feeling its faint yet firm warmth. "I'll go first. If my guess is wrong and the barrier is triggered, Zero, Ming Yanwei, you two immediately attack the energy nodes of those seven stone statues with all your might. Perhaps you can create a gap. Chu Xuan, take the others and retreat."
"Wang Lin!" Zhan Lan exclaimed urgently.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Wang Lin took a deep breath, withdrawing all his remaining spiritual energy to protect his core consciousness. At the same time, he focused all his attention on the yellow gem in his hand, trying to communicate with and activate the dormant "order" power within it. He took his first step towards the edge of the crimson magic circle.
The instant my toes touched the dark red patterns at the edge of the magic circle—
hum!
The entire magic array suddenly lit up! Dark red light flowed rapidly through the patterns like blood vessels! The eerie green flames in the eye sockets of the seven black stone statues suddenly surged! They seemed to come alive, emitting silent roars, and terrifying mental pressure mixed with tangible death energy crashed down on Wang Lin like a tsunami! The wails of the dead in the cave instantly increased several orders of magnitude, almost piercing eardrums!
Wang Lin's body trembled violently, his face instantly turning deathly pale, as if countless cold steel needles were piercing his soul! He felt his life force being frantically drained by the magic circle, his consciousness beginning to blur, and countless terrifying illusions appearing before his eyes—the pain of being devoured by insects, the despair of sinking into darkness, Imhotep's resentful face…
However, just as he was about to be completely engulfed by this terrifying power of death, the yellow gem he clutched in his hand suddenly burst forth with a warm, resolute, and, though faint, incredibly pure milky-white light! This light, though not intense, acted like a stabilizing force, dispelling some of the deathly chill that had invaded his body and calming his collapsing consciousness. More importantly, this fluctuation of "order" and "purification" power seemed to resonate strangely with the deathly power flowing within the magic circle—not in opposition, but in a higher-level attraction and affirmation, like the two poles of yin and yang!
The operation of the magic array experienced an extremely subtle stagnation. The roaring pressure of the seven stone statues also weakened slightly. Their eerie green gazes seemed to be "looking" at the gem in Wang Lin's hand, yet they also seemed to pierce through him, looking into something deeper that they could not comprehend.
Despite the excruciating pain that felt like his soul was being torn apart, Wang Lin, relying on the tenacity brought by his 30 points of willpower, took another step forward and entered the range of the magic array!
The crimson light surged again, but this time, it seemed to come alive, automatically parting to the sides to form a narrow "safe path" beneath Wang Lin's feet, allowing only one person to pass at a time! The death energy on both sides of the path still boiled, but no longer actively eroded him. The seven stone statues still stared intently at him, but did not attack further.
He made the right bet! This gem, combined with Wang Lin's own spiritual qualities and understanding of the rules of life and death (derived from his experiences with numerous horror movies and his contact with fragments of the Zero Relic), has earned him the recognition of a "specially qualified person" by the barrier!
"Follow me! Follow my footsteps! Hurry!" Wang Lin roared hoarsely, his back soaked with sweat. Every step felt like a thousand pounds, not just a physical burden, but also the "scrutiny" of his soul under the deathly will of the entire barrier.
Without any hesitation, Chu Xuan immediately led Zhan Lan, Ling Dian, Ming Yanwei, and the three newcomers who were stumbling and nearly paralyzed with fear, stepping on the faint white footprints left by Wang Lin in the magic circle, and quickly passed through. The guide 7341-ZJ also followed silently, its scarlet electronic eyes constantly scanning the changes in the magic circle and the state of the stone statues.
As the last person (a newcomer) scrambled through the magic circle and onto the central platform, the crimson magic circle behind him suddenly went out, returning to calm. The flames in the eye sockets of the seven stone statues also dimmed, turning back into cold sculptures.
On the platform, the Book of the Dead lay silently, its surface cold to the touch, the dark red gem on its cover resembling congealed blood. Even a mere approach could sense the terrifying power it contained, a power capable of overturning life and death, and summoning the dead.
Chu Xuan carefully wrapped his hands in a special insulating material and stepped forward to pick up the scripture. However, his fingers had barely touched the cold metal cover—
Another anomaly has occurred!
The entire "Courtroom" trembled violently! The gems simulating a starry sky on the dome flashed wildly, and fragments of stone rained down. In the dried-up pool of blood below the platform, the dark brown substance churned as if boiling! A deep, hoarse voice, filled with boundless resentment and majesty, seemed to resound simultaneously from the depths of the earth, from the end of time, from every fragment of a lost soul, exploding directly within the souls of everyone present:
"Thieves...blasphemers...you...how dare...touch...the sacred..."
Imhotep! He has fully awakened! Moreover, his will is directly locked onto this place, onto the person who touched the Book of the Dead!
At the same time, Zheng Zha's urgent and shocked voice came from the left passage, transmitted through the barely restored mental connection: "Chu Xuan! Wang Lin! How are things over there? We found the remnants of the Indian team! Only that bald captain and the black-robed mage are left, both critically wounded and on the verge of death, trapped in a stone chamber by countless scarabs! But they seem to be chanting some kind of incantation, echoing the tremors here! And... that smoke assassin is back! He rushed into Imhotep's main tomb chamber! Inside... there's light! A very strong golden light! It might be... the Book of the Sun?!"
Everything is connected! The remnants of the Indian Team are sacrificing themselves in a final ritual, attempting to fully awaken or control Imhotep! The Smoke Assassins' target is the Book of the Sun! And the Middle-earth Team, having obtained the Book of the Dead, has thoroughly enraged the newly awakened High Priest, who has accumulated three thousand years of resentment!
The real final battle erupted in the deepest part of Hamunaptra in a way that no one had anticipated!