Chapter 39: Central Dogma District
—How interesting.
When Joshua walked through the pyramid's sloping, shadowy corridor and arrived at a massive steel hall, that was what he thought.
A real world was so vast, and the joy of exploring it was far more thrilling and exciting than in a game. The discoveries and explorations in this desolate world were exceptionally exhilarating. Joshua felt his heartbeat quickening involuntarily, just like during battle.
For him, that was the highest praise.
As the group's footsteps crossed the passageway, under the dim light, the low echoes of their steps reverberated clearly through the enclosed corridor, making one involuntarily feel a bit tense and excited. The dust accumulated over millennia on the passageway was stirred up by the movements of these otherworldly visitors, swirling back into the air.
Joshua and the others stopped due to a breach in the hall. On one side of the hall, the wall seemed to have cracked open from some internal explosion, revealing the scene behind the steel—countless complex gears, pistons, steel bearings, and magical arrays densely interwoven, forming a structure as intricate as a living organism. Even with Joshua's modest alchemical knowledge, he could tell that the technology embedded within this pyramid was far beyond his imagination.
"At least a legendary-rank alchemy master would be needed to reverse-engineer the technology here."
After observing seriously for a while, Joshua couldn't help but feel a bit dizzy, which reminded him of the days he studied advanced mathematics. "With my level, it's still too much."
"It's still below."
Beside him, Claire spoke, seeming in a slightly better mood. "The natural force is denser."
After examining the breach, Joshua turned his head to look at a sign hanging on the upper side of the hall. It bore complex script, but under the system's translation, he naturally understood its meaning.
[Heaven Layer, Pneumatic Flow Circulation Center.]
"What does this mean..."
Joshua wasn't entirely sure what the system's translation implied, and could only attribute it to differences in understanding and phrasing between the two races regarding certain concepts. "Probably an air circulation management center? As for the Heaven Layer, my current location likely corresponds to the 'Heaven' position on the outer relief."
"I feel like we came in a bit recklessly."
Beside the breach, Moria said this without any hint of regret or fear. The old dwarf carefully examined the internal structure of the steel pyramid, smiling as he spoke. "But that makes it more exciting. What lies ahead is completely unknown."
"It's not entirely unknown."
Joshua chuckled in response. By now, they had crossed the hall and were heading down another descending passage. Some doors blocking the way were all 'opened' by the old dwarf and Joshua, whether by force or otherwise. The group followed the direction of natural energy that Claire indicated, observing the interior of this massive pyramid along the way.
"It feels almost too smooth. There's hardly any defensive measures."
Muttering to himself, Joshua threw a punch, sending out a swelling gust of wind that blasted open a steel door. He frowned and withdrew his fist, pondering with a puzzled look. "But we've all been purified by the Crystal Sun, making us completely orderly beings. Maybe that's why there's no reaction?"
Meanwhile, Rin tugged at her master's sleeve, signaling Joshua to look ahead.
Joshua looked up.
The passages within the pyramid were exceptionally wide, allowing various large alchemical constructs to move freely. The walls along the way bore clear energy patterns, with colorful magical glimmers occasionally flashing across them. Though it was a magical world, it gave Joshua a sci-fi feel. But now, the sight before him beyond the door gave him a long-lost sense of fantasy.
This was a massive domed hall:
"Master, I sense the presence of Divine Mechanisms within this city!"
"Joshua, the natural force is below."
They didn't need to say more; the warrior himself sensed something was off.
"Down there... the aura is very similar to what the Azure Orb gave me!"
(To be continued.)