Looking closer, Germain saw they were all small demi-humans, including familiar faces like Scela from the Moose Centaur tribe and Kioris and others.
This group of demi-humans, who had always lived in one area, were now all gathered here.
They appeared very busy. Some were carrying supplies, while others patrolled the castle walls of the ancient labyrinth.
Germain adjusted his viewpoint again and saw not resurrected agonized bloodthirsty apostle, but a brutal battle at the edge of a sea of blood involving a group of monsters.
Some of them were parasitic Botanical Weapon "Brion," while others were grotesque creatures never seen before.
Their sizes and builds varied, but they all shared one common feature: their bodies were entirely blood-red, flowing with blood plasma, guts ripped open, and flesh turned inside out.
These flesh-and-blood monsters were locked in a fierce struggle with the Botanical Weapons known as the Brions.
At the same time, their terrifying numbers were so dense that they had completely surrounded the entire sea of blood, including the ancient labyrinth castle.
Their target seemed to be the ancient labyrinth castle, but they did not want to step into the sea of blood.
Germain quickly discovered why they avoided entering the sea of blood—
If these flesh-and-blood monsters fell into the sea of blood and soaked for a while, they would dissolve and become part of the sea itself.
This sea of blood was actually the nemesis of these flesh-and-blood monsters.
Suddenly, many key points became clear to Germain.
Why did the "God of Resentment" build an ancient labyrinth right here, near the western shore's closest border? Why were monsters like the Bloodthirsty Apostle created here?
Because this place was the relic of a war that happened a thousand years ago. This area had been the front line between the "God of Resentment" and the "God of Flesh and Blood."
When those flesh-and-blood monsters invaded the ancient labyrinth, they were first split up by the labyrinth's intricate layout, and then became hosts to the parasitic Botanical Weapons, the Brions.
The flesh infected by the parasites either fought amongst themselves or voluntarily plunged into the sea of blood, nourishing the "disaster" that lived here—the Bloodthirsty Apostle.
The more nourishment the Bloodthirsty Apostle received, the smoother its ritual operated.
It grew stronger and even had the potential to challenge the legendary level.
Of course, in the end, its challenge ultimately failed.
But the ancient labyrinth was indeed a trap designed like a "guest invited into a jar," serving as the nemesis to the flesh-and-blood monsters.
With this understanding, the reason why the eastern lands and those demi-human tribes had gathered inside the ancient labyrinth castle also became clear.
Clear sunlight streamed through the gaps between the ancient labyrinth's stone pillars, like golden pointers directing toward the towering old tower above the sea of reed-like blood.
On the top floor of the tower, not far from a huge bronze bell, a man in a black robe sat cross-legged.
With his fingers pinching lightly, a delicate feather pen and a heavy-covered ancient book materialized in his hands.
The man in the black robe turned the pale yellow pages slowly and steadily until he reached the latest one.
Below the ending of the last entry, he started a new paragraph and began to write.
"February 23, 2001. It's hard to believe I have been writing this book for over three hundred years. I think the end is drawing near."
"I have always followed the calendar of the Six Continents. Occasionally, when explorers from the Six Continents come by, I confirm some details with them."
"The purpose of this, of course, is to remind myself not to forget my 'roots'—to remember that I am human."
"If I don't remind myself like this, I fear one day I will lose myself, lose my way... But perhaps this insistence cannot last much longer."
"Last night passed peacefully, but I noticed the periods when I am tortured by the curse have grown longer."
"From about one-third of a whole day before, it is now nearly half the day that I spend in pain and hallucinations. This is very abnormal, even though it was already abnormal before."
"I have no choice but to lock myself in this tower, avoiding contact with outsiders and not letting anyone come to see me."
"If it weren't for the fear of being besieged here, I would have left long ago."
"Now, I am waiting for a man. Once he arrives, my mission here will be over..."
Knock knock knock knock—
Don Freecss had not finished writing the sudden insight that came to him this morning when he sensed someone entering the tower's lower floor, climbing up the spiral stone stairs.
The steady four-legged footsteps, the faint scraping sound of a long spear brushing against the walls, and the unmistakable Nen—there was no doubt the visitor was Scela.
"Don."
Sure enough, before even reaching the top floor, the voice of Scela had already arrived. He spoke in the language of the Moose Centaurs. "Are you there?"
"I'm here." Don replied in the Moose Centaurs tongue as well. With a wave of his hands, the quill and ancient book vanished.
Scela's tall centaur body stepped into the top level of the tower.
He had worried about bumping his head, so he had kept his head lowered, but now he realized it was an unnecessary concern.
The ceiling here was very high, and the space quite spacious.
Don asked in a slightly reproachful tone, "What do you need that you can't just write a letter? Haven't I told you many times not to come up to the tower?"
He had installed a pulley system with a basket on the side of the tower, along with a bell.
If Scela or anyone else needed to contact him, they only had to put the letter in the basket and ring the bell.
Don would pull the basket up, take the letter, and read its contents.
Or, if the matter wasn't too private, they could simply speak loudly from above and below the tower.
Ever since Don had helped the demi-humans find safety in the ancient labyrinth castle, this had been their way of communicating.
"I didn't mean to do this," Scela said embarrassedly. "It's just that I noticed two things… or maybe just one. I'm uncertain and feel I must see you in person."
Don frowned beneath his hood, sensing something was wrong. "What is it? Just tell me."
*******
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