Chapter 51: The 1068th Year of the Fifth Era

Chapter 51: The Fifth Epoch · Year 1068

Entering that door of white mist, there was no sense of abnormality; he simply stepped forward as usual. The ground beneath his feet remained solid, but everything around him was shrouded in white mist, as if he had arrived in a surreal dreamworld.

And within this hazy and strange mist, just as Professor Garcia had said, the whispers in his ears seemed to have never spoken so many words all at once

【Outsider, you have stepped into the "Corridor of Time."】

【A message from the Ancient God, "Father of the Infinite Tree":】

【Autumn, Year 1068 of the Fifth Epoch, South Continent, Hope Town.】

【Event: The fall of the Old God, "The Innocent Creator."】

【Duration: 10 minutes.】

Aside from the sudden appearance of proper nouns like "Corridor of Time" and "Ancient God," the information provided so far was identical to what Professor Garcia had described.

【You have obtained additional information.】

【The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches you.】

【The Ancient God of Time grants you a trial.】

【Witness His final wish before the Old God, "The Innocent Creator," falls.】

【The Father of the Infinite Tree will grant you a reward: Mystic Art—Blade of Disordered Time; Miracle Rune—Echo.】

The voice ceased. Shard’s eyes widened as he stood in the white mist, asking in shock

"Ancient God? Corridor of Time? What is all this?"

【Your soul is sensitive, so the information I obtain is more than the 'other self' of an ordinary Beyonder. I do not understand the meaning behind it.】

"Then, the task?"

【The Ancient God of Time grants you a tri—】

"You don't need to repeat what I heard; I know you're not a tape recorder. I mean, what does this mean? Have I encountered one of those rare cases Professor Garcia mentioned? Also, this... Ancient God, why is His 'figure watching' me? Does that mean He has always existed and has not fallen?"

He stared wide-eyed into the depths of the white mist, but saw no sign of anything, as if this world called the "Corridor of Time" consisted only of mist and endless void. At this thought, Shard felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine. This world was definitely not as simple as it appeared.

【The Ancient God gives you a task; complete it to receive the Ancient God's reward. At the very least, it seems to have no downside. Also, there are 9 minutes and 23 seconds remaining.】

"Can't you explain it more clearly?"

【I would like to tell you, but I cannot provide the answer.】

Shard lifted his foot and walked forward. But with just a single step, the surrounding white mist actually vanished. Professor Garcia had clearly stated that for an investigator traveling through time, being enveloped in white mist was the normal state.

Even more seriously, Shard discovered he was standing on a street that resembled a backward medieval town. The streets were covered in sewage, pebbles, and dust, and the air was thick with the smell of animal excrement and rotting food. The nearby houses were low and dilapidated, and the sky was exceptionally gloomy, covered by dark clouds that threatened rain.

Thin and indifferent townsfolk, dressed in dark, tattered rags, turned their heads to look at the well-dressed young man. This was not at all like a situation where one would avoid contact to prevent any connection with the past.

The people of the past were observing a person from the future.

"What is this now..."

【Look up.】

Looking up, he saw the large, colorful sign of the "Hope Town Toy Store." As if it were the only color in this black-and-white, dilapidated photograph, Shard understood his purpose. Before the townsfolk could surround him, he reached out and pushed the door to enter the shop.

The townsfolk were left outside; the space inside and outside the door felt like two different worlds.

The bell at the entrance chimed, and the sweet scent of candy drifted throughout the shop. Various colorful wooden, metal, and ceramic toys almost filled the shelves. Behind the counter, a drowsy young man looked up.

He was dressed neatly, wearing a ridiculous red clown hat with white polka dots. His attire was starkly different from the numb, corpse-like townsfolk on the street. If he couldn't still see the outside through the toy store's window, Shard would have seriously doubted whether this was still "Hope Town."

"Welcome to the Hope Town Toy Store, may I—"

The words of the young man in the ridiculous hat cut off abruptly. He locked eyes with Shard, who stood at the entrance, unable to move. At that moment, the detective from the future felt a sudden sensation as if his heart were about to stop beating.

A massive pressure emanated from the man behind the counter—a sensation of falling, as if facing an abyss or an infinite sky—causing Shard to instinctively take a step back and lean against the door.

Blood suddenly appeared in his vision, and he realized his eyes were bleeding. Reaching out to touch his face, he found blood flowing from his ears, nose, and even the corners of his mouth. His internal organs throbbed with pain, his head felt swollen, and even his consciousness began to scatter. Although the entity before him occupied the physical space of a normal person, the "position" this entity occupied in the world was by no means that of an ordinary human.

The toys in the shop seemed to come alive in his vision, and the eerie laughter of children drifted into his ears

"Saint..."

Knowledge regarding gods was the first thing Shard had looked up after obtaining his textbooks.

Gods are high-dimensional existences. If they do not wish to distort the rules of the material world upon manifestation, they must have a medium in the material world to descend, which is known as the "Saint Form" of the deities. The person behind the counter was undoubtedly the Saint Form of the Old God, [The Innocent Creator]. Had the entity not been devoid of malice and its power reduced to the absolute minimum, the damage Shard sustained would have been far greater than this.

He leaned against the door behind him, nearly unable to stand. Hallucinations and auditory illusions occupied his senses, yet his mind became exceptionally focused at this moment, even giving him the illusion that he was about to detach from his physical body. He actually heard singing—a song composed of childish voices, constantly tempting his mind toward madness.

The "miracle" element mentioned by the whispering voice in his ear rang out, but there was no "profanity," indicating that this deity was a benevolent god.

"Interesting, person of the future."

The young man behind the counter spoke softly. It was, of course, not Delarian, but Shard understood it.

"Didn't Professor Garcia say I only needed to witness? Why am I facing an Old God directly?"

He leaned painfully against the door, the woman's whispers in his ear seemed to be saying something, but he could no longer make out the words. However, the woman's whispers seemed to carry a certain power, helping him at least avoid immediate unconsciousness.

"What do you want to do?"

The ancient deity asked softly. Although he looked like a young man, Shard felt an inexplicable sense that the being was ancient. Seeing Shard's state of agony, the deity reached out a hand toward him.

There were no visual effects, yet the pain in his flesh and senses suddenly vanished. Waking as if from a dream, Shard felt as though his entire body were soaked in sweat, with only faint memories of pain remaining in his brain.

"I want to... witness your final wish. Thank you for your healing," Shard said with a trembling voice. Although the pain was gone, the perceived terrifying pressure still caused his body to react instinctively. The gods of this world were truly high-dimensional existences, not merely powerful mortals. Mortals could not look directly upon gods.

The Saint shook his head.

"I am merely protecting you from the influence of the god's essence; this protection will not last long. As for my wish? No, you are still too weak. You would need at least the Afterglow of a God to do such a thing. Go back. At least for now, you should not be here."

"What is the Afterglow of a God?"

"I cannot speak of it; it is a divine secret. Knowledge has weight, and you cannot bear it."

The Saint's voice was very gentle.

"Then, can you at least answer one question? Just one."

Shard held up a finger. This was a rare opportunity, and he could not let it pass. Despite the sensation of his head swelling from lack of oxygen, he remained lucid and knew what he had to do

"What is an Ancient God?"