Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 398 - 358: Idith’s Mausoleum

Chapter 398: Chapter 358: Idith’s Mausoleum

"Thank you," Xu Yang said as he accepted the ebony ring. The ring had an antique sheen, with several lines of secret script engraved inside, resembling wise sayings.

"So, please feel free to rest here. When you wish to leave, just return through the teleportation portal you came from," Mond said, then turned to leave.

Xu Yang eyed Mond’s avatar and felt a bold and promising plan taking shape in his mind.

"What riches does the moon have?" Xu Yang asked. "Ore deposits?"

"Ah, eyeing the moon’s resources, are we? We have everything but fresh water," Mond paused, "Rare earth elements, minerals, radioactive isotopes; the old ones came to the moon before and left behind quite a few mining facilities."

"The moon’s low gravity allows life to grow exceptionally tall, and breeding is possible," Xu Yang speculated. "Also, our planet is wrapped in an atmosphere that weakens the utilization of solar energy, whereas the moon can make direct use of it. If you construct a giant teleportation gate connecting Anjiu City and the moon, we could trade and transport large quantities of resources between the two environments. It would definitely be mutually beneficial."

"I seldom consider it; I’ve already lost a most important daughter due to my contact with the ground. I don’t want to entangle with the surface world anymore until she returns home," Mond complained.

"Then let’s go and try to find her first," Xu Yang agreed.

"However, a small teleportation gate is possible, since you also need to visit the Moonlight Palace," Mond said. "Once you’ve chosen a suitable site, contact me again."

"Okay," Xu Yang agreed.

A portal to the moon could be put to good use, Xu Yang pondered silently. The moon’s resources were extremely precious; even just a small transportation of critical minerals to the ground for trade could bring in enormous profits. The future task was to find a truly secretive, safe, and conveniently located place to properly set up this portal.

Because Farosa didn’t want to stay in Moonlight Garden for long, they soon returned to Shijin Mansion.

Farosa, utterly exhausted, lay in the secret chamber to meditate.

"Is there anything else happening lately?" she asked.

"New Year’s is coming," Xu Yang said. "Let’s postpone all affairs and deal with them after the New Year holiday."

"That would be best," Farosa said, reaching out to embrace Xu Yang. "Stay with me."

December 31, 149, New Year’s Eve.

The people of the Northern Archipelago took a temporary break from their pressures, ready to welcome the New Year.

Due to a series of events, the company people in Anjiu City were exceptionally brave, forcing entrepreneurs to design and extend the New Year holiday to avoid being shot. The non-corporate communities outside the city were even more brightly lit and festively decorated, patiently waiting for the first sunrise of 150.

Xu Yang received an email from an unknown sender, communicating with Xu Yang via encrypted channel.

"Greetings, esteemed sir, I am an intercontinental observer from the White Elephant Continent’s guerrilla squad. Ms. Selita has told me about you.

Our camp is currently being eradicated, so I must send this message early. A Nestor cooperative system has appeared in Anjiu City; does this have anything to do with you? We cannot confirm just yet. Although we learned of news from afar in a mountain cave in the outskirts, this practice of labor management still uplifts our spirits.

In fact, we too long to establish a cooperative system. After the collapse of corporatism, we know that if we do not restore production quickly, people starved of food will succumb to the enticing broadcasts of corporatism. We refuse to yield to the obsolete exploitative system and also seek to implement collective, autonomous management. All socialization begins with collectivization.

However, due to our situation, we have never established any sort of substantial economic system. We can only take all resources, recruit allies and soldiers, and then retreat step by step into even more marginal areas. This passive approach has led people to label us locusts and rats wherever we go.

Our forces are being scattered, facing the greatest collapse since our creation. We have broken the hegemony of corporatism over the economy, security, and public rights in some places, but it is not lasting. Intercontinental mercenaries and corporate armies are pursuing us.

Ms. Selita has asked me to convey her regards to you. She will not die easily and asks that you maintain hope.

A bright, just future will always come."

After reading the email, Xu Yang fell into deep contemplation. The threat of Black Fire Innovation was still at their doorstep, and they currently could not project power overseas, meaning they needed to continue amassing strength until they had their own space mothership fleet capable of supporting global justice causes.

Lets multiple flowers bloom around the world to create a real momentum that can crush all corporations.

On the other side, in White Elephant Continent, Ratman Xie Yi hugged his gun, covering for the observer to send out the final email, and then led him to break through at night, crossing the entire burning village, back to the guerilla camp.

"You shouldn’t have run to such a dangerous place for a bit of network signal..." Xie Yi’s entire right arm was made of metal, particularly long and strong, which looked quite disproportionate to his small rat body, and he needed to drag it often.

But that was his will, he wanted to become strong enough, to one day be able to meet Miss Sally.

"..." The observer shook his head, "We cannot be isolated overseas."

"We are already very isolated," Xie Yi led the observer to the field hospital.

There, Selita was having a fierce argument with the guerilla’s general. The general, named Kapasi, was a resolute person from White Elephant Continent, with substantial authority, no less than Selita.

"We can’t risk rescuing the reborn Idith," Selita argued, "It is the monster that the Corporate Alliance has been suppressing all this time, the evil god from the legends of White Elephant Continent!"

"Only such power can change the status quo!" General Kapasi shouted, "You’re just a guide from Taixi Continent, what do you know about the ancient myths of White Elephant Continent! If we don’t excavate the Giant Tower, we will be utterly defeated... shattered to pieces!"

Seeing that persuasion was useless, Selita fell momentarily silent. As dawn would arrive, the Corporate Army of White Elephant Continent would reach them, crushing the guerilla team completely. Selita’s magic power was to sense danger, and at that moment, she only felt an endless shudder in her heart, knowing this crisis was particularly severe.

"I will lead everyone to the North," Selita said firmly, "In the Great Northern Region there have always been people with whom we share our ideals. We have attempted many things in the Great Northern Region throughout history, and many descendants of old soldiers will join the guerilla."

Thence, the guerilla squad split into two teams.

"Where are you going?" Xie Yi asked the observer, "To the Great Northern Region, or to the Giant Tower."

"To the North," the observer mumbled, "I do not want to submit to a dark history."

"I don’t even know what history is," Xie Yi let out a disdainful squeak, leading the Ratman scouting team to join General Kapasi’s troop, heading south to excavate the Giant Tower.

There stood a Giant Tower in White Elephant Continent, the mausoleum of Idith, its ground section covered with moss, vines, gold, and human skulls; visible from a great distance, it was once an ancient site under the strict supervision of the Corporate Alliance. As the Corporate Alliance weakened, the entire Giant Tower seemed increasingly frail, and its defenses even more sparse.

"We’ll bring the main force to Telayan Village, 20 miles away," the general told the Ratmen, "You are the best in the squad at climbing, digging, and burrowing. You must tunnel through Idith’s mausoleum and find the ’reborn’ Idith, sealed by the Corporate Alliance at the very bottom. Only it can defeat an army of such scale; this is our last hope."

"Can it shoot down a space mothership?" a White Ratman asked.

"The ancient legends of White Elephant Continent explain it thus: Idith was a king of ancient times, undefeated," General Kapasi murmured. "We part here; you burrow into the last of the rainforests, where even satellites won’t capture it."

The Ratmen took the order with gravity, heading toward the direction of Idith’s mausoleum.

The closer Xie Yi got to that ancient, towering mausoleum, the more uneasy he felt. The shape of the mausoleum at the surface resembled an upside-down pyramid, narrow at the bottom and wide at the top, scattered with skeletons. He realized that the Giant Tower was exceptionally sturdy, unbreakable by mere human strength.

"We hide it here," Xie Yi had the Ratmen dig a pit under the tree and bury the radio, for he had been chased by the Corporate Army for so long, so long, that he had not heard the voice of Miss Mouse Witch Sally, which made him feel a deep sense of desperation, hence his willingness to risk his life with the Ratmen.

To plunge into the mausoleum, to find the reborn Idith.

"Come."

That ancient and mysterious voice echoed in Xie Yi’s heart, his whole body’s fur standing on end. Looking at his Ratman companions, they all heard the same voice, starting to emit pheromones of fear. The more Ratmen there were, the stronger the cumulative effect of these pheromones, and now even the bravest big black rats felt unease.

The area they had just entered resembled a museum or exhibition hall; originally, it might have been a stone corridor, but after the Corporate Alliance took over this place, it was transformed into an area for science education, exhibiting artifacts of ancient civilizations.

"The Old Ones are not to be feared." A smart White-haired Rat read the instructions left by the Corporate Alliance and recited to the group, "They were a species slightly taller than humans, with pale skin and attractive features, who established a certain level of civilization before us."

"If strange voices arise in your mind, please turn back immediately, leave the scene running for at least one kilometer, and then contact the nearest Corporate Alliance office, requesting the facility to be sealed and neutralized."

"If you encounter an Old One bound, his body flashing with burning flames during your exploration, rest assured, this is very safe."

"If you encounter an active Old One during your exploration, please stay still, shout as loudly as possible, ensuring that no one approaches in your direction. The Corporate Alliance thanks you for your contribution."