Light Fortress
Chapter 766 - 14: Setting Foot on the Old World

Chapter 766: Chapter 14: Setting Foot on the Old World

Investigation Corps Second Team had conducted a three-day special training at Gu Castle.

The upcoming "maze mission" was crucial.

A total of twelve Transcendents would leave the Fortress, cross the northern border, and reach the "Old World"... This special training was also designed to select the appropriate candidates for the final departure.

Gu Shen participated throughout these three days.

He was truly a "newcomer," especially in terms of controlling Source Armor, survival knowledge outside the fortress, and exploration experience—almost zero in all these aspects... However, Gu Shen’s performance surprised all members of the Investigation Corps.

This young man was very strong.

Even under fair competition, he could make it into the final "twelve."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Today was the departure day.

Gu Shen donned the silver-white "Fourth-Order Source Armor" of the Investigation Corps; just as Aluer mentioned, when it was truly time to head to the "battlefield," warriors would wear Source Armors one order higher than their own power.

Fourth-Order Source Armor could bear the power of a Transcendent from above the tenth layer of the deep water area.

Its source energy driving force was more powerful, and the material was tougher.

This investigation team venturing to explore the maze consisted of two divisions, a main team and an auxiliary team, and in the twelve-person formation, apart from Lin Lin, who possessed Source Eyes for spiritual assistance, all the others were Third-Order Transcendents.

The main team was led by Yuan Yuan, who was responsible for clearing the way ahead.

The leader of the auxiliary team was named Su He, a profoundly hidden middle-aged man whose appearance was unremarkable, yet his strength was formidable. Gu Shen estimated that Su He’s power was at the peak of the Deep Sea Ninth Layer, only a hair’s breadth from breaking through to the Fourth Order.

Gu Shen was naturally assigned to the "auxiliary team."

Although he hadn’t fallen behind in the special training of these few days and had performed excellently, the Investigation Corps still placed him in a "protected position."

He was an important person who needed "protection."

Gu Shen said nothing and quietly accepted the arrangement.

For him... this was his first trip to the "Old World"; there was no need to be overconfident. If he could follow this experienced team and return safely, it would be considered a successful mission.

As for the clue of the "Cane Wood Shavings," anything could happen in the "Old World."

He hoped to find them.

But if they searched the entire maze and came up empty-handed, that would just be fate’s design.

On top of the giant wall.

Twelve figures stood, with giant ships floating above the clouds overhead.

Further beyond the giant ships.

There was a sky-covering barrier made up of millions of transparent floating panels tightly pieced together; it was the direct barrier they used when contacting the "Old World" from the Gu Castle Fortress.

It was a colossal epic-level source energy defense shield.

Humans had never given up exploring the world beyond the giant wall.

Moreover, with technological advancements, North Continent gradually tried to push beyond the Fortress. In a world where order had collapsed, extending outward... like a great tree spreading its branches underground, the more it extended, the greater the hope for survival.

This massive protective shield, like a huge umbrella, enveloped Fortress Skytop.

Thus, it was called the "Umbrella Defense Line."

The furnace underground in Central City was continuously burning "energy" to support this massive defensive line.

Yuan Yuan squinted his eyes.

He spoke softly, "Investigation Corps Second Team, special operation squad, all members are in position, please open the ’source energy defense shield.’

"Received," came the calm voice of Zou Hai over the Gu Castle Fortress channel.

"Whirring——"

The source energy panels high in the sky began to roar, the snow reversed, and a tremendous suction force emerged from beyond the giant wall, with just a very narrow opening made, the Tidal Power of the Black Hole was enough to terrify anyone.

Compared to it, humans were indeed minuscule beings.

It was hard to imagine how the defenders of Gu Castle Fortress had been able to hold this position, not retreating even half a step for hundreds of years.

At this moment.

Millions of visible particles on the giant wall were swirling, overturning in the boundaries of collapsing order.

Gu Shen took a deep breath, looking towards the unknown world where the snow reversed, knowing from the moment the "Umbrella Defense Line" of the Gu Castle Fortress opened, the Source Armor entered a "consumption state." The face mask isolated the impure air of the "Old World" and purified it into breathable clean air; moreover, this outer armor could reduce or increase gravity according to the environment, but all these effects required "burning source energy" due to technological limitations, a complete burning time of an energy core was roughly thirty days.

There was sufficient energy for this operation.

Enough to support the team’s round trip.

Every Transcendent from the Investigation Corps standing on the giant wall looked extremely solemn, even though they had participated in dozens of exploration missions before, every departure from the human base could mean permanent departure.

Yuan Yuan’s voice slowly rose in the central channel.

"Maze thirty-eight... the twentieth exploration mission, officially begins!"

Twelve Source Armors spurted out snow-white streams of air.

In an instant.

They dashed out from the top of the giant wall.

In just a few seconds, twelve figures had burst through the "Umbrella Defense Line," and the floating panels of Gu Castle Fortress quickly closed up, once again blocking the shattered order of the "Old World" outside.

"Deep Sea" could not link with the "Old World."

Communication between the two was cut off at this moment.

The command room of Gu Castle Fortress instantly fell silent.

This operation was directed by Zou Hai, but all the commanders instinctively looked at the person next to Vice Officer Zou.

Lin Lin remained silent, watching the team leave the fortress.

Due to the "Hong Zhong" incident, Investigation Corps Second Team and Gu Castle had frictions, but with the support of the legion commander, Lin Lin obtained all the rights to handle the aftermath of the incident.He once again refused the request of Investigation Corps Second Team to retrieve the "hero’s" body.

And this decision made both parties very unhappy.

Before the maze mission began, Yuan Yuan had not communicated with Gu Castle at all.

And at this moment, communication broke down.

Lin Lin, staring at the gradually blurring figures on the screen, said in a very low voice, "I wish you a triumphant return."

The "Umbrella Defense Line" closed again.

The snow fragments of Gu Castle stabilized, and the world became peaceful and calm again.

Zou Hai rubbed his head.

For some reason...

Perhaps because of sending off Gu Shen... he always felt that the unsettling premonition in his heart had returned.

...

...

With a "boom"!

It seemed to be the sound of shattered stone chips striking the breathing mask.

It was probably only the size of a fingernail cover.

The slight impact, yet emitted a violent boom.

And when Gu Shen pressed the button on the side of the mask.

All the noisy sounds from outside were blocked, and the sound of stone chips striking the mask was no longer severe and piercing but became very ethereal, like a dream.

Clearly in the midst of turbulent flow, the entire surrounding environment... suddenly became quiet.

Fortunately, he could still hear his companions’ voices in the central control channel.

"All members, report your status."

"Main team, Li Chen, all normal."

"Main team, Mo Hongyi, all normal."

"..."

"Vice team, Jiang Yu, all normal."

"Vice team, Gu Shen, all normal."

Gu Shen was the last to complete the report.

Yuan Yuan’s commanding voice rose in the central control channel, "Very well... all members, prepare to descend."

Gu Shen looked back and saw pieces of honeycomb-like floating boards, under the sweeping of the majestic snow, gradually become transparent, finally leaving only a vague general outline.

No wonder it’s called the "Umbrella Defense Line".

Looking back from the Old World, it really resembled an umbrella.

An umbrella that covers the world of humans.

At this moment, Gu Shen felt a powerful force around him, pressing on the "Source Armor"... The Investigation Corps survival manual mentioned that this was the Tidal Power from the Old World.

This force would cause terrible corrosion to the skin and shell of organic beings.

And the Source Armor could greatly shield it.

Indeed, even without the Source Armor, one could leave the fortress as long as one’s own strength was strong enough... A Third-Order Transcendent could emit their domain and withstand the "Tidal Power".

But the Tidal Power of the Old World operates constantly, never ceasing.

For Transcendents to release their domain, it requires power consumption.

If it was a long journey, constantly maintaining the domain’s emission, the consumption would be enormous.

Apart from the Divine Throne and their Angel Envoys, there were hardly a few who could do this... Therefore certain special fortress missions must be completed by those who wield the "Power of Fire".

"Countdown... three, two, one, coordinates sent, all begin to descend!"

Twelve figures, in the sky where snow and stone chips were swirling, traced arcs like swifts.

The Old World was fraught with dangers.

And after humans reached the Five Continents, having explored for six hundred years, they had only figured out a very small part of the map, believing that in that dark map, there existed a "Land of Hope," and thus exploration would never stop... Yet every step forward by humanity meant that individuals had to sacrifice for it.

Gu Shen landed on a "ruin".

Because of the long passage of time.

He could not discern what material the "stone" under his feet was made of, but looking down, he faintly saw in the gaps between layers of ruins, weathered bones... To find this peaceful "landing spot," countless lives had been sacrificed.

And the path ahead.

Every step was on the dry bones of predecessors.

Gu Shen’s expression was somewhat complex.

A palm gently rested on his shoulder.

Looking up, it was Vice Team Captain Su He.

This quiet and reserved middle-aged man exuded a reliable air that inspired trust.

"I know what you’re thinking... Every person who steps onto the soil of the Old World probably has similar thoughts,"

Su He glanced at the skeleton between the gaps and said softly, "Remember, for those who follow, we, at this moment, are also predecessors who offered their blood. This is what a senior said to me the first time I stepped onto the Old World."

Gu Shen silently remembered these words.

"The first time leaving the fortress... no need to worry, walk forward with peace of mind,"

Su He smiled and said, "I’ve got your back."

...

...

(I had something urgent tonight, so the update was a bit late, sorry.)