OBS Chapter 4246 The Swamp of Oblivion
Chapter 4246 The Swamp of Oblivion
Chapter 4246 The Swamp of Oblivion
The girls were quite pleased with the morning. Although Winnie was a little shy about being asked to serve her master, the Ice Maid was actually very happy.
Rarely, Recia didn't leave right after breakfast and even thought that she could keep this habit every Sunday from now on. Shad didn't want to comment on it.
In short, Lacey, Dorothy, and Winnie all came to room number two on the second floor to see Shad off, who was about to leave home in three seconds. Everyone, including the maid, gave Shad a "kiss of blessing." After persuading the cat that was trying to follow him to stay, Shad inserted the key that the "mermaid" had given him yesterday into the bedroom keyhole.
May the World Tree protect me through endless time.
With a click, Shad opened the door and stepped into the endless white mist.
[Outsider, you have officially stepped into the "Corridor of Time".]
Now, do you need to know the task of the key you hold?
"Of course, tell me the mission. This is the 28th time mission in total, right? There are 24 missions left to use."
【Yes. 】
[A message from the ancient god "Father of the Infinite Tree":]
[Spring of the 2780th year of the Fifth Era, in the underground realm, the Swamp of Oblivion]
[Event: Seeking medical help.]
[Duration: 40 minutes → 80 minutes (1/3)]
You have received additional information.
The figure of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches over you.
The ancient god of time has given you a test.
[Assist the Old God, the God of Love, in healing the sick.]
The Father of the Infinite Tree will reward you with the Arcane Art: Enchanting Life.
The year 2780 is also a very unfamiliar year for Shad. Some of the omens Shad dreamed about last night also correspond to this time point, so the key seems to be safe.
In 2025, more than 700 years ago in the Fifth Age, 2780, he arrived at the Black Sand Wharf and met those who wanted to leave and those who were waiting for their old friends, as well as the god of ferrymen; and more than 200 years later, in 3002, he first met Miss Felianana and Brienne in the Forest of a Thousand Trees.
If it weren't for the rare event of time travel like that of the green dragon maid Elfina, I wouldn't have run into any acquaintances this time.
As for the area where this mission was taking place, it surprised Xia De, who was walking towards the archway in the mist. In addition to the five continents of the east, west, south, north, and center in the material world of the Fifth Era, he had also come into contact with the Broken Islands and the Outer Sea, two special areas.
The former was where he first met Violet and Theresa, while the latter was where Miss Eliza was born. Although these physical locations in the material world were not directly related to the area where Shad's mission was located, the "Underground Netherworld" was still somewhat unexpected.
Simply put, this refers to the underground regions of the material world. Although the area of the underground regions is not as large as that of the surface, they still contain many civilizations living in the underground world, and there are many strange and unique biological communities and landforms.
Although the Underground Realm disappeared in the Sixth Age for some unknown reason, many books still record stories related to it. When Shad listened to the "God of Travelers" tell stories in the Lost Forest, the other party also mentioned the Underground Realm (Chapter 1642).
"Although the area is special, at least this time the deity is an absolutely friendly one."
Shad was very pleased with this. Although the "God of Love" had departed, the name of this deity still circulated in the material world. He loved every life equally and bestowed grace upon any life that could seek His help.
The "Goddess of Compassion" is also known as the "Mother of Mercy" and the "Goddess of Life and Salvation." Just from her name, you can tell that this deity is deeply loved by mortals.
This deity is also a deity in the realm of life, and her church is proficient in all kinds of healing arts. Although the followers of the true god "Lady of Creation" [Goddess of Creation and Destruction] and "Lord of All Things" [Goddess of Nature and Evil] are equally proficient in healing in the realm of life, it is clear that the followers of the "God of Compassion" are more professional.
Having endured the torment of the Bloodstained Factory, Shad realized that he still preferred dealing with these friendly deities.
As for the compensation this time...
"Enchanting Life" corresponds to the [Charm] rune.
This is a type of magical technique that controls a target. Many similar magical techniques exist in reality, such as the famous "charm of humans," "domination of monsters," and "transformation of beasts into friends." However, these mental or even soul-based control abilities are mostly subject to certain limitations, the most widespread of which is the limitation based on race.
Even the magical arts related to "charm" in "The Pink Book" are strictly categorized according to race.
The reward for this mission, "Charm of Life," completely eliminates all racial restrictions, so it's obvious that it's no ordinary magical technique.
"I just don't know whether the effect of this strange technique is 'charm' in the superficial sense, or whether it is mental and soul control."
Shad was quite looking forward to it, but of course, all of this would have to wait until after the mission was over.
"However, that benevolent god already possesses the power to heal any wound, so why does He need my assistance? What can I do if even the gods cannot cure a patient's ailment?"
He walked into the archway, and the white mist immediately parted like a curtain, revealing...
"Ok?"
The world before him was still shrouded in a white mist, but after a moment's hesitation, Shad immediately realized that he had arrived in the Fifth Era. The mist was damp, and the ground beneath his feet was no longer flat, but had turned into a swamp-like pool of water, deep and shallow with each step.
The ground was covered with withered yellow plants, resembling reeds but not quite the same, and in the distance, the shadows of low trees were cast in the mist. The surroundings weren't dark, but Shad couldn't find a source of light, and looking upwards, he could only see thick fog. This was definitely no longer inside the [Time Corridor].
"Is this the Swamp of Oblivion?"
As Xia De pondered this, he squinted ahead. Deep within the thick fog, a faint light shone; that was clearly the location of their mission.
"I wonder what kind of people my companions will be on this mission."
He knew that the initial location of a mission was usually very unsafe, so he didn't stay in one place and started running forward.
He then unexpectedly discovered that this place neither prohibited spatial abilities nor flight or transformation abilities. Although this strange world suppressed these abilities, it was fine as long as they were usable.
So, Shad, who was already worried about stepping into the swamp, immediately used "Lagray's Leap". Despite the suppression of his spatial abilities, he still appeared fifty meters away. Satisfied, Shad flew forward for three seconds and then continued to use his abilities to move forward.
After he reappeared out of nowhere fifty meters away, Shad took a few steps forward, then stopped, looking bewildered.
"What am I doing? Where am I?"
He looked around at his surroundings in confusion, then at his own hands:
"Fog? I don't remember what happened a second ago. I understand now, is it another dream? After the Sea of Origin and the Waters of Death, this strange dream is about this fog-shrouded swamp? What does this signify?"
She chuckled softly, and Xia De was startled again, the hazy memories in his mind returning in an instant:
"I'm on a mission using the Time Key. This is the Swamp of Oblivion, okay? The name is literally what it sounds like."
Remembering what he was doing, Shad didn't have time to think about it anymore and immediately cast a spell to move forward again.
But when he reappeared in front of him, even more confusion appeared on his face:
"How did I get here? What am I doing? Mia~ Mia~ Why isn't Mia here with me?"
He was very confused, and even a little anxious because the cat that should have been with him was not there.
Think about it again carefully.
Her gentle reminder gradually dispelled Xia De's confusion, and he remembered:
"This place has such a strong ability to forget things? I've been affected twice already. I need to get out of here as soon as possible. Lagray's..."
He wanted to cast a spell again, but worried that his spatial leap had caused him to lose his memory. So Shad gave up using his spatial abilities and instead flew low over the swamp towards the increasingly clear flames.
But as he flew, he stopped again and looked around in confusion:
"Given that I have a mouth, and knowing that Lacia and Dorothy have four beautiful feet, given such a coincidence, why didn't I try to taste them last night?"
He slapped himself in the face. This time, without "her" prompting, Shad himself was "awakened" by the sudden surge of shame.
"This place is terrifying!"
Compared to tangible enemies, this forced amnesia is the most terrifying. Shad couldn't even figure out whether this amnesia was due to his movement or his very existence, since the surrounding fog clearly contained no special components.
"If they notice I'm behaving strangely again, they should immediately remind me."
"She" smiled and agreed, Xia De thought to himself.
So Shad continued flying forward, stopping several times along the way, but each time only for a short while before setting off again.
Shad felt his resistance to "forgetting" gradually increasing, as he found himself able to move forward farther and farther. But after the distant flames clearly split into two clusters, he realized it wasn't his resistance that was increasing, but rather that the flames ahead possessed a power that helped him resist forgetting.
It took Shad five minutes to finally complete such a short distance. Only when he saw the two flames did he realize that what stood in the swamp was an ancient temple. In front of the temple gate were some damaged pillars, and the light from the two torches stuck in the pillars closest to the gate was the light that had drawn Shad there.