Only God
Chapter 165 - 142 - : Omens of Death and Misfortune (Additional Combined 2-In-1)_2

Chapter 165: 142 Chapter: Omens of Death and Misfortune (Additional Combined 2-In-1)_2

"Don’t go too far away?"

Noen paused for a moment, then continued,

"We have to cross the entire Path of Death."

The guide was stunned for a moment, and after confirming that Noen wasn’t just boasting, asked,

"Aren’t you here to seek treasure? Why do you want to cross the Path of Death?"

"We are here to find the Ancient Elf Kingdom."

Casas spoke up.

The guide froze in place, and then slowly said,

"Cross the Path of Death, have you gone mad? I can only advise you to go back immediately!"

"You can go back, but we want to stay here."

Casas continued.

The guide ignored Casas and directly shouted at the others,

"Whoever wants to go back, follow me now, your leader is insane!"

The slaves looked at each other, exchanged glances, and then observed Noen for a while.

Seeing Noen shake his head, they unanimously said,

"We are not going back."

The guide was taken aback.

Among the many who came to the Path of Death seeking treasure, he had seen stubborn ones, but never a whole group as obstinate as this.

Usually, if he managed to persuade part of the group, the rest had no choice but to follow.

Noen said,

"If you’re scared, you can go back alone."

The guide glanced at the dozen people present and, reluctantly, asked again,

"Have you all gone mad? Really, no one wants to follow me back?

"Oh Kagawus, these people are crazy! In the name of Kagawus, I urge you to go back."

The slaves looked at each other and then laughed,

"Sorry, guide,

we don’t believe in Kagawus."

The guide was astonished,

"Then what do you believe in?"

"We have our own God."

.........

The guide eventually chose to stay temporarily.

He was afraid his reputation would suffer, so he decided to follow this group for a day or two, tirelessly persuading them to leave the Path of Death.

After all, guiding people to the Path of Death to seek treasure, and returning safely to the Oasis without a single death, that was the source of his income.

But he found that Noen’s group was unexpectedly determined.

"Why do you have to embark on the Path of Death?"

"We need to return to our homeland."

Noen said, glancing at Casas,

"And to find the Golden Bull Horn, in short, we must go to the Ancient Elf Kingdom."

"That’s just a legend!"

The guide argued loudly.

But Noen ignored him, completely disregarding his argument.

The guide, scratching his head in resignation, reluctantly led the way forward for the group.

Thus, they walked for an entire day.

When the next day dawned,

The guide petted the old camel.

Living in the desert for years, he recognized that the old camel was experienced.

Therefore, even if he wanted to deceive the group and lead them away from the Path of Death, he couldn’t fool the old camel.

"Keep going, guide."

After the group had gathered their belongings, Noen and Casas stood up and said in unison.

The guide gritted his teeth and continued to lead the way forward.

Along the way, he kept stopping, sometimes saying he was unbearably thirsty and sometimes checking the directions.

He was hoping these little actions would quickly wear down their patience.

But it was ineffectual.

These people were tightly bound together by this person called Noen.

"Why is the Ancient Elf Kingdom your homeland?"

The guide asked.

"It’s your homeland too, guide."

Noen lifted his face,

"You too are a Stone Slave."

Not every Stone Slave was a slave; many, although they couldn’t become nobles, still managed to be free citizens.

The guide was one such free citizen, making a living by guiding merchants.

"What do you mean by that?"

Hearing Noen’s words, the guide asked in astonishment.

"The blood of Elves flows through your veins. The Stone Slave people have two homelands, one in Ajia Land, and the other beneath the mountains of the Lost Kingdom."

Noen spoke softly to the guide about myths of the past.

Just like the old Priest used to tell them stories.

As twilight approached, the intensity of the daytime heat in the desert was unimaginably fierce, and now the rapid dissipation of the heat caught everyone off guard.

"What is that?!"

Casas pointed towards the distance, exclaiming.

Everyone looked up, only to see a tall building rising abruptly from the distant desert, reminding them of the open-air Temples recorded in history, or perhaps other relics of the Three-eyed Ape People.

"That is the embodiment of ghosts, an ominous sign of death and misfortune..."

The guide started to scare them, but then he locked eyes with Noen.

Startled, he stuttered out the truth,

"It might also be a mirage."

"So it’s a mirage..."

Casas mumbled.

In the legends of the Three-eyed Ape People, mirages were often seen as reminders or premonitions from the Prophetic God, and whether they were auspicious or ominous could only be known by actually going there.

"No idea what the Prophetic God is reminding us of,

of course, it’s also possible He’s not reminding us of anything,

but seeing such a massive object in the desert really gives one a shock."

Casas spoke, prompting nods from the others.

The guide then said,

"Be careful ahead, there might be ghosts wailing at night, calling out names in the darkness. Don’t respond to them, for whoever does won’t be seen tomorrow."

The guide’s words sent chills down everyone’s spines; they were unsure whether he was merely exaggerating or telling the truth.

As the night grew thicker, a cold wind swept over the barren desert, and a strange drizzle began to fall on the Path of Death.

Uneasiness rose among them, as they knew that rain in the desert was extremely rare.

They reached a small hill where they set up their tents.

Noen secured the camels and looked around; everywhere were Wind Erosion Stones, tilted and oddly shaped. There was no vegetation around, and besides their group, there was no sign of life. The stones around them looked like human figures, covered with dense holes, appearing terribly eerie.

In the darkness, it looked as though the perforated figures were waiting in dead silence.

Even the experienced guide shivered.

The black night completely enveloped the land, and the chilly drizzle did not stop.

The night was simply too deep; they had to sleep.

Everyone shivered in the cold silence until they fell asleep, unable to calm the unrest in their hearts.

As Noen closed his eyes, he glanced at the nearby bonfire; the flames flickered in the dead silence as though trembling with fear.

A wave of unexplained weariness surged into Noen’s mind, and he saw the Night Watchman concentrating intently; then he closed his eyes.

....

Time passed unknowingly.

A cold sensation touched Noen’s face, like a dead person’s hand.

Noen suddenly opened his eyes and touched his face.

He caught nothing.

"An illusion, perhaps?"

Noen said, trembling.

He looked up to find darkness all around.

"Why is it so dark?"

Noen looked around but saw neither the bonfire nor the Night Watchman!

The environment in front of him was pitch black, looking incredibly sinister.

Noen abruptly jumped up, finding himself in a narrow space.

Fear crowded his mind.

Noen forced himself to calm down, then muttered a prayer tremblingly.

He groped his way forward.

He gradually realized he might be inside a tall building or a relic.

Noen suddenly remembered the mirage he had seen in the desert.

The pitch-black corridor was cool and stiff all around, smelling of damp and rank. Noen walked towards the front, but the more he walked, the longer the passage seemed, the further he felt from the exit.

Luckily... it seemed to be an illusion.

Noen found the exit to the passageway.

"Nothing’s wrong, nothing’s wrong..."

Noen murmured to himself, about to step out.

Just then, he suddenly caught a sound with his ears.

"Noen."

The voice came from behind him in the passageway, mixed with the cold night wind, as if calling his name.

Is... is that someone?

Noen’s head trembled, and subconsciously, he thought to turn back...