Super Righteous Player
Chapter 575 - 116 Is this a dream, or reality?_1

Chapter 575: Chapter 116 Is this a dream, or reality?_1

By the time Annan and Ingrid reached the very end of the alley, they finally found a quiet enough place.

He waved at Justus in the barbecue shop across the street with a smile, signaling that they could see him. Then, he played the voice message sent by Professor Grey.

It was a rather lengthy admonition:

"You guys come back as soon as possible, don’t delay for too long, and pay attention to safety.

"I just received news that the previous generation’s Lady of the Storm from the Winter Duchy completed her self-sacrifice today, but the next Lady of the Storm is Duke Ivan’s aunt. Her age is quite advanced, and she will need to use rituals and magic potions for a period of adjustment before she can succeed. As for the specific timing of the rituals, the Winter Duchy has decided to schedule it twelve days from now.

"Without the suppression of the Tower of the Storm for these two weeks, there is the possibility that various forms of celestial disorder may appear all over the world. ... such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, earthquakes, and so on. The deep-sea tunnels in the diving layer might collapse, and seismic activity could occur in urban areas, leading to subsidence and fissures in the lower levels, or the collapse of the sky dome and subway tracks.

"——You’d better come back quickly, or you might encounter some unpleasant incidents, like the collapse of the sky dome or the tracks. After returning to the Grey Tower, it will be somewhat safer."

...So that’s how it is.

Annan realized suddenly.

This is where—

He understood now.

From the start, Annan hadn’t considered the issue of earthquakes. Because even if there were any, they would most likely be intercepted by the Underground City... So it’s normal for the surface world to have no record of them.

Earthquakes do occur underground.

Or rather, since the depth of the Underground City isn’t too profound... even shallow earthquakes can happen below them.

The successful establishment of the Underground City probably presumes the existence of the Tower of the Storm.

If earthquakes can’t be completely suppressed, it would be impossible to smoothly construct cities and tunnels underground.

Even the slightest construction could collapse with a minor quake—not to mention the delicate undersea tunnels.

So they’ve taken for granted that earthquakes don’t occur in the Underworld...

For the first time, Annan was able to clearly recognize the necessity of Wizards’ Towers.

As for other Wizards’ Towers, Annan couldn’t see what their missions entailed at the moment...

But the Tower of the Storm can directly suppress natural disasters. This is significant for all five major countries.

Probably within the next twelve days, the other countries have already started organizing evacuations.

Annan glanced at Ingrid.

...In that case, are you about to die?

Of course, Annan did not have the heart to voice this thought aloud.

At first, Annan thought that Ingrid died in the ’Black Gold Field’ during the lava backflow. That’s why ’Professor Wolf’ retaliated against the Winter Duchy... But when ’Frederick’ indicated that he didn’t know the cause of the formation of the Ashen Wastelands, Justus did not seem surprised and even explained it to him amiably.

If Ingrid truly died at Black Gold Field, but ’Frederick’ forgot about it—Justus probably wouldn’t have bothered to explain further; instead, he would’ve given him a beating.

Meanwhile, Justus could associate Ingrid’s death with the event of ’Black Gold Field’ turning into ’Ashen Wastelands’...

This means that Ingrid didn’t die in the lava backflow incident.

Now that I think about it, it’s normal. Ingrid, a young woman, had no reason to wander around the gold mines in the exploration layer.

Rationally speaking, to avoid casualties from earthquakes, the wise should choose to close all cities and gather at shelters, or directly call for residents to leave the Underworld and wait above ground for twelve days.

But they didn’t do that.

After all, it’s just twelve days. In such a short span of twelve days, a natural disaster may not necessarily occur. For example, a tsunami, volcanic eruption, or earthquake—if they evacuated for twelve days and then moved back in afterward, the cost in-between would be too high.

Not to mention the expenses for food and lodging, there are also lost wages and property losses caused during the chaotic evacuation process. And with them all gathered together, the Underground City, already lacking legal control power, would be even harder to manage.

Each city has different laws, and people naturally have different customs. Normally, it’s fine, but if they consolidate for shelter, conflicts and contradictions are bound to arise.

Therefore, in the end, the wise not only didn’t issue an evacuation order.

They concealed the information completely instead.

Considering I didn’t know about this, the final losses might indeed be minimal.

Apparently, only the ’Spotted Bone Forest’ became the ’Bone Eating Forest,’ and there was likely just one earthquake during these twelve days.

——Which is the earthquake that caused Ingrid’s death.

That is, here, at this moment, now.

If that’s the case...

Then Professor Grey’s true identity is probably——

Annan exchanged a glance with Ingrid.

Before Annan could say anything,

a violent shaking suddenly came from under his feet.

His pupils constricted instantly.

Under Annan’s gaze,

the distant "Bone Eating Forest" began to disintegrate from top to bottom.

It was as though countless columns made of soda cans were collapsing one by one in unison, resembling a massive chain of dominoes.

Like black and yellow mountains and seas frozen in the void, they emitted a roar akin to landslides and tsunamis before collapsing with a thunderous crash.

——It was an incredibly spectacular sight.

Ingrid was so mesmerized that she seemed entranced.

Meanwhile, Annan turned his head back around,

just in time to see the building next to her swaying and falling toward her.

At that moment... the world in front of Annan’s eyes turned dusky and sluggish.

Justus, gazing from the barbecue restaurant across the street, displayed an expression that gradually shifted to one of terror.

He reached out toward them——

"Be careful!"

Annan shouted, grabbing Ingrid in his arms.

They ran through the narrow alley, both of their skins scraping against the stone walls... yet even so, they only managed to move from the deepest part to a position closer to the exit.

Watching the slow, amber world become increasingly abstract, like a painting,

Annan felt his spine heat up to almost scalding temperatures.

A strong intuition told him that danger was imminent.

So——

Without a second thought, he pushed Ingrid beneath him.

Annan himself stretched out his arms, pressing against the walls on either side, like a sturdy umbrella.

In Justus’s horrified gaze, the figure of "Frederick" was engulfed by the slowly toppling high-rise.

Unlike in "history,"

Ingrid, who should have been buried at the end of the alley, survived under the dome propped up by "Frederick."

Just like all the residents of the Underground City...

Facing imminent death, Annan did not lose this memory nor wake from the nightmare.

The world before his eyes became dusky and desiccated.

And gradually darkened.

The entire world stopped at that moment.

Only Annan’s thoughts raced rapidly——

He simultaneously felt the impact of a boulder against his back, the taste of blood and rust in his throat... and the sensation of an oncoming gust, the scent of the "Dragon Sleep Potion" in the air.

Ah.

Annan realized.

——This was a choice.

Should he remain motionless... and block Ingrid from this fatal destiny?

Or should he step aside... dodging the flying axe thrown by Justus?

Was it the original "future," the prophetic dream of Frederick?

Or was it the "past" of childhood, the obstinacy recalled by Frederick on his deathbed?

"Was it a dream... or have I woken from a dream?"

Professor Gray’s voice rang out exceptionally clear in Annan’s ear.

——Which side is reality?

Which side is the dream?

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