There's a skeleton dungeon connected to my basement.

Chapter 568, The Archaeologist and the Mysterious Man
The connection between the game "Tidefall" and the Crimson Hero has always been a key point of interest.

Players have kept records of the game's fading tides, the decaying lands, and the characters they frequently encounter.

The meticulous faction exists in every game.

Perhaps a more appropriate term could be used to describe these meticulous gamers who are obsessed with detail.

"Historian".

It's like how modern humans on Earth get especially excited and animated when they talk about stories from thousands of years ago, about the deeds of people who have long since passed away.

Each entity in the receding tide game received the same treatment.

In the exploration of history and past stories, the images of individual figures are gradually depicted.

This even includes those few high-ranking "gods".

Take, for example, the god of springs.

During the excavation of the fallen, decaying city of snake people, players found this fragmented mural in the relief of a temple.

"In the clear spring pool, a beautiful blonde snake-woman girl slapped the water's surface. Not far away, a blurry, featureless spring sprite held a tulip in its hand and cautiously peered out."

Such a damaged mural seems insignificant.

The only noteworthy thing is that it was unearthed from the temple of the god of springs.

But what about the festival that was revived by the snake people?

The answer lies in the riddle itself.

The name of the festival is simple and direct.

"love."

Curious players asked questions about the Serpent High Priest.

A very important clue has emerged.

The most important symbol of this festival is the pink tulip.

These tulips symbolize "the innocent and budding love".

The tulips on the mural have long since faded and darkened.

But these puzzle pieces were assembled and fit together perfectly.

Studying history gives these particular connoisseurs a unique kind of power.

It all began with this "naive and innocent love".

They were able to communicate with the god of the spring through this story.

Once the other party agrees, certain special spring water spells can be used successfully.

At the same time, a contract was also established.

This story was requested not to be disseminated by Spring Egg.

"It's like paying money to buy out your own dark history."

"Offer hush money?"

or.

"The protagonist, the God of the Spring, no longer wishes to tell his story."

Besides this "naive and innocent love," another story has been discovered.

That was a scene recorded in the post-revelation sacred central chamber of the Radiant Cathedral in the imperial city of the Starry Human Empire.

At the center of this largest radiant church in the Starry Human Empire, there is neither a sacred object nor a statue of the God of Radiance.

Instead, it is an extremely dazzling twenty-four-sided rhomboid crystal.

It records all the major events that occurred after the human empire fled.

A "history book?"

Learning from history is not a tradition of humankind on Earth.

But placing history books in the center of a cathedral is truly a first.

But upon closer reflection, it's not surprising.

The Starry Human Empire is not a classical theocratic empire.

They were destitute refugees, but not savage and ignorant lambs.

The first image in this extremely important historical book records just such an image.

"A person, half-ignited, is walking step by step toward a dim sun that has fallen to the ground."

Accompanied by soft murmurs.

You are the radiance, and the sun that will eventually lead us back. The story behind this image has not been fully explored.

However, every archaeologist who witnesses this scene gains a special light-related skill.

This ability to uncover history is not accidental.

Listen to the stories of the dark ages before the City of Hope was built from the survivors of the severely mutated city.

"Gain the ability to ignite flames."

Listen to the faint, indistinct farewells of those heroic warriors who often only appear in the night, dwelling motionless in the shadows.

"The ability to acquire sharpened weapons."

These factors quickly established archaeologists as a unique group.

This is a career with great potential.

The land of decay is clearly not lacking in stories.

Meanwhile, these stories that were heard were also posted on the forum.

Even though players are forced to fully immerse themselves in this world, they still find themselves being pulled out of the story in some ways.

There was always a thin line separating them.

It always feels like it's just one point short.

Just treat it as a game.

Even though this is a game that is almost 100% realistic.

This is probably the origin of these guys' absurd behavior.

A playful attitude towards life.

It wasn't until these meticulous players discovered the profession of archaeologist that they began posting real stories on the forum.

Nick, the militia member from Sandaoshuiqu Village, had no idea that his love story with Sarah from Lenny's Bakery in Hope City would be watched online by tens of thousands of people in another world.

This is probably the biggest reason why fresh flowers always mysteriously appear in his room, and why he and Sarah have been frequently given days off by the shop manager lately.

Sarah was troubled because making panels in the bakery was a good job, and the manager always took time off, making her feel like she was going to be fired.

Nick, on the other hand, often had to deal with the flowers that appeared before him, and the people who inexplicably showed up to encourage him to be courageous.

Everyone wants to see sweet romance.

It's hard to say whether this kind of stalking is appropriate.

The opening of the character story section in the forum has significantly increased players' engagement.

At least it's not like working like a robot every day, only to go to the tavern to gamble and drink after work.

But there is still one regret.

This regret of being hungry comes from a mysterious guy.

"The great Crimson Savior, the Crimson Knight, a mysterious being who travels between two worlds, the creator of the City of Hope, and an equally great hero, Xiao Yang."

"He is very mysterious."

On the forum, all sorts of important figures in the City of Hope, even the taciturn God of Hunting, have had all sorts of information found about them.

Even the days when he liked to disguise himself as an ordinary elven ranger and go to the rye tavern for a drink were recorded.

And Xiao Yang.

Is there anything about Xiao Yang, the Crimson Savior?

"A hero statue with a crooked smile, a manifestation of divine power in the real world, possibly an evil god."

Various comments and speculations, some of which are difficult to distinguish as true or false.

Everything was so mysterious and ambiguous.

"A true pioneer of the ebb tide game?"

"Have mercy on the great ones of the real world?"

"Sitting at a street stall, devouring a giant, spicy squid while watching videos of beautiful women?"

There was no systematic intelligence; all that existed were fragmented pieces of information, the truth of which was difficult to discern.

Even though there are traces of him everywhere, he himself seems to have become a living urban legend.

Perhaps it can be described with this sentence.

"A mysterious man."

(End of this chapter)