Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Just before Rona was forced to enter the tomb to explore.

Lin Gui had already taken Elvia with him.

Taking advantage of the perfect concealment provided by the [Night Veil], they were the first to silently float inside.

It serves as the core of the entire mausoleum complex.

The interior of this largest square tomb is naturally exceptionally well-protected.

As they ventured deeper, Elvia encountered numerous chilling traps and mechanisms.

The walls were riddled with holes, through which the gleaming, poisoned arrowheads could be faintly seen.

The color of some of the stone bricks on the ground is slightly different from the surrounding ones, which is obviously a load-bearing trigger flap or pit;

A huge, spiked meteor hammer hangs from the dome.

It is suspended and pulled by extremely thin metal wires that are almost invisible.

Even at some corners, you can see them embedded in the walls.

The runes have faded, but the magic circle base remains structurally intact.

Once triggered, it is unknown what kind of destructive energy it will unleash.

Surprisingly, all of these things seemed to be deliberately exposed, making them immediately apparent to anyone who entered.

Before Elvia could even hesitate and wonder if this was a trap...

Lin Gui wielded the staff in this way.

He carried her as he charged through the treacherous tomb passages, maintaining his speed without slowing down in the slightest.

Elvia felt a chill run down her spine and couldn't help but lower her voice to question:

"Can't you slow down a bit! What if we hit a trap? This is an ancient tomb!"

Lin Gui's calm voice came through:

"The 【Night Veil】can perfectly conceal all physical features and energy fluctuations of both you and me."

"Therefore, these mechanisms that rely on physical triggers or energy sensing cannot detect us."

"That powerful? Then you're invincible!"

"Not invincible," Lin Gui denied.

"Legendary-level magical perception, high-level or higher soul detection, and divination can all see through the Night Veil."

"And ultimately, I'm just a low-level, fragile mage."

"They specialize in stealth and perception, but don't even know a single protective spell."

"Any knight outside could kill me with a single serious attack."

"If I'm alone, being exposed is no different from being sent to my death."

"Then why did you get involved in this mess?" Elvia asked, puzzled.

"Isn't it because you're here?"

Elvia was taken aback, then her face flushed slightly.

Before he could even process the meaning behind those words, Lin Gui calmly added:

"If I'm discovered, I can use you, the tough and capable knight, as a shield, and I'll have time to hide again and run far away."

"As long as the distance is far enough, even soul detection and magical perception may not be able to find me."

Elvia was speechless.

"No wonder you only brought me into this tomb, while leaving that half-demon to wait outside... I shouldn't have had any illusions about someone like you!"

"Same to you."

We passed through a series of seemingly dangerous but actually "carefully" marked areas.

Lin Gui and Elvia finally reached the deepest part of the tomb.

This is an extremely vast underground palace.

Hundreds of stone coffins were neatly arranged around the hall.

Like silent guards, they protect the center.

In the very center of the hall is a stone platform that rises above the ground.

On top was an exceptionally large coffin.

The coffin lid was actually made from a single piece of crystal.

Lin Gui manipulated his staff and flew directly above the crystal coffin.

Through the clear crystal, one can clearly see the scene inside the coffin.

A body, wrapped in tattered cloth and long since reduced to bones, lay peacefully inside.

The skeletal hands were folded in front of the chest.

It was placed beside me.

A longsword with intricate runes engraved on its blade, still gleaming with a cold light despite the passage of time.

A helmet with a simple, antique design and wing decorations.

A set of magnificent and imposing silver-white armor.

Even lying in the coffin, one can feel the extraordinary quality and power of these equipment.

As a paladin.

Those pieces of equipment instantly caught Elvia's eye.

Especially that set of armor, it's definitely a rare item of legendary quality or higher!

It looks no worse than the semi-divine artifact that the half-demon picked up.

Elvia's eyes were bright and alert; she was the only knight in Lin Gui's team.

So these equipment are naturally...

However, in a fleeting glance, she noticed that the corpse was holding a badge.

When she saw the design of the badge, she was instantly struck dumb!

This? How is that possible?

She patted Lin Gui hard, who was still looking around at his surroundings.

"Hey! Look at this!"

Lin Gui withdrew his gaze and followed Elvia's trembling finger to the badge.

He felt that the design of the badge looked somewhat familiar.

Elvia's voice was filled with disbelief and shock:

"This is...this is the emblem of our Carter royal family!"

Lin Gui understood, and then turned his gaze back to the neatly arranged coffins around him.

She didn't care as much as Elvia.

"Looks like your ancestors are buried here. Now you'll have to kowtow before I put you down."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly flipped the oak staff!

"ah!"

Caught off guard, Elvia screamed and fell straight down.

He landed hard on his bottom.

She rubbed her sore buttocks, looked up as if to curse, but found that there was nothing above her!

Nothing was blocking her view.

She could clearly see the entire top of the tomb chamber, as if the forest ghost and the staff didn't exist at all.

This was the first time she had personally experienced what Lin Gui looked like when he used the [Night Veil] spell in the eyes of others.

"It really is... a disappearance in every sense of the word..." she murmured to herself, a chill creeping into her heart.

Even a legendary-level invisibility spell will at least take up space because the caster himself/herself occupies space.

It will more or less obscure the scenery behind and may be spotted by sharp-eyed people.

And Lin Gui's [Night Veil]...

Looking past where he was originally standing, one could actually see what was supposed to be hidden behind him!

This is absolutely terrifying.

She couldn't imagine it.

If an enemy possesses such magic, lurking nearby all day without the enemy's knowledge...

"Thankfully... this guy's on my side for now..."

That was the only way she could comfort herself.

Composing herself, Elvia walked to the crystal coffin and carefully examined the badge inside.

"It is indeed the coat of arms of the Carter family... but I've never seen this design before..."

That's really strange.

"There are words here."

Lin Gui's voice suddenly rang in her ears:

Elvia complained.

"You suddenly threw me off just to see if I'd trigger a trap, right? You came out once you knew it was safe down there?"

Lin Gui replied calmly, "If you trigger the mechanism, I can still save you. But if something happens to me, you're just waiting to die."

Elvia did not refute.

Although Lin Gui's actions were extremely unreasonable.

But deep down, she strongly agrees with this extremely rational, even ruthless, logic of survival.

"I just hope this guy can at least give me a heads-up next time..."

She muttered to herself as she approached the side of the coffin that Lin Gui had pointed to.

It was covered with densely packed characters.

Elvia glanced at it and then narrowed her eyes; she couldn't understand it!

This is not the human script currently used on the continent of Akara.

Instead, it is a more ancient and complex character set.

He heard Lin Gui's deep and clear recitation in his ears; he seemed to recognize the script:

[To my eternal star, Katarina's last jewel, Queen Katarina:]

When you see this letter.

I must have already joined forces with my loyal knights.

[And all the brave warriors who willingly faced death now rest here in eternal rest.]

The kingdom has fallen, and demons have surged forth.

We have mobilized the entire kingdom, gathering all knights and civilians who volunteered to stay.

[Even so, it couldn't stop its trampling steps.]

The city walls crumbled amidst wails, and the flags turned to ashes in the flames.

I witnessed loyal knights being torn apart by the demonic tide.

Brave civilians built the last line of defense with their own flesh and blood.

Then... annihilation.

We shed our blood, yet could only watch helplessly as darkness devoured everything.

The last hope lies deep within this rift valley, in an ancient remnant of the 'Annihilation Array'.

I will give my remaining life.

[With the souls of all my soldiers who followed me here, I activate it.]

[This moving natural disaster, carrying with it unknown and terrifying deities, has been temporarily halted here.]

【Katalia, my love, my queen.】

[Lead the remaining people to the hidden mountain region marked on the map in the letter.]

Hide away, hide from the flames of the apocalypse.

Don't look back, don't grieve for us.

Survive.

【….】

【….】

Ultimately, we succeeded.

The magic array activated, trapping "it" here.

[To prevent future generations from accidentally entering and disrupting the balance of the magic array.]

I commanded the last legendary mage accompanying the army to shatter the surrounding towering cliffs.

[Bury this ancient tomb, along with myself and all my soldiers, completely into the depths of the rift valley.]

【Katalia, my beloved Queen.】

I think of you every moment.

Do you remember the first time we met?

[Under the oak tree at the Royal Academy, you bumped into me, clutching a thick magic book.]

Books were scattered all over the floor, and you glared at me angrily, your golden eyes brighter than the sunlight...

I still remember the day of your coronation, when you wore a crown and royal robes, and under the spotlight, you secretly winked at me.

At that moment, I knew I would give my life to protect your smile, to protect the kingdom you ruled...

Do you remember the last time we parted?

At the secret crossroads leading to the refuge, you clutched my cloak tightly, your tears soaking my shoulder armor...

I promised to come find you, but I'm sorry, Katalia, I broke my promise...

Once the magic circle is activated, my soul will be bound to it.

[As the magic array operates, it gradually burns and dies out, ultimately... it won't even have the qualification to enter the Netherworld Sea.]

How I long to see you again.

Even just a glimpse from afar, seeing you safe and sound...

How much I want to...

[Forever yours, Reinhard Cameron, the last hero of the Kingdom of Carter]

Lin Gui slowly read through all the engraved text.

Elvia, standing to the side, was completely overwhelmed with shock and confusion, unable to speak for a long time.

The Queen's name is Katya...

She searched through all the royal family genealogies but could not find this name!

The founding monarch of the Kingdom of Carter was clearly a male emperor, not a queen!

However, the refuge hidden in the mountains mentioned in the letter...

The location it describes is clearly the steep, secluded mountainous area where the current capital of Carter is located!

The capital has been located there since the Golden Age!

Countless generations of King Carter and scholars have found this strange.

Why did the first monarch choose to establish his capital in such a remote, steep, and inaccessible mountainous area?

Instead of choosing a wider, more fertile plain or hills?

Historically, several King Carter attempted to move the capital.

However, the elders ultimately refuted these claims on the grounds that "the capital can never be moved."

The origin and reason for this ancestral precept have always been one of the biggest mysteries in the royal family.

Could it be... could it be that the current capital of Carter is not the glorious place chosen at the founding of the kingdom at all...?

Rather... a refuge during the last generation's escape?!

The man in the coffin, Reinhardt, who called himself "the hero."

And Queen Katya, who was never recorded in history...

Are they the true originators of the Carter Kingdom?!

Just as Elvia was deeply shaken and almost overwhelmed by this revolutionary information...

A crisp system notification suddenly rang in Lin Gui's mind!

[Ding! Strong obsession and unfulfilled wishes detected. Special quest triggered!]

[Commission Details: Deliver the remains of the hero Reinhardt to the tomb of Queen Katharine, so that he may be reunited with his beloved.]

[Delivery Route: Withered Rift → Katarina Capital → Tomb of Katarina]

[Quest Reward: Special High-Level Soul Magic - Netherworld Eye]

[(It allows one to see the soul's structure and state, and glimpse the spirit that ordinary people cannot see, thus resisting soul probing and deception to a certain extent.)]

[Note: The remaining soul energy in the hero's corpse is about to be exhausted.]

[It is recommended that the host immediately remove it from the magic circle energy node.]

The energy required to operate the magic array is currently being supplied by the armor and longsword.

Do not attempt to take the sword and armor, as this may lead to unforeseen consequences.

[The host must ensure that at least a trace of soul attachment remains within the corpse in order to trigger the subsequent mission check.]

Lin Gui's lips twitched slightly as he mentally complained.

"System, you even accept 'requests' from dead people?"

[Ding! According to the underlying rules of the Akara continent, only when the soul is completely integrated into the Nether Sea can it be considered a true "death".]

The remnants of the target's soul have not completely dissipated.

Lin Gui raised an eyebrow.

"So, this hero isn't completely dead yet?"

No, he is dead.

Even if less than one-thousandth of the soul remains, the gods cannot bring it back.

Lin Gui rolled his eyes. What's the point of your explanation?

"Delivering messages to the dead... I can't even imagine what kind of targets I'll be on next..."

However, this reward, the [Eye of the Netherworld], was indeed exceptionally attractive to him.

It can sense the soul.

This will undoubtedly make up for the biggest weakness of [Night Veil], which is its inability to conceal soul detection.

Just as Lin Gui was pondering.

A faint but clear sound came from afar, the sound of a mechanism being dismantled.

He keenly detected it through the [Wind Listening Technique] and it reached his ears.

Lin Gui's eyes sharpened.

"The Knights have arrived!"

Without pausing, Lin Gui immediately called out to Elvia, who was still in a daze.

"Push the coffin away!"

Elvia recovered from her shock.

Although he didn't understand, he still followed the instructions and began to exert his energy.

They opened a sufficiently wide gap in the heavy crystal coffin lid.

The moment the coffin lid was moved, she instinctively reached out her hand.

They wanted to take down that longsword and that suit of armor.

"Don't move!"

Lin Gui shouted angrily to stop him!

Elvia jumped in fright, her hand frozen in mid-air, and she turned around with a bewildered expression.

"Didn't you open the coffin just to get these few extraordinary pieces of equipment?"

"Don't move, there are mechanisms connected inside!" Lin Gui explained urgently.

"If we touch the swords and armor, we might not even make it out of this tomb!"

Elvia immediately withdrew her hand, still shaken.

"Then why did you open the coffin?"

Lin Gui did not answer, but instead bent down.

They carefully lifted the skeleton of the hero named Reinhardt from the coffin.

He quickly took off his mage robe.

He carefully wrapped it up and then tucked it into Elvia's arms.

Elvia exclaimed "Holy crap!" and almost instinctively threw it away.

Lin Gui immediately warned:

"Don't throw it away! This is your ancestor!"

"If you dare to throw it away, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your ancestors, you unfilial descendant, and leave you here to face the Knights yourself!"

"Huh?!" Elvia, clutching a bag of bones, was completely dumbfounded. "Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Alright, no time to explain! The Knights are coming, start setting up the traps according to plan!" Lin Gui spoke quickly.

"Go find an empty coffin and move it to a spot about a hundred meters from the entrance. Make sure it's conspicuous; the knights must see it immediately!"

"At the same time, it creates the illusion that there are many traps and mechanisms ahead."

Elvia hurriedly tied up the mage's robe that wrapped the skeleton and carried it on her back.

When she remembered what Lin Gui had told her about the trap plan, she asked with a strange expression:

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

"right!"

After saying that, Lin Gui ignored her and stepped onto his oak staff.

They flew towards the magic stones at the top of the hall that emitted a soft glow.

Seeing this, Elvia could only stare in the direction he had disappeared and mutter angrily.

"Damn it! What a lunatic! I've never seen an ambush like this before!"