Mystery: The Undead Don't Die from Linking the Fire

The Forsaken Land, afternoon town camp.

Led by Chief Colin Iliad, the nine-man exploration team, including Derikberg, left the Afternoon Town camp and made their way to the summit along the gray stone steps, between towering, dark buildings.

They were at least Sequence 6 Beyonders, and most of them belonged to the 'Warrior' pathway. They moved quite quickly, clearing out several waves of monsters, mainly rotting giants, before finally arriving at the twilight-shrouded area. They were awestruck by the magnificent and epic architecture, and for a brief moment, no one spoke.

This was also the first time they had encountered a place with natural light, without alternating lightning!

However, through generations of change, although they still revered the "sun" recorded in the documents, they themselves had become more adapted to the environment of frequent lightning and deep darkness, and had an instinctive fear of this situation that was frozen in twilight.

I have both hope and fear.

Upon entering the twilight-shrouded area, the entire exploration team, including Chief Colin Iliad and Elder "Shepherd" Lovia, inevitably began to show signs of exhaustion and decline, as if they were entering the twilight of their lives. As they progressed, more and more rotting giants, either wandering the roads or rushing out from various buildings, appeared, growing stronger and stronger.

With one side weakened and the other strengthened, progress became difficult. After several fierce battles, the Silver City exploration team finally broke through the monsters' blockade and obstruction, arriving at an extremely quiet area where there was no sound at all, making people's scalps tingle.

In response, the Silver Knight Colin Iliad had to break his silence and offer a reminder:

"This means we have truly entered the 'Giant's Court,' and are approaching its core. The level of danger will only increase, not decrease."

Upon hearing this, the exploration team members' hearts tightened.

The rotting giants that just attacked them were comparable to Sequence 5 monsters. If this continues, won't they encounter Sequence 4 monsters? If it's just one or two, that's fine, but if they're in large groups like before, their situation will likely be quite dangerous!

The chief clearly anticipated this situation and was equally vigilant about everything around him.

Surprisingly, despite their increasing depth into the core of the Giants' Court, they did not encounter a single monster along the way.

Finally, a huge stone staircase appeared before them!

Its overall color is grayish-white, yet it is tinged with orange light, making it both dazzling and serene.

Above the massive steps stands a city wall so majestic that one must look up to see the top. It bears many signs of damage and burning, and in some places, arrows as thick as ordinary trees and several meters long are stuck in the ground, causing some of the stones to collapse!

In the middle of the city wall is a double gate, several tens of meters high, with a grayish-blue hue and gold nails embedded in it.

Most importantly, this door has been opened by someone at some point!

This unexpected situation immediately made everyone else more vigilant, but Chief Colin Iliad resolutely stepped onto the stairs.

Clearly, the chief was not surprised by the situation here.

After all, he had personally witnessed those two outsiders enter the Giants' Court.

As the exploration team approached, the scene behind the door gradually came into view.

A gray-white staircase, bathed in orange-red light, with countless layers of steps, rose from behind the door and stretched all the way to the highest and most magnificent residence of the giant king. Nothing else obstructed the way, and palaces and towers lined both sides.

On both sides of the Stairway to God's Kingdom are numerous pedestals used to house statues.

Judging from the size of the base, the statue placed on it must be at least six meters tall!

But now, the giant statues that guarded the steps of the divine kingdom have disappeared, leaving only their still intact bases and scattered, perhaps uncleaned, rubble on each step.

Clearly, this was the work of the previous "visitor".

The reason they were able to get here without any obstacles was because the other party had cleared away the dangers beforehand.

"call!"

Colin Iliad took a deep breath.

If that's the case, then this exploration might go even more smoothly than he imagined.

With that thought in mind, Colin led the exploration team upwards, and a towering palace gradually came into view.

And when they finally stepped into that magnificent palace, they witnessed a scene they would never forget—

The palace was bathed in the frozen twilight, with a balustrade made of stone pillars on the left.

Beyond the railing, there was a pervasive orange-red cloud, and beyond that, a gently surging, endless deep blue expanse, a deep blue that made a rustling sound.

Without needing any explanation, the members of the Silver City exploration team simultaneously recalled the records in the books and Little Jack's descriptions, and a term flashed through their minds:

"The sea."

The deep blue, gently surging, boundless sea, seemingly teeming with endless life, appeared before the eyes of the Silver City exploration team members. It was no longer a record in ancient books or a combination of words from an outsider.

Although it is still far away, it seems that it is already possible to reach it.

In the exploration team, Antilna, with her wine-red hair, stared intently at the spot, opening her mouth as if to express something, but ultimately only uttering one word:

"The sea..."

"Is the ocean beautiful?"

A voice asked.

"Um."

Antilna continued to gaze intently at the boundless sea, and softly hummed in agreement.

"Yes, it's beautiful."

The voice carried a hint of reminiscence, its tone somber as it spoke:

"Thousands of years have passed, and the Giants' Court remains magnificent, and the sea remains beautiful. Just standing here, one can take in the entire Giants' Court... But now, those who came to admire the scenery have long since vanished. I have searched the entire Giants' Court, but I have not found a single living giant."

"Everyone died, from that great upheaval thousands of years ago."

This unexpected statement startled the exploration team; it was clearly not something a resident of Silver City would express. While the palace was magnificent, they weren't its inhabitants, and there was nothing here for them to reminisce about. So who was this person speaking with such a nostalgic tone?

Antilna turned around abruptly, looking warily at the giant that had appeared out of nowhere!

Despite their tall and imposing stature, which made them extremely conspicuous, none of them noticed the other's arrival!

If the other party hadn't spoken rashly, but instead launched a sudden attack...

Antilna's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat; she could already foresee the consequences for herself.

The gray-blue-skinned giant remained unmoved by their wariness, merely turning his gaze to the leader and asking in a friendly manner:

"I remember your name is Colin?"

The chief paused for two seconds, then nodded slightly and said:

"Colin Iliad, we met at the town camp this afternoon."

Grosser chuckled good-naturedly, scratched the back of his head, and his vertical monocle did not reveal the ferocity and tyranny portrayed in various legends of giants.

Colin looked around and asked, seemingly casually:

"I remember you were accompanied by Mr. Ember. Isn't he here?"

The giant Grosser surveyed the room with his single, vertical eye and chuckled:

"He's in the Northern Continent. You all hope to travel to the Northern Continent from here, right?"

Colin remained silent, neither commenting nor denying the matter.

Grosser noticed the Silver City exploration team's wariness and hostility, but he didn't take it to heart. He simply smiled and turned to leave.

Antilna hesitated and wavered:

"Chief, we..."

"Follow him."

Colin Iliad noticed the wariness and unease in the others and said in a deep voice.

Derrick remained silent and was the first to follow.

And so, the nine-member exploration team cautiously followed behind the tall, grey-blue-skinned giant. The giant, Grosser, could clearly sense their 'following,' but he did not make a sound to stop them.

In this situation, even the most hostile members of the exploration team could tell that the giant named Grosser meant no harm.

Finally, they crossed the hall and arrived at a wide-open door. Following Grosser's entrance, they saw an exceptionally magnificent and ornate palace. At the far end of the palace were steps bathed in orange-red light, upon which sat a massive, iron-black throne.

Thousands of years ago, the giant king Ormir sat on that enormous throne, ruling the divine kingdom known as the Giants' Court!

Standing before the gates of this magnificent palace, the exploration team hesitated for a moment as they looked at the gray-blue giant.

For the giants, these people trespassing on the Giant King's residence should be a serious crime, right?

Although the giant showed no aggressive intent along the way, it did not mean that the giant was harmless.

If they rashly enter the palace, they will likely be met with a relentless pursuit.

Grosser stood before the steps of the throne, suddenly turned to look at the crowd at the door, scratched his head, and asked:

Aren't you coming in?

The exploration team members instinctively looked at Colin, who hesitated for a moment before stepping into the palace.

The anticipated attack did not come; the giant remained standing before the throne, waiting for them.

This made the members of the exploration team lower their guard and follow the chief into the palace.

Once everyone had caught up, Grosser climbed the steps and walked to the iron-black throne.

The exploration team then saw the towering giant carefully avoid the throne and go around to the back of it.

Colin immediately reminded him in a deep voice:

"Do not approach the throne."

The exploration team felt a chill run down their spines. Entering the palace might not be considered offensive, but touching the throne certainly would!

Colin took a deep breath, climbed the tall steps, and walked far away from the iron-black throne.

Then he saw that behind the throne was a pair of large, gray-blue doors, dimly lit, depicting a scene of twilight!

This might be the 'door' to the outside world... Colin Iliad, Derrick, and Lovia all had this thought at the same time.

"That's the door to leave here," the giant Grosser's voice confirmed their guess.

Seeing the members of the exploration team looking at him, Grosser chuckled:

"You can push that door open yourselves."

"I'll do it!" Derrick volunteered without hesitation.

Colin paused for two seconds, then nodded slightly to Derrick.

If the giant wasn't lying to them, then there really was a passage to escape hidden behind that door.

But if the giants were lying to them all along, then there might be unimaginable dangers hidden behind this door!

The person who opens the door will inevitably bear the greatest risk.

As the strongest member of the exploration team, Colin cannot open the door.

Because if something were to happen to him, the remaining people would have no chance of stopping the giants' slaughter.

Therefore, it is up to others to take the risk.

Now, Derrick has taken on this responsibility.

"call."

Derrick took a deep breath, strode forward to the door, placed his hand on it, and pushed hard against the gray-blue door.

Drops of water slid down Derrick's face, the heavy pattering sound echoing in his ears.

A crack appeared, letting in the golden sunlight.

The gap widened, and a vast, golden sea gradually appeared before Derrick's eyes, before Colin Iliad's eyes, and before the eyes of all the members of the exploration team.

Their eyes were full of hope, and their faces showed smiles without a trace of gloom and a faint longing.

The open, gray-blue gate, the stone steps leading down, the sea shimmering with golden light, and the omnipresent light—that was the result of their countless explorations and sacrifices!

Derrick looked at Grosser with some anticipation and asked:

"Can we leave from here?"

"No."

Grosser shook his head and explained:

"You have to leave at the right time and in the right way."

Derrick asked impatiently:

"What is the right way?"

Grosser countered with:

Why should I tell you?

Derrick was stunned for a moment, and the nerves of everyone in Silver City tensed up immediately.

Grosser's friendly gestures along the way almost made them forget that this giant was also a potential enemy!

Grosser's vertical monocle swept over the group of people, and he slowly said:

"The ancient sun god killed our king, why do you think I would let His followers leave this place?"

These words immediately heightened the tension between the two sides, with Antilna and the others even placing their hands on their weapons!

Yes!

The enemy was a giant, and their god had killed the giant king Ormir, which was an absolute mortal feud for the giants!

Moreover, Silver City was once a follower of the Giant King, but ultimately converted to the faith of the Lord.

This is a blatant betrayal for the giants!

The conflict between the two sides is almost irreconcilable!

Colin reached out and stopped Baiyincheng and the others, asking in a deep voice:

"So, what is your request?"

He believed that the other party's previous friendliness was genuine, if they truly did not want them to leave.

There was absolutely no need to bring them here, much less to make them open that door!