Blood tax

Chapter 356 The Ancient Call ([-])

Griffith didn't know what kind of creature the desolate breath he had just perceived came from.This feeling came and went in a hurry, like a mirage showing a hurried phantom, and then disappeared without a trace.

The regular contact between the investigation team led by Professor Julian and the camp team was arranged at [-] o'clock that night.Before making contact, the camp team was not sure that they could receive the message from the front.After all, in this strange land where few humans set foot, things often do not go as smoothly as expected.

After several adjustments, the small echo hub built by Professor Lafayette received the first batch of messages.The progress plan of the team led by Professor Julian was transmitted back in the form of text and a small number of black and white pictures against time, so that the anxious people could have a glimpse of the unknown world deep in the island.

Professor Lafayette seemed to be back in his classroom.Holding a note full of messages in his hand, he said to the members of the investigation team and the guests who gathered in a cadenced tone:

"December 1444, 12 in the Second Era was a memorable day for our Medini Higher Magic Academy and the Heber Foundation investigation team. Explorers, our team faces many obstacles, but our firm mind will open a new door of knowledge for this world.

"Just now, Professor Julian's investigation team has sent back a message."

The Odessa people present were greatly encouraged.Even the most active, or perhaps the most inebriated Milban Knight admitted that he did not expect to hear back from the front on time.

Scholars and archaeologists who had a hasty dinner immediately began to interpret the message, and even shared the content and their own joy with Griffith and Arundale without any shyness.

The message is divided into several paragraphs.The investigation team has already found the entrance to the ruins not far away, clearing the breach very efficiently.The investigative team stopped several times along the way to collect specimens and record what they saw and heard.

Message from Professor Julian's Forward Group ([-])

"Naira's spiritual guidance has been of great help to us. Every scholar in the forward group is amazed by the unparalleled precision and inspiration. On this small island hidden in the desolate sea, the intricate and labyrinthine roads let Our bearings are difficult, and the search for ancient ruins may take years. But Naira shows us the safe and easy way.

"We have been following the winding road deep into the ground all morning. When necessary, we have stopped to clear rocks and strengthen supports. Markings have been placed along the way so that you can reach them in time.

"Professor of Mystery, Your Excellency Erem, Senior Spell Consultant and Archaeologist, Lord Adbaran, and Camp Team Leader, Professor Lafayette, including myself as a historian, the four of us are the expedition to go deep into the ground. The person in charge of the team. There are also 7 masters of Medini, 9 engineers, alchemists, knights and monks, all of whom are outstanding professionals with dedication. After confirming the entrance of the ruins, I instructed the The list of members of the entire investigation team is engraved on the rock wall beside it.

"We have carried sufficient supplies and arranged echo hub lines along the way. Although the preparations for blasting, supplies, reinforcement, camping and defense are not sufficient, they are also very appropriate. All in all, whether it is manpower, brains or materials, we have all Get ready to uncover hidden truths and deal with nasty situations.

"During the investigation, we will continue to transmit progress and information to the camp through the Echo Hub.

"The world will be shocked by what we discover, and everything will change."

Message from Professor Julian's Forward Group ([-])

"As we walked deeper into the ruins, the plants, landforms and rock formations we were familiar with disappeared into the darkness. Instead, there was a natural wonder buried deep under this unnamed island.

"After reaching 210 meters below sea level, we came to the entrance of a huge underground space. Under the dim light of luminous plants and minerals, a huge silhouette appeared clearly ahead, standing in the deep and quiet underground world. The rushing The coming vast and ancient breath reminds every cell in our body to welcome the incredible miracle that is about to be presented with full awe.

"Naira confirmed to us that this was the first holy place he was directed to seek.

"Everyone is very excited about this. Although our departure is so unfortunate and twists and turns, but at this moment, I can announce that the first battle between Tini High School of Magic and the Heber Foundation investigation team has been successful."

The messages that Professor Lafayette received were sent together after the echo signal was connected. After he finished reading the first two messages, he stopped to wait for the third message.

Griffith clearly felt that the atmosphere of the camp group became active.However, vaguely, there is a lingering feeling of strangeness.

Miss Wendy kept flicking her locket, and Miss Willow's wand repeatedly ignited and then went out.The holy knight Mirban wanted to drink a few glasses, but found that there was not much left in his flagon.The joy on Cleric Bolton's face was as stiff as if he was wearing a mask, and archaeologist Bin Hur's slender fingers bounced on his knees like stick insects.

Everyone here is very excited, but it is not as heartfelt as the excitement of getting academic achievements, but there is a kind of tension and anticipation that something long-awaited is about to happen.

After a while, the third message from Professor Julian's forward group came:
"We finally witnessed the 'ancient being' mentioned only in the mythology, the relic of the gods.

"In the depths of the deep and astonishingly large crypt stands a huge fortress. There are excavation marks on the surrounding rock walls, and the ground is covered with fine white sand. When we look at this huge fortress, we even feel a burst of Throbbing like a heartbeat.

"This fortress is a living creature?! It looks like a huge conch, standing in a large lake. The rising sea water should have submerged this cave, but an invisible force blocked the space, keeping the entire cave dry.

"In the dark and deep sea water, we seem to see something, like coral seaweed, and it looks like a half-human, half-fish horror creature is performing a strange ceremony. We looked at it carefully for a while, and everyone agreed that it was caused by light and shadow. hallucinations.

"The lost undersea temple turned out to be real. For countless ages in the past, a powerful master has accumulated power here and under the stagnant waters of the Turan Swamp. Now, we are about to unveil the mystery.

"This ancient mystery came from before the ages, from the abyss of stars."

Wait, mermaid... Griffith jumped in surprise.Professor Julian and the investigators thought it was a phantom, but Arandale was standing beside Griffith.

The third message was marked in the afternoon.The survey team must have been around the conch, and even entered its interior, since then and now.

Sure enough, the fourth message that was quickly deciphered confirmed this:
"The temporary camp under the conch has been set up. We have selected a location in front of the amazing ocean giant, and started to arrange the magic circle to open a breach.

"However, before we were ready, a mechanism here was touched, and the huge shell made a loud noise. There was a gap in the chitin carapace, and the crimson flesh and blood slowly opened, revealing the spiral cloth Serrated mouthparts.

"Everyone was shocked by the sight inside.

"From the outside, although this big snail has long lost its vitality, its appearance is neat and complete. No one would have imagined that inside the shell, there are strips of dark red joint-like objects. They penetrated the extremely strong The upper and lower inner shells are covered with plague-like black and red spots everywhere they go.

"These joints and tentacles are even alive, wriggling slowly like bugs, trying to break through the chitin shell at any time, spreading and multiplying to the outside world.

"If a conch is a large city-like biological fortress, then the alien biomass entrenched in this conch is a parasite entrenched in flesh and blood.

"They cling fiercely and obtrusively to the inside of the giant conch's carapace. They are over 50 meters high and are black and dark red in color. The thick black and red fleshy tentacles are flying fiercely.

"When we got closer, we found that the surface of this lair was densely covered with purple-red pipes like meridians, wriggling and bulging like blood vessels and esophagus, making the lair's appearance more terrifying and evil.

"Such a huge biomass nest is parasitic inside the conch, devouring its flesh and blood bit by bit, and finally occupying it as its own fortress. Unfortunately, the ancient conch that was parasitized by it has completely lost its vitality, and all the essence of flesh and blood is in the long was devoured by the years.

"What is it that can kill such a huge and ancient sea lord, the home of countless lives, and now only the occupied body remains, becoming a flesh and blood lair?
"We were shocked and terrified, but the joy and excitement of being close to the unknown overcame everything. We opened the closed chamber and found that this is not the first time that humans have set foot here.

"On the solid chitinous wall we found a well-preserved text. It says so...

"'Better than those sailors who choked on the seawater in a shipwreck and died in the mouth of a sea monster, or the poor wretch who died in hunger and pain, I, who lost my expedition and was trapped here, Poor worms who spend all day in babbling and panic, are the most unfortunate.

"'I have been here a month now, and poor Fat, my best and last student, died two weeks ago on a quivering tentacle. I saw him melted by the tentacle and become As thin as paper. No one has spoken to me since, please understand how an archaeologist who likes to talk feels after that.

"'Why did we make such a foolish decision, why dare to come to His holy place...

"'This flesh and blood nest is a palace of twisted and terrifying existence. My companions, those bugs who tried to spy on him only left their names. I put a stone next to the excreted residue, and then recorded their names."

"'Please wake up before witnessing the absurd secrets that challenge the physiological bottom line and trample on all the laws of the world, stay away from this crazy place of right and wrong, and don't let more people die in vain.

"'leave here!

"'Don't wake him up!'"

(End of this chapter)