Shadow Trails in Azeroth

The library of the Dream God is a very magical place.

According to Lord Merlin who led the way, this place does not exist in a world in the conventional sense, or in other words, it connects most of the worlds in the multiverse,

It's just that few people can find the way to get here.

Because the owner of this place, Meng Shen, is not a hospitable person. He has unique taste and only welcomes guests who like to tell stories or listen to stories to stay in his library.

Although the name is called the library, what Blake sees before his eyes is an endless variety of bookshelves, and each bookshelf is filled with a variety of books.

They are organized very concisely, not only leaving space between each bookshelf for people to walk and choose, but there are even ladders specially used for climbing next to the high raised bookshelves.

Looking above the head, there is a gentle light, not very bright or dazzling, just the kind of light that is most friendly to the eyes when holding a book and reading.

If it feels too dark, there are magic candlesticks floating around at any time. The candles in those candlesticks are like flying elves, igniting flames on the head, which seem to never burn out.

How many books are there here?

When Blake came to this place full of books, he intuitively put down the pipe at the corner of his mouth. This was one of the few good habits he had developed under the guidance of Dean Lan Yue.

Facing his question, Lord Raven shrugged, and while letting his strange robe with the hem divided into four sides be blown by the wind of wisdom in front of him, he replied casually:

No one knows, and there's no way to count it, because every time a new story in the multiverse is born, there will be an extra book here. The Dream God is a writer and a recorder. He doesn't care whether those new stories will be People will like him, he is just persistently recording every story that comes before his eyes.

He's pure, which also means he's not easy to deal with.

But I think you'd be friends with him.

I also think I'm pretty good at making friends, maybe that's one of my great talents?

Blake followed the raven through the densely packed bookshelves.

He looked around, and occasionally he could see one or two shadowy figures walking around the bookshelves, and some were sitting on the floor holding a book and reading with relish.

They are not the only ones in this library, there are many visitors here, but unfortunately, their unique existence form prevents Blake from seeing their faces or communicating with them.

He said:

Who are these guests?

Observers.

Merlin whispered:

“The most peculiar existence in the multiverse, a group of living souls chasing stories. In a sense, it is they who support the continuous development and prosperity of the multiverse.

The Dream God's Library is one of the few places in the multiverse where you can see the Observer's projection, but I advise you not to try to talk to them, it could lead to some very bad things.

for example?

Blake asked eagerly:

What is the most severe punishment?

Punishment? No, there won't be any punishment.

Observers are actually very happy to be friends with the characters in the multiverse and are proud of it. Most of them are friendly and enthusiastic. What is really harmful is the special dimension in which they live.

Just like salamanders can't live in water, and water elves will dissipate when they get close to flames.

Raven explained:

'Breaking the fourth wall' comes at a price, my dear Blake, and the last guy who did it successfully turned his brain into mush and became one of the most hated and avoided guys we've ever seen. .

So, for the sake of your sanity, Lord Evil God, if there are still people you care about in the multiverse, please don't try it recklessly.

But you can interact with observers in other ways, such as trying to make your subsequent stories more exciting, so that they will pay attention to you and support you.”

Having said this, Merlin seemed to remember some past events. He pursed his lips and smiled, saying vaguely and mysteriously:

“Trust me, that will do you a lot of good.

Okay, the Dream God's writing room is right in front. You can go by yourself. I won't accompany you. I'm still a little busy. The soul form transformation of the new batch of fellow lost fellows who were found in the void has not yet been completed. , and also give each of them a gold finger so that they can start a new life better.

This is a very delicate job, and I need to finish it before you go.

Wait, Goldfinger?

Blake blinked and said to the raven:

So, it's on me too?

Well, the one you have is the 'trial version'. Based on the user feedback from you guys, I decided to upgrade it.

Raven reached out and gently grasped something on Blake's shoulder.

The pirate immediately felt something leave his body, and the translucent character card that always existed in front of him turned into quicksand and disappeared like a page crashing.

In Merlin's hands, there was already a condensation composed of irregular light beams.

This is the truth about Goldfinger.

Well, apart from being a bit crappy and useless, this thing is actually quite useful.

Lord Evil God made a very venomous comment:

You know, this thing was useless before I even reached Legend. I only used it as an identifier, and it is really useful in this regard.

Cool, that's what I designed them for.

Not only was the raven not angry, but he nodded enthusiastically and said:

I have discussed this topic with Seb. He and I have always believed that things like 'Goldfinger' should not be too powerful, lest it affect the theme of the stories of the fellow villagers.

That would create the illusion of being overshadowed.

It seems that anyone who gets that exaggerated thing can kill everyone. That is not the life we ​​want our fellow villagers to achieve. It is boring to always play the easy mode.

This thing is to help you get through the most difficult period and allow you to better shape the starting point of your life story in the new world. There's a saying that if you need a cheat to become the protagonist, then maybe you shouldn't have it in the first place.

Hey, I've heard this sentence before! They were talking about superheroes and suits.

Blake complained:

Have you paid the copyright fee?

I don't know either, so keep a low profile.

The raven grinned and threw the flowing light into the pirate's body. Before leaving, he warned:

The target new world for the next batch of lost fellows to be transported by you should be the new world woven from the area where Seb and I are. Our boss has good personal friendships with some gamblers in the multiverse, and I I heard that they are holding some hot and bad events recently.

Therefore, our fellow villagers are expected to face quite exciting situations after entering.

In fact, this is fine, only fire can make real gold.

Not everyone is suitable to be a hero or warrior. For those folks who just want to live an ordinary life, maybe quitting is also a kind of life wisdom.

In fact, it is the wish of many people to live in another world comfortably for the rest of their lives, and then find a few elf wives to live a life without shame.

The pressure to save or destroy the world is too great. Those souls who are destined to become heroes are not determined to embark on this path from the beginning. They have their own destiny pushing behind them.

If you could lie down flat, what normal person would be willing to work hard?

It's human nature to be lazy.

I feel like there's something wrong with what you said, but if you think about it carefully, it doesn't seem to be a problem. Speaking of which, how are you going to modify Goldfinger?

Blake asked curiously:

If you don't violate your original intention and don't plan to stuff an old man with a white beard into this thing, how can you strengthen the 'initial skills' of the fellow villagers without affecting their lives?

It's very simple. Just design it as a tool.

The raven snapped his fingers and said:

For example, some people can kill a Cthulhu with a crowbar, but some people can't even remove a tire with a crowbar. This is not a problem with the crowbar.

I only give the fellows tools, and it's up to them whether they can use them well. As for whether the tools will control them in turn, emmmm, I think based on the average IQ of the fellows, such funny things shouldn't happen, right?

Oh, by the way, I just took some 'samples' from your body for testing of the second-generation golden finger, so if you feel soreness in your back and legs recently, that's normal.

No need to worry at all.

After saying that, the figure of the raven disappeared in front of Blake's eyes with a whoosh, and the angry pirate jumped on the spot. What the hell did you take from my body, you bastard?

Why do I still have backache and leg pain?

No noise in the library!

A scolding sounded from behind, causing Blake to stand up straight in an instant.

He felt a suppressed and dangerous force floating around, so when he turned around, that handsome face was already full of sincere apologies.

But when he turned around, the pirate was shocked to find that there was a blind man standing behind him.

It was a guy wearing a weird costume that was a combination of a Greek robe and an ancient scribe's robe. His hair was disheveled but not messy.

His face may look young, but it's a bit old, but it's not particularly old. In short, it gives people a feeling of vicissitudes of life.

The most peculiar thing is that this guy's eyes are covered with a layer of white gauze.

Well, he's a blind man.

My apology was made for a blind man to see

Are you the dream god?

Blake raised his eyebrows and asked, and the latter nodded and said:

I know you, Black Shaw, the evil pirate of Azeroth. I have just transcribed your story, including our meeting, which will be added as a postscript to your story.

I have to say that despite its flaws, your story is indeed one of the better ones I have collected recently, and for that, I am willing to forgive you for yelling rudely in my library.

After all, I can't place too high demands on a pirate's moral standards.

Well, you are really venomous in what you say.

Blake pouted and said:

As expected, handsome guys can do whatever they want.

Are you flattering me?

A gentle smile appeared on Mengshen's lips, and he made a please gesture, inviting Lord Evil God to follow him into his writing room. This place was actually no different from the outside.

There are books everywhere.

The books piled up on both sides of the sofa in the corner are almost touching the ceiling like a reflection of the starry sky. It really makes people worry that if these stacked books fall down, they will smash the weak blind man Meng Shen on the spot. Die, or suffocate by being buried in a pile of books.

Well, but for those who really love books, maybe this is a happy way to die?

I have a friend.

Blake looked at Dream God's office, which was full of books. On the only clean table was an unfinished book spread open. Before he could finish speaking, he saw Dream God turn his head. There was a strange expression on his face with gauze covering his eyes.

Pirate Chip immediately waved his hands and explained:

I really have a friend, and I'm not talking about me. She also likes to write stories, listen to stories, and collect stories. I think she and you must have a common language.

Oh, Stellagosa?

The Dream God said in a gentle tone:

That little blue dragon that has been waiting for you to pick her up in the flow of time? Well, that's a good idea. I really need an assistant in my library to help manage the increasingly complex collection.

You can ask her for me.

If she wants, I can give her a job so that she can travel around the multiverse collecting interesting little stories to write her own autobiography.

You know, I have every one of her autobiographies in my collection.

As he spoke, the Dream God waved his long sleeves like clouds, and in the dancing light, Little Star's complete set of hardcover autobiographies appeared in front of Blake's eyes like flowers.

Each copy is signed by Little Star.

If that idiot blue dragon knew that she had a reader beyond the gods in the multiverse beyond the end of the world, she would be very proud, right?

Thinking of this, Blake suddenly showed a satisfied smile, but the next moment, a flash of lightning suddenly flashed through Blake's mind. He felt that he had caught a blind spot, so he frowned and asked:

What did you mean when you said she was waiting in the flowing time? I have only been here for less than a day.

Uh, don't you know yet?

The Dream God said in a strange tone:

The speed of time in Merlin's Mysterious House is very exaggerated compared to the outside world. The few hours you spent there might have been many years in your original world.

Of course, this may not be a bad joke on their part.

They are a group of universe shapers. Their perspective of observing the world is different from that of all living beings. They need to maintain this exaggerated time ratio to ensure that they can see everything they want to see.

The agreement you made with Little Star is for a hundred years, right?

Well, I suggest you hurry up and complete the next thing. Don't forget that there is still a wife waiting for you in your hometown, and your second daughter was just born ten minutes ago.

What the hell!

Blake cursed, hurriedly thanked the Dream God, grabbed the book with his handsome photo on the cover, turned around and rushed out of the library.

He didn't know if this was a bad joke played by fellow villagers on newcomers, but Lord Evil God was always willing to think of all the guys he met with the most vicious thoughts.

So he felt that these guys must have done it on purpose.

The evil god retraced his steps and rushed into the strange, deserted castle. He hurried towards the door of the room, grabbed the simple golden lock, twisted it hard, and pushed the door open.

The next moment, Blake's eyes were filled with stars.

Beams of strange colors criss-crossed back and forth in the dark nebula, and the endless starry sky continued to expand in his eyes, and the eggshell-shaped boundaries of the universe visible to the naked eye were constantly squeezing to form creepy dimensional rifts, black The space-time storm swept across the surroundings, annihilating everything.

This is where the Mystery House is located.

In the present dimension of the multiverse, my group of crazy fellow villagers overlook all living beings from this perspective every day, and I...

He is now one of these immortals.

At this moment, Blake, who was standing at the door, felt faintly excited and proud, but before he could savor this unique feeling, he saw his poor Nagfar squeezing at the boundary between the two universes. Struggling forward through the cracks formed by the pressure, it was like a small sampan rising and falling in the tide. A big wave would hit it at any time, causing the boat to be destroyed.

Damn it! This must have been arranged by them, they are all a bunch of old silver coins.

Blake stood at the open door and cursed loudly, shouting Raven's name loudly, as if activating a certain effect of this mysterious house, and the starry sky in front of him was suddenly stretched to an expanded perspective, like It was a tank of water placed in front of him, and the Nagfar was the model ship floating in the tank.

The evil god laughed and stretched out his hand, carefully holding his ship in his hand, taking it out of the dangerous cosmic storm, and placing it in front of his eyes, using his big eyes to look at the yelling idiots on the deck. them.

Like a giant, he stretched out his finger and flicked the three warlocks in embarrassment on the forehead.

The next moment, like an unfathomable starry sky god, he took a deep breath and blew towards the boat in his hand. The familiar black giant ship soon appeared in the starry sky outside the mysterious house.

Maiev and Xal'atas, who temporarily played the role of captain and first mate, raised their heads and saw Blake standing in front of the black castle with a starry background, opening his arms like a master, welcoming them to the strange new world.

The one who moved faster than the two ladies was Miss Fenner.

The stupid warrior cheered and turned into a blue lightning and rushed into his brother's arms, while Blake blinked at Fenner's already swollen belly.

He shrugged, stroking the spot where new life was growing.

He let out a long breath, nibbled hard on the face of the proud, proud and proud Fenna, and said to his wives and good daughters who rushed towards him:

Everyone, this is our new home port. We have a lot to do next, but welcome home.