Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: 9. The Gaze of the Dead (1/2)

at the end of the staircase was an artificial metal gate.

this gate cut off the path between the staircase and the first underground level.

under ideal conditions, the metal gate would block air flow between the inside and outside, sealing the poisonous gas emitted by undead creatures within the tomb passages of the underground crypt.

but now, corroded traces appeared on the metal gate.

around the door seams and hinges, there were many corrosion patterns like tassels.

thin wisps of greenish-yellow poisonous gas seeped out from these damaged areas, flowing up along the corridor of the staircase.

corporal mars raised the coal lamp to the door panel.

faint but somewhat dazzling light reflected off the corroded spots.

“…the corroded areas are very smooth, with no burrs. they must have appeared in the last dozen days,” mars muttered under his breath.

he turned his head to look at the sergeant behind him:

“when was the last time this door was inspected?”

the sergeant flipped through a diary a few pages to find the exact date:

“chief officer, the latest inspection was 21 days ago.”

corporal mars nodded thoughtfully:

“hmm, in other words, not long after we finished the inspection, the door was corroded by the poisonous fog behind it… it seems there are quite a few undead in the first underground level.”

he took out the key for the metal gate, inserted it into the keyhole to unlock it, and then gripped the door handle with both hands:

“get ready, mates. i’m going to open the metal gate… sin soldier no. 888, come help me open the door. remember, after opening the door, you cannot retreat without my permission. no matter what happens, you can only move forward or stand still.”

“yes, chief officer.”

noland lee held the door handle, his heart rate slightly picking up.

he had a bad feeling that the scene behind the door might be somewhat unexpected.

the heavy metal gate was opened by the soldiers with their combined strength.

noland’s hands were filled with a coal lamp given to him by a soldier.

under the urging of the soldiers’ gazes, he stepped into the completely dark space.

as soon as he set foot in the tomb passage of the first underground level, the light of the coal lamp was further compressed.

noland fiddled with the dimmer switch and then shook his head helplessly.

this ghost place seemed to reject light.

even if he turned the brightness of the coal lamp to the highest setting, the light could only hover within a one-meter radius.

noland could only move forward almost in total darkness.

the cold and sinister atmosphere in the air became more intense, the rolling chill penetrated the sin soldier uniform and clung to noland’s skin, making him shiver.

it was a cold that could pierce armor and body, directly affecting one’s soul, as if it could rob the living of all hope and vitality.

noland clenched his teeth and steeled himself to move forward.

from the moment he stepped through the metal gate, his deconstruction technique never stopped.

unable to see anything in the darkness, he could only rely on the system feedback messages to determine what he had passed by.

[system message: you are about to perform deconstruction on “ancient floor tiles”…]

[system message: you are about to perform deconstruction on “old wall lamp”…]

[system message: you are about to perform deconstruction on “awakening skeleton”…]

wait, awakening skeleton?… noland stopped in his tracks and listened carefully.

from a few meters ahead, a very faint sound could be heard.

“creak, creak.” it was like the sound made when fingers tapped on ribs.

[system message: you are about to perform deconstruction on “unknown name undead creature”…]

an undead creature has appeared, where is it?