Chapter 1128 - The Lower City (1/2)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The bottom of the elevator shaft was not a sealed space. The closer it got to the bottom, the wider the shaft became. Boulders, steel, and pipes, which made up the shaft wall gradually extended down into the buildings in the lower city. This was a transitional structure that had evolved over thousands of years.

The lower city.

At the deepest point of Twilight Capital was the foundation of the doomsday refuge. This place gave Hao Ren the impression that it was dim and messy.

Many things still remained the same as they were two thousand years ago. Large stone buildings and cast-iron columns with runes were everywhere. Back then, humans were incapable of building such a magnificent megalithic city. The cities of Midgard were constructed with the help of the Norse gods. It was for this reason that these ancient buildings were strong enough to become the foundation of Twilight Capital.

The old buildings were lined up next to each other. The lower city was like a vast and complex labyrinth. Buildings and platforms, of different ages, stacked up on top of each other. The city was as if having a massive rock sitting on its head, it felt depressing, and there was a fear that the entire city might crumble down.

Hao Ren looked up. Twilight Capital was like a bloated nest with structure crisscrossing over its head all the way into the darkness. There were lights on the city structure, but none of these lights could dispel the depressing feeling brought by night. He tried his best to perceive and finally saw a white at the end of the dark abyss. He guessed it might be the light shone from the upper city, but soon he found that he was wrong: it was just a cloud. The city was stacked so high that clouds were floating among the buildings.

Those who were natives of Twilight Capital would know that the area was where the condensing pipes of the large boiler located. There was another group of degenerated people who lived in that harsh environment. These people were known as Barnier people; the platform they lived rained all year around. The rainwater falling from the cloud near the condenser tubes contained some kind of slightly toxic substances, so the skin of the residents on the platform emitted a faint fluorescence.

“This place is more broken than imagined,” Vivian could not help but mutter after seeing at the place.

“This is the city of two thousand years old.” Wendell shook his head. “The deeper you go, the older it gets. But thanks to the blessing of the ancient sage, these things are still solid and hold-ups. At least for now, the city will not collapse due to structural overload.”

Hao Ren carefully observed the surroundings. At first, he thought there would at least be some public security forces here, but there was none. The battle that occurred on the upper city seemed not a concern down here. He felt this a little weird.

No matter how dilapidated the old city was, it was still where the ancient sage lived. No matter how noisy Lily could cause on the upper city, not all city guards would leave their posts and go to the lift platform in the upper city. There must be at least some guards remained down here, Hao Ren thought to himself.

Wendell felt the same. He watched with caution at the black stone houses around him. “There should be a Twilight security squad stationed all year round here. They will not leave the post, no matter what happens.”

In the dark alley, shadows were moving. Hao Ren saw a few ragged civilians hustled by. Two of them glanced into his direction, but there was no expression on their faces. Very quickly, they left.

The entire lower city was so quiet that it was almost creepy.

To figure out what happened, Hao Ren and Vivian followed Wendell to a Twilight Guard outpost, a standalone square building some hundred meters from the lift. It was located on higher ground with no obstruction all round. Usually, there were always two guards standing in front of the building, and the searchlight at the top of the building would remain bright and regularly sweeping around the entrance of the elevator. But now the outpost was utterly silent, no guards patrolling. Even the searchlight had been switched off.

“There are signs of life inside,” Vivian said, sniffling. “The smell of blood, they are alive but being restrained, it seems.”

Things became weirder. Hao Ren raised his guard and walked in front of the team. Yet nothing happened. Vivian followed him from behind, surrounded by a dark, bloody mist, while her bats were hidden in the clouds ready to attack.

*Bang!*

Hao Ren kicked the door open and stormed in with his spear in his hand. “Don’t move!”