Chapter 369: Time and Space Folding

Chapter 369: Time and Space Folding

Han Zu and Gloria rested for a while, using this time to observe the changes in the passage of the ruins, trying to find some patterns in it, and then continue to go deeper into the ruins. However, perhaps the two did not stay long enough, or the ruins themselves were like this. During this period of time, the changes in the ruins did not have any regularity, and there were no repeated positions. The time of change was also inconsistent, and there was no regularity either.

However, during this period, several different exits appeared in the passage where the two were located. However, without exception, after being scanned by the contractor's equipment, their paths eventually led to a dead end. Looking at the increasingly complex and huge ruins routes mapped out by the contractor's equipment, Han Zu's patience was gradually exhausted. He had already stood up, ready to use the most primitive method to break through the maze-like passage.

However, just before Han Zu was about to crash through the ruins passage in front of him, the position of the passage changed again. This time, the path the passage led to was not a dead end, but another large space. However, something was not right inside that space, and the contractor's equipment detected an abnormal space folding phenomenon at that location.

Compared to Han Zu, Gloria was more patient. After persuading Han Zu that if they crashed through the ruins, it would likely cause a collapse, causing the ruins to be completely destroyed, Han Zu's patience was restored a little, and together with Gloria, they entered the newly appeared ruins passage.

"The road behind us is gone. We probably won't be able to return to our original position normally. It seems that there is still some regularity in the changes of the ruins. We should have entered the next... uh... stage?"

"Whatever. I just know that if I can't get out this time, I will really lose my patience."

Fortunately, the passage did not change as the two of them advanced, so after more than ten minutes, they successfully walked out of the passage and arrived at the location with the space folding phenomenon that the device had previously scanned. This place is different from the passage in the ruins. It is relatively bright here. The strange thing is that there is no lighting facility at this location. It feels like someone has turned up the contrast and brightness here.

Although the contractor's equipment had detected an abnormal space folding phenomenon, from the two's observations, there seemed to be nothing abnormal here. This was the case when observed with the naked eye, and the energy fluctuations perceived were also normal.

"Device error?"

"Maybe. Anyway, let's investigate this place first. Maybe we can find some clues. This place looks like a medieval tournament training ground or a trial hall."

This space looked a bit like the forgotten borderland copy that Han Zu had played in the Infinite City. However, it was only somewhat similar. Based on the architectural style inside and the styles of some of the oil paintings hanging on the walls, it could be confirmed that this was not the same place.

Unlike the interior of the ruins passage, there are other furnishings here besides the walls. Some weapons and armor that don't look too worn are scattered randomly in the arena surrounded by a small wooden fence. You can also see some half-eaten bread and some wine in simple cups on the table in the rest area. In short, the whole space gives people the feeling that there are still people here.

"According to the equipment's detection, these simple foods and wine are extremely old. However, judging from the state of these foods, they are indeed still fresh. These untouched breads are even still a little warm. They should have just come out of the oven. But..."

"We are now in a ruin that was swallowed by a giant fish at some unknown time. Although the equipment detected anomalies in the space, it did not find anything wrong with the time."

“Could it be related to the contractors’ perception? I remember when I talked to them before, they said that in their perception, time does not exist.”

"I don't think so. Maybe their understanding of time is different from ours. After all, they exist in another form. But according to our understanding, we should have encountered an anomaly in time and space. So the current situation should be... the passage disappeared when we came here."

During the conversation, Han Zu noticed that the entrance to the passage they had entered was gone. Although the change in the passage was normal, for some reason, both Han Zu and Gloria thought that something was wrong. So they walked to the original passage and knocked on the wall.

"Tuk-tuk."

"The sound is normal. This is no longer the location of the passage."

"Surveying completed."

At this moment, the contractor's equipment suddenly sent a prompt, showing that the mapping of the nearby terrain and routes had been completed. This was completely wrong. After all, before they entered this space, the equipment estimated that the route map of the entire ruins had been scanned less than 5%.

"This map...are we still inside the ruins?"

"If you look at it from a topographical map, it's no longer there."

After opening the map mapped by the equipment, Han Zu quickly came to this conclusion. Because according to the markings on the map, the two people's current location should be in a castle. And outside the castle, there is a huge gathering place. The equipment also scanned a lot of signs of life activities. Through comparison, it can be found that these signs of activity are all human.

"Passed through?"

"I think we should leave this training ground and take a look... I clearly remember that there was no door here just now."

There were many people in the castle, not just maids, servants, but also many knights, who looked very busy, as if they were preparing for something. Although the two were not interested in this at all, in order to get to the top of the castle and get the best view to observe the surrounding situation, some disguise was still necessary.

For Han Zu, who had element 12 on him, it was extremely easy for him to disguise himself. He just glanced at the armor style next to him, and element 12 automatically generated a set of armor with exactly the same appearance. Of course, it had no defensive power, but fortunately, Han Zu did not lack this little defensive power.

Gloria and Han Zu were a little different. Han Zu heard her say that the equipment the contractor gave Gloria was a little different from his own and was not compatible with the thing called Element 12, so she needed to manually find some armor that fit her body shape. Fortunately, there were many women among the soldiers in this training ground, so it was not difficult to find armor. But because of the difference in body shape, Gloria could only replace different parts of the armor from different armors. Although it was not strange from an aesthetic point of view, it was a little different if compared with those complete sets of armor. Fortunately, the cloak for armor, which was also hung in the training room, could cover those obviously different armor positions.

"If you hold a tower shield, you'll look like a boss in an action game."

"I thought so too, but I don't see any big shields here. If we forcibly make a large shield, it will attract unnecessary attention. After all, the armed forces in the castle that the equipment scanned are just swords hanging on their waists at most."

"The armor made from element 12 is a little too clean. There's no wear or tear at all. Is there a problem?"

"makes sense."

Han Zu's body began to change. Soon, some suitable signs of wear and tear appeared on the parts of his armor that were normally worn out. This was also due to the 12th element.

"Okay, there shouldn't be any problem now."

"I've always had a question. Theoretically, if you put element 12 aside, you should be wearing nothing now, right?"

"Yes."

"So how do you feel now? Do you really feel like you're wearing armor, or is it the same as if you're wearing nothing at all?"

"Um... I haven't really paid much attention to it. Now that you mention it... I feel a bit like... I'm wearing very thin velvet pajamas... or something like that?"

"You still like velvet?"

"Not really. A long time ago, before I came into contact with the Infinite City, I bought a pair of velvet pajamas. I don't quite remember why I bought it, but based on what I thought at the time, it must have been on sale. Okay, I think it must have been on sale."

"Okay, according to the route map of the contractor's equipment scanning department, the training ground we are currently in is on the second floor of the castle. There are three floors above us, and four floors including the top of the tower we are going to. There is another floor below, and there are two floors underground. However, the two floors are not stacked up, but divided into two basements of different depths on the left and right. One of them is a wine cellar, and the other should be an underground prison."

"There are four regular exits in the castle, the main gate and the back gate, which are connected to the drawbridges in front and behind the moat. There are a lot of people there. If we don't want to attract attention, it's best not to leave from these two places. The remaining two exits are a secret passage inside the castle that passes through the moat. Judging from the layout, it is most likely the lord's room. The entrance is in the middle of the lower level of the castle tower. The last exit looks like a side door, probably used to transport food or combat supplies. This road also leads to the drawbridge at the main gate."

"It seems that after we observe the situation at the top of the tower, the best way to leave is to take the secret passage in the city lord's room."

"But if it's dark, we can jump out of the castle directly from the top of the tower, but we still need to confirm the surrounding terrain at the top of the tower."

"That's a good idea. By the way, Han Zu, have you sensed any familiar energy fluctuations? Although there is nothing at the actual location of the third coordinate, maybe we can find something here."

"Although I haven't sensed any unique energy reactions yet, there is one thing that is quite interesting. I just used the contractor's equipment to relocate the third coordinate, and found that the rescanned coordinate position is actually not far from here."

"But isn't the third coordinate in the sea? There's no sea nearby. Even if there's something wrong with time, it's impossible, right?"

"Unless we are not on our own planet, or the geologists' rumor that there was once a sunken continent in the ocean is correct. But no matter what, we are here anyway, so we might as well go and confirm it for ourselves when the time comes."

We are not fully aware of the situation in various places right now, and there seems to be some problems with the contractor's equipment, which makes it unable to scan a large area of ​​terrain very well. So at the moment, the most important thing is to find a commanding height to observe the surrounding environment.

With suitable disguise and unknown things going on in the castle, Han Zu and Gloria were not noticed by anyone. Following the route map scanned by the equipment, the two quickly reached the top of the tower through the high tower stairs on the side of the castle and observed the surrounding situation through the observation deck.

"According to the third coordinate position where the device was relocated, it should be in that direction, right where the forest is. It could also be inside the forest or behind the forest. There is indeed something wrong with the device and it is unable to map a large area of ​​terrain."

"The time is uncertain now, but judging from the position of the sun, it is probably just past noon. The village below is very large. If we jump directly from here without a running start, we will definitely land on the edge of the village. There are many guards there, which may cause unnecessary trouble. I think it is more appropriate for us to take the secret passage in the city lord's room. The exit of the secret passage is also facing the forest."

"You know, according to medieval calculations, this should be considered a city, and a fairly large one at that."

"Is it important?"

"Too."

"Now we just have to find a way to get into the city lord's room. When we passed by just now, there were quite a few people outside and inside the room. We have to find a way to get them out. Do you have any ideas?"

"Let me see..."

The top of the tower is not small, and it is connected to the platform on the top of the castle. There are some large crossbows, some guards, and some things to prevent falling rocks used in sieges. But it seems that there is nothing worth using.

Near the castle, outside the moat on one side, there is an open space that looks like something is going to be built, but construction has not started yet. There is only some sand piled up, and there is no one nearby.

"There is."

Using the power of flame, Han Zu quickly created a fireball. By adjusting the energy, the fireball would produce a huge explosion sound after the explosion, but the actual power might not be much different from the explosion of a lighter.

Aiming at the open space, Han Zu threw the fireball in his hand out. The huge explosion really attracted everyone's attention.

"What's going on?! Is this a magician's attack?!"

"Go and report to the city lord!"

The soldiers on the defensive platform at the top of the castle immediately noticed the explosion in the distance and saw someone rushing into the castle. Not long after, a large group of people left the castle and headed to the location of the explosion to investigate.

"Many people have left the castle, and the lord seems to have left his room as well. There aren't many people there now, so it's a good opportunity for us to move."

"Let's go."