Chapter Thirty-Two: An Extraordinary Incident

As a core member of the Great Tree Research Institute, Thorn was a game character endowed with autonomous intelligence. To simply see her as a loot source would be a waste. Conveniently, the beguiling abilities of the Six-Eyed Preacher—a true calling card—were impossible for Thorn to resist. She fell readily into the old mystic’s trap, divulging all secrets, leaving Ember with her fate firmly in his grasp, unafraid of any sudden betrayal.

Of course, there was another key reason for not immediately disposing of her: the loot from this instance was rather disappointing. Nearly a hundred monsters had been slain, yielding nothing but bloodvine products, bloodvine cores, a pile of healing items that couldn’t even fit into their belt pouches, and delayed-use potions that were not immediately helpful. The only barely worthwhile items were a reinforcement material—Obscura Cloth—dropped by the Six-Eyed Preacher, and an unopened bottle of basic healing potion.

Fortunately, the nightmare challenge had granted Ember’s Direwolf Gauntlets a totem enhancement, ensuring a tangible boost in strength.

Ember did not know that such circumstances only appeared in harder difficulty games. All early efforts served as groundwork for the final assessment rewards. After clearing the battlefield, Cup of Deepening Wine gained one more complete bloodvine item, but nothing else of value.

As for the Thorn Crown, it went without saying—this was the crystallization of Thorn’s abilities, usable only by her. Yet its existence broadened Ember’s horizons.

...

Thorn Crown (Description)

Type: Special Item

Effect: Agility Level +2, Ability Enhancement

Introduction: Ability Crystals are innate artifacts of Reality Warpers, growing as their powers increase.

Notice: This item is bound to the Great Tree Research Institute core member, Apostle of Chaos, Basic Rank Reality Warper, human leader “Thorn”!

Notice: This item cannot be taken out of the current assessment space.

...

The Thorn Crown’s properties made Ember understand why major organizations like the Foundation were so interested in Reality Warpers. Not only did they possess special abilities, but they also had supplemental attributes beyond ordinary people. As their level increased, the gap would only widen, explaining Thorn’s arrogance and her reluctance to consider that people like Ember could remain in the courtyard.

The stronger one’s power, the more one relied on it, neglecting careful thinking—and so they became prey to those who did use their minds.

Ember merely thought one step further and, with a single ambush, secured victory. The subsequent counterattacks from the Great Tree Research Institute were easily neutralized. Ember’s inability to level up was of no consequence, for the Six-Eyed Zealot had already been summoned. With him guarding the front, he was the ultimate shield—Ember needed only to brace behind his arm shield against the blasts, making the challenge trivial.

The entire battle, from eruption to conclusion, lasted barely ten seconds. With two ambushes, Ember wrapped up the fight. Thorn, freed from her grievous wounds and regaining mobility, was filled with regret. Yet her ability crystal and bloodvine equipment were all in her opponent’s hands—her strength greatly diminished, she had no room to resist. In the end, she could only serve as a guide, leading Ember’s group.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The assault in front of the Sun Temple was still raging. After a period of fierce bombardment, the temple’s forecourt was in ruins, with several stone pillars toppled. Yet no chain reaction followed, attesting to the structure’s extraordinary solidity. At the very least, Ember did not have to worry that their impending infiltration would end in death by shellfire.

Thanks to Thorn’s special status, what could have been a troublesome infiltration became exceedingly simple. Ember and Cup of Deepening Wine did not even need to disguise themselves; led by Thorn, they bypassed the outer defenses of the Great Tree Research Institute and reached a secret outpost at the edge of the battlefield. Hidden within was an underground passage leading directly into the temple—Thorn’s secret shortcut, discovered from the temple’s blueprints. To avoid arousing suspicion, she had only two confidants guarding the entrance.

Therefore, even without Thorn’s guidance, Ember’s group would have found entry into the passage relatively easy. Following Thorn in a semicircle, Ember also noted that this location was at the rear of the temple, where neither the Institute nor the patrol troops had deployed significant forces. Thus, even without key information from Thorn, Ember would have attempted to break through here, eliminating her confidants and discovering the shortcut—something that, at the very least, made sense.

Still, Ember believed that, even if there was no shortcut or if he failed to find it, there must be other routes into the Sun Temple.

After all, who could know what would happen when the Sun Temple’s gates were breached by artillery? Was it possible that, aside from the two Sages, there were no other formidable presences within?

Ember doubted it. The deeper he delved, the more he sensed there were clues yet to be exploited or uncovered.

For example, back at the Corpse Nest, what would have happened had they used the matchstick on the witch instead of destroying the blood vessel? And why, beneath the ruins, were there so many secret passages—some bypassing the blockade, one even leading directly into the temple? This made Ember recall the divergent fates of the two temples; he felt sure there were hidden truths they had not yet learned.

Furthermore, using the matchstick to awaken the Six-Eyed Preacher had triggered a special prompt: when the following period of allegiance ended, an unknown event would occur. What impact would such an event have on the story’s course?

In the dim tunnel, the Six-Eyed Preacher cast a gentle white light, dispelling the darkness and illuminating the way. Ember made Thorn lead the way and took the opportunity to voice his latest question.

“Didn’t you consider the possibility of things going wrong during the assault? What if someone powerful was waiting inside the Sun Temple?”

“We have no time,” Thorn admitted, bitterness in her tone. “The restrictions of the Forbidden Zone are quickly returning. When Sycamore realized he could not remain much longer, he decided to risk everything.”

“To achieve Sycamore’s goal, the Institute invested massive resources. If we fail at the last moment, it could even jeopardize our standing in the Wasteland Syndicate. So, he chose to storm the Sun Staircase and confront the Gardener.”

“So it was desperation,” Ember mused. “But no matter how desperate, he’s bound to fail, isn’t he? The secrets of the Sun Staircase are lost, the Imperial Treasury depleted—how much could be gained by taking the temple?”

“No! That’s not Sycamore’s aim, or only part of it,” Thorn snorted. “He doesn’t care what the Sun Staircase means. He wants the method for constructing the Life Staircase and the Gardener’s original bloodline.”

“Why?” Ember and the others were intrigued. To come to the Forbidden Zone and not covet the Sun Staircase, but rather the means to build it? A truly mad scientist, with logic few could follow.

“He experienced the Forbidden Zone personally and conceived a way for the Wasteland to survive the apocalypse,” Thorn continued, her eyes flashing with fear. “He wants to acquire the method of constructing the Forbidden Zone, then improve it, so its range could encompass the entire Wasteland and its restrictions could be adjusted at will. If he gets the Gardener’s bloodline, he could use the bloodvine’s properties for further plans. But he didn’t confide everything in me—I was too new a core member to earn his complete trust.”

Hearing this, Ember and Cup of Deepening Wine could only marvel at the scientist’s boundless imagination, while Little Bob burst out indignantly, “He’s delusional! What does he want? Is he trying to save the Wasteland from the apocalypse or just seize power, or become a modern emperor?”

“How could ordinary people understand a genius’s mind?” Thorn retorted, casting Little Bob a mocking smile. “Your father was barely a genius—lacking only in strength. One would think, after all that influence, you’d be less outraged by Sycamore’s ambition. It seems you are just ordinary after all.”

Little Bob was beside himself, but Ember motioned for him to calm down. “No need to get worked up. Let’s not forget our purpose here—to thwart Sycamore’s ambitions. Stay sharp. Once we’ve explored the Sun Temple, we face Sycamore and the Gardener!”

With that, he tossed the Thorn Crown back to its owner, the meaning clear. Thorn, silenced, had no choice but to continue guiding them.

The concealed underground passage was not long. Soon, they reached its end. Thorn led the way, Ember close behind, the rest following as they quietly emerged into a chamber in one corner of the temple.

[Notice: You have entered the “Sun Temple,” triggering the Six-Eyed Preacher’s special event—“The Apostate”—ahead of schedule!]

...

Event Name: The Apostate

Description: As a devout follower of the Six-Eyed Saint, the Six-Eyed Preacher cannot tolerate the Prophet’s betrayal. Upon learning of the Prophet’s apostasy, he attempted judgment but was sealed away due to inferior strength. Now freed, the Preacher hopes you will help him complete his mission.

Requirement: Assist or refuse the Six-Eyed Preacher in erasing the Prophet.

Reward: Unknown (dependent on completion)

[Notice: This event may affect the outcome of the assessment. Choose carefully.]

[Notice: Since the Six-Eyed Preacher is still a follower, refusing will not immediately trigger his hostility.]

...

Huh?

The sudden event prompt first startled Ember, then made his eyes light up with delight.

He was not surprised by the event’s content, but thrilled to realize that—once again—their progress in the game had gotten ahead of schedule.