Stepping into that white mist door, he didn't feel any abnormality, just ordinary steps forward.
The ground beneath his feet was still solid and flat, and everything around him was shrouded in white mist, as if he had entered a world of illusory dreams.
And in this hazy and strange mist, just as Professor Garcia had said, the whispers in his ears seemed to have never spoken so much at once:
“Outsider, you have entered the Time Corridor.”
“A message from the Old God, Father of Infinite Trees:”
“fifth epoch, 1068, autumn, South Continent, Hope Town.”
“Event: The Old God, The Innocent Creator, falls.”
“Duration: 10 minutes.”
Aside from the sudden appearance of proper nouns like “Time Corridor” and “Old God,” the information so far was consistent with what Professor Garcia had said.
“You have gained additional information.”
“The figure of the Father of Infinite Trees watches you.”
“The Old God of Time gives you a test.”
“Before the Old God, The Innocent Creator, falls, witness Its final wish.”
“The Father of Infinite Trees will give you a reward: Miracle - Chaotic Time Blade, Miracle Ling Rune - Echo.”
The voice stopped, and Xia De’s eyes widened as he stood in the white mist, exclaiming in surprise:
“Old God? Time Corridor? What are all these?”
“Your soul is very sensitive, so the information I obtained is more than what the ‘other me’ of an ordinary Ring術士 would get. I don’t understand their meaning.”
“Then the mission?”
“The Old God of Time gives you a test…”
“No need to repeat what I heard. I know you’re not a repeater. I mean, what does this mean? Have I encountered the rare situations Professor Garcia mentioned? Also, why is this… Old God, ‘watching’ me? Does It still exist, not fallen?”
He widened his eyes and looked into the depths of the white mist, but he couldn't see any clues, as if this world, called the Time Corridor, only contained mist and endless void.
Thinking of this, Xia De felt an inexplicable chill down his spine.
This world was definitely not as simple as it currently appeared.
“The Old God gives you a mission. Complete it and receive the Old God’s reward. At least it doesn’t seem to have any downsides. Also, there are 9 minutes and 23 seconds remaining.”
“Can’t you be clearer?”
“I want to tell you too, but I can’t give an answer.”
Xia De lifted his leg and walked forward, but with just one step, the surrounding white mist disappeared.
Professor Garcia had clearly said that for investigators traveling through time, being enveloped in white mist was normal.
What was even more serious was that Xia De found himself standing on a street in a town that seemed to be stuck in the medieval period.
The street was full of sewage, pebbles, and mud, and the air was filled with the smell of animal feces and rotting food.
The houses nearby were low and dilapidated, and the sky was unusually gloomy, covered by dark clouds that threatened rain.
The thin and indifferent townspeople, dressed in dark, ragged clothes, turned their heads to look at the well-dressed young man.
This was completely unlike the situation where one wouldn't be connected to the past unless they actively interacted.
People from the past observed people from the future.
“What is this again…?”
“Look up.”
Looking up, in front of him was a large, colorful sign for “Hope Town Toy Store,” as if it were the only color in this black-and-white, dilapidated photograph-like scene.
Xia De understood his purpose, and before the townspeople could surround him, he pushed the door open and entered the store.
The townspeople were isolated outside, as if the inside and outside of the door were two different worlds.
The bell at the door jingled, and the sweet smell of candy permeated the store.
All kinds of colorful wooden, metal, and ceramic toys almost filled the shelves, and a drowsy young man behind the counter looked up.
He was well-dressed and wore a ridiculous red-and-white polka-dotted clown hat on his head.
This was completely different from the attire of the numb, corpse-like townspeople on the street.
If he couldn’t still see outside from the toy store’s window, Xia De would have doubted whether this was still “Hope Town.”
“Welcome to Hope Town Toy Store, may I…?”
The young man in the ridiculous hat stopped abruptly, his gaze meeting Xia De’s, who stood frozen at the doorway.
At this moment, the Detective from the future felt as if his heart was about to stop beating.
An immense pressure emanated from the man behind the counter, a feeling like facing an abyss, like falling into an infinite sky, making Xia De instinctively take a step back and lean against the door.
Blood suddenly appeared before his eyes, and only then did he realize his eyes were bleeding.
Touching his face, he found that blood was flowing from his ears, nose, and even the corners of his mouth.
His internal organs ached intensely, his head felt swollen, and even his mind gradually became scattered.
Although the being in front of him occupied the space of a normal person, the position this being occupied in the world was by no means that of an ordinary person.
The toys in the store came alive in his vision, and he heard the eerie laughter of children’s voices in his ears:
“Saint…”
Knowledge about gods was the first thing Xia De looked at after getting the textbook.
Gods are higher-dimensional beings.
If they don’t want to distort the rules of the material world upon appearing, they must have a vessel in the material world to descend, which is called the Saint form of the gods.
And the one behind the counter was undoubtedly the Saint form of the Old God 【The Innocent Creator】.
If it weren't for the fact that the other party had no ill intentions and Its power was at its lowest level, Xia De’s injuries would definitely not have been limited to these.
He leaned against the door behind him, almost unable to stand.
Illusions and auditory hallucinations occupied his senses, but his mind was exceptionally focused at this moment, even feeling as if it was about to detach from his flesh.
He actually heard singing at this moment, a song composed of childish voices, constantly tempting his mind towards madness.
The whispered voice in his ear reminded him of the appearance of the “Miracle” element, but there was no “blasphemy,” indicating that this God was a benevolent God.
“Interesting, future man.”
The young man behind the counter said softly.
This was certainly not delarion, but Xia De understood it.
“Didn’t Professor Garcia say I only needed to witness it? How did I end up directly facing an Old God?”
He leaned painfully against the door, the woman’s whispers in his ear seemed to be saying something, but he could no longer distinguish it.
However, the woman’s whispers seemed to carry some kind of power, helping him at least not to faint immediately.
“What do you want to do?”
The Old God asked softly.
Although he looked like a young man, Xia De inexplicably felt that the other party was already ancient.
Seeing Xia De’s pained expression, he reached out and pointed at him.
There were no light or shadow effects, but the pain in his flesh and senses actually disappeared.
Xia De, as if waking from a dream, felt his whole body drenched in sweat, with only faint memories of pain remaining in his brain.
“I want to… witness your last wish. Thank you for the healing.”
Xia De said with a trembling voice.
Although the pain was gone, the terrifying pressure he perceived still made his body instinctively uncomfortable.
The gods of this world were truly higher-dimensional beings, not powerful mortals.
Mortals could not look directly at gods.
The Saint shook his head:
“I merely protect you from the essence of God. This protection will not last too long. As for my wish? No, you are too weak. You need at least the afterglow of God to do such a thing. Go back. At least for now, you shouldn’t be here.”
“What is the afterglow of God?”
“I cannot speak of it. It is a secret of God. Knowledge has weight, and you cannot bear it.”
The Saint’s voice was very gentle.
“Then, could you at least answer one of my questions, just one question?”
Xia De held up one finger.
This was a rare opportunity, and he couldn't let it go.
Although he felt a headache due to lack of oxygen, he was still clear-headed and knew what he wanted to do:
“What is… an Old God?”