Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Upon entering the White Mist Gate, he didn't feel anything out of the ordinary, merely stepping forward as usual. The ground beneath his feet was still firm, and everything around him was shrouded in white fog, as if he had entered the world of a surreal dream. Explore more at empire

In the midst of this hazy and strange fog, just as Professor Garcia had said, the whispers in his ears seemed to speak more words than ever before:

[Outlander, you have stepped into "Time Corridor".]

[A message from the Ancient God, "Father of the Infinite Tree":]

[Autumn of the year 1068 of the Fifth Era, Southern Continent, Hope Town.]

[Event: The Old God "Creator of Innocence" has fallen.]

[Duration: 10 minutes.]

Apart from the sudden appearance of specific nouns "Time Corridor" and "Ancient God", the information so far matched what Professor Garcia had discussed.

[You have received additional information.]

[The visage of the Father of the Infinite Tree watches over you.]

[The Ancient God of time presents you with a challenge.]

[Witness the last wish of the Old God "Creator of Innocence" before His fall.]

[The Father of the Infinite Tree will award you a gift: the Arcane Technique—Blade of Chaotic Time, and the Miracle Soul Rune—Echo.]

The voice ceased, and Shard's eyes widened as he stood bewildered in the mist:

"Ancient God? Time Corridor? What are all these?"

[Your soul is sensitive, so I've received more information than the "other self" of an average Circle Sorcerer. I don't understand the meaning behind it, either.]

"And the task?"

[The Ancient God of time gives you a challenge...]

"There's no need to repeat what I've already heard, I know you're not a parrot. I'm asking, what does this mean? Have I encountered one of the rare situations that Professor Garcia mentioned? And, this... Ancient God, why does His 'visage watch over' me? Could it be that He has always existed and has not fallen?"

He strained his eyes to peer into the depths of the fog but could discern no clues, as if this world known as the "Time Corridor" contained nothing but fog and endless void. Thinking this, Shard couldn't help feeling a chill run down his spine. This world was definitely not as simple as what he was seeing now.

[The Ancient God has given you a task, complete it, and receive the reward of the Ancient God. At least, this seems to have no downside. Also, there are 9 minutes and 23 seconds remaining.]

"Can't you be clearer?"

[I would tell you if I could, but I cannot provide an answer.]

Shard lifted his foot and took a step forward, but as he did, the surrounding white fog unexpectedly dissipated. Professor Garcia had clearly stated that it was normal for an Investigator traveling through time to be enveloped in white fog.

What was more concerning was that Shard found himself standing on the street of a town that seemed to be a backward medieval village, its roads littered with sewage and muddy pebbles, the air heavy with the smell of animal feces and rotting food. The houses nearby were low and dilapidated, the sky unnaturally gloomy, covered by the dark clouds of impending rain.

The townspeople, skinny and indifferent, dressed in dark tattered clothes, turned their heads to look at the well-dressed young man. This was nothing like the rule of not interacting to avoid connecting with the past.

People from the past were observing the man from the future.

"What is this..."

[Look up.]

Glancing upwards, he saw the large, colorful sign of "Hope Town Toy Shop," seemingly the only splash of color in this monochromatic, rundown picture. Shard understood his purpose; before the townspeople could crowd around him, he reached out and pushed the door open to enter the shop.

The townspeople were isolated outside, and it seemed as if the inside and outside of the door were two different worlds.

The bell at the entrance rang, and the sweet smell of candy diffused throughout the shop. All sorts of colorful wooden, metal, and ceramic toys almost filled the shelves, and a sleepy-looking young man behind the counter raised his head.

He was dressed brightly, wearing a ridiculous red hat with white polka dots, a jester's hat. Unlike the townspeople on the street who seemed numb like corpses, he stood out. If it weren't for the view of the outside through the toy shop's window, Shard would have doubted whether this was still "Hope Town."

"Welcome to Hope Town Toy Shop, may I help you..."

The young man in the ridiculous hat stopped mid-sentence as he locked eyes with Shard, who stood petrified at the doorway. The detective from the future felt suddenly as if his heart was about to stop beating.

An immense pressure emanated from the man behind the counter, giving Shard the sensation of facing the abyss, of falling into the infinite sky, making him instinctively step back and lean against the door.

Blood suddenly appeared before his eyes, and he realized his eyes were bleeding. Reaching out, he touched his ears, nose, and the corners of his mouth, and found blood flowing from them too. His innards ached severely, his head swelled, and even his spirit began to dissipate.

Although the presence in front of him occupied the space of a normal-sized human, the place it occupied in the world was far from ordinary.

The toys in the shop came to life in his sight, and the voices of children forming a creepy laughter echoed in his ears:

"Saint..."

Knowledge of the deity was the first thing Shard had checked after receiving the textbook.

Deities are high-dimensional beings, which if they do not wish to warp the rules of the physical world upon appearance, must have avatars within the physical world to descend, which is known as a deity's Saint Form.

The man behind the counter, without a doubt, was the Saint Form of the Old God "Creator of Innocence," and if it weren't for the fact that the other party had no malice and had reduced its power to the lowest level, the damage Shard suffered would be much more severe.

He leaned against the door behind him, barely able to stand, as illusions and hallucinations took over his senses, but his spirit was exceptionally focused at that moment, even feeling a delusion like he was about to leave his body. He heard a song, a childish voice combining into a melody, incessantly luring his spirit towards madness.

The whispering reminder of the "miracle" element's presence rang in his ears, but without "Desecration," indicating that this deity was a Benevolent God.

"Interesting, Man of the Future."

The young man behind the counter said softly, which certainly wasn't Draleon language, but Shard understood.

"Didn't Professor Garcia say that witnessing was enough? How come I'm facing an Old God directly?"

He leaned in pain against the door, the woman's whispering in his ear seeming to say something, but it was no longer distinguishable. However, the woman's whispering seemed to have a power that helped him at least not pass out immediately.

"What do you intend to do?"

The deity of Bygone Days asked softly, its appearance as a young man inexplicably making Shard feel as if it had aged. Seeing Shard's pained expression, it reached out towards him.

There was no light or shadow effect, but the pain in his body and senses vanished. Shard felt as if he was about to be soaked in sweat, with only a faint memory of pain lingering in his brain.

"I want... to witness your last wish. Thank you for the healing."

Shard spoke with a quivering voice; although the pain was gone, the terrifying pressure he perceived still caused an instinctual discomfort in his body. The gods of this world were truly high-dimensional entities, and not merely powerful mortals. Mortals cannot directly gaze upon deities.

The Saint shook its head:

"I merely protected you from the essence of the god, a protection that can't last too long. As for my wish? No, you are still too weak. To do such a thing, you need at least the God's Afterglow. Go back, at least for now, you shouldn't be here."

"What is the God's Afterglow?"

"I cannot tell you, it's God's secret. Knowledge has weight, and you cannot bear it."

The Saint's voice was very gentle.

"Then, can you at least answer one question for me, just one?"

Shard extended one finger, seizing the rare opportunity; he couldn't let it slip by. Although at the moment he felt a swelling sensation in his head as if he lacked oxygen, he was still lucid and knew what he wanted to ask:

"What is... an Ancient God?"