Through the archway, once inside the underground area, there was not a single ray of natural light. The ceiling remained intact, with no breaches, and the crimson moonlight filtering through the mist could not penetrate. Aljer raised his lantern slightly, casting a distinct yellow glow along the wide, yet seemingly endless corridor ahead. Kline immediately spotted at least six stone statues—some male, some female—uniformly gray and white, their garments as if carved directly into the stone. Among them were elves, giants, and humans with an ancient style; all of them expressed a frozen sense of pain and despair, each utterly distinct from the others. Standing there, their eyes fixed and unblinking, and recalling that they once must have been living beings, Kline felt a chill run down his spine, as though deep within the corridor, where darkness reigned, a monstrous creature were opening its mouth, patiently waiting for him and Aljer to step willingly into its belly. They steadied their fluctuating emotions, neither speaking, stepping steadily through the rows of gray, distorted stone statues. After十几 seconds, with the glow of the lanterns, Caine no longer needed to rely on Senior’s night vision to see the fragmented, dim murals on either wall. Among them, a few were relatively intact, clearly depicting specific scenes. Their central subjects were unmistakably the immense cross, veiled in radiant light, and the majestic figure standing before it. This hazy yet solemn figure either faced the flood that had engulfed the city and reached the mountain slopes, or stood upon the fractured earth, or gazed up at the starry sky, meeting the piercing, wildly frantic eyes emerging from the profound darkness. Was this the scene of the ancient sun god saving the world at the hour of the end? This is similar to the murals they discovered inside the Temple of the True Creator...or perhaps it's a mutual exchange—everyone copying each other, never abandoning their efforts to emphasize their own status as saviors and the most worthy deities to believe in. Kline's eyes swiftly scanned the walls, while he himself gradually moved deeper into the corridor. Aljer was also studying the fragmented murals, and suddenly, he spoke softly, in a low, resonant tone: "I suspect that the 'True' Creator's self-description of the Fallen Creator is indeed based on these very elements." Indeed, everyone's views aligned. Kline tilted his "Hourglass" revolver slightly against his side, and smiled. "If I encountered something related to the True Creator earlier on, I wouldn't have been surprised at all." "He may very well be connected to the Creator venerated in Silver City," Aljer agreed with Germain Sparo's assessment. The two continued forward, carefully lightening their steps, yet echoes still lingered, spreading out gradually into the otherwise still and quiet atmosphere. At that moment, Caine suddenly had an idea—he stepped forward two paces, positioning himself in front of Aljer, shielding most of the lantern's glow. Less than two seconds later, he heard a deep, resonant sound approaching, growing louder. Thud! Thud! Thud! The ground trembled slightly, the vibration intensifying, and then Caine saw a figure emerge ahead of them, nearly four meters tall. It too was gray-white in hue, with plate-like patterns etched across its body; it bore ram-like horns on its head and a dog-like mouth, revealing its sharp teeth as it half-opened and half-closed. Most striking were its eyes, blazing with red light, and its six pairs of gray-white membranous wings. Thud! Thud! Thud! Holding a massive stone lance nearly eight meters long, the creature moved slowly into the passage. With each step it took, the earth shook, transmitting the weight and resonance outward. Although克莱恩 had never seen such a creature before, he instantly recognized it at a glance. It was a six-winged stone gargoyle! Its core crystal was one of the master secret-figures' primary materials, and thus its extraordinary abilities must be highly distinctive and difficult to anticipate. From its appearance, size, and construction materials, it's clear that it possesses strong frontline combat capabilities and is resistant to most forms of damage. All it needs to do is make a single sliding step forward, strike with its heavy stone lance, and it can inflict devastating damage.克莱恩 gently relaxed his left hand, not rushing to respond. He and Aljer remained still in place—Aljer using his body, and克莱恩 using his clothing—to dim the glow of the lantern light significantly. Thud! Thud! Thud! The six-winged stone gargoyle did not turn toward them, but instead moved straight through the corridor, its footsteps gradually fading into distance. Indeed, its senses were not very keen... which explained how Zilings could have descended deep into the earth and returned safely. Kline waited until the footsteps had faded completely before continuing forward, crossing the intersection. In fact, with his current strength and equipment, and given his thorough understanding of the target, eliminating a six-winged stone giant was not particularly risky—there was also the "Hanged Man" to assist. He had chosen to forgo an immediate attack not because he lacked the ability, but because he was uncertain about the total number of six-winged stone giants in this underground region. Should a battle erupt and generate significant noise, he might end up surrounded and forced to flee only by means of a forced journey. Moreover, if he disturbed the presence that even extraordinary beings dared not approach in this area, the complications would multiply exponentially. Controlling one's greed was a fundamental prerequisite for any successful exploration. Alger was equally relieved by the calm and rational demeanor of this frenzied adventurer, growing increasingly convinced that the man was carrying out commands from the "Fool" himself, which had restrained his impulse to attack the six-winged stone gargoyle. The more composed he remained, the more likely he would become when faced with his true objective—Alger thought this as he followed Germán Sparrow through the intersection and moved straight ahead. The murals on either side remained fragmented, still occasionally recounting the greatness and sanctity of that ancient sun god. Finally, Caine and Alger reached the end of the corridor, where a pair of stone doors, about seven to eight meters tall, stood. Carved and painted with various symbols relating to death, rest, conclusion, rebirth, and beginning. "A burial chamber?" Caine turned to Alger. "Perhaps a temple," Alger nodded. It was clear he too was beginning to doubt whether the temple and the burial chamber were one and the same. The stone gate before them was not completely shut, but left open with a gap wide enough for a child to pass through. Aljere glanced at his own frame, then stepped forward, setting down his lantern, securing the short blade, and placing both hands against one side of the gate. He slowly inhaled, bent his knees, and his arm muscles instantly expanded. Without a sound, the gap widened noticeably. Crain observed this with a slightly raised eyebrow, somewhat surprised—since the "Hanged Man" had managed to open the gate without producing a single sound. He didn't doubt the strength of a "Sea Singer," yet he found it hard to believe that the stone gate had remained entirely detached from the ground. Lowering his gaze, Crain noticed a thicker, more viscous liquid now filling the gap at the base of the gate—clearly creating a lubricating effect. "The 'Hanged Man' is indeed meticulous," he thought. Was this a trait of the "Navigator" or the "Sea Singer"? Well, he should still be able to use the "Wind-warden's" ability to create an "aerogel" cushion, so the earlier "door opening" had been completely silent... Klein now had a clear understanding of the reason. He approached the stone door, not rushing to enter, and instead, through the wide opening, surveyed the interior scene. What met the "ghostly souls'" gaze was the area to the side, where a row of gray-white stone sarcophagi stood. Indeed, it was a subterranean burial hall—whether it had been integrated with a temple remained to be seen. As he pondered this, he drew out his left hand, pulling forth "Lehmann's Travel Notes," which contained extraordinary abilities particularly suited for dealing with matters related to the domain of death. At the same time, he swiftly used his silver dagger to create a spiritual barrier, sealing the iron cigarette box to prevent the Azkian bronze whistle inside from awakening the sleeping dead one after another. Aljer also drew out his short blade, placed his left palm over the side, and gently slid it forward. A soft crackling sound emerged as the short blade wrapped itself around a writhing silver-white electric serpent. The two quickly completed their preparations, and Klein, embodying the mad adventurer Germán Sparrow, stepped first through the gap into the burial hall. Of course, before Klein entered, "The Specter" Senior had already taken up his post as a "sentinel," circling the hall for half a turn. For the "Master of Secret Figures," having his secret figures meant he didn't have to risk much in the way of adventures! The burial hall was high and damp, with water seeping through the ceiling, divided into two sections by the left and right, each housing twelve gray, somber stone sarcophagi. In the center lay an open circular space, where the floor seemed to bear a finely detailed and intricate design. Klein remained at a distance, raised his hand to stop Aljé, then summoned "The Specter" Senior to manifest his form, and had him drift swiftly into the half-sky above the circular area. "The Blood General," Aljé's facial muscles suddenly twitched. Although he had suspected it long before, it was still difficult to control his instinctive reaction upon seeing it firsthand. At that moment, Senyor lowered his height and clearly observed the ground in the central area: the painting had a somber tone, with a faint, blurred outline of figures in the background, and a long rectangular table forming the central subject. On the table lay a figure bearing a radiant cross, its back illuminated, surrounded by three figures shrouded in shadows. One was handsome and vibrant, another imposing and noble, and the third had a white beard, appearing wise—yet all three eyes conveyed an unmistakable eerie quality, and their actions were equally unsettling: one had pulled off the figure's arm, another lifted its head, and the third had extracted its beating heart. Opposite them, a deep and wide gash ran across the figure's chest and abdomen, where a dark, solemn infant sat in a meditative posture. These four seemed to have noticed someone observing them, their gazes simultaneously fixed upward, as if watching every living being who gazed upon this scroll!