Simon had decided to venture into the Abyss to try and merge with the Void.
This was a complete gamble; although both the Prophet and the White Lady acknowledged the possibility of success, the risk was akin to rolling one's neck over a polished blade.
Simon's heart was filled with visions of the future, and these complex thoughts made him somewhat agitated.
He decided to arrange everything that needed arranging and explain everything that needed explaining, so that even if he didn't survive, he could ensure as many bugs as possible would live.
He summoned a group of Foolish Followers and invited the Elderbug, and they sat on the cold stone slabs in Dirtmouth's central plaza.
"Next, I will go find a warrior named Quirrel; he is the guide I spoke of, but whether he comes is still uncertain. I will entrust someone else to bring back accurate news. If he doesn't come, then the evacuation team must depart immediately. Of course, if he does come, then follow him closely." After Simon finished speaking to the Fools, his gaze turned to the Elderbug, wanting to say something, but suddenly hesitated.
Quirrel is a difficult character to define. As an explorer, he interacts with the protagonist multiple times, appearing in many areas. After one tense battle after another, being able to converse with a friendly bug truly gives many players motivation to continue. As a seeker of secrets, he gradually uncovers the truth of his amnesia, fulfills his destiny, and finally drowns himself in a lake, which can be said to be filled with a tragic epic sense.
Simon still remembered Quirrel sitting by the shore of Blue Lake, his expression calm and natural.
Blue Lake was truly beautiful.
The lake water was still.
"I forgot all misfortunes, and all I saw were miracles."
He bid farewell to his beloved beautiful world, solely for Monomon in his heart.
Only the warrior's Nail remained on the shore, like a tombstone, like a slanting willow tree.
Simon sighed repeatedly, his porous mask facing the Elderbug, staring at him so intently that the Elderbug felt very uneasy, thinking Simon had some opinion of him.
By the time Simon came back to his senses, the Elderbug had already secretly slipped away.
"Why did he leave?" Simon was very puzzled. Did the Elderbug have an urgent matter?
However, he actually didn't have much to explain to the Elderbug. Simon placed a notepad into a small drawstring pouch and then had a Follower give the pouch to the Elderbug. "Tell the Elderbug that if the guide Quirrel seems off, give him the pouch."
The heavily armored Fool who received the order happily went on his way.
Next, it was time to go to Fog Canyon, to the sleeping place of the second Dreamer, to await the Little Knight and Quirrel.
Summoning the Stag Beetle at the station, the Stag Beetle complained as soon as they met: "Little one, when can we visit the Stag Beetle's Nest!"
Simon sighed. He had truly lost his usual composure during this period, even forgetting things he had promised the Stag Beetle. Perhaps he was already eager to challenge the Void, to battle the forces of nature with the fragile body of a bug. Anyone would be stirred by such a prospect.
"My apologies, I've been very busy lately and have delayed for too long. Let us depart now."
The Stag Beetle's Nest is located on the kingdom's border, Howling Cliffs. Upon arriving at the station here, the Stag Beetle said: "Returning home… makes me feel the burden of a long life on my shoulders. But this burden makes me proud. No matter where I am, the memories of my family and kin are in my heart."
This place had been abandoned for a long time. The main structure of the buildings remained, but the decorations inside were dilapidated, signs scattered on the ground, and drapes loose and hanging. Walking out of the station into a large hall, they saw a large number of Stag Beetle corpses.
Lightflies danced in the air, like ethereal butterflies.
The bodies of these industrious giant bugs, in the flickering light, revealed their ancient, rugged forms, like an old oil painting in the corner of a living room at dusk, whose exact contents were unclear, but which conveyed an idea.
On the stone platform in the center of the hall, Simon picked up a fragment.
This was a fragment of a Soul Vessel. Collecting three complementary fragments could form a Vessel, which could store additional Soul Energy to instantly replenish the mask's energy.
The Little Knight would need it. As for Simon, he had an endless supply of Soul Energy within him, and his mask was always at full capacity.
Putting away the mask, Simon continued forward, passing through a warehouse to a large cargo elevator. This elevator was truly enormous, capable of holding a dozen giant beasts like the Stag Beetle, likely designed specifically for Stag Beetles.
Simon was too light, so the elevator didn't activate, but there was a smaller elevator ahead.
Simon still remembered there was a hidden cave in the nest. Following the large elevator shaft upwards, to the top floor, there was indeed a hole in the wall. Entering it, he found several Stag Beetle eggs scattered on the ground, one of which had already hatched.
Simon held the broken eggshell and walked back, showing it to the Stag Beetle.
"Oh, I never thought… I thought that after me, the Stag Beetles would disappear, but hope always appears. I wish my kin, wherever they may be, all the best…"
Simon asked him, "Do you need to look around here again? You've been stuck in the station, unable to see anything, right?"
"No need. A glance here is already satisfying. Sweet memories of the past constantly flood my heart."
"Alright, let's go to Queen's Station."
...
Queen's Station is very similar to King's Station, except one is near Queen's Gardens and thus lush green, while the other is in the City of Tears and thus constantly raining. The rest of the facilities and specifications are the same.
Leaving the station, they entered the Fog Canyon area.
The fog here does not refer to water mist, but light mist. The air is filled with bubbles of varying sizes, emitting a gentle, soft glow. Plants are immersed in the light mist, becoming ethereal and elegant.
The entire area's color palette is soft and warm pink-white.
There are only two main types of creatures in Fog Canyon: jellyfish and electrified lightflies.
Electrified lightflies gather to release electric flashes, which are very dangerous, and their numbers are vast, making them difficult to clear. One can only pass quickly during the brief intervals when they are not releasing electricity.
The jellyfish floating in the air are even stranger. They have transparent outer shells and orange-red cores. They don't seem to have parts that carry thinking energy, but they genuinely possess souls.
Small jellyfish are called Uoma. They drift with the current and have pulsating electric currents, but pose no threat, easily bursting with a light stab.
Large jellyfish are called Ooma. After breaking their outer membrane, their core will chase enemies and then explode, with a destructive power that should not be underestimated.
Simon dealt with these jellyfish and then came to a wall.
Here, according to the map, there was a path behind the wall, leading directly to the Teacher's Archives.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/Greyhounds
If you want to see it, then why not?