[Main quest has been issued.]
[Note: This quest is a multi stage quest. You must complete all stages before you can leave this world.]
[Main quest stage one objective: Reach the Underhive.]
[Stage 1 Reward: 5,000 System Currency.]
When Caelus opened his eyes, he felt bursts of scorching wind mixed with sand sweeping over his body. He looked around and found that the sky was obscured by brownish black clouds, with not a single ray of sunlight visible. The ground in the surrounding area was covered with desert sand and metal constructs, with various pipes crawling across the sand.
In the extreme distance, a massive pyramid made of steel stood between heaven and earth, so tall that it seemed to reach directly into the starry cosmos.
Looking at that incredibly tall structure, Caelus knew that must be his mission objective.
"I feel like the surrounding environment is a bit strange."
Caelus did not set out immediately. Instead, he looked around in confusion, then raised his hand to examine it, discovering that he was actually slightly translucent, giving off an inexplicable sense of unreality.
Yet he could clearly feel his own existence. He could feel the strength in his flesh and the vast energy flowing within him. These were all real and true, but why did he look so illusory from the outside?
[System: That is because this world's rule system has a certain conflict with your power of Nihility.]
[System: In this universe, there are two sides. One is the material dimension representing physical laws, and the other is the mental realm, an inner world that reflects this one. In that inner world, any mental power will create a projection. Excessively large mental power projections will create powerful entities.]
[System: Of course, none of that is important for now. The reason you look so illusory is purely because that Nihility Power does not quite mesh with the Warp system.]
[System: But honestly, the universe you used to live in, representing Nihility, was not much better than this one.]
Caelus did not quite understand, but he figured it was not a problem.
He then took out his pen and notebook and drew the massive steel pyramid that seemed to reach the stars. From its appearance, it looked more like a giant tower tapering upward.
After drawing the unforgettable building, Caelus walked toward it, passing through nothing but swirling yellow sands along the way.
In fact, the place where Caelus was currently located was full of various industrial waste and pollution from energy radiation. The stench was more than an ordinary person could tolerate. However, for Caelus, who could not smell anything and was unaffected by energy or hazardous radiation, it did not bother him at all.
The metal pyramid towering between heaven and earth did not look far away, but Caelus walked for nearly eight hours before getting any closer. From his surroundings, he could see that the dense networks of pipes and lines had increased.
Upon fully approaching this massive complex built by civilization, Caelus saw the tall metal buildings standing above the ground. These metal buildings had no sense of design. They were all cluttered together, connected by countless metal walkways.
Looking into the distance, he could see various elevators running constantly, albeit very slowly. Hundreds or thousands of people were squeezed onto a single platform, waiting for the elevator to move.
Those metal walkways were also packed with all kinds of people... wait, could those things really be called people?
Caelus even saw several humanoid creatures that looked like stitched together monsters, with lizard heads, three pairs of horns on their backs, and arms made entirely of soft tentacles.
Caelus walked into this crowded world, yet his arrival caused no ripples. Logically, someone who looked and dressed so out of place would surely attract attention or even a guard's inspection. But not a single person noticed the young man walking in from the outside. Even the soldiers standing by the sentry turrets with various firearms did not cast a single glance at Caelus.
"So how do I get to the Underhive? Based on the name, do I just dig straight down?"
Caelus thought to himself. After spending some time wandering around, he found the environment here was simply too chaotic. Sometimes he would be walking and suddenly find himself on an upper level, even though he had no memory of climbing any stairs.
After traversing the spiderweb like maze of pipes and metal walkways for a long time, Caelus could no longer tell where he was. There were no landmarks or signs. Even if he wanted to ask for directions, those people probably could not tell him anything.
In his sight, everyone was numbly busy with their own affairs. The people here were too busy. There were too many things waiting for them to do. Caelus could clearly see the emptiness and void in everyone's eyes.
Caelus did not continue his frantic search. He wanted to see how the people in this city actually lived.
He found a high spot, sat down, and quietly watched the dense crowds below, scurrying about like busy ants.
The average working hours for these people have reached 20 hours, involving countless instances of heavy physical labor. Workers in high risk chemical and radiation jobs are directly exposed to radiation and drifting industrial waste mist without any protective clothing.
In some places, residents are given free food, but it looks thick and foul smelling. It is as if it were brewed from chemical waste, various rotting and stinking biological tissues, and suspicious looking matter that resembles excrement.
And yet, this disgusting substance, which even a starving person in a normal world would not touch, was being gulped down with relish by every resident who received it. Their expressions were as if they were eating something delicious.
Sometimes, when someone dies from overwork, those around them do not feel the sympathy of sharing the same plight, nor do they feel the despair of this hollow and numb life. Instead, their eyes light up as they stare at the dead worker's corpse, saliva almost dripping from the corners of their mouths.
Caelus looked at this world that seemed driven mad, and he began to depict this frantic and despair inducing scene in his book.
There was no so called romance here, no mundane family chatter. Everyone exhausted themselves just to stay alive.
This was a world of pure despair.
Caelus flipped through the data and drawings he had recorded, looking at what he had seen and heard throughout the day. He then flipped back to the heroic epics he had recorded at the very beginning and began to ponder a question.
"If it were them facing such a world, what would they do?"
(To be continued.)
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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