In early February of the year 2135 of the Bright Calendar, we were on the mountainside of a mountain deep in the dark rainforest south of the Bidras River in Newland Continent.
The orange-red sun is rising from the rainforest canopy on the eastern horizon. Water vapor is rising from the forest at the foot of the mountain. The morning mist in the forest is faintly diffused, and beams of light are slanting from the treetops and shining on the bushes.
On the grass and on the grass, the chirping of birds was getting louder and louder. Steven and Kate each carried a machete and a rucksack on their backs, walking leisurely in the forest.
Steven looked around and said to Kate: "Dear Kate, what kind of terrain do you think the original building would be more suitable for? Although we have not seen real ruins, the several ancient ruins that have been discovered are usually
They are all built on the top of a mountain that is not too high or on a flat terrain. The ruins we are looking for probably will not be built on such a steep hillside. The architectural knowledge learned in the college also provides a basis."
Kate cut off the branches of the thorny bush in front of her and said without looking back: "I think your judgment is reasonable, but the situation of the ancient ruins that have been discovered does not mean that all the undiscovered ones will definitely be similar, so
Your theory only applies to known situations, and the unknown relics we are looking for cannot be fully applied to the known knowledge."
"Okay, I admit that what you said makes sense. We have almost searched the fifty kilometers to the west without any clues. In a few days, we will turn to the fifty kilometers to the south. But in my opinion, before the rainy season comes,
I’m afraid there won’t be anything gained.”
Kate replied: "That's not certain, we still have a chance before the rainy season."
After a whole day of searching, they found nothing. When it got dark, the two of them came to the valley to camp.
After Steven set up the tent and laid out sleeping mats and sleeping bags, Kate also lit a bonfire. Steven hung a small iron pot filled with water over the bonfire, and then put the purple berries and young mugwort leaves picked on the road.
Put it in a pot, and when the water boils, a jar of fragrant tea is ready.
At this time, Kate also processed the dough balls of cassava and purple banana powder and placed them on the banana leaves, letting the bonfire heat it up a little, and the two of them enjoyed their dinner while roasting over the bonfire...
Time goes back to more than 9 months ago, when Steven and Kate had just graduated from Bolt Yorton College. They and more than ten classmates who graduated in the same year organized a loose amateur academic seminar called "Exploring New...
world".
The society holds gatherings in the Discovery Club next to the college in the evening two days a week to discuss academic knowledge and ideas that interest everyone.
This day is not a day for the society to gather.
According to Steven's habit, he usually comes here every afternoon to evening to drink tea and read books. There are many books collected in the Discovery Club. According to Steven, it is almost as big as half of the college library.
When dinner was approaching, the oak door was suddenly pushed open, and Steven's classmate Field rushed in. He saw Steven sitting at the table, walked quickly to him, and said to Steven: "
Steven! It’s great to have you here! Isn’t Kate with you?”
For two people who are usually inseparable, it seems reasonable to ask.
"Kate has something to deal with, so she didn't come today. What's wrong? Field, do you think you're in a hurry because you have something to do? Today is not a day for the society to gather!" Steven looked up at Field and asked, the two of them and Field were
We are very close friends, so there is nothing hesitant to say.
"Steven, do me a favor! Put this bag away! No matter what happens next, don't give the contents to anyone! I have to leave here right now, don't leave with me! See you later.
Let’s go, the situation is urgent, I can only divert them away first!”
He took out a long leather bag and looked very anxious.
Steven couldn't help but become nervous: "What's wrong? Field! Will anyone do anything bad to you? Don't be afraid, I'm here! If anyone wants to harm you, I'll call the police immediately!"
"It's useless to call the police! Steven! It's from the church! There is a scroll in this bag that was obtained from the church! Believe me, there is no time to explain any more! Anyway, please believe me! It will be okay! I
Go out and lure them away first, and don't go out with me!" After saying that, Field didn't answer Steven's questioning. He gave Steven his bag and then turned around and rushed out of the club.
Steven waited nervously for a while and rushed out of the club, and then he saw Field lying on the street.
Steven rushed to Field's side, picked up his head, and reached out to hold his neck. His pulse was already very weak! The blood under his body stained the stone bricks of the street. Steven shouted for help to passers-by. Someone
Immediately run to the police and notify the clinic.
At this time, Field opened his eyes. He looked at Steven, smiled, and said with difficulty: "Go to the dark rain forest! You can avoid them there! The map is mine, and the location of the ruins in the dark rain forest is marked on it.
I'm sorry for getting involved! And..."
After all, Field didn't finish what he wanted to say...
Five days later, the two of them had completed searching the mountainous area within 50 kilometers to the west according to the plan, and began to search the mountainous area in the south. Since the rainy season was approaching, the two planned to search the west side of the southern mountainous area for three days and then start to retreat to the camp.
, so as not to encounter heavy rain during the rainy season on the way back.
This was the first day they retreated to camp. In the morning, they searched the west side of a mountain. After having lunch on the mountainside and resting for a while, they turned to the south side of the mountain to continue searching.
The south side of this peak is very close to a higher peak opposite it. The position where the two peaks face each other is not the usual sloping valley, but a steep cliff that extends to the entire north and south of the two peaks.
On the opposite side, weathered granite is exposed on the cliff, without a single tree. The opposite side of the cliff is only tens of meters away from here, but it is hundreds of meters deep.
When they passed a big tree, Kate, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped. He turned around and lowered his body and motioned for Steven to silence and squat down.
Steven was a little surprised: Did Kate discover some wild beast? He quickly followed Kate and quietly groped behind a rock half a man's height ahead.
Then the two slowly poked their heads out to look at the opposite mountainside, where they saw a platform that stretched out more than ten meters from the rocky cliff, slightly lower than the rock where they were.
At this time, there were some moving things on the platform: in the middle was something like a human-shaped armor made of stone. At first glance, you would think it was a stone statue engraved with armor, but it was more refined. Now this thing is in
Keep moving!
But the ones next to them look like human corpses wearing tattered clothes?! Some of them are standing still and some are walking around the armored statues!
Steven was stunned! His mind went blank. He stared at everything in front of him and was speechless!
After a while, Kate next to her took a deep breath, gently took off her backpack, unbuckled her hand, reached in, and took out the monocular inside.
After observing with the telescope for a while, he handed the telescope to Steven next to him. Steven took the telescope with a stiff hand and looked closely: Yes, that is indeed a stone statue, very delicate.
It was damaged in some places. The whole head was a helmet and the face was a visor. You couldn't see the inside or there was no face inside at all.
It is about two meters tall, has a broad body, and is covered with plate armor of a rock-like material. The color is the same as gray granite. The joints are dark blue, and it looks like some kind of mechanical device.
At this time, the stone armor was walking. It seemed to be circling the center of the rock platform. Next to it were five human corpses. The exposed skin looked like dry and hard dead tree trunks, and the dark brown skin had black spots.
There were a few sparse hairs on the top of their heads. Some of them were standing and not moving, but their bodies were slowly swinging back and forth. The other two were walking slowly around the outside following the stone armor.
Steven finally came to his senses after putting down the telescope. He took a quick breath and shouted in a low voice: "Oh my God! What the hell is this?!"