Chapter 690: Chapter 23: Arrival

The flying aircraft continued its journey for several months above the vast Eastern Sea area, beneath it was an endless expanse of blue, seemingly without end.

Early this morning, before the sun had fully risen, Lynch’s cabin door was knocked with a light yet urgent rhythm. From outside came Kong’s voice: “Lynch, come out quickly! We’re about to dive, and the scene outside is not to be missed!”

“Dive?” Lynch, just finishing his meditation, opened the door with obvious confusion on his face. Isn’t the flying aircraft supposed to navigate in the sky?

“You’ll see once you step out, hurry!” Kong seemed quite excited, and pulled him by the sleeve, heading towards the deck without further ado.

When Lynch followed Kong to the upper deck, he found quite a number of passengers already gathered, having received the news in advance. He saw the silver hull of the flying aircraft surface, covered with a flowing, mercury-like energy film, tightly wrapping the entire hull, emitting strong magical waves.

Kong’s excitement was palpable. As the aircraft descended with a low hum, its massive propellers angled to provide downward thrust. It was like a whale preparing to hunt, smoothly cutting into the peaceful ocean below, creating vast waves that were soon calmed by the energy shield.

Amazingly, the seawater did not flood the deck; the energy shield perfectly isolated the water, forming a giant bubble-like space encapsulating the flying aircraft.

Soon after, the sea ahead began to swirl unexpectedly, forming a huge, bottomless vortex channel. The flying aircraft skillfully adjusted its course, entering the vortex and beginning its descent towards the depths of the ocean.

Lynch gripped the railing, watching the surface light above gradually darken, and couldn’t help but ask Kong again, “Weren’t we headed to a secret realm in the sky? Why are we diving into the sea? Where exactly is the entrance to the Lost Tower?”

Kong gazed at the gradually transforming deep-sea landscape and explained, “The Lost Tower is not located at any specific coordinates in our world. To be precise, it exists in a state beyond conventional spatial dimensions. We are headed now to a man-made ’entrance’ or ’anchor point’ that leads there.”

Noting the growing curiosity in Lynch’s eyes, Kong’s tone turned a bit serious: “Lynch, this world is far more complex and profound than what you’ve learned from textbooks. The Farlan Territory we pride ourselves on, the power of the Truth Wizards we revere, may seem insignificant in the face of the vast rules of the world, and even the will of some ancient and mighty beings.”

These words shook Lynch deeply, as he vaguely felt he was touching upon deeper secrets of this world.

Kong patted his shoulder, his tone relaxing, “These things you will come to understand gradually. For now, we are heading to a place where you can glimpse the true face of the world. Once there, you will understand more.”

Their attention returned outside the portholes. As the diving depth increased, clusters of vibrant, illuminated fish appeared, curiously swimming around the uninvited guest. Their bio-luminescence intertwined with the faint blue sunlight penetrating from the surface, creating a dreamlike interplay of light and shadow.

This beautiful and mysterious scene involuntarily reminded Lynch of years ago when his ship crossed the ocean towards the Magic Power Alchemy Research Institute. Then, too, he saw stunning sights underwater and even participated by chance in a deep sea giant squid’s funeral, meeting some odd ocean friends… Are they still well today?

Lost in thought, the flying aircraft continued to dive, passing through a forest-like giant coral reef area, where sunlight could no longer reach. Yet, glowing jellyfish, algae, and unique deep-sea creatures adorned the area like a celestial sky.

The flying aircraft did not pause but instead continued along a deep and dark ocean trench, seemingly heading straight to the gates of Hell.

The surrounding environment grew increasingly eerie, the temperature began to rise, and eventually, they reached a sea-floor lava-filled area. The molten rock flowed slowly through the nearby fissures, emitting a dark red glow.

Amazingly, the aircraft plummeted into the roiling lava, which seemed able to melt everything! The energy shield sizzled on contact but remained intact. After penetrating a thick layer of sub-sea lava, there was a sudden empty void around!

The aircraft seemed to have entered an absolute void.

This was an indescribable, extreme darkness.

It’s not simply devoid of light; it’s as if the concept of “light” itself has been completely erased, negated by the rules here. It devours every perception, leaving one soulfully alone and cold in absolute darkness.

Just as Lynch was overwhelmed by the unimaginable scene, the flying aircraft suddenly came to a halt.

Immediately, an indescribable, overwhelming spiritual power engulfed the entire flying aircraft like an invisible tide!

Such strength made even Lynch, a Domain Wizard, shiver, his soul trembling as if an insignificant ant gazing up at eternal stars, a primal fear and awe rising from the depths of his being!

Just then, in the heart of that absolute darkness, two points of light suddenly flared.

No, that’s not light!

Those are… two enormous pupils that seem to burn with dark fire!

Then, more outlines gradually emerged in the darkness—an eye of unimaginable size!

Its dimensions even surpassed the massive Flying Aircraft on which they traveled! It floated silently in the absolute darkness of the void, gazing coldly, timelessly, at this small creation and its passengers.

Just as Lynch found himself almost unable to breathe under the gaze of that cosmic eye, his soul freezing, a hatch silently slid open at the fore of the Flying Aircraft.

An Old Wizard dressed in a deep blue Star Robe, holding a Magic Wand topped with a large blue gemstone—Wizard Roman—flew out. His body rippled with powerful waves of Law, and although not as overpowering as the presence of the giant eye, he emanated a somber and substantial aura.

Wizard Roman hovered in front of the Flying Aircraft, facing the terrifying giant eye, and respectfully performed an ancient Wizard’s salute. Then he raised the Magic Wand in his hand, and the blue gemstone at its peak suddenly shone with a gentle yet intensely penetrating light, like a tiny blue star ignited in the absolute darkness.

Though this light couldn’t completely dispel the dark, it was enough to illuminate a limited space in front of the Flying Aircraft. By this momentary gleam of light, Lynch and the others on the deck finally caught a faint glimpse of part of the giant eye’s owner—

Was it a… fish?

But definitely not in the ordinary sense of the word!

The portion of its body illumined by the glow was covered in massive, dark scales seemingly weathered by eons, thicker than the aircraft’s armor, with ancient accretions like deep-sea plant life wedged between the scales.

The enormity of its physique defied belief; even the small part that emerged was mountain-like in scale!

Wizard Roman recited an obscure and archaic spell, its syllables strange and not from the common tongue of modern Wizards, more akin to an older language. The light from his Magic Wand shifted accordingly, seemingly conveying a type of message.

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The giant pupil, burning with dark fire, twitched slightly, focusing on the “small light” that was Wizard Roman.

After a moment of breathless silence, the ancient entity appeared to acknowledge the message or identity that Roman communicated. This great and unbelievable body shifted slightly, creating silent ripples of energy in the void.

Subsequently, the gaze that seemed to pierce souls moved slowly away, and the dark fire within the giant pupil receded slightly, making way for the Flying Aircraft’s path forward.

Wizard Roman bowed again in respect and swiftly returned to the Flying Aircraft. Soon, the Flying Aircraft resumed its careful journey, hugging the edges of the great ancient being’s massive figure, moving towards a deeper ’below’.

Passing through the path made by the giant beast, the absolute darkness gradually thinned, replaced by a deep, tomb-like dimness.

Then, the outlines of a colossal, yet ruinous architectural complex unfolded below the Flying Aircraft, resembling the bones of a slumbering prehistoric giant beast.

Collapsed enormous stone pillars lay like the broken leg bones of giants, crisscrossed and fallen in the seabed silt.

The ruptured grand arches were half-buried in sediment, hinting at their former majesty. The broad street network had been weathered and smoothed by time and ocean currents, but the overall layout was still discernible.

In the distance, some structures appeared to be pyramid-like or temple bases, silently whispering of their past glory.

All the buildings displayed a milky white weariness as if soaked for millennia by the ocean, covered with layers of coral, algae, and other deep-sea lifeforms, yet the stones and construction techniques used were distinctly different from any contemporary civilization.

An ancient, deathly stillness, yet once extremely prosperous civilization’s atmosphere washed over.

Lynch looked down at this ruined yet strangely familiar architectural cluster, and a word quickly flashed through his mind—

Atlantis!

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