Ch. 74 - Behind the Door

Creak...

The massive door, untouched for who knows how many years, was slowly pushed open by Tianyang. Thick layers of dust on the door cascaded down like snowflakes as it swung open.

As the double doors were pushed open by the young man, a silent hall appeared before them, with several beams of light sweeping back and forth inside.

In the light, a large painting hung on the wall of the hall, but it was covered in dust, making it difficult to see the patterns of clouds and buildings.

Tianyang raised his illumination device and looked up at the dome, which was decorated with huge and luxurious lamp holders. Of course, none of these things could emit even a glimmer of light now.

In several corners, stone pillars supported the dome, but cracks were visible everywhere on these cubic pillars. Some places were even covered in thriving mold.

Most striking were the three low platforms in the middle of the hall, made of metal and adorned with a ring of flowers and plants.

Tianyang walked over in surprise, wondering what kind of flowers and plants could survive in the environment of the Inverse Realm. Although they were covered in dust, their vigorous vitality caught the boy's attention.

However, when Tianyang blew away some dust and touched one of the flowers, he realized they were not real plants, but rather made of some synthetic material. The young man was somewhat speechless; he couldn't understand the purpose of the residents of the Inverse Realm creating artificial flowers and plants.

Perhaps they had too many resources at their disposal? So much that they could afford to waste them freely?

Quickly diverting his gaze from these artificial decorations, Tianyang looked at the platforms. On these platforms were models of buildings, some of which were already toppled or damaged, but they seemed to resemble a miniature version of the residential community.

"Is this... a tactical sand table?" Han Shu scratched his head and muttered, "But why would they play with tactical sand tables in a living community? Were they arming their residential area? But I didn't see any traces of defense fortifications and weapon emplacements outside."

"Sorry, if I remember correctly, studying the history of the Inverse Realm doesn't seem to be our job," Ji Yu walked over, complaining as she looked at Han Shu, "So, Captain, do you still want to find that 'newborn'?"

Han Shu grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, "Don't judge me by my appearance, I'm actually very interested in the history of the Inverse Realm. Of course, I haven't forgotten why we came here, so we still rely on you, Ji Yu."

With that, a fluffy hand reached towards Ji Yu's buttocks.

Before it could make contact, Han Shu stopped abruptly, and Ji Yu was holding a dagger in her hand, which she had drawn at some point.

The tip of the knife pointed outward, towards his palm.

The hand finally landed on the back of Han Shu's head, and the Captain of the Raven Squad burst into a silly laugh. Of course, it was a feigned ignorance.

With a spin of the dagger, it was sheathed in the scabbard behind Ji Yu's waist. She took down her star-quality longbow and walked towards a wooden door on the left side of the hall. "From the traces, that thing entered here and went towards this door."

Han Shu looked around, "Where are the traces? Why didn't I see them?"

Ji Yu didn't stop walking, "On the walls, on the pillars, on the dome, everywhere. Just not on the ground. It seems that after evolution, it has gained the ability to climb walls. In this way, most obstacles are no longer obstacles for it."

Tianyang immediately directed the light to the nearby walls, and indeed, there were several sets of footprints on the wall. Because the entire hall was covered in dust, these footprints were quite obvious.

Han Shu and Cangdu also held their illuminations and found the footprints, converging with the other two beams of light at the side door of the hall.

All traces pointed to this spot.

As the four beams of light fell on the door, there was suddenly a sound from inside the large door.

Bang!

It came very suddenly, catching everyone off guard, especially in the quiet and spacious surroundings, making the heavy sound even more abrupt and immense. Tianyang's whole body trembled as if struck by a giant hammer to the chest. He immediately raised his assault rifle, almost pulling the trigger.

Han Shu raised his hand and gently pushed down the young man's rifle, then the star essence manifested around him. Including the captain himself, a protective barrier of star essence surrounded the four of them.

Just then, there were more sounds from inside the door: thud! thud! thud!

The intense pounding echoed in the dim hall, shaking the souls of the four present.

Tianyang's mind immediately tensed like a taut wire. At that moment, under the light, the side door was forcefully pushed open from the inside!

A face emerged in the light, a man's face with a prominent nose, resembling a dog's snout.

In an instant, Tianyang knew what it was.

A mad dog! The male kind!

The male dog seemed to want to run outside but was held back by something, its front paws desperately scratching at the ground. Its sharp claws only sparked futilely on the smooth surface, until it was forcefully pulled back into the darkness by whatever lurked in the shadows behind the door.

The hall grew even quieter.

The four of them didn't even dare to breathe, afraid of disturbing whatever was behind the door.

Shortly after, a dark figure flew out from the door, revealing a bone still streaked with blood.

Next came a severed limb, and moments later, the half-eaten head of the male dog was thrown out from the door, rolling in front of everyone.

Han Shu whispered, "Looks like we stumbled upon a picky eater."

Darklanders rarely feed on their own kind, but occasionally there are exceptions.

Like encountering a ghost car during a retrieval mission, which is filled with wanderers to satiate their hunger, and they eat quite a lot.

Seeing something that feeds on mad dogs, Tianyang wasn't particularly surprised, but he wondered if the thing feasting was their target.

Jiyu suddenly raised a finger, gesturing for everyone to stay quiet, then faint wheezing sounds could be heard from the small side door.

In the woman's mind, an indescribable creature crouched on the ground, staring at something outside the door.

The wheezing grew louder and louder, Jiyu's pupils slightly dilated as she whispered, "It's coming!"

Before her words could fade, a dark shadow rushed out from the door.

The assaulters Tianyang and Cang immediately opened fire, but all their azure star essence beams missed.

The shadow moved with extraordinary agility, leaping high to the left wall and climbing it like the wind. Before they could even see what it looked like, it had hidden behind a pillar!

"Flank left and right!" Han Shu shouted, leading the way to the right, circling around the pillar.

Tianyang followed the captain, arriving behind the pillar and aiming his gun, but there was nothing behind it.

The young man seemed to realize something and immediately raised his gun, illuminating the pillar with the gun's light, pointing it towards the ceiling.

On the ceiling, a dark figure dropped from above, emitting a spine-chilling roar...

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