Chapter 176: The Gate of Goffin (3)
IygJ3d4“The current leader of that faction is Chief Kadum.”25cMW
mWxqEE0Shirone recalled the two types of gazes he felt at the banquet. The elders who welcomed Unlocker must have been Angel Faction, while those who looked at him with disdain belonged to the Anti-Angel Faction.Uh2OMa
ZW2When classified that way, Chief Kadum’s father, Hashid, was Anti-Angel Faction. So was Mahatu.vZ7GW59
YEa5“Chief Kadum is leading Kergos to ruin. It’s ironic for someone like me, who engages in Lupe smuggling, to say this, but I believe that entrusting the tribe’s fate to the messenger of God is wrong. In truth, I am of the Anti-Angel Faction lineage, and I was destined to be a slave. You’ve heard about the human trafficking perpetrated by the Galiant autonomous government. Most of the victims were from the Anti-Angel Faction. My mother was also kidnapped by foreigners.”T6X
iHQZZAmy decided to erase the last bit of resentment she had towards Mahatu. If his parents had suffered such a fate, it was understandable that he harbored animosity towards outsiders.TME
BymPE“A hundred years ago, the Kergos tribe was shaken by the infiltration of civilization. The anger of the Anti-Angel Faction intensified as the Galiant autonomous government began hunting humans. It seemed like a third civil war was imminent, and destruction seemed unavoidable. But there was someone who turned it all around. The person who ended the civil war by designing the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice to prevent reckless ascensions to Heaven. That person was Miro.”
Shirone thought of Miro. There had been times when he felt a chill from Miro’s eyes that seemed to show rapid emotional changes. But before entering Miro’s space-time, he was a human being.ZXokLM
g4twi7q“There is still conflict, but it’s much better than back then, thanks to Miro. Without her, I would have been just another slave.”1Z8rb
fJ5X251“Where is Miro now?”79v
qWiRxvsShirone knew that she resided in a middle dimension of Estas. But he also thought she might exist everywhere.fUazc7e
B1LMwJ“After designing the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice, Miro entered the Gate of Goffin. Though I wasn’t there, I heard she said she was going to meet Goffin.”uIMhWGK
BMMB8Amy asked with a puzzled look.RhsWaM
7eJiE0“Wait a minute. Isn’t Goffin from 250 years ago? How can she meet him?”EfDNp
H4lfP“I don’t know either. But the records clearly state that.”tYKbL2
wwaDmhShirone believed it was entirely possible.nlLGlp
CZ0t4To have installed the Gate of Goffin meant she was an Unlocker who wielded Scale Magic. If Miro was strong in spatial aspects, then Goffin must have been strong in temporal aspects.a3Bf0
CjQFHe thought of Armin, the Eternal Cintana. He had also spent over a hundred years contemplating with Stop Magic, so it wouldn’t be strange for Goffin to be alive somehow. Even the Archmage Arcane survived 150 years solely with his biological abilities.HQVXB3
HUPTCanis wasn’t interested in Miro. However, the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice she designed was crucial in determining ascension to heaven.TkVYaO9
vBZnR“So, where are those who passed through Miro’s space-time waiting? Shouldn’t they go with Shirone?”l8c
1sINow that it was mentioned, Shirone was curious too.bHDrO
oNlfIThose who proved their strength in Miro’s space-time. If they were still here, more clues might be obtained.xyn
VfC0“Whether they accompany us or not is up to the messenger of God to decide, but currently, no one is here. The last team left for Heaven two years ago and never returned.”Y0Wq
5HcIThe fact that it was only two years ago was shocking. People were ascending to heaven more frequently than expected.Fyp
mbnFhWkKadum hid this fact because he was part of the Angel Faction. He wanted more people to ascend to Heaven.O2vlGY
YoDribYAmy asked another question.gz7VK
Pal“All Kergosians believe in Ra, right? How can a faction that opposes angels exist?”wegjyms
enxuyX“I’m part of the Anti-Angel Faction, but I don’t know how the first civil war started. Most records were lost in the volcanic eruption 500 years ago. We call it the Lost Record. Honestly, we can’t even be sure if the volcanic eruption was the work of an angel. It’s just a story passed down.”LIHkJV
1oSqcMahatu’s story influenced their judgment. Even if there was a way to return, caution was necessary. They couldn’t grasp what Heaven was like.igy17J8
hMshP9“Even so, if you decide to go… I won’t stop you. No, I have no means to stop you. But please understand this. Everyone who passed through Miro’s space-time was stronger than me.”a7l1cQ
SOe4Mahatu implied that they were stronger than Shirone’s group. Yet even those strong individuals couldn’t return from Heaven.WZGB3
0FcKIn the heavy atmosphere, Shirone’s group fell into deep thought. Realizing that his sincerity had been conveyed, Mahatu bowed his head.PCF8q
yBjfw“I respect your determination, Shirone, unmoved by tribute. You must have come with a purpose beyond common worldly desires. That’s why I felt compelled to tell you the truth. While I won’t interfere with your decision, please consider it carefully.”8bUt4
x5Nze“Yes, we heard important information. Thank you.”bmhilJ
OkFSAs Mahatu left the room, silence fell.S3A
zgfoHeaven was still alluring, but no one tried to persuade Shirone.q2f
sMvMYShirone’s insight was correct. Only Shirone could decide, and the rest had no choice but to follow.bYqwy
9Iep3nu“Headmaster… how much did he know?”KY4I
oRv94D5The person who came to mind at the end of the thought was Alpheas. Knowing Shirone was an Unlocker, why had he told him about the Kergos ruins?wWFEU
YWvWhp“Maybe he knew as much as we do? He said Miro was his student. He must have heard about her actions.”VXwF6Ej
bUeCPs“Even so, why did he allow it? What if the situation we’re in was beyond the Principal’s expectations? What should I do then?”Yp9AZ
bW8u“That’s also a possibility. We don’t know how far he predicted, but he might have thought you wouldn’t go to heaven. I would think the same. In the end, the problem is…”oKL
QI6Canis threw a Metagate and spoke.caVq
SHZz“I was the variable.”Fx49B6R
5n98iTAlpheas hadn’t anticipated Canis’ presence. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have dreamed that he could find a way to return.8Fw
WbTANow, the only thing left was to choose.JUiTWA
Ob81IThe fact that there was an exit was positive. As long as it wasn’t a world filled with toxic gas, they wouldn’t die immediately upon arrival.kLm
bJrfcThinking this way, not attempting seemed foolish. But given the unpredictability of human psychology, missing the chance to return couldn’t be ignored.2gc
MpLbeWShirone couldn’t sleep until dawn.FiK5
1gaw***8812RS
kSUJ6BPThe next morning, Shirone’s group descended to the temple’s underground. Led by Chief Kadum, followed by Hashid and Mahatu.DWiGs
RFsTwUAmy thought this place must be the secret space of the ruins that couldn’t be explored with the Spirit Zone.3d4
CkIX1Upon reaching the lowest level, they found a straight passage with traces of a volcanic eruption. Gems embedded in the walls guided their way.sT8U
EzOBykOpening the iron door revealed a cavern. Priests lined the walls, and a solitary stone gate stood in the center. Its disconnection from anywhere else undeniably suggested the existence of Heaven.X8PI2T
AMLRreShirone approached the gate.NhoQWNa
qKY3The Gate of Goffin. Recreated by the Unlocker McClain Goffin 250 years ago, it was the entrance to heaven. A red orb was embedded, with vertical lines etched around it.OOnWu2S
urdaVBefore coming here, Kadum had completed a contract with Shirone. His request was simple. Just convey Chief Kadum’s will to the Angel’s Library, Inglis.QNkor
D6TaAn Angel’s Library. Kadum said it wasn’t a difficult journey as it wasn’t about reaching God, but Shirone thought it was an impossible task involving gods and angels.A7D5b9t
RbhUY1Shirone met eyes with his friends. They could come back. Maybe. Once they decided to go, they had to think positively.vYx
qAJpt4cWhen Amy nodded, Shirone placed his hand on the orb at the center of the door.RPYgFa
PaiqTaking a deep breath, he activated the Immortal Function, causing the orb to emit a white flash.hI4zwQ
oETW“Oh, ohhh!”1eCa
juYk8AVoices of awe were heard. Even Mahatu, an Anti-Angel Faction member, knelt and chanted Aker Ra.1r7n4lY
eb83OcShirone focused more power.2Lv
WGNUE96Contrary to initial thoughts, it wasn’t just a simple stone wall. What seemed like the scratches of time revealed themselves as indecipherable magical runes emitting red light.g8l
qzuv5RJAs the magic activated, the stone wall began to fragment into dice-sized cubes.qOn7MC
5TDZThe fragments, defying gravity, shattered into finer particles and were eventually absorbed by the light.EJjo
tjEueThe door emitted a white light, engulfing Shirone.tf28lY
YudF“The Gate of Goffin has opened! Praise the angels!”i5v
WJThBFThe priests bowed and chanted.0GMXaT
aoGYa1Shirone couldn’t hear their voices. Enveloped in light, he could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat.cfJ9
5UrrFor the first time, he felt fear. Though it was just a step, it felt like an eternal distance. He didn’t want to move.Dfk
BDZwTaDA strong and warm hand rested on his shoulder. It was Rian.BZPVtz
lUfxZqYes, he wasn’t alone. Rian wouldn’t give up in any situation.Fyv9sZ
ztl3bTess’s delicacy, Amy’s brilliance, Canis’s defense, and Arin’s mental strength. Harvest was also a reliable ally now.LzNLXMN
GaT7IThis was a splendid party. He felt a bit relieved.I0mZiod
hzqDCLShirone stepped through the door.ZaXTDH
qvvuL5As they left the altar, the white light condensed into gray particles and began to reconstruct the stone wall.aGucp
LYD00The floating cubes found their places, reassembled, and the magical runes lost their glow.PY6eZ9w
q4MvayDThere was no one standing at the closed stone wall.DLmmE
qU8piThe cavern was silent.HxsuX
RXa***jCoZRHQ
cbFOmVShirone gritted his teeth. Multicolored lights whizzed around him.4XCe
TtasTZWhat awaited at the end? Or was there even an end? The dazzling light patterns didn’t disappear even when he closed his eyes.Za2QZvE
ZjXoBIt was as if he had become a cannonball fired from a cannon, with his vision opening wide.idsAi8
NZSG3The group shared the same feeling. They only hoped it wasn’t a world of burning sulfur.5yLlul
JvIThe first impression wasn’t bad. The air was clear and cool. But realizing where they were, they screamed.07vZXO
inxThey had assumed the Gate of Goffin would lead them to the ground. How foolish.wCO
1bW6They were floating high above the clouds, at a height where they could see the ends of the sea.1ZpNQbG
YDlYOThe mages attempted teleportation, but it was futile. Still affected by the Gate of Goffin, they plummeted towards the ground faster than freefall.QOHky
5panXAzThe sea receded, revealing dense forests.cOw
MSZShirone spotted a city standing in the center of the distant forest. It was identical to what he had seen in Miro’s space-time.oup7F
21qUF3ZA castle surrounded by two concentric circles, with the inner circle divided into six sections like a pie.9Bf
rFsPMechanical devices resembling ladybugs were flying in the sky. They reminded him of a human brain.SyN
xM6iAs they descended, the city disappeared, and they plummeted into the forest. Breaking through the forest, they saw the ground. They would be killed instantly upon impact.D5o3g
cJ4lVThey tried magic again, but it was impossible. Just as the pebbles on the ground touched their retinas, the Gate of Goffin released them.IREdH
DbEB***eJMi
PmRHeaven’s outskirts. Purgatory.FtWQxP
x9ekb57Shirone had no time to look around and immediately checked his head. Falling face-first, his head should have been smashed.dIE
VygHe seemed to have lost consciousness for a moment, but when he came to, he was standing on his two feet, unharmed.rqj
r6vITess examined his body and spoke.r1hhh7B
o1MW3“Are we alive? Or did we die?”LWVE
wRaBX4“We’re alive, I think. I’m hungry.”ROx
0hs9DlEven in this situation, Rian’s comment about hunger was meant to reassure Tess.VdYh
AALM“Maybe we didn’t fall from the sky.”0yIk
0iBShirone, using his expertise, explained.uFt8i80
1yBd3EZ“Think of it as spatial movement. We simply arrived here through a tunnel, and the various landscapes we saw were due to the space folding.”n6wy
0Ed8DIn the end, it was spatial movement. However, the extraordinary distance traveled caused such phenomena.euuTa
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