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When Duncan heard the Tomb Guardianâs shocking yet somehow anticipated disclosure, he fell into a long silence, deep in thought.
ââŠWhen you speak of the âCreator,â do you mean the so-called King of Darkness? Or should we call him the Nether Lord?â
âThe being youâre referring to is known among us as âNavigator Oneâ,â the Tomb Guardian answered, bowing his head slowly in respect. âSome call him the Cluster Controller. But yes, the titles King of Darkness and Nether Lord are also known to us from historical reports by the Doomsday Survey Team.â
After a thoughtful pause, the Tomb Guardian continued in a low voice, almost as if speaking to himself, âIt has been ages since we last received any instructions from the Creator.â
Duncan kept silent, his mind swirling with confusion and speculation. After a deep reflection, he looked up at the grand figure on the throne and asked, âSo, âNavigator Oneâ collected parts of the King of Dreamsâ remains during what is known as the Third Long Night? Using his replication ability, he crafted the Cretan tribe in the image of the King of Dreams to serve as his aides⊠Does this mean the entire Cretan tribe, and even those on the Doomsday Survey Teams, were âcreatedâ this way?â
âIndeed,â the Tomb Guardian confirmed calmly. âThe world was in complete chaos then. The Creator allowed some mortals into the budding sanctuary, but they couldnât survive, let alone help. Thus, he turned to entities as powerful as himself. The deceased Saslokha from a previous creation era was considered a perfect candidate.â
As Duncan absorbed the detailed narrative, his expression became increasingly complex and thoughtful. He realized, leading to a shocking revelationâmight all beings known as Enders be, in some way, descendants of Saslokha?
This profound and bizarre realization stunned him momentarily. He then thought of another disturbing notion.
The so-called âEndersâ showed intense excitement and fanaticism at the appearance of the Vanished, proclaiming it the âPromised Ark.â While the obvious reason was the Vanishedâs miraculous return from subspace intact, might there be a deeper link? Could their fervent reaction stem from the fact that the current Vanished was built over what was once known as the âAncient Spineâ of Saslokha?
Was this extreme behavior of the Enders an instinctual response, a deep resonance felt by the âoffspringâ when near an artifact of an âAncient Godâ?
These overwhelming insights flooded his mind. It took some time for Duncan to reel his thoughts back from these vast revelations, refocusing on the headless body on the throne before him.
He recalled something the Tomb Guardian had mentioned when they first entered the tomb.
âWhen you said âhis time was running outâ⊠were you referring to the lifespan of this body here?â
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âHe has been guarding this place for a long time, but the maintenance system has its limits,â the Tomb Guardian explained in a deep, resonant voice. âThe ancient mechanisms set up by the Creator are all breaking down one by one. Theyâve been working far beyond their expected lifespan. This throne, once the central control for a network of twelve hundred observation stations, sustained the âexistenceâ of the entire Cretan race. Now, it stands as the last functioning station. Its end is imminent.â
Duncanâs expression turned to a frown of concern. ââŠWhat happens when the throne stops working?â
The guardian paused, then replied gravely, âIt means the complete collapse of the first foundational system established by the Creator. Then, the era known as the Fourth Long Night will begin.â
The Fourth Long Night!
A flicker of realization crossed Duncanâs eyes. After connecting countless vague and intricate clues, he had finally found a solid piece of information, marking the start of the âFourth Long Night.â
Moreover, the guardian had mentioned that all ancient systems initiated by the Creator were failing. The decay of the throne was just one symptom of a much larger issue. Vision 001-Sun was likely another critical system on the verge of failure. This fit perfectly with the broader scenario as understood.
Duncanâs brows knitted together as he pondered the situation. Logically, the failure of one component in a series of interlinked, complex systems would likely trigger a domino effect. Essentially, when the throne ceases to function, the malfunction and subsequent collapse of the sun will be accelerated.
Each Long Night has historically started with a major collapse from the previous era, and the Third Long Night was no exception. With the throneâs end, the âNameless Kingâs Tombââthe last stronghold of the Cretan observation networkâwill stop, leading to a cascade of failures that will ultimately extinguish the sun, plunging the world into an era of unending darkness.
It was evident to Duncan that this Tomb Guardian possessed knowledge far beyond his own time, perhaps even transcending the current flow of history. Such insights could have come from the âDoomsday Survey Teamsâ sent long ago, those who had monitored the sanctuary across timeâŠ
Duncanâs thoughts then returned to the Tomb Guardian who had led him here. This entity and the tomb it protected had survived the turmoil of ten thousand years. Yet, as Vanna had revealed, the âNameless Kingâs Tombâ had never before engaged in such clear and direct interactions with the outside world. To the wider world, this tomb was known as the chaotic and dangerous âVision 004â. But now, it seemed that the Tomb Guardian and everything within the tomb were remarkably ânormalââŠ
Duncanâs train of thought suddenly stopped, and he turned, casting a contemplative look at the towering figure beside him.
âŠIs it truly normal?
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Could Duncanâs view of the tomb be unique, similar to the âindescribableâ entities he had previously encountered, entities that only he could fully perceive and understand? He wondered if other âListenersâ who had entered this place saw the same scenes as he did.
He recalled the âCognitive Shift Modelâ Lune had mentioned in a recent conversation. After thinking for a moment, he felt compelled to ask, âDo others who come here see the same things I do?â
The Tomb Guardianâs voice was deep and measured as he responded, ââŠI strive to shield their senses, to cleanse the perilous remnants from their memories before they leave. Mortals should not be burdened with excessive knowledge; it can be harmful to them.â
Duncan nodded slowly, understanding.
While the guardianâs response didnât entirely align with his initial expectations, it did somewhat confirm his hypothesis.
The reality he perceived was clearly different from that of the average person, and this discrepancy was even more pronounced in matters related to âanomaliesâ and âvisions.â
With a soft exhale, Duncan briefly set aside these complex thoughts. After a pause, he asked another question, âHow much longer?â
The Tomb Guardian looked puzzled for a moment, âHmm?â
Duncan lifted his gaze toward the dark throne, clarifying, âI mean, how much more time does this throne have before it stops working?â
âItâs hard to say; Iâm just the guardian here. The scholars who deeply understood this complex system have long gone. The best answer I can give is⊠soon.â
âAnd what becomes of this body once the throne stops its functions?â
This time, the Tomb Guardian offered no verbal answer, simply shaking his head in silence.
Duncan decided not to press further. Together, they stood among the twilight-lit ruins, wrapped in a thoughtful silence. After some time, Duncan broke the quiet, âIâve been hearing the sound of bells⊠Is it a sign that this place is nearing its end? Are you the one summoning me here?â
âYes,â the guardian confirmed.
Puzzled and curious, Duncan asked, âWhy? What do you expect me to do?â
To his surprise, the guardian shook his head, âI donât know.â
âYou donât know?â
The guardian met Duncanâs gaze, his voice steady and solemn, âI am just the guardian. Those who had the knowledge, who understood everything, have long disappeared. But there is one thing I do remember⊠just one thing.â
He shifted slightly, his gaze drifting toward the sprawling ruins and the spectral figures that occasionally appeared at the squareâs edge, moving swiftly through doorways and across different timelines. In a reflective tone, he shared, âWhen they first set out, a message came from the most distant and unlikely edges of time, reaching here almost instantly. It was from someone who called themselves a Doomsday Surveyor, someone who claimed to have traveled to the very edge of existence. This person delivered a single, ominous sentenceâ
âHe said, âTwilight has fallen, and the Usurper has set this world on fire.'â
Duncan remained silent, his face calm, revealing none of the thoughts or considerations that might be swirling within. His deep, steady eyes kept their secrets well.
Yet, the Tomb Guardian seemed undisturbed by Duncanâs stoicism; he continued in his even tone, âI cannot guess the thoughts stirring in your mind after hearing all this, nor can I predict what actions you might take in the coming days. I am even less aware of how the information Iâve shared today might influence any future decisions or actions you might take.â
âMy only role is to oversee this station and, according to ancient agreements, occasionally allow it to exchange limited data with the outside world⊠We were carefully designed and brought into existence, each of us bound to fulfill specific and vital roles. Leading you here, strictly speaking, isnât within my assigned duties.â
âHowever, those who once assigned these tasks have long disappeared, and the Creator has been silent for a long time. I felt it was my duty to⊠take some form of action.â
Duncan let out a soft breath, his features relaxing into an expression of understanding, perhaps without even realizing it. He then focused on the guardian, nodding slowly and with genuine appreciation, âThank you for sharing so much with me. Just knowing about these events is a significant gain.â
âThatâs good,â the guardian replied, his voice carrying a note of quiet satisfaction.