Death… And Me

Chapter 4371: Duze

Meanwhile, countless kilometers beyond the furthest region that Besgol could even contact stood a bustling city known as Vanlir, located within the Rockus Region.

Even compared to the largest city in the Besgol Region, Vanlir was at least a hundred times larger, housing several billion residents. Endless airplanes crossed its skies every minute, while gigantic transportation vehicles constantly moved experts, resources, and entire merchant caravans from one district to another.

The city never seemed to sleep. Every street, every tower, and every floating platform was alive with activity, making Besgol’s largest cities look like little more than remote villages by comparison.

Rockus Region, like every Region throughout the Celestial Plane, was protected by a Sacred Relic. However, this particular relic possessed an area of influence several times greater than the one safeguarding Besgol.

Even among Sacred Relics, it was considered an impressive one. While it still couldn’t compare to the greatest relics controlled by the strongest regions of the Celestial Plane, its influence stretched across such an enormous territory that many beings lived their lives without ever reaching its borders.

At the very center of Vanlir City stood the Celestial Nexus, a monumental structure unlike any palace or fortress. It covered an area larger than many complete cities and served simultaneously as the regional government, transportation hub, Sacred Relic control center, military headquarters, treasury, information center, and the heart through which every major celestial vein beneath Vanlir was regulated.

Experts entered and exited the Nexus every second. Tens of thousands crossed its countless gates each minute, while officials, military officers, merchants, guild representatives, cultivators, and messengers traveled endlessly between its towers. Yet despite that constant movement, every single person appeared insignificant before the Nexus itself, no different from grains of sand scattered across an endless desert.

Deep within one of its highest towers sat an elderly cultivator with his eyes closed.

An enormous array surrounded him, its countless runes extending through the walls, ceiling, and floor before disappearing into the tower itself. More importantly, dozens of light threads connected directly to the old man’s body, most converging around his head as though the formation itself had become an extension of his consciousness.

The array had remained active for an entire decade.

During those ten years, the old expert hadn’t moved a single muscle.

Not once.

Today, however, that finally changed.

Without warning, the enormous formation slowly powered down. Layer after layer of runes dimmed until the countless streams of light detached themselves from the surrounding formation and flowed back toward the old man. They entered his body one after another before finally disappearing into his forehead.

Only after the very last thread vanished did the old expert slowly open his eyes.

"It sure is tiring..."

Even someone of his cultivation couldn’t completely hide the trace of exhaustion in his voice.

Almost immediately afterward, the heavy door of the chamber opened for the first time since the array had been activated ten years earlier.

A middle-aged attendant respectfully bowed.

"Senior Clovalski, thank you for your efforts. Your next watch duty will commence in 3,121 years."

Clovalski acknowledged the report with a slight nod before slowly standing. His body made no cracking sounds despite remaining still for an entire decade, as though sitting motionless for ten years had been no different than closing his eyes for a brief meditation.

Just as he prepared to leave, another cultivator entered the room, casually walking past the attendant.

"Duze," Clovalski greeted. "Is it your turn now?"

Duze shrugged helplessly. "Well, I tried my best to avoid being stuck doing this shit, but I guess they just don’t let you go."

A faint smile appeared on Clovalski’s face. "Indeed. Still, we benefit enormously from the thousands of years spent away from these duties. Would you really rather distance yourself from the system?"

Duze immediately waved his hands. "No way! The old geezers would probably skin me alive if I quit now, especially after everything they invested in guys like us."

Clovalski couldn’t deny that.

The position of Watcher was both a burden and an honor. Every cultivator selected for it received resources that ordinary experts could only dream of obtaining. Naturally, that also meant fulfilling responsibilities that very few others possessed the ability to carry out.

Duze walked toward the center of the formation and was about to sit down when Clovalski suddenly remembered something. "Have you checked the report I submitted regarding the events from three years ago?"

Duze paused. "You mean those Godly Colossi that appeared in... err... what was the name of that region again..." He quickly checked his RC before nodding. "Right. Besgol Region. That’s part of Lanza’s jurisdiction, isn’t it?"

Clovalski nodded in return. "The very same. Lanza requested that I keep a closer watch over that region, and during my observation, I happened to catch two Godly Colossi there. I killed one of them. The other turned out to be a Blood Seraphin. It escaped by sacrificing its companion and activating its escape technique."

Duze frowned. "So? It isn’t exactly uncommon for some idiot Godly Creatures to bite off more than they can chew. Sure, Lanza’s territory is far from their usual activity grounds, but it isn’t impossible they wandered there hoping to avoid attracting our attention."

"That is precisely the strange part," Clovalski replied. "I only found them because they activated Power-Link."

"What?!" Duze’s relaxed expression immediately disappeared. "They couldn’t possibly be that stupid. Did they really think we wouldn’t detect them the instant they used it?"

"They knew." Clovalski’s answer came without hesitation. "And yet they still activated it. From everything I observed, whatever existed in Besgol Region was important enough that they considered exposing themselves an acceptable risk. Considering how far away they were from their homeland, I can only conclude they had no other choice."

Duze folded his arms. "That... is interesting." He remained silent for several moments before speaking again. "So what exactly do you want me to investigate?"

"Materializing a Godly Energy Avatar over such a distance consumed far too much of my reserves," Clovalski explained. "Unless another intelligent Godly Creature appeared, I couldn’t project another one. Your reserves, however, should still have plenty of room."

Understanding finally dawned on Duze. "You want me to project another Avatar into Besgol."

"Exactly." Clovalski nodded. "Call it instinct, intuition, or whatever you prefer. I simply have the feeling something unusual is happening there. Stay hidden, naturally. Beings of our level aren’t supposed to interfere with the natural order of regions like Besgol. Most places throughout the Celestial Plane remain at their current level precisely because that balance has been maintained for countless ages."

Duze couldn’t help smiling. "Now you’ve made me curious, too. I was expecting ten years of nothing but boredom, so sure. Leave it to me. I’ll take a look around. Maybe it’ll make the watch pass a little faster."

"I’m glad to hear it." Clovalski nodded. "There is no need to rush, though. After what happened three years ago, I highly doubt any intelligent Godly Creature of level six or above will dare reveal itself anywhere near Besgol again. Finish your regular responsibilities first. That investigation can wait."

"That goes without saying." Duze stepped into the center of the array before adding, "I’ll contact you through the RC if I discover anything worth reporting."

"Very well." Clovalski walked toward the exit before stopping one final time. "And remember... if you decide to bring something out of Besgol, follow the proper procedures. As you yourself said, the old geezers will definitely give you a hard time if you pull the same bullshit you did thirty thousand years ago."

"Hehehe..." Duze scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed grin. "I can’t make any promises."

Clovalski simply laughed under his breath. "At least you’re honest."

With that, he left the chamber alongside the attendant, and the massive door slowly closed behind them.

The instant it sealed shut, every rune throughout the enormous formation lit up once more.

Countless strands of light emerged from every direction, weaving themselves around Duze before connecting directly to his body. Most converged around his head, while others extended toward his chest and soul, making it seem as though the entire Celestial Nexus had become one with him.

The chamber gradually fell silent once again.

Unless something extraordinary happened...

He wouldn’t move again for another ten years. That’s how it works in there.