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墨書 Inktalez
New Era of Humanity in the Apocalypse
Such situations can sometimes arise elsewhere, and the format of the Catacomb is just like that, with echoes reverberating everywhere. Even if they want to act silently, sounds will still escape, awakening the guardians of the Catacomb. Visitors who intrude into the Catacomb will face unusual repercussions.
Upon seeing the layout of the Ice Spirit Pool, although reluctant to believe it, they were somewhat shocked by the bold creativity behind the entire concept of the Catacomb. They had never expected such a setting.
Others nearby also detected that this place resembled an echo chamber, similar to the sound dynamics found in a karaoke room. It seemed that there were similar patterns in other aspects as well. However, even knowing this, they felt powerless to change anything about their surroundings.
After conducting their checks, it was time to eat and take a short break before heading off to explore other areas for possible hidden entrances.
The depth of this pool was only about four to five meters wide; it didn’t seem particularly deep. For an ordinary person, swimming to the surface would only take a few seconds, and they had more than enough time to catch their breath. The water was clear, so there was no fear of discomfort from getting it in their eyes. Any timid thoughts about this could be set aside for now.
After finishing their meal and resting for a few moments, clear footsteps suddenly echoed from above. In such a place, sounds could easily travel through the air, indicating that Living Spirits—monsters devoid of Thought—were approaching them. By the time the sound reached them, it was already within a hundred meters.
This short distance would mean nothing on solid ground, but those monsters clearly had no idea that beneath the dark panel lay another hidden Ice Spirit Pool. The temperature of the pool was quite low; although they didn’t need fire for warmth and used a Natural Temperature Patch applied over their clothing to maintain a stable body temperature, these patches were somewhat expensive. It was already quite difficult for each member of the team to obtain one, and spending on them had significantly drained their funds.
No one realized how quickly their budget would vanish. Their initial reward points had plummeted from over one hundred thousand; it wasn’t that they hadn’t fought hard. That sum seemed substantial at first glance, but it turned out insufficient to cover their collective expenses.
First came the costs for items and weaponry, followed by upgrades for their off-road vehicles. Then there were expenses related to preparations for this operation, along with each person's Natural Temperature Patch costing nearly 100 Reward Points and lasting only ten hours. The Catacomb’s temperature rarely received sunlight and remained abnormally cold. If they couldn’t escape within those ten hours, they would be consumed by the long-standing chill; even if they didn’t turn into skeletons like those found in the corridors earlier, they would become ice sculptures—undecaying monsters trapped in eternal frost.
When people eventually entered this place again, they might mistake them for corpses from thousands of years ago due to how well-preserved their remains would be. The pool itself served as a Warm Bed; who knew how many lives had been claimed by its seemingly clean waters? Microorganisms were invisible to the naked eye, so as long as they didn’t dwell on such thoughts, their courage wouldn’t falter.
It was truly unexpected how sinister this place turned out to be. The footsteps were definitely growing closer; however, it would still take some time for whatever was making those sounds to find them. After all, it could sense fluctuations in breath and unusual noises. As it followed these sounds in search of them, there was no doubt it would eventually locate them. Hearing those footsteps was indeed quite frightening.
No one spoke as Xiong Tai carried Nosty down into the water. Nosty immediately felt the sudden chill enveloping him. He took a deep breath and submerged his entire head beneath the surface. After experiencing the sensation of his body fully immersed in the water, he and the others surfaced briefly to adjust themselves before diving back down.
The water was calm, so they chose swimming positions that were rarely used, aiming to minimize noise. To an observer, their strokes would certainly be deemed inadequate; achieving a perfectly balanced swimming posture typically required techniques like butterfly or breaststroke for speed. However, their awkward movements, reminiscent of dog paddling, still allowed them to move swiftly. They dove deep into the water and, once separated, began to explore the underwater scene.
To their surprise, the underwater expanse was much larger than they had imagined. Even more unsettling was the sight of skeletons entangled in iron wire, fixed in place. A large number of similar skeletons appeared, their backs arched grotesquely—evidence that they had been tied up and drowned. The thought of these bodies having turned to bones in the water made Freya feel a wave of nausea; despite its clarity, the water was undeniably tainted by this grim reality.
These corpses were unlikely to suddenly attack them; they had likely been dead for over a hundred years—perhaps even a thousand years, reduced to mere bones. But this was no longer their primary concern. As they continued their exploration, they soon spotted a trench through a narrow gap, resembling an exit.
It seemed straightforward enough. As he approached, he carefully reached out and touched it. He attempted to navigate through the trench and found himself stepping onto stone steps, gradually making his way to the shore. This area revealed yet another hidden space.
This new location was surprisingly spacious; he could recognize the air around him with familiarity.
Sensing that there might be an exit here, he felt an urge to venture inside and see what lay beyond. However, instinctively he dismissed that thought. If he went in alone, his companions would undoubtedly panic and search frantically for him. If he triggered any traps or mechanisms and ended up somewhere else entirely, it would spell disaster for him—and finding him would be even more troublesome for everyone else.
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