Lumine:?!
Rahman:……
Paimon: Dehya, you…
Dehya: Rahman, be brave. Since you're going to be an enemy of the Akademiya, you should be prepared. There's nothing to be afraid of, right?
Rahman: Ha! The arm of the Blazing Mane? I'm somewhat interested, but what if you refuse to admit it? Dehya, we all know that most people who use soldiers are smart, because those who aren't don't live long.
Dehya: You're right, but it's different now. I have something I must do. I promised my friends I'd help them rescue the village guardians.
Rahman: Ha! Then do as I say. Leave your right arm as a testament to your resolve.
Dehya:……
Paimon: Don't listen to him! He's not negotiating at all, he's making things difficult for you, Dehya!
Qixuan nodded to Lumine, and Lumine quietly disappeared behind Qixuan.
Dehya: Alright.
Qixuan: Eh~ Wait, I don't agree.
Dehya: Qixuan…
Rahman: Who are you?
Qixuan: You don't need to know. Now you two have two choices: one, release the hostages, and I can let you leave with dignity; two… hehe.
Rahman: Hmph, Dehya, you see, your friend seems to have some opinions.
Lumine had already silently reached the back of the cage where the scholars were held, using Anemo.
Dehya: Qixuan… I know you're strong, but if they get desperate, they won't care about the scholars' lives.
Qixuan: Alright, alright. If you lose an arm, Dina will beg her father to overturn all the Eremites in the Desert. Hey, I've finished speaking. I'll only count to three.
One, two…
Rahman: Hmph, then there's no need to talk! Attack!
Just as Rahman shouted, several screams suddenly came from behind him. He turned his head and saw that Lumine had already taken out more than half of his subordinates with a single whirlwind. He tried to resist with his sword, but Qixuan waved her hand and embedded him in the sand.
Dehya:……
Paimon: Phew… you scared me. I didn't want to see Dehya's arm broken either.
Dehya: Hehe… Then thank you, Paimon.
Lumine: Don't do something like this again. We were all very worried about you.
Dehya: Sorry… I just felt that in that situation, I had to take a chance.
Cyno: Don't make such promises next time. I can take care of all those people.
Dehya: I know. Even if you deal with one extremist, there will be others of their kind. Killing them won't solve the problem.
Qixuan: Alright, then these people are up to Dehya to handle. Let's take the hostages back.
Isaac also found his grandfather, who was still in a dazed state. Just as everyone thought the matter was over, there was a sudden tremor around them.
Dehya: Oh no! It's an earthquake! Run!
The incident happened so suddenly that everyone was caught off guard and swept in. Fortunately, Qixuan unfolded an energy barrier to envelop everyone. Gradually, the Desert vortex formed by the earthquake swallowed everyone.
………………
Paimon: Ugh… I'm so dizzy…
Qixuan: Are you alright?
Lumine: Mm, I'm fine.
Paimon: Mm-hmm, it's a good thing Qixuan-jie's shield was there!
Dehya: Sigh, what an unlucky day…
Cyno: A sudden earthquake, no one expected it.
Above them was a huge pit. Another tremor occurred, and a giant rock fell from above, landing squarely on Isaac.
Isaac: Ah!
At the crucial moment, Isaac's grandfather glowed with Dendro energy, protecting Isaac.
Dehya: Are you alright, Isaac?
Isaac: I, I'm fine. Grandpa protected me.
Cyno: Green Dendro power… as you said, perhaps it's the power Lesser Lord Kusanali left in that scholar's body.
Lumine: Mm, now you should believe what I said, right?
Cyno: The current Grass God?
Isaac: Grandpa, Grandpa? Why are you confused again…
Alhaitham: Look around.
Everyone observed for a while. In front of them was a huge ruined city gate.
Dehya: Was there a temple here originally?
Alhaitham: It should be an underground structure exposed after the quicksand collapsed. The symbols on the gate all belong to the King Deshret civilization. It seems this building is ancient and was completely buried by sand, which is why it's like this now.
Qixuan: It was a fortunate accident.
Just then, Rahman woke up.
Rahman: Ah ah… The miracle of King Deshret!
Paimon: How did he wake up? And his subordinates? (whispering)
Dehya: I didn't expect you guys to be so resilient.
Eremites member: Ugh… ugh…
Dehya: These few seem to be in bad shape. Only one is a bit better.
Rahman:……
Cyno: Watch your head.
Rahman: No, now is not the time to argue. My esteemed King, guide us to the Sacred Temple today.
Paimon: He's not thinking of going in there, is he?
Qixuan: Isn't this Paimon's favorite exploration segment?
Paimon: Uh…
Alhaitham: Coincidentally, I also want to go in and see. New things have value in being thoroughly explored. Whether it's related to the gods, who cares?
Dehya: Rahman, what about your subordinates?
Rahman: Let them stay here. Those unconscious hostages also need looking after, don't they? Alright, now, I'm going into the Sacred Temple.
………………
Everyone walked in, and what greeted their eyes was a large expanse of vegetation.
Cyno: This area is full of life. It's incredible. It looks abandoned, but the power flowing within is abundant.
Paimon: Wow, so many plants, they're so beautiful!
Alhaitham: Mr. Rahman.
Rahman: Calling me?
Alhaitham: Is there anyone else?
Rahman: Hmph, calling me 'Mr.' isn't that a form of mockery?
Alhaitham: Interpret it however you like, but I hope you notice one thing: this building belongs to the King Deshret civilization, but the power flowing within belongs to the Grass God.
Rahman: Hmph, I don't have a Vision, so say whatever you want.
Alhaitham: There's nothing to be angry about. It's just an academic trip.
Dehya: It is a bit strange. If that's truly the reason behind it, we'll probably have to explore this entire place to reach a conclusion.
Qixuan: There are some mechanisms ahead.
Lumine: Is it puzzle-solving time again?
After Lumine's operations, everyone wandered around the ruins.
Rahman: As expected of King Deshret, this magnificent sight, I've never seen it before.
The surrounding vegetation was very rich, as if this place had been transformed.
Paimon: There are so many plants in the Desert too?
Rahman: Hmph, that's also the grace of King Deshret.
After much winding around, everyone felt a bit dizzy. Then Qixuan volunteered to lead the way. They found a huge statue, with a giant tree behind it, shedding pink flowers.
Cyno: What is that?
Paimon: It looks like a stone statue?
Lumine: It looks like a tomb.
Rahman: These are all King Deshret's marks!
Alhaitham stepped forward to examine the stone wall.
Alhaitham: There are relics. Hmm… a eulogy written in ancient script.
Paimon: What does it say?
Alhaitham: 【Here lies our loyal priest, Kasala. His wisdom was a miracle among men, worthy of praise and song.】
Rahman: You can read ancient King Deshret script?
Qixuan: Paimon, see? Being uncultured is that terrifying.
Paimon: I'm very cultured!
Alhaitham: Hehe, every young person should learn at least twenty languages before graduating, shouldn't they?
Paimon: Alright… I admit I should study a bit…
Lumine: Wow, Paimon, have you been possessed?
Paimon: Hmph!
Cyno: Hmm… there's still something not right. The elemental energy here is too dense. The scent of life… is it trying to tell us something?
Alhaitham: Is that so… This skeleton seems to still have hidden information.
Coincidentally, there are instruments left from the King Deshret civilization in the tomb. I will project the information onto those devices, to be displayed.
Rahman: Sharing knowledge, doesn't that violate your principles?
Alhaitham: It does, but given that people like you are present, I hope this information can be directly received by you. After you see it, you'll understand.
Qixuan: I think he'll break down when he knows the truth.
Lumine: Hmm?
Alhaitham fiddled with something… then a sound came from the instrument, entering everyone's minds.
【Civilization was born from knowledge, and likewise, knowledge can also destroy civilization. Disaster unknowingly descended. That was Forbidden Knowledge not belonging to this world. Ever since King Deshret brought Forbidden Knowledge to this world, it spread like a plague. Minds were filled with mad ravings, gray scales crawled up backs, and the land seemed to have been stripped of life, leaving only despairing silence.】
【If not for Greater Lord Rukkhadevata in the forest extending her hand, everything would have been irreversible. She gathered priests to build several temples and poured in her divine power of life. The calamity was miraculously suppressed, and the spark of civilization was able to persist in Aru Village. But miracles cannot last forever. As long as Forbidden Knowledge exists, it will always be the sickness of this world. Until the end, the proud King of the Desert… my King… chose self-sacrifice. My remaining life has been spent guarding one of the temples. Now, this duty is about to reach its end. When I completely close my eyes, the figure of that noble deity will appear before me again.】
【To cooperate with King Deshret in eradicating Forbidden Knowledge, she overexerted her power, and her form became like that of a child. It's truly strange. Thinking of her, I no longer fear death… because I feel the breath of life will accompany me in my long sleep.】
【Children of the Desert, there is no need to harbor resentment, but this kindness, never forget it.】
Dehya: What was that just now…?
Alhaitham: That was the skeleton's memory.
Rahman: No… no! Impossible!
Qixuan: I knew it.
Lumine: This…
Cyno: Greater Lord Rukkhadevata… the previous Grass God, and King Deshret were not enemies after all.
Rahman: How is this possible?! The children of the Grass God, they were clearly all…
Qixuan: The answer is obvious. This ruin seals away that unknown history. The Grass God exhausted her power and finally became…
Paimon: Nahida!
Lumine: So… Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is Nahida?
Qixuan: Cough cough… who knows?
Seeing that Rahman was still unwilling to believe, Alhaitham said: "Even if you think the Akasha can deceive people, you should at least believe King Deshret's technology, right? These are the 【last words】 of King Deshret's priest."
Rahman: I… I've never heard of such a thing anywhere… In the past, all survivors among King Deshret's people gathered in Aru Village. Our god would not make mistakes. We were unwilling and would not believe those rumors.
The death of King Deshret, our civilization was almost destroyed, all because of the arrival of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata! To us, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was merely the culprit who stabbed us in the back when disaster struck, just like how people kill, fight, and bear grudges in the Desert.
Cyno: Your perspective is too narrow.
Rahman suddenly laughed maniacally as if he had gone mad.
Rahman: Hahahahaha! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, if my eyes, my ears, my heart hadn't truly felt those last words… how could I believe there could be such an inexplicable deviation in the world?! How do you expect me to believe that I raised a butcher's knife against my benefactor, and lived like that for so many years!
Dehya: Rahman, that's enough! Don't say any more, don't make yourself look like a joke.
Rahman: Dehya… tell me, what exactly have I and my Eremites been fighting for?
Rahman began to calm down. During this time, everyone visited the temple.
Dehya: Hey, how are you?
Rahman: Thank you, I'm fine. It's time to go, we can't stay here forever.
Dehya: What are your plans after returning?
Rahman: I know what you want to ask. I feel guilty for my actions. What you want will all have results. However, give me some time, I need to explain everything that happened today to my brothers.
Dehya: It certainly won't be easy.
Rahman: That's my business. Dehya, actually, there are still some scholars at my stronghold. I'll give you the address, write it down.
Dehya:…When would be a good time for us to go?
Rahman: Tomorrow. By then, I will convince everyone that you are all allies. Your mad… no, the village guardians, I will send them all back. As for other resources, they can also be shared with you.
Cyno: You finally understand who your enemy is?
Rahman: Yes, the gods did not abandon humans, humans created 【karma】 themselves.
Then Rahman left.
Paimon: That guy seems to have come to terms with it.
Dehya: Rahman isn't that ignorant. To be able to establish his own power in the Desert, he must have some skills. It's just a pity that the King Deshret faith influenced him. But this way, we also have a new helper.
Qixuan: Then let's go back first. We still have to go to his place tomorrow.
Everyone left. Cyno was still in front of the stone statue.
Paimon: Hey! Cyno! Let's go!
Cyno bowed to the statue, then followed them. After everyone left, the statue emitted a faint light, then extinguished.
【When people realize their mistakes, then, please do not make choices that you will regret.】
………………