Embers of Embers

Chapter 585 The Last Secret Keeper
From the emerald green riverside, to the quiet San Naro Cathedral, to the blazing Holy Advent night, the patter of old Dunling...
Lorenzo moved forward in the narrow darkness, facing the blue light, and stepped into the world behind the door.
The darkness gave him a short period of peace. In the slight peace, he suddenly recalled the journey. His mood was very peaceful, without any fluctuation. All the words had been said, and the blood that should have been shed was also shed all over the floor. , Lorenzo just needs to accept it all now.
Standing in the dusty ruins, Lorenzo stared at the blue light.
Behind the door is an extremely huge columnar space, like an extremely huge deep well. Lorenzo couldn't help but think of the Well of Sublimation and the workshop. Perhaps by accident, these buildings all resemble the shape of a well.
Lorenzo remembered Merlin vaguely talking about this, which was related to the so-called "sublimation", jumping from the humble to the sublime. It can be regarded as a "height" change, coupled with the restrictions at the wellhead, they all liked to use it. Build a structure like a "well".
"Leap from humbleness to sublimity, step out of the well, and see the bigger world..."
Lorenzo whispered.
But in this quiet space, his voice was so clear and loud that Lorenzo felt uneasy the moment he finished speaking, fearing that his voice would disturb the ghosts who were sleeping.
Nothing happened, everything remained absolutely peaceful just like the endless years in the past.
A platform spread from under the feet to the center of the columnar space. Above it, countless cables and machinery descended from the darkness on the dome. They held up a huge disk located in the core.
Lorenzo stepped forward and could see what seemed to be on the walls of the well surrounding it. The walls of the well were not smooth. Looking at it carefully, he could see one bump after another, which looked like some kind of translucent The glass, which is oval in shape, is densely arranged on the wall of the well, spreading to the ends above and below.
Not sure what these are. After all, everything here is beyond Lorenzo's cognition. He can only rely on rudimentary common sense to judge the functions of some things.
Most of the translucent ovals have been broken, and water stains can be seen underneath. It seems that there was once accumulated water here. As the glass broke, the liquid inside also poured out.
These things seem to be some kind of containers, and with the effusion, they look a bit like the culture chambers seen in the Black Mountain Hospital. Maybe something was bred here before, but now the things here are gone, or they are dead. .
Lorenzo looked away. After careful observation, he found that there were indicator lights under these containers, but most of the indicator lights had been completely extinguished. Only a few were still running, but they also emitted a dim red light.
Just like pairs of tired scarlet eyes, watching here quietly.
"Lorenzo..."
The epidemic doctor looked around and said at a loss.
"These things must be damaged."
Lorenzo looked at the dim red light and spoke based on his common sense and understanding.
"The damage was worse than we thought and some of the lights weren't working."
"Is it damaged...?" The epidemic doctor took a deep breath. He felt a little bad here, very depressed, but he couldn't tell the specific reason.
Floki followed the doctor. This guy was like a child who knew nothing. Maybe that was why the doctor helped him heal himself. He instinctively felt that the doctor was safe... even though this guy was covered in squirming The scarlet tentacles waving around looked nothing like humans at all.
"This should be something similar to a training warehouse, but it's all damaged." Lorenzo looked around and saw a dim red light.
"Was it destroyed?" the epidemic doctor asked.
"It doesn't look like it." Lorenzo glanced at the door behind him. Apart from being stuck and down, the surface of the door was smooth without any scratches. "There are no traces of fighting here. It may be due to time."
"The shelter has existed for too long, but nothing lasts forever. Flesh and blood will age, metal will rust, and precision machines will be covered with dust. Not to mention that this place is completely isolated from the outside world. Sooner or later, supplies will Exhausted."
"The shelter is dead," the epidemic doctor said slowly after listening to Lorenzo's words, "I guess they should also have designed an internal ecological cycle, but energy is conserved, and they can only ensure that the loss of energy is reduced. Under the erosion of the years, such a false eternity will collapse one day."
The epidemic doctor couldn't help but feel a heavy sense of despair. The people living here guard the fire of civilization, hold on to the barriers, and resist any possible attack by the Unspeakable. They also know that they are destined to die and live uneasily. , waiting for the day when all resources are exhausted.
"This looks like a forgotten cemetery, Holmos."
[No, the Keeper of the Secret is still alive, and it was he who guided us here. 】
Watson's voice rang in Dr. Epidemic's mind. Watson rarely talked to Dr. Epidemic along the way, as if he didn't exist. Dr. Epidemic was also used to this. This sudden statement shocked Dr. Epidemic.
"Then where is he?" The epidemic doctor searched around and found nothing similar to the "Secret Keeper". "We follow the indicator light. This is the end."
[Lorenzo. 】
【I see. 】
In silence, Lorenzo and Watson reached a tacit understanding.
He closed his eyes and mobilized the secret blood, causing it to rush through his veins. The power rose, bringing uneasiness and evil.
Perhaps because of his contact with the pioneer, Lorenzo suddenly had a strange feeling this time. He could vaguely see a deep darkness, and something seemed to be watching him in the darkness.
Like gazing into the darkness of the well of sublimation in that illusive temple of stasis.
It's the same feeling.
The scarlet eyes opened in the darkness. The extremely strange feeling in that moment almost caused Lorenzo's heart to stop. Interrupted by the rise of secret blood, Lorenzo breathed rapidly, bent over, and then vomited a large amount of liquid. dirty blood.
"what happened?"
The epidemic doctor said vigilantly, leaving aside the two monsters Pioneer and Edron, the epidemic doctor felt that he and Lorenzo could go sideways together. Lorenzo's sudden change might be due to something, someone. An incorporeal monster.
"I...I may have seen it," Lorenzo said with difficulty.
"Who?"
"The Ineffable."
The doctor's mind went cold, and then he slowly retreated, keeping the distance between him and Lorenzo.
"Don't worry too much, it should still be sleeping...even if it wakes up, I shouldn't be the first to die, but the two who are fighting above."
Lorenzo pointed to the dark dome and smiled bitterly.
The end of sublimation is the Unspeakable, just like the end of the demon hunter is the crazy demon. They all have the same origin. When they gain power, they should also pay a price.
"Maybe the Pioneer really wanted to save the world at the beginning."
Lorenzo said suddenly, recalling the feeling of disgust.
"Monsters like him, the longer they live, the less human they are, and the closer they are to the end of sublimation, and the closer they are to the Unspeakable. He may have been driven crazy by the unspeakable's sleep."
"Maybe... I'll ask him if I have a chance."
The epidemic doctor tried to be humorous and adjust the atmosphere, but after feeling the dead silence that filled the years, he felt that even a comedian at this moment could not save it.
[Erosion is memetic. Contact with the Herald may have transmitted the erosion of the Unspeakable, bringing us closer to the darkness, thus making the Unspeakable aware of our existence. 】
"In other words, are we all on the blacklist?" the epidemic doctor asked.
"We've been there for a long time, but our ranking is not that high." Lorenzo stroked his chest and suppressed the strange feeling.
Now it seems that Lorenzo understands why he is on the Watchers' blacklist and why he is not ranked so high. Presumably No. 1 must be the pioneer. These Watchers have been hunting this person who is related to the Unspeakable. Anyone who has come into contact with him vows to cut off the spread of power here.
[Do you need me to come? 】
[No, I'll try again. Your level of sublimation is much deeper than mine, and your situation is more dangerous than mine. 】
Lorenzo responded, he began to understand why the Watchers pursued him endlessly, and also understood why Adren wanted to seal up the power Gabriel. Ascendants like them have loopholes one after another, extremely dangerous. It is possible for the Unspeakable to break out of its cage.
What about the Watchers themselves?
Aren’t they themselves an extremely unstable vulnerability?
Thinking like this, Lorenzo suddenly remembered the faceless men he had seen in the [gap], and judging from the behavior of those angels, they did not have any intelligence at all, and were more like a piece of art. Tools that follow instructions.
The only one who has any sense of self is Edron Levien.
Lorenzo was a little confused about the relationship and could only place his hope on the secret keeper.
Without these sublimators, there will no longer be immortals among mortals. Under the iteration of reincarnation, people will sooner or later misinterpret the past history, further distorting the world.
The more he thought about it, the worse it got. Although he still didn't know the whole truth, from what he knew, Lorenzo could feel the degree of distortion in today's world. It was like being on a weird train, where passengers took advantage of all kinds of strange things. The thing made it run wildly, throwing clothes and gold coins, weapons and corpses into the combustion chamber...
Under such inexplicable circumstances, the train is moving forward, and it may completely collapse one day.
After re-preparing himself, Lorenzo started his second attempt with the doctor's eyes full of doubts. This time he was more cautious. The Unspeakable was still in his long sleep. He regarded the situation just now as his own bad luck. The depression in my heart has weakened a lot.
The epidemic doctor was a little confused about what Lorenzo was doing. He and Watson often communicated directly in the [gap] without taking care of the epidemic doctor at all. The epidemic doctor could only lead Floki with a stupid look on his face. Onlookers looked on without knowing why.
Then he felt it.
The erosion spreads from Lorenzo's body like a wave. He is releasing his power to resist the suppression from inside the sanctuary. He uses this method to search for the "gap" of the secret keeper.
It can be judged from the words of the pioneer that the Keeper still maintains the purity of human beings. His [Gap] will have nowhere to hide. Even if it is wrapped in holy silver, Lorenzo can feel some obstacles and search for him. s position.
Soon Lorenzo's perception responded. A dim star flickered in the darkness. Lorenzo opened his eyes and looked forward.
"He...is right here."
Lorenzo looked at the disk in front of him and murmured. Without making any pause, he walked quickly over and came to the disk.
It is placed flat in the core, like a huge round table, with many cracks on the surface, and the blue light emerges from them.
It attracted Lorenzo's attention from the beginning, but because these technologies were far beyond Lorenzo's knowledge, he did not act rashly, and now he felt very clearly that the [Gap] was in it, the disc. There is a living person among them.
"How do you open this thing?"
Lorenzo's hands plucked at it randomly, but he could never find a way to open it.
"You want me to say that it will be demolished directly?"
The epidemic doctor also followed. He didn't have much respect for things like machinery, but he was more delighted than these strange corpses.
Lorenzo was too lazy to bother with the doctor, and at this moment there was a rustling sound of electricity.
The disc is turned on.
The cracks began to expand, and the machine turned with difficulty. It seemed that it had not been started for too long. Such a delicate instrument became bloated. It made a hoarse sound, and finally managed to pop open a corner, revealing what was underneath.
A faint white air filled the air, revealing a decayed and dilapidated scene.
Lorenzo wasn't sure whether the thing in front of him could be considered a human being or a twisted and deformed corpse. In short, this thing was far weirder than the experimental objects he saw in Montenegro Hospital. It didn't have any fangs. with sharp claws, but from its state one can vaguely feel the maddening nightmare.
The pink brain tissue was quietly contained in a translucent container, connected with several electrodes, all the way down to the culture chamber.
This should be his head, but except for a little epidermal tissue, most of it has been replaced by complex machinery. Pipes of different colors are exposed. Along the metal spine, they directly connect the head and the chest, and the things beating in it are It was no longer a heart, but a circular mechanical pump, which continuously squeezed the blood and circulated the blood filtered by the separator.
Probably in order to reduce the body's energy consumption, the useless limbs have long been cut off, and even the trunk is not much left. Most of the digestive system has also been removed and replaced by various life-support systems. The two lungs are no longer there. After all, that The things he planted were still too fragile, and they were replaced with equipment that Lorenzo didn't even know about.
"It's so perfect. It's like he was dissected alive, throwing away all the useless organs, just to...sustain life."
Seeing this, the epidemic doctor couldn't help being amazed, thankful that he didn't violently dismantle this thing just now.
"Sustaining life?"
Lorenzo only found the scene in front of him horrifying.
"That's right, giving up all the organs that increase energy consumption is not so much about sustaining life as it is about keeping this brain alive."
The epidemic doctor swallowed his saliva. This is a medical technology beyond his cognition. He regained his interest in things like truth, and his heart was filled with ecstasy.
"But is this ghost the Keeper of Secrets?"
The epidemic doctor found it strange that this "secret keeper" had given up everything in order to survive and only kept one brain.
The doctor is not sure if he still has any sense of self. If he does have it, just thinking about it makes people feel scared. He can't feel hunger or thirst, can't hear or see, and can't sleep. , and can't really wake up.
This is torture enough to drive anyone crazy, but this secret keeper has spent an unknown amount of time in this posture.
If he really still has self-awareness.
If he really is the Keeper of Secrets.
"Then the rest..."
Lorenzo looked at other parts of the disk. At this time, it looked like an iron coffin that was spliced ​​together around it. Such brain tissue should also be preserved in other parts, but there was no faint trace on those surfaces. The blue light appeared, but it was just a monotonous gray, as if it had lost all color.
They are all dead.
Lorenzo shuddered when he thought of this. He looked at the oval entity on the well wall in panic. Looking at the dim red light, an extremely terrifying suspicion arose in his heart.
It was also at this time that Floki, who had been silent all this time, screamed. He looked at everything in front of him with trembling legs, tears welling up in his eyes, and the vague voice was pieced together into barely identifiable words.
"Hall of Valor!"
He waved his limbs, but soon fell silent.
There was no banquet, no wine and bacon, no gods and warriors, just absolute silence and ruined dust.
Looking down at the deep darkness down the well, Lorenzo didn't know whether it was dust and debris piled up there, or corpses one after another. They overcame despair and disaster and imprisoned the Unspeakable in a cage, but in the end They were still defeated by time and turned into meaningless loess.
"The last...Keeper of Secrets."
Lorenzo murmured.
"They were trapped in this shelter, exhausted all supplies and energy, and died one after another, but in order to continue, they became like this."
The epidemic doctor said and looked at Lorenzo.
"You also heard the words of the pioneers. In order to ensure the safety of the sanctuary, these secret keepers not only sealed themselves to prevent the intrusion of the Unspeakable, but in order to continue their lives they even refused sublimated eternal life, and instead chose this method .
So if he is really the Keeper of Secrets, why would he let in those of us who are entangled with sublimation? "
Epidemic doctors don’t understand.
"Because he can't hold on anymore."
Lorenzo responded. He stretched out his hand and gently pressed it on the glass container. Below it was the brain tissue soaked in the liquid.
“The Keepers choose to stick to the rules for the sake of continuation, rather than choose to survive for the sake of the rules.
Now that the last Keepers of Secrets will die, and their continuity ends, what's the point of defending the rules? "
They are recorders, witnesses, and the only people who know the truth.
They need to survive, by any means necessary.
"So, is that why you let us in?"
Lorenzo stared at the brain tissue and whispered, for fear of waking him up from his dream.
"But now he can't speak, and he can't give any feedback. In fact, he is just a piece of rotten meat now."
The epidemic doctor said that after a brief moment of joy, he felt disappointed again. He thought it was ridiculous to think that such a magnificent building would only protect such a bunch of flesh and blood.
Lorenzo shook his head, this time his voice filled with awe.
"You still don't understand, Epidemic Doctor, it doesn't matter whether he can speak or not. That's not what he did."
Lorenzo could not imagine what kind of mentality he had in doing all this, feeling his flesh and blood being peeled off one by one, losing all perception and falling into darkness, and unwilling to enter sublimation despite the torture of the years.
But all this was just to cut off all potential risks, and just for this reason, he chose this path.
"Did you already guess that such a day would come?"
So you cut yourself like this just to live as long as possible.
Lorenzo sighed.
"He's saving his [gap]."
A blazing storm rolled up in his eyes, and in his field of vision, the dim stars burned brightly, as bright as day, and the light tracks connected the stars, opening the way forward.
(End of this chapter)