Endless Debt

Chapter 1254 - 69: Trap

Returning to the Forge Furnace Volcano area, the rolling heat waves swept over us. Lifting our heads towards the heights, the volcano stood like an unyielding bronze wall, towering and majestic. Its outline seemed so grand under the infinitely extending dome, like a magnificent barrier separating the earth and sky.Between the cracks, the lava twisted like monstrous demons. Its delicate patterns etched grotesque faces, and the silver flames danced deep within the dazzling lava, like sprites leaping amidst the flames—tempting yet dangerous.

The flames were so vivid and fiery red, their scorching aura forcing one to retreat a few steps.

Hiding behind the shelter, Bologue and Furya watched as the giant wall exhaled fiery breath, the flames swaying like ocean waves, transforming into soaring fiery sprays.

"It was beneath the Forge Furnace Volcano that I discovered that secret laboratory,"

Furya said, her voice sounding especially muffled through the protective clothing.

"Alright, I know."

Bologue nodded but did not act immediately. Instead, he cautiously peeked out, gazing at the few added figures beneath the Forge Furnace Volcano.

In addition to the employees in protective clothing, there were now many others who shouldn’t be present in this area.

Field staff.

Their thin uniforms looked particularly fragile in the heat, swaying slightly like blades of grass standing upright.

"They’re on alert," Furya said, "previously, when you clashed with the security personnel here, they couldn’t find you, so now they’ve cordoned off the area."

Furya explained to Bologue, "You can perceive this place as an area bound by a strange rule, where everyone adheres to this rule, maintaining the false operation of the ’Order Bureau’."

"Their actions are all dictated by the guidelines." Bologue understood Furya’s meaning.

After the Forge Furnace Volcano was cordoned off, the field staff cautiously observed every employee in protective clothing, witnessing them one after another leap into the volcano, burned into a void.

"The Forge Furnace Volcano too requires energy to sustain its burn, and these employees—they appear to be twisted monsters but are actually made of pure Ether."

Bologue whispered, "By their own strength, they provide energy for the entire Ruins District."

"I too noticed this before, but didn’t investigate thoroughly," Furya admitted fearfully, "Their duty, after all, is ’sacrifice’."

Bologue possessed the capacity to fight his way through in plain sight; Furya, however, couldn’t achieve that.

"This isn’t complete chaos."

Bologue rationally judged, "True chaos is utter disorder. The phenomenon in the Ruins District right now feels more like an orderly transition into chaos."

With space distorted and dislocated, the entire Ruins District was transforming into an unknown form. Yet amidst this chaos, the staff maintained a unique order, as though resisting the distorted space.

"Xilin’s power was merely a catalyst; he shattered the Cultivation Room’s foundation causing the building to warp and deform... Certainly, other forces are at work," Furya concluded based on years of experience.

"The Confinement Zone."

Bologue said, "Just like the Inverted World that influenced your perception, something must have been released from the Confinement Zone. These anomalies, like potent poison, further distort the area."

Figures slowly wriggled in the shadows as Bologue felt the surrounding intense heat, he softly asked, "Do you see this scene, Belphegor?"

No answer came.

After a brief movement, Bologue and Furya successfully navigated their way near the Forge Furnace Volcano. Now, all that remained was to descend along the suspended ladder winding down the bronze wall.

Ash and sparks floated overhead; Bologue momentarily felt as if walking in a burning winter night.

"It’s just below," Furya whispered.

Bologue looked at the profound darkness below, where ash had accumulated into a thick layer after long sedimentation. On the metal surface formed a grey-white hard crust, and streaks of glowing molten iron fell from above, pouring into the darkness, converging and coursing to form delicate burning iron rivers.

"Stay close to me."

Bologue and Furya advanced together cautiously towards the end of the suspended ladder. At the intersection stood two employees in protective clothing, confirming that security had indeed been strengthened, where nobody was guarding before.

The employees’ conversation carried clearly.

"Haven’t they caught the intruder yet?"

"Not yet, and it’s unclear what the internal security department is doing."

"Ha, are they finally biting the dust as well?" Laughing, it said, "Want to bet on how long the intruders can keep escaping?"

"I don’t bet. Who knows if they’ll keep escaping indefinitely."

After speaking, the employee fell silent for a moment, then raised its head, looking at the seemingly endless blazing volcano.

"Since Xilin attempted the invasion, the Cultivation Room has been warping—the intruders might have been swallowed by the room itself, no?"

After it finished speaking, the other employee fell silent too, and they exchanged a knowing glance, murmuring.

"The Cultivation Room never falls."

Bologue listened to their words, quietly repeating in his heart, "The Cultivation Room never falls."

This is the Ruins District. Long before finding himself amidst the normal Cultivation Room, Bologue had heard rumors within the Order Bureau, that some said the Cultivation Room was alive, sporadically devouring lost employees.

Bologue always regarded it as an urban legend until that day, when he mistakenly entered the House of the Rising Sun.