Wasteland Echoer

April 15th, 527th year of the New Lunar Calendar.

Zine Empire, Old Uko Province, Donusk Ruins Area B Camp Military Station.

Stayed up all night.

I tossed and turned all night on the wooden bed covered with a crude army green mattress full of holes and patches.

When the hands of the old watch pointed to five o'clock in the morning, Wright reluctantly fell asleep with the chaotic "thumping" of his heart, sleepiness, and the pain in his head with the beating of his heart.

Until he suddenly woke up when the exclusive silence of the night around him turned into the messy footsteps of officers and [soldiers] in the military camp in the morning, loud and urgent discussions about the current war situation, and the pain in his lower abdomen.

"Yesterday's dream, yesterday's dream." Wright rubbed his groggy eyes, his head shaking constantly, trying to seize the rare "absolutely awake" moment when the morning came, and swayingly put the same military green thin cotton Being pulled away, yawning.

"Destruction and...rebirth, if you try to challenge the darkness and reconstruct order, you have to abandon a little bit of the human part. Abandon rationality...abandon humanity, let confusion and cruelty accompany you, and become a god in the new world?"

Wright spent the whole night thinking about the dream he had while sitting in the jeep. Although it was mentioned in Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams" that he had read in the previous world, the general meaning was:

The content of dreams during the day and night may be the subtle impression left by something seen, heard, or perceived at an inadvertent moment.

Then it transforms into a distorted and misplaced image in front of you in the dream.

But it has only been more than a month since I came to this fantasy and treacherous wasteland world, but such messy, clueless, and even bizarre dreams have happened no less than five or six times.

In the previous world, I was nothing more than an online writer who wrote millions of words and was still popular, a "small town student" who was addicted to "composing questions". To be exposed to mysterious and extraordinary things, the most he could do was read a few books. Grammar books.

But even so, these messy and complex intentions cannot correspond to anything in his memory. In this case, it can only be interpreted as the memory of Wright's body.

Perhaps before he traveled through time, before Wright's body was suspected of committing suicide by shooting himself in the chest with a "Wild Bear" pistol, he had not only been subjected to a "mechanical singing" ritual in the Lost Swamp, but he had probably been exposed to even weirder products. I just don’t know if it’s related to sequential monsters or sequential gods.

Thinking of this, Wright walked towards the window sill of the small bedroom in a trance, and opened a corner of the curtain, letting the half-incandescent, half-golden light of the morning sun shine into the room.

The bright brilliance is like a thick layer of soft silk placed on the old marble floor, which is incompatible with this room, this "military building", this empire, and even this wasteland world.

Looking out the window, more and more people are walking through the office area of ​​the camp in Area B. Most of them are Empire [soldiers] wearing military green uniforms, and some are members of the guards from all over the country wearing silver-white uniforms or silver-white battle uniforms. Of course , a small number of them are gentlemen wearing suits, tuxedos, and dark black dresses, and a very small number of them are "human beings" who look like workers in a steampunk style.

Seeing this, he subconsciously thought of his own time travel and that fantastic "wonderful" dream, and rubbed his elastic, barely strong left chest and heart area.

Immediately afterwards, he muttered the ancient language of the Netian Empire to perform the spirit union.

Suddenly, on his right wrist, which had been influenced by the "Bracelet of Spying", the arm with strange tattoos gradually appeared, which was not obvious under the brilliance of the morning sun and outlined with simple lines showing a faint red light. Flame, and a lighter blue shimmer.

They shine invisibly, jumping and dancing like a collection of fireflies, fearing that they will be harmed in this wasteland world full of darkness and killing, and then disappear in some terrifying long night.

After staring at the sun's rays for three seconds, Wright lowered his head and sighed, his mind began to settle, and he regained his composure from the sadness and slight pain.

After closing the curtains again, he turned around suddenly and saw the radiant green eyes of a wolf-like animal shining in the dark room. He staggered in fright and almost fell near the window.

"Feng... Feng, don't scare me. I didn't sleep well all night." Wright rubbed his chest and complained.

"Brother Wright, I didn't fall asleep either. Before I left the 'Wuxin Village', my grandfather specifically told me to go to the Silent Highlands after going to the human town. He said that there is a secret that belongs to me here. It can better enable me to understand the true meaning of life. I didn't tell you this yesterday, after all, I was also thinking about the specific meaning of this matter. But last night in bed, I had a new understanding." Feng used a sharp and high-pitched voice. the voice said.

"What...enlightenment?" Wright became interested.

"I don't know if it's an illusion or a guidance. After all, uncle Keton said that after climbing over this mountain, we will officially reach the range of Silent Highlands. I tossed and turned in bed, and I could always hear the sound of mechanical gears running, and the sound of mechanical gears. The clicking sound produced by the assembly was like the sound I've seen many Imperial soldiers make when playing with their firearms."

"I didn't hear it. Maybe, I mean maybe, this may be a guide or a hint to prove that your behavior in coming here is correct. I brought you here so that you can get something new." 'Inspiration'." Wright smiled and stroked Feng's hair, as if petting a cat.

"Not only that, I also heard a very strange girl's voice, which kept saying to me 'find me', 'find me'. You know, Brother Wright, the lost and semi-lost often hear a lot in their hearts We are all used to strange sounds.

After all, the magic source power, the most glorious and dazzling product of the Creator's nightmare, can often communicate with devils and gods, but the voice I heard this time was very unusual. "Feng muttered, his eyes dodging something, as if he was afraid.

But judging from his expression, he seemed to be expecting something.

"The voice is... unusual. How is it different from our normal speech?" Wright asked directly.

"We usually speak coherently, especially when we read words normally, and sometimes it seems like we are singing poetry. Grandpa once said that some people from Aventrai and people from the Middle Empire speak in a shorter voice. Due to cultural influence, there will be an extremely short pause between each word, which makes it sound more sonorous and powerful."

"But the girl's voice I heard was very coherent, but very soft. Every word was spoken in the softest tone, and there was no emotional fluctuation, no cadence. There was even a little echo, Like an echo within a limited range, not a long echo in an empty valley."

Feng tried his best to interpret it from what he knew, but to Wright's ears, the explanation for the sound couldn't be more obvious.

He held his chin slightly and pretended to think, and after pacing back and forth for a few minutes, he sighed slightly, sat back on the wooden bed, thought about it for a while, and still did not choose to deceive Feng, a young and semi-lost person.

"It's a mechanical body."

"What? Brother Wright, can you explain it in more detail? I don't quite understand." Feng said with a confused look on his face.

"If we use what Moros told me and the conclusions of some scientific research in Old Crusted to describe it, it is the exclusive voice of the robot. The information that has been learned now is that there is a sequential god in the Silent Highlands, who is the 'Machine The daughter of Yuan'.

Now, whether it is the empire or the three major churches of the Lost, they are all staring at this god. There is also the Socra Committee. Their ‘Blood Night Ritual’ and ‘Raleye’s Dream’ both require the power of gods. "

"It doesn't hurt to tell you. As a lost person, you should be able to sense the aura on my body. Yes, there are some secrets on my body that I cannot understand and have no way of finding out. So I am going to explore God and get His guidance.

Of course, I guessed that the Socratic Committee would definitely assign me tasks related to the gods. Otherwise, my coming to the Silent Highlands would be meaningless to them other than to participate in the war. ” Wright explained.

"In that case, I accept the guidance of the gods. Maybe this is the 'destiny' that grandpa said. From meeting you, my brother, to seeing the meteorite he saw when he looked up the history book, to listening to it last night, It seems that brother, I really need to follow you to explore and experience in the highlands. From now on, I will be your partner, your... teammate."

Feng said, tilting his head and showing a loving smile, extending his right hand and making a friendly gesture.

"Of course, we are partners." Wright grabbed Feng's still immature hand and smiled.

…

A few minutes later, Kerton, who had "greeted" them yesterday, knocked on the wooden door of the bedroom next to the "Strategic Command Branch Office" where Wright and Feng were temporarily resting.

After getting permission to open the wooden door, Keton said to Wright and Feng with an unusually energetic expression:

"Are you resting well? Mr. Wright. The middle-level officer of the Sugla Guards arrived at the restaurant just now. I think you and your brother are also hungry, right? Don't worry, I will definitely give you a full meal today."

"To be honest, we didn't even get a good rest. After all, we had nightmares all night, and we traveled all the way from the Area A camp through the Donusk city ruins to get here. To be honest, the fatigue of the journey can be relieved by rest. But the battle caused The mental impact cannot be repaired quickly." Wright waved his hand and said.

"Understood, understood." Keton smiled and said:

"Many [warriors] will miss you and not be able to close their eyes all night long. However, mental influence is sometimes the basis for becoming a powerful warrior, isn't it? Human beings often burst out with their ultimate fighting power when they have a mental breakdown. , even when the body is penetrated and injured by the tentacles, claws, and teeth of the Lost One, he can persist until the end of the battle with his mental strength."

"To be honest, I have to call you sir. I am not a flattering person, but I admire you very much. You are very decisive and execute those unintentional people in front of us. And I also know that you are a superpower Otherwise, those unintentional people will not succumb to your pressure and linger in the same place without daring to move forward."

"Speaking of the sir's question, there is one thing I don't understand. Mr. Cotton, if you don't tell me, I might not be able to sleep tonight." Wright smiled lightly and asked in a classic Western tone.

"Tell me about it?" Keton asked curiously.

"I remember that the strategic regiments led by local committees were the core department in every city, town and camp. In addition to the 'military office' that commanded front-line operations, the subordinate 'security office' was also the 'public security office'. The subordinate 'security team' is considered a more important organization.

As far as Sugra is concerned, the status of members of the 'security team' will not be low, especially in terms of power. As an inspector of the 'Security Team', why is your rank below me? Of course, I don't mean to be sarcastic, I'm just curious. "Wright asked in a normal tone as much as possible. After all, this was a somewhat "special" question.

But knowing this matter, if you are lucky enough to be able to return to Socra after the "Silence's Advent" battle, you can save yourself some obvious troubles.

After all, if he could use his rank to suppress the "security teams" who might have been spying on him, he would probably be able to avoid being caught eating hot pot.

"You know, Mr. Wright." Cotton sighed, his expression slightly ugly.

After a long while, he explained quietly in a deep voice:

"Low rank, high power, this is the normal situation of 'security teams' in various places. After all, the 'security teams' have the same role as the local legions fighting on the front line, both to protect human beings. And the 'military institute' Likewise, the 'Public Security Office' is a department with real power, so the rank cannot be raised too high, otherwise it may threaten the power of committees across the empire and even the royal family."

"It is normal for greater status and real power to be matched with lower rank and treatment. Mr. Wright, if you are lucky enough to hold some civilian positions, I believe you will have more feelings."

"I do know a battlefield inspector. He is a civilian. He has served as a non-staff personnel for fifteen years and was just made a full-time officer some time ago. It seems that this design does have some political considerations in the empire." Wright agreed.

"Can I take the liberty to ask, where does that non-staff member work now?" Keton thought of himself and asked curiously.

"In..." Wright's mouth moved, but he stopped talking.

In front of him seemed to shine the huge body of the "Hope" sandworm, as well as the dark powder flying messily in the air.

After a long time, filled with pain and depression, he answered in a deep voice:

"With the Lord, with the gods of old. Perhaps, based on what he has done, he should have gone to serve in the Kingdom of Heaven."

"I'm sorry." Keton quickly apologized:

"But the sacrifice of every imperial soldier is worthy of respect and worth remembering."

After speaking, he took off his black uniform hat and bowed.