by Yoo Seong
I am Anubis…..the gatekeeper of the underworld. Well…..the providence of the universe…..the reason….. The person who doesn’t follow the natural rules…..forever…..you won’t escape.
Those were the Murat letter that the Nymphe was able to decode. Some parts were missing so he couldn’t check the entire contents
‘But I managed to decipher some words. Anubis was the gatekeeper to the underworld. The natural laws….if I don’t follow the natural laws then I can’t escape from this place…..in the end, I have to move in a certain order to escape this place? In order…..but all the rooms are similar so how can I tell what the order is?’
Bbok! Bbok! Bbok! Bbok!
Ark came up with an idea in time with the noise of the octopus on his head. And yesterday Ark was finally able to find the answer. One day had passed since he determined the answer.
‘Now I have to look properly……’
“Facilities Maintenance!”
Ark lifted the dust cloth and shouted. Facilities Maintenance increased his cleaning by 30%! Ark fiercely used his dust cloth and the room became free of dust.
“There’s no doubt. Here! I’ve come to the right place!”
Ark’s eyes caught the mural near the upper corner of one exit. So far, all the murals in the rooms that Ark passed were similar. No, he thought they were similar. However, if he carefully looked at the murals then there were different parts. Doors opened in all 4 directions after he took care of the Anubis. There was a person sitting on a throne painted on the upper corner. If he just glanced at it then there wasn’t anything different but the age of the painted man was different. Some murals was a young child, others a young man, etc……
‘Anubis is the gatekeeper of the underworld!’
Ark combined all the clues in his head.
‘The gatekeeper of the underworld has to follow the natural laws. There is a process from the moment of birth to death. That’s what the murals on the wall is about. People go through a natural process from the moment they were born to the moment they die. It is a natural order. Then that is the order to reach the exit!’
Ark considered and looked for the room where the mural was in its youngest state. He chose the exit where the baby changed to a child and moved to the next room before selecting the exit with the next stage. And he had finally reached the mural where an old man was on his deathbed!
“…….This is the last one!”
Ark’s face was filled with expectation.
“Indeed!”
Ark clenched his fists. He went through the door with the mural of the dying man. The passage was different from the hundreds he had passed through previously. The left and right side of the passage were lined with a huge number of glass tubes. The glass tubes were filled with a clear liquid and contained various newborn animals, plant specimens or even strange creatures floating around. However, nothing was alive. All the creatures in the glass tubes were completely rotted.
“This atmosphere……”
The glass tubes contained tens of thousands of decayed bodies! He felt a chill as he walked along the narrow passage.
“Are the Murat an alien species who conducted biological experiments?”
It was an uncomfortable thought. But the Murat were already extinct. Ark clamped down his uncomfortable feeling and moved forward. After 20 minutes and tens of thousands of glass tubes, he finally appeared in front of doors painted with ancient Egyptian gods. He was about to open it but he didn’t need to worry.
Dudududu! Dudududu!
The door automatically opened once he approached. And it appeared……
“The gold room!”
It was the gold room he had discovered after digging. It had been 10 days since Ark arrived here. The paving stone that Ark had pushed up was still in the middle while the mummy was sitting on the throne on the opposite side. And the sword and pyramid lying on the table were also the same.
“That’s it! I made it!”
Any thoughts about escaping the pyramid was forgotten. There was a reason Ark had entered in the first place. The typical owners of pyramids were pharaohs so the burial goods might be left with them. He had wandered around for 10 days but he had finally returned to the gold room. Ark looked at the items on the table and was about to approach when he flinched and stopped.
‘Wait? Didn’t I previously fall into the trap because I walked carelessly? I opened the door and formally entered but there is no guarantee the trap won’t trigger again.’
There was a chance he might return to the room filled with Anubis statues. Well, he knew the escape route but it would still be troublesome.
‘But the trap won’t excessively activate. There must be a way to avoid it……’
A smile formed on Ark’s mouth. The gold room had paving stones approximately 1 metres laid out
And images of a pharaoh sitting on the throne were also drawn on the paving stones. The images of a baby to an old man were all jumbled up. Then wasn’t the answer simple?
“First, this guy…..”
Ark laughed and stepped on the image of a baby. Then a young child, a young man, a man…..Ark carefully stepped on the paving stones and managed to arrive in front of the mummy. And he could finally obtain the Pharaoh’s artefacts!
-Impact Blade (Unique)
Item Type: Matter Blade (Two-handed) Wearer Restriction: Level 40
Attack: 45~55 Durability: 80/80
Number of Ammunition: 4(Attack: 20~25)
A Gun blade found in the ruins belonging to an ancient alien species called the Murat.
The Murat was a powerful species that controlled the Bellin constellation in the centre of the galaxy. They use ancient magic through the mysterious energy called mana. Once science started to develop, the Murat combined the ancient magic and science to form a new civilization. The current technology of the federation and Rama are based on artefacts recovered from Murat ruins. The Impact Blade is one such technology that combines science and ancient magic. It is a combination of a matter blade and pistol. Portability is valued so there are few ammunition but it is possible to use a gun and sword together.
Special Feature (Impact Shot): When Impact Shot is used after a sword attack, there is a 30% chance of triggering addition 50% damage.
“U-unique sword!”
Ark’s mouth dropped open. He had finally obtained the Pharaoh’s artefacts after 10 days so he had high expectations. And he was level 43 so finding a magic item would be a jackpot he had thought. Yet it was an unique item! Of course, a unique item wasn’t always good. Magic or rare items depended on the stats but unique items were based on its distinctiveness. In other words, items that weren’t common had that rating. Because the unique item had strange functions, sometimes the practical usage was less than a magic or rare item. However, the scarcity of the item meant it could be traded for a more expensive price than rare items.
“But this unique item is different!”
The performance of a unique item couldn’t be guaranteed unless tried out. However, the level was the same but it had 10 more damage than his magic item. Besides, it was a sword and gun so it had close range and long range functions! And that was the best thing!
“Woo! I didn’t suffer in vain for 10 days!”
All the accumulated stress of the last 10 days was released. But that wasn’t the only item. There was a small pyramid next to the sword.
“It doesn’t seem to be an equipment based on the shape……”
Ark had already received a jackpot so he leisurely picked up the pyramid. The pyramid vibrated and dozens of rays of light shot up from it. A 3D image was then drawn like a panorama in the sky.
‘Fire…..!’
The first scene that developed was filled with flames. Countless numbers of buildings and a castle in a city that looked like ancient Egypt was engulfed in flames. Apart from the people running away from the flames in the city, some people were also running in a hallway filled with
glass tubes. And the ones using a gun and sword to slay them were…..
‘The Rama Clan?’
They had dark skin, pointed ears and blue eyes! The ones wielding the weapons and killing people were the Rama.
‘Wait? Didn’t the information window say the reason why the Murat became extinct were unknown? The people on the screen were probably the Murat clan. Does that mean the Murat were destroyed by the Rama? Why is such a fact unknown?’
But the images didn’t offer any explanations. The Rama’s brutal killing proceeded for a while. Then the screen changed and a place that looked like a palace appeared. The Pharaoh looked at the flaming city were hopeless eyes. And he finally gave an order to the Murat in the palace. The Murat received the order and entered the hallway filled with glass tubes. All the Murat entered glass tubes and the Pharaoh operated something in the palace. A giant pyramid formed around the palace, the Pharaoh and the glass tubes and was swept deep underground. A large explosion occurred shortly after that. The explosion was enough to burn the surface of the planet! All the Murat and Rama running around were turned into dust. The planet lost its light and cooled really quickly.
‘This is why Beltana is a frozen planet……’
The Pharaoh used an ancient weapon after being cornered. But the video hadn’t ended yet. The Pharaoh wrapped him and his people in an pyramid and sent them underground to protect them. Then he left a distress signal for any kin scattered around the Bellin constellation. And he waited. 1 year, 2 years, 3 years…..he waited for his fellow kin for a long time. However nobody came. After dozens of years, the people in the glass tubes started to rot. The Pharaoh despaired. And he foresaw the end of the Murat. The Pharaoh took out the pyramid that Ark was holding. He opened the bottom and placed his hand inside. A glowing liquid flowed from his fingertips and filled the empty space. The Pharaoh placed his sword and the pyramid on the table. He sat on his throne and his life ended.
Ark now understood the situation.
‘Yes, the life forms in the glass tubes were the Murat who sought refuge before Beltana perished. The Pharaoh annihilated the Rama and thought his kin from other planets would come to rescue them. However, their kin didn’t come and the life forms started rotting. The Pharaoh died in this state. The distress signal I received was the one the Pharaoh sent to his kin.’
However, the Pharaoh died and hundreds of years passed while the signal weakened. Ark was able to receive the signal because he found the underground square. Then the video footage ended.
-You have acquired undisclosed information about the ancient alien species called the Murat.
The universe has a long history and many alien civilizations have grown and declined. Finding undisclosed information can help illuminate the history of the universe. Hidden alien artefacts or technology can play a decisive role.
+ Information about the ancient alien species Murat (1/15).
+ You have obtained 300 Adventure points for acquiring information about the Murat.
+ You have gained 5 Intelligence for acquiring information about the Murat.
-The Nymphe has acquired a map of the Bellin constellation.
“Hoh, I also received a bonus like this?”
Ark laughed after reading the information window. It was an ancient alien civilization. This was an important part of Galaxian. It was unexpected but Ark was in the centre of an adventure! Istana might be the centre of the federation but there are numerous planets and new directions that could open up in Galaxian. And the heart of these adventures was finding ancient alien civilizations. Excavating ruins of an ancient alien civilization could be directly connected to the growth of a user. Pioneers with sponsors would also get the largest compensation for such information. It was similar to the Adventure points. Of course, Ark was still a prisoner so that was in the far future……
“The things I’ve obtained aren’t bad.”
And he also received a bonus 5 intelligence. It is a useful bonus that can be used immediately.
“By the way…..”
Ark’s eyes looked at the bottom of the pyramid. He remembered the glowing liquid that the Pharaoh emitted before he died. He tinkered with the bottom a few times before it opened. Hundreds of years had passed but the liquid was still shining.
“What is this?”
Ark touched the liquid without thinking. The liquid suddenly bubbled and enveloped Ark’s hand.
“Huk! What, what the? I-Is this another trap?”
Ark screamed and quickly removed his hand. However, the glowing liquid was just absorbed even more and the information window appeared.
-You have absorbed the photon life form ‘Shire!’
The Shire are mysterious photon life forms and are some of the most mysterious creatures in the universe. According to old documents, they will condense over millions of years to form mana. The Murat have the ability to use the power of the Shire through ‘Rune’ characters.
+ You have absorbed the Shire and acquired a Rune.
+ You have acquired a Rune (Ikram) from the Murat memory contained.
-A new skill (Common Occupation ☆☆☆☆☆) has been learnt.
Rune Carving (User, Active): When the photon Shire is summoned and a rune carved then a skill will be manifested. Although the Murat civilization is now gone, the Runes once had a profound contribute on their ability to take control of the Bellin constellation.
Mana consumption: 10(+Mana cost of the Rune)
“Eh? A 5 star rated skill?”
He was stunned by the information window. He never imagined he would get a skill like this. Moreover, wasn’t a 5 star skill the best skill rating? A 5 star rated skill was a jackpot.
“5 stars! It must be a tremendous skill!”
Ark tried out the skill with anticipation.
‘I just have to draw a rune in the Shire? Wait? Is this odd pattern the Ikram Rune? I should try it out.’
Ark read the information window and shouted.
“Come out, Shire! Rune Carving!”
A light appeared from Ark’s hand. It was the photon life form Shire! And Ark carved a rune in that light. Ark carved the complicated pattern in the air……
Pisisisi.
And the light scattered again?
“Eh? What is this? Did I make a mistake?”
But it was also the same afterwards. The rune drawn looked exactly the same as the one on the Nymphe. He even tried to change the order he drew the rune in but the light still scattered.
“Pant pant pant, damn! What is this? Is this skill really right?”
Ark muttered with a lost expression. He had obtained a wonderful skill but it wouldn’t trigger. It was enough to make him want to run and curse. However, he had already wandered the pyramid for 10 days so he couldn’t waste more time here struggling with the skill.
“Ah, I don’t know. I can explore the skill once I return to the federation base.”
One thing that was on his mind was the Royal Guards.
“Don’t tell me those guys are starving without me?”
That was the thing Ark was anxious about. It also wasn’t necessary to search the pyramid for a way out. When he entered the Pharaoh’s room from the door then a magic circle was drawn underneath the throne. He had been playing the game for a few years. Wasn’t the answer obvious? It was clearly a warp point that appeared after clearing dungeons! He entered the magic circle and the gold room spun around him. The light disappeared and he appeared in the middle of a snowstorm. He had been teleported several kilometres upwards.
“Huhuhu, now I can return to the base.
Ark smirked and manipulated the Nymphe. Then he screamed.
“T-this is ridiculous!”
Space 9
To the Base……!
“Ah…..!”
Countless soft powders poured from the sky. The sky
was black like a cosy bedroom while the wind sounded like a lullaby. If he closed his eyes then it seemed possible to be submerged in a happy dream. Such thoughts creeped into his head after closing his eyes. But Ark didn’t worry about that.
‘My food……’
He opened his bag and saw piles of cupcakes and cookies. Ark took out a cupcake with whipped cream and raised it to his mouth. And as he took a bite…..pakak!
“Ugh!”
Ark screamed and jumped up. He grabbed his tingling mouth and looked around with a confused expression. His happy illusion broke at that moment. And he was returned to the gloomy reality. His hand was holding a Zaliman ore instead of a cupcake. The soft powder and cosy bedroom…..
Hwiiiii-!
The snow storm swirling on Beltana! He started trembling as soon as he noticed the chill.
“D-dammit! My destiny, why is my destiny also twisted like this?”
Ark painfully raised his body from the ice. Endorphins flowed through his head as he recalled his memories. He had wandered the pyramid for 10 days and had obtained a unique sword, information about an ancient alien civilizations and a 5 star skill. It was amazing! He had only suffered since starting Galaxian so it was good to receive some compensation. That feeling disappeared the moment he appeared outside and operated his Nymphe’s GPS.
-Distance to the galactic federation’s base: 532 km
His mood plummeted at the message that appeared on the GPS. Ark was released at a location 532 km from the base.
“I-I have to walk 532 km?”
Ark looked at the swirling snow storm with blank eyes. Beltana was a planet with a temperature of -50 degrees Celsius. Of course, Ark was able to survive the current temperature due to the Prisoner body coating. That’s how he managed to dig Iridium for hours as well as fighting on the battlefields.
‘532 km means that it will take more than 10 days if I walk 50 km in one day.’
He had to walk for 10 days in the freezing cold. Even if he received the body coating, his body wouldn’t be fine in such low temperatures for 10 days. His body temperature would start falling. His body became as stiff as stone and he experienced dizziness many times. Finally the cold was more than his body coating could handle.
