Chapter 496: Duncan’s Bold Idea

As the luminescent dim green flames flickered and cast their eerie glow within the confines of the cabin, the rhythmic sound of the ocean waves gradually transformed into something akin to a spectral lullaby, seeping into each mind like an unnerving proclamation of the sinful.

Imagine learning that the dwellings of mortal kind were constructed upon the remains of unimaginable gargantuan creatures. Meanwhile, ancient, desiccated tentacles dangled ominously from the underbellies of the floating cities, while milky, horrifying eyeballs, devoid of life, stared unblinkingly into the unending, abysmal void.

The inhabitants of this peculiar world were all direct descendants of the arcane and hallowed lords, their forms molded from the flesh of the prehistoric gods that once held dominion over all. The unfolding turmoil in the region of Frost was not merely an invasion, but signified the reawakening of these forgotten deities from within their very own creations. The hierarchy among the four gods was not necessarily stable; there was also a possibility that they could falter, losing their hold on their dominions. Such phenomena of loss of control had perhaps transpired in this world more than once. The continued protection of the four gods over the mortal realm might be attributed to them being the only remaining divine entities capable of maintaining consciousness.

In addition, the ongoing disaster in Frost would not be the last of its kind. As the conditions of the Nether Lord continued to worsen, and the inherent flaws in the grand design of creation relentlessly amplified over time, similar awakenings were deemed highly probable across various regions of the world.

Defective reincarnations of the ancient gods were expected to surface from the depths of the sea, from the bowels of the cities, and terrifyingly, from within the very essence of every mortal!

With a calm composure, Duncan imparted this chilling knowledge he had gained from the deep sea to his followers, deducing conclusions from the information at his disposal.

Subsequently, a blanket of protracted silence descended upon the cabin, so profound that it seemed to swallow all sound.

Even the usually composed Alice and the typically nonchalant Shirley were moved to silence, a sobering realization of the gravity of the situation at hand finally dawning upon them.

After an interval that seemed like an eternity, Vanna was the first to shatter the deafening silence. She drew in a deep breath, her expression turning melancholic as if a storm cloud had settled upon her face. “Had I not heard these words directly from your mouth, I would’ve dismissed this entire disclosure as the ravings of a delusional doomsday seer,” she confessed.

“Even the most deranged doomsday Ender probably couldn’t conjure a tale of this scale,” Morris added slowly.

Reaching for his pipe, he brought it to his lips, only to discover that the tobacco within had long since been extinguished. With a sigh and a bitter smile, he placed it back down.

“Yes, indeed, the doomsday Enders. One of the most perplexing phenomena in this world is how a subset of disciples from subspaces can somehow retain their consciousness,” Tyrian opined, his brow creasing in thought. Following a considerable pause, he found himself compelled to lift his head, “Father, is all of this information we’ve been given genuine?”

As the words left his lips, he felt a wave of embarrassment as if he’d just asked something utterly redundant. However, at this juncture, he felt it was a question that needed to be asked. Likely, the same question was playing on the minds of everyone seated around the expansive table!

“At the very least, it represents what I have personally witnessed and heard,” Duncan responded with a level-headed calmness.

However, he continued that information from only one source could often mislead, and even the most glaring pieces of evidence could lead to several diverging interpretations.

Moreover, the Frost Queen might not always have been truthful, and even if she had always spoken the truth, she was not impervious to error.

The best they could have done was to deduce the most plausible approximation of the truth based on the data they had at their disposal.

“What is the most likely approximation of the truth at this point?” Tyrian echoed this thought aloud before posing another query, “Did the Queen offer any signs or indicators if other cities were to face a situation similar to Frost with the awakening of the ancient gods?”

“C-Cap... Captain...” Dog’s raspy voice finally managed to emit a sound, every fragment of his bone structure quivering, “Please don’t entertain such frightful notions! Surely, you’re not planning to... to instigate such a cataclysm again!”

“Father, you must exercise caution.” Lucretia, who had been conspicuously silent and seemed somewhat distant, found herself compelled to break the silence. With an expression betraying her anxiety, she peered at Duncan through the crystal ball, fearful that her father might revert to that emotionless, terrifying deity at any moment.

Invoking the Vanished to return to its state of uncontrolled chaos to rip open the doors to the abyssal deep sea was an utterly reckless idea, even from a purely research standpoint!

This idea was exceedingly radical!

Duncan hadn’t anticipated such vehement reactions to his audacious proposition. He shook his head, reassuring them, “Fear not, I wouldn’t venture to conduct such extreme experiments. I’ve always prided myself on being a man of caution.”

This seemed to ease the palpable tension in the room somewhat!

However, Duncan swiftly shifted gears, adding, “However, even from a standpoint of caution, this ancient incident has sparked a thought... Certain attributes of the Vanished seem to be capable of disregarding the spatial faults within the abyssal deep sea. I intend to delve into research based on this, with the aim of discerning whether it’s possible to pry open the gates to that domain whilst preserving safety.”

This statement brought the collective unease of the room swiftly back to the surface!

But, at least this time, none voiced vehement objections as they had previously. Only Morris and Lucretia, as scholars, stressed once again the paramount importance of safety and caution. Given their attitudes, it was clear they harbored concerns that the captain might impulsively opt to hurl the Vanished into the abyssal deep sea one day!

Fortunately... Duncan smoothly transitioned to the next subject!

“Beyond the state of the Nether Lord, there’s another matter that presently holds more of my concern,” Duncan mused, his fingers stroking his chin as he spoke, “These Enders, to be precise, the rational Enders whose actions are diametrically opposed to the cultists!”

As he said this, he swiveled his head, his gaze settling on Tyrian.

“Tyrian, you once shared with Vanna that three enlightened Enders had visited the Vanished and spent the entire night in deep discourse with me, correct?”

Tyrian nodded immediately, a hint of embarrassment flitting across his face. “Yes, Father. At that time, I wasn’t certain about your condition, so I discussed some of your past encounters with Miss Vanna.”

“That’s fine,” Duncan dismissed with a wave of his hand. “There’s much from that period that I don’t recall, so it’s actually beneficial that you’ve retained those memories.”

He candidly acknowledged the memory lapses he suffered as a result of subspace’s influence while also acknowledging the reactions of Tyrian and Lucretia. Then he went on, “My point is that I sense that our paths will cross with those enlightened Enders sooner or later.”

Morris instinctively enquired, “What leads you to such a conclusion?”

“Because they appear to have a vested interest in involving themselves in significant historical events.”

Duncan adjusted his position, his words emerging slowly and deliberately, “And the disturbance stirred by the Vanished is escalating in magnitude!”