Chapter 769: Visitor in the Mist

Chapter 769: Visitor in the Mist

After hurrying to the window, Zhou Ming was able to confirm, much to his astonishment, that what he had seen was indeed real—there were actual words written on the window! Even more intriguing was the fact that these words were inscribed from the outside, using the widely recognized language of the city-states.

The appearance of the words was peculiar; they seemed to quiver slightly on the glass, creating an unsettling effect. It was as if they weren’t directly etched onto the firm, unyielding surface of the window but rather appeared to be suspended in a sort of ephemeral, mist-like illusion. Zhou Ming had to concentrate intensely on these letters for a considerable duration before he could decipher the message from the indistinct and reversed script—

“I am outside. You are inside.”

This revelation left Zhou Ming utterly bewildered—he couldn’t fathom why anyone, or anything, for that matter, would go to the lengths of leaving such a seemingly simplistic and cryptic message on the exterior of his “shelter cocoon.”

At first, he couldn’t help but find the situation somewhat amusing, yet a moment later, his amusement gave way to contemplation as a vague idea began to form in his mind.

Zhou Ming gradually moved away from the window, casting his gaze towards the gray-white fog that shrouded the exterior.

He had been attempting to piece together what lay beyond his “apartment” with only vague guesses up until this point. While the finer details eluded him, he had started to discern a certain pattern or, more precisely, a fundamental logic underlying the deepest essence of this world.

He realized that the notion of “information” carried profound significance; the way information is conveyed lays the groundwork for order. Building on this realization, he understood that “symbolism” in this realm possessed a tangible and potent... “function.”

With this epiphany, Zhou Ming looked back at the text, his perception subtly shifting. He began to suspect that the phrase wasn’t simply meant for “communication” with him.

Instead, it served as an “anchor point”—a marker placed by some entity that comprehended and had the power to manipulate the “truth” of their reality, marking its presence outside his room.

Suddenly, Zhou Ming’s train of thought was interrupted by a recollection: the mysterious knocking sound that emanated from the black mist during his last return to this place!

In the next instant, as if his memories had the power to influence reality itself, the moment this thought crossed his mind, a sound abruptly emerged beside him—bang, bang, bang.

Zhou Ming quickly turned towards the apartment’s door, only to realize that the sound wasn’t emanating from there. The knocking was coming from the window, suggesting the presence of an unseen visitor outside, obscured by the gray-white fog, persistently tapping on the glass, invisible yet undeniably there, as if awaiting recognition from the “little house’s” inhabitant.

This scenario inexplicably made Zhou Ming think of those “fish.”

Zhou Ming approached the window once more, this time placing his hand against the glass where the knocking originated in an effort to both feel and hear more distinctly—the knocking persisted, and slowly, he began to sense an actual vibration transmitting through his palm.

Lifting his gaze, he peered into the dense fog outside, engaging in a silent confrontation with the “visitor” obscured within it. He envisioned a guest, a being that, among all conceivable possibilities and logical paths, “might possibly manifest here.”

Who could it be, reaching out to him from the very edge of order, from a realm nearly severed from all other existences, at the very foundation of reality itself?

She realized she was beginning to comprehend the whispers of the cosmos—they were inquiring about her quest.

“I’m on a journey,” she responded instinctively, recounting her odyssey. “I was adrift in the spirit realm, then caught in the currents of subspace... At the edge of all existence, I found myself ensnared by the mist. Yet, a beacon of light emerged, guiding me here, to this grand ‘hall’...”

Ray Nora paused, stepping back to fully appreciate the structure before her that appeared to transcend time itself—a “cocoon” suspended at the brink of oblivion, its duration in this liminal space unknown, now revealing a sliver of itself. An ancient and profound presence communicated with her through this opening, each utterance, each vibration laden with truths so profound they could unravel the mind a thousand times over.

Yet, amidst this confrontation with the unfathomable, she found herself gaining steadiness, becoming resilient enough to withstand the onslaught of these cosmic truths. Her mind, too, began to anchor itself more firmly amidst the chaos.

Ray Nora found herself unexpectedly adapting to the situation, regaining her sense of logic and clarity after what could only be described as a reckless encounter with the unknown. It hadn’t even dawned on her that her own voice had taken on a vibratory quality, echoing the tumultuous interaction, nor had she realized how the intense luminescence of starlight had become a permanent fixture in her field of vision.

“You fell into subspace?” Zhou Ming expressed his astonishment with a frown, noting the peculiar tone in Ray Nora’s voice as she responded. Despite sensing something off about her condition, he didn’t dwell on it too much. Instead, he scrutinized her for any signs of subspace contamination, half-jokingly lamenting, “...Why does it seem like everyone’s been taking subspace dips lately...”

Feeling somewhat bewildered by the ongoing stir within her soul, Ray Nora couldn’t grasp the significance of the new tremors. Yet, amidst this confusion, she began to perceive a more coherent “entity” amidst the chaotic swirl of starlight and the extending “limb.” It appeared as though a figure was standing within that vast and impressive “nest.”

With a slight tilt of her head and a furrowed brow, she ventured, “Are you inviting me in?”

Zhou Ming was caught off guard by her question—had he extended an invitation?

Shaking off the momentary confusion, he embraced the idea. Having been isolated in this secluded “cage” for so long, the prospect of entertaining a guest was genuinely appealing. He hadn’t anticipated company, but now that the opportunity had arisen, he found the idea rather pleasant.

Feeling somewhat sheepish, he glanced down at the windowsill and chuckled awkwardly, “Then you’ll have to climb through the window... I’m not quite sure how to usher you in through the door...”

In response, the supernatural presence made way for her; the fissure in the cosmic “nest” widened as if opening its doors, and the light, brimming with truth and enlightenment, beckoned her forward.

Without a second thought, Ray Nora advanced towards the beckoning light.

As Zhou Ming observed her bold, unhesitant approach through the window, he was struck by the realization of why she had been the one to spearhead the deep dive project decades earlier. Her determination and decisiveness far surpassed that of the average individual.

Nonetheless, he couldn’t resist cautioning her, “Hey, be careful, don’t fall...”

Ray Nora transitioned through the window, her surroundings undergoing a dramatic transformation.

And then, with a solid impact, Her Majesty the Queen landed on the floor. “Ouch!”