Chapter 407

Chapter 412: The Vanished Surface and the Gold Fairies

As recorded in the annals of the Floating Continent Cluster.

Five hundred years ago, the surface was once ruled by a race known as humans.

To be precise, it was five hundred and twenty-five years ago, almost reaching five hundred and twenty-six years.

According to legend, humans were far from a resilient race.

They had no scales, neither fangs nor claws, no wings, nor the capacity to contain vast amounts of “magic.” They were also not adept at the intricate art of “magic.” Even in terms of reproductive power, they clearly lagged behind the Boar-Headed Tribe of that time.

Despite all this, such a race still managed to almost dominate everything on the surface.

It wasn’t until the appearance of the “Beasts” that human rule came to an end.

Some believed that the “Beasts” were massive curses crystallized by humans using forbidden spells.

Others thought they were secret killing weapons developed by humans for use against non-human races that went out of control.

Still others believed that under certain circumstances, humans opened the gates of hell, releasing demons and monsters.

In any case, one thing was certain.

The appearance of the “Beasts” was inseparable from humans!

They were not only invaders but also killers!

According to records, they acquired the forms of seventeen beasts and devoured the entire world at an astonishing speed. Humans were unable to withstand such a threat.

After the appearance of the “Beasts,” within just a few days, two countries disappeared from the map.

A week later, five countries, four islands, and two seas vanished.

Then, in less than a year, humanity was extinct.

Even after swallowing up the human race, the “Beasts” did not stop.

Ancient Ling Clan, Earth Dragon Clan, and other races successively resisted them and subsequently perished.

As if it were a joke, the surface lost all life.

Until someone realized that they had already lost their future of living on the ground. If they wanted to survive, they had to leave the earth and escape to a place beyond the reach of the beasts’ fangs.

Later, after the passage of long years, until now.

…

More than five hundred years later today, for those living on the Floating Continent Cluster, they do not know the truth about the surface becoming a biological禁区.

So those historical records buried beneath the sands have become objects of great interest.

In pursuit of the powerful relics, ruins, and vast complex knowledge left by the ancient human race.

The profession of salvagers emerged accordingly.

The upper echelons sought the ancient records of humanity, while the lower classes longed to see the scenery above the surface, to witness the lost tools, materials, and technologies.

These two desires combined smoothly, and through airship technology, batch after batch of people were sent down to the surface.

To explore and excavate treasures hidden beneath the surface.

“The Tiger Ear Grass” was one such airship.

It was a common model used by salvagers.

However, this salvage operation was somewhat unusual…

The higher-ups of the Floating Continent Cluster discovered through some means that the destination of this mission was a rare large ruin.

Judging by the activity patterns of the “Beasts” on the surface, there would definitely be quite a few “Beasts” inside such ruins.

Correspondingly, the rare items buried within would also be substantial!

Therefore, to protect the salvagers and the precious relics retrieved slightly, the higher-ups of the Floating Continent Cluster specially equipped two Gold Fairy Soldiers for this mission.

Although the races living on the Floating Continent Cluster are weak without exception.

The Gold Fairies are an exception.

They are the only existing race capable of countering the “Beasts.”

Adult Gold Fairies are assigned their own Holy Swords, which were once powerful weapons belonging to humans.

With the enhancement of the Holy Swords, the Gold Fairies gain the ability to defeat the “Beasts.”

Laentoluca and Nafude, they are the escorts for this mission.

Even at the cost of their lives, they must protect the precious artifacts salvaged from the ruins—this is their task.

Laentoluca and Nafude are not gloomy or pessimistic by nature.

They had come to terms with their fate the moment they grasped their swords.

Thus, they wouldn’t feel anxious because of it.

Rather, they felt more akin to excitement?

Two thirteen-year-old girls, soon to be fourteen.

They experienced a sense of reality because they could actually set foot on the surface.

It’s different from the land on the floating islands.

Though fraught with danger, the yellow sands of the surface make them instinctively tense, yet there’s also an indescribable sense of security.

If possible, Laentoluca really wished she could wander around near the ruins at her own will.

Unfortunately, that was just a luxury.

As escorts, although they didn’t have to follow the salvagers into the sands to dig up ancient artifacts, their movement was restricted.

The two needed to constantly stay by the side of the airship “Tiger Ear Grass.”

Not only to protect the precious artifacts unearthed, but also to guard the safety of the airship.

If the airship were destroyed, the salvage team would lose their way back to the sky.

This concerns the lives of everyone on the salvage team, leaving no room for carelessness.

…

“I wish I could go inside the ruins too.”

“The books say the surface is full of romance and adventure, and you can find mountains of treasures by digging into the gray sand. Why do we have to stay here and rot?”

Nafude lay on the deck of the airship, rolling back and forth out of boredom.

She knew that throwing a tantrum here wouldn’t change anything, yet her body moved on its own.

Her little legs kicked around on the wooden deck, very childishly.

Laentoluca sat cross-legged nearby, at the edge of the deck.

In front of her was the railing, and the girl with sleek bright blue hair gazed blankly at the dilapidated ruins not far away.

What she really wanted to do right now was read a book, but unfortunately, there were none available for her to read, so she could only sit here absentmindedly.

A glimpse of black silk-covered legs peeked out from under the long skirt, and the toes hidden within her shoes curled and stretched slightly due to the noise from her companion.

Not everyone can remain unmoved when faced with a friend’s loud fussing.

Especially when someone wants peace and quiet.

“Nafude, you’re so noisy.”

After a few more minutes, Laentoluca finally couldn’t help but speak up.

Can’t this person just sit quietly? (Disdain.jpg)

“I can’t sit still… Just thinking about being on the ground makes me so excited. Laentoluca, do you think the princess of the Eagle-Wing Tribe imprisoned by a hundred ‘Beasts’ really exists?”

“It doesn’t exist, it’s made up in books to fool children.”

“What about the treasures then?”

“You can dig them up yourself if you want.”

“Hmm… You’re just dodging the question…”

Nafude propped herself up, sitting cross-legged, pouting unhappily.

Facing her companion’s criticism, Laentoluca smoothed out the wrinkles in her skirt between her legs and patted the spot beside her.

“I’m not dodging the question; I just hope you can be quiet at this moment. If you can’t, come over and look at the scenery with me.”

“Oh~”

Nafude followed suit, leaning forward, placing her weight on Laentoluca’s back.

She rested her chin on her shoulder, looking toward the distant sea of sand.

“!?”

Immediately, both noticed something amiss.

“————————!”

It seemed like something was moving wildly through the sea of sand.

Like sharks swimming beneath the ocean, wherever it passed, it stirred up enormous winds and sands.