EeDechi turned her head and spotted the "Artillery Shieldguard" Construct behind her. This Construct had a unique design—not humanoid at all, but shaped like a steel turtle, except it had no legs, just six wheels bigger than millstones.
On its metal back, it carried five massive, dark cannons. The pitch-black muzzles were aimed right at EeDechi from a distance, and that huge fireball and terrifying explosion from earlier had erupted straight from those barrels.
Now that the Artillery Shieldguard's owner was dead, it looked totally lost. On its square metal head, two ruby-like eyes flickered on and off uncertainly, while its six wheels spun back and forth, like a bewildered iron turtle wandering aimlessly.
EeDechi pondered: if this thing was a Construct too, then the Constructs Storage Box she had might just be able to capture it.
Without a second thought, EeDechi pulled out the Constructs Storage Box, casually thinking of a "contain" command in her mind, and the Artillery Shieldguard responded immediately.
The hinge mechanisms on its back lowered the cannons down flat, muzzles leveled out. Then its entire body turned into a stream of black light and got sucked right into the Constructs Storage Box.
EeDechi glanced at the Constructs Storage Box and saw, through the transparent crystal panel, a lifelike metal model in a cold, rugged style, quietly crouched inside the container—it was the Artillery Shieldguard.
By chance, EeDechi noticed the Common inscription on the Constructs Storage Box, the very text that had first puzzled her:
"Imperial Year 1339, the Great Expedition began.
"I followed eight emperors, with no chance to turn back. Elsa, I leave this small toy for our child yet to be born.
"Goodbye, my love, do not wait for my return."]
She slipped the Constructs Storage Box into her spatial ring, and EeDechi headed back to the campsite to find her companions. They'd rest for the night, and once they were full of energy, tomorrow they'd head into the deepest part of the Eight Greed Kings' ancient city.
Before she even reached the campsite, she spotted Franco punishing Mare, who'd tried to run off earlier.
Franco, with his skillful artistry, gave Mare a tortoise shell bondage, lifted up his pleated skirt, then took a quill pen, and was just about to draw the "正" character on Mare's thigh.
"Caught you fooling around with dirty stuff! You're gonna pay for this!" EeDechi stepped right up and yanked hard on Franco's ear. Franco winced in pain, begging for mercy over and over. Teary-eyed Mare sniffled and shot EeDechi with a grateful look.
...
Wind and sand whipped across her face, rough grit battering her boots. The sun in the sky blasted intense light and heat, the ground like a blazing oven set on roasting every traveler to charcoal.
Before her loomed a winding, massive ancient wall, its granite bricks thick and joints tight—it wasn't hard to picture its former majestic glory.
EeDechi licked her dry lips, shattered the stone door with a single punch, and led the Last Defender of the Way adventuring party—along with Antilene and the captive Mare—through the ancient wall.
In the distance, a lush green strip flickered in and out of view. Several adventurers crested the towering sand dune, their eyes widening in shock—at the sight... of a verdant oasis!
This oasis was vast, stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see. The vegetation flourished, green leaves vibrant and glistening with dew, and surprisingly, dozens of black birds could be spotted, startled from the jungle, flapping their wings and soaring into the sky.
Compared to the brutal desert outside the oasis, it was like two completely different worlds. One teeming with life, one barren death; one paradise, one hell.
"Is this a mirage?" Barrett murmured to himself.
In the Eight Greed Kings desert, heat waves shimmered, and mirages were pretty common, but EeDechi and her group had an accurate map and had never been drawn in by one.
"I don't sense any magical illusion vibes," Franco said, reaching out to check.
"Come on, let's head to the oasis and top off our water supplies. What's to be afraid of? If anyone shows up, we'll smash them to smithereens!" EeDechi declared boldly, puffing out her chest and marching toward the oasis with big strides.
"We need to be careful; this is already the deepest part of the desert, where the Eight Greed Kings' ancient city is located," Barrett reminded her, not forgetting to warn, as he hurried to match EeDechi's pace.
...
EeDechi and the others stepped into the oasis, met with a scene bursting with vitality, not much different from a regular forest. The trees were lush and green, branches thick with foliage, the cuckoo's song clear and sweet, and every now and then a chestnut-colored squirrel leaped among the branches.
A path paved with bluestone bricks emerged in the jungle, winding deep into the dense woods. EeDechi took big gulps of the fresh forest air, soothing her spirit after months of slogging through the desert.
Ting-a-ling~
A crisp, delightful sound echoed from deep along the path, and then a young girl approached gracefully. She wore an emerald green long dress with ornate patterns, her skin pale and fair, smooth black hair topped with a rainbow flower crown, her face bright and adorable.
The girl had silver bell jewelry on her ankles and wrists, and with every step, the clear tinkling of the bells rang out endlessly.
"Guests from afar, welcome to our city. If you're here for the former emperors' treasure, please follow me." The girl looked at the travel-worn EeDechi and her group, her voice unusually gentle.
Though everyone felt a bit puzzled inside, they still followed the girl deep into the jungle.
After crossing through the dense forest, the view suddenly opened wide.
This was a town nestled in the woods, with winding streams threading through the settlement. Cute kids splashed around by the water's edge, women and men toiled in the orchards, and elders hunkered down on stone steps, contentedly puffing on their pipes—a cozy, idyllic countryside scene.
Their outfits were traditional and fancy, with wrists and hair buns wrapped in jewelry carved from gold, jade, and ivory. Wandering through the town felt like waking up in a dream straight out of the Eight Greed Kings era.
Barrett noticed one thing: these laid-back townsfolk didn't seem surprised by their band of outsiders, as if they were long used to folks from beyond the desert showing up here.
Barrett couldn't help but find it weird. The Eight Greed Kings desert was packed with dangers; without top-tier power, no one could make it to the deepest part of the desert. Only a handful of people could reach this pastoral town.
Maybe the old folks were jaded by now, but those playful rascals of kids didn't even shoot curious looks at EeDechi and the crew. That was what baffled Barrett the most—were the children already used to outsiders too?
All along the way, the girl was super enthusiastic. She explained that this place was the City of Remnants, and the residents were all survivors from the Eight Greed Kings empire.
The girl escorted EeDechi and her group to the town center, into a grand and majestic temple.
"This is our leader." After the introduction, the girl bowed and stepped back.
In the golden lanterns around them, the flames danced. On the throne built from jewels and gold, a poised and elegant woman sat regally. She smiled softly, "Welcome. Are you here for the former emperors' treasure as well?"
"You bet. Whatever challenges or demands there are, lay 'em out quick." EeDechi said, holding her ground without groveling or bragging.
"There are no challenges at all, but the thirty lords who guard the former emperors have ordered that we can only admit one guest."