Anderson Courting Death

So, where are your ship and companions?

Anderson asked hopefully. He strained to look out over the sea behind Luther, trying to spot a ship that wasn't there.

"A ship? No."

Luther replied, "I was accidentally caught in a teleportation and ended up on this island alone."

Upon hearing this answer, Anderson's smile gradually faded. After a moment, he smiled again, but this time it was a bitter smile.

"Just as I thought. It seems my Misfortune hasn't left me yet."

He sighed.

But after a moment, he composed himself, straightened his back, and smiled at Luther, saying, "Did you bring an axe? Do you know anything about navigation? Perhaps we can work together to build a canoe and leave from here."

This guy is quite optimistic.

Luther thought to himself.

What did the painting you saw look like?

He didn't answer Anderson's question, but continued asking.

"The murals..."

Anderson glanced at Luther's blood-red robe, his eyes darting around, and said, "That's a painting with strong religious overtones, depicting a procession of pilgrims. The Sea before them has parted, revealing a path. An Angel is leading them along the path into the depths of the Ocean."

"That Angel had long silver hair and closed her eyes."

Ouroboros the Ouroboros!

The moment Luther heard the description, he thought of a Snake of Mercury. There were similar murals in that abandoned temple, though those depicted Saint traveling into the depths of dark mountains.

Based on this painting, we might conclude that in some distant era, this "Angel of Fate" led many Saint across Ocean and mountains to meet that Filth Degeneration.

Where is their destination?

If this mural and the one depicting the "Forsaken Land of the Gods" are from the same period, then can we assume that this pilgrimage route passed through the Sonia Sea and the Forsaken Land of the Gods?

In other words, the Forsaken Land of the Gods is reachable!

"Have you thought of something?"

Anderson noticed the slight change in his expression and spoke up.

"It's none of your business."

Luther snapped out of his daze.

"Don't say that. We're comrades who've been through thick and thin together."

Anderson chuckled, "I've heard that your Aurora Order sent many people to this area, seemingly searching for something. The mural is in a temple on a submerged island. If you help me build the ship, I'll tell you its location."

At this point, he subtly used the "Provocation" ability of the Hunter Pathway.

Then he saw the expression on the man in the blood-red robe opposite him change slightly.

"Your Aurora Order?"

He repeated.

"Yes."

Anderson smiled confidently, "You're obviously Shepherd, I can tell—don't misunderstand, I mean you no harm. Actually, I'm from the Iron and Blood Cross Order of Intis, and I also believe in the Lord. We are partners with the same faith!"

Haha, only an idiot would share the same beliefs as a bunch of fools like you.

He thought to himself, "However, it's true that I used your 'master's' name to trick you into helping me."

"Oh, so you're a follower of 'the Lord'?"

Luther laughed.

"Yes, that's right, that's right!"

Anderson was pleased to see the other person smile.

That's it, I fooled him!

I'm Hunter, deceiving these fanatics is a piece of cake!

Just as Anderson was thinking this, he heard the man opposite him whisper, "Go to hell."

"Boom!"

The Filth sound exploded directly in Anderson's mind. He was caught off guard and felt as if he had been hit hard on the head with a hammer!

Before he could even cry out in pain, a bluish-white flame ignited in the red-robed man's hand.

Arson?

And it's a flame of a higher rank than mine?!

Upon seeing the ball of flame, Anderson's Beyonder Characteristic reacted violently, as if he felt immense suppression. The flame transformed into a spear, shooting towards his body.

That's too dangerous!

Anderson's scalp tingled instantly, and he jumped to the side with all his might.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion rang out, sand flew everywhere, and the intense heat and impact slammed into his back. A terrible crater had appeared where he had just stood, its center charred beyond recognition, the sand melted into a liquid, orange-red color.

God of Wisdom.

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!"

Anderson shouted, "I apologize for anything I said wrong!"

"Aren't you a believer in the True Creator?"

Luther chuckled, "I just happen to dislike that guy; he kills every one of his followers he sees."

"You're not one of His followers?"

Anderson's eyes widened in surprise.

Why should I believe in an upside-down idiot?

Luther countered with a question.

"Is such a thing even possible?"

Anderson was on the verge of tears.

He can even encounter Shepherd who don't believe in True Creator; how unlucky must he be?

"It's a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding! I don't believe in that evil god!" He quickly changed his tune. "I only said that to try and get on your good side!"

"I know."

Luther said calmly.

In fact, he didn't sense Degeneration influence of the cultist from this guy. The Shepherd's abilities also told him that this Anderson was Sequence 5 Beyonder.

"Then why did you hit me?"

Anderson couldn't understand it.

"To teach you a lesson."

Luther gave him a cold glance. "Don't mention that damn thing again."

"OK."

Anderson gave a dry laugh; he could sense the intense hatred in Luther's words. "So, can we cooperate now?"

He had been stranded on the island for some time and really wanted to leave.

Tell me your entire story first, then I'll make a decision.

Luther Zedao.

"Like I just said, I'm actually a fairly well-known treasure Hunter. In order to find treasure, I formed an expedition team with a group of treasure Hunter."

Anderson said, "The first half of the journey went smoothly until we encountered that mural. The other members also saw the mural and were gradually plagued by Misfortune. Some mutated into Monster, some were later caught in Storm and attacked by Monster. In the end, only I, the strongest among us, survived."

"Turn into Monster?"

Luther astutely picked up on the information in his words, "How did you become Monster?"

"They explored that Dream."

"Exploring Dream?"

Luther didn't understand what he was saying.

"It's that Dream in the dark of Evernight." Anderson looked at him strangely, then realized something. "Haven't you encountered the Evernight since you came here?"

It's not always noon here, so where does the Evernight come from?

As Luther Ze was thinking this, he suddenly felt the surroundings darken in an instant.

Utter darkness!

One moment it was noon, the next it was late at night. The transition was so abrupt that Luther almost thought his eyes had gone mad.

"Quick! Lie down and go to sleep!"

Just then, he heard Anderson's anxious voice.