Forbidden Zone of the Ancient Continent

Led by Tuka and with the tribal high priest's tacit approval, the pirate crew slowly passed through the ancient tribe's defenses and formally entered the deepest forbidden zone of this ancient continent.

The sights here could no longer be described as an ordinary "jungle." They walked atop enormous roots several kilometers thick, while beneath their feet lay a heavy ancient surface made of unknown dark bluish-green metal. Countless roots, coiled together like entwined dragons, formed a majestic underground metal palace.

"There's a faint sound of electric currents lingering in the air... Everyone, be careful." As Tuka walked, he closed his eyes to catch the strange rhythm echoing through the air, unease faintly showing on his face.

"Don't worry. As long as there's treasure and technology, even if hell lies below, I'm going in." Carina patted her pack, excitement glittering in her eyes.

However, the instant they stepped into the core steel hall, which resembled a hemispherical altar—

"Bzzzz—!"

The underground Holy Land, silent for a full eight hundred years, suddenly lit up with blinding red alarm lights without warning! Amid dull, teeth-grinding sounds of metal gears scraping together, the bronze barricades around the hall rose with a thunderous roar, revealing countless deep, icy storage chambers.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The sounds of heavy objects striking the ground rang out in rapid succession. Before the shocked eyes of the entire pirate crew, hundreds of mechanical puppets, their bodies patterned in dark gold and silver-white, awakened from their slumber with thunderous steps in perfect unison!

These puppets stood roughly three meters tall, their bodies devoid of unnecessary ornamentation. Their streamlined metal shells were covered in intricate, mysterious patterns of ancient technology. They had no facial features, only a narrow single eye in the center of their heads that flickered with savage red light.