Rust Belt Wasteland
Passing through the stairs between the tree roots, the world suddenly changed again.
Before my eyes lay a steel city consumed by rust. Towering chimneys jutted into the ground like tombstones. The air was filled with metal dust, and from time to time, huge gears fell from the sky, emitting a sharp collision sound.
"Rules panel updated:"
Core Mechanism: The "rust degree" of the city will increase over time, and touching the "rust spots" will be eroded by time.
Objective: Restart the Central Forge and reforge the "Chrono Core" with the "Sands of Time".
Hidden hint: "Rust" is another form of time, and only "reversing the flow of time" can remove it.
Yun Shuo and Yu Heng carefully made their way through the ruins and soon discovered an entrance to a factory that led underground.
"The central furnace should be right below." Yu Heng judged.
After going deep into the factory, they found a huge "timing core", but it was covered with a thick layer of rust and almost stopped working.
Yun Shuo took out the "Sand of Time", but the golden sand was immediately swallowed up as soon as it came into contact with the rust layer.
"You can't use the 'Sand of Time' directly. The rust will eat it up." Yun Shuo frowned.
Yuheng pondered for a moment, then took out the "Rust Key" and inserted it into the console. The rust around him receded like the tide, but then returned again.
"It can only be suppressed temporarily," Yu Heng said, "We need a 'reverse time field' to clear it."
Yun Shuo had a flash of inspiration and placed the "Time Key" and the "Rust Key" crosswise, and then placed the "Sand of Time" between the two keys.
"Use time as the warp and rust as the weft, reverse the flow and eliminate erosion!"
In an instant, a reverse time field visible to the naked eye unfolded with the two keys as the center, and the rust layer began to "retreat", revealing the original metallic luster of the core.
At the moment the core was fully revealed, the shadow of the factory's main brain appeared again and launched a frenzied attack on them.
"Use the 'Xi Key'!" Yun Shuo shouted.
Yuheng immediately understood and threw out the "Xiji Key", drawing an invisible curtain in the air. The factory mastermind's attack hit the curtain and was instantly broken into countless tiny points of light, which dissipated in the air.
“Now!”
Yun Shuo flicked the "Sand of Time" gently, and the golden sand merged into the "Time Core" like a meteor. The core instantly activated, emitting a dazzling light, and the rust on the entire abandoned city began to rapidly dissipate.
"The third level challenge is complete, and the fourth level of the upper tower, 'Silent Tide Abyss', has been unlocked."
The ground shook, and a water gate leading to the deep sea slowly opened in front of them.
"Let's go," Yu Heng said with a firm look, "The next level is the 'Quiet Tide Abyss'."
The two looked at each other and stepped into the dark blue without hesitation.
Passing through the water gate, the world was instantly engulfed in a sea of blue.
They didn't sink into the water, but stepped into a space composed of liquid silence. The surrounding "tide" was silent, and its flow could only be sensed through the refraction of light.
"Rules panel updated:"
Core Mechanic: This is the "Sea of Silence", where any sound will be absorbed by the tides and transformed into an attack.
Objective: Reach the Eye of the Tideheart and bring back the Tideheart Tear to stabilize the tower's base.
Hidden hint: "The Tide Heart is only open to the 'Rhythm of Heartbeat'."
Yun Shuo and Yu Heng immediately held their breath and even walked very lightly.
Soon, they found a path of luminous coral ahead, but whenever they tried to get closer, the coral would quickly wither.
"The sound... even the sound of footsteps will be absorbed by the 'water' here." Yu Heng gestured, indicating that Yun Shuo should be completely quiet.
The two began to try different methods: using the "Time Key" to slow down the water flow, using the "Forest Key" to soothe the growth rhythm of corals... In the end, they found that only complete silence could keep the corals stable.
So, in absolute silence, they walked step by step through the glowing coral forest.
Continuing to go deeper, a huge arch made of pearls appeared in front of us. In the center of the arch was an "eye" that slowly opened and closed - the Eye of Tide.
As they approached, countless "tide spirits" formed from silence emerged from the surrounding darkness and attacked them.
Yun Shuo remembered the hint, took out the "Tide Key", and gently placed it on his heart.
"Use the rhythm of your heartbeat..." He closed his eyes and aimed the key seal at the Eye of Tide.
The patterns on the key seal gradually synchronized with the pulsation of the "Eye of the Tide Heart", and the surrounding tide spirits also calmed down and turned into gentle streams of water.
"Now!"
Yun Shuo gently pushed the "Tide Key" into the "Eye of the Tide Heart." The next moment, a drop of crystal clear water slid from the "Eye" and floated in the air—this was the "Tear of the Tide Heart."
"The fourth level challenge is completed, and the fifth level of the upper tower, 'Mirage Bazaar', has been unlocked."
The ground shook, and the water curtain in front parted, revealing a staircase leading to an unknown marketplace.
Yun Shuo tightly grasped the "Tears of the Tide Heart", exchanged a glance with Yu Heng, and stepped forward without hesitation.
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