Linde's answer was without the slightest hesitation, as calm as stating a given fact, but beneath that calm was a cold determination.
The light in his purple eyes did not flicker at all, as if the "desolate places where even demigods would die if they stepped into them" described by Amarselak were just a few markers on a map that needed to be explored.
However, deep within his heart, beneath the frozen lake of his mind, the undercurrents of his thoughts were slightly stirred by the unknown territory he was about to step into.
The Star Sea is the ultimate frontier, a realm that even the divine legacy of Tiorantis and the key to the Zedo civilization have not fully described. It is a truly boundless dark forest, containing the answers to the rise and fall of civilizations, and also harboring malice powerful enough to devour the world.
A mixture of extreme calm and near-trembling excitement was firmly locked away in the deepest recesses of his rationality.
Amarselak stared at him, his enormous dragon eyes seemingly swirling with stars, reflecting Lind's seemingly frail yet astonishingly determined figure.
The energy dust in the core area of the holy land seemed to sense the solemn atmosphere, its swirling speed slowed down, and its light dimmed slightly.
In the end, that ancient will transformed into a long, drawn-out dragon roar, carrying the sighs of timeless dust and starlight, echoing for a long time in this tranquil space, as if bidding farewell to a warrior about to embark on a path of no return, or lamenting the capriciousness and cruelty of fate.
"I understand."
There was no dissuasion, no unnecessary warnings.
At their level, once a decision is made, there's no need for further explanation.
Amarselak knew that beneath Lind's cold exterior lay a thirst for exploration and a desire for control as turbulent as magma beneath a layer of permafrost. This was the core driving force that had propelled him to where he was today, and also an unstoppable destiny.
It is like a double-edged sword; it can cleave through the fog, or it can lead you into an abyss of no return.
A stream of information containing complex spatial coordinates and obscure energy markers, like a gentle drizzle, carrying the ancient and profound aura unique to the dragon race, slowly flowed into Linde's consciousness.
These coordinates are not simply three-dimensional positions; they also include dimensional parameters, spacetime curvature indicators, and early warning signals for specific energy disturbances. Their complexity far exceeds any existing nautical chart or star chart on the continent of Teil.
Linde felt as if his soul had been instantly pulled into a three-dimensional star network composed of countless rays of light and data. Each cold and distant coordinate point was like a lighthouse in the darkness, both guiding the way and exuding an unsettling aura of loneliness and danger.
He quickly imprinted this information deep into his soul, and instinctively began to analyze its structure and hidden patterns by deconstructing the halo.
He immediately realized that although Amaserak described these coordinates as "not too far," that was on a cosmic scale. The actual distance was enough to drive any creature relying on conventional flight or short-range space jumps to despair.
On a long journey through the vast and unforgiving sea of stars, one must not only face the void of the vacuum, deadly radiation, and unpredictable space storms, but also encounter unknown dangerous celestial bodies, dimensional traps, and... the warning or defense mechanisms that may exist at those coordinate points themselves, originating from extraterrestrial evil gods.
An invisible pressure descended silently, as if the weight of the starry sea itself had already pressed down on his shoulders.
This was by no means an easy trip.
It was more like a high-stakes gamble, with his life and the future of the entire continent of Tyre behind him at stake.
Thank you.
Linde nodded slightly, expressing his gratitude.
The value of this star map is immeasurable. It is not only a guide, but also an investment by the dragons in him, or rather, in "hope".
"No need for thanks, child of extraordinary talent."
Amaserak's voice regained its serene grandeur, but upon closer listening, a subtle hint of weariness could still be detected.
"The pursuit of truth is also in the nature of dragons. But remember, the vastness of the starry sea far exceeds what we can see in Tyre. And the dangers within are not limited to those 'scavengers'. In that cold darkness, getting lost is often more terrifying than destruction."
He paused, his amber dragon eyes seeming to pierce through the sacred dome, gazing at the boundless starry sky, adorned with countless stars yet teeming with deadly intent. His tone carried a heavy weight, as if embodying the regrets of countless ancestors:
"Come find me before you set off. Although the dragon race is not as skilled in external technology as Zedu, traversing the star realm is one of the skills passed down in our ancient bloodline. I will try to add some protection to your journey."
The word "guarantee" was spoken slowly and firmly, as if it contained the accumulated wisdom and determination of the dragon race over countless years.
Linde's eyes flickered slightly.
He had heard of the dragons' ability to travel through the stars, but that usually relied on the dragons' powerful bodies and innate spatial affinity.
For him, this was not a viable path.
Amarselak's so-called "guarantee" was clearly not as simple as assigning a few dragons to accompany him.
What could it be? A secret treasure that could protect a mortal body as it traverses the sea of stars? Or some kind of blessing that burns the power of one's primordial divinity? Several speculations flashed through his mind, but he remained expressionless.
"I will."
Lind agreed. He never refused any offer that could increase his chances of winning, especially a promise from the "Rock of Eternity".
The more you prepare, the greater your chance of surviving in that unknown darkness.
Without further communication, Linde's figure blurred again, like ink merging into water, silently disappearing into the eternal halo of the Dragon Sleeping Holy Land.
After he left, the flow of energy in the holy land seemed to stagnate for a moment, as if even this ancient land was feeling heavy-hearted because of his choice.
Amarshrak's massive dragon head slowly lowered, lying prostrate on the earth once more, as if falling into slumber again.
But what shone through the slightly open slits of his eyelids was not sleepiness, but a deep, complex light mixed with worry, expectation, and a trace of indescribable compassion.
His will seemed to transcend time and space, seeing countless fragments of the future that might occur—some full of hope, others utterly desolate.
"The spindle of fate turns once more... Child of the odds, may you... bring back hope, and not... deeper despair..."
The ancient whispers slowly dissipated in the empty core area of the holy land, with only the energy dust still swirling and flowing tirelessly, yet it seemed to carry a trace of sorrow at parting and awe for the unknown.
...
Linde did not return directly to Blackrock Territory.
The moment his consciousness returned to his body, it connected with the deepest computing core of the Starfire Base.
The cold metal walls surrounding him contrasted sharply with the ancient mystery of the Dragon's Rest Sanctuary. He input the star map coordinates from the dragons, which seemed to still carry the scent of stardust, and made a preliminary comparison and deduction with the limited star data accumulated by the base over the years through observing stars, analyzing the legacy of the Zedu civilization, and listening to the energy fluctuations of the abyss.
On the screen, the light representing the continent of Til was as small as dust, while the coordinates of the targets were like an unreachable shore. In the middle was a chilling, almost empty darkness, with only the occasional marked known dangerous star regions or energy turbulence zones, like reefs lurking in a sea of death.
The outcome is not optimistic.
As he expected, even the closest coordinate point was far beyond the limits that could be reached by conventional means.
A chilling sense of reality gripped him, making him realize more clearly the suicidal nature of this trip.
Relying on the [End of Annihilation] to forcibly tear through space and jump? Putting aside whether the energy consumption can support such a long distance, the accuracy of positioning and the unknown risks that may be encountered during the jump are enough to turn this operation into a crazy adventure with no return.
He even mentally simulated several scenarios of being torn apart in spatial turbulence, or getting lost in eternal nothingness at the wrong coordinates.
"It seems that Amaselak's 'protection' is of paramount importance."
Linde calmly assessed the situation, his fingertips unconsciously tapping on the cold control panel, producing a rhythmic, soft sound that was exceptionally clear in the silent room.
He forcefully suppressed the slight ripples in his heart caused by the distance and unknown dangers, and rebuilt the barrier of his mind with absolute rationality.
He temporarily suppressed the urge to conduct in-depth research immediately and turned his attention back to territorial affairs.
But when dealing with those complicated reports and instructions, the imagery of the star map and the coldness of the starry sea always lingered on the edge of his consciousness like background noise.
Several days later, he sent a brief telepathic message to Amarselak via encrypted communication:
"Ready."
These four words signify that he has arranged everything in his territory, that he has adjusted himself to his peak condition, and that he is prepared to face all unknowns and dangers.
The response came quickly, equally concise, yet carrying a resonance that seemed to come from the depths of the earth:
"Come to the edge of the holy land."
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