Chapter 2276 - 2271: The No-Return Corridor
Chapter 2276: Chapter 2271: The No-Return Corridor
So, you fulfilled a retirement wish, didn’t you? The Pontiff was quite considerate.
It’s not like the First Generation Dark Moon exerted its final effort, dying like a fox returning to its hill before a total collapse.
The Witch spent extra effort when she escaped, even managing to bring back the statue belonging to that person.
Although it was dilapidated, to be honest, it surprisingly fits quite well with the scene in front of us.
The broken body, accompanied by bright flowers, resting.
"The mark is nearly gone, but you can still try touching it."
As Fu Qian admired the scene before him, the Witch actually suggested giving it a touch.
It’s said there’s no such thing as a free lunch; while the First Generation Dark Moon’s small wish was fulfilled, it inevitably had to cooperate and exert some remaining influence.
For a moment, Fu Qian felt a pang of emotion, but he had to admit the Witch’s thoughts were very meticulous.
It was previously argued that he alone could see the Full Moon Garden through the statue likely because the latter was situated in the Bookstore World.
And although the deduction process was very practical, now having a chance for a field test, how could he easily let it slip by?
This place is no longer the corridor that connects more closely with the Bookstore World.
According to the previous statement, if he touches it again, he should, like the Witch, feel nothing.
Of course, this won’t be a very strong argument because the mark from the First Generation Dark Moon on the statue is already virtually nonexistent—it’s indeed gone.
At that moment, Fu Qian’s hand was already on the statue, pressing on the original arm that held the bow.
Yet apart from some cool roughness, there was no other sensation.
"There’s nothing, it seems our previous thoughts endured a bit of a test. Once we return, I can try to find more evidence."
Retracting his hand, Fu Qian turned to gesture at the Witch.
"Hmm... you have ten more minutes."
The latter was not surprised, proceeding to add softly.
...
"No wonder it feels a bit off; is the current state different from before?"
The Witch’s reminder was somewhat abrupt, much like the last time she escorted him.
However, Fu Qian was not shocked, just glanced around and casually confirmed.
"Yes, because of ’the Other Shore.’"
The Witch nodded.
"This time, the back-and-forth seems to have exacerbated the spreading of this concept.
"This made our earlier escape relatively easier, but because of the negative effects accumulated from passing through the barrier, you also became somewhat unique."
Pointing at Fu Qian, the next moment the Witch unabashedly picked up Fu Qian’s more wounded arm to examine it closely.
"Specifically, previously accumulated was the pull from the Nightmare Corridor, this time there’s an added tug from that world.
"Of course, the advantage is, in my judgment, you shouldn’t need to break through the corridor again this time, but can directly return using your previous method.
"As for the downside, it’s best not to overly resist, otherwise the impact on you might be greater."
During this operation, the Knight made very few moves.
Yet it is indeed the battlefield for Divine Beings’ games, not to mention entering with a broken body, now Fu Qian looks somewhat battered.
More importantly, the wounds from earlier to now, the healing speed seems to have stopped, as if frozen.
"I’ve felt it, but in this way, it seems to be the exact opposite of the ones in the Nightmare Corridor?"
The Mechanical Abandoned Prison King had already adapted, allowing the Witch to hold onto him, while contemplating the displayed implications.
...
Like the warehouse, the Nightmare Corridor is closer to the Bookstore World, and from current interaction, this is almost certain.
As for the pull from the Bookstore World, it makes sense to think about.
Just like the Witch going over there, this forceful barrier breaking behavior would naturally have some counteraction, which makes sense.
It can even be believed that the Corridor’s pull earlier was also a manifestation of this effect.
Just that this time an Other Shore attribute was added, causing a bit of distortion in the situation.
But even so, in terms of "direction," the contrast between himself and the prisoners remains too stark.
He’s being pulled back.
While the prisoners, once convicted in the Bookstore World and thrown inside to face extreme punishment, can never break out, locked within—yet can break towards this side.
There were already signs displayed in the Doll Workshop earlier.
Why?
Did he have fewer prisoner tags? Or did he acquire more outsider tags?
If it’s the former, who placed such strong tags?
If it’s the latter, though an outsider, why was he cared for so attentively?
Because of the synchronization of the Emissary’s Mask? So on going through the corridor, he was judged as a person of the Bookstore World?
It’s indeed one explanation; although in this way, the corridor’s form feels even more peculiar.
Firstly, it’s a passage; whether it’s himself, the Witch, or even the First Generation Dark Moon, they seem to all need to use it to travel between the two worlds.
Then the passage’s model is also very odd, like a one-way valve effective for both sides.
Indigenous people from both worlds can indeed shuttle through it to the other side but would face significant counter-current forces, much like his current situation.
Even the prisoners seemingly violated this rule, but in reality, they retained a core element—one-way.
In comparison, more extreme, they can only move to the other side; trying to turn back isn’t just resistance there, but directly met with a wall.
Did the one who created or discovered the corridor appreciate this characteristic, thus using it as a prison?
To be honest, it’s not just a jail; it almost feels like an exile.
"Yes, it’s indeed a peculiar characteristic, and quite sturdy. I can confirm your last attack didn’t impact its stability."
Fully understanding Fu Qian’s feelings, while speaking, the Witch’s gaze landed on the statue, seemingly imagining the entanglement of "Mother" and that place.
"Although currently I cannot touch it myself, later I will monitor the statue’s state to see if anything peculiar happens."
Indeed, very prudent.
Fu Qian undoubtedly appreciates the idea of monitoring.
After the Nightmare Corridor’s lurking was discovered, even if the last trace of the First Generation Dark Moon didn’t completely collapse, its outcome wouldn’t be much better.
Under this circumstance, the Witch brought back the fragments, on the one hand fulfilling human responsibility.
But on the other hand, never assume, arrangements like those from the First Generation Dark Moon must have deep meaning, possibly even malice, and must not be wholly unprepared.
And under this circumstance, rather than leaving it in the corridor to let certain threats remain unknown, bringing it out to keep an eye on it is, conversely, a more rational choice.
"Now let’s talk about your issue."
However, before Fu Qian could really praise openly, the Witch proceeded to unfold the scroll in her hand.
"Put your hand here."