As soon as Nis and Kanter stepped onto the fourth underground layer, they clearly perceived a difference in the atmosphere.
The first three layers felt extremely cold and quiet. While walking through them, they didn’t sense any lifelessness, but neither did they feel the presence of any living beings, as if traversing a forgotten wasteland. However, the fourth layer was different; even though they hadn’t yet laid eyes on a single person, the brighter lights, the different scents in the air, and the occasional distant rustle all indicated that there were people here, and quite a number of them.
Led by Reynaud, they had walked forward for a short distance when they saw signs of living beings.
At the end of the narrow corridor ahead, around the corner, some flickering human shadows appeared.
Nis squinted and looked at Kanter: "Should we go straight ahead, or proceed covertly?"
Kanter: "Until Angel finds the master control node, proceeding covertly is naturally best. But, how do you plan to stay hidden?"
Nis grinned wickedly and pointed to the silent, motionless bone-armored Knight beside him, implying something unspoken.
A way to hide? Naturally, it would be physical concealment. Just knock out the two ahead, and they could proceed silently and unnoticed.
Understanding Nis’s method, Kanter felt a slight twitch at the corner of his eye. As expected, given Nis’s usual approach, he was bound to choose this explicitly "hardcore," implicitly "reckless" method.
Kanter sighed silently, stretched out his hand, and a patch of darkness like night gathered at his fingertips.
Soon, this patch of night-blackness covered Kanter and extended rapidly, concealing Nis, Reynaud, and the large bone-armored Knight.
When the darkness enveloped them, standing under the lights, the four of them looked like human-shaped silhouettes covered in shadowy mosaic, appearing more conspicuous than before.
Nis looked at Kanter, attempting to convey via his gaze: It’s not nighttime now; making yourself obscure in darkness is less effective than a direct strike.
However, they were all shrouded in darkness now, and conveying information through just eye contact was difficult.
Yet, Kanter, daring to use this power, naturally had his reasons. Even without Nis asking, he would explain: "Don’t stand in the middle of the corridor; there’s light above. Walk close to the walls."
The corridor’s light source was directly overhead. Walking in the middle, they were like black silhouettes with no concealment effect.
But for Nis and Reynaud, walking closer to the walls didn’t seem particularly useful either. The corridor itself wasn’t wide, and the light source was enough to cover the edges.
Walking along the edges would at best dim the lighting, but they, as patches of shadow, would still be noticed.
While the group was puzzled, Kanter took the lead in stepping to the wall.
Then, a magical scene unfolded. Once Kanter reached the edge near the wall, he blended seamlessly into the environment, leaving no trace of his presence.
"What’s happening?" Reynaud asked blankly. As a soul entity, his eyes naturally had a threefold view: physical sight, energy vision, and soul sight, yet even then, he couldn’t perceive Kanter’s presence.
"A small trick. Even a hint of shadow can amplify the effect of concealment," Kanter explained.
Although corridor edges were covered by light due to angle, there was always a slightly visible layer of shadow at the base. Normally, these shadows didn’t impact visibility, but Kanter’s trick used this inconspicuous shadow to hide his form.
Following Kanter’s example, the others also moved to the wall.
Nis experienced the strange sensation of shadow concealment, with a hint of amazement in his eyes: "Is this a shadow ability?"
Kanter didn’t directly answer, but calmly said: "A gift from the night."
With the shadow concealment, their actions became much simpler. Even when spotting figures ahead, they proceeded without hesitation.
"Number 61 and 62." Upon reaching the corner, they first saw the backs of several figures who had just walked away, as well as two people standing nearby, wearing silver-white uniforms with mechanical touches, their faces numbered 61 and 62.
"They’re researchers. As for what they specifically study, I don’t know. I’ve never interacted with them in everyday life," Reynaud said through the Mind Ribbon.
"Researchers? Let’s hear what they have to say," Nis didn’t hastily leave; they had shadow concealment anyway, and with their abilities, they could suppress any outward vibrations.
Numbers 61 and 62 didn’t linger in place, but continued talking as they walked forward. However, they were unaware of the four hidden figures within the shadows beside them.
Number 62: "Although Number 47 said everything is under control, and there’s absolutely no way it could come to the fourth layer, I still feel uneasy."
Number 61: "Rest assured, the fourth layer has fully activated the Authority Eyes; it can’t enter. Even if it did, that’s fine. Unlike the first three layers, the control panel for the fourth layer is entirely mastered. As long as it dares venture here, we might not kill it quickly, but we can trap it, and slowly wear it down with a Magical Energy Array. When higher sequences return, it’ll be easy..."
They continued talking while turning into a room.
Nis and the others didn’t follow; it wasn’t reluctance, but rather the magical patterns in the room that shimmered with light. Numbers 61 and 62 might have direct access, but upon entering, they could be detected by the patterns.
Looking at the flashing pattern lights in the room, Nis sighed lightly: "The fourth layer may not be as easy as the previous ones."
After a pause, Nis glanced at Reynaud: "Do you know what’s up with these magical patterns?"
Reynaud was also staring at the activated patterns, pondering for a while before responding: "This is the phenomenon of a fully activated Magical Energy Array. The last time this happened was when a combat personnel defected. In an activated Magical Energy Array, without the required permissions, there’s virtually no escape."
Nis frowned: "So any area where patterns are activated is off-limits?"
Reynaud: "You need permission to enter; otherwise, the Magical Energy Array will lock onto you."
The Magical Energy Array identifies through energy, so anyone with energy entering is immediately detected, even a True Knowledge Wizard couldn’t escape. Unless someone possesses certain Special Laws or is a Space Wizard proficient in magical patterns, they might sneak into activated areas quietly.
But there are few Space Wizards, even fewer proficient in patterns. Moreover, the Magical Energy Array here was set up by Enchantment Adepts from the Origin World; to find a flaw in this array, one’s proficiency in patterns must at least match the creator’s level, making it difficult to find such individuals in the Southern Domain.
Nis: "Do you have permission?"
Reynaud shook his head: "Emergency permissions are temporarily issued; I don’t have any."
As soon as Reynaud finished speaking, he sensed a faint battle intent rising from Nis. He could roughly guess Nis’s thoughts, hence he added: "Permissions can’t be seized. Even if you capture and control someone with permissions, it’s challenging to utilize them. Permissions are engraved in soul markings."
"Furthermore, emergency permissions are unique to each individual."
In other words, even if you control someone with permissions to go into the Magical Energy Array, only they can use it themselves, unlike before when Reynaud’s permission allowed everyone to enter the Exhibition Room.
After Reynaud finished speaking, Nis immediately felt uneasy.
Given the current situation, doesn’t this imply that the majority of the rooms are inaccessible? What about the Exhibition Room, his exhibits would be gone then?
More importantly, the data he wants won’t be placed in the hallway; it must be in some room.