This was, in fact, a trap.
Some Magic Rune Mages who thought they had attained the threshold might step forward only to find the situation didn’t match their expectations; the computation power suddenly increased, rendering passage impossible, inevitably leaving behind... a last word, or perhaps not even a last word.
Angel’s computation power was competent, but to guard against unforeseen challenges, if anything strange further increased the computation load, errors might arise. So without hesitation, Angel activated super computation mode.
In super computation mode, Angel’s emotion module significantly subdued, all energy supplies solely served the super computation mode.
At this moment, in Angel’s vision, there was no demarcation of any energy, only a series of data floating before him.
These data were rapidly sorting and combining, clearly projecting the path ahead.
The second and third steps, up to the fifteenth step, are all inverted steps on the ceiling. However, by the sixteenth step, the landing point returns to the ground, but the inverted power hasn’t ended yet. To step on the sixteenth step, one must break through the inverted force of the corridor.
This is a test of the energy level of intruders.
Angel doesn’t know what energy level a normal step requires, but he took a shortcut. With Toby activating the Gravity Meridian, he broke through the inverted force and returned to the ground.
Once back on flat ground, the need for computing power seems to gradually diminish.
But this is only a balance, as something more terrifying arrives.
From the sixteenth to the twenty-first step, Angel finds the landing points ahead begin to change rapidly.
On the first twenty-one steps, each landing point lasts for at least half a minute, but the ones ahead don’t even last a second, some disappearing faster than a blink.
Angel thought about this for a moment and then decisively abandoned normal progression.
This path might be passable with computing power and reaction speed, but Angel estimates it wouldn’t be possible for him. Even Sanders might find it difficult to use this method.
Normal progression has reached its limit, but that doesn’t mean there’s no other way.
Upon arriving here, as someone very sensitive to Magic Pattern transmutation, Angel immediately noticed one thing: the sense of spatial constraint here disappears for a few seconds at a time.
In other words, as long as you find the right timing, you can transfer using spatial abilities.
This seems like a solution, but it actually eliminates ninety percent of Wizards, as it requires two prerequisites: you must have the ability of spatial transfer, and this ability must work instantaneously.
Angel happens to have such an ability—The Gate of Void.
A few seconds later, when Angel emerges from The Gate of Void, he has already left the blood-red corridor.
Upon seeing the door not far ahead, Angel feels slightly relieved. Here, computing power is mostly unnecessary. Based on his previous experiences at other sub-control nodes, the test now should be about observation.
From the first to the third floors’ sub-control nodes, there’s always a trigger point near each door that activates the hidden hunt sequence.
By common reasoning, there might be a trigger point here too.
However, if the hunt sequence numbers within the sub-control nodes from the first to the fifth floor, then what might be inside the main control node?
Hunt sequence number 00?
Or perhaps not the hunt sequence, but the legendary number 00?
Regardless of the crisis within, prepare to respond and deal with things as they come once inside.
Angel gathers his thoughts and starts to observe if there are any trigger points near the door. After his meticulous inspection, he confirms there aren’t any trigger points here.
Without any trigger points, Angel isn’t too surprised.
If someone can find the main control node and successfully pass through the blood-red corridor, being obstructed by a trigger point like those in sub-control nodes would underestimate the intruder’s ability.
If Angel were the setter of the Magical Energy Array, he probably wouldn’t place a trigger point here.
Since there is no trigger point, Angel simply pushes open the door.
A creaking sound.
The door slowly retreats to either side.
Inside, there is a roiling frost fog temporarily obscuring specific views.
As the white frost fog gradually disperses outward, the visibility inside begins to increase, and as the view becomes clearer, a human-like silhouette appears in Angel’s eyes.
Is there someone inside? Is it a hunt sequence?
While Angel cautiously guesses, the frost fog continues to dissipate until it vanishes.
And now, Angel sees the truth of the figure.
It’s not what he imagined—a hunt sequence—but rather a person within a cylindrical glass chamber.
This cylinder is identical to the ones at the medical center on the third floor—same design, same cold liquid, same kind of person. However, the medical center’s cylinders mostly contain dead people. Whether this person is dead or alive, Angel does not know.
The person inside the cylinder has long black bangs obscuring his face. Through the strands, traces of numbering can be vaguely seen.
Behind the cylinder lies a cloud of Magic Patterns, dazzling to the extreme.
There’s no doubt that this is the core main control area of this Magical Energy Array.
...
Angel steps inside, with his footsteps echoing in the vast, empty space and Dangross’s timid low voice.
"That person seems a bit scary, and it’s cold here. Why don’t we stay outside...? You can see the Magic Patterns from there as well."
The trembling voice doesn’t sound through the Mind Ribbon, but directly bounces around the ears. Since Angel left the sub-control node, he can no longer suppress information transmission; the Mind Ribbon is temporarily ineffective.
As Dangross finishes speaking, before Angel can respond, a gurgling sound comes from the direction of the glass cylinder.
It stealthily glances over and discovers that the person inside the cylinder seems to respond to external sounds and has moved slightly.
Regardless of whether it’s Dangross’s voice or not that influenced the "person" soaking in the cold liquid, what can be confirmed now is... this person is not a corpse.
Angel stops and carefully observes the person in the cylinder.
He’s a man with a bare upper body, revealing a lean physique. Below his waist, he wears gray long pants, which appear a bit flowing in the cold liquid.
As for his face, it’s obscured by hair and temporarily unclear.
However, following the initial "motion," his movement escalates, clearly awakened from slumber.
When he opens his eyes, the surrounding cold liquid shakes even more, causing the hair covering his face to sway in the liquid.
Angel finally sees his face.
A face that seems fairly handsome, but as his eyes open, a sense of aloofness arises.
Moreover, the numbering on his face is not the 00 Angel guessed.
The left side of his face carries an "X," while the right side is marked by a solitary digit—0.