Dungeon King: A Lady Knight Offered by My Goblins

Chapter 278 Chapter276-The Chaos of Time

"Time is in disarray..." Ba Jogos uttered gravely, his voice heavy with concern, repeating the phrase over and over.

Ethan and Lana Mokos exchanged a knowing glance.

Their minds drifted back to their expedition at the Hot Spring Ruins within the snow-capped mountains.

During that journey, they had both ventured into a city named Maya City.

However, subsequent investigations revealed a startling fact: the temporal realm of Maya City did not align with their present but belonged to a distant past.

"Could it be that our encounter there has triggered this anomaly?" Ethan pondered silently.

However, Ba Jogos, consumed by his thoughts, seemed in no mood for conversation.

Noticing Ethan and Lana Mokos still standing before him, he tersely said, "I have urgent matters to attend to now. You should leave."

Without waiting for a response, he turned away, dismissing them both.

Reluctantly, Ethan and Lana Mokos began their journey back.

Along the way, they encountered the group of children they had seen earlier.

From the group, a boy named Link approached Ethan and inquired, "What did Grandpa Ba discuss with you?"

Realizing the directness of his question might come off as impolite, Link took a moment to recalibrate, then added, "Whenever I brought food to Grandpa Ba in recent times, I always noticed him deep in thought, wearing a concerned expression. I just want to know what's bothering him so I can help."

"You might not be able to assist with this matter," Ethan replied, not out of condescension, but genuine concern.

The chaos in time they were discussing was no ordinary issue.

The turbulence of the past wasn't just a superficial disturbance.

The cause was surely the intervention of a powerful deity.

Ordinary deities weren't even privileged enough to access knowledge concerning time.

But what could be the purpose behind such meddling?

Mysteries continued to unravel, muddling Ethan's thoughts and clouding his judgment.

Overhearing Ethan's comments, Link bristled with defiance, his youthful pride stung.

"So, I can't help, but you think you can?" he retorted sarcastically. "At my current strength, I could take you down with one hand."

Ethan found himself at a loss for words.

Though Link's boastful claim carried the naivety of youth, the idea of competing in strength with a child seemed almost demeaning, especially with Lana Mokos nearby, her interest visibly piqued by the exchange.

Feeling cornered, Ethan opted to share a snippet of information, albeit cautiously.

He steered clear of the topic of the distorted timeline, vaguely alluding instead to the potential emergence of formidable adversaries.

To Ethan's surprise, this only fueled Link's enthusiasm.

"No matter who the opponent is, I can knock them out with a single punch," Link declared, brimming with confidence.

Ethan responded with an amused smile and a nod.

The duo then made their way back to the initial dwelling they had visited, the exterior of which was now overshadowed by mountains of bleached bones.

"What's your take on all this?" Ethan inquired, turning to Lana Mokos for insight.

Gazing back at him, she responded, "My perspective on the matter is singular: there's an unspeakable secret at play. The distortion of time implies that the annals of history are becoming unreachable. This suggests that something of great significance transpired in the past, an event that someone wishes to keep concealed. To achieve this, they've employed some arcane method to scatter the threads of time."

"In doing so," she continued, "even if someone sought to investigate, they'd be unable to trace any vestiges of the truth."

Ethan nodded in agreement. Lana Mokos's analysis resonated with a logic that was hard to refute.

Suddenly, Ethan rose to his feet, exclaiming, "The peculiar monsters of Maya City's Frontline Battlefield!"

Witnessing Ethan's reaction, Lana Mokos covered her mouth with a light chuckle before gracefully settling into her seat. "It seems you aren't as oblivious as I presumed. However, what surprises me is that after entering the Frontline Battlefield of Maya City, you didn't pursue the matter further. Had you delved deeper into the mysteries of those monsters, you would've stumbled upon something quite extraordinary."

"What might that be?" Ethan asked, his curiosity evident.

Lana Mokos locked her gaze onto Ethan, offering no words, just a mischievous smile accompanied by a playful wink. "We are adversaries, after all. Do you genuinely believe I'd freely hand over such critical information?"

It was in that very Frontline Battlefield of Maya City that Lana Mokos had discerned the anomalies of the monsters.

This led her to conduct a few experiments on them.

However, the outcomes were far from favorable, triggering an upheaval among the creatures.

Chaos ensued, and the time Lana Mokos could remain there was rapidly running out.

This turn of events indeed left a hint of remorse in Lana Mokos's heart.

Yet, it was nothing more than a fleeting sentiment.

She had never been one to dwell in self-reproach.

Upon her return, she promptly dispatched her troops, relying on the information gleaned from investigating the Hot Spring Ruins.

Lana Mokos was well-aware of Ethan's venture into the Hot Spring Ruins.

Moreover, from the testimonies of Dark Lord Blood and Dark Lord Rock, who had once teamed up with Ethan, she gathered even more intricate details.

This newfound knowledge only deepened her intrigue regarding Ethan.

"So, what might be your terms, Princess Lana?" Ethan inquired once more.

Lana Mokos rose, her slender legs carrying her gracefully to Ethan.

Her gaze roved over him, ultimately resting on his face, searching, perhaps, for some unsaid answer.

Subsequently, with a playful grin, she declared, "What I desire is rather straightforward."

Ethan's brows furrowed, his trust in Lana Mokos's words wavering.

"Teach me your Soul Language of Nature," she revealed her intent.

Ethan shook his head firmly, "That's impossible! Propose another term."

It seemed Lana Mokos had anticipated Ethan's refusal, her expression unchanging as she countered with a chuckle, "Then, hand over the heart of Oksd to me. In your possession, it's simply going to waste."

"Absurd!" Ethan retorted once more.

"Oh?" Lana Mokos responded, her tone dripping with feigned indifference, "Do you presume to take something without offering anything in return? The world scarcely operates on such gratuitous exchanges."

"You're demanding too much. What you seek doesn't warrant the price," Ethan countered.

"Is that so?" A teasing smile played on Lana Mokos's lips, giving Ethan an uneasy feeling.

Changing her tone, Lana Mokos continued, "Very well. I can divulge the information for free, but in return, you'll owe me a favor – one you cannot decline."

"What favor?" Ethan hesitated, sensing a deeper scheme within Lana Mokos's request.

"I'll inform you when the time comes. And as a bonus, let me share something: the secrets concealed within those monsters aren't straightforward. However, they also represent an opportunity – a chance to experience what it's like to become a deity," she mused, her laughter implying she held all the cards.

To her expectation, Ethan relented, "Fine, I accept your condition."

"But," Ethan paused momentarily, asserting, "you must assure me that this favor will not involve or harm those dear to me."

"Of course," Lana Mokos vowed with certitude.

Thereafter, she unveiled the secret concealed within the bodies of those creatures. "These monsters weren't birthed through natural reproduction. They were intentionally and uniquely modified by someone."

Ethan furrowed his brows, interjecting, "Isn't that quite evident?"

Lana Mokos shook her head in disagreement, elucidating further, "No, that's merely the surface. The crux lies in understanding how these creatures were crafted and why they possess such peculiar strengths. Haven't you noticed that some of the abilities these monsters showcase bear resemblance to the Power of Rules? Although, not as potent."

This revelation left Ethan engrossed in deep contemplation.

Abilities akin to the Power of Rules manifesting within these monsters...

What could this possibly signify?

Was someone attempting to create monsters rivaling the might of deities, much like how the Ancient Kingdom engineered Oksd?

Or was there another, more sinister agenda at play?

Breaking the pensive silence, Lana Mokos advised, "Don't dwell on it too much. This matter isn't something either of us can interfere with, at least for now." She added, "Another piece of information I'd like to impart is that these monsters harbor remnants of deity power within them. This power has fused with their very essence. Can you fathom the implications of this?"

Before Ethan could piece his thoughts together, Lana Mokos provided her own answer, "It signifies that these creatures were cultivated using the remains of deities as a foundation. Moreover, the sheer number of these monsters on that battlefield, with the majority carrying traces of deity strength, suggests an abundance of deity corpses. The reasons for such a circumstance, I presume, don't require further elaboration."

Hearing Lana Mokos's revelations, a shiver ran down Ethan's spine.

Cultivating creatures using the remains of deities as raw material—what a maddening notion!

Yet, having eliminated all other possibilities, this was the sole remaining answer.

It was the truth!

But where could so many corpses of deities come from?