Chapter 89: Enter Again
The Crimson Star Tribe camp.
Enzo returned his consciousness to his body, shaking his head to dispel the discomfort.
Recalling Dilly's information, he muttered to himself, "Need luck to enter? But what if my consciousness enters again... entering with consciousness seems relatively safe..."
Enzo was not one to hesitate.
He went back to his bamboo lodge and retrieved several strands of grass stained with blood, using his life perception once more to locate the owner of the blood.
However, this time he failed.
His life perception did not detect the whereabouts of the blood's owner.
"Why is this happening?"
Enzo stared at the grass strands, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Previously, in the reeds, his life perception had succeeded, indicating his life perception was strong enough that even the High Tower Space couldn't block it. But now, the failure to detect anything only meant one thing—the owner of that blood had died, their life extinguished, making them undetectable.
Enzo then tried to sense another person.
This time, he succeeded.
His consciousness once again traversed that terrifying dark space. He saw the same dusky sky, but this time, the moon in the sky was full.
Moreover, his location had changed.
He was now near the immense High Tower, surrounded by seventy to eighty people.
Enzo also heard a familiar name.
...
Among the crowd.
There stood an elderly woman clad in tattered animal skins, leaning on a cane. Her face was weathered with wrinkles, resembling the rolling hills, and an aura of decay surrounded her.
She addressed another woman, saying, "Christina, what do we do next?"
Christina furrowed her brow slightly and replied, "I've used Farsightedness. Our chance to leave is here."
Her words sparked skepticism among many.
"There's nothing here!"
"Do you mean we should enter the High Tower?"
"We can't enter! It's sealed with terrifying monsters!"
"..."
The crowd erupted into chaotic chatter.
"Quiet!" Christina called out in exasperation.
Silence fell over the group, allowing Christina to close her eyes slightly and attempt to use Farsightedness once more.
This time, it was markedly different.
Through Farsightedness, she didn't see a vast expanse of ruins but instead a colossal ancient tree. Upon it stood a man, observing her.
"Who are you?" Christina asked.
Enzo froze momentarily, then countered, "You can see me?"
Unlike the energy infusion and consciousness descents aided by the Scepter of the Barren Mountain, Enzo found his consciousness entering this part of the High Tower Space like an intangible ghost. He couldn't communicate with anyone or affect anything within the High Tower Space, but this also meant his consciousness faced no danger.
Yet now, Christina could perceive his consciousness.
Hearing Enzo's words, Christina furrowed her brow, guessing, "Are you Enzo?"
Enzo was surprised by Christina's insight but nodded, saying, "Yes, it's me. Douglas came to the Crimson Star Tribe seeking aid, but when I arrived, everyone had disappeared. I possess a unique ability to locate you through bloodstains, but I can only enter with my consciousness."
Enzo quickly explained the situation regarding the High Tower Space.
Understanding dawned on Christina, and she asked, "Do you have any way to help us get out?"
Enzo shook his head. "I don't know how to get out. But right now, I need your cooperation."
"How do we cooperate?" Christina inquired.
"By entering that High Tower!" Enzo declared firmly.
Upon entering this time, Enzo also sensed a strong calling, much stronger than the last time, emanating from the High Tower itself.
There was undoubtedly a hidden secret within that structure.
Hearing Enzo's request, Christina made a decisive decision and immediately agreed.
Despite not knowing what lay within the High Tower, she understood that entering it was their only option at this moment. It was the safest place in the High Tower Space, and most importantly, she believed in her abilities.
Using Farsightedness, she had seen not her own demise.
Soon after, Christina opened her eyes again and looked at the gathered Roman, Fierro, and the others. She spoke up, "Next, we need to enter the High Tower!"
Enter the High Tower!
These words caused many to pale.
The elderly woman with the cane spoke up, trying to dissuade Christina, "Christina, the way out isn't in the High Tower. It's a prison for demons and monsters."
Her words garnered agreement from many in the crowd.
In the High Tower Space, many still survived—roughly estimated to be at least a thousand people—who had been drawn into its depths.
Despite the odds, being ensnared in the High Tower Space was a rare occurrence for those on Plata Plain.
Hevert, the elderly woman with the cane, had survived eight years within the High Tower Space.
During this time, she had ventured into the High Tower herself and witnessed many others doing so as well. Yet, all they had encountered were horrifying monsters that tore people to shreds, with only a few managing to escape.
Fortunately, those monsters couldn't leave the High Tower.
Now, Christina's insistence on re-entering the High Tower seemed like a death sentence.
Could not agree!
Not one to easily back down—having founded the Flame Association within the Gold Oak Tribe—Christina ignored Hevert's warnings. Instead, she turned to Fierro, Roman, and the others, commanding, "We're going into the High Tower!"
Fierro, Roman, and the others did not try to dissuade Christina.
She was their leader after all.
Seeing Christina's determination, the elderly woman Hevert sighed in resignation, muttering, "They don't know any better. Let them go to their deaths!"
As Christina and her group approached the High Tower, Enzo followed closely behind.
While he could freely move his consciousness within the High Tower Space, the High Tower itself was exceptionally unique, preventing his entry.
However, with Christina leading the way, he now had a path.
The High Tower wasn't far from where they started, and soon Christina's group arrived beneath its colossal structure.
Up close, they realized the enormity of the tower; even the door to the first level was dozens of meters tall. It loomed like a gigantic spike thrust into the sky.
"How do we get in, boss?"
Roman spoke up at that moment.
Opening such a massive door was no simple task.
Christina didn't answer but approached the large door on the first level of the High Tower. Since Hevert and others had entered before, the door wasn't an obstacle.
Click... click...
As Christina expected, as she neared the door, it creaked open on its own accord.
The sound of various roars and growls emanated from within the High Tower as its door swung open.
Taking a deep breath, Christina turned to the others and said, "I'll go in first to assess the situation."
Roman and Fierro, filled with concern, insisted, "Let's go in together. The High Tower is dangerous inside. We can't let you go in alone."
While the group debated, Enzo's consciousness took the initiative and entered first.
In the next moment, the entire High Tower suddenly lit up.
Starting from the first level, light spread and ascended to the topmost levels disappearing into the night sky.
The abrupt change caught Enzo off guard, and it surprised Hevert greatly. She hurried over and asked Christina's group, "What have you done?"
Christina shook her head and pointed inside the High Tower, saying, "We'll find out once we're inside."
At the moment when the High Tower lit up, the terrifying howls ceased, and through its gates, Christina could see clearly into the interior of the High Tower. It was a luxurious hall flanked by towering stone walls adorned with intricate patterns. Upon closer inspection, these patterns depicted potion-making, scroll inscriptions, ritual arrangements, and various aspects of supernatural knowledge.
Most shocking of all, in the center of the hall stood two figures.
One had a thick beard and only the upper half of his ethereal body was visible, exuding a powerful aura.
The other was Enzo, whom Christina had just encountered.
Inside the High Tower hall, Enzo was taken aback by the changes within the High Tower. After scanning around, his gaze settled on the ethereal figure before him, asking, "Were you the one calling me?"
The ethereal figure smiled slightly and replied, "No, it wasn't me."
He denied Enzo's assumption, reaching out and then opening his palm to reveal a seed with black stripes. Enzo instinctively exclaimed, "Soul seed!"
The ethereal figure nodded and said, "It seems you're correct. Bookstaver chose you."
Sensing Enzo's confusion, the ethereal figure explained, "You may call me High Tower Soul. I control the entire High Tower and High Tower Space. Bookstaver and I are creations from the same era, able to sense each other. However, Bookstaver is quite weak, whereas I am powerful."
Seizing the opportunity, Enzo asked, "Can you send the others out, O mighty High Tower Soul?"
High Tower Soul shook its head. "No, I cannot. "
Then High Tower Soul added, "Anyone who enters must undergo trials to leave. It is their choice and the rule of High Tower Space."
Detecting a loophole, Enzo questioned, "Are you saying they entered voluntarily?"