Versatile: Alternate World

Chapter 885 Returning to the Surface

Almira is totally happy that she found the place that was in the journal she was holding that she urged us to go as well. Though I also admit that I am a bit curious about this place. After all, this is the first time I heard of the Middle Earth as well.

But just as we are nearing the place where the futuristic stuff was happening, we are suddenly blocked by some sort of invisible wall.

"What? What... what, what, what?!" Almira started fumbling on the invisible wall and tried to look for a way to pass through but the invisible wall seems to be there to block anyone who wants to go further.

"It seems this is as far as we can go. Not with a barrier like this," Father then knocks on the invisible wall and I can see it show some movements but other than that, it's just invisible and we have no way to continue on.

"No way I will just let this happen! I needed to see the place with my own eyes!" Almira refuses to give up and pulled out her Clarent. She charges up her attack and once the blade started glowing, she swings it to the invisible wall.

BANG!

Like how hard she hit the wall, it was also that hard she was sent flying by the wall. The invisible was unscathed but Almira who should be tough enough to handle that kind of strike was out of commission already when I rush towards her and check up on her. Aside from some bruises and some broken armor parts, nothing much was off. However, she was totally knocked out, so we have no other choice but to let her rest for a bit.

Since Almira has been knocked out, I decided to see whether I can see a way for us to proceed as I was also a bit curious about this so-called Agartha as well. I tried probing the wall and feeling it a bit slowly in case there is a hidden mechanic present that we just didn't notice.

But as I keep on probing, a mechanical voice suddenly spoke.

"Intruders of Agartha, please go back where you came from. Unless you bear the seal of our Invitation, we can't let you all in."

We looked around where the voice came from as it was echoing the whole place but we didn't find where it came from. Hearing that, I can tell that we are not going to be able to move forward here, and even if we try to go further, I think it will just cause us to be unable to go further.

"We don't have any way to go in there or any reason to further proceed. We don't have the invitation the mechanical voice said as well. Furthermore, Almira is out of the commission to move. We will have to go back next time."

I went to the side and put down a teleporter point so that we can come back here anytime we wanted even if the water from the lake is flooding back in. With how dry this area is, I could guess the water does not reach this part.

"Are we really just gonna go back just like that?" Riko is disappointed as she looked back at the invisible wall.

"There's no point to keep arguing anyways to the mechanical voice. Not only that but we are like intruders to them. It's more likely we will be treated as criminals there if we even managed to get inside," Rika reasoned with Riko.

"Still..." Riko pouted.

Renatta pat Riko's shoulder and smiled. "No worries Riko-chan. Now that we have found this place, we will have to search for a way to get in there in the future. Even after many years of my life, I never even learned about that place before so knowing there is a place like that existing underground made me curious as well."

"I think we barely see anything about what the Agartha really is. Seeing how they have this... invitation-only stuff, we needed to find a way to bypass that wall in the future. But for now, let's head back. We don't have much business here anyways."

Although it's a bit disappointing that we didn't have a way to go further, I think there will be a chance to get in there in the future. Not now, though.

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We backtracked on our way and as we did, the water has already risen and reached already on our knees. Although it didn't fill up immediately, I can say the water is quickly filling up the missing water of the lake once more. Compared to before when we had to search around, we just went ahead and go straight to the exit instead and we didn't take a few minutes to go back outside.

Before we fully left, we decided to seal up the entrance for now. We don't know if that walking Piranhas are still there but if they are, we have to prevent them from going up here so, sealing it is the only way. We will just destroy the rock once we needed to go back inside once more.

Returning to the mansion, we let Almira rest. I let Gobu's wife do the rest so that her armor is removed. As for us, we will have to eat some lunch as we didn't eat just yet. After all of the things we have done before the battle against the dragon, I guess a good feast wouldn't hurt.

"Alright. With all of our tasks done, guess we will have to go and have some relaxation time. Let's go barbecue meat! A good reward for a job well done, I must say," I announced to everyone.

"Barbecue eh? Not a bad idea. Let's get all the tools ready. We do need a way to say we did a good job and this should do the trick," Father grinned.

Everyone started discussing and feeling excited as Father pulled out the equipment for the barbecue. Mother also appeared with Lina carrying a few plates of ingredients for the barbecue as well.

"Everyone, come in, come all, our barbecue celebration party begins now!"

And everyone started to gather around as I and my father manage the crowd while also putting the ingredients in the skewer, putting them on the grill, and then handing them to the customer.

It's an exhausting task but nevertheless, fun and amazing. We spent our whole afternoon and evening partying without a care in the world. After all, there will be a chance in the future when we will no longer be able to do something like this again.

By the time it's almost midnight, the lake has fully filled back like the water has been there for many years. But this time, it's pure water with no more signs of impurity and poison. In short, we have saved the whole place. Although the dead plants and animals won't come back, it doesn't need any more help from us. They will be capable of reviving themselves in the future and maybe by the time everything ends, the lake will be back, flourishing with new wildlife living freely once more.

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The Elder Treant was so thankful when he decided to come and visit us to check the progress. Seeing that the dragon that was previously there was no longer sleeping in the lake and the water flowing in the rivers and streams are pure and clean once more, the Elder Treant couldn't stop thanking us.

"I couldn't believe what I am seeing and due to that, I thank you all for all the efforts you have done so far. Even to this day, I wouldn't think the lake would return to its former beauty once again. Although it has yet to fully go back to the way it was once, it will surely come back sooner or later and these wouldn't happen if not for the effort you all have done. And with that, is my sincere appreciation to all of you."

"Well, it wasn't that hard to begin with. The dragon is almost dying already when we were fighting against it so when the time we hit the final blow, the dragon immediately died and turned to dust. He was too weak to even fight seriously too. But if that dragon was at its peak, we wouldn't be done fighting that dragon until now."

"It's good that you all are safe. Anyways, I heard that you all are looking for something right? The Tree of Life, if I remember correctly?"

"Indeed," I nodded.

Before the Elder Treant respond, he sent out a seed mimic to form his human form and talk to us.

"This form is much better to use rather than using my real body as that voice of mine is very loud. What I will be telling is gonna be something of a secret. I will tell you a hint of how to locate the Tree of Life, but for now, stop looking for it. The Tree of Life will not show up until then. However, when the time is right, those who wish to find the tree with pure intentions in mind will be guided by the light. But beware as those with malicious minds will try to find it as well, so be careful."