Chapter 1236 - 540: The Girl Sets Out on Her Journey

Like this monotonous and empty port, the spindle-shaped white hull of the Moon Shadow Submarine also has no decorations or emblems. Only its smooth surface reflects a slight brilliance that changes with the angle, as if coated with some special optical layer. At first glance, it seems like a giant shuttle cast from pure white metal, quietly floating on the water's surface.

Past Heroes probably wouldn't recognize what this is, but the present her is naturally aware that this is the submarine used by the Moon People to travel between the sky and the earth.

Nevertheless, the scene in front of her still left the girl somewhat surprised.

It's clearly a port that required enormous resources, even needing the power of the Divine Domain to establish, and it serves as an outpost for Moon People's exploration of the earth, yet there isn't any non-essential object here.

Everything within sight is pure white, even a child's doodles would be more colorful than this place.

For the Kingdom people who love celebrations and entertainment, this is almost unimaginable.

If the King ordered the construction of a ship capable of long-distance polar navigation, then on the day the ship is completed, the entire Capital would probably be engulfed in a festival-like celebration.

The departing port would surely be decorated with lights, and filled with flags and decorations along the way. Even if those emblems on the hull serve no practical purpose, people would happily carve exquisite patterns and leave emblems symbolizing the Royal Family.

However, the Hero isn't entirely unable to understand how this difference came to be.

While the Moon People possess advanced civilization and glorious history, in terms of entertainment culture, they are barren to the point of desolation.

Considering the origin of the Moon People, and the moon surface's harsh environment nearly uninhabitable, this is not surprising.

Later, even though they managed to separate the Twin Moons, escaping survival difficulties and beginning their journey to explore the earth, they soon fell into the Great Demon's stomach.

The emotions of the Moon People, being devoured little by little, naturally couldn't provide the drive to develop a vibrant culture.

If anything, anything that could stimulate joy or sorrow is akin to poison for them.

Therefore, that this port, condensed with the Moon People's cutting-edge technology, was built into such a monotonous form, is only to be expected.

"But why is the submarine here?"

The girl put one hand on her waist and scanned her surroundings, somewhat confused.

She had once obtained intelligence on the submarine's location from the Black Gate, which was likely found only after the Black Gate mobilized a large number of apprentices to locate another port.

But that sea area is far from the Reverse Flow Sea.

"I guess these places are interconnected," her other self lazily speculated. "Otherwise, how could a small boat like this survey the Kingdom and even the continent?"

"Makes sense, you have a point," the Hero thought for a while and nodded in agreement.

After all, even if they have shed the stain of defilement, the Moon People's numbers are by no means large, and the number that can be sent to the ground is even fewer.

So, they likely set up multiple ports in different unknown regions, and these ports could also connect with each other, expanding the range of navigation and exploration.

The girl didn't find anything resembling a Transmission Array nearby, so the movement between ports is likely accomplished through the submarine in front of her.

Although the Moon People's space technology far surpasses that of the current Kingdom, it doesn't mean they can come and go freely on the ground.

The Moon People's materials and energy are definitely not infinite. Establishing a stronghold first and then gradually exploring the surrounding area using the stronghold as a center is undoubtedly a more prudent and wise strategy.

But even with so much preparation, this submarine seems to have not been spared from the assaults of Magic Creatures.

Although it now appears free of significant external damage, upon careful inspection, the Hero could still see some shallow bite marks and claw marks on the metal coating, as well as traces left by various kinds of magic erosion.

These marks were likely much deeper than they are now, initially.

The past Moon People probably had to abandon it here because the ship was too heavily damaged to continue its voyage.

However, the ship and the port seem to have some sort of self-repair function, and the damage from long ago has nearly completely disappeared after years of repair.

That means...

She could board this restored vessel and directly head to the Moon.

The past Hero didn't know the true purpose of this vessel, and the current Hero was merely experiencing the unfolding of possibilities and would not resist this.

Thus, she naturally stepped forward, her bare feet stepping on the floor devoid of temperature, and after a few steps, she landed in the colorless water surface.

Following a whole day at the hot springs, the restored Magic Power gathered beneath her smooth soles, lifting the girl's slender body.

Gentle ripples formed on the water's surface, reflecting thin and straight lines. The Hero continued to stride across the water, soon arriving in front of the submarine.

...How does one get inside?

There was no visible entry point on the submarine, not even a porthole.

The girl walked in a circle around the submarine but found nothing resembling a switch or door lock.

She tentatively reached out her hand, starting with a single finger, then pressed her entire palm against the hull.

No matter how she touched, tapped, or probed, the submarine remained unresponsive.

It wasn't until the Hero finally resolved to release her Magic Power and attempt contact with the hull that the submarine finally reacted.

Frosted moonlight radiated from the point where her Magic Power made contact, rippling along the hull.

Immediately, in the area covered by moonlight, the originally solid hull gradually became ethereal, allowing the Hero's palm to pass through.

She widened her eyes in surprise, decisively lifting her foot, and her entire body permeated into that illusory hull.

"I'm inside!"

This was a gratifying success of an attempt.

However, upon seeing the surroundings, the girl couldn't help but smile wryly with a hint of helplessness.

Is this to be expected?

The surroundings remained a monotonous void.

It seemed she had entered the Moon People's quarters within the submarine.

But as she had seen in the memories of her ancestors, even in places where they lived for long periods, the rooms of the Moon People maintained that irksome monotony.

The living room in front of her obviously expanded through space magic, appearing much larger than the outer dimensions of the submarine, but that's all there was to it.

Although there are some traces of life, apart from that, almost everything is visible at a glance.

Looking over, one can see there isn't much exploration value here.

'However, it's still too early to draw conclusions.'

Although the Moon People are indeed an emotionally distant species, when piloting a submarine to explore the land, they shouldn't have lost even the basic curiosity.

Considering that this ship had been damaged and docked here for repair for quite a while, it's possible that the Moon People orderly evacuated after moving everything out of the submarine. Just like the military camps she explored long ago.

That's why it feels so empty here.

'Then, the only place left with exploration value is the captain's cabin.'

The girl looked around but still didn't see any other gates or switches. So she approached the wall and released her Magic Power as before.

But this time, even with more Magic Power, aside from the Moonlight responding and becoming brighter, there was still no change around her.

She could pass through the walls, but after entering, she would just find herself back outside the submarine. No matter how many times she tried, she couldn't enter any place other than the living quarters.

The girl frowned in frustration.

'... It's probably because I haven't awakened.' The Hero thought helplessly.

Although she had half Moon People's bloodline, before accepting her grandfather's legacy and her mother's teachings, neither her body nor her Magic Power showed any evident Moon People traits. Her brother was the same.

According to her mother, they, the Moon People who came to the earth for the prophecy, had all been modulated at the Moon Capital before setting out. Even if they had offspring, the expression of Moon People's traits would be suppressed to the maximum extent.

It makes sense; without such settings, she might not have the healthy body she has now.

Perhaps just after being born, she would have perished early in the filthy environment like those legendary Sea Moon Demons.

And as a Half-Moon Person, the submarine allowed her to enter the living quarters but didn't grant her access to freely move to other areas.

However, even knowing the reason she couldn't activate the submarine, the girl at present had no way to solve it.

After all, the Moon People's lineage is not something that can awaken by just wishing for it.

So, is this round of simulation over?

Although she could already say she gained a lot, the Hero looked around, her expression still somewhat perplexed.

Then, another version of her low laughter sounded.

'Oh my, why so distant.

'Even though you don't have the power of the Moon People now, you still have me.'

'... What do you want to do?' The Hero sighed.

'It's simple; this ship is a creation of the White Moon, and they probably avoid filth at all costs.'

The Depraved Hero snapped her fingers.

'Then, as long as we release a sufficient amount of Depraved Flame outside it...'

Saying this, the girl who had entered and exited the submarine several times yet found nothing suddenly had her eyes turn blank.

The corner of her mouth slightly curved on her expressionless face, and a finger flicked inconspicuously, sending a spark of black fire silently flying to the corner of the port.

Subsequently, the girl, without the slightest hesitation, turned and entered the living quarters of the submarine again.

She sat on a chair, quietly waiting.

Finally, after a long while, a blinding red light suddenly lit up inside the submarine, and the alarm went off abruptly.

The girl's vacant gaze suddenly refocused. She stood up abruptly, panic-stricken, looking around frantically, as if she didn't know when she returned here, let alone what this sudden alarm meant.

But while she was plunged into chaos, the submarine, which had been dormant for unknown years, had completely awakened due to the external crisis.

At this moment, the port was already engulfed in a sea of fire.

The depraved black flames transformed everything pure it touched into filth and spread continuously as they burned hotter and brighter.

Despite being the pinnacle of Moon People creation, without Moon People control, the submarine itself struggled to combat the encroachment of these filthy flames.

Hence, the answer given by its Magic Guide intelligence was only one—

[Grey Moon corruption detected. To avoid Grey Moon corruption, the submarine will return at full speed!]

[Space Turbulence (58+ crash, Grey Moon corruption +20)]

D80+20= (71) =91

[Crash site (the higher, the closer to city center)]

D100=74

[Hero's next actions—]

1.5. Caught by Moon Capital Mechanized Soldier

2.6. Protected by Moon Priest

3.7. Made friends

4.8. Grey-White Battle

9. United Heart: Envious Fire of Ashes

10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure

D10=4

♛: Grey-White Battle