As Ewen threw the dice, the mont they hit the board, the Dawn roared forward on the tracks, crossing the boundary between zones, reaching the coast where fierce winds raged.
The sound of turbulent waves rushed into the carriage, along with the humid sea breeze, reminding Bologue of the recent carnage at Free Port, while Palr recalled the lemon sea salt salad.
"After countless bloody battles, the Hunters overca the challenge and stepped out of the wilderness."
Bai Ou narrated both the story and the reality unfolding before them, as Aimou pulled open the side door, a bright orange-red light cast into the carriage, warm rays touching their faces, gently caressing the skin, bringing precious solace.
Aimou sighed softly, "So beautiful..."
The warm orange-red light ca from the end of the distant horizon, as if an underwater volcano had erupted, hot lava bursting from the surface, rising into a thin orange-red line, and the sky was as if burnt red, stained with large swaths of red clouds. But as the view widened, the night still covered the vast sky, with thick gloomy clouds like an unbreakable curtain shrouding the heavens and earth.
Occasionally, lightning flashed through the clouds, sprinkling a fine drizzle, while the damp and cold sea breeze hit them, making it hard not to shiver, unsure if it was from the cold or this bizarre and magnificent world seemingly heading toward destruction.
"The Dawn has temporarily escaped the pursuit of the Demons," Bai Ou continued, "The Hunters luckily found a supply point on the coast, abundant supplies and beds for rest await them."
A loud whistle sounded ahead of the train, and the Dawn began to decelerate, entering a dilapidated station, as if ghosts resided here. With the arrival of the Dawn, broken advertising signs flickered on and off, followed by a hoarse, distorted song amid the noisy electricity.
The train doors opened neatly, and faintly, many chaotic footsteps could be heard, as if countless phantoms were disembarking the train. Bologue looked toward the rear compartnts, where blurry figures passed by.
The ghostly soldiers, Bologue saw them once again. According to the ga that corresponds to reality, this train had not only these players but also these phantoms maintaining the train’s operation. Usually, they would not, but when the ga reached a stage requiring them, they would return from the void, like extras, playing their roles.
Bologue asked, "Can you see them?"
"Of course," Palr held Bologue’s shoulder to keep from falling over, "What are these guys doing, repairing the train?"
After disembarking the train, the ghostly soldiers didn’t rest but sohow pulled out repair tools, ticulously repairing the train, with constant clanging sounds and ear-piercing noise, dazzling sparks from welding.
Under the work of the ghostly soldiers, twisted steel plates were realigned, shattered parts replaced with new armor, even the large gash in the board ga carriage was restored to perfection under their repairs.
"According to the rule book, while brewing darkness and increasing the difficulty of the ga, the Dawn will also be enhanced with each passage of supply points."
A vast shadow lood over the group, and at so point, a huge crane appeared above the Dawn. The ghostly soldiers began working on the train’s head, but it was unclear what they were doing.
Multicolored lights fell on their faces, as if to attract their attention, rusty advertisents lit up one by one, followed by the warm light within the abandoned train station, through dusty windows, many silhouettes could be seen hurrying inside the train station.
"Shall we go, everyone?"
Bologue supported Palr with one hand and held the Sharp Sword with the other; even at a resting point, Bologue couldn’t let his guard down, constantly feeling that the Joyous Desire Witch wouldn’t let them off so easily.
Just think, when the weary people let down all their defenses, trying to enter the long-lost dreamland, suddenly being surprised... The Joyous Desire Witch would enjoy their expressions at that mont.
Leaving the Dawn and handing it over to the ghostly soldiers for repairs, Bologue and the others stepped into the abandoned train station. They expected chaos upon pushing open the door, but when Bologue opened the grand doors, they returned to that luxurious hall, the gentle attendants as always, waiting for them at the entrance.
If Bologue hadn’t felt the pain from the Sharp Sword in his hand, or the strange sensation from dried blood clotted on his skin, he would have thought ti had reset, and they were back at the beginning.
"Did everyone have fun?"
The attendant nodded with a smile at them, a captivating look in his eyes, full of allure.
Bologue raised his Blade, its sharp tip pointing directly at the attendant’s chest.
Everything about the Joyful Garden was so strange: the crazed, bizarre carriages, the Dawn overlapping reality and story, and these eerie attendants who seed to see through others’ desires.
In the corner of his vision, Bologue glanced at the orange-red sea, starting to doubt where exactly they were, and whether this seemingly vast world was just another carriage in the Joyful Garden.
"All emotions are just chemical reactions, and all perceptions are re illusions."
Bologue whispered to himself, a line from Night Hunter that left a strong impression on him.
The attendant glanced at them and smiled, "Huh? Looks like everyone had a great ti."
Usually, Palr would have cursed in response, but now he, like Bologue, kept absolute vigilance against the attendant, along with everyone else, with Gold reacting the most intensely.
Bologue pinned Gold’s card to his chest, like a work card with a photo. Gold faced the attendant with a grave and tense expression, saying nothing, but Bologue felt a vibration from the card.
"She’s not the Joyous Desire Witch," Gold said, "At least not yet."
Bologue understood what Gold ant. These Devils like to possess the bodies of their followers, using their flesh as vessels for action. This was particularly evident with the Tyrant, who often borrowed bartender Vika’s body.
In other words, if the Joyous Desire Witch wished, she could appear before them at any mont.
Bologue speculated she wouldn’t show up so rashly. This was her ga, and she would be the final boss. With the ga only halfway through, the main antagonist appearing now would only end things in a boring manner.
The attendant took a few steps back, looked back at them, "Please, won’t you rest?"
Bologue hesitated for a mont but then resolutely stepped forward.
The Joyous Desire Witch was having fun with them, just like the final boss wouldn’t suddenly appear, she wouldn’t let them die here, die during a ridiculous resting phase, that would be too boring.
Indeed, the Joyous Desire Witch could tolerate anything but boredom. Only intense emotional fluctuations and dramatic conflicts could please this twisted Devil.
"Let’s go, we have no other choice."
Bologue supported Palr, Ewen and Canary helped drag Hart. They couldn’t leave Hart on the train alone, but moving him with his over-muscular fra was quite the task.
They were battered, desperately needing rest and treatnt, otherwise, when the Dawn set off again, Bologue had no confidence they could survive.
The group stepped into the luxurious hall, the ball continued as always, honey wine scenting the air, but they were enveloped in a heavy scent of blood, appearing completely out of place with everything here.
The dancing n and won were utterly oblivious to their arrival, eyes only for each other. Led by the attendant, Bologue and his group passed through another large door. Before it fully closed, Bologue could hear the sound of tearing fabric beneath the strings, beasts panting and again tearing into each other.
"This place offers eternal joy," the attendant turned his head, bright red flickering in his eyes, "Everyone finds fulfillnt here."
Bologue said nothing, offering no response.
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