nownovels Chapter 2 Nautilus
Chapter 2 Nautilus
"Liu Bei, why don't we go back?"
Ansel stared blankly at the falling spaceship.
"What?" Liu Bei didn't hear what Ansel said clearly. He was getting a map, preparing to calculate the crash location of the spaceship.
In Liu Bei's memory, the descent of a meteorite signified that a great event was about to occur.
"That's a Nautilus! A Mind Flayer! There's a Mind Flayer over there!"
Ansel answered tremblingly, his voice filled with fear.
"Mind-stealing demon? What's that?" Liu Bei put down the map in his hand, his eyes slightly confused.
In Faerûn, many races coexist, and various demons roam freely within its realm, unlike the Han Dynasty where only humans exist in isolation. Liu Bei has only been in this realm for a short time and is unfamiliar with many of the other races.
Ansel slapped his forehead, suddenly remembering that Liu Bei came from the distant Eastern continent and was unaware of the existence of Mind Flayers.
He briefly explained the relationship between the nautilus and the mind flayer, as well as the mind flayer's characteristic of feeding on the heads of humanoid creatures.
If it were just a mind flayer, Ansel wouldn't have reacted so strongly. These creatures are uncommon in the surface world, but they are not rare in the Underdark.
But what he was seeing now was not a Mind Flayer, but a Nautilus warship closely related to the Mind Flayer Empire!
"Scared?"
Liu Bei's reaction was calm, but his words revealed a subtle hint of disappointment.
"I...I..." Faced with Liu Bei's questioning, Ansel was momentarily at a loss for words, only stammering, "I didn't want to escape, it's just..."
When Liu Bei asked him a question, Ansel lowered his head.
"It is human nature to feel fear in the face of danger."
"A true man should stand between heaven and earth and act with loyalty and righteousness."
"You may go. This journey has nothing to do with you. Go ahead, and I will not stop you."
"However, I have already promised to rescue the forest from its perilous state; the road ahead is fraught with thorns, and I will bear it all alone!"
"After you return, I hope you will inform Duke Morwen of the situation here and prepare for war as soon as possible! Do not let the calamity of the Mind Destroyer reach Dagger Beach."
After saying this, Liu Bei immediately checked his belongings, determined to rush to the forest that very night, even if it meant his death.
"Liu Bei..."
Ansel stared at Liu Bei's resolute back, frozen in place for a moment.
Although he didn't quite understand what Liu Bei was saying, the time they spent together had given him a good understanding of Liu Bei.
He was so frightened by the sight of the Nautilus warships of the Mind Flayer Empire that he considered deserting. However, Liu Bei not only did not blame him, but also said that this was only human nature, and even gave him a way out.
"Snapped!"
Ansel slapped himself!
Ansel, weren't you going to become an adventurer? Why are you so scared?
What kind of image do you have running back like that, looking so pathetic? Doesn't that make you the person you despise the most?
Do I, in this state, still deserve to inherit the name of Hard Cheese?
Watching the figure disappear into the distance, Ansel no longer hesitated. He picked up his small backpack and ran to catch up with Liu Bei, but the next moment he stopped.
Liu Bei is right. Regardless of whether the two of them can resolve the crisis in the woodland, they must tell Duke Morwen about the Nautilus warship's arrival in the Prime Material Plane!
If a Mind Flayer army were to actually gather ahead, they wouldn't be able to stop it even if they risked their lives. In that case, the unsuspecting Dagger Beach would soon meet with disaster!
Even Waterdeep City could be in crisis!
Therefore, someone must go and deliver the message so that Dagger Beach and even Deepwater City can make preparations in advance!
Watching the figure gradually disappear into the darkness, Ansel took out a "Flight" scroll from his backpack. Level 3 warlocks cannot cast this spell, so they can only rely on scrolls, and he has plenty of money!
He tore open the scroll of the flight technique, and an invisible wind lifted him up. He flew away in the direction away from Liu Bei and was never seen again!
......
Liu Bei gazed at the figure flying away in the night sky, his thoughts swirling.
On this cool night, gazing at the unfamiliar starry sky, Liu Bei felt utterly lost.
The road ahead was fraught with thorns and brambles, and he had fought against countless evil spirits and thieves who tried to rob him. It was truly remarkable that Ansel, a young man from a wealthy family, had made it this far. It was only natural that he was leaving, and there was no need to be too harsh on him.
While parents are alive, one should not travel far.
It's better to go back!
In that instant, he thought of himself again. He had left home at the age of 15 and spent several years wandering around Mount Goushi without returning home. Now, he was suddenly overcome with homesickness, but it was too late to regret it.
I wonder how my mother is doing now!
Overwhelmed by the sight, Liu Bei silently wept in the wilderness. Only after his tears had dried did he compose himself, muster his spirits, and set off again.
Halfway there, Liu Bei suddenly realized that he had been so excited that he had forgotten the "Mandate of Heaven" he carried with him.
This nautilus appeared like a meteorite, much like a sign, and such signs often bring about a divine will, just like the divine will that "the one who destroyed Qin was Hu" in the past.
Perhaps we can find clues in "destiny".
A thought flashed through his mind, and a beam of light suddenly appeared before his eyes:
——Basic Information——
Name: Liu Bei
Race: Human
"The Oath of Dedication"
Paladin Level 3
——Attribute Feats——
Strength: 15
Agility: 12
Constitution: 13
Intelligence: 19
Perception: 10
"Charm: 16"
Health Points: 28
......
He glanced at the basic information briefly; nothing had changed.
After turning to the next page, some of my doubts were resolved.
The interface, named "Task Panel," originally consisted of a series of incomprehensible gibberish, like a cracked shell, with chaotic stripes forming a string of meaningless symbols.
However, Liu Bei suddenly discovered that he could recognize more characters among that string of symbols.
At first, the only thing he could clearly recognize was the string of characters "Supreme God".
However, Liu Bei asked many learned people at Dagger Beach, but none of them knew who this "Supreme True God" was.
Liu Bei's acceptance of the forest mission was not entirely to repay Duke Mo Wen; he also had his own selfish motives.
Candlekeep, south of Baldur's Gate, is the largest library in Faerûn, containing most of the knowledge of the continent. The journey between Greenwoods and Candlekeep is only 10 days.
Now, there are actually more recognizable characters in that bunch of gibberish!
It's as if an invisible hand is moving these chaotic patterns.
Among the newly added recognizable characters, the most prominent are "Nautilus" and "Mind Flayer," in addition to the names of the legendary fallen three gods of death—Bane, Baal, and Melkor.
Liu Bei believed in destiny!
He always felt that his arrival was not accidental, but a trial given to him by the heavens, and the destiny he could check in his mind at any time was the proof of that!
Emperor Gaozu slew the white snake and established the foundation of the Han Dynasty. Now, Liu Bei has been sent by Heaven to this place, Fei Lun, and he is sure to make a name for himself here!
Although the will of Heaven was previously incomprehensible, it is gradually becoming clear today, and he has gradually found his goal.
Upon closer examination, it is said that the Three Gods of Death perished during a turbulent era, and now the ancient Mind Flayer Empire's warships have appeared in the world, their location being precisely in the Green Forest region. Adding to this the mysterious and unpredictable "Supreme God," there must be a connection between these events.
Liu Bei had reason to believe that this unknown "Supreme True God" must be closely related to the Three Gods of Death.
What he had to do next was simple: follow the guidance of God and investigate whether the crisis facing the Green Forest was related to the "Supreme God"!
Having made up his mind, Liu Bei immediately spurred his horse and headed towards the verdant forest.
As the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, Liu Bei was surprised to find a large river not far ahead, with a large bridge spanning it.
He took out the map and immediately confirmed that the river in front of him was indeed the Winding River, and the bridge was the Bariskel Bridge.
Once you cross this bridge, follow the path down the mountain at the first fork in the road, and you'll reach your destination in no more than half a day.
With their destination within reach, Liu Bei was no longer in a hurry and slowed his horse down slightly, as both he and his horse were exhausted from the night's journey.
In the morning light, Liu Bei could vaguely see a wisp of gray-black smoke rising from the horizon in front of the bridge, gradually dissipating in the morning mist.
Upon seeing this, Liu Bei's drowsiness vanished instantly.
He dismounted and walked slowly forward, one hand holding the reins, the other resting on his sword, restraining himself from attacking, but he was already prepared for battle.
He had encountered too many attacks on his journey, and now that he was approaching the lush woodland, he had no choice but to be extremely cautious.
The next instant, Liu Bei saw a familiar figure appear before him.