"Roller coaster" was one of the classic attractions in amusement parks, but for some reason, in arrangements over a long period of time, this ride would always first pass through a tunnel filled with all kinds of "demons and monsters" before finally entering the proper "soaring" stage.
Ebner did not know whether Roselle, when using the Knowledge authority to endow the "urban legend rules," had deliberately designated the "roller coaster" as the most dangerous area by making use of the symbolism of this arrangement. However, according to his "backtracking," Philina's previous role had indeed "courted death" by touching this taboo, resulting in the present Philina being trapped inside that pitch-black tunnel.
"According to the normal process, the moment we entered here, we should have been forced to buy tickets and board the 'car,' then wait to enter the tunnel…" Although Edwina's abilities of "Backtracking" and "Prophecy" could not be used, her Grand Arcanist profession provided similar skills, so after a brief observation she discovered the trick.
"But the way we entered was clearly not 'normal,' so the 'rules' here developed loopholes and didn't force us onto the train," Ebner nodded, then glanced at Edwina a few times and smiled. "So, we'll have to get ourselves a 'car.'"
Because they had encountered similar situations in previous "worlds," Edwina immediately understood Ebner's meaning. She sighed helplessly, but still resigned herself to the task, removing her formal outfit and handing it to Xio for safekeeping before "transforming" into an Ice Frost Dragon.
Seeing this, Ebner and Xio "skillfully" jumped onto the dragon's back. In the next instant, the dragon flapped its wings and charged along the tracks straight toward the tunnel entrance.
Strictly speaking, Ebner was not incapable of forcibly breaking the tunnel's "rules," but doing so would not guarantee Philina's safety inside. Thus, he decided to first enter according to the "rules," find his companion, and only then "flip the table."
The speed of the Ice Frost Dragon that Edwina had transformed into was extremely fast. The moment it started moving, it surpassed the roller coaster's maximum speed, so in just one second, they followed the tracks straight into the tunnel.
The instant they entered the tunnel, the two people and one dragon realized something was wrong… Although the theme of this roller coaster was the "Underworld," this place was practically real "hell." Foul-smelling blood water was everywhere, and severed limbs were scattered all over the ground.
At that moment, several "ghosts" suddenly appeared and pounced toward the three of them.
They had green faces, sharp fangs, and horns growing from their heads, looking very much like the little demons of the underworld described in legends.
Seeing this, Xio stepped forward. The school uniform on her body immediately shattered, a set of silver armor manifested, and a flaming longsword appeared in her hand. With just two strikes, she chopped off the "ghosts'" heads.
"They can be killed…" Xio said while holding her sword on guard. She carefully examined the headless "little ghost" bodies for a few moments before speaking to Ebner and Edwina.
Edwina had already reverted to human form, but she did not retrieve her formal outfit. Instead, she condensed a suit of frost armor around herself.
"They're all flesh-and-blood beings. It's not hard to understand that they can be killed… In fact, the biggest problem in the Ghost Empire is that our original powers cannot be used, while the 'power' gained through 'leveling' is granted by the authority of Order.
"Once 'Order' stipulates that our 'skills' are ineffective against the 'monsters' here—or only effective under special conditions—that becomes extremely dangerous… What Philina encountered earlier was very likely this kind of situation." As she spoke, Edwina continued probing their surroundings and analyzing the situation.
However, she was not too worried, since Ebner was clearly unaffected by the "rules."
"So this is the might of the Hand of Order!" Ebner exclaimed. At the same time, he did not idle, continuously using his Insight ability to locate Philina. Very quickly, he obtained a result.
"Over here!" Ebner pointed toward the entrance of a "passageway."
At the top of the passage hung a sign covered in bloodstains, on which the word "Restroom" could still faintly be made out.
...
Inside the restroom within the cave, Philina felt that her luck was simply terrible. Right at the start, because her "role" had courted death, she had entered this terrifying place and was now being chased by a monster against which all attacks were ineffective.
If not for the fact that she was a level-19 Arcane Scholar who had mastered many spells, and had, in a moment of crisis, used the restroom mirrors to construct a maze and temporarily play "hide-and-seek" with the monster, she would have been torn apart long ago.
But this clearly would not last long. She could feel the monster drawing closer and closer, possibly breaking through the "maze" and finding her location at any moment.
Suddenly, the mirror that served as the maze's medium shattered. Philina's face turned pale as she immediately cast Invisibility, hiding behind the rubble in a corner, hoping that the monster would not discover her.
But to her despair, the heavy footsteps grew closer and closer, soon arriving right in front of the rubble where she was hiding.
Just as Philina fell into despair and prepared to fight to the death, she suddenly heard Ebner's voice:
"Madam Philina, come out… it's me."
Hearing this, Philina let out a long sigh of relief, but she still did not dare to completely trust him. Thus, while preparing various defensive spells, she cautiously stepped out from her hiding place.
Then, she was horrified to discover that the terrifying monster which had filled her with dread was now being held by Ebner by the back of its neck, dangling in his hand like a harmless house cat.
Although the size was wrong, the appearance was wrong, and the aura was not quite right, Philina still recognized that the cat in Ebner's hand was precisely the "monster" that had been chasing her.
"I remember that before the amusement park was demolished, it was called 'Black Cat Amusement Park'… So this cat is the monster generated within this 'inner world'?" Xio asked curiously as she looked at the black cat hanging obediently.
"That's right. This 'inner world' is the black cat's 'amusement park,' and the people who accidentally enter are all its 'toys'… Cats have a habit of playing with their prey…
"The 'laughter' we heard before entering was both its 'pleasure' and the wailing of 'humans,'" Ebner sighed.
It could only be said that the amusement park's name had truly been ill-omened.
And after studying an "inner world monster" at close range, Ebner had also gained a rough understanding of its "origin"…
"However, I still need to find what Roselle left behind in order to finally confirm it…" As he pondered inwardly, Ebner looked at the still-shocked Philina and smiled as he asked, "You're not injured, are you?"
"No…" Philina shook her head, then bowed and said, "Thank you for saving me once again."
"It's nothing. I believe I said before that after leaving here, I'll need your help with some matters. Protecting you now can be considered an 'equivalent exchange,'" Ebner said meaningfully.
"As long as it's something I can do, I will definitely help," Madam Philina replied earnestly.
After a brief exchange of courtesies, Xio looked at the cat again and asked, "How should we deal with it? Kill it?"
"Killing it is meaningless. As long as this 'inner world' exists, it will regenerate…" Ebner shook his head. "So the best method is to 'seal' it."
"How do we do that?" A trace of curiosity flashed through Edwina's pale blue eyes.
"Didn't that 'urban legend rulebook' already say it?" Ebner asked with a smile.
"'Urban legend rules'?" Edwina frowned, then suddenly realized. "The base station's main control room, the staff member wearing black work clothes?!"
"That's right! Its manifestation in reality is that so-called 'staff member' in black work clothes… And only it, the master of this 'inner world,' can shelter those who accidentally enter when the inner and outer worlds intersect.
"And due to the restrictions of the 'rules,' as long as the lost person sees it in the control room, it cannot harm them.
"Of course, this thing isn't a rule-abiding cat. Occasionally, it can create a fake main control room to confuse people, but it still cannot bypass the 'rules.' So as long as the lost person exits and re-enters when they don't see it, that's enough.
"As for how to 'seal' it, it's very simple—bring this 'true body' directly into the 'outer world' and place it in the 'main control room,' letting it stay together with its manifestation.
"Because that place is a safe room under the 'rules,' it cannot harm anyone there. And that place is also the only location in this base station that will not intersect with the 'inner amusement park,' so it can no longer return to the 'inner world' to harm people… unless the entanglement between the inner and outer worlds deepens further…"
As Ebner spoke, he led the three companions out of the tunnel along the tracks, but did not head toward the "crack" he had torn open earlier.
"Aren't we returning to the outer world?" Xio asked in surprise.
Ebner casually erased the crack, then shook the black cat in his hand and replied with a smile:
"Since we're bringing it along, we have to leave through a proper 'loophole'… Otherwise, it would escape the constraints of the 'rules.'"
"A proper 'loophole'… the 'carousel'?" Xio recalled the contents of the "urban legend rules" and said thoughtfully.
"Yes… The 'carousel' is a concept of the Error pathway. The power Roselle bestowed upon the 'rules' should have borrowed this symbolism, which is why the 'carousel' is the only legitimate exit in the proper process of this 'inner world.'"
At this point, something suddenly stirred in Ebner's heart. He then activated the Pure White Eye, split off a Wisdom Eye, and followed the connection of the "Unknown," letting it descend outside a certain city in the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
He sensed that his historical projection had been pulled out by Derrick using a talisman.
...
In the Forsaken Land of the Gods, outside Nightmare Town, where even lightning could not fully illuminate the darkness.
The projected "Ebner" pulled out by Derrick was somewhat sluggish at first, but in the blink of an eye, his gaze became lively.
He looked around at the two "Demon Hunters" and one "Shepherd," greeted little "Sun," and then turned his attention to the tall figure at the front carrying two straight swords on his back. He pressed a hand to his chest and gave a salute:
"It is an honor to see you again, Lord Colin Iliad."
(End of the chapter)