Chapter 144 69. After wandering around the capital (5K5)
for a while, the skinks began to disperse in a huff, most of them still had unfinished work. Some of the Skinks who had nothing to do for the time being ran to the square in front of the largest ancient Saint Ichi Pyramid in the city, and gathered around to watch the Eye of the Storm lying there preparing to take a nap.
Itaza, like Spicazuma, is the largest pyramid of the ancient saint Ichi.
"Familiar, smell!"
Grok stood in front of Darkus, looking directly at Darkus, his thick nostrils constantly expanding. His strong and burly body covered with scars stood in front of Darkus, filled with a sense of oppression. The big guy kept baring his teeth at him and growled that he didn't like him and told him to stay away. Druchi behind Darkus was also on guard nervously. This group of Druchi dignitaries probably knew what happened in 1700. After all, it was a big fuss in Nagaros at that time, and some of their ancestors even participated in it. Get through that battle.
"Because I am Umak of the ancient Saint Iqi."
These words left Darkos quite speechless. He knew that Gorok was probably talking about something that happened 1,700 years ago. But he was not worried at all that the big white lizard would suddenly attack. He spread his hands and said casually. There was also nothing about pretending to be a slap in the face. His Umak identity was like a senior member's pass in the Lustria continent, and he could go anywhere without any hindrance.
"Izata, you are not allowed to ride, the cold lizards are running around." After saying this, Grok turned and left. The heavy steps he took when leaving made the road tremble slightly.
"How much does this big white lizard weigh?"
Darkus could feel the vibrations coming from the road while riding on the big lizard. Druch behind him let out a sigh of relief. The almost three-meter-tall Goro The sense of oppression Ke gave them was too strong.
The next few days were relatively peaceful, and the rainy season in the second half of the year suddenly arrived in Lustria.
Darkus lived alone in the Great Pyramid of Ichi. The other Druchi could clearly feel physical discomfort when they were close to him, but Genevieve said there was no reaction.
The old Skink Priest who maintained this place told Darkus that the first Lord Slankroka showed his magical powers on the top of the Great Pyramid of Iqi during the Great Invasion. It is said that the Great Pyramid of Iqi contains the most powerful treasure. , the most mysterious machines of destruction, Lord Krokar unleashed them in a cataclysmic storm of mystical power, reducing the raging hordes of Chaos Daemons to ashes. The Great Pyramid of Ichi still contains power to this day, and mages and other creatures with mystical vision can feel the potential power of the Great Pyramid of Ichi. The closer you get to the source of the Great Pyramid of Ichi, the more you feel great physical discomfort. Maybe this is the reason why the Drukhi feel uncomfortable when they are close?
Darkus took Genevieve around the Great Pyramid of Ichi several times, but could not find the most powerful and mysterious destruction machine. The Skink Priest who was following beside him, who was too old to walk, also expressed that he didn't know anything about it. He stared at him and couldn't explain the reason. He was a little disappointed. He was also thinking about finding things like Big Ivan and manufacturing instruction slates. Then he could train a few Skavens of the Skryre clan in the old world to let these rats experience the ancient times. A little shock came from Sheng Technology. Which one of the two nuclear bombs is better?
However, Darkos could feel the changes in his body brought about by living in the Great Pyramid of Iqi. It seemed that what was important was not the most powerful and mysterious destruction machine in the secret room of the Great Pyramid of Iqi, but this Yiqi Great Pyramid. The Great Pyramid itself is the most powerful and mysterious destruction machine. It's just that he is the divine choice of the ancient saint Iqi, and it does not make him feel physically uncomfortable. On the contrary, this mysterious power will nourish him.
Next to the Great Pyramid of Ichi is the equally sized Great Pyramid of Sotek, built at the end of the War of the Snake and the Rat. There is a deep pit of sacrificial snakes between the Great Pyramid of Sotigo and the plaza, extending into the depths below. There lived a snake bigger than an Amazon python. Darkus visited it once, and he didn’t know what kind it was. After seeing him, the snake also raised its head and spat out a message, its cold eyes looking straight at him. She looked at him coquettishly, but she just looked at him directly, as if she was saying hello to him. There was no strange phenomenon of the giant snake suddenly speaking.
Tehenhoyne's first-born brothers said that the giant snake was an incarnation of Sotek, fed by sacrifices that were thrown down every day. At the height of the War of the Snake and Rat, armies from Itaza and other cities would bring captured Skaven here, and these captured Skaven were forced to trek across Lustrike, driven by lizardfolk armies. sub-jungle to punish the Skaven for the disaster they brought to the Lizardmen and the continent of Lustria. After months of trekking, the surviving Skaven would be brought here to be sacrificed to express the Skink's reverence for Sotek and to give Sotek the power to wage eternal war with the Horned Rat. Of course, now is the low ebb of the Snake and Rat War. There are no Skaven sacrifices in the Lustria continent, so they can only feed them some meat.
Now every day, the Firstborn Brothers perform prayers and worship rituals on the altar at the top of the pyramid regardless of rain or shine. Many skinks will participate every day. After the ceremony, the skinks will disperse and start a beautiful new day. When the ritual reaches its climax, the skinks will emit a hissing resonance that can be heard throughout the temple city. The sound is eerie and sacred, just like the sound produced by snakes and skinks together.
The old Skink Priest once mentioned that in its heyday, the Sotek worship ceremony would bring all the Skinks in the entire temple city together in the square. The most heyday was after the sacrifice in the Guicomo Circle. , held by Tehenhoin himself, and even the mummy made from Lord Croka's body was brought out to express respect for Sotek. At that time, the hissing resonance of all skinks could even spread to the city. outside.
At first, Darkus felt a little irritated when he heard this voice, but then he gradually began to adapt. What should he do if he doesn't adapt? He couldn't make the Skinks stop this kind of activity, could he? Slandu, who lives in this temple city, has acquiesced in this behavior. What does he do as an Umak? This resonant sound is punctual every day regardless of wind or rain, just like a rooster crowing. Now, as he hugged Genevieve, whose body was cold, and heard this strange resonance, he knew it was time to get up and do his morning exercises. Of course, this morning training does not refer to morning training with Genevieve, but morning martial arts training with the Druchs.
"When I hear this punctual voice, I feel sick all over." Darkus said helplessly as Genevieve, who didn't need to sleep, looked at her.
Darkus knew what Genevieve wanted to express, and it was like getting goosebumps when hearing the voice. Not everyone can get used to hearing this kind of sound. When chatting, the Druchi also said that they had different feelings when hearing the sound.
In the following days, Darkus began to walk around Itaza sitting on the shoulders of the giant lizard Kami. This first city was really too big. Perhaps this temple city was the largest in the world so far. City.
Itaza is home to dozens of different districts, each overrun with lizards, and the wide streets are filled with skinks working on various tasks in service of the greater plan. They were bustling through the rain, sometimes hissing and communicating with each other, and then quickly dispersed after the exchange. The wonderful thing is that there are no general managers like the Chupacoco brothers, Teto Ikao and Coptiti in this temple city. Each region is managed by skink priests. These skink priests maintain the current status.
The air of the temple city is filled with various magical winds, and energy fluctuations visible to the naked eye arc straight into the sky from the tops of the pyramids of the ancient saints. He could feel a long-lost tranquility. This energy seemed to calm his restless heart and caress his confused and tired soul.
"Umak, that, there, is calling, calling me!" Kami, the monitor lizard walking on the street, squeezed away the skinks that were hissing and talking around him, stopped and pointed at a pyramid and said .
"That is the pyramid dedicated to the ancient Saint Quiteli, where the noble Lord Slantpek-Inzi meditated."
Darkus looked back at the Itaza Skink Priest who was also sitting on the monitor's shoulder. The Skink Priest was stunned for a moment, then pointed in that direction and said.
"Let's go and have a look."
Darkus seemed to understand the reason why Lord Tepek-Inqi launched an expedition after the ancient Saint Quiteli's star tablet was stolen 1700 years ago.
Itaza is filled with pyramids of various sizes dedicated to the Old Ones. Each pyramid is dedicated to an Old One and is also the residence of a Slann. The mummies made from the remains of the Slann lords will be placed in the pyramid or in the crypts below along with their favorite treasures and artifacts during their lifetimes, and will be carefully cared for by several Skink Priests and a large number of Skink Attendants. Likewise the altar at the top of each Old Ones pyramid held rituals on certain days of the year or during ominous astrological conjunctions.
The passageway in the pyramid dedicated to the ancient Saint Quiteli is surprisingly large, unlike the ones that Darkos drilled before that could only accommodate the height of a skink. But now the giant lizard Kami's figure has turned around compared to when he met him in the Moon City, and his waist has straightened up. As he gradually turns white, he becomes more and more ancient giant lizard, just like an ordinary giant lizard enlarged. It's the same as 1.5 times, and the channel will definitely not be able to enter.
Darkus asked for a long time but couldn't find out the reason. The giant lizard Kami scratched his head and hesitated and repeated the summons, which made him and Chupa Coco look confused. However, based on his adventure experience, he felt that there was a high probability that something in this pyramid was summoning the giant lizard Kami, preferably something. It would be a bit troublesome to instill adventures like the ancient saint's blessing, and he would have to find the Legend of Slan. Go in. Druchi and the Skinks, who did not follow the pyramid, have already opened the market. They generally believe that something is calling the giant lizard Kami. They were arguing fiercely about what was calling Kami the giant lizard. The fierce dispute attracted some Itaza skinks to watch. Under the explanations of Ren, Walter and Akadan, these Itaza skinks also put on some of their jewelry.
Akadan's pair of gold bracelets were also pressed up. He had extensive experience traveling around the continent of Lustria and judged that they should be long-handled weapons or something like that. With his joining, the smart Druchi also thought it was a weapon, quickly changed the odds, and now started betting on what weapon it was.
Now that I'm here, I must first visit Lord Tepec-Inzi. A polite Druch like Darkus must say hello before picking up something, although it's not for him. He and Chupa Coco walked slowly in the passage. The two friends, who had a tacit understanding of each other, kept asking questions about the skink priest who led the way, and asked if there were any things for the dragons or star tablets in the pyramid. s things. But the Skink Priest who led the way was very tricky and cunning, so cunning that oil and salt could not get through.
Halfway there, Chupa Coco gave a ruby to the Skink Priest who was leading the way. This ruby obviously has the effect of quickly promoting thinking. The skink priest who led the way played with the ruby a few times and quickly recalled that there was indeed a weapon for the dragon in the secret room of the pyramid, but that weapon It's been there for a long time. He and Chupa Coco looked at each other in tacit understanding in the dim corridor, and soon arrived at the star observation room at the top.
The stargazing room is no different from Hesiota's Southern Star Pyramid. It is calm and comfortable, in sharp contrast to the heavy rain outside. The stargazing room has a circulating gas system with fresh and livable air, and a complete steam fumigation system. Temple guards guard the rooms around the Star Chamber, and the pillared doorways are filled with Skink attendants, hissing and observing Darkus in low voices. The chengyu of Lord Tepeque-Inzi is placed on a pedestal surrounded by a pool of water. Two skink attendants stand beside the chengyu, waving huge feathers and banana leaves like oars, while the entire room Full of lotus scent mixed with psychedelic potions.
Lord Tepek-Inchi was meditating, his huge and plump frog body rising and falling with his long breathing, showing no sign of waking up.
Darkus was just going through the motions to say hello, it was best not to wake up. He had no intention of having an awkward conversation after shaking Lord Tepeque-Inzi awake. What are you talking about? Let’s talk about how Lord Tepek-Inzi and Grok killed everyone in Naggaroth 1700 years ago?
After staying for a few minutes and admiring Lord Tepek-Inzi's appearance and sleeping posture, Darkus and Chupacoco left. They were led by the Skink Priest to see what kind of weapons they were. Soon they saw a long-handled giant hammer and a set of gold robes in a secret room.
The shape of the giant hammer is almost the same as the hand of darkness held by the Black Hand in another world, but the handle of the giant hammer is longer. The side of the hammer body is engraved with the mark of the ancient Saint Quitely. However, with the passage of thousands of years, the mark has become Already dim. The material of the giant hammer and the gold robe are the same as the style of the god's weapon. It is made of a special material that looks like gold but is not gold. The giant hammer is made of the whole body and is not connected with a wooden handle.
"The ancient saint is here! Come here and help me, I feel like I can move."
Qiupa Keke volunteered and prepared to lift the giant hammer without knowing his own abilities. However, no matter how hard he tried, the hammer didn't move at all, as if it was like a sword in the stone. on the ground. He bent over and panted and said to the Skink Priest standing nearby watching the fun.
"My brother, don't waste your efforts! We can't pick it up together!" The cunning Skink Priest shook his head and said without any intention of stepping forward to help.
"Let's go, put it here first, and let Gorok pick it up later."
Darkus leaned against the door of the secret room and watched quietly. He saw Chupa Coco trying to lift the hammer again, but this time he might It seemed that he had lost his footing this time. Chupa Coco quickly stepped back in an exaggerated manner, and directly bumped into the Skink Priest who was watching the fun. He looked at Chupa Coco's funny moves and chuckled. Knowing that it was over, he walked over and helped Chupa Coco up and said.
Soon, Darkus and Chupacoco walked out of the pyramid. After Chupacoco cast a rain-proof magic on him, he put the ruby that he had just given to the Skink Priest into his hand. This pair of strange friends The friends looked at each other in understanding.
This long-dormant set of equipment seemed to be waiting for the arrival of the giant lizard Kami. With the help of the skinks, he put the golden robe on his body. He picked up the Fist of the God Quiteli and started to play. When he stood up, the giant hammer in his hand seemed like an extension of his arm. It didn't feel bulky, but was extremely flexible.
Of course, the name of this weapon was given by Darkus. He saw the mechanism on the handle of the hammer. He believed that this divine weapon would explode with terrifying power after being fully charged. The giant lizard Kami held this weapon The indestructible giant hammer will definitely be indestructible on the battlefield and contribute more power to the big plan.
Grok's cold eyes showed excitement. He asked for a wrestling match with the giant lizard Kami on the spot. Soon the handicap was opened again. Druch and the skinks in the team placed their bets on the giant lizard. Along the way, they knew the terror of Kami the giant lizard.
Walter, who only had a family connection, placed his bet on Grok. Walter knew that this big white lizard could knock away a full-speed charging cold lizard chariot with a hammer, because an ancestor of his family had such a soul. In the arms of Eth Haiai.
The skinks of Itaza placed their bets on Gorok. As residents of this temple city, they also knew the terror of Gorok.
Darkus looked on with a smile and did not participate, even though he had already guessed the result.
The news has not spread. The bet has just been placed here. Grok and Kami have already begun to wrestle. In the first few minutes, a lizard and a monitor lizard were in a stalemate. Gradually Kami began to be unable to hold on. Dulu Qi and the skinks kept cheering and shouting. Kami was still holding on, but the decline could not be restored. Several holes were made on the bricks of the street by the claws of Kami's feet. Kami was gradually retreating. The outcome is decided!
The Drukis shook their heads in disappointment. As for the giant lizard Kami, they did not dare to curse in front of Darkus. They knew that Darkus loved this strange giant lizard, and the skinks in the team Then he let out an exaggerated wail of pain.
After the wrestling, Darkus comforted the giant lizard Kami a few times, and then said a few words to Grok. The general meaning was that he would train the lizard warriors in his team during this period. After looking at him for a while, he nodded in agreement, and then Grok nodded to the giant lizard Kami and left.
In the next few days, Darkos wandered around Itaza again. This temple city was equally wealthy. The edges of many pyramids were inlaid with gold and were decorated with countless gems. There are strange plants floating in the sky in the open space of the floating garden, as well as an eternal fountain made of emerald stones with flowing emerald colors, and a corona of Kotego made of constantly moving stones.
Darkus came to the famous bridge of stars located east of Itaza. This is a building as old as Itaza, spanning a huge rift valley formed hundreds of millions of years ago. He stood on the bridge and overlooked the entire earth. He had the feeling of walking on a glass plank road. Star patterns occasionally flashed on the bridge, and sometimes shooting stars flashed by.
The Bridge of Stars is actually the entrance to Itaza, but only lizardmen can pass through it, not the giant beasts. Two groups of lizardman warriors guard the two ends of the Bridge of Stars.
According to the local skink guide, this is where the enemies of the lizardfolk have failed many times. During the great invasion, the giant lizard Nakai stood on the bridge to block and harvest the Chaos Demons. The number was so huge and the achievements were so outstanding that it is said that these Chaos Demons were afraid of this place, as if this place was like an enemy of Chaos. The sound of the gongs struck by the demons has been echoing for thousands of years.
Darkus nodded in agreement, like a true tourist, listening carefully and nodding in agreement.
It's over soon
(end of chapter)