Crocker activated the teleportation magic, and a dazzling white light instantly enveloped several people, and there seemed to be a faint tremor in the air. The scene in front of them quickly blurred in the light, as if it was torn and reassembled. The next second, when the dazzling light gradually faded, the feeling under their feet returned to reality, and they were surprised to find that they were standing in an empty wasteland.
The surroundings were strangely quiet, with only a lonely telephone booth standing not far away. The telephone booth looked old and shabby, as if it had experienced the ruthless erosion of the years. Its metal frame was rusty, and the glass had turned yellow, covered with tiny cracks and dust. Looking closely, there seemed to be some obscure symbols engraved on the glass, like some kind of ancient inscription. There was a strange smell of static electricity in the air, which slightly stung the skin and made people unconsciously alert.
Crocker stood up straight, she patted the dust on her clothes, her expression as serious as ever. She looked around, as if confirming something, and then her eyes fell on the telephone booth. She cleared her throat and said, "I chose this remote place to avoid attracting the attention of people in the school. Although it looks like a scrapyard, this phone booth... can still be used." Her tone was calm, but the end of her voice was slightly raised, and she seemed not very confident in what she said.
To prove that she was telling the truth, Crocker stepped forward and raised her hand to pat the metal frame of the phone booth. "See! It's completely fine." However, the door of the phone booth made a loud "creaking" sound because of this pat, and it almost fell off. She subconsciously reached out to hold the door, trying to hide her embarrassment, but the people around her couldn't help but exchange doubtful looks with each other.
Perry couldn't help but mutter in a low voice: "Are you sure this thing can still be used?" His eyes swept from the base of the phone booth to the top, and he felt that this shabby thing might collapse at any time.
Crocker coughed lightly, trying to cover up his embarrassment. She waved her hand and resumed her usual authoritative attitude: "Okay, don't be too suspicious. You will go to the Kingdom of Atara next, and this phone booth will teleport you directly there. Atara's security is very strict, and you can avoid a lot of trouble by going through here." As she spoke, she tapped the rotary dial phone that looked older than the phone booth itself.
Perry frowned and turned to look at his companions. The phone booth not only looked shabby, but also had a pitifully small space inside, only enough for one person to stand, and it was difficult to even stand steadily, not to mention the three grown men squeezing in at the same time.
Crocker obviously saw their hesitation and urged them impatiently: "Go in quickly, don't waste time."
Perry scratched his head hesitantly, and finally took a deep breath, turned around and said to Joyce and Mike behind him: "Let's go in separately to avoid being too crowded."
Mike raised his eyebrows and patted his shoulder: "Well, Henry and I will go in first, and Joyce can come later." He walked towards the phone booth and pushed open the creaking old door.
Joyce shrugged lazily, saying in a nonchalant tone: "Whatever, I'm not in a hurry anyway." He stepped back a few steps, leaned against a dead tree trunk, and leisurely observed the situation in front of him, seemingly not caring whether this old phone booth could work properly.
"Have you used this unreliable phone booth?" Perry was a little surprised that Mike would ask to go in first.
"This phone booth is indeed very old, but the magic inside is not damaged, and I often use this phone booth, so I can guarantee that there will be no danger." Mike explained when he saw that Perry was very worried.
Perry nodded helplessly, and he and Mike squeezed into the phone booth one after the other. The narrow space forced them to lean sideways and try to get close to the glass. The light bulb above their heads emitted a faint light, and the dust on the wall seemed to have solidified into a thin film. The most conspicuous thing was the old-fashioned rotary dial phone hanging in the middle. The dial was engraved with strange numbers and symbols, which looked both old and mysterious.
Mike tried to reach out and dial the phone, but before his hand touched the dial, the phone suddenly made a low buzzing sound, and then the whole phone booth shook slightly. Perry's heart tightened, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I hope this thing won't go wrong." The lights of the phone booth suddenly lit up, and the surroundings were once again shrouded in dazzling light...
Mike lowered his head and quickly entered the code to Kingdom of Atara., and his fingertips moved quickly on the dial. The dial of the telephone seemed to have gone through countless years, but every turn still made a crisp "click" sound, as if some precision machinery was running again. Perry stood aside, holding his breath, and his eyes followed Mike's movements closely. His nerves were as tense as a string, and he remembered every number Mike dialed clearly. Although these codes were meaningless to him, he instinctively felt that these numbers might be important.
As the last number was dialed, the phone booth was silent for a few seconds, as if time had stopped at this moment. However, this tranquility was soon broken by a sudden vibration, the entire phone booth shook violently, and a soft halo appeared on the glass on the wall. The halo was not static, but rippling slowly like water waves, reflecting distorted images. Perry subconsciously grabbed the handrail next to him, and his knuckles turned pale because of the force.
"Hold on!" Mike whispered, with a hint of nervousness in his tone but mixed with a familiar calmness. As soon as he finished speaking, he decisively pressed a red button on the phone.
At that moment, Perry felt that the whole world had changed. There was a strange feeling of weightlessness under his feet, as if the ground suddenly disappeared, and their bodies were instantly separated from all support, as if they were pulled down by an invisible force. His stomach suddenly churned, as if he was thrown upside down into a bottomless vortex.
"There must be something wrong with this broken phone booth!" Perry clenched his teeth, and his face was uncomfortable. He looked around and found that the glass of the phone booth was no longer yellowed and old, but had become a translucent light curtain. Countless colorful lines flew by quickly, interweaving into complex trajectories, flashing around them like some kind of huge space-time network. There was a harsh wind and a strange buzzing sound in his ears, and every syllable seemed to hit his mind directly, making his scalp numb.
Perry grabbed the handrail of the phone booth tightly, as if it was his last resort. His body was unable to stand firm due to the vibration, and the whole person seemed to be firmly fixed by a transparent board. He tried to turn his head to look at Mike, but found that he had his eyes closed, his expression was surprisingly calm, and there was even a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.
"Can't you warn me that this thing would be so... violent?" Perry couldn't help but yell, but his own voice seemed to be swallowed by the wind around him and couldn't reach Mike's ears at all.
The passage of time became elusive. Maybe it was just a few seconds, maybe it was a long few minutes, Perry couldn't tell. Finally, a slight impact came from their feet, and their bodies seemed to land steadily. The colorful lines and buzzing sounds dissipated in an instant, and the world returned to silence.
When Perry slowly opened his eyes, the scene in front of him made him forget the discomfort just now for a short time.
They were standing in a wide open space, and the air was so fresh that people couldn't help but take a deep breath. Above their heads was a clear sky, and the sun cast a warm glow, shining the earth softly. The sight in the distance was attracted by a towering city wall. The city wall was magnificent and tall, and the whole body was built of unknown dark stone. The surface was carved with complex patterns and symbols, like a magical relic from ancient times. In the center, a huge archway leads to the sky, and two fully armed guards stand at the door.
The two guards are wearing silver armor, holding long guns, and their expressions are as cold as statues. Seeing them appear, one of the guards nodded slightly and walked over. At the same time, the door of the telephone booth made a low "click" sound and opened automatically.
"Welcome to the Kingdom of Attala." The guard's tone was cold and distant. His eyes swept over Perry and Mike, and finally said lightly: "Go to the checkpoint along the path ahead. Please complete the registration procedures as soon as possible."
Perry was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Mike. The other party still looked relaxed, as if he was not affected by the serious atmosphere in front of him. They looked at each other and saw the hidden anxiety and excitement in each other's eyes.
"Okay, let's go." Mike said lightly, and took the lead to walk towards the huge archway, and Perry followed closely behind, with his heart full of questions about this strange and mysterious country.
Perry and Mike walked slowly along the path guided by the guard. The road under their feet was paved with white stone slabs, emitting a faint magical light, as if guiding their direction. The surrounding scenery gradually became clear. There was an open grassland on both sides of the path. The wind blew through the grass tips, making a low rustling sound. Several birds with strange shapes flew across the sky, and their feathers reflected colorful luster in the sun.
"This place..." Perry looked around, feeling indescribable surprise and awe. "It's even more than I imagined, this is so ——"
"Magnificent?" Mike took over the conversation, with a slight smile on his face, and his tone was a little clear. "Welcome to the Kingdom of Atara, this is the second safest place in the world, and it is also the intersection where all creatures gather."
Perry pursed his lips and did not answer. He was a little shocked by the scene here. Here you can see that the residents living here can communicate with humans and various creatures in a friendly manner, and you can also see some families composed of different creatures.
A few minutes later, they finally walked to the huge arch. A huge crystal was carved on the top of the arch, and a dark blue light slowly rotated inside the crystal. Whenever the sun shone on the crystal, the air around it seemed to be covered with a layer of hazy ripples, dazzling the eyes. The two guards looked taller and more majestic, and their spears flashed coldly in the sun.
"Identity verification." The guard standing on the left spoke in a deep and powerful voice.
"This is our pass document." Mike took out a scroll from his arms and handed it to the guard. The guard took the scroll and shook it gently, and the scroll automatically unfolded, revealing the complex text and marks on it. At the same time, the blue light on the top of the crystal suddenly flashed, and a soft beam of light shone on the scroll, as if confirming the information.
"Pass." The guard handed the scroll back to Mike, then made way to the side and pointed to the passage behind him. "Follow the instructions to go to the security checkpoint, don't go to the wrong area."
Perry followed Mike and just breathed a sigh of relief, but felt an inexplicable pressure the moment he entered the arch. This pressure did not come from the guards or buildings, but from an invisible force. It enveloped the entire space, as if examining the existence of every entrant.
"Don't be nervous." Mike's voice came from the front, with a bit of ease. "This is the Kingdom of Atara's 'will barrier', which will screen the magic fluctuations of the entrants. If you are any threat, the barrier will tie you up on the spot-um."
Perry couldn't help but widen his eyes and subconsciously stopped: "Can you tell me earlier?"
"It's not too late to say no now." Mike turned around and smiled, and continued to move forward.
Although he was nervous, Perry gritted his teeth and followed. When they passed through the archway, the scene in front of him instantly made him hold his breath-
This is a city that is extremely prosperous. The towering towers rise from the ground, and the tops shine with magical brilliance. People come and go on the streets, and various races gather together, including elves with wings on their backs, lizardmen covered with scales, and human merchants dressed in gorgeous clothes. The air was filled with a variety of smells, spices, stewed meat, and the sweet aroma of kiwi juice mixed together, dazzling.
"Welcome to the main city of Kingdom of Atara —— Otonia." Mike patted Perry on the shoulder. "This is also the world's largest trade center."
Perry came back to his senses and asked, "Since it is a trade center, can we find the materials we want directly here?"
Mike smiled mysteriously, with a bit of teasing in his tone: "This... You will know soon. But before that, we need to pass the "entry security check". I heard that the inspector this time has a bad temper, so be prepared."
As they talked, they had crossed the main street and came to a large hall. A huge plaque with several ancient runes hung at the entrance of the hall. Perry couldn't recognize the meaning of these runes, but he felt a sense of tension in his heart.
"Entry inspection." Mike explained casually, and then took the lead to step in.
The hall was spacious and bright, with a huge magical instrument in the center, like some kind of sophisticated testing equipment. Several inspectors in uniform were busy operating the instrument, occasionally looking up to examine the people in line.
"Next." A cold voice came from the front of the line.
Mike looked back at Perry and shrugged: "It's our turn."
Perry swallowed his saliva, followed Mike, and walked towards the instrument.
Fortunately, they were not harassed and successfully passed the inspection. Perry and Mike finally stepped into the core area of Otonia. The breeze blew on their faces, and the air was mixed with a faint scent of spices and flowers. The hustle and bustle of the streets was overwhelming. Pedestrians of all races came and went, shuttling through the busy streets. The tall buildings around were exquisitely carved and exuded a strong magical atmosphere. The dazzling array of shop signs hung high, shining with magical brilliance, and all kinds of alien goods were placed in the windows, making Perry a little dazzled.
"Do you see that mountain?" Mike stood on one side of the street, pointing to the towering peak in the distance and said, "That's our destination —— Mount Bidanea."
Perry looked in the direction of his finger. The mountain was towering into the clouds, and the mountainside was shrouded in a faint mist, which looked mysterious and solemn. The jungle at the foot of the mountain was dense, and a winding path could be vaguely seen extending to the top of the mountain, exuding a bit of dangerous atmosphere.
"We must go there to find Moon Shadow Glass next." Mike continued, "But now we have to wait for Joyce to arrive before we can act."
Perry frowned, feeling a little uneasy: "Shouldn't the Moon Shadow Glass appear at night?"
Mike smiled and turned to look at him and said, "Can't you control plants? Do you remember?"
Perry nodded: "Of course I remember, could it be..."
"Yes, just use your skills to find it." Mike blinked, with some certainty in his tone, "Moon Shadow Glass Glass does need moonlight to appear, but in essence, it is also there during the day, just obscured by a natural optical barrier. Your ability can sense the presence of plants, so you can find it without waiting until night. "
Perry's eyes lit up after hearing this, and his original anxiety about the task was reduced a little: "In that case, this job sounds quite suitable for me."
Mike grinned and patted his shoulder easily: "See, you are more reliable than you think. Well, since we still have to wait for Joyce, why don't we go shopping first to see if there are any supplies we need and fill our stomachs by the way. Or, solve your breakfast or should it be called lunch? "
Perry touched his stomach and was indeed a little hungry. He smelled the various aromas in the air and began to pay attention to the nearby stalls. However, when he approached some stalls, he saw that the food looked very strange, such as the "magic fish cakes" covered with green scales, the "molten broth" with purple bubbles, and the "blood-activating cake" that was still beating slightly. Despite the strong aroma, these strange-looking foods did not arouse his appetite at all.
"Maybe orc-flavored things are not suitable for us." Perry muttered and retreated to Mike.
Mike looked around and finally noticed a sign with Chinese characters on the corner of the street, which read "Wudonald Restaurant". Through the glass window, you can see that the decoration inside is simple and comfortable, and more human guests are dining.
"Let's try there, it should suit our appetite." Mike said and pulled Perry towards the restaurant.
As soon as he entered the door, the warm aroma hit him, and Perry instantly felt his stomach protesting. The smell was rich and tempting, with the aroma of barbecue, mixed with the fragrance of spices, and a hint of sweetness from toast. He looked up at the counter and saw several kinds of food on the menu, one of which was marked "Flaming Lava Burger" and was particularly eye-catching.
This is a special magic burger. The crust is baked with special wheat, showing an attractive golden color, and the surface is faintly glowing, as if it will emit heat at any time. It is filled with thick meat patties, which are said to be made from volcanic bison meat. The taste is tender and juicy, and the special magma-flavored sauce is not only spicy, but also accompanied by a rich milky aroma. On the side are crystal clear magic potato cubes. It is said that every bite has a slight electric touch, which makes people refreshed.
Perry and Mike said to the waiter almost in unison: "Two flaming lava burgers!"
Soon, their meals were served. The golden burger exuded an attractive heat, and the rich aroma made Perry almost impatient to take a bite. As soon as he took a bite, he immediately felt the tenderness of the meat patties, the strong sauce, and the soft but slightly crispy texture of the bread. All of this blended together and instantly dispelled his fatigue and hunger.
"This tastes amazing!" Perry praised vaguely, with a bite of burger in his mouth.
Mike laughed and nodded: "I agree."
While enjoying the delicious lunch, the two discussed the next plan. Perry felt much more relaxed at this moment. He thought, maybe this adventure is not as bad as he imagined, at least there is delicious food to comfort his tired soul.