I changed the world.

Page 274

Experts had already analyzed the satellite images of the previous extraordinary event, concluding that the massive lightning vortex was directly above Ochre Peak. Therefore, according to the three-person team's previous plan, once they reached the vicinity of Ochre Peak, they could attempt to use drones to conduct preliminary reconnaissance.

In fact, that's exactly what they did. However, the Bat 3 portable unmanned reconnaissance system, which had been specially modified to be used in extremely harsh conditions, lost contact shortly after takeoff.

After several attempts, they were unable to reconnect, indicating that the connection was completely lost. The three speculated that the poor visibility in the fog might have caused it to bump into something like a tree branch, resulting in the damage.

Crashing is a relatively common occurrence when operating drones in complex terrain, and the three of them could only accept their bad luck.

In short, they couldn't even retrieve the drone in the end; the only benefit was that it reduced some of the load.

Of course, besides that, there is another possibility: that there is something strange about the fog in front of us.

However, having already come this far, the three of them couldn't simply turn back because of a wisp of fog; they had no choice but to try again.

So they decided to go straight up the mountain.

Judging from the terrain, the absolute height of Zhebi Peak is not high, slightly higher than the average altitude of 300-600 meters in the Danding Mountains. Judging from the relative positions of the group, the climbing process should be completed within 1 to 2 hours.

Although the team's operation was rather sudden, taking only a short time from planning to departure, the team had done their homework behind the scenes, so the three of them were mentally prepared for the situation they were about to face.

Even so, the journey ahead was still quite difficult for Father Simon. As an orthodox religious figure, although he engaged in some physical exercise, he had never undergone professional hiking training, let alone the kind of training typically found in military settings. Therefore, despite having professionals like Victor to help him along the way, he was completely exhausted by the time he reached this point.

Feeling the fatigue spreading throughout his body, Father Simon gritted his teeth, took a syringe from his backpack, rolled up his sleeve, and injected himself into his arm...

DP-2 is a long-acting drug that selectively excites the spinal cord and increases skeletal muscle tone. It also has a certain excitatory effect on the cerebral cortex.

In other words, this is a long-acting stimulant that can enhance a person's athletic performance for about two days afterward. It is said to be a new type of drug developed by a certain country for military use, and reportedly has few side effects...

After the needle was inserted, Father Simon felt his fatigue gradually subside, a warm sensation rising within him, and he began to feel excited.

The three of them did not linger and immediately continued up the mountain path. The path was quite dilapidated and rugged, with plant branches frequently extending from both sides to block their way. However, as they continued forward, Victor soon noticed that some plant branches clearly had cut marks, indicating that the cuts were made when the path was cleared. There were even some remaining footprints on some of the soil.

“Someone has just walked on this road…” Victor pointed to a bush with obvious hacking marks behind him and said to Father Simon, “This cut is fresh and hasn’t healed yet; it won’t be more than two days.”

As he spoke, he held up the dog-leg-shaped machete in his hand and gestured along the blade to compare the angle of entry.

Father Simon suddenly recalled the extraordinary event that had occurred not long ago. He wondered if these people who went up the mountain were connected to that event, and if so, in what way. Unfortunately, there was too little information to make a judgment at present.

Alex walked at the back of the group, occasionally raising his phone to take pictures and quietly adding audio recordings.

The group continued climbing upwards without stopping, but unfortunately, the fog around them did not dissipate as they climbed. The thick fog acted like a thick curtain, completely blocking their vision.

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"We've completely lost contact with the outside world..." Less than fifteen minutes after climbing the mountain, Alex solemnly reminded his two companions.

The three-person team communicated with the outside world via satellite links. Father Simon even speculated that, besides the satellite link provided by the Vatican, Alex likely possessed other satellite links as well. His statement now implied that all links had been severed.

This is not a good sign... but the three of them did not overreact.

After all, communication failures have occurred in many extraordinary events, which at least indicates that there must be an unknown mechanism that can block existing human communication technology.

Simon and Victor checked their respective equipment and found that both communication and network were completely cut off, meaning they could no longer get support from the outside world.

After a brief discussion, they decided to keep going. Now that they had come this far, they couldn't possibly turn back empty-handed.

They checked their personal defense equipment again. The mission had carried some light self-defense weapons under the guise of security, which was within the scope permitted by the Da Zhao side.

Victor and Simon each took out a Hephaestus II military pistol from the Holstein Empire, a powerful and widely used handgun. They then took out some components from their backpacks and began to install them. Soon, their pistols were transformed into two oddly styled rifles, which even had grenade launching capabilities.

Strictly speaking, they have already "violated the rules," but since they were indeed bringing handguns into the country, such modifications can be considered as exploiting a loophole.

After loading their guns, they continued on their way, but this time they slowed down and became more cautious.

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Two hours have passed since we started climbing the mountain, and I don't know when it started, but the sounds of insects and birds around us have completely disappeared.

The environment was dark and silent in the thick fog. Even the plants that had been blocking their path gradually disappeared. The starlight and moonlight in the sky were completely blocked by the fog, so they had to turn on their flashlights. However, even after traveling for so long, the surrounding environment had not changed much...

Chapter 527 Glory

The three of them did not encounter any danger, nor did they even see a single beast.

The mountain path was so long, it seemed endless. Father Simon, panting heavily, struggled to move forward. He felt that, under the influence of the potion, although he was still mentally alert, the weakness in his legs created a strange sense of contradiction.

At the beginning of their ascent, the three would occasionally exchange information about their surroundings. However, as the seemingly unchanging mountain path continued, they began to fall silent, and a sense of oppression gradually emerged.

Father Simon even had the illusion that they were walking on the road to the legendary underworld, the boundary between the netherworld and the human world, a world where the sun never shines...

Victor, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped, catching his breath as he frowned and observed his surroundings.

"Victor, what's wrong?" Father Simon, who was walking behind him, stopped and put his hands on his thighs, rubbing them as he took the opportunity to catch his breath and rest.

“Something’s not right here.” At this moment, Alex, who was walking at the back, stepped forward with a serious expression.

Upon hearing this, Father Simon quickly turned to look at Alex, wondering if he had discovered anything.

“It’s 23:49 PM now. More than two hours have passed since we started climbing, and there’s still no sign of us reaching the summit.” Alex’s face was grim. “At our pace, we should have reached the top long ago…”

Is that so? Father Simon wasn't very good at mountaineering, so he turned to look at Victor, who was from Bern and had grown up in the mountains. He had previously served in the Bern Mountain Infantry Regiment. He didn't refute Alex's words, but just nodded silently.

“It’s too quiet…” Victor paused for a moment, then shook his head. “Something’s definitely not right.”

Upon hearing this, Father Simon quickly realized what was happening, and listened intently. The surroundings were deathly silent, quieter than one would expect in the wilderness…

Although he didn't have much experience in mountaineering and hadn't thought about it at all, he realized something was wrong now that Victor had pointed it out.

Simon glanced around instinctively. At this moment, all around was mist, and apart from the rugged mountain path that seemed to stretch into the mist without end, he could see nothing.

Father Simon suggested that they rest on the spot, a suggestion that was not opposed by the other two. So the three of them took off their backpacks and sat down by the mountain path to rest and discuss the problems they faced.

However, the three of them didn't have any good options at this point. They didn't have much heavy equipment with them, and in this place where communication with the outside world was cut off and there were no villages or shops in sight, they really only had two choices: go up the mountain or go down the mountain.

Considering the significant sunk costs they had already incurred, turning back now would mean losing everything they had worked for, which was unacceptable to them. This was especially true for Father Simon; even considering his future prospects within the Vatican, he didn't want to be labeled as someone who "backed down in the face of adversity."

On the bright side, the various abnormal phenomena they faced also meant that there was indeed some extraordinary factor at play...

So, after resting for about fifteen minutes, the group decided to continue their journey...

Soon, another hour had passed...

This mountain... is so long, it seems like there's no end to climbing it, and the path to climb it still has no end.

Pretending not to see Alex's hesitant expression, Father Simon felt anxious and subconsciously reached out to grasp the bead hanging from his chest.

It was an antique black glass rosary with flowing beads, ending in a bronze crown pendant said to have been worn by an 8th-century saint—a typical early Catholic artifact. Father Simon acquired it at a small auction. Coincidentally, shortly after obtaining the pendant, he was promoted to assistant to Cardinal Wells, a meteoric rise within the papacy. Therefore, he believed the item brought him good luck and cherished it, carrying it with him at all times.

Father Simon was panting heavily. His physical strength was severely depleted. The mountain path, which he had planned to walk in about an hour and a half, had taken him more than three hours. Although the drug kept him mentally alert, the weakness and even the feeling of his body being unable to control him were warning him that his body was actually extremely tired.

"Lord, please open our eyes and let us see your saving hand. We also ask that you deliver us from our predicament through all kinds of people and things..."

“Lord, we willingly entrust ourselves entirely into Your hands, we trust in Your good will, and we pray that Your grace and mercy will come upon us again…”

As he walked, Father Simon unconsciously began to murmur a prayer. At that moment, besides prayer, he seemed to have no other good solution...

Alex, walking at the back of the group, was carefully observing his surroundings. Although the gray fog seemed to remain unchanged, he did not relax in the slightest. This was a lesson he had learned on the battlefield.

Father Simon's quiet prayer was clearly heard by Alex, who was not far away. Alex glanced at Father Simon dismissively, not believing that such prayers would have any effect. Alex vividly remembered the scene on the Black Continent where a military priest was shot in broad daylight by a guerrilla sniper, his brains splattered all over the ground...

But before he could look away, his eyes suddenly widened!

A beam of light rose from Father Simon's chest... It was a pure white light, extremely conspicuous in the silent and dim mist!

The radiance grew increasingly conspicuous, soon becoming like a torch, its light emanating from Father Simon, making him look like a saint from a medieval mythological mural!

Earlier, Victor, who was ahead, had also stopped. He couldn't possibly have missed such a drastic change. The moment he saw the light, he stopped and turned around. Then, subconsciously, he drew a crown pattern on his chest and unconsciously uttered a low sigh: "Oh... my Lord..."

At the center of this upheaval, Father Simon was completely bewildered. A blinding light shone from his chest, and he seemed to hear some ancient hymn being chanted. After a moment of stunned silence, he seemed to realize something and frantically pulled a chain from around his neck…

P.S.: I updated two chapters today. Don't miss the first one.

Chapter 528 Ghosts and Gods

That was the necklace he always wore around his neck. At this moment, the bronze crown hanging at the end of the necklace was emitting a dazzling light. In the dim mist, the light was like a star in the night, causing Father Simon to subconsciously squint.

At this moment, Father Simon's mind was in complete chaos, with a jumble of chaotic thoughts flashing through his mind like a revolving lantern. These thoughts quickly coalesced into one word—miracle!

“My Lord…is it because You have taken pity on Your humble servant that You have sent down Your guidance?!” Father Simon’s lips trembled, and he murmured incoherently, his hands shaking slightly, as if he wanted to touch it but dared not…

The light grew stronger and stronger, soon illuminating the surrounding darkness. What was particularly striking was that the mist surrounding the three of them, upon encountering the light, seemed to be eroded and began to slowly recede.

Victor turned around, stunned by the scene before him. He instinctively traced the shape of a crown on his chest, then, realizing standing seemed inappropriate, he, as a devout believer, immediately made the appropriate choice—kneeling on one knee, placing his right hand on his left chest, and beginning to pray with a trembling voice:

Our Father in heaven,

May all people... hallow your name.

May your kingdom... come...

…………”

Just as Victor knelt down on one knee, Alex on the other side also stared wide-eyed at the scene before him. Because he was behind Father Simon, he couldn't see Father Simon's face from his angle, but it was enough for him to see the whole scene clearly.

They really did have a backup plan!

They've finally decided to reveal their hand!

Alex's first instinct was to raise his phone to take a picture; his phone's lens was specially designed, with a much higher resolution than the pinhole camera on the button. However, reason quickly told him that this action was far too disrespectful!

Even before that, he didn't have much reverence for the church...