Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.22 第22章 时序战器诱惑初显 -1
第22章 时序战器诱惑初显 –1
Chapter 22 The Allure of the Time Sequence Weapon Beckons
[22号评议委员想知道为何我如此笃定。]
[Councilor No. 22 wondered why I was so resolute.]
杨子藏轻咳了两声，吐出口凝固的血渣后，气息奄然道：
Yang Zicang coughed lightly a couple of times, expelling a solidified clot of blood, then spoke in a faint, failing breath:
「我清楚，我并不值得评议委员专门抽空来让我做一个早点死的抉择。 所以，若它是有毒的，成不成为剧毒对目前的我来说，没什么区别，反正我用不用都会死。」
“I know, I’m not worth the councilor’s time to come and present me with a choice meant for a swift end. So, if this thing is poisonous, whether it’s a lethal toxin or not makes little difference to me now—either way, using it or not, I’ll die.
「您之所以出现，应该是，这玩意儿有疗效，但效果恐怕无法让我彻底好转。 因为加强疗效仅属于对事件的推波助澜，不算扭转事件发展方向。」
“The reason you’ve appeared, is that this thing has some healing properties, but their effect probably won’t allow me a full recovery, regardless. Enhancing the curative’s effect only fuels the outcome, not reverses the course of events.”
没有这位评议委员的回应。
There was no response from this councilor.
完全恢复还需要点时间，但结疤的伤口已经不至于让自己无法行动。
Full recovery would still take some time, but the scabbed wounds were no longer enough to render him immobile.
重新抵好铁门后，杨子藏柱著枪往外走的过程中，胸口一直出现清凉的蠕动感。
After wedging the iron door back into place, Yang Zicang walked out, leaning on his gun, while his chest kept feeling a cool, wriggling sensation.
他想到，自己的猜测果然是对的，虽然这也是在赌，赌评议委员们不是那些喜欢看人陷入绝望的变态虐待狂。
He thought to himself, his guess had indeed been correct, though it was also a gamble—a bet that the councilors weren’t perverted sadists who delighted in watching others sink into despair.
而那种概率，则比百分之五十小得多。
And that probability was far less than fifty percent.
「呼~！」
Haaah…!”
口中吐出带著血腥味的浊气。
He exhaled a murky breath tinged with the smell of blood.
杨子藏来到突出悬崖的铁管边缘，看向狼藉的下方通道断口。
Yang Zicang arrived at the edge of the iron pipe jutting out over the cliff, looking down at the chaotic, broken gap of the path below.
那里简直惨不忍睹，强烈的不适让快速愈合的伤口也牵动了。
It was a scene of utter desolation; even the rapidly healing wounds ached from the intense discomfort.
细小的钝角光线折射著而来。
Tiny, blunt rays of light refracted toward him.
｛啊，子藏哥，你，你居然！｝
“{Ah, Brother ZiCang, you, you actually…!}”
此刻，作为投资人的梁喜主动联系过来后，吃惊的发型杨子藏居然还活著。 这差点让对方在另一边高兴得发疯。
At that moment, Liang Xi, who had been observing as an Invested Person, reached out in shock to find that the awe-inspiring figure Yang Zicang was still alive. This nearly drove the other side to ecstatic frenzy.
杨子藏心中暖意顿生。
A warmth swelled in Yang Zicang’s heart.
「不好意思，我浪费掉了你的两百年寿命。 我会想办法尽快为你加倍补上的。」
“Sorry, I wasted two hundred years of your lifespan. I’ll find a way to repay you double as soon as possible.”
说著，杨子藏向著黑暗深邃的黑暗一跃而下。
With these words, Yang Zicang plunged headlong into the dark, abyssal depths.
｛不用的，子藏哥，只要有你在… 呀！｝
“No need, ZiCang Ge, as long as you’re here… Ah!”
正说著的梁喜看到脚步虚浮的那人居然跳崖了。
The scold, Liang Xi, watched in shock as the man with unsteady footing leaped off the cliff.
咚！ 杨子藏轨迹变幻，重重落在铁板地面的瞬间，Moexl传来两道反馈。
Thud! As Yang Zicang’s trajectory shifted and he landed heavily on the iron plate, Moxel sent back two sets of feedback.
[我的肋骨共计抵消了 1.11N。]
[My ribs have collectively offset 1.11N.]
[我的下肢共计抵消了 2.6N。]
[My lower limbs have collectively offset 2.6N.]
[我的其余躯骸部位抵消了 4.3Y。]
[The rest of my body’s frame has offset 4.3Y.]
「嘶~放心，我暂时不会死。 不过，原来还是会疼啊。」
“Hiss~ Don’t worry, I won’t die just yet. But damn, it still hurts after all.”
杨子藏杵著长枪站起身来。
Yang Zicang propped himself up with the Lance and stood.
他有种感悟，这种时序抵消的是在原本世界中，受伤后彻底恢复所需要的时间。
He had a realization—this Chronos offset was the time required for complete recovery after injury in the original world.
｛哥，你的能力是在空中也能变换轨迹吗。 对了，刚刚罗鑫队长三令五申，不许任何人在怪物巢穴中再击杀哪怕一个老鼠怪物。｝
{Bro, can your ability change trajectory in mid-air? By the way, Captain Luo Xin just strictly ordered that no one is allowed to kill even a single rat monster inside the nest anymore.}
这的确也是杨子藏正在担心的事情。
This was precisely what Yang Zicang was worried about.
只差一只。
Just one more left.
这里的老鼠怪物若再死一只，那东西很可能就会现世。 外界的人居然也知道这点。
If one more rat monster died here, that thing might very well manifest. Even the outsiders seemed to know this.
杨子藏纳闷了下，说道：
Yang Zicang was puzzled for a moment before saying:
「是啊，我刚才还在想，要不要进行融资来广播这里的情况，看来你们已经知道了。」
“Yeah, I was just wondering whether I should crowdfund to broadcast the situation here—looks like you already know.”
一路上，失去首领的怪物们恢复了胆小的本性，发觉到人过来就快速跑掉躲藏起来。
Along the way, the leaderless monsters reverted to their cowardly nature, scurrying away and hiding the moment they sensed someone approaching.
｛子藏哥，我找到了个东西，我就晓得巢穴里面肯定有好玩意。｝
{Bro Zicang, I found something—I knew there’d be good stuff hidden in this nest.}
感应画面中的少年身前，是个摆放在地上的破碎器皿，它里面藏著个类似燃香铁球的物品。
In front of the young man in the sensory projection lay a shattered vessel on the ground, inside which was an object resembling an incense-burning iron ball.
「那个是？」
“What’s that?”
｛好像可以刺激生物们的肌肉，老鼠之所以变异，就是巢穴里的这些东西造成的。 要是那个魔物不出现的话，罗鑫队长肯定会趁著首领怪物身死的机会，进入这里寻找它们。｝
{It seems to stimulate the muscles of living creatures. The rats mutated because of these things scattered around in the nest. If that demon weren’t about to appear, Captain Luo Xin would definitely take advantage of the leader monster’s death to come in and scavenge them all.}
梁喜取出那只有鹅卵石大小的小铁球，开始返回。
Liang Xi took out the small iron ball, the size of a pebble, and began to head back.
两人耗费了不少功夫终于在靠近出口处见面。
The two of them struggled for quite some effort before finally meeting near the exit.
「时序战器？」
“Chronos War Gear?”
当杨子藏靠近后，梁喜忽地浑身一震的看向那杆银色长枪。
As Yang Zicang drew near, Liang Xi suddenly stiffened, gazing intently at the silver Lance.
「哈哈，是呀，这就是你心心念念的…」
“Haha, that’s right! This is the very thing you’ve been dreaming of…”
此刻这少年身上臭气熏天。
At this moment, the stench of the young boy was overpowering.
见到杨子藏靠近后的诧异表情，梁喜脏脏的脸上露出不好意思的笑容。
Seeing Yang Zicang’s surprised expression as he approached, Liang Xi, who was grimy with filth, showed an embarrassed smile.
「我，我只能这样避免被怪物发现人类气味。」
“I, I had to do this to avoid the beasts detecting the scent of a human.”
「你真是个勇者。」
“You truly are a brave soul.”
杨子藏开了句玩笑，直接将枪丢给了梁喜，这让这孩子差点跳了起来。
Yang Zicang jested and flung the spear directly to Liang Xi, making the boy almost leap into the air.
「啊，一百年，是百年器！ 啊！ 啊啊！」
“Ah, a hundred years, it’s a Cent-Arms! Ah! Aaaaah!”
梁喜大呼小叫的在地上耍著蹩脚的花枪，兴奋得皮肤都泛红。
Liang Xi howled and pranced about, clumsily twirling the ancient weapon in skewed flourishes until his skin flushed with excitement.
这可是难以得见的百年器，据说这座城市中，只有几位大团队的首领才有这种东西。
This was an incredibly rare Cent-Arms—it was said that only a few leader figures of major teams within the city possessed something like this in their hands.
「子藏哥，你以后肯定成为个大人物，我跟你一比，就什么也不是了。」
“ZiCang-bro, one day you’re definitely going to be a big shot. Compared to you, I’m just a nobody.”
梁喜略带失落的将它还给了杨子藏。
Liang Xi handed it back to Yang Zicang with a tinge of disappointment.
「不，是我们，肯定都会是大人物。」
“No, not just me,” Yang Zicang smiled, “We—both of us, will certainly become big shots.”
杨子藏笑道，但这笑容中带著丝郑重之色，「我经过两次生死，已经明白了这个道理。」
But within his smile lay a trace of gravity, “Having tasted life and death twice myself, I’ve already come to understand a truth.”
「什么道理？」
“What truth?”
少年扬起小脸看向这个表情变得肃穆了些的男人。 暗淡光线中，他的侧脸轮廓看上去坚毅，且充满力量。
The boy lifted his small face to look at the man, whose expression had turned more somber. In the dim light, the outline of his profile appeared resolute and exuded strength.
「置之死地而后生——这就是评议委员们，所需要看到的，关于我们的表现。」
“To be reborn from the jaws of death—that’s what the Council members need to see from us.”
杨子藏抬起头看向冰冷的管道顶端，眼神却像是穿过了无垠虚空，望向虚无。
Yang Zicang raised his head toward the icy apex of the pipeline, yet his gaze seemed to pierce through the boundless void, staring into nothingness.
「我要在月底前，为我自己，为跟我一起的朋友们，以及我想庇佑的人们，赚取到足够他们抵扣的时序。」
“Before the end of this month, I will have to earn enough Chronos to cover both myself, my companions, and those I wish to protect.”
青年似自言自语般的说道。 而梁喜则在思考评议委员是什么。
The youth spoke as if muttering to himself. Meanwhile, Liang Xi was pondering what the Council members were.
期待的等了几秒，Moexl没有任何回应。
After waiting for a few seconds in anticipation, Moxel gave no response.
「是我猜错了吗？」 杨子藏暗自想著，「或许是这点难度打动不了评议委员，又或者他们根本不在乎这些。」
“Did I guess wrong?” Yang Zicang thought to himself, “Perhaps this level of challenge won’t move the Council members, or maybe they simply don’t care about any of this.”
几道发丝般的线条划过。
A few hair-thin lines sliced through the air.
杨子藏看了眼身旁的枪。
Yang Zicang glanced at the gun by his side.
有这个东西在，不光不能回去驻地，还不能接受任何的心灵连结。
With this thing around, not only could he not return to the stronghold, but he also couldn’t accept any mental link.
杨子藏预设拒绝一切Moexl的联系。 有他的叮嘱，跟杨子藏同行的小少年也自然默认拒绝所有来自Moexl的心灵连结。
By default, Yang Zicang rejected all contact with Moxel. Following his instructions, the young boy traveling with Yang Zicang also defaulted to refusing all mental links from Moxel.
梁喜兴奋于能替杨子藏保守秘密，这让他将自己当成杨子藏一伙的。
Liang Xi was thrilled to keep a secret for Yang Zicang, which made him consider himself part of Yang Zicang’s crew.
力场的微弱触感从皮肤上划过，前方阴暗的通道终于显现出了更多些的光线。
The faint touch of the force field brushed across his skin, and the shadowy corridor ahead finally revealed a bit more light.
[我终于离开这该死的空间了。]
[I’ve finally left this damned space.]
杨子藏感觉自从再次的濒临死亡后，Moexl像是与自己的心灵得到了更多的深层契合。
Yang Zicang felt that since his recent near-death experience, Moxel seemed to have forged a deeper resonance with his soul.
Moexl随时可能清晰的说出自己内心划过的某些激动想法，就比如这句感叹。
Moxel could, at any moment, clearly voice some of the surging thoughts racing through his mind—like this very exclamation.
所以，Moexl到底是什么？
So then, what exactly is Moxel?
[我就是我，我是伟大的四边形！]
[I am me, the great Quad!]
杨子藏无奈的抚了抚额。
Yang Zicang helplessly rubbed his forehead.
通道入口近在眼前，阿梁首先略带雀跃的跑了出去，他知道自己身上味道很大，故意借此跟青年保持了些距离。
The entrance to the passage was right before them. Liang dashed out first with a trace of excitement. Knowing he reeked, he deliberately kept some distance from the young man.
杨子藏笑看著这个弟弟般的孩子在前方探路。
Yang Zicang watched with a smile as this boyish kid scouted ahead.
随后杨子藏的目光沉了下来——在他眼中，梁喜的速度越来越快。
Then Yang Zicang’s gaze grew heavy—in his eyes, Liang Xi’s speed was increasing rapidly.
这种快不仅是跑动速度，还包括小少年的转头、肢体摆动幅度，乃至于头发的舞动频率。
This acceleration wasn’t just in his running pace; it also included the boy’s head turns, his limb movements, and even the fluttering frequency of his hair.
如果说自己的加速，是让一个普通人的奔跑姿态变得轻盈，接近专业运动员水准，那么此刻梁喜的速度变化，则是「频率加速」。
If his own acceleration turned an ordinary person’s run into something light and close to professional athlete level, then Liang Xi’s change in speed was more like a “frequency boost.”
梁喜的每个动作的频率，都变得飞快。 快到如同电影画面被按住了加速键。
The frequency of Liang Xi’s every movement had become incredibly fast—so fast it was as if a movie had been pressed fast-forward.
「子藏哥？」「你快来呀。」「欸，子藏哥你怎么不动呢。」
“ZiCang Ge? Hurry and come here. Hey, ZiCang Ge, why aren’t you moving?”
短短几秒的观察后，就如同之前折叠的Moexl线条一起涌来般，杨子藏耳边突兀传来重叠著的男孩的声音。
After just a few seconds of observation, as abruptly as the folded Moxel lines had surged in earlier, the overlapping voices of the boy reached Yang Zicang’s ears.
青年的心不由自主沉了下来。
The young man’s heart involuntarily sank.
「你听得到我说话吗，语速怎么样？」 杨子藏道。
“Can you hear me? How’s my speech speed?” Yang Zicang said.
梁喜脸上快速浮现著不断变化的表情，他往回跑来，越跑那快速变换的姿态就越正常。
Rapidly shifting expressions flashed across Liang Xi’s face. He ran back, his briskly shifting posture gradually normalizing the closer he came.
「刚才…」
“Just now…”
「你听到我的话了对吧，我是不是每个字都拉长了很多。」
“You heard what I said, right? I dragged out each word for too long, didn’t I?”
梁喜点点头。
Liang Xi nodded.
这个世界果然时刻充满了突然的威胁。 很显然此刻不是停下来研究的好地儿。
This world was indeed perpetually overflowing with sudden threats. Clearly, this was no place to stop and study the matter in detail.
「我们还是先出去。」
“We should get out first.”
背后的洞穴里那只魔物随时可能出世，而外界如果有危险，在这危险变得更恶劣前，至少还有机会去应对。
Inside the cave behind them, that demon creature could emerge at any moment. And if there’s danger outside, we still might have a chance to deal with it before it turns worse.
「我刚才看你动作变慢了，非常慢，就像树赖。」 梁喜道。
“Just now, I saw your movements get slower, really slow, like a sloth,” Liang Xi said.
「所以，在你自己眼中，你的姿态是正常的？」
“So, from your perspective, your gestures seemed normal?”
两人没走两步，气流缓慢旋转著自外界扩入通道。
As the two took no more than a couple of steps, a slow-moving airflow crept in from the outside along the passage.
空气流动的速度越来越快，又在几秒后快速恢复了平静。
The airflow grew faster and faster, then quickly returned to stillness after just a few seconds.
看了眼身后的黑暗，一种若有若无的危险感萦绕在黑洞洞的管道内。
Glancing back at the darkness behind, a faint, elusive sense of danger lingered throughout the pitch-black tunnel.
到底是怪物巢穴的问题，还是外界的问题？ 或许，答案就在这股气流之中。
Was it the problem of the monster nest, or the problem of the outside world? Perhaps the answer lay within this very current of air.
气流覆盖的区域时间被加速了！
The time within the region covered by the airflow had been accelerated!
杨子藏自然而然想到了恶魇的诞生条件，以及那马上就会诞生的抵御者。
Yang Zicang instinctively thought of the conditions for the Nightmare’s birth, and the Defender that would soon be born.
还差最后的一只老鼠怪物，是否也能被时间抵消？
As for the last remaining rat monster—could it too be neutralized by time?
时间变动的目的是加速抵御者的最后孕育，还是老鼠们的死亡？
Was the purpose of the time shift to accelerate the final gestation of the Defender, or to hasten the death of the rats?
无论哪种，结局都一样。
Either way, the outcome was the same.
杨子藏感觉到气闷，精神意义上。
Yang Zicang felt suffocated—in a mental sense.
[调度能力已发动，标记目标数为 2，我将以 2R 每秒运用时序。]
[Adjustment ability activated. Number of marked targets: 2. I will expend Chronos at a rate of 2R per second.]
抽出十年寿命进行四倍增福后，一矮一高两道身影迅捷地疾驰在废墟般的钢筋水泥丛林。
Having drawn ten years of lifespan for a quadruple boost, two figures—one shorter, one taller—darted swiftly through the ruins of a concrete steel jungle.
傍晚的天空弥漫暗紫雾气，太阳都快要落山了，此刻应该是下午五六点左右。
The evening sky was thick with purple mist; the sun was almost setting—it should have been around five or six in the afternoon.
[作为伟大的四边形，我感知到，时序轨迹出现了不稳定的扩散状态。]
[As the great Quad, I sense that the Chronos trajectory is in a state of unstable diffusion.]
「子藏哥，你感觉到了吗，我的寿命流逝速度加快了。」
“ZiCang, do you feel it? The rate at which my life is draining is speeding up.”
不光这外界的时间与巢穴里有了加速差，自己的生命流逝在这里也变得更快。
Not only was there an accelerated time differential between the outside world and the nest, but his own life was also draining faster here.
但具体是多少，目前则无从确认。 也可能它本就是波动的。
However, exactly how much faster remained impossible to confirm. It might even be fluctuating on its own.
无论如何，这都是让人不安的消息，除了知道危险就在那里，其它一切都是未知的。
In any case, this was unsettling news—beyond knowing that danger lurked there, everything else was shrouded in uncertainty.