Great Crisis

"Living Fruit?"

Long picked up the fruit she had just picked and glanced at it.

Underneath the fruit grows a row of fuzzy, wriggling little tentacles.

It resembles some kind of animal, rather than a plant.

The fruit's tentacles kept trying to pierce his skin and penetrate his flesh, but because Oboro's skin was exceptionally tough, they failed.

"Do you... want to eat this?"

Anthony swallowed hard.

Oboro controlled the skin to relax, allowing the fruit's tentacles to penetrate and suck blood.

Seeing this, Menchi and the other two remained silent.

Oboro was indeed more suited to this dangerous act than they were.

The fruit seemed to be stuck to Oboro's arm, greedily sucking her blood.

It looked like an external heart and began to beat.

"Hmm... as expected..."

After a moment of contemplation, Long said softly, "This fruit is not meant to be eaten. It can absorb nutrients from the blood to survive, and it can also secrete and transform nutrients to nourish the body."

"Nutrients?"

"Yes, it's the nutrients the body needs. To put it simply, with this, you don't need to eat anymore... It's like a portable supply pack. The problem is, we don't know how long it can 'survive.' For the time being, there's no danger... It's a parasitic fruit." As she spoke, Oboro handed the other fruits to the three of them one by one.

The three quickly placed the fruit on parts of their bodies that wouldn't interfere with their movements, allowing it to parasitize them.

"How amazing..."

Menchi praised.

This value undoubtedly reaches the level of 'hope'.

Unfortunately, it still wasn't what they wanted.

However, it also solved their immediate problem, meaning they won't have to eat raw meat for a while.

"There should be some kind of life form around here, a rather special kind," Oboro added.

"Is it that scarecrow?"

Menchi answered.

"Hmm... According to the information, advanced intelligent life forms exist on the Dark Continent. This place was once the territory inhabited by humans and Magical Beasts. The human ancestors who fled to the Lake Island back then were probably only a part of them. There should have been some who stayed behind... The so-called gatekeepers are also subhumans who can negotiate with humans. Without their permission, humans cannot truly enter the Dark Continent." Long explained while scanning the surroundings.

"But our routes are different. Could it be... that we'll also encounter the gatekeeper if we go in from this side?"

Anthony frowned.

Most likely...

Long actually had an idea in his heart, but he didn't say it.

The three of Menchi exchanged glances.

If the captain's guess is correct, wouldn't that mean there's an unimaginable, circular wall situated on this continent? And another thing, if humans harbor some kind of greed or other desires, it seems... they're not qualified to pass the gatekeeper's test, unworthy of entering.

"Um?"

After a while, Long stopped walking.

Another 'hope' appeared before them.

There were pools of water, one after another, each the size of a swimming pool. What was different was that the water was a dark red color, and it seemed to be gushing from the ground, boiling like lava, but without the same thickness. And at the center of each water source grew pure white flowers.

But the area was still filled with scarecrows, this time in great numbers.

"This is an oasis..."

Menchi's voice turned serious. Not only are the life forms on the Dark Continent strange, but the environment is also quite bizarre.

Could it be that there's a hidden volcano beneath their feet?

But that's simply impossible...

"It seems the further we go in, the fewer monsters we encounter," Anthony added.

"One single one doesn't prove anything, but so many... it means there's some kind of creature in this area, and it must be gregarious, and there are quite a few of them. We've entered their territory." Menchi was a little nervous.

Oboro, on the contrary, breathed a sigh of relief.

The appearance of more scarecrows indicates that the energy is not from the rule system... but rather some kind of warning.

At least within the oasis area, a consensus has been reached among other organisms in the food chain.

Seeing this scarecrow is like seeing the real person; one can only avoid it.

It's the same as cats and dogs patrolling their territory, urinating, and leaving their scent.

The fact that it possesses such a deterrent power indicates that this group of species must be one of the dominant species in the oasis.

"It seems that the marks and influences left by humans on the Dark Continent in the past are indeed significant. Even after so much time has passed, some things have been engraved into our genes and cannot be forgotten even after a long period of reproduction and change." After saying this, Long stepped forward.

Upon reaching the water source, under the tense gazes of Menchi and the other two, they dipped their hands into what appeared to be extremely hot boiling water.

Then, as he raised his arm, the viscous water dripped and slid down his arm.

It emits a unique fragrance.

"Honey?"

Long stuck out her tongue and took a bite.

The texture and taste are very similar to honey...

The next second, Oboro suddenly stood up and smiled.

Turning to look at Menchi and the other two, "Found them!"

'Hope' has similar effects to Longevity Rice! This liquid is easily absorbed after entering the stomach; Oboro felt the changes in his flesh and blood after tasting only a little bit.

His vitality improved slightly, though not significantly, but it was a real increase, and his spirits seemed to have become more invigorated.

"It increases physical strength, eliminates fatigue, and restores energy... If taken for a long time, it can also improve physical fitness!"

Lonely analysis.

This effect is tantamount to indirectly increasing lifespan! Clap clap clap clap...

Suddenly, one after another, the scarecrows nearby fell over without warning.

The three men stared Menchi Long, their faces pale and their pupils wide with fear.

It was as if something terrible had appeared behind him.

Oboro instantly became highly alert and entered combat mode.

His senses couldn't fully detect danger on this continent... after all, the range was limited.

Many species can suddenly appear from extremely distant locations.

For example, the three-headed monster bird covered in rotting flesh in the desert...

Behind Oboro, something broke through the ground—a root.

At first it was just one thread, but in an instant it multiplied, becoming as messy and dense as a ball of yarn, growing out of nowhere.

In just a few seconds, it grew into a towering tree, over a hundred meters tall, its enormous canopy casting a shadow that blocked out the sky.

Strangely, this tree has human-like arms, no branches, and only a hat-like crown on top.

Moreover, at the center of the trunk, the folds of the bark form facial features that resemble those of a human.

Tree-men standing tall! Around the ground, waves of earth surged as one tree-man after another burst forth from the soil, transforming the previously relatively flat terrain into a sea of trees in an instant.

All the tree-people's 'eyes' were looking down at Oboro, who had just eaten the 'forbidden fruit'.

This tiny life form.

"So that's how it is... They're all deep underground, no wonder we couldn't detect them..."

He mumbled incoherently.

Ghost Mist erupted from his body, and his expression was icy cold.

The surging black mist did not dissipate; instead, spirits emerged from it.

There are the Chimera Ant King Meruem, Neferpitou, Neferpitou, Beyond, Netero others, all of whom were previously absorbed by him. Each spirit leads a large number of ghosts, like several armies.

A major crisis! There are dozens of these tree-people, and each one possesses terrifying life energy...

In the desert, they hunt monsters, mostly killing them one by one, and have never fought against groups of creatures.

Let alone a group, even a single Menchi would be more than the three of them could handle.

Oboro must intervene...

He's getting serious.

"Spirit Vision".

As Long spoke, his gaze sharpened.

The world in his field of vision suddenly changed, and all objects disappeared in his eyes.

All that remains is the soul matter.

At the same time, a ghostly green flame burned his face, revealing a mask.

That's Thresh's appearance.

No sooner had he finished doing that than a massive, sky-covering tree root swept towards him from the sky.