Gabe Vich's Diary

The dangers on an oasis are incomparable to those on a desert.

Almost every area we visited featured unique creatures and environments.

Here, hunting within the food chain is much more intense.

After walking through a sea of flowers, they entered a 'forbidden zone of life'.

The so-called forbidden zone of life is because it contains a large number of 'Ghost Whistle Grass Clump'. At first glance, they look like clumps of bushes, but these grass clumps are extremely hard, like metal. Moreover, their natural growth and arrangement on the ground is also very peculiar. There are many small holes on the grass clumps, and when the wind blows, they can produce other sounds.

This sound has a strong hypnotic effect. When a creature falls into a deep sleep, a strange insect hidden in the soil nearby will crawl out and devour the unconscious creature.

This clump of grass seems to have a cooperative relationship with the strange insects, which are unaffected by the rhythm of the music. They only eat flesh and bones, and the blood flowing from the corpses nourishes the clump of grass.

Fortunately, the Ghost Whistle Grass Clump's ability is also soul-based, which is exactly what Oboro can counter, and the four of them passed through without any major incident.

Further on, they finally spotted the herds of animals roaming the oasis.

These creatures are very similar to life forms in the desert; they don't involve anything eerie or rule-based, they are simply large in size, and their appearance is close to what humans can understand. At least, I've seen Oboro in the illustrations of the original work, and he should belong to one of the more common and widely inhabited species in the Dark Continent.

There were dinosaurs with two horns, elephants in groups with ears like futons, and fanged seals that should have been in the ocean... The four of them came after hearing the commotion of the beasts. As soon as they arrived, they saw a seal holding a dinosaur tightly in its jaws and swallowing it bit by bit.

Seals are ten times the size of dinosaurs.

The dinosaur was originally chasing a herd of elephants...

In the Dark Continent, the appearance of creatures and the environments they adapt to are unpredictable.

Common sense is useless here.

The four did not act rashly. They quietly observed for several hours and found that this area was the most active region for life on the oasis so far. This also meant that there were no life forms with extinct power like tree people, elves, or grass clumps here, so it was relatively safe.

Of course, the safety mentioned here does not include the bloody feast unfolding, the most authentic side of the food chain.

The earth trembled incessantly, and all sorts of species emerged one after another, hunting down the food they wanted to eat... The incessant roars nearly deafened the three of Menchi, making it difficult for them to adapt.

Chaotic and intense.

After observing for several hours, Long keenly noticed that no matter how fiercely these life forms fought, they were intentionally avoiding a certain plant, seemingly unwilling to destroy it. It was a winding, spiraling vine-like plant that could stand upright on the ground without any support, and it even had leaves growing on its vines. When some injured small creatures approached, the branches and leaves would actively secrete drops of nectar for the creatures to lick.

After consuming the liquid from the vines, the organism's wounds healed rapidly.

Some smaller creatures, about the size of a human, will have their leaves curl up to enclose them.

It's like a small house.

Release the creatures hiding inside after the battle in the vicinity has ended.

"Magic..."

A sudden realization dawned on Longxin's mind.

The Dark Continent possesses a unique environment. While large life forms can hunt smaller creatures, smaller creatures can also utilize certain advantages to avoid danger, such as using external objects. Every creature has its own way of survival. This vine seems to be a 'rescue station' for the creatures of the oasis, capable of saving lives in times of crisis. However, the vine's distinctive scent seems unbearable for some larger species.

Even after some vine branches and leaves have been occupied, the smaller species that follow will very 'politely' seek out other vacant 'rooms'.

"Found it."

Long smiled.

This is simply the best 'sanctuary'.

Firstly, there is no extraordinary life force here; all that exists is the chaos between predator and prey. Although danger still lingers, it is the best-case scenario for the four of them. Large and small creatures alike exist, making it a perfect natural training ground for Menchi and his companions to practice their skills.

Secondly, the oasis is no smaller than the desert, but it is much more difficult to traverse... It took them more than half a year to get out of the desert, and it will probably take even longer to get to the oasis.

He was fine, but for Menchi and the other two, it was impossible to hold on.

Then, before Menchi and the other two could react, the captain suddenly flew into the air like an anti-aircraft gun, using his terrifying jumping ability to join the chaotic battlefield of the beast horde.

At first, no living beings paid any attention to this tiny life form.

When Oboro released the state of 'Zetsu', in an instant, all kinds of creatures that were fighting and biting each other suddenly stopped moving and focused their eyes on the inconspicuous little black dot on the ground.

"It's a natural instinct..."

Long smiled slightly.

The food chain in this area has its own unique balance, and this has become the norm.

When a more powerful life form suddenly appears and disrupts this food chain, all the creatures in the chain will react in one way: 'escape'! Because... a new order is about to be established here.

Boom! The towering black mist was detonated and spread like a virus.

At this moment, the seal, as large as a mountain, roared desperately, its voice filled with fear. It clumsily crawled and ran, even abandoning the half-eaten food and the half-dinosaur carcass.

The elephant herd also resembled birds scattering, dispersing in all directions.

A gigantic white centipede desperately tried to break free of the soil and burrow underground.

However, it was all in vain.

Wherever the Ghost Mist passes, all life is lost.

As soon as the centipede plunged its head into the crack in the ground, black mist and ghosts engulfed its body. When the mist dissipated, it was motionless, permanently frozen in that position.

"Captain... is too strong. He's evolving every day... without stopping."

This scene was undoubtedly extremely shocking to Anthony and his two companions.

One second, a raging, chaotic herd of beasts filled the air, a testament to the tenacious vitality of life... the next, as if a loudspeaker had been turned off, a deathly silence descended. Those vibrant lives, large and small, vanished before our very eyes...

"He belongs here."

Menchi chimed in.

After so much time, the three of them had a very good understanding of Oboro's abilities.

By absorbing souls, Oboro can become infinitely stronger.

After a short while, the black mist dissipated, revealing corpses strewn everywhere.

"There's no danger... Come out."

A soft laugh echoed in the hearts of the three.

After a while, the four of them stood beneath the vines that hung suspended in mid-air and grew in a straight line.

Looking up, this plant is as tall as a building.

Before the four of them could act, a vine, connected to the branches and leaves, drooped down on its own, as if sensing Anthony's injury, and wrapped around him gently.

"Take it easy."

Seeing his uneasy expression, Long comforted him.

Just a few minutes later, the branches and leaves drooped and stretched out again. Anthony, looking on incredulously, landed on his feet and looked at his severed arm.

The arm that Menchi cut off grew back.

This scene left both Menchi and Gabe Vich speechless.

"It seems that not all the power in the Dark Continent is malicious..."

Long confirmed his idea and said calmly, "Let's use this place as our base... You two should get some rest, I'll keep watch outside."

As they spoke, new branches drooped down, curling towards Menchi and Gabe Vich.

A branch also approached Long, but he dodged it.

He doesn't seem to need medical attention...

While the temporary killing of nearby life forms doesn't guarantee absolute safety, the area is vast, and other creatures could appear at any time, just as his arrival suggests. The stability of this food chain is time-sensitive; things will become very troublesome once a more powerful life form enters the area.

"Captain... you..."

Since the deaths of Fante and Rita, Gabe Vich, who had hardly spoken, looked at Oboro, hesitant to speak.

"It's okay... I'm in good condition."

Long knew what he was going to say.

The branches and leaves of this vine form a 'small room'. By forcefully tapping the leaves, they will open and release what's inside. If not tapped, a person can stay inside indefinitely. According to Anthony's description, the leaves secrete a sap that soaks and repairs the body, and the temperature inside the leaves is also ideal.

It also releases a gas that is beneficial to life.

"Healing ability, its feeding method... is it to eat 'pain'... or to reap joy?" Oboro walked to the root of the vine, reached out and touched the plant, and guessed.

The very essence of this vine gave him a feeling of warmth and purity.

In the private room, Gabe Vich woke up from the liquid covering his body. It was amazing that he could breathe even while lying in the liquid, without any discomfort.

Because a certain gas in the room is so concentrated that it can penetrate the juice and seep into the body.

Once he recovers, the liquid in the room will automatically disappear and the room will dry out.

He can leave by simply tapping the blade hard.

But he didn't do that; instead, he took out a diary.

This diary is quite special; it's not used to record the team's experiences on the Dark Continent, or to record any species or information.

This is his private diary.

"Today is May 18th. Under the captain's leadership, we finally overcame numerous dangers and arrived at a 'safe zone' in the oasis. While it's called safe, it's still a death trap for me, Menchi, Anthony, and me. Of course, with the captain here, everything changes..."

'The captain is still so powerful... He'll always be a symbol of strength, both in terms of power and willpower. Sometimes I even wonder how he does it, considering he's not much older than me... Haha.'

'Back in the human world, everyone who knew the captain perceived him as cold, terrifying, unfathomable, and ruthless... But as time went on, I discovered that wasn't the case... He cared deeply for us, though he wouldn't say it; his actions spoke volumes. In unfamiliar environments and unknown dangers, he was always the first to rush in... He never showed the slightest fear or panic in front of us. He gave the three of us a complete sense of security, and he did his best to shoulder everything. I don't regret following him to the Dark Continent; he introduced me to some of the most interesting people on my life's journey.'

"A wondrous plant grows here, capable of healing all fleshly wounds. Thanks to this new discovery, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief, and the captain has designated this place as our base. I think what awaits the three of us next... is a long and arduous journey of training and trials. But I don't resist it; on the contrary, I'm looking forward to it... I will definitely work hard, desperately honing myself, because I never want to lose any more of my comrades."

"The captain didn't receive treatment... That disaster left shocking scars on his face and body. He clearly possessed the ability to absorb life force, yet he never used it. I think... he saw those scars as some kind of warning, something he didn't want to forget, and also a way of remembering Fante and Rita. Although the captain has never mentioned Fante and Rita since then, and we've intentionally avoided talking about them... in our hearts, everyone remembers them."

Halfway through writing, Gabe Vich pulled something out of the package: a crumpled box of cigarettes.

Fante often smokes.

"Uncle Fante, when the captain wasn't around, you were always the one who stepped up to protect us... And I'm growing stronger too. One day, I'll definitely be like you, a real man! Don't worry about Brother Anthony and Sister Menchi, I'll take good care of them and protect them."

"Rita... don't worry, after I return from the Dark Continent, I will definitely visit your hometown and donate a large sum of money so that everyone can live a better life. Also, what you said on the ship... was true. Haha... you really do understand the Captain best. He's a man we all admire; his words will definitely succeed, we all believe that."

After quickly writing on the paper, Gabe Vich smiled.

Then, his expression changed, he put the diary away, and resumed his indifferent demeanor.

After calming myself down, I tapped the leaf hard, and it fell to the ground.

"The exploration ends here. Next, the three of you will gradually adapt to the food chain and environment here, and learn to fight the life forms that inhabit the surrounding area on your own. Before that, let's explore the surrounding environment."

Looking at the three who had recovered, Long said softly, "Leaving aside the cultivation philosophy of Nian, here is life energy that is closer to the origin... I will also guide you and change your thinking and cognition to become familiar with the diversity of life energy... With these vines, you can fight with peace of mind, but if you encounter anything strange or rule-based, remember to avoid it immediately."

"This process will be incredibly long..."

After Long finished speaking, he saw that the three of them's eyes did not waver in the slightest and nodded. "Let's begin."