Desolate Earth

"I've only had a month of rest."

"I just crossed the teleportation array and now I have to investigate this massacre of an entire family. What if some law enforcement officers suddenly think I'm the murderer?"

Linsey's expression was subtle.

He glanced at the Attribute Panel, but the Task Bar remained unmoved, showing no reaction to the massacre that was six hours late.

So he unfolded the map and began to expand the reconnaissance area.

"Um..."

"Still nothing!"

The map is completely clean in terms of skills.

There was no murderer lurking here, nor were there any law enforcement officers who arrived late or misunderstood, unlike in the City of a Thousand Sails.

"After all, it's a 6-hour period."

Linsey shook her head slightly.

This situation, even without surveillance or witnesses, is extremely challenging.

Not to mention that there are awakened beings in this world!

Analyze the methods and speed by which the other side slaughtered the people in the entire courtyard.

This guy is guaranteed to be at least Fifth Stage or higher Awakener.

Anyone who is single-mindedly focused on escaping would naturally have already left Linsey's detection range.

"But why are there no clues?"

"Perhaps he didn't come in person, but killed someone remotely using some kind of technique."

Linsey did one last check.

After confirming that there was no other information, they walked out of the courtyard wall.

When he arrived in this completely new world, a vast and solemn atmosphere instantly enveloped him.

Look north.

Amidst the snow-covered mountains and towering peaks, gloomy and dark valleys are faintly visible, with a thin river flowing through the rugged gorges.

Looking south, one sees a gray-white wasteland that blends seamlessly with the horizon.

The place was desolate and barren, with not a blade of grass growing and the wind howling mournfully.

On this desolate land, not even a lone wolf could be seen; the clouds that occasionally flashed across the sky seemed to be taking over the work of the vultures.

Only the east side.

On the equally desolate land, a road extends from the Teleportation Courtyard into the distance.

Low shrubs divide the saline-alkali land on both sides of the road.

No birds could be seen in the dark blue sky, and no sound could be heard on the gray earth.

There was only deathly silence here.

Open your eyes and look around, listen attentively.

On this vast, pale land, there was only utter, despairing silence.

"..."

What has happened to this world?

Linsey mechanically took steps forward, following the only path.

During his time in the City of a Thousand Sails, he also did some learning preparation.

This world should have many human settlements, with mountains, seas, lakes, and all kinds of landforms, making it a world with a good degree of habitability.

And from here, head east.

After about three months of travel, you will see the point where the two worlds meet.

"This..."

"In short, this direction is definitely correct."

In the following days, Linsey walked alone in solitude.

He felt as if he had returned to the days when he first arrived in the Black Mountain World. On the vast, desolate land, he was all alone.

However, it is different from Dragon Beast that pose a clear threat.

The situation in this world is unclear, and there is nothing to communicate with.

Apart from the desolate atmosphere that permeated the air, no information was revealed to him.

The wild wolves and beasts occasionally seen on the road were mostly thin and sickly.

It was as if the world itself were there.

It is tormenting every life that lives here.

"Well--"

"This place is already this desolate, even though it's separated from the City of Law by a whole world. If those Righteous Walker fight to the end and even destroy the world, where will they go to carry out their will?"

Day 4.

Linsey, wandering alone in the wilderness, complained.

His pack and storage room were stocked with enough supplies to last a long journey. Even when he ran out of Meat Biscuit and was truly at his wit's end, he still planted a Blackberry bush in his yard.

[Oddity/Consumable: Blackberry]

[A small shrub that produces a certain amount of Blackberry daily, which restore stamina when consumed; it can also be released directly to create a large area of Thorn covering the ground.]

[Achievement item, moderate value.]

This is still an achievement reward for killing the Tree Spirit.

Although the yield is not high, it is stable, producing some berries every day.

As long as it's not used as a disposable weapon and people just make do with it, it won't starve them to death.

"How are we supposed to live like this?"

"Wala Wala hasn't recovered yet. I can't exactly go find another frozen swamp and dig out a companion from an underground treasure vault, can I?"

As evening fell, Linsey muttered to herself to pass the time, while preparing to find a flat spot to set up her shop and get some comfortable sleep and rest.

He routinely opened the map and surveyed the surrounding environment.

"Oh?"

Linsey raised an eyebrow and instantly pulled back into a yawn.

Four days passed, and finally something in the distance caught his attention.

It was a mark made of interwoven red and yellow.

To be precise, it consists of 17 Yellow Marker surrounded by 21 Red Marker.

Conflict? Hunt? Battle?

"Who cares!"

"Finally, we've encountered something!"

Linsey's spirits lifted. He packed up the shop and kicked off the stove.

With an agility of 84, he left a trail of afterimages behind him and dashed away like a fleeting shadow.

In just a few breaths.

The situation revealed by the Map Scouting appeared before Linsey.

The 21 Red Dot represent a type of gregarious wilderness beast; Linsey has seen two groups of them in the past few days.

[Barren Earth Imp]

[Beasts - Primitive Awakening Tier One]

Body length: 0.5~1.2 meters

[Weight 4~47kg]

[Running speed is similar to that of an adult human]

[Diurnal animals with poor eyesight, a keen sense of smell, and no hibernation.]

The Barren Earth Imp lives in wastelands or forests. It is gregarious, fierce, and greedy, primarily attacking with claws and bites. After being influenced by Essence, it evolves into Devil Beast, gaining the ability to manipulate small pieces of earth and stone; its skin becomes tougher, and its arm strength is also enhanced.

[Weaknesses: Brain, vital organs in the chest cavity.]

Hunting advice: Abdomen, Head (Do players really need this advice?)

[Kill Achievement: 41/50]

As for what's surrounded by these Barren Earth Imp, those 17 Yellow Marker.

Just as Linsey had hoped, there were a few humans.

The human and the beast faced off.

The Barren Earth Imp intimidates humans with its fierce and greedy beastly eyes, and occasionally manipulates earth and rocks to launch attacks.

There are also awakened individuals among the human population.

But there were only two of them, and their skills were only at the first or Second Stage. They were exhausted just protecting everyone. They were now covered in wounds and panting heavily.

These rudimentary Devil Beast were nothing more than a casual matter for Linsey to deal with.

But for ordinary people, this is already the final moment that threatens their lives!

"We've finally seen them."

Linsey spoke calmly, and immediately took out his Iron Horn Great Bow, nocking several ordinary wooden arrows at it:

"Save them."

"Finally, we can get some information about this world."