Torch and Unexpected Gains
The blizzard continued, and the sky grew increasingly dark.
It's probably only a matter of time before it gets completely dark.
However, Lin Yu was not flustered because he had not found a base or started collecting firewood.
After saying goodbye to Sister Hua, he headed north...
Therefore, this means that he is now closer to the "Item" given by Sister Hua.
Certainly...
Most importantly, Lin Yu now has the "soldier" Profession advantage and Map in hand, so even if he immediately finds a stronghold to gather some firewood, he has plenty of time.
But Lin Yu didn't want to waste the evening.
It was precisely because "Chate" and the Snow Monster would appear at night that Lin Yu didn't want to drag things out for too long.
His "Rank Advancement Mission" conditions already stated that he had to tell a different lie to "each Player participating in the Game".
But what if Player dies before that?
Lin Yu figured that since the Rank Advancement Mission was so difficult, he would most likely fail.
So...
His first Rank Advancement Mission contained a hidden challenge.
That means Lin Yu must race against time to see everyone and successfully lie before anyone dies!
Although the information Sister Hua received about the [Black Oil Torch] was very vague, Lin Yu, by combining it with the Map, could roughly guess where it was.
On the Map, a few kilometers directly north of the location Sister Hua mentioned where she had just been, which is also northwest of the location where the dolphins had been...
It is a high-frequency activity area for Snow Monster, marked in red.
Although Sister Hua didn't have Map, this Item...
She's definitely not easy to get.
Fortunately, Lin Yu is now a soldier and has a [Infallible Revolver].
Although there was only one bullet, Lin Yu felt it was enough.
Since there is a monster called "Chate," and it is stated explicitly that the monster is invincible.
That means that ordinary Snow Monster, ruled by "Chate," are likely to be killable.
Given the soldiers' physical capabilities and the use of pistols, taking one down shouldn't be a problem.
Certainly...
It's best to avoid them!
Thinking of this, Lin Yu quickened his pace once again.
He started running at full speed across the Snowfield.
Soon...
Lin Yu realized that he had stepped into the "red zone".
Because on the ground, on the snow piled up with a new layer of floating snow and ice that was constantly being whipped up by the storm, there appeared a series of heavy footprints, the snow compacted into ice.
The footprint was three or four times the normal size, with clear edges and only three toes.
These footprints are clearly not those of "humans".
It rightfully belongs to...
Snow Monster.
Lin Yu let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew, you can tell this thing is tough to deal with just by looking at its footprints."
He sighed with emotion.
A primate or primate-like creature that is larger and stronger than a human is always extremely dangerous.
As darkness fell, the howling wind began to sound like a sob.
Lin Yu observed the direction the footprints were extending and, without making a sound, chose another direction perpendicular to them.
"Hopefully, we'll find that 'stone' soon."
Lin Yu stepped over the footprints and continued moving quickly—but his steps were much lighter now.
Although it's unknown whether the Snow Monster locates itself by sound, it never hurts to be careful.
As the sky began to darken and visibility became noticeably reduced, Lin Yu was contemplating whether to give up.
In the distance, amidst the snow and wind, Lin Yu could vaguely see a raised, Shadow.
Its shape is fairly regular, resembling a rock.
Although he had been running around in the "mountainous area" all along, perhaps due to the polishing and burying of the wind and snow, this Winter Mountain had always been relatively flat and had no obvious protruding rocks.
But here, there is a huge rock that suddenly rises up.
"This should be it!"
Lin Yu understood, quickened his pace, and arrived at the giant rock.
This giant rock looks like a square stone inserted diagonally into the ground, so there is a noticeably thinner area of snow underneath it.
Lin Yu walked to the bottom of the rock and stepped back and forth a few times. Soon he felt that he had stepped on something.
He bent down to sweep away the snow and soon discovered a Torch Forging of black metal.
The Torch head was exquisite, much more so than Lin Yu had imagined—a hollow cylinder with flame-shaped patterns carved on it.
After touching it, you'll see a prompt about the Item.
[Black Oil Torch: Torch that burns in various environments, providing a constant temperature and light. It can effectively repel monsters that fear firelight.]
[Note: This is particularly effective at dispelling the "Snow Monster" in this Game.]
Sister Hua is indeed honest; she even described the Item's effects exactly as it was.
Lin Yu bent down to try and pick up the Torch, but found he couldn't lift it.
He recalled the feeling under his feet, frowned, and swept the snow away again.
"Tsk... Just as I expected."
The Torch was held in one hand.
That hand was already frozen stiff, the fingers stuck to the end of the Torch, so Lin Yu couldn't lift it at all.
But...
Fortunately, Lin Yu is now a "soldier," so he has no shortage of strength.
He snapped it open with all his might, and a crisp breaking sound came from below.
"Crack!"
Several fingers were torn off, and Lin Yu plucked them from the end of the Torch.
The black metal Torch was cold and smooth to the touch, and even a little bit freezing.
Lin Yu rubbed and scraped the spot where his fingers had been on a nearby rock, removing the dead skin that was stuck to them.
Afterwards, Lin Yu studied how to light the Torch.
"I can't possibly be expected to bring my own lighter..."
Lin Yu muttered to himself.
That would be bad luck.
However, since the description of this Torch states that it "can burn under various conditions," its ignition method should not be too primitive.
Sure enough, Lin Yu quickly found a gap at the end of the Torch.
The gap was so narrow that Lin Yu wouldn't have noticed it if it weren't for a few ice shards stuck inside.
Lin Yu studied it for a moment and figured it out.
"I see!"
He rotated the black pillar beneath the crevice, and then a faint "pop" sound emanated from inside the Torch!
A sliver of white light flashed across the openwork Torch above, and then...
Pale flames leaped from the Torch heads, burning quietly and emitting a soft, cool light that illuminated the surrounding wind and snow.
Then, the Torch became warm, and Lin Yu's hands felt warm as he held Torch.
Lin Yu was pleasantly surprised.
"This is really great! I really have to thank Sister Hua!"
After saying that, Lin Yu looked at the fingers on the ground.
"Thank you too, brother... But with such a useful Torch, how did you end up dying here?"
He thought about it with some curiosity.
Wanting to investigate the "cause of death" so he could have a place to go, Lin Yu squatted down with Torch and then swept away the snow covering the corpse.
As the snow was cleared away, Lin Yu's expression became somewhat serious.
The cause of death is still unclear. The body appears to have no obvious external injuries, but it is frozen pale and the face is frozen with a look of terror.
Lin Yu recognized the face of this corpse.
It was the Rough Uncle I met at the beginning.
They even dressed exactly the same!
"Oh, there's an unexpected bonus."
Lin Yu looked at the corpse and muttered to himself.