Starting with Just a Tree / What a Weak Body

[Please rest assured, host, that the world's flow will be specially adjusted after you enter the instance world, and the longest time in this world will not exceed twenty-four hours.]

"That's fine."

Ren nodded, finally feeling completely relieved.

What is this new instance world?

[Please explore on your own, host.]

"Alright."

Ren didn't expect to get any more information out of him.

He paused, initially intending to jump straight into the main story, but then reconsidered and decided to make some preparations first.

After all, this is their first challenge, and they are unclear about the world's choices and other rules. If they accidentally fail, even if no one else knows, it would still be quite embarrassing.

So he quickly made preparations, reviewed his skills, and reorganized the supplies in his storage space.

With ammunition for firearms running low, Ren sneaked off to the island nation's largest arms depot and stocked up.

Unfortunately, the storage space wasn't very big; otherwise, he would have liked to stuff a few fighter jets or helicopters inside.

He then sought out Lavinia to cram in a few basic barrier spells.

Lavinia was very curious as to why Ren, who was usually so lazy, had suddenly become so studious.

Ren told her he was going on a long trip and would be back in a day.

Lavinia stopped asking questions and specially selected several versatile barrier spells for Ren.

For example, she created barrier spells to repel people, soundproof barriers, and sealing spells to isolate one's aura. She also lent Ren her treasured grimoire, which contained detailed annotations written by herself.

Ren immediately picked up the magic book to rest and started diligently watching videos... uh, watching books.

However, as they were scrolling, Ren and Lavinia ended up in bed together.

There was nothing he could do; Lavinia was always disturbing his studies nearby.

Sure enough, women only slow down his learning speed!

However, Lavinia, who was unconscious, couldn't hear his mutterings, otherwise she would have definitely gotten so angry that she sat up and hit him on the head with her magic wand.

With everything ready, Ren prepared to teleport.

But he quickly asked again, "System, after traversing the new dungeon, will my skills and equipment still be there?"

If his abilities have to start from zero every time he enters a new instance, should he still go?

Fortunately, the system wasn't that bad.

[The host's equipment and skills are personal property and cannot be reclaimed by this system.]

"OK."

Ren glanced one last time at Lavinia, who was fast asleep on the bed with her hands behind her back, then opened the dungeon system and chose to enter the dungeon.

[Please note, teleportation is about to begin, 10, 9... 1]

"?"

The countdown is going so fast?

The next second, Ren vanished from his spot.

By the time he came to his senses, the surrounding scenery had completely changed.

A damp, earthy smell filled his nostrils, and Ren found himself in a forest.

The forest at night was filled with the sound of rain. Raindrops pounded against the branches and leaves, water droplets rolled down, mingling with the croaking of frogs in the woods, and a damp, cold mist enveloped the entire forest.

Chapter 260 Starting with a Tree

"Wilderness survival?"

Looking around, Ren's eyes were clearly visible even in the darkness.

Then, using magic to keep the rain out, the darkness in the dense forest appeared even deeper.

"Start with a tree, and get all your gear by looting?"

Although it was a self-deprecating remark, Ren still carefully observed the surrounding situation.

But with such torrential rain, even the roaring wild beasts were nowhere to be seen.

Ren did not linger in place for long, but instead used his Sky Dance Technique to leap into the air above the jungle.

The view suddenly opened up, revealing an endless sea of trees in the distance. In a rather secluded corner, Ren spotted a glimmer of light.

Ren flew towards the light source and soon arrived not far from it.

This is a medium-sized camp resembling a construction site. Heavy excavating machinery is parked quietly in the heavy rain, and several armored personnel carriers equipped with heavy machine guns are parked nearby.

It's less like a construction site and more like an armed outpost of some faction.

Just as Ren was preparing to conduct a more in-depth investigation, a strange noise suddenly came from not far away.

The intense gunfire and the roars of wild beasts lasted only a moment before disappearing.

"Interesting."

Ren raised an eyebrow, then walked toward the source of the gunfire.

At the same time.

In the dark, rainy night, only the fallen construction light tubes provided a sliver of illumination.

Half of it was submerged in mud and water, while the other half stretched out at an angle, its halo dim, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

The dim lighting accentuated the even more terrifying scene.

The staggering corpses moved slowly through the mud, a stench carried on the night wind.

Among these rotting, foul-smelling corpses, a gigantic beast with bulging muscles and a body the size of a small mountain stood out from the crowd.

The lightning struck, revealing that it was an upright dog-headed orc with jet-black fur.

Opposite the beast was a middle-aged man carrying a shotgun.

"Could the orc capable of manipulating necromancy be 'Death King's Brother' Gran- Hazarov?!"

A serious expression appeared on the man's face.

Upon hearing this, the kobold chuckled, "I'll give you credit for knowing my name for now. Take this honor with you to hell, Kojou Akatsuki!"

The kobold roared and charged. The man pulled the trigger, and the magic-infused alloy bullets spun out. However, the orc dodged all the bullets at an incredible speed, within six meters. Then, it closed in on the man at a speed that no ordinary person could react to, and its thick knee slammed into his chest.

The sounds of cracked bones and a sunken chest were drowned out by the rain.

The orc ignored the man who was sent flying like a broken doll and headed straight for the depths of the cave where the opening had been blasted open by the explosives.

In the dimly lit cave, more than ten wounded corpses lay scattered on the ground.

Each corpse bore massive lacerations, some even with limbs missing, almost half of their bodies cut open.

The person who did this was none other than Liana Karyana, an old-generation vampire from the War King Territory, who funded the research team on the ruins of Gozo Island.

A woman dressed as a man, with short blond hair and wearing a suit.

Although I had considered the possibility of being targeted beforehand.

After all, she wasn't the only one who wanted the creatures sealed within these ruins, but she never expected that tonight's attackers would be these resurrected zombies.

However, these slow-moving undead are no match for vampires.

The summoned beasts easily wiped out the dozen or so zombies.

"Miss Liana, is it... is it all over?"

There were other people in the cave.

One is a ponytail-wearing girl named Nagisa Akatsuki dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit, and the other is a silver-haired young man named Kojou Akatsuki dressed in sportswear.

Although their hair colors are completely different, they are indeed related as siblings.

"Sorry, it took a little effort."

Liana lowered her head and gave the cowering, fearful girl a weary smile.

"Are these two wolves your familiars, Miss Liana?"

"Nagisa Akatsuki timidly."

At this moment, standing to the left and right of the three people were two large wolves, each about four meters long, radiating golden and silver light respectively.

"Yes, those two are the otherworldly summons I command in my blood. Once summoned, they are magical aggregates with consciousness. As long as I have them, no matter how many of those zombies come, I won't let them touch the coffin or even a single hair on your heads."

"Liana said confidently."

Although many of the zombies she had previously dealt with were wearing tactical vests or other equipment, which was enough to prove that the camp had completely fallen, this was also the source of Liana's confidence.

"But why would they attack this place?"

Kojou Akatsuki asked.

Liana sighed, "The attackers are probably Black Death Emperor Faction, orc supremacists who especially hate vampires. They might also know this is a ruin related to the 'The Fourth Primogenitor.' For Black Death Emperor Faction orcs, it's perfectly normal for them to cause me trouble."

As soon as she finished speaking, Nagisa Akatsuki suddenly clutched her head and froze, then began to tremble violently as if she were afraid of something.

"Miss Liana, Mr. Kojo, it's scary... Quick, run!"

"Nagisa, what's wrong with you?"

Kojou Akatsuki looked at his younger sister in a panic.

How did things suddenly turn out like this?

Liana, sensing the approaching presence of the orcs, stared with bloodshot eyes at the cave's only entrance.

Immediately afterwards, Hazarov, the younger brother of the orc king, pushed aside the other debris in the tunnel and appeared before the three with an overwhelming presence.

"So you're here, Liana - Karyana. Sending weak humans out to fight while you cower in your lair like a rabbit, you truly live up to the reputation of being the cowardly daughter of the House Karyana. You're just like your ancestors."

The dog-headed orc grinned.

"Shut up! You beast! I won't allow you to insult my father again!"

Hearing the orc's long wind, Liana's face turned red with anger, and then she pointed with her right hand.

"Tear it to shreds! Eclipse Wolf Skoll!"

While orcs possess the strongest physiques, the familiars enslaved by vampires are the most powerful aggregates of magic. Even the orcs with the strongest bodies cannot face these familiars head-on without suffering harm.

However, facing this familiar that could easily crush rocks, the younger brother of the dead emperor only used one hand to suppress it firmly, and then used his right arm to crush it completely.

But the deceased prince remained completely unfazed.

And with Liana's horrified gaze, it began its final evolution.

Chapter 261 Such a weak body

The orc, who was originally upright, now lay on all fours, his muscles swelled to several times their original size, his body was completely covered by long, jet-black hair, and he exuded a magical power stronger than that of the familiars summoned by Liana.

"This is... a divine beast transformation?!"

Upon sensing the orc's power, Liana was momentarily stunned.

Orcs possess extremely strong physical attributes, and on top of that, they also possess a special ability that only a very small percentage of those of superior bloodlines can acquire.

Atavism, or "beastification".

Orcs who transform into divine beasts will possess powerful creatures capable of rivaling angels and dragons.

"Unlike you vampires who are useless if you can't summon familiars, we are descendants of demonic wolves born from the hearts of giants. Therefore, orcs are the highest-ranking demon race! You lowly vampire, experience the power of the world's most elite race!"

The enormous monster, whose body was almost a quarter the size of the cave, spoke human language.