A party of thirty-six, along with two Mutant Cyclopes laden with heavy equipment and luggage, ventured deeper into the forest, aiming to investigate its interior and determine what it would take to occupy the island.
"The underwater findings are in too. I'll share the images with you. It's all overgrown plants and fungi down there as well.
"Also, Doctor wants us to collect some samples to take back. There's clearly no light here, yet most of the plants are green. They need testing."
Zhao Tie, also known as Zhao Tie Tou, spoke quietly, his voice coming through the miniature earpieces embedded in everyone's ears.
Another ship was actually coordinating with them underwater: the Deep Dive, which rarely surfaced and spent most of its time at sea beneath the waves. Its captain, Chen Mo, was a man who could endure solitude.
Once the instructions came through, the group walking along the tree trunks adjusted what they were doing, trying to collect any unusual plants they spotted. The people from the New World Fleet were noticeably more enthusiastic about it.
One of the Mutant Cyclopes even had a mechanical eye that gave off a pale green glow. Someone seemed to be controlling him remotely.
"I smell the stink of Otherworldly Demons."
The Otherworldly Demon Hunter Balot spoke from near the front, his voice hoarse. His eyes shone with a cold silver light in the darkness, and his pupils were vertical slits.
His words put everyone on edge. Some reached for their weapons and watched their surroundings warily, even slowing their pace.
"Oh, don't mind him!
"He says that wherever he goes. Don't worry about it. Otherworldly Demons are everywhere anyway. It's nothing unusual if they show up."
The wandering swordsman Wang Chong spoke. He was a young man around 1.6 meters tall,