Chapter 209
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Chapter 209: Infiltration
After a night of rest, the group set out the next morning and, after three hours of travel, finally reached the edge of the dry grass wilderness.
Ahead of them lay a forest that grew increasingly dense, with a thick layer of semi-decayed material formed from years of fallen leaves beneath their feet.
The soil beneath the dry grass was yellow-brown, while the soil under the trees was black, creating a stark boundary between the two.
Without time to marvel, the prepared members of the Fresnel team quickly took up their roles. It was the best time of day, with the sun shining brightly, and Fresnel, the daytime warrior, remained vigilant, scanning their surroundings.
The other four members dispersed, collecting various items from this new area, including soil, decayed matter, and a variety of biological samples.
The test tubes filled with samples were carefully sealed and placed on the shelf behind Wang Xiao’s armor, which was equipped with effective shock absorption to prevent damage.
As they collected samples, Shi Jin and the others also began to survey their surroundings, committing as many of the unfamiliar creatures to memory as possible.
Unlike any species documented in the official materials from Hope City, the trees here had an overall gray-white appearance, and through the cracks in their trunks, a faint purple substance could be seen flowing within.
Many spots on the trunks bore bulging, tumor-like growths, half-spherical shapes that swelled slightly, as if nurturing some strange form of life.
Similarly, the leaves of these trees were not the green described in records; instead, they displayed a mix of gray, green, and purple, like colors blending on a painter’s palette.
“Stay alert.”
“Understood.”
The group maintained their combat formation as they pressed forward.
Inside Wang Xiao’s helmet, Lin Qingliu’s voice reached Fulan’s intangible ears:
“Do you remember places like this?”
Fulan, using her ethereal senses to perceive the surroundings, paused before responding:
“I wasn’t rational back then, but from what little memory remains, I do recall something.
“However, the place where I was born should be west of Hope City, where there’s a forest different from this one, shrouded in endless gray-white fog.”
Lin Qingliu had glimpsed a similar scene in Fulan’s dreams.
It was a forest that seemed to exist in an eerie symbiotic state, where all species had merged under some unknown force.
In those trees, cocoon-like structures appeared, and from them emerged the extraordinary beasts that had plagued Hope City for decades.
Though current intelligence suggested that the extraordinary beasts might merely be a tool of the Supreme Will, this strategy alone had established a fragile balance between humans and extraordinary beasts.
Moreover, humans could only barely survive and sustain themselves in this ongoing struggle with the aid of the biological field…
Perhaps for this very reason, the mycelium life had been unable to fully erode and infect humanity on a large scale.
The forest the Fresnel team now entered resembled a simplified version of the Giant Tree Forest from Fulan’s memory—though, without more information, it could also be considered a distinct ecological community.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Fresnel’s abilities were partially weakened.
The treetops and shade reduced the amount of light he could gather, making it less abundant and intense than it had been on the open plains.
This might have been a problem for him in the past, but after undergoing special training, Fresnel was no longer as vulnerable. Still, if only…
“Watch out!”
A sharp, low warning from a female voice rang out behind Fresnel, accompanied by the muffled sound of urgent footsteps.
It was an extraordinary beast!
Fresnel swiftly recalled the lessons from his specialized training and shouted,
“Everyone, maintain your defenses and avoid any bloodshed! Shi Jin!”
At his command, Shi Jin materialized from behind the extraordinary beast. Empowered by the speed enhancement from Ephemeral, she delivered a single, decisive strike that shattered the beast’s neck.
The extraordinary beast, bearing a resemblance to a hyena, emitted a sharp cry before collapsing onto the thick layer of humus on the ground. Only half of its neck and head remained capable of movement.
As a mournful howl was about to escape its throat, a beam of light firmly anchored it to the earth.
The beam, as thick as a forearm, seemed to cast a shadow over the sky. Its intense heat rapidly carbonized the beast’s body, starting from the head and neck, then gradually consuming the chest, abdomen, and limbs.
In less than ten seconds, the extraordinary beast was reduced to a charred mass, seamlessly blending into the surrounding environment.
These procedures were part of the team’s routine training within the city, designed to prevent unforeseen incidents.
Exploring outside the city differs significantly from within, primarily because threats can emerge from any direction. Numerous past beast tides have demonstrated that extraordinary beasts possess a certain level of communication among themselves.
However, these animalistic extraordinary beasts also exhibit a predator’s instinct to guard their food.
Thus, upon identifying a suitable prey, they typically act alone, only seeking assistance from other extraordinary beasts when they are in dire straits and unable to overcome their adversary.
Additionally, the scent of their blood can travel great distances with the wind, which is why they handle solitary extraordinary beasts in this manner; ensuring a silent death minimizes the impact.
Gazing at the charred remains on the ground, Shi Jin waved her hand in front of her nose, asking,
“Will such a potent odor cause any issues?”
“Rest assured, only the scent of blood will attract other extraordinary beasts.”
Shi Jin nodded and remained silent; the group maintained their formation and continued their exploration.
Lin Qingliu, observing through Fulan’s eyes, witnessed the entire event. He communicated with Fulan through his thoughts,
“What level do you estimate that extraordinary beast was?”
“It was likely a Green Cocoon, the most common variety.”
Lin Qingliu inquired no further; after considerable time, he had developed a basic understanding of the classification of extraordinary beasts.
Extraordinary beasts like Fulan and the hyena-like creature, which resemble carnivorous mammals, originate from the green cocoons on the trees of the Giant Tree Forest and are classified as First Level by human standards.
Extraordinary beasts with mutated insect-like appearances emerge from the blue cocoons, corresponding to Second Level.
The bird-like extraordinary beast that once captured Fulan and soared through the skies, using a kitten as a projectile into the city, comes from the purple cocoon and is classified as Third Level.
Extraordinary beasts resembling reptiles are categorized as Fourth Level; Fulan had yet to encounter the cocoons from which these beasts are born.
After briefly noting the monsters that appeared in the vicinity, Lin Qingliu continued his observations.
Meanwhile, beneath the dark brown humus of the ground, strands of mycelium slowly extended from the underground, beginning to creep toward the charred remains.
