"Ms. Linsor, this is what we found around the camp. It has a strange smell, and it must have attracted the desert rats." Osley held a pile of black stuff in his hands and walked over to Grace and others. The pile of black stuff was the size of green peas. It appeared to be some sort of bait and had an awful stench."What's this?" Grace was a little curious. She moved forward and gave the foul-smelling substance a sniff."It looks like a mixture of food and chemical substances. I experimented with it just now. The stench of this mixture can quickly attract desert rats," Osley explained."Hence, the desert rat invasion of our food supplies wasn't an accident. Is someone plotting against us?" Grace's suspicions were quickly confirmed. It was obvious that this bait for the desert rats was not produced naturally."That's very possible." Osley nodded and replied, "This black substance was sprinkled around the camp of our food supplies. It was an obvious attempt to lure the desert rat
The group traveled through a desolate expanse of endless sand, a monotonous scene void of life. However, a surprising change awaited them as the barren landscape transformed into a vibrant oasis filled with flowers, plants, and trees.It was a stark contrast to the lifeless terrain they had just crossed. Up ahead, an expansive and endless forest emerged, an unusual sight in the expectedly barren Deadlands. The sudden appearance of this flourishing oasis left them in awe.The oasis ahead looked like two different worlds. On one side, yellow sand stretched out, barren and desolate. On the other side, lush greenery extended as far as the eye could see."Wow! Who'd have thought we'd find this in the middle of Deadlands?" "Is this really an oasis? It looks more like a forest!""With all these green trees, sweet-smelling grass, and blooming flowers, it's like stumbling upon a hidden paradise!"Amid their amazement at this unexpected sight, the group couldn't contain their astonish
Upon entering the lush oasis, it felt like stepping into paradise, eliciting smiles on nearly everyone's faces as they ventured further. Grace led the way, with Dustin closely following, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.Despite the seemingly serene environment, hidden dangers lurked beneath the surface and within the trees, taking the form of poisonous creatures. Though currently unseen in the daylight, as night fell, it would be their opportune moment to emerge and hunt."Hey, look over there! What's that?"The excitement in the voice of a Black Scorpion Squad member rang out, drawing everyone's attention as he pointed ahead. As they turned to look, they discovered three fruit trees nestled amidst dense vegetation. The tree branches were laden with vibrant red fruits that glistened like rubies in the sunlight."Are these revitalberries?" someone asked."Revitalberries? The ones that boost cultivation and extend life?""Wow! Look at all these revitalberries! We
A Black Scorpion Squad member was perched on the tree. He plucked the first revitalberry and reached for the second. Suddenly, his arm spasmed involuntarily in response to the sharp sting. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a red bug on his palm, roughly the size of an ant.The red bug tore through his skin with razor-sharp mandibles and burrowed into his flesh. Panic surged as he tried to swat it away, but his efforts proved futile. In a matter of moments, the red bug had embedded itself deep into his arm, gnawing at his flesh while laying eggs.The intense pain forced the Black Scorpion Squad member to scream, and he fell from the tree. His arm rapidly decayed, swarming with countless red bugs, creating a nightmarish scene."Help! Somebody, please help!" The Black Scorpion Squad member cried out in distress, writhing on the ground. His body seemed to wither before their eyes as if he were turning into a desiccated corpse. In a heartbeat, the once-muscular man transformed i
After tending to the wounds of the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad, their combat abilities and mobility were severely impacted due to the loss of their arm. Even simple self-defense became a challenge.Grace surveyed the wounded squad members before turning her gaze to Garrett. "Captain Wilder, should I arrange the return of our injured team members?"Since they had just entered the oasis, she could still assist the wounded in returning. Yet, if they opted to press forward, there would be no turning back."Captain, we're fine! Just lost an arm, no big deal!""Yeah, we've faced worse. This injury means nothing to us.""Captain, trust us. We can pull off the mission without a hitch!"Facing the prospect of returning, the injured members of the Black Scorpion Squad reassured Garrett promptly. They understood that going back meant giving up the treasures the others would obtain in the oasis.Although the mission promised a good reward, dividing it among the team didn
On the camp's outskirts, two elite squads stood watch with their eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. The distant roars of approaching creatures echoed, accompanied by the rumble of their thunderous run. Everyone in the camp had assembled, prepared to face the unknown threat."Protect Ms. Linsor!" The captain of the royal guard quickly assembled his men when he saw Grace step forward. They formed a protective circle around her as a precaution."Draw your swords!" Excitement and nervous anticipation mixed within Jackson as he directed the disciples of the Embersteel Order to form a defensive stance. While sparring in the martial world was familiar, facing a creature was entirely new and anxiety-inducing."Stay sharp and adapt to the situation," Garrett urged.The Black Scorpion Squad took a strategic position at the back. Despite their diverse skills, their combat strength fell short compared to the Embersteel Order disciples."Making a fuss over nothing." Aidan leaned casually ag
"Mr. Ridge, since you're determined, I won't insist further," Jackson conceded as his advice went ignored.He knew that revealing these unknown creatures would create chaos once they were taken outside the oasis. However, the outcome remained uncertain.Suddenly, Aidan turned to Grace. "Little Miss, I've got a plan to catch this critter alive. Can I borrow your Dragon Rope?"Despite having enough skills to handle the creature, the real challenge was capturing and taming it. Understanding that regular ropes wouldn't work against such a strong beast, Aidan realized that only the Dragon Rope could do the job."Since you've asked, I won't say no," Grace said. She signaled to the captain of the royal guard to get the Dragon Rope. Once he returned, she handed it to Aidan.Aidan's mood improved as he took the Dragon Rope. "Thank you, I really appreciate it. Remember, if you ever run into any trouble, don't hesitate to reach out to me!" Just as he was about to approach the creature, a
Dustin smirked at Aidan. "Well, that Dragon Rope of yours seems pretty useless now, huh?"The rope, initially effective in restraining the panther-like creature, proved useless against the formidable brown giant python. In simpler terms, it couldn't even be used on the giant python.Aidan's irritation grew as he spoke, "This devilish creature killed my mount. It must be dealt with." As he prepared to face the brown giant python, an unexpected twist unfolded.Suddenly, a massive shadow swept across the sky, casting everything into darkness. A breathtaking black eagle materialized, its body a marvel of obsidian beauty, and its feathers gleamed like polished steel.When it spread its wings, they stretched over 30 feet, resembling a commercial airplane at a glance. The eagle dove from the sky, reaching an incredible speed and covering several hundred feet in the blink of an eye.As it descended, the gusts of wind caused trees to topple as sand and stones scattered around. The wind