Dustin was awakened by footsteps outside the tent at the break of dawn. He quickly turned around to get up and was watchful.Soon, he heard Osley speaking. "Ms. Linsor, something bad happened!" Instead of barging into the tent, Osley stood outside to report the incident to Grace."W-What?" Grace slowly opened her eyes when she heard the commotion. She slipped out of the sleeping bag and slipped into her jacket. She then asked, "What happened, Mr. Will?""When I was doing my routine check, I saw a lot of desert rats around our camp. I followed their trail and realized that the rats had destroyed our supplies!" Osley replied anxiously."What?" Grace's expression instantly became serious when she heard that. She quickly walked out of her tent and questioned in a serious tone, "Didn't I arrange for someone to stand guard through the night? How did the desert rats get to our supplies?""I have no idea as well. It was already too late when I discovered the problem." Osley appeared d
This was, without a doubt, very bad news.""Ms. Linsor! What happened? Where did the desert rats come from?" Garret asked as he walked toward her."Captain Wilder, shouldn't I be the one asking that question?" Grace said indifferently, "You've been to Deadlands many times and are very familiar with this place. You even chose this place for us to set up camp. "Don't you know that there would be desert rats around this area?""Ms. Linsor, I had no idea this would happen." Garett quickly explained, "Normally, desert rats will only appear at the border of the oasis, and even then, they are only active in a specific area. "The place that we chose to set up camp is not in that area. The invasion shouldn't have happened.""Ms. Linsor, accidents are inevitable. Once we're in Deadlands, you should have prepared yourself for all scenarios. Our captain has done his best. No one knew that there'd be desert rats here. "If you want to blame anyone, you should blame your subordinates fo
"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