Dr. Camila immediately ran to the front and picked up a scale.
The air still lingered with the smell of blood. In the damp air, seawater splashed against the rocks, washing something onto the shore.
Everyone lowered their heads to see what had washed up near their feet.
Some pieces of broken flesh, scales, and even some internal organs and fragmented bodies.
Although they were just severed limbs, they recognized that these bodies should belong to green-skinned monsters.
The scale in Dr. Camila’s hand seemed to be from a merfolk, while some other scales that washed ashore were smaller and transparent, seemingly ordinary fish scales.
In addition to the remains of the green-skinned monsters, there were also some remains of fish and shrimp in this pile of things.
A nearby researcher walked over.
“It seems that the green-skinned monsters and merfolk don’t have a symbiotic relationship.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a big wave surged from the water, bringing up a dark figure.
The thing crashed straight into Xia Chi’s feet. He looked down, and nauseating feeling instantly welled up from his chest.
At his feet lay the corpse of a merfolk. The merfolk had been dead for who knows how long, with its entire body gnawed into a chaotic mess.
When he saw the body of the green-skinned monster earlier, he didn’t feel much. After all, from the beginning of playing the game until now, he had encountered many grotesque monsters. Compared to some monsters, the green-skinned monsters were relatively presentable.
Because they closely resembled typical monster appearances, Xia Chi didn’t have much emotional response to their corpses.
Just like his fear of Dr. Camila, he is also incapable of accepting the body of the merfolk. He couldn’t accept seeing something so close to a human being in a bad situation, as this would give him an immersive feeling of being on the verge of death.
He is afraid of the female ghost in red, he is afraid of all ghosts, and he is afraid of the Dr. Camila, all because they have an association to “humans”.
Only humans could understand how dark the evil thoughts of their kind could be. So every time he encountered monsters with an association to “humanity,” he couldn’t help but feel fear.
Like the merfolk in front of him, although the lower half was fish-like, the upper half was indeed indistinguishable from a human.
At this moment, the merfolk’s face was bitten into a crescent shape by something, the upper body was chewed into a mess, and even the bones could be seen.
Seeing this corpse made him even feel pain as if it were his own.
This merfolk wasn’t the one they had just released. Dr. Camila walked over and even crouched down, carefully inspecting the merfolk’s head. “This is the merfolk we released last time.”
Xia Chi was startled.
Dr. Camila disdainfully kicked the merfolk’s body back into the sea. “I thought it escaped, but it died here.”
After saying that, Dr. Camila, as if suddenly realizing something, burst into laughter in the spacious cave. “Hahaha, I know, I know!”
“This is a place merfolk must pass to return to their lair, and these green-skinned monsters specifically rely on hunting merfolk for a living. Merfolk pass through here, and they choose to ambush merfolk here. Over time, this place has become a gathering point for green-skinned monsters.”
“As long as we pass through this sea area, we can find the merfolk’s lair!”
One of the researchers spoke, “But there’s no water here. How do merfolk pass through?”
Xia Chi: [Yeah, Brother, can merfolk really grow legs?]
Bai Lixin: [It’s possible that they can grow legs, but it’s also possible that they can’t. Didn’t you notice anything above your head on the way here?]
Xia Chi: [Let me think.]
[It seems like there are a lot of sea squirts, and some seaweed.]
Bai Lixin: [What conclusion can you draw from this?]
After serious consideration for two seconds, Xia Chi replied: [The green-skinned monsters probably don’t eat sea squirts and kelp?]
Bai Lixin: [Anything else?]
Xia Chi looked up at the ceiling. After thinking for a while, there was a flash of inspiration: [I figured it out. Seaweed and sea squirts need seawater to be brought here. This place isn’t always hollow, it undergoes changes similar to tides. Merfolk might not necessarily have legs, but they can use this passage when it’s filled with water.]
Bai Lixin: [Yes, that’s what I mean. You’re very smart.]
Xia Chi: [Hehehe, I’m naturally smart. Let me tell you, Brother, when my mind starts storming, even I get scared. Inspiration comes like a flash, unstoppable.]
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Tan Yue, taking care of children is not easy, right?’
Flash of inspiration: “…”
Xia Chi: [So, what about the bodies of these green-skinned monsters? The wounds on them are clearly from bites. The green-skinned monsters hunt merfolk. Could there be other creatures hunting the green-skinned monsters? Do merfolk hunt them? Are they hunting each other?]
Bai Lixin: [To find the answer, compare the wounds on the bodies of green-skinned monsters and merfolk and then tell me.]
Xia Chi slowly approached. He suppressed his nausea and compared the wounds. [Their wounds look similar. Could it be that the green-skinned monsters not only eat merfolk but also consume their own kind?!]
Bai Lixin: [You should retreat, Xia Chi.]
Xia Chi: [Huh?]
Bai Lixin: [Dr. Camila got one thing right; this is the nest of green-skinned monsters. The commotion you caused just now was too loud, and you’ve disturbed them. Put your hand on the wall and feel it.]
Xia Chi quickly placed his hand on the wall.
In the next moment, he felt a slight tremor in his palm. Then, a terrifying sound emanated from the stalactites above them.
The unique rock structure here quickly turned that sound into echoes, continuously impacting everyone’s eardrums. Without hesitation, Xia Chi pulled Glasses and started running back in the direction they came from.
Although Glasses didn’t know what was going on, he was sensible. As soon as Xia Chi pulled him, he understood Xia Chi’s intention and started running on his own.
Before the other NPCs could react, the two of them had already run tens of meters outside.
Their steps were unsteady, and they couldn’t run at the speed they would on flat ground.
While running, Xia Chi opened a private chat: [Brother, where are you?]
Bai Lixin: [Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m almost at the exit.]
Xia Chi: [???]
‘Brother, you really don’t care about me!’
They had run for a while, and the NPCs still hadn’t noticed that they were missing.
The NPCs just looked up at the ceiling, searching for the source of the sound.
Suddenly, a massive shadow descended from above.
That shadow fell directly onto an NPC, who immediately screamed.
Everyone looked, and it turned out a green-skinned monster landed on the NPC. It opened it’s mouth full of sharp teeth and bit the NPC’s neck.
The NPC screamed continuously, but the surrounding NPCs just watched, curiously observing this pair of hunter and prey.
Other people’s expressions were indifferent, as if they were touring a research topic.
Then, the second shadow, the third shadow, more and more shadows fell to the ground.
Dr. Camila finally realized that something was wrong. He shouted “retreat,” and turned to leave.
No one went to save the NPC on the ground. In the blink of an eye, several green-skinned monsters surrounded that NPC, all lowering their heads to gnaw on him.
The green-skinned monsters who didn’t get a share roared, and started to run towards the others.
In the blink of an eye, the passage was filled with monsters like a flood.
They ran, and the monsters chased. They were caught in a dilemma.
The slowest running NPC became the prey first, followed by the second person, then a third person.
At this moment, Dr. Camila finally panicked. Seeing that the monster behind him was about to rush over, he quickly grabbed the collar of the NPC in front, forcefully pulling the bewildered person behind him.
And he finally saw the exit.
Dr. Camila suddenly accelerated, throwing the green-skinned monsters a distance behind. He quickly rushed out of the cave entrance and jumped directly into the submarine.
The driver inside the submarine was still in place. As soon as Dr. Camila entered, he immediately closed the hatch and urged hurriedly, “Go!”
The driver didn’t ask and directly started the submarine.
“But there are still people outside,” a voice behind suddenly caught Dr. Camila’s attention. He turned around and found both interns sitting calmly in the submarine.
Dr. Camila: “How did you end up here?”
Xia Chi and Glasses were still catching their breath. Xia Chi ignored the question and pointed outside, “Isn’t he your companion? He’s reached the shore. If you open the door, he can jump in.”
Outside the window, an NPC stood helplessly on the shore, reaching towards the submarine for help.
Originally, he had a chance to come in, but Dr. Camila closed the hatch directly. He stood there for a while, and the green-skinned monsters behind him surged like a tide, instantly submerging him in green.
Dr. Camila said indifferently, “Isn’t there another submarine? He’s just stupid, not knowing to go to the other one. By the way, when did you two come back?”
Xia Chi still didn’t respond to his last question. “There’s no driver in the other submarine. Even if he jumped in, it would be useless.”
Dr. Camila waved his hand impatiently, “Stop being self-righteous. Scientific exploration is like this, sacrifices are inevitable. Instead of wasting time worrying about others, be grateful that you’re still alive. Let me tell you, don’t make me unhappy. If I get angry, I can open the hatch now and throw you two out.”
Xia Chi instantly shut his mouth.
He glared at Dr. Camila, then angrily opened a private chat.
Xia Chi: [Brother, I’m going to be pissed off by this blond doctor.]
Bai Lixin: [What happened?]
Xia Chi: [Didn’t you see just now? He’s not human, he abandoned his teammates and used them as targets at a crucial moment, I find it infuriating!]
Bai Lixin: [Oh, sorry I didn’t see it.]
Xia Chi: [You didn’t see it? Then what were you doing?]
Bai Lixin: [To be honest, I’m in the other submarine.]
Xia Chi: [???]
Just as their submarine was about to submerge back into the water, Xia Chi saw the other submarine that was supposedly empty mysteriously closing its hatch.
Xia Chi: […Brother, what are you doing?]
Bai Lixin: [I’m curious about what’s on the other side. I plan to wait for these green-skinned monsters to retreat before going to check.]
Xia Chi: [But how do you plan to get there? This is the sea. Do you have a water-repelling pearl, or are you so amazing that you can breathe underwater?]
Bai Lixin: [No, but… when we left earlier, I brought the diving suit and an oxygen tank from your room.]
Xia Chi: [??? You were planning to go underwater the whole time?]
Bai Lixin: [Not really. I saw them, and I had a feeling it might come in handy, so I stashed them in my backpack.]
Xia Chi: […]
‘You are my real Brother!’
Xia Chi: [Well, you must come back safely. I’ll wait for you at the research institute.]
Bai Lixin deactivated his invisibility skill: [Alright, see you later]
————————————-
In the live broadcast room.
[Finally, I no longer have to look at the blank scenery to imagine where God Xin is.]
[Welcome back, God Xin! Yay!]
[It’s strange, God Xin has always been here.]
[Ten people came—eight NPCs lost their lives, one submarine escaped, and one was left for God Xin.]
[Wrong, it’s eleven people, you didn’t count God Xin.]
[Oh, right, there was also God Xin.]
Dr. Camila immediately ran to the front and picked up a scale.
The air still lingered with the smell of blood. In the damp air, seawater splashed against the rocks, washing something onto the shore.
Everyone lowered their heads to see what had washed up near their feet.
Some pieces of broken flesh, scales, and even some internal organs and fragmented bodies.
Although they were just severed limbs, they recognized that these bodies should belong to green-skinned monsters.
The scale in Dr. Camila’s hand seemed to be from a merfolk, while some other scales that washed ashore were smaller and transparent, seemingly ordinary fish scales.
In addition to the remains of the green-skinned monsters, there were also some remains of fish and shrimp in this pile of things.
A nearby researcher walked over.
“It seems that the green-skinned monsters and merfolk don’t have a symbiotic relationship.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a big wave surged from the water, bringing up a dark figure.
The thing crashed straight into Xia Chi’s feet. He looked down, and nauseating feeling instantly welled up from his chest.
At his feet lay the corpse of a merfolk. The merfolk had been dead for who knows how long, with its entire body gnawed into a chaotic mess.
When he saw the body of the green-skinned monster earlier, he didn’t feel much. After all, from the beginning of playing the game until now, he had encountered many grotesque monsters. Compared to some monsters, the green-skinned monsters were relatively presentable.
Because they closely resembled typical monster appearances, Xia Chi didn’t have much emotional response to their corpses.
Just like his fear of Dr. Camila, he is also incapable of accepting the body of the merfolk. He couldn’t accept seeing something so close to a human being in a bad situation, as this would give him an immersive feeling of being on the verge of death.
He is afraid of the female ghost in red, he is afraid of all ghosts, and he is afraid of the Dr. Camila, all because they have an association to “humans”.
Only humans could understand how dark the evil thoughts of their kind could be. So every time he encountered monsters with an association to “humanity,” he couldn’t help but feel fear.
Like the merfolk in front of him, although the lower half was fish-like, the upper half was indeed indistinguishable from a human.
At this moment, the merfolk’s face was bitten into a crescent shape by something, the upper body was chewed into a mess, and even the bones could be seen.
Seeing this corpse made him even feel pain as if it were his own.
This merfolk wasn’t the one they had just released. Dr. Camila walked over and even crouched down, carefully inspecting the merfolk’s head. “This is the merfolk we released last time.”
Xia Chi was startled.
Dr. Camila disdainfully kicked the merfolk’s body back into the sea. “I thought it escaped, but it died here.”
After saying that, Dr. Camila, as if suddenly realizing something, burst into laughter in the spacious cave. “Hahaha, I know, I know!”
“This is a place merfolk must pass to return to their lair, and these green-skinned monsters specifically rely on hunting merfolk for a living. Merfolk pass through here, and they choose to ambush merfolk here. Over time, this place has become a gathering point for green-skinned monsters.”
“As long as we pass through this sea area, we can find the merfolk’s lair!”
One of the researchers spoke, “But there’s no water here. How do merfolk pass through?”
Xia Chi: [Yeah, Brother, can merfolk really grow legs?]
Bai Lixin: [It’s possible that they can grow legs, but it’s also possible that they can’t. Didn’t you notice anything above your head on the way here?]
Xia Chi: [Let me think.]
[It seems like there are a lot of sea squirts, and some seaweed.]
Bai Lixin: [What conclusion can you draw from this?]
After serious consideration for two seconds, Xia Chi replied: [The green-skinned monsters probably don’t eat sea squirts and kelp?]
Bai Lixin: [Anything else?]
Xia Chi looked up at the ceiling. After thinking for a while, there was a flash of inspiration: [I figured it out. Seaweed and sea squirts need seawater to be brought here. This place isn’t always hollow, it undergoes changes similar to tides. Merfolk might not necessarily have legs, but they can use this passage when it’s filled with water.]
Bai Lixin: [Yes, that’s what I mean. You’re very smart.]
Xia Chi: [Hehehe, I’m naturally smart. Let me tell you, Brother, when my mind starts storming, even I get scared. Inspiration comes like a flash, unstoppable.]
Bai Lixin: “…”
‘Tan Yue, taking care of children is not easy, right?’
Flash of inspiration: “…”
Xia Chi: [So, what about the bodies of these green-skinned monsters? The wounds on them are clearly from bites. The green-skinned monsters hunt merfolk. Could there be other creatures hunting the green-skinned monsters? Do merfolk hunt them? Are they hunting each other?]
Bai Lixin: [To find the answer, compare the wounds on the bodies of green-skinned monsters and merfolk and then tell me.]
Xia Chi slowly approached. He suppressed his nausea and compared the wounds. [Their wounds look similar. Could it be that the green-skinned monsters not only eat merfolk but also consume their own kind?!]
Bai Lixin: [You should retreat, Xia Chi.]
Xia Chi: [Huh?]
Bai Lixin: [Dr. Camila got one thing right; this is the nest of green-skinned monsters. The commotion you caused just now was too loud, and you’ve disturbed them. Put your hand on the wall and feel it.]
Xia Chi quickly placed his hand on the wall.
In the next moment, he felt a slight tremor in his palm. Then, a terrifying sound emanated from the stalactites above them.
The unique rock structure here quickly turned that sound into echoes, continuously impacting everyone’s eardrums. Without hesitation, Xia Chi pulled Glasses and started running back in the direction they came from.
Although Glasses didn’t know what was going on, he was sensible. As soon as Xia Chi pulled him, he understood Xia Chi’s intention and started running on his own.
Before the other NPCs could react, the two of them had already run tens of meters outside.
Their steps were unsteady, and they couldn’t run at the speed they would on flat ground.
While running, Xia Chi opened a private chat: [Brother, where are you?]
Bai Lixin: [Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m almost at the exit.]
Xia Chi: [???]
‘Brother, you really don’t care about me!’
They had run for a while, and the NPCs still hadn’t noticed that they were missing.
The NPCs just looked up at the ceiling, searching for the source of the sound.
Suddenly, a massive shadow descended from above.
That shadow fell directly onto an NPC, who immediately screamed.
Everyone looked, and it turned out a green-skinned monster landed on the NPC. It opened it’s mouth full of sharp teeth and bit the NPC’s neck.
The NPC screamed continuously, but the surrounding NPCs just watched, curiously observing this pair of hunter and prey.
Other people’s expressions were indifferent, as if they were touring a research topic.
Then, the second shadow, the third shadow, more and more shadows fell to the ground.
Dr. Camila finally realized that something was wrong. He shouted “retreat,” and turned to leave.
No one went to save the NPC on the ground. In the blink of an eye, several green-skinned monsters surrounded that NPC, all lowering their heads to gnaw on him.
The green-skinned monsters who didn’t get a share roared, and started to run towards the others.
In the blink of an eye, the passage was filled with monsters like a flood.
They ran, and the monsters chased. They were caught in a dilemma.
The slowest running NPC became the prey first, followed by the second person, then a third person.
At this moment, Dr. Camila finally panicked. Seeing that the monster behind him was about to rush over, he quickly grabbed the collar of the NPC in front, forcefully pulling the bewildered person behind him.
And he finally saw the exit.
Dr. Camila suddenly accelerated, throwing the green-skinned monsters a distance behind. He quickly rushed out of the cave entrance and jumped directly into the submarine.
The driver inside the submarine was still in place. As soon as Dr. Camila entered, he immediately closed the hatch and urged hurriedly, “Go!”
The driver didn’t ask and directly started the submarine.
“But there are still people outside,” a voice behind suddenly caught Dr. Camila’s attention. He turned around and found both interns sitting calmly in the submarine.
Dr. Camila: “How did you end up here?”
Xia Chi and Glasses were still catching their breath. Xia Chi ignored the question and pointed outside, “Isn’t he your companion? He’s reached the shore. If you open the door, he can jump in.”
Outside the window, an NPC stood helplessly on the shore, reaching towards the submarine for help.
Originally, he had a chance to come in, but Dr. Camila closed the hatch directly. He stood there for a while, and the green-skinned monsters behind him surged like a tide, instantly submerging him in green.
Dr. Camila said indifferently, “Isn’t there another submarine? He’s just stupid, not knowing to go to the other one. By the way, when did you two come back?”
Xia Chi still didn’t respond to his last question. “There’s no driver in the other submarine. Even if he jumped in, it would be useless.”
Dr. Camila waved his hand impatiently, “Stop being self-righteous. Scientific exploration is like this, sacrifices are inevitable. Instead of wasting time worrying about others, be grateful that you’re still alive. Let me tell you, don’t make me unhappy. If I get angry, I can open the hatch now and throw you two out.”
Xia Chi instantly shut his mouth.
He glared at Dr. Camila, then angrily opened a private chat.
Xia Chi: [Brother, I’m going to be pissed off by this blond doctor.]
Bai Lixin: [What happened?]
Xia Chi: [Didn’t you see just now? He’s not human, he abandoned his teammates and used them as targets at a crucial moment, I find it infuriating!]
Bai Lixin: [Oh, sorry I didn’t see it.]
Xia Chi: [You didn’t see it? Then what were you doing?]
Bai Lixin: [To be honest, I’m in the other submarine.]
Xia Chi: [???]
Just as their submarine was about to submerge back into the water, Xia Chi saw the other submarine that was supposedly empty mysteriously closing its hatch.
Xia Chi: […Brother, what are you doing?]
Bai Lixin: [I’m curious about what’s on the other side. I plan to wait for these green-skinned monsters to retreat before going to check.]
Xia Chi: [But how do you plan to get there? This is the sea. Do you have a water-repelling pearl, or are you so amazing that you can breathe underwater?]
Bai Lixin: [No, but… when we left earlier, I brought the diving suit and an oxygen tank from your room.]
Xia Chi: [??? You were planning to go underwater the whole time?]
Bai Lixin: [Not really. I saw them, and I had a feeling it might come in handy, so I stashed them in my backpack.]
Xia Chi: […]
‘You are my real Brother!’
Xia Chi: [Well, you must come back safely. I’ll wait for you at the research institute.]
Bai Lixin deactivated his invisibility skill: [Alright, see you later]
————————————-
In the live broadcast room.
[Finally, I no longer have to look at the blank scenery to imagine where God Xin is.]
[Welcome back, God Xin! Yay!]
[It’s strange, God Xin has always been here.]
[Ten people came—eight NPCs lost their lives, one submarine escaped, and one was left for God Xin.]
[Wrong, it’s eleven people, you didn’t count God Xin.]
[Oh, right, there was also God Xin.]
