C24 In the Forest

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Iron fists flew, and six figures were sent soaring into the air, blood spilling from their mouths. Lin Yuan, tightening the straps of his slightly loosened pack, marched on.

"Tell me, Wu Yue, how does it feel to see a comrade in action?"

"Come on, Boss, don't rib me. I'm only in it for the loot, the edible kind. I'd never stoop so low as to rob someone of their dignity, especially not this sort of person!" Wu Yue cast a sidelong glance at Miao Yihong as he spoke.

"And what's wrong with me? Look at this physique, this posture—what's not to like?!" Miao Yihong struck a defiant pose, her voice brimming with challenge.

"The pose is fine, but what's inside... well, let's just say you're a mix of both worlds," Wu Yue retorted, shaking his head with a look of condescension.

As the trio bantered, they made their way forward, the conversation keeping boredom at bay. Upon sighting the lush green grass ahead, both Miao Yihong and Wu Yue breathed a sigh of relief.

The familiar grasslands were a welcome sight, far more comforting than the dreary expanse they'd left behind.

"Boss, you've reached your goal. What's the plan now?"

"The new world is vast, filled with endless possibilities. I want to explore, to seek out opportunities that will make me stronger."

Having achieved his initial objectives, Lin Yuan felt a sense of ease. Yet, the damage to his Jungle Blade left him without a reliable weapon, and he was still not accustomed to wielding the Totem Staff. He needed to find a suitable weapon—fighting Dark Iron level creatures offered little experience, and to face a Bronze level adversary, a dependable weapon was indispensable.

"Boss, since you're free, why not visit the Redhedge Campsite? It's a hub for tens of thousands, with plenty of valuable goods for sale," Miao Yihong suggested, her eyes wide with anticipation. Lin Yuan shook his head.

"I lack for nothing at the moment. Personal growth is my priority, not shopping."

"So it seems I must part ways with you, Boss. Who knows if our paths will cross again."

Miao Yihong's voice carried a tinge of disappointment.

"You're right, the world has changed so much we don't even have a way to communicate. Who knows when, or if, we'll ever meet again."

Wu Yue shared her sense of loss. In just a few short hours, the trio had been through so much together. As the old saying goes, they had shared a trench in battle. With their parting imminent, it was naturally a bit melancholy.

"There will be a chance," Lin Yuan assured them, smiling.

"Who knows, maybe in a year or two, you'll hear about me from others. I might just become a household name, a legend in my own right."

His words were bold, perhaps even cocky, but as Miao Yihong and Wu Yue looked into Lin Yuan's confident face, they found themselves believing him.

"And what if we don't hear your name?" Wu Yue challenged.

"Then I'll be dead!" Lin Yuan declared with unwavering certainty, no beating around the bush.

"Boss, hold on a second. We still don't know your full name. Would you honor us with it?"

"Lin of the twin trees, Yuan of the abyss—Lin Yuan!"

With a broad smile, Lin Yuan clapped them both on the shoulders.

"Farewell. I hope by the time we meet again, you'll both have become renowned Superpowered in your own right."

With that, Lin Yuan turned and marched off, his silhouette swiftly vanishing into the jungle's depths.

Miao Yihong's eyes were moist as she watched him go, whispering to herself, "When will we meet again? It's anyone's guess."

Wu Yue glanced at Miao Yihong, a hint of teasing in his voice, "Silly girl, have you fallen for the boss?"

"Whether I have or haven't, what's it to you?" Miao Yihong shot back, her glare sharp.

Wu Yue scratched his head, grinning, "No offense, but the boss is like an eagle soaring high above, and you... you're more like a ground-bound maggot. You're worlds apart, not exactly a match."

"I'll kill you for that!" Miao Yihong snapped, drawing her dagger and lunging at Wu Yue, who yelped and dashed away.

The forest, once fraught with danger, now felt as benign as a stroll through a park.

The Dark Iron creatures, sensing Lin Yuan's powerful presence, fled at the first opportunity. With the Bronze rank exerting its dominance over the Dark Iron, they wouldn't dare attack someone of a higher tier unless the situation drastically changed or their lives were in jeopardy.

"It's a real hassle. We're not even a month in, and Little Rong and Miao Yihong haven't had their encounter yet. Finding a Bronze-tier monster is no easy task."

Lin Yuan, with a totem staff in hand and a furrowed brow, sprinted deeper into the jungle.

He had been running for over two hours, encountering plenty of Dark Iron monsters, but not a single Bronze one. Lin Yuan had no choice but to push further into the heart of the forest, hoping to stumble upon a high-level monster ensnared by the laws.

Another half hour of running slowed Lin Yuan's pace as the trees loomed taller and the light dimmed, hinting at a mountain range ahead.

"Awoo~!"

The sudden howl of a wolf jolted Lin Yuan's spirits, and he quickened his pace, suspecting a coyote nearby.

Rounding a few large trees, Lin Yuan's lips curled into a smile at the sight of the pure white giant wolf before him.

This was the infamous Demonic Beast Coyote, a creature he had never encountered but whose reputation was immense.

Its fur was not only exceedingly valuable, but it was also a renowned mount. If he could tame one, he'd hit the jackpot!

Yet, discerning a coyote's level was tricky. There was no discernible difference between a Bronze First Rank and Tenth Rank, unless it was a significant class jump.

If he carelessly ran into a high-level Bronze coyote, it could mean instant death.

After much deliberation, Lin Yuan resolved to take the risk!

The small fusion of worlds happened monthly, and in a year, the two worlds would completely integrate into a new one. With six or seven days left in the month, he couldn't afford to squander time.

Lin Yuan charged forward, totem staff hoisted high, and brought it down hard on the coyote's head!

"Awoo~!"

The coyote threw back its head in a howl as a red aura enveloped it. The descending totem staff rebounded silently, as if striking a highly elastic rubber.

With a 'clang,' Lin Yuan's world went black as the staff rebounded onto his own forehead.

"Roar!"

The coyote leaped onto Lin Yuan, its jaws gaping wide, ready to clamp down.

"Snap! Snap! Snap!"

The Black Star pistol cracked off three shots in rapid succession, each bullet striking the coyote square in the mouth.

"Awoo!"

The coyote yelped in pain and bolted, with Lin Yuan in hot pursuit, staff in hand.

It was clear that a Bronze-rank creature was formidable; the powerful nine-millimeter bullets had only managed to shatter the coyote's teeth, a testament to its ironclad resilience.

Lin Yuan was on the verge of catching the coyote when it suddenly picked up speed and vanished from sight, leaving him no chance to deploy his charge skill.

"Bronze-rank Demonic Beasts are indeed a different breed, far tougher to contend with than their Dark Iron counterparts," Lin Yuan panted, reflecting on the encounter. A mere coyote possessed skills that were worlds apart from those of a Dark Iron rank.

Surveying his surroundings, Lin Yuan found himself deep within the forest, where the light was so faint that discerning directions became a challenge.

Scratching his head, Lin Yuan chose a direction at random and strode off. Without a specific destination in mind, any direction was as good as another.

"Wuwuwu~!"

Three coyotes emerged from behind the trees, their throats rumbling with a menacing growl as they encircled Lin Yuan.

He halted warily, noting that one of the coyotes was still dripping blood from its mouth. It hadn't fled; it had gone to summon reinforcements.