Chapter 388 - 361: Multi-headed Snake in the Swamp
Fortunately, Da Fei had ample time indeed. Even though the logging team moved slowly and took a rest en route, they still arrived at the Space Gate before any incidents occurred.
The elder was still there to greet them in the space pathway: "Welcome, welcome, you’ve worked hard. Lord, please have your team rest here, I will immediately prepare our local specialties—swamp fish soup and a mushroom feast to entertain your team. Lord, would you like to visit our village?"
Da Fei chuckled: "Thank you for the hospitality, I’m truly honored!" Although it is not the most hospitable to station his troops here, the elder’s attitude was still similar to the wary red name status they encountered on Pirate Island, so it was not exceedingly inappropriate. Besides, the game’s rule was that troops are not allowed in cities, so they really did have the airs of a big city, didn’t they?
Da Fei then turned back and said: "Unload the goods and take a rest!"
In no time, the entire passage was piled high with mountains of timber.
The elder was startled but did not ask further, simply saying: "Lord, please!"
Da Fei politely responded: "Elder first!"
Da Fei and Tai Da, guided by the elder and his entourage, exited the pathway and the scene changed immediately. Before them lay a vast, dimly lit swamp with dense shrubbery, their own location being a small isolated island. The only structure on the island was a wooden watchtower, surrounded by simple rafts.
The elder pointed at a large wooden raft by the water: "Our village is deep in Swamp Lake, Lord, please!"
Da Fei couldn’t help but praise: "This is truly remarkable, such terrain forms a natural fortress. I believe even if the Hell Army discovered this place, it wouldn’t fall easily."
The elder shook his head, chuckling with a sigh: "A thousand years ago, during the Solar Eclipse, the Hell Race used the power of the eclipse to unleash their large army, invading the surface world with an unstoppable momentum and bringing all living creatures to suffering. Our last surviving Hobbits gathered in the Earth Tree, Alena City, waiting for rescue. Although we Hobbits are small and possibly not worth saving, surely the Arena Alliance should not have abandoned us so easily? But on the day the city fell, no reinforcements arrived, so we were transported here using the final power of Alena..."
Tai Da coughed slightly and said: "My apologies, Elder, but the situation was indeed such that during the Solar Eclipse War a thousand years ago, the power of the Hell Race was unimaginably huge. All avatars of the Great Demon Kings were deployed, and even the Divine Realm’s Angel Army was pushed back step by step. All surface forces and citizens were squeezed into the last few fortresses, lacking the strength for rescue. In fact, if it were not for the legendary hero Gru emerging from seclusion, the surface world would have been devoured!"
—System Prompt: You have acquired information about "Solar Eclipse War."
Da Fei’s eyebrows jumped, more knowledge gained! And here was that frustrating information about Gru! Crap, gaining knowledge usually precedes an Epic Quest, right? Come on, is it an Epic Quest to lead your Hobbits to prosperity and flourish? Fear not, I’ll take it!
The elder oh’d: "So that was the case! With the situation back then, perhaps only Gru could have turned the tide. We’ve lived a secluded life here for 1000 years, completely unaware of what happened afterward, it seems I misunderstood our allies."
Da Fei’s eyebrows twitched, it seems this old man knew of Gru’s information? Fine, once the relationship is more solidified we’ll inquire further, I’ve almost forgotten the existence of this frustrating Gru Inheritance.
Da Fei then asked: "Elder, having been here for 1000 years, you must be quite familiar with the surroundings?"
The elder nodded: "Indeed, after our Hobbits have explored for 1000 years, there are three connected spaces in this area. One is the swamp, the Black Forest is another, which a hundred years ago was still a green paradise. And then there’s the Abyss Furnace I just mentioned, the entrance to that space is over by Mercury Lake."
Da Fei exclaimed in astonishment: "So there really is a Space Gate by Mercury Lake!"
The elder sighed again: "100 years ago, there was no Mercury Lake. Later, something happened, and the entire space experienced a violent earthquake, and then a huge red Mercury Chen Sha mine appeared at the entrance of the space. Then, perhaps due to the high temperature from the adjacent space, the mine started to melt into Mercury Lake, and mercury vapor filled the area—it was a disaster! We only survived by running into this swamp. Luckily, we had already developed this swamp as a fishing spot, and our housing and equipment were sufficient for making a living, so we settled in the swamp. From time to time, when Mercury Lake cooled down, we would go back to our old village to move living supplies here, but ultimately, life was not as good as before."
Da Fei nodded: "I see! So, there is no way out from the side of Mercury Lake?"
The elder shook his head and sighed: "We’re not very clear about the situation over there. It’s a world of lava, and it’s active with various fire element creatures of unknown strength. The temperature in the space is extremely high, not a place where ordinary creatures can survive for long."
Da Fei was suddenly astounded! Damn! So that side is Lava Land, would my team just drop dead if we went there? Is this Epic Quest screwing me over, or did I miss the timing to retreat and screw myself over? Am I going to be so frustrated that I might as well die here?
Tai Da expressed his doubts: "According to the balance principle of the World Tree Space and the spatial network distribution principles, the World Tree doesn’t have an absolutely enclosed independent space. Each space should at least be connected with two other spaces. If it’s difficult to pass through on the Mercury Lake side, there should be at least one other space connected to this swamp. I wonder if the elder has discovered it?"
The elder exclaimed in admiration: "You truly are a scholar from a great country. Although I don’t understand the balance distribution principle, we have also always believed that this swamp should also be connected to another unknown space, and what’s certain is that the entrance to that space has been occupied by a powerful creature! Although we have been operating this fishing swamp for nearly a thousand years, we dare not get close to that powerful creature! If Lord City Lord wishes to fully explore or leave this place, there will be an insurmountable barrier over there!"
Da Fei raised his eyebrows: "What powerful creature?"
The elder spoke seriously: "The Multi-headed Snake Hydra! To my knowledge, the strength of this creature has reached at least the Demigod level! It currently has eight heads and has been half-asleep in hibernation for nearly a thousand years since we found this place. I can assure you, it’s definitely conserving energy to evolve its ninth head, and once it fully awakens, it will certainly evolve into a nine-headed Hydra! According to myths, once the Multi-headed snake grows its ninth head, it becomes a god! What would happen then is unimaginable! Perhaps then, the Hell Army wouldn’t even have to come here to destroy, the nine-headed Hydra alone would obliterate everything here!"
Da Fei spat out a mouthful of old blood! Why does a half-god appear in a map scene again? Did I get ahead of myself and screw up? If Lava Land is impassable and the swamp side is also blocked, is this really going to end me?
Just then, the elder pointed ahead: "We’ve arrived at our village!"
I have no interest in your crappy village! Da Fei looked in the direction pointed by the elder and saw a large island in the lake ahead, crowded with stilt houses supported by wood both on the island and in the water around it, looking exactly like a fishing village from the Southeast Asia, Thai-Burma area.
Tai Da couldn’t help but sigh: "It really does have a swamp-style architecture."
The elder spoke seriously: "In order to survive, we have no other choice. There are powerful crocodiles, giant pythons, venomous lizards here; our dwellings must be far from the ground and water surface to avoid threats, and we also have to contend with poisonous flies, giant mosquitoes, and miasma. Our living environment is extremely harsh! But because of the presence of that powerful creature, we can’t leave. If Lord City Lord wants to rescue us, he could consider eliminating it, or finding another way out. Of course, I believe this is not a task for just Lord City Lord alone, nor for the strength of our entire tribe alone. We can try our best, but first, we need trust and understanding."
So that’s it! In the end, it’s all about beating monsters to gain favor!
Da Fei immediately understood: "Elder, if there are any difficulties or help you need, just tell me. I’ll do my utmost to help you!"
The elder nodded: "We indeed need help. First, we need to eliminate a Croc Monster that’s been harassing