Chapter 349: Survival of the Fittest

This was a creature Helag had never encountered before.

“Deep Blue, search for information related to this creature.”

Deep Blue responded, “No matching creature information found.”

As expected, Deep Blue’s database lacked information on this creature.

Helag guessed it was native to the polluted zone.

When pollution spread, wizards evacuated.

But the zone’s flora and fauna couldn’t leave, mutating over time into strange creatures.

The Abyssal Plane’s pollution severely impacted the local ecosystem.

Yet, life is resilient; many died, but some adapted and survived.

This giant underground worm was a survivor in the polluted environment.

Not only did it survive, but it also became stronger, a new creature unknown to the wizard plane.

Dawn’s understanding of these creatures was limited.

Usually, only after encountering them did more information become available, often from pioneers.

Ordinary people in the Land of Dawn rarely encountered them, lacking information.

The giant worm turned toward Helag, lunging to bite him.

Helag teleported away, unwilling to test its strength with his body.

A flash of light, and the World Tree Bow appeared in his hand. As he leaped back, he fired an arrow mid-air.

The green arrow struck the worm, exploding and tearing flesh, spraying bright red blood.

The worm screeched in pain, a large wound bleeding profusely.

Enraged, the worm lunged at Helag, extending its massive body from the ground.

In his Power of the Titan state, Helag was agile.

With Deep Blue’s assistance, he predicted the worm’s movements, calculating its data and attack timing.

A light step, and Helag easily evaded the worm’s attack.

Lacking vision, the worm relied on sound and smell to locate Helag.

This slowed its movements compared to underground.

Thus, it couldn’t hit Helag, who inflicted several wounds with the World Tree Bow.

Helag teleported again, dodging the worm’s bite, and aimed an arrow at its open mouth.

The arrow exploded inside, causing the worm to howl in pain, clearly injured.

The worm’s interior was less durable, more vulnerable.

Helag’s arrow scared the worm, deterring another attack.

Covered in wounds, the worm hadn’t fully emerged from the ground.

Fearful, it retreated underground, abandoning the hunt.

Animals consider hunting costs, and so do intelligent creatures.

The worm, finding Helag troublesome, abandoned the hunt.

Underground, it moved faster than on the surface, and Helag couldn’t stop it, watching it leave.

Once the worm departed, Helag quickened his pace, leaving the area.

The fight’s noise might attract other beings.

Passing the worm’s burrow, Helag peered inside; it was deep and dark.

He felt a foreboding sense, an instinctual warning of danger.

“This place isn’t safe.”

The feeling intensified, prompting Helag to flee.

He didn’t know what was coming, only that something powerful might be approaching.

Since the worm attack, Helag was wary of the underground.

After two hours of walking, he encountered no other creatures.

Perhaps the zone was vast, or the creatures were few.

In hours of travel, he’d only seen the giant worm.

Helag wasn’t sure if this was good or bad; not encountering life could indicate a problem, deterring even creatures.

Once the sense of danger faded, Helag slowed his pace.

He dared not rush, avoiding dangerous areas he couldn’t escape.

Continuing, Helag suddenly stopped.

Ahead, he saw a plant.

After walking so long without seeing life, the plant seemed unusual.

It was a green broadleaf plant, standing alone with wide leaves.

Though knowledgeable, Helag hadn’t seen such a plant, and Deep Blue’s database held no information.

This suggested it was a new species, adapted to the polluted environment.

The area around the plant was clean, devoid of debris.

Noticing this, Helag frowned.

At the plant’s top was a bud, seemingly ready to bloom.

Pop.

A crisp sound broke the silence.

The bud opened slightly, releasing a black water sphere.

The sphere ascended rapidly, bursting high above.

With its rupture, the weather changed, clouds gathered.

Winds rose, and rain fell.

“It’s raining…”

Helag observed the falling rain, catching a drop on his finger, finding it pitch black.

The rain was intense, quickly forming pools knee-deep.

Examining the terrain, Helag realized he was in a depression, with the plant at its center.

The slope was gentle, unnoticed until now.