Chapter 615: A New Home
Chapter 615: A New Home
"..."
Sand Dune blinked, still in shock.
He stood there for a few seconds before realizing that he had been rescued.
Then, without hesitation, the hunter switched to his bow and aimed at the vulture beast whose wings had just been severed and was wailing on the ground.
Whizz—Crack! Three arrows in quick succession.
The vulture, its wings broken and unable to fly, managed to block the first two arrows with its feathers, which had an inherent airflow protection.
But the third arrow...
Taking advantage of the vulture's distraction, Sand Dune aimed for its unprotected eyes and shot directly into its skull.
"Ao..."
The vulture let out a strange cry and fell to the ground.
Confirming the enemy's death, Sand Dune breathed a sigh of relief.
He then snapped out of his daze and endured the pain in his chest. He went to the nearby forest and retrieved the notebook he had thrown earlier.
At that moment, a pleasant surprise arrived.
Sand Dune's hunter skill, which had been at the third stage, transcended to the fourth stage.
The vulture beast he had just fought was a powerful fourth-stage creature.
His relentless struggle against it had led to this opportunity to kill it, and his skills had improved as a result.
"Huff—"
Sand Dune took a deep breath.
His source essence was the most common and versatile foundation essence.
The enhancement it brought was balanced and comprehensive.
The hunter could feel his physical and mental strength improving in all aspects, and the pain in his chest had subsided significantly.
After a few more seconds, the fourth-stage hunter skills resonated within him.
—【Wilderness Master】
The hunter's activities would become more effortless, and he would receive nature's protection in the wild.
This enhancement was not just physical but also cognitive.
He gained an innate premonition about things like terrain, water flow, and flora and fauna, allowing him to deduce the overall situation from the slightest clues.
With this blessing, his hunting abilities were enhanced in every way.
"..."
Sand Dune felt a surge of excitement.
If his skills transcended once more, reaching the fifth stage, he would become a completely different Awakener.
His lifespan, skills, and source essence perception and control would all be enhanced, making him a truly legendary figure!
Recalling the past, Sand Dune's skills had been stagnant at the third stage for almost five years.
He never expected that this uneventful, almost solidified ability would improve during this perilous adventure.
At that moment, Vivian approached and asked with concern:
"Uncle Sand Dune, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Sand Dune replied, intending to brush it off.
But then he remembered that he was no longer in the perilous Green Swamp.
Standing before him was Vivian, someone he could trust and who had just saved his life.
The hunter smiled, but the movement caused his chest wound to hurt.
His mouth twisted to the right, half-smiling, half-crying.
"I just killed that beast, and my skills have improved," he said.
Vivian's face lit up with joy:
"You've reached the fourth stage."
Sand Dune nodded:
"Yes, perhaps this way, I can provide more help to Lord..."
Sand Dune's gaze shifted to the surrounding insect swarm.
His newly transcended skills immediately alerted him to the danger.
These creatures were different from ordinary life forms and posed a significant threat!
But nature also hinted at a contradiction, suggesting they didn't belong in the natural world.
"The Insectoid Tribe over there, and these... types?"
Dune's expression was filled with confusion.
Vivian, on the other hand, explained without hesitation, "These are indeed the troops produced by the Insectoid Canyon, but they might not be what you imagined."
"Huh?" Dune's face was filled with bewilderment.
It had been over a year since he left the Banyan Forest.
Many of his impressions remained frozen at the time of his departure, so he was utterly clueless about the current situation.
Vivian smiled and extended her hand towards Dune.
The hunter, seeing this, nimbly leaped onto the plump insect.
As this creature moved forward, its numerous legs adjusted balance, creating a stable and swift motion, making it feel like traveling on flat ground even in the mountains.
On their way back, Vivian explained to Dune, "It's Lord Lindsey's technique."
"Three months ago, the Insectoid Tribe pledged their allegiance to Lord Lindsey. That area was transformed into a territory belonging to the Banyan Forest and underwent a base upgrade."
"These troops are drones produced in the cloning pool and then adjusted in various hives to create specialized individuals."
As she spoke, Vivian took out a paper package from her bag and handed it to Dune, who was sitting behind her.
"Uncle Dune."
"Lord Lindsey said you might want to eat something he made, so he asked me to bring this especially for you."
Dune reached out and took the package.
His fingers trembled as he opened it, revealing a golden-brown piece of roasted meat inside.
"..."
The hunter was speechless.
The food in the wilderness was often unbearable, and the jerky he had eaten earlier was a prime example.
Now, a familiar and delicious meal was right in front of him.
He couldn't resist his body's craving and immediately took a bite.
"Mmm..."
As the roasted meat went down his throat, it not only tasted delicious but also had a restorative effect.
Dune felt his exhaustion vanish, and he even had an urge to lie down.
...
In less than half a day, the Insectoid forces arrived at the previous location of the Insectoid Canyon.
Dune had just finished eating the roasted meat.
He looked ahead, and the bone in his hand slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground with a crisp sound.
The previous Insectoid Canyon.
It was a beautiful landscape shrouded in mist, with countless plants growing on the ground.
But now?
In the canyon before him, not even a patch of grass could be seen.
The entire canyon, from start to finish, was covered in a thick fungal carpet.
Upon closer inspection, Dune noticed faint undulations on the surface of the meat wall, as if the entire canyon had transformed into a living creature.
Especially since he had just ascended to the 4th stage of hunter techniques.
With the help of the Wilderness Master, Dune could distinguish every strange insect on the fungal carpet.
He could also sense the ever-present pressure and threat!
"..."
Dune couldn't help but compare the Green Swamp to this place.
And he realized that, compared to the Green Swamp, which was notorious for its evil deeds, this place seemed even more terrifying! It was a primal fear of a dangerous creature beyond human comprehension.
But a few seconds later, Dune's unease was dispelled.
As he saw a crack suddenly appear in the fungal carpet, and Lord Lindsey emerged, carrying a longsword with emerald and gold hues, and waved at him from a distance.
"Dune, you're finally back!"
"It must have been tough being away for so long. Let's not talk about work for now; come and have a meal and get some rest!"
(End of Chapter)
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