met free Chapter 343: Black Water
Chapter 343: Black Water
But then, the reality of the Bleeding Desert finally set in.
Ruin exploration was not as simple as they had read in novels. It was far more terrifying than anything they imagined.
Terrifyingly dangerous.
A place completely unsuitable for the weak and careless.
Then again, many somehow managed to survive regardless.
But slowly, they began to grow weary and exhausted. Tired of the endless battles and constant hardships.
No rest.
No hope.
No escape.
They either kept fighting endlessly or waited to be killed.
The bright halo they thought surrounded them had faded completely into oblivion. They began appreciating every little thing they encountered.
Every single survival meant something incredibly valuable. Their arrogance had been completely washed away.
Every moment of safety was deeply appreciated.
Every cup of water became incredibly precious.
Even dirty water was appreciated so greatly that many cried tears of gratitude.
No one cared about being the protagonist anymore.
No one cared about becoming humanity’s heroes anymore.
All they wanted was to survive another dreadful day. Survive this terrible hellhole where they found themselves trapped.
It was then that they learned the law of survival.
Survival did not mean killing a few weaker beasts. It meant surviving against impossible odds every single day.
It meant doing everything necessary to keep your life from being taken away.
In the Bleeding Desert, that proved extremely difficult without bending one’s moral compass.
At first, many held firmly onto their morality and principles. But eventually, everything began to change.
Slowly at first.
Not too obvious.
It started with hoarding supplies and precious resources.
Then it shifted toward sacrificing party members to beasts simply to survive. They called it being smart and practical. They called their teammates too slow and incompetent.
Then it shifted toward selling fellow humans to Beastmen. All for a place to rest comfortably.
All for clean water to drink safely. All for a secure refuge from the Bleeding Desert that constantly threatened to devour them.
Slowly, this behavior became the norm.
The reality for most humans became increasingly grim.
What was good?
What was bad?
No one cared any longer.
As for those who still cared deeply, they fought desperately to preserve that fading light hidden within endless darkness.
The Abyss.
What exactly was it?
Was it merely the current world surrounding them, or was there something more hidden beneath everything?
Could any human truly survive such overwhelming horrors?
These questions lingered constantly within the minds of those still holding tightly to their remaining humanity.
They confronted the Abyss before them while simultaneously confronting the Abyss within their own hearts.
The Abyss before them could be fought using swords and sabers. However, the Abyss hidden within their hearts was different. That was a silent battle fought completely alone. A battle with absolutely no hope of reinforcement.
A deadly and silent battle.
One group still fighting those silent battles relentlessly was the Crimson Arc Guild. Against overwhelming odds, they continued protecting everything they believed in.
They never betrayed the Beastmen who sheltered them during desperate times.
The death of their Alchemist had made their future appear bleak.
The sudden arrival of the Beast Tide brought them dangerously close to destruction.
But then, he appeared.
He showed them never to surrender despite overwhelming odds.
And now, what many desperately fought to obtain.
What many sold their friends merely to acquire.
He had practically handed it to them on a platter of gold.
Black Water.
Walking through the wooden doorway, a young woman with two daggers hanging from her waist could not control the bright smile spreading across her face.
She wanted to scream loudly and thank the owner of Black Water personally. However, she remembered the unwritten rules immediately.
No disturbances were allowed within the vicinity.
Swallowing hard, she departed with quick and excited steps. She could hardly wait to enjoy a fresh bath. She could hardly wait to eat the quality food resting within her inventory. Looking at her departing figure, Riven felt anticipation growing rapidly inside his heart.
He took a deep breath and entered the quiet Black Water store.
Thud! Thud!
He could hear the soft sounds of his boots striking the wooden floor. His gaze remained fixed upon the figure seated behind the crudely constructed counter.
A skeleton.
Gulp.
Riven forcefully swallowed the lump inside his throat as he stared at the skeleton. Its fiery soul flames burned brightly within hollow sockets.
Its skeletal hands rested casually upon the counter like those of a normal attendant.
Taking another deep breath, Riven spoke quietly and respectfully.
"One ton of water and one meal."
The skeleton remained completely silent but reached beneath the counter. It produced a sheet of paper and placed it neatly before him. Reading the contents carefully, Riven showed no surprise whatsoever and waved his hand calmly.
Whoosh!
A massive sack appeared heavily upon the floorboards. Opening the sack carefully, he revealed numerous beast parts within.
Judging from the aura fluctuations alone, they came from Level 33 beasts.
Thud! Thud!
At the far end of the room, another skeleton appeared. It lifted the enormous sack effortlessly as though it weighed absolutely nothing. Riven stepped aside quietly while waiting patiently for his order.
However, he did not have to wait very long.
Soon afterward, another skeleton gestured politely for him to follow.
A few minutes later, Riven emerged from Black Water carrying a deep grin across his face. After moving a reasonable distance away from the store, he met up with the rest of his team.
"Captain, what do you think?" a young man asked curiously.
Riven did not answer immediately.
His eyes remained locked upon the Black Water building. Several moments passed quietly before he finally spoke.
"Terrifying."
His voice contained neither fear nor hostility.
Only respect.
Because everyone who entered Black Water eventually realized the same truth.
The store was not terrifying because of its rules.
The store was not terrifying because of its undead attendants.
The store was terrifying because it offered hope.
And in the Bleeding Desert, hope was far more valuable than gold.