Chapter 69: Crossing the Mountains, the Talking Hippo

Seeing that Jeremy was about to make a move, the wolf-man quickly interjected, "Wait, wait, I'll talk! I'll talk!"

Jeremy shrugged, squinting with a smile, "That's more like it. Spill it, and I might spare you. Otherwise, you'll be monster fodder here."

The wolf-man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, knowing Jeremy wasn't someone easily fooled. He didn't dare hesitate and promptly revealed everything he knew.

Jeremy learned about their identities.

It turned out that the apocalypse game wasn't being held for the first time. The sinners of the Land of Eternal Night were former players who had been stranded there.

They ambushed other players because they wanted a way out.

"Making old players kill new ones—this game designer sure has a twisted sense of humor." Jeremy's eyes flickered as he asked the wolf-man, "Anything else?"

The wolf-man thought for a moment and said, "It's no big secret. The manager of the Land of Eternal Night is one of the game designers, known as the Sun. The glowing orb atop the Tower of Exile is his true form, and he's the one who designed this event."

He paused, then added bitterly, "Also, just so you know, no one has ever completed this event in all these years. Every player who enters the Land of Eternal Night is doomed never to leave!"

Jeremy's heart skipped a beat at this revelation.

The manager of the Land of Eternal Night is the Sun?

And once you enter, you can never leave?

This was something he hadn't anticipated.

Although Jeremy had suspected that this place could be very dangerous, he didn't expect a designer to be guarding it.

As for how he would get out, Jeremy wasn't overly concerned.

With the abilities of The Eye of Omniscience and the Blasphemer, it was just a matter of time.

However, he wouldn't take the wolf-man's word at face value.

After all, the wolf-man could have fabricated this story to save his life.

Jeremy would need to verify it himself later.

"That's all you've got? That's not worth your life." Jeremy said, his expression unchanging, while pondering if he could extract more information.

The wolf-man was at his wit's end. After a long pause, he hesitated and said, "I don't know much more, but I did hear something from a madman who has been around for centuries. He said the Sun is a liar and never intended for players to clear the Land of Eternal Night."

A look of fear crossed the wolf-man's eyes as he continued, "And he said it's not that no one has ever reached the top of the tower. It's that everyone who did was eaten by the Sun!"

"The Sun ate everyone who reached the top?" Jeremy frowned. This information came from a mad old man, and even the wolf-man couldn't guarantee its accuracy, making it even harder for Jeremy to discern.

Noticing Jeremy's dissatisfaction.

The wolf-man urgently added, "I can't vouch for the truth of this information. But that old madman is in the City of Eternal Night. He knows more. If you have any questions, you can ask him."

The wolf-man looked at Jeremy pleadingly, "I've told you everything I know. Can you let me go now?"

Jeremy glanced at him and then put away his spear, saying calmly, "Leave your belongings and get lost. I'm in a good mood today. If I see you again, you might not be so lucky."

"Thank you, thank you!" The wolf-man, feeling like he'd been granted a reprieve, hurriedly took everything from his storage space and handed it all to Jeremy before running off into the forest without looking back.

Jeremy watched him go but didn't strike him down.

He collected the items from the other sinners and then turned, heading deeper into the Sunrise Mountains.

Jeremy wouldn't trust the wolf-man based on a couple of sentences.

He had his own ways to verify the information.

The golden sun hung high atop the tower, radiating dazzling and blinding light that dispelled the endless darkness while scorching the barren land below.

At the same moment Jeremy saw the sun, a notification from The Eye of Omniscience appeared before him.

[Note: Overseer of the Land of Eternal Night—The Sun!]

The moment he saw the notification, Jeremy's fist clenched tightly.

The wolf-man had been telling the truth!

The game designer was indeed here!

Quickly, Jeremy averted his gaze to avoid the Sun from detecting his Blasphemer's scrutiny.

Dying once more was not an option, as he didn't have any revival coins left.

Simultaneously, a sense of heaviness settled in Jeremy's heart.

If no one could ever leave the Land of Eternal Night, then what was the point of this event?

Was it simply to trap them here?

Jeremy couldn't believe that such powerful beings would engage in something meaningless.

He furrowed his brow in thought, recalling the massive golden claw he had seen in the Void Realm. The terrifying sounds of chewing seemed to echo in his ears again.

Could the purpose of the Apocalypse Game be to provide food for that monster?

As this thought crossed Jeremy's mind, he looked up at the sun hovering in the sky, feeling as if it was a giant maw laughing menacingly at him.

Jeremy shook his head slightly.

He didn't know what the game designers were planning, and even if he did, it wasn't something he could stop.

For now, the most important thing was to increase his own strength.

Power was the only fundamental truth.

Pulling his thoughts back, Jeremy gazed at the distant plains, noticing many monsters roaming around.

[Note: Sunset Plains, recommended level: 50-70!]

Jeremy was currently only at level 38. To level up efficiently in the Sunset Plains, he needed to reach at least level 40. Otherwise, the grinding would be painfully slow.

Fortunately, the monsters in the Sunrise Mountains weren't too high-level, making it the perfect place for him to level up.

With a powerful push off the ground, Jeremy's body soared like a bird, descending rapidly towards the forest below.

Just before he hit the ground, the Celestial Ring on his hand glowed with a silver light, and a pair of white wings appeared behind him, cushioning his fall. He landed gracefully on the ground.

Jeremy surveyed his surroundings and noticed a nearby lake shimmering with crystal-clear light under the sun.

He stood by the lake, surrounded by towering trees.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

After Jeremy landed, a hippo bathing in the lake noticed his presence.

Instead of attacking him, the hippo gave Jeremy a once-over.

With a hint of surprise, it asked, "Are you a player from the Death Desert?"

Jeremy was taken aback by the question. A talking hippo?