Chapter 11

C11 – The Operation in the Wilderness

The same desolate streets lay near the eerie energy gate, just as before. It wasn’t that people didn’t want to live here; they were simply too afraid.

This was Krukshire’s sole chaotic wilderness zone, safeguarded by the enigmatic technology of the light screen, which halted the advance of Mutant Beasts. With no need for military presence, the area was left to its own devices, providing a lifeline for the impoverished majority and the numerous merchants. This unguarded passage was vital, for the city’s growth hinged on the resources these traders and citizens brought in from the wilderness.

Jiao Yuanju once again arrived solo, keeping his visit a secret even from his parents. The Enhancing System was his most guarded secret, for its exposure could spell disaster for him and his family. Unable to explain his newfound abilities, Jiao Yuanju faced his challenges in silence. With his father’s leg in need of treatment and his genius sister’s need for financial support, he was determined not to be a burden and to shoulder the responsibilities himself.

Accompanied by Eoldrai, Jiao Yuanju’s nerves settled. He approached the diminutive blue energy gate at the base of the towering steel city wall, hundreds of meters high.

The area teemed with people in a frenzy, mostly terrified merchants and the occasional Combat Pet Master. While Combat Pet Mastery was a revered profession, many here were mere beast hunters, mercenaries for the wealthy, capturing Mutant Beasts and snatching their young to sell for a hefty sum within the city walls. It was an all-too-common sight.

Suspicion hung in the air; trust was a luxury few could afford. The characters that frequented this place were of dubious nature, but within the city’s embrace, none dared to misbehave. The military’s indifference did not equate to ignorance; their eyes were everywhere.

Jiao Yuanju, a mere teenager, drew many curious glances.

What business could a boy have in such a perilous place? They wondered if he was seeking his own end.

Yet, no one intervened. The stark divide between the city’s interior and exterior was a reflection of the world’s harsh realities.

Silently, Jiao Yuanju crossed the threshold of the light screen. The night sky, a dark canvas overhead, contrasted sharply with the scene beyond the gate. Inside the city’s towering walls, the moon shone with undiminished brilliance, its silver glow casting clarity over the landscape. The wilderness stretched endlessly, a tangle of weeds and dense trees. In the distance, hurried figures approached, and the shimmering eyes of various mutated creatures glinted in the dark. But those that lurked so close to the city’s walls posed no real threat to humanity.

In a flash, Eoldrai lunged at the black cat, which had no chance to flee. After a piercing shriek, the cat lay motionless.

Jiao Yuanju remained composed, his calmness unshaken even by his first kill of a Mutant Beast.

“You have slain an average level Mutant Beast and earned one blood point.”

A smile crept across Jiao Yuanju’s face; he was fulfilling his purpose. Gathering blood points would allow Eoldrai to evolve further, to grow ever stronger.

“Eoldrai!” he called.

They cautiously made their way toward a distant road, navigating through ruins that marked the path.

“There’s a disturbance!”

Having been simultaneously enhanced with Eoldrai, Jiao Yuanju’s senses now far exceeded those of a normal human. They took cover behind an ancient stone platform, camouflaged by the surrounding stones and weeds.

A red wild boar, several half-meter-long black centipedes, and numerous rats as big as watermelons came into view, their genetics long since altered. While some Mutant Beasts were skittish, many were viciously aggressive. The radiation had seemingly spurred a second evolution, casting them back to a primeval state.

“There are too many average Mutant Beasts; Eoldrai might not be able to handle them all!”

Jiao Yuanju felt a surge of panic, yet he compelled himself to remain composed. It was evident that he was completely encircled by the creatures!