C6 Traversing
Lee Cha's pupils narrowed, his muscles coiled tight, as he surveyed his surroundings with the sharpness of a hawk. Yet, aside from the chirping of birds and the hum of insects, nothing seemed amiss. But wait—birds and insects? After the Great Calamity, their sounds had all but vanished. The louder their song, the quicker their demise. Typically, the wilderness forests were deathly silent.
Lee Cha's face flickered with indecision. Had he stumbled into a lair of a Mutant beast? After a tense ten-second pause, he addressed the void, "Who are you?" The mechanical voice replied, "I am the ring. You may give me a name." Then, a searing heat erupted in Lee Cha's chest as a black object sprang forth, hovering in midair. It was a black ring, worn as a pendant around his neck for nearly nine years, a gift from an old beggar.
Taking a deep breath, Lee Cha inquired, "What are you, exactly?" The question was beyond his right to ask. His brow furrowed. "What's your purpose?" To strengthen the Host. "And how do I become stronger?" By traversing various Alien Worlds and fulfilling the primary missions.
A flicker of realization sparked in Lee Cha's eyes. "An Alien World? Is this an Alien World?" That explained the abundance of insects and birds, including mantises the size of fingers. Should they transform into Mutant beasts, their size could explode exponentially. Perhaps this world had never suffered the Great Calamity.
"This is the Primary Trial world... The main mission has been issued. Please retrieve it." "How do I do that?" Focus on the ring. Lee Cha fixed his gaze on the ring, and within a second, words materialized in his mind:
Host: Lee Cha
Fighting Power: 5
Stage: None
Cultivation Technique: None
...
Lee Cha: ...
A complete weakling.
Damn!
He read on, his expression turning grim. Lifespan: 19/19 Condition: Leukemia (late stage), Pulmonary heart disease (severe) Late-stage leukemia? Severe pulmonary heart disease? Lee Cha's complexion blanched.
How could such a disease exist?
Whether it's leukemia or heart disease, in this apocalyptic world, they're essentially a death sentence.
Could the experimental drugs I tested before be the problem?
Curse those pharmaceutical companies! I'm not done with you!
Then, he remembered the miraculous ring and took a deep breath.
"Ring, is my disease curable?"
The ring responded, "It is curable."
Relief washed over him momentarily before tension gripped him again. "What does 19/19 mean?"
The ring explained, "Based on the Host's current state, your lifespan is limited to 19 years."
Lee Cha's face flickered with changing emotions.
A torrent of thoughts raced through his mind.
When someone learns their days are numbered, the emotions are beyond words.
Fear? Sadness?
He chuckled, perhaps embracing a sense of liberation.
[Objective 1: Survival] [Objective 2: Explore the Alien World]
Your novice gift pack has been dispatched. Please claim it.
An image materialized in Lee Cha's mind.
A space, less than a cubic meter, with a test tube floating at its center, containing a semi-transparent reagent.
Let's just drop the 'big' from the big gift pack...
His consciousness reached out, and upon contact, the test tube materialized in his palm.
Primary Cell Repairing Fluid: Slightly enhances physical constitution and repairs injuries, including skin wounds, organ damage, and broken bones.
He gazed at the test tube and asked, "Ring, can this cure my illness?"
If he was right, his shortened lifespan was tied to a terminal disease.
And if it were possible, he certainly didn't want to die so young.
It would have a certain effect.
Lee Cha paused, then reconsidered. If the ring could transport him to an Alien World, harming him would be effortless.
What did he have that was worth coveting in his current state of poverty?
He uncapped the test tube and swallowed its contents.
Tasteless.
Within two minutes, his body began to heat up, and his wounds itched—a good sign.
It was working!
But soon after, his body convulsed, his face contorted in pain, and he spasmed as though struck by a surge of high voltage.
As the black substance oozed from his skin, he collapsed to the ground, writhing in silence to avoid screaming out. Thirty minutes later, with a powerful kick against the ground, he sprang up in a carp-like flip, feeling a rush of satisfaction as his fists clenched and his knuckles cracked with a gratifying sound. His body had never felt so invigorated with strength. Was this the power of the Primary Cell Repairing Fluid?
Lee Cha's gaze returned to the ring.
Host: Lee Cha
Fighting Power: 10
Stage: None
Cultivation Technique: None
Lifespan: 19/20
Condition: Leukemia (late stage), Pulmonary heart disease (severe)
A fierce will to survive blazed in his eyes. His lifespan had increased by one year!
"Is there an Intermediate or Advanced Repairing Fluid?"
Yes.
"How can I acquire it?"
Main mission reward.
Taking a deep breath, Lee Cha's face set with a resolve like never before. He was determined to survive. He glanced at his Fighting Power. It was no longer pitifully weak, but it still paled in comparison to the formidable Evolvers who could split stone and slice iron with their bare hands.
"Survival and exploration, huh?" he mused.
He examined the system in his right hand, but as he did, it unexpectedly slipped onto his right middle finger.
"I'll call you 'System' then..."
Naming successful.
Suddenly, Lee Cha's stomach roared like thunder, and a wave of hunger washed over him. Instinctively, he reached to adjust his glasses on his nose, only to poke himself when he found nothing there. His glasses had fallen off? But his vision was crystal clear. He looked around, astonished to see the intricate patterns of leaves several meters away and the delicate tendrils of vines in the distance. Before, without his glasses, he couldn't even make out the face of someone a meter in front of him, much less the fine details of leaves and embers.
Was the Primary Cell Repairing Fluid really this potent?
Another stomach growl hit him, accompanied by a wave of dizziness. Damn, it was low blood sugar.
"That cursed driver... if I ever find out who you are, I'll curse your whole family to die of starvation—or worse," he muttered under his breath as he headed towards the less dense foliage.
He had just heard the sound of running water—a sure sign of food nearby.
Thankfully, this wasn't the real world; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared approach the water's edge.
Sure enough, about ten meters away, a clear brook about two meters wide meandered along. In its deeper parts, several palm-sized fish with black and brown scales idly flicked their tails.
He licked his lips in anticipation...
Half an hour later, a distinctive aroma mingled with a hint of char wafted from the bonfire.
Lee Cha couldn't wait. He grabbed a skewer and blew on the yellowish-black skin of the fish. He reached out to touch it, but the heat of the roasted fish made him quickly withdraw his hand.
Touching his fingertip to his tongue, the crisp, charred flavor of the fish exploded on his palate, making his mouth water uncontrollably.
He blew on the fish a few more times before he couldn't stand it any longer. Tearing off the striped skin, he revealed the flaky, snow-white flesh underneath and shoved it into his mouth.
The scalding meat forced him to open wide and tilt his head back, exhaling into the air.
Crunch, crunch—his jaws worked the fish as a dribble of oil escaped the corner of his mouth. He darted out his tongue to catch it, not willing to waste a single delicious drop.
The skin was crisp and satisfying, the flesh tender—a perfect combination that left Lee Cha in a state of bliss.
Even so, he remained alert, scanning his surroundings.
In under a minute, after satisfying his hunger and thirst, Lee Cha stood up, patting his behind. His dry, soft undergarments were already on, and his jacket and jeans were set out to dry.
Having temporarily averted the dangers of cold and starvation, he started to plan his departure.
Awoooo!
Suddenly, a faint roar echoed from a distance. Lee Cha's body tensed, and he gazed towards the direction of the wind, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
