Star City Academy.
Early the next morning, Feng Qi arrived at the principal's office.
After knocking, Bai Fusheng's steady voice sounded from inside: "Come in."
Pushing the door open, he saw Bai Fusheng dressed in a loose white martial arts uniform, performing a Tai Chi-like breathing exercise. On the side table, steam was rising from a freshly brewed pot of tea.
"You're here to request leave again, aren't you?" Bai Fusheng asked without even looking up.
Hearing this, Feng Qi chuckled, stepping forward to pick up the teapot and pour a cup, handing it over with both hands: "Shi-gong, you really see right through me. I've got another collaboration with the Crimson Research Institute and will be heading out for a few days to study with them."
Taking the cup, Bai Fusheng smirked. "Let me guess—virtual game development again? Fine, go if you must. But listen, kid, don't put too much focus on this. Your priority should always be cultivation research."
"Understood!" Feng Qi nodded without hesitation.
[Yeah, yeah, whatever he says. Not like I'm actually listening.]
Ignoring the narrator's sarcastic remark, Feng Qi continued chatting with Bai Fusheng for a while. After making his promises, he left the office.
Back in his dorm, he called Lin Ran and Mu Qing to explain his plans. Then, he packed up his bag and left the academy.
Before heading to the Black Abyss Domain Field, he had briefly considered bringing Mu Qing along.
With Mu Qing's strength, acquiring the Miracle Bracelet would be effortless.
However, that also meant he wouldn't be able to use any of his innate abilities, especially Blood Source Transformation, without exposing his secrets.
Though he trusted Mu Qing, he couldn't completely rule out the risk of his abilities leaking. That could have severe consequences for future sacrifice lines.
Besides, his goal at the Black Abyss Domain Field was to seize the Miracle Bracelet, not to conquer the entire domain. The difficulty wasn't as high as a full raid.
The humanoid leader within the domain was within his capabilities to defeat, so there was no need to introduce unnecessary variables.
Leaving Star City Academy, he hailed a cab to the Crimson Research Institute.
The institute had already been notified in advance, and a private aircraft was prepared for him on the base's airstrip. As soon as he arrived, he was escorted straight onto the plane.
There were no unnecessary procedures. The Crimson Special Aircraft took off immediately after he was seated.
Watching the landscape shrink below him, Feng Qi felt calm and composed.
As the narrator once said—when one's strength is enough to face a challenge, there is no fear or anxiety.
This thought reminded him of Old Mist.
Old Mist had once said something similar, though his perspective differed from the narrator's.
Old Mist believed that as long as every step was carefully planned and every potential mishap accounted for, even unexpected events could be handled smoothly.
Thinking about it, Feng Qi realized that Old Mist and the narrator were complete opposites.
One constantly preached muscle and brute force, while the other swore by strategy and meticulous planning.
The Crimson Special Aircraft continued ascending, breaking through thick clouds.
Below, the shrinking landscape was soon hidden beneath dense clouds, but in the far distance, shimmering domain field barriers of various colors could be seen.
Each domain field was like a natural chasm, severing the connection between human cities.
Even flight routes had to be constantly adjusted in real-time.
If an aircraft accidentally breached a domain, the incompatible domain laws could tear it apart instantly.
The route to Old Day City required constant maneuvering to avoid hazardous domain zones.
Feng Qi pulled a bottle of Mental Soothing Agent from his backpack.
Twisting the cap off, he took a large sip.
A sharp burning sensation hit him instantly, followed by a soothing wave that gently washed over his mind, calming his thoughts.
After a brief moment of clarity, he felt significantly mentally refreshed.
"Hey, Bai, do you think the Miracle Bracelet will really allow me to connect with my alternate selves across sacrifice lines and transfer power between them?"
[No idea. But it's worth looking forward to. I mean, you can already traverse different timelines—what's more ridiculous than that? Personally, I think your time-traveling ability is also linked to some hidden Miracle Item. So if the Miracle Bracelet has time-related powers, it wouldn't be that surprising.]
"I think the Miracle Item enabling my time travel is actually you."
[Bullshit! If I were a Miracle Item, would I have intelligence?]
"You call that intelligence? All you ever talk about is muscles."
[You wanna start something, you undead idiot?]
"Alright, enough jokes. Let me ask you something serious—what do you think you actually are?"
Hearing the question, the narrator fell silent for a moment before finally responding.
Feng Qi remained silent for a moment, then chuckled. "So what you're saying is, you're actually some kind of super-genius human who tried to stop the extinction of humanity by building a time machine, but failed repeatedly. In the end, you digitized yourself and traveled across time to find another way to save the world, and that's how you ended up with me?"
[That's exactly it! Even though I've lost my memories, my determination to save the world is just as strong as yours. So the probability of this being true is extremely high!]
Feng Qi smirked. "Sounds somewhat convincing. But if that's the case, why did you lose your memories?"
[Uh... that part, I'm not sure about.]
"Maybe your brain fried during the time travel process."
The moment he said that, Feng Qi realized he had made a mistake.
As expected, the narrator immediately launched into a tirade of furious insults.
Listening to the narrator's indignant rant, Feng Qi couldn't help but burst into laughter.
It was rare for him to get the upper hand in these verbal exchanges.
One day later, 3 PM.
The Crimson Special Aircraft flew over the coastal city of Old Day City, finally landing at Old Day East Supply Zone.
After watching the aircraft depart, Feng Qi began walking eastward.
The scenery along the way felt strangely familiar.
The last time he had come here, he had been accompanied by Mist Lord, also carrying a backpack.
But back then, his bag hadn't contained clothes and Mental Soothing Agents—it had held a Brain Activity Needle, and he had been prepared for the very real possibility of dying at any moment.
Following the main road for a while, he arrived at a hotel near the airport.
At the front desk, as he was registering his stay, the hotel staff began asking questions.
Most of the inquiries revolved around why he had come to the supply zone.
This didn't surprise Feng Qi.
After all, his official identity was still that of a teacher at Star City Academy, so his sudden arrival in a supply zone seemed unusual.
In previous sacrifice lines, he had resigned from his teaching position before coming here.
Teachers were considered logistical personnel—those who managed to become instructors at top academies were far from ordinary. They were the elite, selected through multiple layers of screening.
Throughout their careers, they were responsible for training a large number of specialists for the frontlines.
Aside from training internships, it was incredibly rare for teachers to actively come to a supply zone. This was why the hotel staff, who were part of the supply zone's administrative team, found his visit suspicious.
Their questioning wasn't out of hostility—it was purely for his own safety.
There was also a historical reason for their caution.
In the early days of the Cataclysm, humanity was at its weakest. The expansion of domain fields continuously shrank the territory where humans could live, reducing it to even less than what was available today.
Back then, many passionate teachers, driven by the desire to save humanity, had brought their students to the frontlines.
To ordinary people, this might have seemed like a noble sacrifice. But from a strategic perspective, it was an incredibly reckless decision.
Teachers and students represented humanity's future.
Frontline warriors fought to the death to buy time for the next generation.
If too many educators followed the same self-sacrificial path, it would cripple humanity's long-term survival.
This was why supply zone administrators were now very strict about logistical personnel entering frontline areas.
If a teacher couldn't provide a valid reason, supply zone authorities might forcibly send them back.
Faced with their inquiries, Feng Qi calmly explained that he had come for a research project in collaboration with the Crimson Research Institute.
The staff weren't entirely convinced and immediately called their superiors for verification.
Fortunately, the Crimson Research Institute had already prepared for this in advance.
The high-ranking official on the other end of the call immediately confirmed that everything was in order.
With that, the situation was resolved.
After this minor incident, Feng Qi successfully checked into the supply zone hotel near the airport.
Once he got his room key and entered his suite, he grabbed the tablet placed beside the television.
As he powered it on, the screen displayed a detailed map of the supply zone, including clearly marked buildings and their functions, as well as the latest news updates from the area.
However, this tablet wasn't linked to the Warband System at the Recruitment Hall, meaning it couldn't display real-time frontline missions.
Feng Qi didn't mind.
After all, he hadn't come here to join a warband.
What he needed most right now was a way to get out to sea.
He scrolled through the options and found a local ship rental service.
Tapping on the listing, a detailed interface appeared, showcasing a variety of ships and vessels available for rent.
Each ship's model, tonnage, weapon systems, and other specifications were clearly labeled.
By selecting a ship, he could even view a 3D scanned model, complete with every scratch, rusted screw, and chipped paint detail faithfully replicated.
Feng Qi scrolled through the list, carefully examining the options.
This wasn't just about renting a ship—he needed to ensure it was suited for his mission.
He wasn't just crossing the ocean—he was heading into the Black Abyss Domain Field.
And that meant whatever ship he chose had to be capable of surviving the horrors lurking beneath the waves.
Every time a rented ship was returned, it would undergo another scan to ensure the information remained accurate.
The Old Day East Supply Zone's port was approximately 600 nautical miles from the Black Abyss Domain Field. Given the average speed of a modified vessel at 30 knots, the journey would take about a full day.
Swimming there? Not an option. It would take far too long, making a seaworthy vessel absolutely necessary.
After carefully browsing the options, Feng Qi finally selected a small modified vessel.
Tapping on the rental reservation button, a verification prompt appeared.
The Old Day East Supply Zone strictly forbade ordinary civilians from venturing out to sea, including former fishermen. This was entirely for safety reasons.
The ocean was crawling with domain-transcendent creatures.
Unless one was a domain warrior, setting sail meant certain death.
Even commercial fishing operations were exclusively handled by newly recruited frontline warriors.
In the previous timeline, both he and Mist Lord had taken on fishing-related tasks right after becoming frontline warriors, using those missions to familiarize themselves with the supply zone's logistics.
After spending some time completing the necessary registration procedures, the screen switched to a pending verification status.
A few minutes later, a rental confirmation message popped up.
Just as he was about to pay the rental deposit, he noticed something unexpected—
The Crimson Research Institute had already covered the costs.
With his vessel ready, all he had to do now was wait for the rental company's notification.
With nothing to do in the meantime, he suddenly had the urge to eat a feast.
After taking a hot shower and changing into fresh clothes, he headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant.
As soon as he sat down, a warm and welcoming staff member approached, menu in hand.
Being a coastal city, Old Day City was famous for its seafood.
And the East Supply Zone, located by the East Sea, was the largest seafood distribution hub.
Every day, the seafood offloaded at the docks was first allocated to the supply zone, then distributed to Old Day City, before finally being shipped to other major cities in exchange for resources like minerals and technological products.
Flipping open the menu, he found that most dishes were seafood-based—
Garlic-steamed clams, soy-glazed eel rice, spicy stir-fried squid, steamed fresh prawns...
Every variety of seafood found in the East Sea could be ordered here.
However, the menu did not include seafood sourced from domain fields.
Seafood from domain fields contained spiritual energy, making it highly sought-after. It was primarily supplied to major research institutes and large warbands for combat rations and research.
Occasionally, it was distributed to top-tier academies for special events.
Only a tiny fraction ever made it into civilian markets.
For ordinary people, getting a taste of spirit-infused seafood was almost impossible. Even online orders frequently ran out of stock.
From a strategic standpoint, flavor was secondary—
The real value of spiritual seafood lay in its ability to enhance physical fitness and its use in experimental research.
Scanning through the menu, Feng Qi ordered an entire table's worth of seafood.
The staff member holding the tablet for order-taking visibly hesitated.
While frontline warriors typically had hearty appetites, Feng Qi's order was excessive even by their standards.
However, the well-trained staff said nothing and proceeded to confirm his order without hesitation.
While waiting, one dish after another—freshly prepared from the supply zone's seafood reserves—was brought to his table.
All of it had been caught that very morning, ensuring maximum freshness and unparalleled flavor.
Paired with a variety of dipping sauces, each bite unlocked the full potential of the seafood's taste.
Feng Qi ate without restraint, thoroughly enjoying himself.
The meal lasted over an hour, and by the end of it, his table was covered in discarded shells and seafood remnants.
Completely satisfied, he paid for the meal and returned to his hotel room.
However, the rental company's notification still hadn't arrived.
Sitting on the sofa, with nothing to do, he suddenly felt restless.
Just then, the narrator's voice echoed in his mind—
[A full stomach leads to certain desires. Now that you're well-fed, shouldn't you find something else to do?]
Feng Qi rolled his eyes and mentally flipped off the narrator.
"That kind of thing would only slow down my sword-drawing speed."
[A sword that isn't sharpened regularly will grow dull. And if it's dull, what's the point of drawing it quickly? Be careful, or it'll rust.]
Ignoring the narrator's suggestive remarks, Feng Qi picked up the remote and turned on the television.
In this era, entertainment content was rare.
Most channels broadcasted news about the frontlines, research institutes, or educational programming.
After all, with domain invasions still threatening humanity, a culture of mindless entertainment would do more harm than good.
As Star City Academy's founder, Lin Youshu, once said—
"Not everyone has the strength to directly contribute to humanity's survival, but what truly matters is the collective effort of society as a whole."
"This spirit of unity should be ingrained in our very bones. Even ordinary people can be part of this legacy, passing it down to future generations."
Watching the news broadcast, he occasionally glanced at the ticker tape scrolling across the bottom of the screen, displaying the latest frontline updates from the East Supply Zone.
While flipping through channels, a particular news report caught his attention—
A volunteer group, composed of elite professionals, had recently formed in Old Day City.
Their mission?
Providing assistance to residents in need across various sectors of the city.
What caught Feng Qi's attention wasn't the volunteer team's activities, but rather the markings on their clothing—they bore the symbol of the Dark God.
He wasn't certain whether the Dark God Sect had already pledged allegiance to the Psionic Race, but one thing was clear from the news report—the sect was already expanding its influence in Old Day City.
Listening to the so-called volunteers humbly express their noble intentions, he couldn't help but find it laughable.
The truth was, monsters had long since infiltrated human society, masquerading under the guise of righteousness, gaining public praise for their actions.
Yet few people knew the dark abyss hidden beneath their polished exterior.
They spun lies, crushing those who truly stood for justice, throwing them into prisons, placing them on execution stands, destroying everything they stood for.
At that moment, a particular quote from a movie came to mind—
"The gun fired."
"Did you see who pulled the trigger?"
"I couldn't see. They stood atop the moral high ground, basking in the light."
As these thoughts lingered, Feng Qi gradually drifted off to sleep.
It was unclear how much time had passed when a brief notification sound woke him.
Glancing at the glowing screen of his tablet, he reached for it and saw exactly what he expected—a response from the rental company.
A message appeared on the screen:
[Modified Ship No. 8 is now ready. Current docking location: Port 6, Berth 5.]
The timing was perfect. Feng Qi got up and began packing his backpack.
There wasn't much to bring—after removing his spare clothes, he only kept his communication device and mental stabilization medicine.
Before heading out, he glanced at the time—it was already 10 PM.
Exiting the hotel, he stepped into the brightly lit supply zone. Outside, a light drizzle had begun to fall, with occasional snowflakes mixed in.
However, the sudden drop in temperature meant nothing to Feng Qi.
"As long as the body is strong, neither cold nor heat matters. Every season feels like spring."
Before heading to the port, he rented a transport vehicle from a nearby shop.
Two hours later, he arrived at Port 6.
After parking the vehicle in its designated spot, Feng Qi walked toward Berth 5.
Scanning the ships swaying with the tide, he quickly spotted his assigned modified vessel.
The rental company had already performed a final inspection, so there was no need for him to check it again.
At Berth 5, he untied the mooring rope and boarded the vessel.
After a brief system check, the ship slowly departed the port, heading toward the dark curtain at the horizon's edge.
The weather was far from ideal for sailing—waves were surging violently.
Because the modified ship was relatively small, its stability was poor. Each wave caused the ship to rock dramatically.
Seawater splashed onto the deck, even leaking into the control room. The chilling sea breeze, mixed with snowflakes, hammered against the windows, making the scene feel like the prologue to an apocalypse.
In the face of nature's power, one man's presence seemed insignificant.
But Feng Qi remained completely unfazed.
[You've seen the real end of the world. What's a little storm? Worst case, the ship sinks, and you swim back.]
"I'd still have to pay for the damages."
[Then just wash dishes for the rental company. Work off your debt before leaving. After all, as a righteous savior, you wouldn't just run off without paying, right?]
"Or I could just ask the Crimson Research Institute to cover it?"
Shrugging off the narrator's nonsense, Feng Qi focused on steering the vessel forward.
After several hours of sailing, the storm intensified instead of calming down.
Waves towered like walls, crashing onto the modified ship, nearly submerging it under the ocean's surface.
Luckily, the vessel was built solidly. Despite being repeatedly slammed by waves, it only shuddered, suffering no major damage.
After traveling further into the sea, the East Supply Zone's harbor was no longer visible.
All around him—only endless, rolling waves.
Then—BANG!
It felt as though the ship had crashed into something.
An urgent alarm blared—the system warning of incoming water.
At the same time, the narrator's voice rang out—
[A large underwater creature has appeared. No doubt it's a domain creature. Looks like your ship is done for. Get ready to wash dishes to pay your debt.]
Hearing this, Feng Qi's face darkened.
He hadn't even reached the domain field yet, and he was already targeted by an oceanic domain-transcendent creature.
With water flooding into the cabin and no prior experience in damage control, Feng Qi was at a complete loss.
At this moment, he pressed the button to seal off the lower cabin, attempting to buy the ship more time.
[It's coming!]
Before the narrator's words had even finished, the ship was struck again. The entire vessel skidded sideways across the ocean, barely skimming the surface before stabilizing.
The alarm blared again.
Feng Qi was furious.
Stepping out of the control room, he made his way to the front deck.
His gaze swept across the water's surface, and he immediately caught sight of massive crimson eyes beneath the waves. The colossal shadow of a creature loomed beneath the ship, nearly covering it entirely. Through the dark waters, he could faintly see its glistening, bioluminescent scales.
[Kill it!]
Hearing the narrator's encouragement, Feng Qi didn't hesitate—he leapt into the ocean.
The moment he entered the water, the creature's full form became clear.
It was over ten meters long, dragging a long tail behind it. It resembled an enormous aquatic lizard, moving with surprising speed beneath the waves. In an instant, it disappeared into the pitch-black depths.
Before Feng Qi could react, the sea beast suddenly lashed its tail, rushing up from the darkness with its jaw wide open, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth.
He immediately activated psychokinesis, attempting to dodge—but before his power could even manifest, the beast's jaws snapped shut around him.
An immense biting force crushed down on his body.
"A test of strength?"
Pressing his hands against the roof of the creature's mouth, Feng Qi's eyes ignited with a deep green flame.
While he wasn't skilled at underwater combat, he excelled at raw strength.
The green flames burned undeterred by the water, spreading rapidly across his entire body.
His heartbeat quickened, and vital energy surged through his body, reinforcing his muscles and bones. New flesh tissue continuously regenerated where the pressure crushed against him.
As his strength climbed, he slowly pried open the creature's jaws.
The sea beast thrashed violently, dragging him deeper into the ocean.
With the pressure increasing, the surroundings became completely dark.
Feng Qi decided to end the fight quickly.
He released his grip on the beast's upper jaw—letting its teeth slam shut around him.
The creature swallowed him whole.
Sliding down its esophagus, he was instantly met with an overwhelming pressure from all directions.
The green flames inside him exploded outward, igniting the creature's internal organs. The corrosive black burn marks spread rapidly within.
The sea beast convulsed violently, its muffled howls of pain reverberating through the water.
But Feng Qi had no intention of stopping.
He began tearing through the creature from the inside.
Each punch and kick ruptured organs, the narrator's voice cheerfully offering suggestions in his mind—
[Kick its liver... smash its lungs... give its kidney a death headbutt!]
Under his relentless assault, the beast's body deteriorated rapidly. Even its highly corrosive stomach acid failed to cause any damage to him in his Blood Source state.
Finally, with a final surge of force, Feng Qi tore through its flesh, ripping himself free from the beast's stomach.
The pressure outside was immense. In the total darkness, he could only make out the creature's fading, lifeless eyes.
As he pondered whether killing a domain creature in reality would still allow him to absorb its abilities, something unexpected happened—
A blood-red mist, glowing faintly, appeared in front of him.
The mist rushed toward him, seeping into his body.
A sudden tingling sensation spread across his skin.
Opening his status panel, he switched to the information page—and sure enough, a new ability had appeared.
[Water Skin (Upgradeable Passive Ability)]
Tier: First Tier
Description: Enhances affinity with water elements, allows free underwater breathing, and provides a bonus effect when casting water-based techniques.
"A passive ability? This is a nice surprise."
With that, Feng Qi began swimming toward the surface.
The moment he received the new ability, he noticed a drastic improvement in his swimming speed.
Moving through the water, he felt a strange sensation, as if he had merged with the ocean itself. No more resistance, no more discomfort—just seamless movement.
When he finally broke through the surface, there was no sign of his modified ship.
Scanning the horizon, all he could see were endless waves.
[Oh no, the ship's gone!]
[So... instead of running to the Crimson Research Institute for help, why not do the honorable thing and wash dishes to pay off your debt? That's what real men do.]
Ignoring the narrator's mockery, psychokinesis surged from his body, lifting him out of the water.
Suspended in the air, he searched for his vessel.
Far in the distance, he spotted the tiny silhouette of his drifting ship, nearly vanishing into the horizon.
Without hesitation, he soared toward it.
As Feng Qi approached, he realized that half of the modified ship had already sunk, with the control room completely flooded and the entire vessel slowly slipping beneath the waves.
Feng Qi: ...
[Dishwashing time!]
"Shut the hell up!" Feng Qi snapped.
Turning toward the direction of the Black Abyss Domain Field, he quickly assessed his remaining options.
There were only two choices left.
The first was to return and rent another ship.
He wasn't worried about covering the cost—he definitely couldn't afford it, but the Crimson Research Institute had plenty of money.
The second option was to keep swimming toward the Black Abyss Domain Field.
He hadn't even reached the halfway point yet, and continuing by swimming would take much longer.
After thinking it through, he decided to swim the rest of the way.
Since he had already used Blood Source Form, he needed to replenish his vital energy as soon as possible. Without the Blood Source state, even if he reached the Black Abyss Domain Field, he wouldn't be able to fight the humanoid leader.
It would be better to swim there and hunt along the way.
With that decision made, he withdrew his psychokinesis and dived into the ocean.
While his Blood Source Form was still active, Feng Qi quickly submerged and began gliding through the water, using his arms and legs to propel himself forward.
Without the navigation system from the ship, he found it difficult to stay on course underwater.
Every few minutes, he surfaced to confirm the direction of the Black Abyss Domain Field.
The black curtain of the domain stretched straight up into the sky, making it easy to navigate toward.
Feng Qi's swimming method was like a dolphin—he would accelerate underwater, then suddenly leap out, shake his head to adjust his direction, and dive back down to continue swimming.
Ten minutes later, his Blood Source Form faded, shifting him back into Combat Form.
His speed immediately dropped.
Scanning his surroundings, he used psychokinesis to choke any passing sea creatures, absorbing their vital energy to replenish his own.
It was hard to tell how much time had passed, but Feng Qi was finally approaching the black curtain of the domain.
Even though he had killed many fish along the way, the vital energy he absorbed wasn't even a fifth of his peak condition.
But he didn't hesitate—he charged straight into the domain barrier.
As he passed through, he felt a slight resistance, but it quickly vanished.
What lay before him was a completely different ocean—calm and undisturbed.
Far in the distance, he could see Black Abyss Island on the horizon.
With no time to waste, he swam toward the island.
Compared to the outside world, the waters here were far more dangerous—filled with predators.
They were huge.
It didn't take long for one of them to notice him.
As a massive sea beast approached, Feng Qi immediately counterattacked.
Now that he had the Water Skin ability, his movements underwater were much more fluid, and he wasn't worried about being dragged down.
Even though his Combat Form wasn't as powerful as Blood Source Form, it was still strong enough.
His hardened bones allowed him to easily tear through the sea beasts' thick hides.
Very quickly, the surrounding waters turned red with blood.
This, in turn, attracted even more sea beasts.
But these creatures weren't just hunting him—they started attacking each other as well.
The ocean became a chaotic battlefield.
By slaughtering the sea beasts, Feng Qi managed to restore a significant amount of his vital energy.
His Blood Source ability was now fully charged again.
After fighting his way through, he finally decided to levitate above the water using psychokinesis, choosing to fly forward instead.
However, his mental strength had limits, and he couldn't stay airborne for long.
Eventually, he dropped back into the ocean.
Fortunately, he had already left the most dangerous hunting grounds—swimming forward was much easier now.
At last, he reached Black Abyss Island.
On the previous timeline, when he had arrived here, there had been shipwrecks everywhere.
Now, the shoreline was pristine—untouched by war.
This was because the Black Abyss Domain Field had yet to be officially targeted by the Domain Combat Squads.
Stepping onto the shallow waters, he waded to shore.
Raising his head, he glanced at the moon and asked:
"Ah Bai, how long did it take me to get here?"
[About two days.]
Two full days of nonstop movement, including multiple battles.
He was exhausted.
Arriving at a white sand beach, he looked toward the dense forest ahead.
Instead of moving forward, he sat down to rest.
What lay ahead would be a brutal fight.
He needed to be at full strength to slay the humanoid leader and claim the Miracle Bracelet.