Unlike other expeditions, Su'er's team had only one purpose for this trip: to find enough medicinal herbs for the colony.
Their destination was also very clear: the now-destroyed human colony where Su'er, Lenny, and others had once lived. According to Su'er's memory, the humans in that colony had planted some medicinal herbs in a place a little far away, where the Black Ash had not yet fallen, but they didn't have time to retrieve them when they fled.
If it hadn't been destroyed by any wild beasts in the past few years, there should be enough medicinal herbs for the entire colony to use for a long time. If planted properly, they might even be able to cultivate new medicinal herbs in the new colony, thus avoiding further trips to this Werebeast hunting ground.
To be honest, it was a bit risky. Even though Su'er had led teams to search for necessary survival materials in this area several times before, the place they were heading to this time was truly too deep.
No matter when, the places where Werebeasts appeared were always the most dangerous. After all, races higher than the Werebeasts disdained to attack humans, whom they viewed as mere monkeys—except for those bored individuals who enjoyed pouring water into ant holes.
But Werebeasts were different. They too struggled with food shortages and still considered humans a food source. They were a race with sufficient motivation and action, plus their keen five senses... It was truly a nightmare.
Even Su'er himself was often surprised that he had remained safe and sound in this area so many times.
Honestly, if it weren't for Credo's illness this time, he would never choose to lead the team to such a dangerous place—he truly didn't want to see another familiar face buried in the ground.
After lasting for almost a day, the blue vortex finally disappeared. Su'er and his team weren't very lucky; they happened to encounter a particularly long-lasting death storm.
The bonfire was quickly extinguished, and the group fled the cave, which had just been warmed up, at life-or-death speed. Such a lingering warmth was abnormal. If they didn't escape quickly, some dangerous creatures might come to investigate.
In fact, on their escape, Su'er and his group encountered just such a creature.
Raising his hand to signal everyone to stay still and hide on the spot, Su'er pulled the hood on his head down a little more, then carefully poked his head slowly from the cracks between the stones—peeking only through the gap between the stones and the hood.
It was a giant of a creature, with a broad waist. Just looking at its strong muscles, one could imagine it punching Su'er's head into his chest. Even its thinnest ankles were almost thicker than Su'er's waist. Green skin, ferocious fangs, wrapped in animal hide, and decorated with the heads and teeth of unknown creatures.
With just one glance, Su'er recognized the group of creatures that had appeared before them.
Orcs.
Also known as Orks.
Just like the green-skinned race in a game from Su'er's world before, they were synonymous with strength.
But one thing that must be mentioned here is that although the so-called Orks could also be called orcs, they were not the Werebeast race, but members of the Demonia race.
According to what Su'er learned from Riku, the Werebeast race, which his group feared along the way, didn't look much different from humans, save for some furry animal ears and tails... and their strength was also vastly different.
The Werebeast race had never acknowledged humans as one of them, even if humans referred to them as "monkey people."
For the races on this planet, the difference between them was never their appearance, but the composition of their Souls.
"Over there! Right over there! I can feel it! There's the smell of food!"
"Roar! Werebeasts! There are still Werebeasts! Kill!"
"Kill the Werebeasts first!"
"Kill the Werebeasts first! Fight! Kill! Blood!"
"Roar!"
"..."
Listening to the roars coming from the other side, Su'er had to strain to decipher their destination from the Orcs' words. It wasn't his fault; these Orcs spoke too boisterously, and the Demonia language was indeed difficult to understand. Anyway, it seemed they had noticed some smoke coming from the cave where Su'er and his men had made a fire before, and they were now approaching it.
But... Werebeasts?
Were there Werebeasts nearby?
Su'er's heart tightened inexplicably—or did these Orcs think that the ones who had made a fire in the cave earlier were Werebeasts?
In any case, they had to leave immediately.
Such a group of Orcs was moving without any intention of hiding their whereabouts. Su'er would never believe that the Werebeast sentinels would ignore their existence. The closer they were at this time, the more dangerous it would be.
Inexplicably, Su'er suddenly felt a sense of regret—he should not have agreed to light a fire in the cave earlier. Even if the temperature was low at that time, it was customary to allow a fire then.
Even if there was a death storm outside the cave where no biological activity could occur.
Such an afterthought.
Maybe Riku was right...
He gritted his teeth and swallowed his regret. After seeing the group of Orcs shouting and talking to each other as they walked away, Su'er quickly retracted his body and signaled others to follow him closely.
Walking on the back of the rock, crawling forward on all fours with the beast skin, carefully trying not to make any extra noise—not only Su'er, but also the others realized the seriousness of the situation, and they moved much faster at that moment.
This silent march lasted for a long time. Apart from the inexplicable panic and loneliness, the only thing worthy of their gratitude was that they were not attacked by anything unexpected until they arrived at their destination. The price they had to pay was only cold and stiff limbs and bodies.
"Do you want to go over there?" Lenny gestured beside him. The direction he pointed to was exactly the settlement they had escaped from three years ago.
"No need," without even thinking, Su'er directly rejected such a proposal. "There should be nothing left there that can be used after being plundered by the Werebeasts. Let's go directly to the place where the herbs were planted at that time."
After realizing he might have made a bad decision, Su'er's mood hadn't been very good during the rest of the journey, and now he had no time to indulge in extra emotions.
That was truly too extravagant.
"Get the herbs early and return early," looking back at the team members who were waiting for orders, Su'er briefly gestured.
"Yes."