A muddy environment filled with bizarre vegetations. Mother nature that seemingly seeks to devour anything.
This was the gruesomely horrifying Kijuju Marshlands, but it was still hailed as the Vast Wetlands here.
The average water level didn’t exceed a metre, but some areas were as deep as 2-3 metres while others could only submerge one’s calves. Deadly swamp areas that could drown humans were sporadically scattered around, and unable to be identified.
This Marshland was polluted with legions of reeds, three-leaf arrowheads, marsh Labrador tea, lingonberries, Acorus calamus, Carex, Matted sphagnum moss and Velvet aquatic gra.s.ses.
The widely populated organisms were mosquitoes, horse flies, and gnats. They buzzed around in flight, forming into clouds of universal importance. If any jungle creature loitered recklessly into the area, they would be sucked till flesh and bones remained within hours! Of course, once they entered the water, the stench of sweat and blood would permeate through all corners of the water source; attracting the leeches to flock here instantaneously.
Though the water didn’t appear stagnant, most of it was replenished by the precipitation of the sky. The vegetations here multiplied incessantly, where the constant growing and dying gave rise to marsh gas, poison and other substances acc.u.mulating inside the water.
Even Sheyan reckoned that the strongest contestant, though drinking this water wouldn’t be fatal, it would incite vomiting and diarrhea, before contracting cholera, malaria, gastritis, duodenum ulceration and other pestilences…...
Yet Ndipayans had taken residence in this region of unmatched vileness.
They utilized special timber for constructions and even grasped rather advanced construction techniques. Apart from that, after living for a millennium in such unique conditions, they had a.s.similated to become part of this wetlands; inseparable and intimately related.
The most optimal mode of transport in this area would be a hovercraft with a ma.s.sive electrical fan beneath their b.u.t.tocks; which wouldn’t be inferior to directly speeding through with a motorbike. Yet at present, it was obviously impossible for such advanced transport systems.
Since that was the case, the natives chopped down the trees and carved its interior to manufacture canoes. These canoes could fit a maximum of three and were extremely easy to capsize.
Sheyan obviously remembered he still had 3 overlord arachnid eggs. However, when he planned to employ them, he realized they were restricted.
Although this storyline world didn’t reveal this hidden world’s difficulty, to Sheyan’s conjecture, it should at least be at ‘A’ difficulty!
Back in the Lord of the Rings world, he was also incapable of using those overlords. That indicated it was quite normal to restrict flying transports at times.
Without other alternatives, Sheyan could only watch these natives craft out the canoes. Fortunately, they manufactured these canoes with a rapid work rate.
Meanwhile, Mbenga had awoken. Realizing that this destination was the nest of the Ndipaya tribe, he didn’t speak much but merely remained dazed for a long while. Mbenga then sighed while shaking his head, and reached out for a drink.
With the a.s.sistance of the trio, crafting 7-8 canoes didn’t require too much time at all. To convince these native aborigines, they also displayed a series of overbearing strength. After the enhancements of the previous world, it was now time to exhibit their might. Thus, they managed to inject some confidence in the natives.
These native aborigines were definitely wors.h.i.+ppers of might. Knowing their employers were so formidable, they naturally surged with confidence.
Soon, several natives who were sent to scour the outskirts of this place returned to report. After silently drinking a little, Mbenga then proceeded to draft out a traveling route.
According to Mbenga, the Ndipaya inhabitants were normally unconsolidated, for the sake of hunting for food and harvesting vegetation. Frequently, they would gather and live in separated 20-30 men a.s.semblies.
Mbenga also told Sheyan that it has been a long long time since he last entered this place. In truth, he was utterly clueless about the internal specifics of this area, and suggested to first mount a surprise attack, and apprehend some captives to interrogate.
Frankly speaking, Mbenga’s words were very reasonable.
However, Sheyan was aware this wasn’t merely a test for himself. If individuals who coveted the undying mysteries of the ‘Stairway of the Sun’ hadn’t thought of this idea of capturing a Ndipaya inhabitant, then this affair would be as easy as bathing and sleeping!
Nevertheless, Sheyan still desired to probe out the bottom-line of these Ndipayans. After all, testing out their limits and gradually consolidating his knowledge at each step, was always his objective. Hence, he accorded to this plan.
The trio then boarded their night transport canoes as they cruised into the depths of the wetlands.
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Swish swosh swish, swosh swish swosh…...
The sounds of water echoed through the night with a monotonous yet furtive tempo.
At present, Sheyan’s ‘Pirate Captain’ t.i.tle could still exhibit its effects. This allowed them to rapidly cruise along Mbenga’s drafted traveling route, as they headed straight for the site of a smaller scale Ndipaya a.s.sembly.
The nights of this wetlands weren’t serene at all. Regardless of corpse toads, poison dart frogs or water scorpions, they were all organisms adept at employing their sounds to ‘pull in and fool around with the opposite s.e.x’. The symphonies of cricketings could cause headaches.
In the outside world, those organisms would pause in silence once they could sense the presence of humans. Instead, here, they became infused with adrenaline when humans approached.
By now, Sheyan was already starting to feel that inviting a guide was truly a wise decision. Otherwise, just based on the vile and complex terrain here, it would definitely cause one to go round in circles with a headache; wasting a great deal of time at the very least!
Yet in the trio’s perspective, time was undoubtedly the most valuable thing now!
Not too long later, the unique residences of the Ndipayans emerged ahead.
Those buildings were a.n.a.logous to houses on stilts, with long wooden legs drilling deep into the water; providing fundamental support to these huts. The floorboards of these huts were roughly 2-3 metres elevated from the water, and covering the floors with thick sun-dried straw to sleep could be relatively comfortable. Of course, the roofs were installed with a different straw material, which could be used to weave straw hats and raincoats.
Wooden stakes were impaled around those huts, where either totems or blood-stained animal skulls were hung atop.
The place looked exceptionally barbarous and primitive. Straw ropes were tied above, which were hanging hunted preys being sun or air dried. The rotting carca.s.ses emitted a pungent odour.
The entire style of these residences and the environment were embellished with greyish ambiance, causing it to look particularly repressive.
Sheyan casted a glance at Mogensha. At present, Mogensha"s abilities had once again scaled up. Now, he could utilize his firearm scope to conduct an infrared thermal imaging. In this manner, he could easily discover the traces of enemies.
Mogensha raised his AK as he squinted his eyes to survey around. He then swiftly made a hand gesture – waving an open palm before changing it to three fingers.
"Eight people." Sheyan immediately understood Mogensha’s meaning.
He and Reef then stood up from the canoe. This wasn’t the first time they ventured into a high difficulty world. Their experience in the Lord of the Rings world could be described as exceedingly dangerous.
Sheyan reckoned that at the very least, the enemies in the exterior part of this hidden world shouldn’t be able to deal him a threat of instant a.s.sa.s.sination. Moreover, didn’t they still possess the ridiculous ‘Life-link’ ability?
Meanwhile, to fuel the confidence of the natives, he wanted to express that he wasn’t merely using them as cannon fodder; which was obviously what he planned to do. Therefore, Sheyan decided to first test the water himself with Reef.
Following that, Brother Black then transmitted his probed information to them.
The names given to those aborigines were – [ Ndipaya Outer Tribe Barbarians ]. Their other statistics were all question marks.
Sheyan understood that should be due to the suppression of the world’s difficulty. Back in the Lord of the Rings world, the same aspect had occurred. Hence, he wasn’t very startled.
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A m.u.f.fled gunshot resounded in a flash.
While peeing in the middle of the night, a Ndipaya barbarian with groggy eyes was staggering through his house corridor. Because he was just about to pee on Sheyan’s head, their plan was compelled to be activated in advance.
Just when that Ndipaya barbarian noticed the stealthy invaders and was about to release an astonis.h.i.+ng rally cry, a malicious bullet pierced into his mouth.
Instantly after, Sheyan leaped up with his deep-blue s.h.i.+mmering blade ray slas.h.i.+ng straight against his throat, drawing an instant streak of melancholic blood! Instead, Sheyan could feel an endurance from the Ndipaya barbarian’s skin, contrasting that of normal humans. Otherwise, his blade would’ve effortlessly beheaded the Ndipaya barbarian!
As the barbarian was about to roll away to escape, Reef abruptly rushed forth from nowhere.
This was the first time Sheyan was witnessing the newly improved Growth-hunter Reef in action. As he slammed his s.h.i.+eld into the Ndipaya barbarian, that barbarian was instantly knocked rolling to the ground with his throat still gurgling helplessly; probably sinking into a stunned state.
Sheyan then tore forward as he viciously slashed twice, chopping until his body was soaked in blood. When the Ndipaya barbarian regained his balance and scrambled up, his life was already in imminent crisis.
After another stomp by Sheyan, he was sent flying before slamming against a rear wooden part.i.tion and falling into the water. After adding in some silenced shots, large clumps of blood came boiling up the water. Instantly, the trio received a notification.
[ You killed a Ndipaya Barbarian ]
[ Do you wish to initiate the milestone: Invader (Slay 10 Ndipaya Barbarians)? ]
[ Warning: If you are unable to accomplish this milestone during your period of stay, the penalty will be randomly erasing any milestone/t.i.tle you have already acquired ]
Without hesitation, Sheyan selected to accept. Just cleaning out this tiny village would equate to 8 Ndipaya barbarians. Adding a little more, and he would reach ten.
With the recent interaction, he realized that these Outer Ndipaya Barbarians didn’t possess powerful battle capabilities. Instead, according to the information obtained from Little Lord Fokke and some inference, he knew they could probably unleash something else – a troublesome curse or a disease.