Chapter 241: Chapter 239: Invasion
Calling it a village wasn’t quite accurate.
It was more like a natural forest formed from countless interwoven trees.
The tree branches had fused together in a bizarre way, crisscrossing to support one another. Their intersections formed all sorts of passageways. Though clearly a natural formation, it also bore traces of artificial intervention.
Pitch-black hollows in the trees crisscrossed like an anthill, winding their way deep into the forest, their other exits hidden from view.
The arrival of the Fishman Race quickly attracted the attention of the creatures inside the hollows. They jumped down one by one, gathering curiously beside the group of Fishmen.
A tree root shot toward Jeff. The Fishmen reacted as if facing a great enemy; their individual components took flight, vigilantly aiming at the root.
But Jeff paid it no mind. After calling for the others to stand down, he allowed the root to wrap around his body.
The root then sprouted smaller tendrils that pressed against the surface of Jeff’s body. Jeff, in turn, controlled his armor to separate, leaving seams for the root to slowly enter.
"Who are you?"
Once the root made contact with Jeff’s skin, a clear voice passed through his armor and echoed among the entire group of Fishmen.
Jeff didn’t answer. He was waiting for something.
After a moment, another voice began to circulate among the Fishmen—an explanation from one of the Researchers: "They’re using some kind of telepathic communication. The principle is unknown, but it appears harmless for now. Proceed with answering."
Only after receiving the report did Jeff begin to answer the voice from the root.
"We are the Fishman Race."
"Why have you come to our island?" The voice from the root was extremely wary; after all, the Fishman Race’s arrival had caused a huge disturbance.
"We are seeking the method for eternal life," Jeff replied calmly.
"Eternal life?" The voice was surprised. "Did the humans tell you?"
"Yes," Jeff confirmed.
Jeff then proceeded to explain, holding nothing back, the predicament the Fishman Race was facing...
"We came here to find the method for eternal life, no matter the cost."
"When it comes to cost, the Fishman Race has already paid dearly."
"We have experimented with all kinds of relics and sacrificed many of our own. They would rather take their chances with relics that offer only a glimmer of hope than remain trapped forever."
"Perhaps by breaking the limits of our lifespan, we can break the Racial Lock."
"No matter what happens, it can’t be any worse than this."
Jeff’s tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt.
Having said his piece, he waited quietly for a response from the root.
But the root remained silent for a long time, as if digesting Jeff’s words.
The members of the Chali Race were also connecting to each other with their roots; it was impossible to know what they were discussing among themselves.
After a long while, the voice finally returned.
"I’m sorry, we cannot tell you."
"The Chali Race has always guarded the secret of eternal life. Not because it is some treasure, but because its cost is too great for any other race to bear. To others, it is more like a curse."
"The Fishman Race’s lock is one you must unlock yourselves. This island does not hold the key you are looking for."
As soon as the words were spoken, the entire group of Fishmen fell silent. The atmosphere became tense.
"We’ll have to see for ourselves whether the key fits the lock," Jeff said slowly.
His tone carried a hint of a warning.
From the very beginning, the Fishman Race had no intention of negotiating. Their stance had always been uncompromising.
They laid their race’s crisis bare—if the Chali were willing to help, all would be well. But if they refused...
"There is no key here."
After being refused again, the Fishmen said no more. The flying components surrounding them swarmed, blanketing the entire forest.
Only when the dark mass of components floated into the sky was the true power of the Fishman Race revealed.
Jeff spoke again.
"The method for eternal life... what is it?"
No hesitation whatsoever.
"You can’t bear the cost..."
Before the sentence was finished, a needle-like flying component, glowing red, shot into the midst of the Chali Race and pierced one of the villagers.
The villager had no time to react before the wound emitted an intense heat, instantly incinerating his body.
"What is the method for eternal life?"
Jeff asked again.
No one answered.
And so, the red-glowing component claimed another villager’s life.
"Is anyone going to answer?"
Jeff’s gaze swept over the members of the Chali Race.
Only then did the Chali Race seem to process what had happened. The component’s attack had been too fast. They stared blankly at their companion, now just a pile of ash, as the roots on their bodies writhed in terror, trying to flee in all directions.
The root wrapped around Jeff contracted violently, as if trying to crush him, but it had no effect on his armor whatsoever.
Glowing components formed a honeycomb shield of interlocking hexagons, protecting Jeff completely.
"Capture them all."
At Jeff’s command, the Fishmen behind him sprang into action.
In the blink of an eye, the forest was filled with flying components and armored bodies. The Chali Race had no chance to escape; they were restrained by the components one by one and dragged before Jeff.
"What is the method for eternal life?"
The question fell again, spoken in a flat tone, but every member of the Chali Race knew it was the sound of death’s trumpet.
The red light flashed again, and another Chali was swiftly reduced to ash.
But still they kept their mouths tightly shut, unwilling to answer.
Seeing that this approach wasn’t working on the Chali, Jeff changed his tack.
"If you tell us the method for eternal life, we of the Fishman Race will be the ones to bear the cost. It has nothing to do with you, so why resist?"
But his persuasion failed to make the Chali yield.
Restrained by the components, they knelt on the ground, faces full of fury, their mouths clamped shut.
Seeing this, Jeff had no choice but to give an order to the Fishmen: ’Use cognitive alteration...’
"Wait!" Just as Jeff was about to resort to other means, an urgent cry interrupted him.
It was Bai Zhou. He was shouting from within his armor, "Let me try! I have a way to make them talk!"
His expression was one of extreme urgency as he struggled to break free from his armor.
Jeff noticed his strange behavior and had his armor brought to the front.
"You have a way?"
"Yes! Give me control of my armor!"
"Fine."
Jeff seemed unconcerned by Bai Zhou’s strange behavior, unworried about what trouble he might cause.
With the situation firmly under his control, he simply watched Bai Zhou dispassionately and, with a casual gesture, fully released the restrictions on his armor.
Feeling he could move freely again, Bai Zhou maneuvered his armor and began to search frantically among the kneeling Chali.
His expression was a mixture of urgency and worry, his eyes were red, and his movements were trembling slightly.
He paused before each Chali, lifting their faces to look at them intently.
When he saw those who were dying or lying on the ground, he couldn’t bear to look and would turn his head away.
Finally, Bai Zhou’s eyes fell on a Chali kneeling in a corner, and he stopped.
He reached out a trembling hand and cupped the Chali’s face. Tears immediately welled in his eyes, but he quickly forced them back.
Legs shaking, he copied the Chali’s posture and slowly knelt.
As if he had made a great resolution, Bai Zhou commanded his faceplate to slowly retract. His eyes instantly met those of the Chali before him.
The roots on the Chali’s body took the opportunity to wrap around Bai Zhou’s neck.
As their eyes met, the anger in the Chali’s gaze slowly turned to shock, its pupils trembling.
"Master?"
