SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

Chapter 143: The Abandoned Battlefield [Bonus Chapter]

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The plain was quiet, yet at a single glance it was obvious what had once taken place there. Rusted weapons were stuck into the ground everywhere. Broken shields lay half buried in the soil, while huge craters and scorched marks could still be seen in the distance.

Bones were scattered among the grass, some belonging to humans and others to the other races.

Zich spotted the half buried skull of a gigantic beast, with a broken spear still lodged through its head.

"What kind of battle happened here?" As someone who loved lore, Zich couldn’t help but be curious.

"Yes, this old battlefield," Helen replied excitedly. "This used to be one of the largest conflict sites between humans and the Vilhari in this region."

Zich’s gaze settled on several tattered banners fluttering in the distance.

"What were they fighting over?"

"Hunting rights and resource zones," Helen answered. "There used to be a very stable mining site here, along with a hunting ground where monsters spawned densely. Humans wanted it. The Velhari wanted it too. In the end, they fought."

"Who won?"

"No one."

Helen’s voice became slightly quieter.

"Both sides lost a great many people. Later, the mine itself was ruined by an underground energy riot. Nowadays, almost no one is willing to stay here for long because the lingering scent of blood attracts monsters."

Zich remained silent. If he had heard about a place like this before, he probably would have thought only of danger.

Now, his first thought was materials.

Of course, he did not say it aloud.

The convoy did not enter the center of the battlefield. Instead, it followed the official road along the edge. In the distance, several players were fighting a pack of beasts. Flashes of blades and skill effects flickered among the battlefield’s ruins.

One of the players was nearly knocked to the ground by a beast, but fortunately, a teammate slammed the monster aside with a shield just in time.

The battle was fierce. But the convoy did not stop to help...

Although Zich didn’t say a word, Helen took it upon herself to reply. "Outside the shelter, seeing a battle doesn’t necessarily mean you should interfere. You don’t know whether it’s a normal hunt, a rescue trap, or trouble they brought upon themselves."

"Makes sense."

"Besides, if every convoy stopped every time they saw someone fighting monsters, many of them would never make it to Central City."

The convoy continued onward.

After leaving the old battlefield, tall boundary monuments began appearing along both sides of the road. They were built from black stone and stood several times taller than an ordinary person. Different races’ writings and symbols were carved into their surfaces.

Zich recognized the human language. He also recognized the sharp symbols of the Vilhari.

Besides those, there were several patterns he could not understand at all. Some resembled cracked ice, while others looked like flowing water mixed with webbed claws.

Helen followed his line of sight.

"Those are the symbols of the Sorath and the Keth. The roads leading to Central City are neutral routes, but the territorial borders of different races are close to these roads."

"What if someone leaves the road?"

"They might enter someone else’s territory."

"And then?"

"Then it depends on their mood."

Zich looked at her. Helen spread her hands.

"The rules will stop open warfare, but they won’t stop private killings. Especially when there’s no evidence."

Zich nodded. "Now that sounds like a normal world."

An Association personnel sitting behind them frowned and pointed out, "Your understanding of ’normal’ is a little concerning."

The convoy traveled for a while longer before a rocky region appeared ahead.

Several sharp stone pillars jutted from the ground like the ribs of some enormous monster. As the convoy passed beside the rocky area, Zich saw a team of players battling an armored giant lizard.

The giant lizard had curved horns growing from its head, while its back was covered in stone like armor plates. Every sweep of its tail smashed cracks into the ground.

An axe warrior charged forward, only to be rammed by the giant lizard and sent flying several meters away.

Another shield user immediately stepped in, forcefully blocking the next charge.

BOOM!

The shield collided with the giant lizard’s horns, sending surrounding rocks tumbling down.

Zich watched for several seconds.

This team was obviously much more experienced than the last one they saw.

They did not shout randomly or compete for credit. Whenever the front line came under pressure, the back line immediately followed up with crowd control. When someone on the flank was forced back, another teammate instantly filled the gap.

Helen said, "Many players don’t return to the shelter every day. They stay outside hunting for long periods and only come back when they need supplies or are injured."

It was more dangerous. But they grew faster too because danger and reward usually came together.

After leaving the rocky area, they passed another abandoned camp.

The place had been almost completely destroyed. The tents had been torn apart, the wooden fences broken into pieces, and the ground was still stained with scorch marks and dried blood.

Several wooden signboards lay crooked on the ground, still bearing the emblem of some small guild.

"An independent camp?" Zich asked.

"Mm." Helen nodded. "Some small guilds or independent players build temporary camps near resource zones to save time traveling back and forth to the shelter."

"Doesn’t look very successful."

"Many of them aren’t."

Helen looked toward the ruins, her voice calm.

"Some are overrun by monsters. Some are destroyed by other races. Some disappear overnight, and no one ever finds out why."

After traveling a little farther, the convoy slowed slightly.

On another road ahead, a patrol was approaching from the opposite direction.

They were tall and slender, with dark red skin, wearing armor made from bone plates and leather. Several of them rode lean beast mounts whose long limbs and yellow eyes made them look nothing like ordinary animals.

Of course, it was another race. But it was not just any race. It was the Velhari.

Immediately, the mood inside the vehicle became tense.