novelraw Chapter 20 Main Quest: Searching for the Lost City
Chapter 20 Main Quest: Searching for the Lost City
[ID: Chen Huai (Superhuman)]
[Occupation: Child of Nature]
[Genetic Level: LV3]
Strength: 21 → 23
[Constitution: 18 → 21]
Agility: 18 → 20
[Spirit: 34 → 38]
……
[Key level detected, main quest sequence triggered]
[Main quest available]
[Mission: Find the Lost City]
[Description: In the year 353 of the Federation Calendar, a nuclear war broke out, and fifty-seven underground cities were urgently sealed. In the year 453, fifty-six of them were opened as planned, becoming the cornerstone of the new order in the wasteland. However, the opening signal of the last underground city, serial number 57, was completely interrupted during transmission, and its coordinates were lost to the dust of history. It is known as the Lost City. Your arrival may be the only chance to restart it.]
Objective: Locate and unlock the Lost City, serial number 57.
[Basic Reward: Level 1 Management Access to the Lost City]
[Note: The target coordinates are obscured by an unknown force; only the footprints of explorers can dispel the darkness enveloping them.]
The road twists and turns.
Chen Huai hadn't expected that after giving up on a normal start and even planning to go out and farm in the wild, a twist of fate gave him hope again. There was still one survivor among the fifty-six dungeons that had been opened.
What does a complete, unexplored dungeon mean?
The most advanced technology before the war, massive reserves of supplies, uncontaminated water and food, complete industrial technology and production lines... More importantly, it may be the key to his understanding of this world and even his search for his way home!
……
Map function activated
In Chen Huai's field of vision, a familiar terrain map unfolded—it was the area around the Wild Grass Camp that he had explored over the past few days.
However, beyond the reach of his footprints, his vision was covered by a thick gray fog, representing the unknown that he had never encountered.
But deep within this unknown place, a constantly flashing golden light spot stands out conspicuously!
"It's in here..."
Chen Huai looked towards the location of the Lost City. Although the surrounding area was shrouded in thick fog, obscuring its exact location, he could roughly guess, based on the map's scale and orientation, that it should be...
"So close?"
He subconsciously estimated the distance between the light spot and his current location. The good news was that the underground city was very close to him, but the bad news was... it should be located deep in the Loman Forest.
This was a bit too difficult for Chen Huai, who had only just reached level three.
A level 6 Razor Claw was enough to keep him busy, and it would have been even more difficult without a gun, not to mention the level 14 Cat Demon, or even higher-level beasts.
"Gaia really knows how to design."
"Sir? What...what did you say?"
Old Lei and Amu became somewhat nervous because of Chen Huai's sudden silence and his solemn gaze as he looked into the depths of the forest.
Chen Huai withdrew his gaze and looked at the two of them.
"It's nothing."
He couldn't possibly reveal the secrets of the lost city, so he answered briefly:
"I have things I need to do, so let's part ways here."
Amu was the first to panic. He stepped forward and pointed to the still-bleeding wounds on Chen Huai's body:
"My lord! Your injuries haven't healed yet! The depths of the forest are too dangerous; that cat demon might still be there! What if you go in injured like this... what if you encounter another powerful beast? You should go back to camp and recover before you leave!"
The boy's face was filled with genuine anxiety.
Old Lei immediately realized what was happening and quickly echoed:
"Yes, sir! Amu is right! You are injured; you can't risk going deep into the forest like this!"
He added eagerly:
"And these two Razor Claws were earned by you risking your life; they're your spoils alone! We... our people in the camp... sigh!"
Old Lei's voice was filled with deep shame. Although Zhou Yan and the others had repaid kindness with enmity, he still felt very ashamed.
"We owe you a great debt of gratitude for saving our lives, yet the people in the camp turn around and try to harm you. How... how can we possibly take your things again? If you're leaving, please take this game with you, or... or wait a few days. Merchants should be passing through, and we can sell the pelt and claws for dinars or any supplies you need on your journey. You can take them with you! This should all have been yours to begin with!"
Old Lei's tone was almost pleading, filled with unspeakable guilt and a desire to make amends.
Chen Huai looked at Amu, who was anxiously trying to persuade him to stay, and Lao Lei, who was trying his best to clarify the ownership of the spoils, and a hint of warmth flashed in his eyes.
He shook his head, his tone calm yet firm:
"I know my own injuries. They're nothing serious. I have reasons for leaving and can't delay any longer."
As for these two razor claws, consider them a reward for the two of them upholding their principles, distinguishing right from wrong, and showing him loyalty and righteousness in the face of life and death.
If they had chosen to side with Zhou Yan back then, they would be lying in that pile of minced meat like them now.
Chen Huai said no more. He stepped forward, patted Amu's shoulder forcefully, and looked at him with a hint of expectation.
"Amu, remember your choice today. In this wasteland, strength is important, but it is equally important to stay true to yourself and to know what you should and shouldn't do. Live well and become stronger."
He was deeply impressed by the courage and loyalty this young man displayed at the crucial moment.
Amu felt the weight on his shoulder and the deep meaning in Chen Huai's eyes, and nodded vigorously, his gaze even more determined:
"I understand, sir! Take care!"
Chen Huai said no more, finally nodded to Lao Lei, and turned to face the deep Loman Forest, where the golden coordinates guided him like a lighthouse.
He took a deep breath, strode forward, and his figure quickly disappeared into the dense shadows of the trees.
Looking in the direction where Chen Huai disappeared, Lao Lei and Amu stood there for a long time.
Old Lei sighed heavily, his sighs a mixture of the complexities of Zhou Yan and the others' fates and the melancholy of Chen Huai's departure.
Amu clenched his fists, Chen Huai's expectations and words igniting a fire in his heart.
……
As he ventured deeper into the forest, Chen Huai focused intently on the map, strictly following the navigation instructions as he cautiously traversed the towering ancient trees and tangled vines.
Mental perception is like an invisible net, spreading out over the widest area to capture any slightest movement.
He hesitated for a moment. The depths of the Loman Forest were infamous, and that LV14 cat demon was deadly enough. He had only reached level three. Was it too risky?
You should find a place to level up first, at least to level five or even level seven or eight, and then come here with stronger self-defense capabilities.
But the thought was quickly suppressed.
There must be a reason why the system triggered this main quest when he was at level three.
Although he has now transmigrated into an NPC instead of a player who can log off at any time, the game mechanics still subconsciously influence him.
Logically speaking, the world Gaia generates still has its own game logic; the system won't issue absolutely impossible tasks, especially if they are triggered as soon as the level requirement is met.
This may suggest that the dangers along the path are within a controllable range, or that the mission itself does not primarily require combat capability.
Sure enough, his experiences along the way confirmed his guess.
Through his mental perception, he detected traces of powerful beasts on several occasions—perhaps markings on the edge of a territory, or low growls coming from afar. On one occasion, he even clearly sensed a giant venomous spider emitting LV8 energy fluctuations weaving its web to his right front.
But what's amazing is that when he follows the route indicated by the map, he always manages to avoid these obvious danger zones perfectly.
It was as if an invisible safe passage had been opened for him, and those powerful predators were either not on his path or had quietly moved away before he could get close.
They did not encounter any substantial interception from the alien beasts.
This unusually smooth process made him even more convinced that the system's navigation was not random, but rather a relatively safe path planned for him, guiding him away from the most dangerous areas of the forest.
This undoubtedly boosted Chen Huai's confidence significantly.
After several hours of careful trekking, traversing increasingly pristine and silent woodlands, the golden dot on the map almost perfectly aligned with his location.
He parted a huge fern leaf that almost reached the ground, covered with strange purple spots, and the sight before him made him pause.
Ahead was a relatively open clearing in the woods, but the center of the clearing was not naturally formed.
A huge stone wall covered with unknown dark green vines and thick moss stood out abruptly, completely out of place with its surroundings.
Upon closer inspection, the stone wall is clearly made of some kind of metal. Although it is severely rusted, the edges are still distinct, indicating that it is not a natural rock.
Vines and moss almost completely covered it, only vaguely revealing the cold, hard texture beneath.
Chen Huai's heart raced.
He stepped forward and began to examine the object with focused mental energy.
He saw it where the vines were thinner!
A circular metal outline partially embedded in the ground! That's a sealed hatch!
On the upper edge of the hatch, beneath thick rust and moss, a raised number 57, eroded by time, can be faintly discerned.
Serial number 57.
The Lost City!
He found it.