"Where can I find another one?"
As he pondered how to obtain another orb, the ground trembled once more. This time, two monstrous worms burst out from the earth, identical to the previous one.
Mo Chen gripped his sword tightly and assumed a crude defensive stance—one he believed might help him survive. The two worm monsters slithered closer, opening their massive jaws as if ready to devour him whole.
He exhaled heavily, his sharp gaze fixed on the approaching beasts. His grip tightened so much that the black sword in his hand began to tremble faintly.
"I want to run… but why is my body telling me to stay and defeat them? I don't know if this is good or bad… but from now on, I won't run anymore!"
With a firm resolve, Mo Chen dashed toward the two monsters. As he closed in on one of them, he swung his sword wildly. The black blade sliced through the worm's body as easily as cutting tofu.
BOOM!
The enormous creature collapsed, spilling black blood and its grotesque insides onto the ground.
The nauseating sight made Mo Chen feel like vomiting, but before he could react, the second worm lunged at him with its mouth wide open.
"Tch, trying to eat me? It won't be that easy!"
Mo Chen leaped to the side and slashed again. The blade cut cleanly through the monster.
BOOM!
The second worm's massive body crashed to the ground, its organs spilling out from the deep cut Mo Chen had made.
"These two monsters smell horrible. The fruit plants grow nearby—it'll be troublesome if I leave the corpses here. Burying them would take too long…"
As he pondered a solution, he remembered the black smoke that had turned rocks into ash. Immediately, he raised his hand, and black smoke emerged from his palm.
He approached one of the worm corpses and placed his smoke-covered hand upon it. The black smoke quickly spread across the entire body, reducing it to dust. A small black orb fell where the corpse had been. Mo Chen picked it up.
"This black orb appeared after the worm disappeared… It must belong to the monster."
He brought his sword down and split the orb in half effortlessly. Black smoke burst out and was instantly absorbed by the blade without leaving a trace.
"I split it without even thinking… but I can feel the sword trembling in satisfaction after absorbing that smoke!"
He turned to the second corpse and repeated the same process, reducing it to dust and splitting the orb.
After dealing with both monsters, Mo Chen finally realized something—the black sword in his hand was completely unaffected by the black smoke covering him.
"I just noticed… this black sword is no ordinary weapon. It must be some powerful relic… or is my black flame simply too weak?"
He didn't realize that the "black flame" he kept mentioning was actually smoke—and that it originated from the sword he held.
"After fighting those two worms, I'm starving…"
His stomach growled loudly.
Mo Chen hurried toward the blue fruits and ate them heartily. He also tried the other fruits growing nearby. They were just as delicious, but each had a different effect.
The white grape-shaped fruit made his bones feel icy cold.
The black pear-shaped fruit caused his muscles to throb and twitch as if moving on their own.
The yellow cherry-shaped fruit made his blood boil violently.
He ate them one by one, enduring the painful effects with gritted teeth.
"The effects are painful… but once they fade, my body feels lighter and stronger."
Mo Chen looked up at the fog-covered sky.
"I must leave this place as soon as possible. If I can't go upward, then I'll find another way!"
Ahead of him lay a narrow path stretching into the unknown.
"Maybe there's something at the end of this path that can lead me out of this abyss!"
He removed his clothes and tied the four corners together to create a makeshift fruit sack. After gathering plenty of fruit, he slung it over his shoulder and began walking along the path.
---
One week later…
After following the path for days, Mo Chen discovered that it ended at a massive stone wall. Frustrated, he decided to return to the fruit grove.
During his journey along the path, he encountered many worm monsters and other types of creatures. At first, he only fought the worms and avoided the others. However, after accidentally killing an insect-like monster with ease, he began slaying anything that stood in his way.
Each monster left behind a black orb. He split them open with his sword, allowing the smoke within to be absorbed. After splitting countless orbs, the sword's vibration grew stronger. Occasionally, it even emitted a faint black glow.
Now resting, Mo Chen ate the fruits he had picked a week earlier. Surprisingly, they remained fresh and retained their effects—though the potency gradually weakened. One fruit no longer caused any reaction at all, allowing him to eat it without enduring pain.
Just as he finished eating, the entire abyss trembled violently. Stones from the cliffs began falling.
The tremors intensified, and a deafening roar echoed from beneath the earth.
BOOM!
GROOOAAAHHH!
A worm monster ten times larger than the others burst out from the ground. Its massive body was covered in countless eyes, all staring directly at Mo Chen. It opened its enormous mouth, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth.
"Tch, that trick won't work on me anymore. No matter how big you are, you're still just a worm in my eyes!"
As the monster lunged, Mo Chen jumped to the side and slashed at it. His attack landed—but this time, it barely cut into the creature's thick hide.
"I thought it was only bigger in size. Turns out its skin is much tougher than the others!"
Before he could retreat, the giant worm swung its massive body sideways, sending Mo Chen flying into the cliff wall.
He slammed against it hard—but felt no pain at all.
"It seems… my body has become stronger," Mo Chen muttered with a faint chuckle.