From a distance, the giant seemed to have noticed the activity here.
It tore a warhorse in two, haphazardly stuffing one half into its mouth while chewing and speaking with a hollow voice,
"She wasn't wrong—people who die in fear decay and sour quickly, and they taste terrible."
"The living ones... though they are also afraid, at least they taste a bit better."
The giant's voice, echoing through the silent, icy cavern, carried an unsettling sense.
Wu Xiaode was stunned.
It was unimaginable that this was the reason.
Beside him, the old man began to tremble, and the masked man couldn't help but grip his long sword tightly.
— Whether it was an illusion or something else, Wu Xiaode always felt that the long sword was trembling as if trying to break free from the masked man's grasp.
An icy chill emitted from the giant, silently spreading in all directions, causing the walls and the ground to be covered with a thick layer of white frost.
The immense and ferocious aura emanating from its body was so grand and vast that it entirely stifled any intention of resistance.
Wu Xiaode merely glanced at it and felt a wave of panic so intense he could barely stand.
— This was not a scene humans could confront.
Unimaginable.
Why had he ended up in such a terrifying place!
Was there really no way out but death?
Wu Xiaode's heart was filled with despair when suddenly something appeared before him.
A thick book with a black cover appeared in the void, opening towards him and revealing lines of icy, translucent, frosty text:
"In this strange land full of the dead and heroic spirits, your soul resonates naturally with this place, activating your deep potential and awakening your special ability: 'The Book of the Dead.'
"'The Book of the Dead' begins to release its power immediately, offering you optional quests."
"Current available quests: 2."
"Please choose one to carry out, to receive the corresponding reward."
Hope ignited in Wu Xiaode's heart, and he hurriedly looked down.
"Quest one: The Sensible Lamb."
"Quest description: The One-eyed Giant is extremely powerful; even if you have awakened such a rare ability as 'The Book of the Dead,' you cannot defeat it spontaneously, so your death is certain."
"The One-eyed Giant yearns for a perfect meal, and as a lamb awaiting slaughter, please strip yourself of your clothes to make the giant's meal more enjoyable."
"Quest reward: Being eaten by the giant."
Wu Xiaode read through it quickly, almost cursing out loud.
Who would choose this quest?
Who would?
— Seriously, was this deranged ability really awakened by himself?
He continued to look down, only to see another quest:
"Quest two: The Doomed Lamb."
"Quest description: You must ensure the little girl stays alive, even if just temporarily."
"Quest reward: This is your only chance to survive. The book cannot guarantee that this will be effective, but at least there is a slim, elusive hope."
Wu Xiaode's heart skipped a beat, narrowing his eyes at the masked man and the old man.
Both were staring at the One-eyed Giant, their faces full of caution, but they seemed oblivious to the Black Book in the void.
As for the little girl, she was vomiting blood.
She was dying and hadn't even glanced at the icy cold text in the void.
Could it be...
Only he could see this book?
"Gentlemen," the masked man tightened his grip on the sword and said, "This place is extremely ominous. I shall take my leave first."
The masked man leaped lightly, his form soaring towards a corner of the wall.
Flying!
Wu Xiaode's heart skipped a beat again.
— The masked man could actually fly!
And that was not all; the old man swung his staff and shouted, "Go! Go! Go!"
A Fire Bird, several meters in length, appeared under the feet of the old man, carrying him as he chased after the masked man.
Wu Xiaode followed the direction they were heading, only to see a hole big enough for one person at the corner of the wall.
So that was it!
Given the giant's enormous size, it couldn't pass through that hole, which was why they were heading there to escape!
"They are so strong, maybe they have a chance to escape!" the little girl murmured.
She suddenly tossed something to Wu Xiaode.
Wu Xiaode caught it, only to find it was a piece of thin, cicada-wing-like Scale Armor.
The Scale Armor contained a strange power fluctuation, seemingly exerting a slight repulsion against everything around it.
"It will keep you from being killed with a single hit. Go now, with someone to cover for you, maybe you can survive!"
The little girl looked at Wu Xiaode with hope, encouraging him.
"Why give it to me?" Wu Xiaode asked.
"One saved is one saved, hurry!" the little girl replied.
Wu Xiaode was somewhat moved.
— Unfortunately, the little girl's face was covered in dried blood, and it was impossible to make out what she really looked like.
Nor did he know who she was.
But regardless, just as the little girl said, he already had this Battle Armor that clearly looked like a treasure.
With the powerful masked man and the mage running ahead, why not follow along?
Gamble on it.
Gamble on it!
Wu Xiaode clenched his teeth, put on the close-fitting Scale Armor, and bent over to pick up a long spear from beside a guard's corpse.
The spear was heavy and hard to wield, dragging it would slow him down.
— The spear weighed at least a hundred pounds.
Could anyone wield this spear?
He had thought that if he managed to rush into the hole, at least he would have a weapon for defense, but now it seemed impossible.
Putting down the spear, Wu Xiaode then picked up a short knife—
No good!
This knife was also heavy!
— It would slow him down!