Chapter 41
After completing the necessary paperwork, Ray finally left the city with great enthusiasm. As he ventured deeper into the surroundings, he noticed a distinct change in the atmosphere. Deliberately slowing down his bicycle, Ray observed the diverse flora and fauna that he passed with a mix of amazement and joy. This was the very reason he had chosen this particular place—it was known for its unique characteristics.
The area where Ray currently resided was generally similar to Europe on Earth. However, there were occasional occurrences of special phenomena, where the climate and characteristics of an area underwent dramatic changes. These transformations were typically caused by a collapsing sky that affected the surrounding region. While the infected area often reverted to its original state, it was not uncommon for some characteristics to persist or even lead to further mutations and variations in the local ecosystem.
Ray had selected this area, surrounded by taiga forests, from all three directions as a way to quickly adapt to his new environment and alleviate any concerns. After a few hours of cycling, Ray stumbled upon a river. Feeling a bit tired, he decided to take a break and try his luck at fishing.
Without keeping himself occupied, Ray stored his bicycle in the storage ring and retrieved his fishing rod and flask. He carefully searched for the best spot to place the bait, casting it several times until all the fishing rods were neatly positioned along the riverbank. Satisfied with the setup, Ray leaned the fishing rod against his seat and proceeded to prepare himself a hot drink.
With everything in place, Ray finally settled down, sipping a glass of warm milk while patiently waiting for the fish to bite. "It would be great to have cigarettes and coffee right now..." Ray mused, lost in his daydreams. Suddenly, a clattering sound broke the silence after a few minutes.
"Ahhh, it seems like a big fish!" Ray exclaimed excitedly as he noticed the bell on one of his fishing rods vibrating. Without hesitation, he grabbed the curved fishing rod, assuming he was about to catch a massive monster. Subconsciously, he exerted extra strength as he tried to reel it in.
After a few moments of anticipation, Ray couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. The fish he caught were merely the size of an adult's palm. Considering their small size, Ray released them back into the water without much pressure. The initial excitement subsided, and Ray's enthusiasm dwindled.
As Ray cast his bait once again, he settled back, enjoying his leisurely time by the riverside. Just as he rested on the small stones, the bells rang again, this time not too loudly. Upon hearing the sound, Ray pulled the rod with renewed enthusiasm. Finally, his efforts paid off.
A five-pound goldfish hung in the air, and Ray was overjoyed to have it for dinner. He continued his fishing activities until four in the afternoon, and although his catch was not substantial, it still brought satisfaction. At least a few of these fish would be enough to satisfy his hunger.
After packing up, Ray set out to find a suitable area for camping. After circling for some time, he eventually settled on a spot near the river. Setting up the tent didn't take long, as Ray had grown accustomed to the process and had become familiar with the necessary routines. As always, he didn't forget to set up a concealment array for added security.
After enjoying a full dinner, Ray prepared to work on a new sculpture. During his travels, he encountered several small animals, and he was inspired to sculpt a little monkey-like creature this time.
Ray immersed himself in his woodwork and chiseling for hours, completely absorbed in the process of sculpting. Apart from the need to persuade his younger siblings, Ray genuinely enjoyed the art of sculpting. It brought him a sense of tranquility and focus, whether it was painting, writing, sculpting, or even creating seemingly impractical items like paper and books.
Back on Earth, Ray had long desired to pursue these artistic endeavors, but he had been too lazy and felt out of place. He believed that there was no real purpose in creating random things like that. However, now he had no hesitation; he embraced his creativity and pursued whatever he wanted. He even entertained the idea of learning blacksmithing and experimenting with rune writing.
After completing his sculpting activities, Ray prepared to continue practicing martial arts. He started with some simple stretches to warm up his body. Once he broke a light sweat, he stood upright and closed his eyes, allowing the sounds of the night wind and forest creatures to envelop his consciousness.
Ray stood still for a few moments, then began moving his body slowly and meticulously. His movements flowed and changed rapidly, resembling the branching and meandering of a river. While the flow appeared calm and relaxed, the colors of his movements changed swiftly. This was a result of Ray carefully formulating the flow and burst of aura for each technique.
He explored the depths of the unknown, feeling his way into the darkness. Gradually, the initially slow movements stabilized and gained speed. The previous visit to the zoo had enriched the intent behind Ray's movements. Although not every movement was intentional, the overall display was awe-inspiring.
Ray's martial intent now had a distinct presence, with hints of genuine intent from his initial movements. It manifested as the viciousness of a tiger, the commanding presence of a vengeful wolf, the unyielding strength of a massive elephant, and more. All these intentions converged under a thick layer of restlessness, anxiety, sadness, boredom, and various other emotions that were challenging to express. It was the longing within Ray.
As Ray moved through his martial arts routine, he involuntarily reminisced about every aspect of Earth. His longing permeated every movement until he could finally achieve the union he yearned for. Unbeknownst to him, this delicate feeling helped him blend the differences in his defensive maneuvers.
After successfully consolidating his martial art, Ray decisively opened his eyes. "Tstttttt." Several auras emanated from him as he did so. His bright eyes reflected his elation. "I shall name this martial art 'Hometown Combat Body!'" Ray exclaimed with excitement. The youth's demeanor was exceedingly heroic as he shouted.
The following day, Ray decided to take a stroll around the tent area, without any intention of hunting large game this time. He wanted to familiarize himself with the topography of the area for future reference.
After half an hour, Ray gained a comprehensive understanding of the place. The European taiga forest had transformed into a tropical rainforest reminiscent of East Asia. Ray was somewhat acquainted with the flora and fauna present in this new environment. Traces of quadruped mammals were everywhere, indicating the presence of wild boars, deer, and possibly wolves.
Near Ray's location stood a towering mountain, which he suspected housed a tiger deep within its depths. Consequently, the young man had no intentions of venturing up the mountain at this time. Having read a note in a past life, Ray knew that the mountains of East Asia were home to large carnivores capable of harming humans. It wouldn't be surprising to encounter bears or clouded leopards in this area, creatures that were already formidable on Earth and had likely undergone further augmentation due to exposure to powerful auras. Ray might even come across some peculiar mutated animals, which would undoubtedly pose a real challenge.
As Ray continued his light stroll, he unexpectedly stumbled upon a dense bamboo forest. The thought of the treasures hidden within the bamboo forest excited him, prompting him to quicken his pace. Scanning his surroundings, Ray couldn't contain his enthusiasm. Although bamboo shoots were scarce in this location, there was an abundance of robust bamboo stalks.
Ray plucked a few bamboo shoots to eat later, digging them out with some effort. To his surprise, what seemed like a small quantity turned out to be quite substantial when gathered together. Now, Ray planned to collect both young and old bamboo stalks, envisioning numerous possibilities for their future use.
Gathering young bamboo proved to be a convenient task, despite the sharp thorns, as Ray was well-protected in his thick tactical suit, covered from head to toe. Satisfied with his collection of young bamboo, Ray proceeded to cut down some of the older stalks.
Swsoh!
Slash!
Crot!
"Huh?" Ray was puzzled.
The cut old bamboo stalks began oozing water, which caught Ray off guard. Although he knew bamboo stalks stored water, he had never anticipated it to be sticky. "Is this water from the ground?" Ray pondered, finding it difficult to believe.
He made another slash, and once again, sticky liquid emerged from the bamboo stalks. The peculiar smell of the liquid made Ray feel uneasy as if there was something obscene about what the bamboo had accumulated. "What is this exactly? Does this phenomenon occur naturally in the wild? I've heard of people with unconventional preferences toward animals, but I've never come across anyone with a particular taste for bamboo!"
While Ray was perplexed, a small black creature crawled onto his hand. "Arghhh!" Surprised, Ray frantically waved his hand in an attempt to shake off the creature. It had a jet-black shell and pincers, and the fine hairs on its body gave Ray goosebumps. "Issssss. It's so scary!" he exclaimed, recoiling from the unsettling encounter.