"???"
Alex was utterly baffled, almost cursing out loud. What kind of nonsense was this? The letter started off by essentially telling him he was going to die. Was this some kind of cursed message? But as he read further, he began to sense something was off. His eyes were quickly drawn to the contents of the letter.
"Congratulations, stranger. If you're reading this, it means you're about to die..."
"I'm honored to inform you that the place you're in is one of many large zones known as the Lord's Breeding Ground—a death zone."
"You must have many questions, but let me tell you this: this is not the real Primordial Continent."
"Every new batch of lords is randomly assigned to various zones and given resources to grow. Once their strength reaches Tier 6, they are automatically transported out of this realm and into the true Primordial Continent, what we commonly refer to as leaving the 'newbie village.'"
"Stranger, though I don't know which realm you're from or how much time has passed, the fact that you've defeated the units I left behind means you're close to Tier 6 strength."
"But unfortunately, the passage from this zone to the Primordial Continent has been sealed. Once you reach Tier 6, you will be devoured by those who control this zone, becoming fodder for their advancement."
"We once banded together to resist, but we failed. Their power far exceeds anything we could imagine. In their eyes, we're not even ants!"
"I, who once stood above millions, have fallen to such a pitiful end. I hate this! I hate the heavens for their injustice! And I hate my own weakness!"
"By the time you read this, I'll likely be dead. Since we share the same fate, let me give you one final piece of advice: the only way to escape is to cross the gray mist at the edge of this zone and enter another unsealed zone."
"Remember, you only have one chance. One month after your arrival, the gray mist will weaken for a brief period. That's when it's at its thinnest. Gather all the strength of your territory and cross it. Only then will you have a sliver of hope."
"If you succeed, avenge us! Avenge all those who died on this path before you!!!"
After reading the letter, Alex was stunned. He stood frozen in place, his mind reeling from the tidal wave of shock and disbelief. The zone he was in… was a breeding ground for lords? Once they reached Tier 6, they would be devoured, becoming fodder for someone else's advancement? This revelation hit him like a thunderbolt, leaving him unable to recover for a long time.
No wonder… no wonder those who reached Tier 6 suddenly disappeared. This was the reason. Now he finally understood. The ten million people in this zone were nothing more than livestock, raised for slaughter. It was horrifying!
Alex never expected that his accidental discovery would uncover such a colossal secret. According to the letter, the gray mist would weaken one month after the lords' arrival. That meant he had just over half a month left. If he couldn't reach a level of strength sufficient to cross the mist in that time, his only fate would be death. There was no other option.
But there was a problem. As Luke had mentioned, the gray mist was deadly even for Tier 5 beings. Even if it weakened, crossing it wouldn't be easy. Moreover, his territory was still here. Even if he managed to cross the mist, his territory would be left behind. If it were destroyed, he would still die.
"Is there another way?"
Alex's gaze fell on the other item in the chest—a gray orb. He felt that the person who left this letter, having set up such an intricate plan, must have considered these circumstances. Otherwise, what was the point of all this? With a mix of curiosity and apprehension, he picked up the gray orb, and a stream of information appeared before his eyes.
[Name: Migration Orb]
[Effect: Temporarily stores the territory core, allowing for territory migration. Also conceals level aura. Can be crafted in a Magic Tower.]
[Duration: 5 days]
[Requirements: Mana (Territory Level x 10,000), Territory Core x 1]
Sure enough. The person who left the letter had thought of everything, even the issue of the territory. Moreover, the Migration Orb had an incredibly useful function: it could conceal level aura. This meant Alex could upgrade his territory to Tier 6 before using the orb. Once the territory core was stored inside, his level aura would be hidden, making it harder for those in control to detect him. After all, who would pay attention to one ant among millions?
This was his only chance to escape the zone!
With Tier 6 strength, his chances of crossing the gray mist would be significantly higher. Unknowingly, this letter had solved a massive problem for him. The person who wrote it was truly remarkable. Alex couldn't help but admire how they had managed to leave behind their units even after their death. Every step had been calculated with precision.
What a pity. Such a brilliant individual had met such a tragic end. They must have put in tremendous effort to create this Migration Orb, only for it to benefit Alex in the end. If he ever got the chance, he would definitely avenge them. Even if the letter hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't let those who treated them like livestock get away with it!
With this in mind, Alex took a step back and surveyed his surroundings. Though most of the buildings were in ruins, it was clear that this had once been someone's territory. This also explained why there had been no notification about clearing a monster stronghold—this wasn't a monster stronghold at all! He wondered how many batches of people like them had arrived in this world after this territory fell, only to be slaughtered like lambs.
"Rest in peace. I'll avenge you."
Alex murmured softly, bowing deeply to the ruins. His eyes were filled with determination. As if responding to his words, the chest before him finally gave way, crumbling into a pile of rubble. Its purpose had been fulfilled.
After a moment of silence, Alex turned to the nineteen plant units beside him. "Let's go. We're heading back."
With that, he turned and walked out of the cave, hurrying toward the exit. The journey was uneventful, with no further encounters with monsters. By the time Alex emerged from the cave entrance, the area outside was deserted. Everyone had likely fled after the earlier commotion. This was for the best—it meant no one would discover that he had successfully exited the cave.
After getting his bearings, Alex made his way back to his territory. The sky gradually darkened as he traveled.