Chapter 7: Do your best to change your destiny
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Sugar is small in size, light in weight, easy to store, high in calories, and can provide a lot of energy for the human body. In today's situation, these white sugars can play a huge role.
And its applications are not limited to this. It can also increase the power of gunpowder explosions and improve the adhesion of incendiary bombs. There are many other ways it can be used effectively.
For the same volume of materials, white sugar can have significantly more utility.
"Everyone! Work harder! The faster we move now, the higher our chance of survival will be! This is not for others but for yourselves!"
Supplies soon filled their shoulders. Oran himself was carrying a large amount of goods. His exoskeleton was bearing the full load, and this made Oran notice something unusual.
It seemed that he had far more strength than before coming to this sea. Oran planned to give himself a thorough physical examination once they left this place to figure out what had changed in his body.
Oran led the group to the gathering spot he had discussed with Ivankov. It was a depression in the canyon that Ivankov and Ginny had found before discovering Oran's ship. It could serve as a temporary gathering place.
The team now included more locals from the Valley of the Gods. These people were more familiar with the terrain than Ivankov or Oran and even found a path through the canyon.
Whether strong adults or the elderly and weak, everyone carried packages of varying sizes. In this situation, everyone had to do their part, and it was only a matter of how much they could contribute.
"Brother Oran, there's a cave about 200 meters from here. The entrance looks narrow, but it's quite spacious inside. It can fit a lot of people, and there's even a spring inside!"
As they neared the gathering place, a boy who looked no older than ten pointed toward a bush and spoke with excitement.
"A spring? How big is it?"
"My friends and I sometimes bathe there. There are even live fish in it," the boy said, stretching his arms wide to show its size. From his description, it seemed quite large.
"Rat! Didn't I tell you not to go into the canyon? Forget it."
A woman nearby started to scold him but gave up, clearly overwhelmed. She had been doing her chores as usual when everything in the Valley of the Gods had suddenly changed.
Though she had managed to escape with her children, her husband, a soldier in the Royal Army, was now missing. The grim reality and uncertain future left her under immense psychological pressure.
"Okay, ma'am, save your energy. Your son has solved a big problem for us," Oran interjected.
Water was as important as food in their current predicament. Although the Valley of the Gods had abundant rivers, the Celestial Dragons were aware of them.
Humans cannot survive without water, so it was inevitable that the Celestial Dragons would target water sources to hunt their prey.
The fact that there were fish in the spring suggested it was connected to an outside source through underground rivers, ensuring a reliable supply of fresh water. Such a secret water source could be a critical advantage.
"Rat, besides you, how many people know about this place? And have any adults ever mentioned it before?"
From Rat's description, the spring sounded like an ideal hiding spot. However, if too many people knew about it, it might attract others and increase the risk of exposure.
"Only a few of my friends know about it. I've never seen any adults there. It's our secret base. I just hope my friends are okay," Rat said.
"No, I've lived here most of my life, and I've never heard of any caves in the canyon."
The local residents gave their answers one after another. According to Rat, he had discovered the place while playing adventure games. The older generation had no knowledge of it. It seemed the cave had formed in recent years due to geological activity.
Oran first brought everyone to the agreed gathering place, then went to inspect the cave and decided to include it as part of the gathering area.
"Take this time to rest and replenish your energy. We'll need to carry a few more loads later. You shouldn't follow us for now. Instead, gather some dead branches and other fire starters nearby. They'll be useful when the time comes.
If anyone is familiar with the terrain around here, please draw a map for me. The more detailed, the better."
Along the way, Oran observed and gained a general understanding of everyone's physical fitness. Even the weaker individuals tried their best but could only carry small loads. Fortunately, there were still plenty of tasks that required manpower.
"In addition, you'll need to dig some holes nearby. Start by digging a big hole like this," he said, gesturing, "and then dig a small tunnel from the other side, connecting it at the bottom. After that, dig three trenches like this, and cover them."
There were crowbars, shovels, and other tools in the granary. Using these, Oran demonstrated how to create a light-blocking, smoke-dispersing stove—or a smokeless stove.
This design would greatly reduce the visibility of fire and smoke, significantly enhancing their ability to stay concealed.
Not long after, Oran received a communication from Ivankov, who said they had found the shipyard workers and were bringing them to the gathering place. At that moment, Kuma approached.
"What's up, Kuma? Is there a problem?"
"Nothing. I've rested. I just want to know—what's our next plan?"
Kuma asked quietly, watching Oran as he studied the map.
"We'll dismantle a few things and place equipment in strategic locations to hide this area," Oran replied.
What Oran planned to dismantle was none other than his own ship. Although, according to the plan, the ship could eventually be teleported once the flying gate was built, larger objects would take significantly longer to transport.
The ship was undeniably valuable, but Oran had enough materials and time to construct a new one later.
Ultimately, he decided to use their limited transportation capacity to prioritize evacuating living people. The ship, however, would serve its final purpose here.
For example, it could be transformed into a massive self-destruction device. Additionally, the holographic projector on the ship could be modified to cover a wider area by reducing image quality—provided they solved the energy issue first.
Oran briefly explained this plan to Kuma, knowing he'd have to repeat it later when Ivankov returned with the craftsmen.
Kuma didn't ask further questions and instead pointed to the other side.
"Oran, the person you asked me to watch doesn't respond to me at all. She won't talk, doesn't eat, and hasn't reacted to anyone. You might want to check on her yourself. So far, she's only spoken a few words to you."
"I understand. Take a seat for now. We need to make a few more preparations before the Celestial Dragons' so-called game begins."
Oran stood up and walked over to where a slightly thin figure sat on a rock. Her expression was wary, her eyes filled with distrust.
When she sensed someone approaching, her body tensed, and the hair on her arms seemed to bristle.