"Get over here, the person is with me!"

The rushing of the underground river was nothing new, nor did it have any noticeable peculiarities that might draw attention.

But after the support team successfully crossed the underground river,

it wasn't long before human activity was detected within their range of perception.

Yet as they called for their companions to hurry over, the voice of the person who found it first trembled with excitement as if they had encountered something unbelievable.

"Is there someone on your side?"

"Everyone, get over here!"

Members of the support team gathered, and a chilling scene unfolded before their eyes.

Right at the edge of the underground river's channel lay a man with only his upper body left. The distressed man seemed to have been trying to flee from what was behind him, so he was in a pose as if crawling forward.

Unfortunately... it seemed his strength was insufficient to carry on his movements.

After reaching a hand out to the underground river in front of him, he no longer had the energy to continue his escape, even remaining stationary while constantly feeling the terrifying sensation of life dwindling away inside him.

"..."

"Is that, is that Johnny?"

People from the camp seemed to recognize the half-body.

Someone mustered the courage to turn the prostrate man over, revealing a more horrifying sight at the area that had been obscured.

On the man's waist wound, there was a layer of wriggling milky white paste-like substance covering it. It wasn't very prominent, but with eyesight like Ronald's, one could see that this material was devouring the man's body.

In other words—

The man on the ground wasn't violently cut in half by someone.

Instead, his lower half had been eaten away by the relentless erosion of this white substance!

"Jo... Johnny...?"

At the same time, people from the camp also recognized the man's identity.

They bent down, intending to try to wake him.

"Get back, it's dangerous!"

Ronald certainly wouldn't stand by and watch an ordinary person get into trouble.

With a flash, he emerged from the crowd; as he pulled the guy away, he also gave Costate a look:

"Crowe, check."

"Yes, sir."

A maid is not naturally best-suited for this kind of task.

Responding to Ronald's command, she began examining the half-body immediately.

It was then, the person Ronald had pulled away came to their senses:

"What are you doing... Johnny is almost gone, save him!"

At this moment, Nade stepped forward:

"Please, do not interfere."

"These two are specialists in subterranean environments and biology research that I've specifically brought, their judgement is absolutely correct when facing particularly rare situations and life forms."

Nade's brief explanation was full of holes.

But fortunately, the people sent from the camp were not professionals and were actually fooled by Nade's words.

Meanwhile, as Nade confirmed Ronald and the others' identities,

Megan quickly added:

"Okay, leave it to these two."

"In any action, trust in your team is an absolute foundation."

"..."

Both leaders had spoken, so naturally no one in the team continued to object.

In an absolutely quiet environment,

with Costate's excellent abilities, it didn't take long to get the examination results.

"Sir, this white substance is a collection of eukaryotic organisms. As you can see, they're devouring this human's body, while also secreting a material that paralyzes the victim's nervous system, ensuring they won't die immediately."

Ronald frowned.

This place was far from the Yizi Forest, and the actual location didn't match either.

So, this creature was definitely not an entity from the Organic Encyclopedia.

Instead, it was something concocted within this relic, by the descendants of the Nigar people.

Could be something they've made using their "Spell."

Ronald pondered the problem while simultaneously asking:

"Is there any hope for the person?"

Costate immediately replied:

"While the organism consumes the human body, it also ensures the human's survival. If it is removed from the victim, the victim will enter an irreversible death process."

"..."

Ronald and Costate's conversation was not held in a low volume.

The terrifying reality combined with Ronald's serious questioning and Costate's consistently flat tone.

Everyone present.

They all realized the fact now laid bare before them—the man was as good as dead.

And what followed.

They, too, would inevitably have to confront such cruel things.

Whoosh, whoosh—

In the pitch-dark underground, the river water flowed past them towards even deeper darkness, the entire team seemed infected by a certain atmosphere, making no one speak at this moment.

This atmosphere was not good—

Ronald realized the spread of this adverse mood and immediately tried to change the subject:

"Crowe, any other findings?"

The maid continued unperturbed:

"Sir, I suggest you take a sample yourself for 'research', some of their properties are quite peculiar."

Take a sample for research oneself?

Ronald caught the emphasis in Costate's words, and a strange feeling emerged.

Besides matters involving himself.

The maid usually maintained a detached demeanor throughout.

The fact that these eukaryotic organisms in front of her caused such a response was indeed noteworthy.

"Speak directly."

Ronald quickly gestured for Costate to continue.

As someone temporarily joining this support team, Ronald had no intention of concealing facts. After giving this order, he crouched down to take a sample, then used "The Origin of Species" to begin its analysis.

At the same time.

Costate, following orders, naturally began to explain:

"They show very active behavior while devouring the human body, exceeding their normal state. If they can be processed, these eukaryotes might participate in the process of human cellular replication, potentially aiding in rapid wound healing and halting the aging process."

"..."

Suddenly, the silence within the team seemed to carry a different weight.

Even the forward-flowing river could not drown out the emotional shifts in some people.

Many in the team couldn't fully comprehend the contents of Costate's explanation, particularly terms related to cells or eukaryotes.

But when it came to simple things, or rather, the most direct conclusions, they understood.

And Nade's previous endorsement of the two's identity.

It heightened their direct perception and faith in Costate's conclusion.

To put it simply—

On these exotic white organisms, they saw the hope of human immortality.

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