"Is it okay to kill these things?"
In the swamp, three massive wild boars were knocked to the ground by Kevin Carpenberg.
Each of these creatures was as large as two or three grown men combined, their skin camouflaged in color, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the swamp.
But it seemed like just a disguise—their original skin was pink.
They lacked tusks, but their noses curved upwards like pointed shoes, making them highly dangerous when charging.
Professor Beirut, who had been protected, stood up with the help of his assistant. The sudden charge from the three beasts had given him quite the scare.
Brushing off his backside, he waved dismissively and said, "These are Snub-Nosed Rampage Boars. Don't be fooled by their aggressive appearance and massive size—they're actually at the bottom of the food chain in this area."
"Really?" Kevin looked surprised.
"Indeed. They're one of the few non-endangered species here. They reproduce quickly and are omnivorous, often lured into traps by other plants and animals and end up as prey." Beirut even listed a few predators that fed on these boars.
"As long as they're not deliberately hunted in large numbers, their population won't go extinct.
They also don't just live in this swamp. They can be found all over the forest park, but they tend to camouflage themselves here in the swamp."
"It's actually thanks to this dangerous habitat that they survive. Their meat is tender, flavorful, and odorless. Outside of here, it's considered a rare delicacy and sells at a high price.
But because this place is so dangerous, few people risk hunting them." Toby added some quick background.
Being at the bottom of the food chain here was still better than being hunted relentlessly by greedy humans elsewhere.
Hearing that, Kevin picked out one boar that looked high-quality and slung it over his shoulder, planning to eat it later.
He happened to be able to use the [Digestion Elixir] again soon.
The group followed Professor Beirut deeper into the swamp.
Along the way, they encountered battle after battle, facing all kinds of strange and dangerous creatures.
Some were even completely new species, which kept Beirut busy taking photos and collecting samples.
Kevin was finally getting a taste of just how terrifying the so-called forbidden zone known as the "Nest of Deceivers" was for an average person.
Every single creature here could be listed in a fantasy bestiary.
In Kevin's view, this twisted world was basically a fantasy realm wearing the mask of a modern setting.
"We're almost there—just ahead."
Hearing that, Kevin looked up and sensed a faint heat radiating from the distance. The mist here was noticeably lighter than elsewhere.
After a few more steps, he noticed movements in the shadows of the surrounding plants.
The shadows began to shift and swirl, gathering into vaguely humanoid forms that drifted slowly forward.
"Shadow Wrigglers?"
"You know about them?" Beirut looked at Kevin, a bit surprised.
Kevin nodded. "I've seen them in the lab before. I've also read their data files."
"That's good. They're less dangerous during the day. It's only at dusk or nighttime that their shadow forms become deceptive.
And unless someone's been lost in the forest too long and is already disoriented, it's hard for them to be lured in."
The group continued onward, finally reaching their destination—the sulfuric acid pool where the Shadow Wrigglers lived.
On the bank, the shadows of plants rustled constantly, occasionally forming dark protrusions. Around them grew dense, reed-like plants reaching up to two meters tall.
In the middle of the reed bed was the sulfuric acid pool, which looked like an ordinary pond. Some resilient aquatic plants could even be seen within it.
The liquid in the pond was pale green and semi-transparent. Through it, Kevin could clearly see fish-like creatures swimming inside.
"Acid Serpentfish—an endangered species, only found in this particular sulfur pool. Fewer than a hundred pairs are known to exist." Beirut squatted at the edge and explained.
Haka, standing beside Kevin, added, "They're our research subjects. We're studying their habitat to see if we can help them reproduce."
"Their scales have incredible anti-corrosive properties and are considered top-tier biomaterials. If we can breed them in captivity…" Toby didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Beirut pulled out the special container he'd been carrying—an extra-large, specially-made tank.
"I need to collect a tankful of this acid to refresh the environment for a few lab specimens."
The three of them suited up in protective gear and began their work.
Kevin activated his [En] and patrolled the area near the pond.
There were so many Shadow Wrigglers—like ants, they swarmed everywhere. Within the radius of his aura, he could sense them clearly.
Shadow Wrigglers were creatures that naturally used aura—or perhaps aura was simply a part of their being.
Their flat bodies were extremely fragile, but aura formed a shadow-like layer over them, becoming part of their bodies.
Because they had no offensive capabilities, they were rarely harmed. Capturing them was extremely difficult, especially under the dense shadows of the plants.
Kevin pulled out a few empty potion vials, uncapped them, and threw them forcefully.
Whoosh, whoosh—with a few sharp sounds, several Shadow Wrigglers were captured. The transparent vials embedded in the mud, with the Wrigglers inside wriggling like little worms.
"As expected, you can catch them too." Beirut turned at the noise.
In Berger's team, only three people could use Nen. Besides Berger himself, the other two were amateur Hunters.
Although they could use aura, they didn't have Hunter licenses, and Kevin thought their talent was mediocre, with poor control over Nen.
They often handled the tough captures of elusive species.
Like Kevin, they were also responsible for protecting the research scholars. Each of them was also an expert in their own field.
Kevin's reason for catching the Shadow Wrigglers was simple—he wanted to use them in alchemy.
He had already learned that the Wrigglers had no natural predators and reproduced steadily. As long as they weren't hunted destructively, they wouldn't harm the ecosystem.
After all, they were among the rare creatures that could stir even a faint sense of desire in him.
Kevin also collected a few vials of acid.
This substance looked promising for use in medicine. It was natural, not synthetic, and likely met the criteria for [Materials].
He even scooped up one Acid Serpentfish—but felt no desire from it, so he released it back into the pond.
Given their scarcity and the existence of predators, mishandling them could lead to extinction.
Afterward, Kevin carried his wild boar and began the trek back.
On the way, they encountered another aggressive creature—a Giant Tree Python.
It earned the name because it was literally as thick as a tree. Kevin punched it once, and it slithered off in defeat.
Kevin also found an egg—one that stirred a bit of desire in him.
However, he couldn't tell whether it was a snake egg, a bird egg, or something else entirely.
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