88.9 per cent for option one and 11.1 per cent for option two.

……

[Option 1]

【To the Eternal Flame of the Southwest】

……

Zheng Zhuo once again put on his empty backpack and walked towards the southwest.

In his left pocket he carried a one-page spell book, and on his right belt was a small broken dagger. This is all Zheng Zhuo's belongings. He was surprised that the young woman was penniless, but he himself was not much better.

He's on his way again. One foot deep and one foot shallow, slowly walking on the ground covered with black ash.

The girl followed slowly behind him.

Zheng Zhuo glanced back at her.

Walking slower than expected. He noticed that she had no shoes.

So, he slowed down.

……

On the way to the young woman's house, Zheng Zhuo walked for three days. The speed of the return journey was much slower, and the destination was not clear, and Zheng Zhuo did not know how long it would take.

Zheng Zhuo was convinced that there was no water and no food at the shortest distance. It's too easy to fall down on the way you came.

So, he changed his path.

The two of them walked south, through the once forested massif of withered black tree trunks, and then west.

Their direction was not the same as what Zheng Zhuo said, "Go west, go to your brother", but the girl didn't have any objections, just silently followed.

Zheng Zhuo didn't bother to explain.

He's just moving forward.

There seems to be a power to this pitch-black land. Zheng Zhuo realized that as he spent more time here, he began to become more and more reticent and reticent.

It's like life force is being absorbed by the world itself.

(Is it because this is the kind of world that is meant to be here?) He wondered, "Or is it because of the hollows that make this place unlivable?" ）”

Inhabitable.

Zheng Zhuo didn't even know if the word could be used to describe the [subconscious world].

I don't know if it's a good thing for a [subconscious world] to be livable.

……

Enchanted daggers pierced the withered trees. The trees sliced open with a hoarse crunch and fell to the ground, sending up countless black dusts.

It's easy. It takes little effort.

But Zheng Zhuo frowned.

The trees are fragile, indicating that there is not a drop of water left in between.

"Neither will this one."

He walked to the next one.

The blade sank into the trunk. With a little force, the trunk of the thick bowl was broken like a piece of paper.

And the next one.

This time, there was a feeling of blockage in my hands.

Zheng Zhuo broke it, and the middle part was broken in half, revealing a little bit of green core.

It's okay.

Zheng Zhuo used his short sword to repair the burrs around him, gouging out the little bit of green core and shaving it in half.

"Here you go."

He threw half of it to the maiden. The girl took it and gnawed slowly.

Zheng Zhuo also stuffed the other half into his mouth and looked for the next tree.

Zheng Zhuo knew that the core of the tree would be their only source of water for the next period of time.

Most likely, and the only source of food.

(It's better than not having to eat at all.) ）”

Not long ago, Zheng Zhuo thought twice and decided to slow down the pace of progress.

Eating the core of a tree does not replenish much energy. But they have to add a little more here.

Because there is a high probability that there is no longer even the core of the tree.

And......

“（！ ）”

Zheng Zhuo stopped the short sword in his hand.

Not again.

Zheng Zhuo sensed the ill-intentioned gaze. He looked to the side of the woods.

Eight or nine places away from the two of them, in the shadows of the woods.

There was a large bird about the height of a man staring at the place.

That's not a cute bird. Its gray-black feathers were dirty and messy, and it was covered in abscesses. If it weren't for the grayish-yellow cracked beak hanging down from its chest, with its wings forward and propped up on the ground, it would look more like an orangutan than a bird.

…… Grunt......

The big bird's bulging eyes shimmered with an inorganic light. It turned, staring at Zheng Zhuo and the girl.

Zheng Zhuo faced him, raised his hand to block the girl behind him, and slowly retreated.

The girl is also aware of the danger. She didn't say a word. The two slowly backed away.

Back off.

until it is out of reach of the Great Birds.

……

Realizing that the other party hadn't caught up, Zheng Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief.

That kind of monster. If he really fights, he can't see the possibility that he can fight at all.

After the collapse of the [Pure White World], his panel could not be adjusted. And those [abilities] seem to be taken away with the disappearance of the panel. This was noticed when Zheng Zhuo used the [Fireball Technique] to knock down Shi Shu's head.

Because it's obvious.

His [Quick Cast] is gone.

Since then, Zheng Zhuo has also made many attempts. [Identification], [Transformation], [Alchemy]. None of them responded.

But Zheng Zhuo still survived here.

During these days in the woods, he met the big bird more than once, and many times more than one.

But he can always leave in time with the girl.

It's not because the big birds aren't aggressive...... He could feel that they were hungry.

But at the same time, he could roughly feel the moment of vigilance and hesitation of the other party.

It's kind of weird.

Zheng Zhuo thought.

In the subconscious world, the abilities he should have are [Identification], [Rapid Spellcasting], [Transformation] and [Alchemy], as well as several combinations of them.

None of them can serve as a warning.

But he once had the ability to be vigilant.

It's Beast Intuition.

This is his [Realistic Ability]: [Psychic Resistance: Insanity Invalid], [Class Mastery Speed *10], [Black Hand], [Counterdevour], [Persuasion], [Grabling], [Driving Skill Set], [One Eye Ten Elements], and [Beast Intuition].

“（…… What's going on? ）”

Zheng Zhuo faintly felt that something was wrong.

In fact, when he could remember with unmistakable the direction in which the young woman he had only seen him fall, and could go straight without hesitation during the three-day journey, he felt that his memory had grown so much stronger.

[One glance and ten lines].

And his extraordinary calmness......

(My [Reality Ability] seems to be activated.) ）”

He thought.

(Why?) Are reality and the subconscious beginning to merge? Or is it ...... ）”

(My spirit is about to end?) ）”

……

Of course, Zheng Zhuo couldn't discuss this matter with the current young woman. Because this young woman is a child who knows nothing.

With all his doubts, he walked all the way to the west.

Another day.

This is where the woods end. Zheng Zhuo saw the light of fire in the distance.

It's not a crater, it's a very ordinary, ordinary plain.

In the middle of the plain, a large hole suddenly appeared.

A fire larger than the castle burned in the cavern. Less than a third of it is exposed to the ground, but it still emits intense light and heat.

“…… You stand here. ”

Zheng Zhuo said to the girl. He left the girl at the edge of the forest and walked slowly in the direction of the big hole.

It's getting closer.

Zheng Zhuo saw the lower part of the fire ball.

Fire burns in the void. There was nothing but fire, and there was nothing but darkness.

This feeling......

It's a lot like the passage he saw before he fell into this world.

(What's going on...... ）”

Zheng Zhuo leaned closer. He could smell the burning stench of his hair.

He saw the light of the fire flickering, faintly illuminating certain scenes.

Is that......

“（！ ）”

The fire also reflected the image.

It's men and women. They fend off energy, monsters, and a wide variety of weapons in their small rooms.

What Zheng Zhuo saw was the scene outside!

Zheng Zhuo unconsciously got closer again. He almost stuck to the ball of fire.

No, it doesn't look like an image. They were so close that it was as if you could reach through this ball of fire and be able to touch them...... Especially those monsters and weapons......

Zheng Zhuo stretched out his hand.

All of a sudden.

"Wow-wow-"

The hoarse scream went from far to near in an instant, the sky was dark, and the fishy wind was blowing.

Zheng Zhuo turned his head sharply. He saw a big bird flying towards him! It approached Zheng Zhuo in the blink of an eye, and then ......

The force of his strength threw him down on the edge of the fire. The flames lit the corners of Zheng Zhuo's clothes.

"Ahem!"

Zheng Zhuo spat out a mouthful of blood. The big bird's long beak slammed down on his shoulder.

Zheng Zhuo and Big Bird met each other.

At this moment, he was sure.

It went berserk. It wanted to kill him.

The flames are burning.

……

【Question】

[Suddenly attacked by a big bird! ] How do I act? 】

[Option 1]

[Let the fire temper yourself]: Change the body's constitution

[Option 2]

[Ignite the Book of Spells with Fire]: Learn new spells

[Option 3]

[Stick the Shortsword into the Fire]: Increases enchantment

[Option 4]

[Draw Weapon from Fire]: Get a new weapon

You can leave a message in the form of "said in this chapter" after [option 1], [option 2], [option 3] and [option 4]. Messages under 1 ID will be counted as 1 vote.

The vote count is as of 12:00 noon on 2023/3/23.

Finally, ask for a recommendation vote~

(End of chapter)