The only reason Liang Chuan could detect Chasca was thanks to the system-granted ability — [Global Map].
Every area explored by players, every scene they had seen,
all appeared in his mind at will.
The moment Chasca appeared in front of the players,
Liang Chuan knew.
What he didn't expect was that these two idiots…
would actually carry the wild boar straight back to base.
Walking a detour would've solved everything!
If they'd been followed by Treasure Hoarders or a high-tier monster instead of Chasca…
they'd be dead already.
[I Really Eat Beef] noticed Liang Chuan's expression and panicked, yelling toward the sky:
"Boss! COPS! Run! I'll cover you!!!"
Liang Chuan: "..."
He was speechless.
This guy really tried to farm affection points 24/7.
Liang Chuan waved a hand.
"Relax. She's not hostile.
Probably just curious why we're here."
At that moment, Chasca descended from the clouds on her spear.
She turned toward Liang Chuan, just about to speak—
when her expression suddenly changed.
She snapped toward the northeast.
"Not good. Abyssal energy! More abyssal monsters have invaded the Mistsplitter Forest!"
With a frown, she shot off at full speed.
"Boss, what's an abyssal monster?" Beef asked.
"How do you want me to explain it… literally a monster from the Abyss."
"What's the difference from normal mobs?"
Liang Chuan exhaled slowly.
"From now on, any monster you see might be abyss-corrupted.
The question is whether they've been tainted by Void Power — abyssal energy.
Take Hilichurls as an example:
with Void Power, their strength multiplies several times."
"Help! HELP!! I'm being ambushed by a Hilichurl!!!"
It was Huoyanyan's scream, echoing from afar.
"This Hilichurl has no martial ethics! Sneak-attacking me at my most vulnerable moment!!!"
He sprinted over while holding up his pants—
and behind him, a small Hilichurl trotted lazily.
"Oh? A Hilichurl delivered to my door? My quest progress can +1!"
Beef was about to charge, but Liang Chuan held him back.
"That Hilichurl… something's wrong."
Liang Chuan narrowed his eyes.
"A normal Hilichurl has emotions — anger, fear, agitation.
But this one is like a corpse…
All it sees is prey."
He opened the Global Map.
Players, Teyvat natives, and himself were white markers.
Normal enemies were red.
But this Hilichurl showed up as a black-red icon.
"You asked about abyssal monsters?
This is one."
Liang Chuan immediately summoned the working Hilichurls.
The "farmers" instantly switched to "militia mode," defending the base.
He equipped his wooden armor and bow.
"You'll defend alongside the Hilichurls.
I'll shoot from range.
Once it gets close — rush it together!"
He aimed at the abyssal Hilichurl twenty meters away.
Whoosh!
The arrow flew—
aiming for its head,
but instead pierced the lower head.
Huoyanyan and Beef both instinctively clutched themselves, faces pale.
Any normal Hilichurl would've collapsed instantly.
But the abyssal one didn't even flinch, continuing forward.
Losing a "brother" meant nothing.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Liang Chuan fired rapidly.
Now that the target was closer, his accuracy improved—
one arrow in the heart,
one in the leg,
one in the neck.
Even nearly turned into a hedgehog,
the abyssal Hilichurl continued shambling forward.
"This—this isn't a Hilichurl!
This is a zombie!
You gotta hit the head or it won't die?!"
Huoyanyan shouted, horrified.
With barely five meters left, Beef roared:
"What are you waiting for? GO!"
As the team's tank, he charged, tackling the Hilichurl to the ground—
but the creature still managed to swing a tiny fist into Beef's abdomen.
Thud!
Beef let out a muffled groan and curled up like a shrimp.
"It hits THAT hard?!
One punch and the tank is disabled?!"
Huoyanyan exclaimed.
The six regular Hilichurls, under Liang Chuan's command, rushed in.
Axes and hammers rained down,
limbs flew,
and the abyssal Hilichurl was chopped apart—
—but not before it killed a worker Hilichurl with every punch.
When the monster finally stopped moving,
only Liang Chuan, Huoyanyan, and two Hilichurls remained standing.
Before relief could set in,
disaster struck.
Huoyanyan pointed at the forest, jaw hanging open, unable to speak.
Liang Chuan looked—
and his eyes widened.
Countless abyssal Hilichurls wandered among the trees.
"In the game, an Abyssal Rift only spawns a few monsters…
Why are there so many here?!"
He frowned.
"Thankfully they haven't noticed us yet.
Otherwise… we'd be wiped completely."
But just then, one of the Hilichurls under his command did the stupidest possible thing—
It shouted toward the forest:
"Yikayaika!!! (ENEMY!!!)
Yikayaika!!! (ENEMY!!!)"
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