Free Web NovelChapter 46: Chapter 45: Boss, Save Me
’This is bad. I’m done for, I’m done for, I’m done for!’
On the Wasteland, the Treasure-Hunting Catman Mobile Fortress tore along at full throttle, kicking up a long dragon of dust and smoke. In hot pursuit was another Mobile Fortress, this one haphazardly cobbled together from wooden planks.
That cobbled-together Mobile Fortress was drafty, draped in tattered cloth, and so rickety and wobbly it looked like it could fall apart at any second. Despite this, its speed was nothing to scoff at. Standing on the uneven planks were small, green figures, brandishing an assortment of Weapons like wooden clubs, short swords, and pitchforks. They flailed their arms and legs, letting out chaotic howls.
Hearing the faint shouts from outside, Liu Xingxing lunged to a window, sweat dripping from his temples. He squinted, peering through the dust at the Mobile Fortress hot on his heels. Pulling his gaze back, he yelled at his two Catman subordinates, "Are we at full throttle? Can’t we go any faster? We can’t shake these guys!"
The two Catmen leaped about nimbly, their movements a dazzling blur. While operating the fortress, one shouted back without looking, "This is as fast as it goes! Meow!"
Crisis!
A huge crisis!
Clenching his fists, Liu Xingxing was incredibly tense, trying desperately to calm himself down.
After Li Ziyu’s Undead Fortress entered Hibernation Mode, Liu Xingxing found himself with nothing to do. Out of boredom, he led his own Mobile Fortress out to search for new treasures and learn a bit more about this world.
At first, everything went smoothly. He took Li Ziyu’s teachings to heart: the Otherworld was fraught with danger, and he himself was a weakling with zero combat power. He made sure to avoid dangerous beasts and Tribes. Even when he discovered the location of a treasure, he wouldn’t approach, merely Mark its position.
That is, until he encountered another Mobile Fortress.
There’s an old saying about the joy of meeting a familiar face in a strange land.
Li Ziyu was the first Transmigrator he’d ever met and had become his powerful backer. Now, seeing another Transmigrator, he was overjoyed. ’We were all transported here,’ he thought. ’We’re all just trying to get by in this Otherworld. It can’t hurt to connect and share information.’ With that in mind, he decided to approach them and try to build a friendly rapport.
It seemed like a fine idea, but as he drew closer, he felt that something was off.
If the Undead Fortress gave him a sense of majesty amidst its terror, this Mobile Fortress exuded chaos amidst its absurdity. The crooked, lopsided design, the little green-skinned runts leaping about, howling, and roughhousing with each other... no matter how he looked at them, they did not seem like a friendly bunch.
And indeed, they weren’t. The moment he got close enough for them to spot him, the little runts whipped out a Cow Horn Trumpet and blew it. The Mobile Fortress immediately began to rattle and clank.
Liu Xingxing’s instincts screamed that something was wrong. He immediately ordered a retreat, but the instant the command was given, the other fortress charged him. Thus began a chase across the Wasteland.
To call it a chase wasn’t quite accurate; it was more like he was being hunted down. After all, apart from running, Liu Xingxing had no way to fight back.
Fortunately, Liu Xingxing’s Mobile Fortress was fast, so his pursuers couldn’t catch him right away. The problem was, while they couldn’t catch him, he couldn’t shake them, either. This couldn’t go on forever.
"City Lord, what should we do?" a Catman asked, turning his head. He didn’t seem very frightened; in fact, he looked a little excited. Treasure Hunting Catmen are a naturally curious Race. As long as they weren’t in a head-on fight, this kind of chase was actually quite stimulating for them.
’Since I can’t fight them and I can’t lose them, there’s only one option left: use my ultimate move!’
’You forced my hand! Boss, save me!’
"Head for the Undead Fortress! We’ll lead them right to it!"
"Got it!"
The Treasure Hunting Catman’s piloting skills were superb. The speeding fortress suddenly spun into a drift, one whole side of it lifting off the ground. After it landed, it continued on without losing any speed, now heading straight for the location of the hibernating Undead Fortress.
Seeing this, the pursuing Mobile Fortress immediately changed direction as well. However, the little green runts’ control over their vehicle was nowhere near as good as the Catman’s. Several of them were almost thrown off, and the wooden planks of their fortress groaned under the strain. Miraculously, it didn’t fall apart and continued its pursuit of the Treasure-Hunting Catman Mobile Fortress.
...
Treasure Hunting Star: Boss, help!
Treasure Hunting Star: I’m being hunted! I’m gonna die, gonna die, gonna die!
Treasure Hunting Star: HEEELP—
...
Li Ziyu, sleeping soundly, felt his eyelids tremble. He snapped his eyes open, still looking dazed and unsure of what was happening. A moment later, the system screen lit up before him, displaying a pop-up window with a distress call from Liu Xingxing.
’Huh?’
’Liu Xingxing?’
’Being hunted?’ ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
’He’s being hunted!’
Li Ziyu finally grasped the key point. His still-fuzzy mind snapped to attention, and he shot up in bed.
[Private Message]
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: What’s going on? Who’s hunting you?
Treasure Hunting Star: I don’t know!
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: What kind of crap is that? You don’t know who’s hunting you? What did you do, dig up their ancestral graves?
Treasure Hunting Star: No, no, it’s nothing like that! The ones chasing me are in a Mobile Fortress.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: You ran into another Transmigrator?
Treasure Hunting Star: Boss, I didn’t do anything! I just got close, and they started hunting me! I’ve been running for ages, and they still won’t let up!
’Got it. So this idiot went and provoked someone.’
The corner of Li Ziyu’s mouth twitched. He pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed helplessly. ’Right, this is my fault,’ he thought. ’I was so focused on warning him about the dangers of the Otherworld’s natives and Monsters that I forgot to mention that other Transmigrators are even more dangerous.’
Not everyone knew about the Dark Jungle Law, and not everyone could adapt to it. Among his own wave of Transmigrators, many had disappeared because they couldn’t adjust, mistakenly believing they were still living in an age of peace.
’Liu Xingxing is a novice. Since I didn’t warn him, it’s perfectly normal that he wouldn’t know.’
’For a newly arrived Transmigrator to just approach another City Lord... isn’t that just like serving up a juicy piece of meat to a starving wolf?’
’They’d be letting themselves down if they didn’t take a bite!’
After a moment’s thought, Li Ziyu sent another message.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: What’s their strength like? How many Warriors do they have? What Race are they?
Treasure Hunting Star: From what I can see, there are over two hundred of them. I don’t know how strong they are, and I wouldn’t dare fight them! Boss, I’ve only got two Catmen with me. As for their Race... they’re kind of like the goblins you see in anime.
’Like goblins?’
Li Ziyu scratched his head. Of course he knew about goblins. In all sorts of anime and games, they were the lowest-level Monsters, right next to slimes.
Li Ziyu had read up on the goblins of this Otherworld. They were a Low-Level Race with low combat power, low intelligence, and a low level of civilization, who were also absurdly belligerent. The only reason they hadn’t been wiped out was that the little bastards were incredibly prolific.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Describe what they look like.
Treasure Hunting Star: They’re short, with green skin and long, pointed ears. They’re very agile, always jumping around and making these weird, squawking noises.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: And their Weapons?
Treasure Hunting Star: Wooden clubs, knives, pitchforks... uh, a bit of everything. Just a random mess.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Buddy, this is the Otherworld. There’s no "like" about it. Those are goddamn goblins!
Treasure Hunting Star: ...
Treasure Hunting Star: So what do I do?
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Where are you now?
Treasure Hunting Star: I’m heading your way.
Don’t Want to Get a Driver’s License: Then what are you waiting for? Get over here. I’ll figure out a way to back you up.
Treasure Hunting Star: Roger that, Boss!
