The youth rode a Parasaurolophus towards the large platform not far away, whistling for the other Parasaurolophus to follow. In truth, this spot would be good for building a base. It's near the sea, elevated and flat, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. As long as the forest side is enclosed, it would be perfectly safe (from wild dinosaur attacks), and there's enough space for farming after establishing the base.
Upon arrival, the youth reined in his Parasaurolophus by the cliff edge, gazing fixedly at this primitive world brimming with life-threatening dangers.
FIGURE
The youth's name was Wáng Jùnjié. A month ago, he inexplicably arrived in this strange world, similar to Ark. The environment and landscape were very much like a sandbox survival game he used to play called "Ark: Survival Ascended." But games are just games; here, a single mistake could cost him his life, and there was no ability to respawn infinitely.
Wáng Jùnjié accessed the implant on his wrist. A particularly conspicuous number displayed '10'. He understood this represented the ten chances everyone possessed.
The implant also stored many items he had picked up from airdrops. Through experimentation, he discovered the implant had a storage function. Wáng Jùnjié clearly knew he had also become an "experiment subject" like the game players.
This was simply a real world, not a virtual network. He wasn't sure how power was divided here; there seemed to be no levels. But then why were there imprint blueprints? He saw all the black imprint blueprints within the implant. He didn't know if he was like other humans or if he was special, possessing not only basic blueprints but also a blueprint soul ball for modules at the top.
His heart raced with excitement. With the soul ball, the problem of storing dinosaurs could be solved, and he could always bring battle dinosaurs to protect himself. Moreover, the soul ball was much more cost-effective than a cryo-pod. Cryo-pods required complex materials, had to be crafted at obelisks or airdrops, and needed power to be charged. Although the soul ball also needed charging, it was more durable than a cryo-pod.
As a novice who had played two thousand hours of single-player, he was both familiar and unfamiliar with this world.
The terrain here seemed similar to the game he played, but he hadn't played much of version 1.5. Although the landscape had changed drastically, he still knew the general locations. Wáng Jùnjié wondered where would be a good place to develop. South One was out of the question; he didn't want to develop slowly in such a barren place. Moreover, he was alone, and everything had to be done personally. Compared to large multi-player tribes, his biggest deficit was time.
He didn't know if there were other tribes in this world, but in the month Wáng Jùnjié had been here, he had only encountered three tribes. The first two were gone, and the current one was... well, it was hard to describe, so it was better to go solo.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows. The sun had risen high, bringing brightness and warmth to the entire forest.
A thin layer of mist permeated the woods, as if draping a veil of mystery over this green world. In the sunlight, this mist shimmered with a faint glow, as brilliant and dazzling as countless tiny diamonds.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, its melodious sound uplifting the spirits, seemingly transporting one to a dreamlike realm. If not for the harsh survival conditions, this place would have been a veritable paradise. There was no urban clamor or pollution, only fresh air, a tranquil atmosphere, and beautiful natural scenery. Here, one could feel the charm and power of nature, coexist harmoniously with it, and enjoy peace and freedom.
Retracting the virtual projection of the implant, his gaze fell upon the towering red obelisk, and Wáng Jùnjié knew where he had to go. To the right lay the swamp and mangrove, too dangerous; with his current combat strength, he'd be dead in minutes. To the left was the red obelisk. Following the safe coastline would lead him to the snow mountain border, a place rich in resources. Oil, metal, and crystal, essential for development, were abundant. There were also many medium-sized dinosaurs that could serve as battle mounts or guards. Once a trap pen was built, it would solve the problem permanently.
He could also consider developing on the nearest vegetarian island, as the snow mountain was quite far. However, reaching the vegetarian island required crossing the sea. Not to mention the Leedsichthys blocking the way, there were also numerous Megalodons lurking, and falling into the water would mean starting all over.
If only he had a Pterodactyl, it would be much more convenient. But compared to the vegetarian island, Wáng Jùnjié leaned towards developing at the snow mountain. As long as he developed steadily, he could quickly enter the industrial age.
Once his objective was set, Wáng Jùnjié changed into a hide set from his implant, then took out a bow and quiver, slung them over his shoulder, and mounted his Parasaurolophus, heading towards the swamp.
To pass through this area towards the mangrove, one could either skirt the edge of the swamp or cross the sea. Crafting a raft would be too troublesome and time-consuming. Moreover, the swamp's edge wasn't that dangerous; as long as he didn't approach the lake, he'd be fine. The only creatures that could threaten Wáng Jùnjié in this vicinity were Spinosauruses, Beelzebufo, and Carnotaurus.
Titan Pythons, Kaprosuchus, and Deinosuchus wouldn't venture this far. Capturing a Beelzebufo would be possible, but taming one would take at least an hour, time he couldn't afford to waste, especially in a dangerous place like the swamp. He'd focus on reaching his destination and building his base first. Once he acquired an Argentavis, everything would be manageable.
Wáng Jùnjié rode his Parasaurolophus towards the forest, searching for a downhill path. After a few minutes, he finally spotted an access point to the descent. Wáng Jùnjié cautiously approached it, trying to keep the dinosaurs quiet to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. He quickly ordered three Dimetrodons to scout ahead, ensuring no danger lay in front. Meanwhile, the other Dimetrodons stayed close by his side, protecting him.
Looking at the two-meter-long Dimetrodon following behind him, Wáng Jùnjié felt a sense of security. As long as he didn't encounter more than two medium-sized carnivorous dinosaurs, he believed he could handle the situation. The flail artifact was no joke.
The Dimetrodons gave no alarm; all was safe for the moment. Just then, several dark-skinned humans in crude attire suddenly rushed out from the tall grass.
They wore large pieces of stiff hide on their upper bodies and woven grass skirts made of straw and leaves on their lower halves. Some even went shirtless, exposing their healthy-colored muscles. The nearest Dimetrodon, intending to flee, was too late; several spears pierced its body, and it let out a tragic hiss before collapsing in a pool of blood.
The distance was too great; by the time Wáng Jùnjié could react, it was too late to help. He looked at the uninvited guests, his eyes filled with rage. As the savages emerged to claim their spoils, they clearly noticed the pale-skinned human on the Parasaurolophus. Before he could issue an order, the savages opposite them charged forward with their weapons. Judging by their appearance, they intended to capture Wáng Jùnjié. Not to mention they had killed one of his Dimetrodons; even without that incident, he wouldn't sit idly by.
There were five savages in total. One went to retrieve the spears from the fallen Dimetrodon, while the other four charged towards Wáng Jùnjié, some wielding stone axes, others with spears. Wáng Jùnjié immediately retrieved a flail from his implant. Then, with a whistle, he spurred his Parasaurolophus towards them. All the Dimetrodons fixed their target on the five individuals before them. The Dimetrodons stood and spat venom. These savages had clearly encountered Dimetrodons before, as they rolled or leaped to dodge the venom, continuing their charge without losing speed. Wáng Jùnjié seized the opportunity to throw his flail, ensnaring one. He then took out a stone arrow, nocked it, and aimed at another savage, firing. These savages didn't recognize the bow and arrow in Wáng Jùnjié's hand; they hadn't reached the stage of manufacturing such weapons. They neither dodged nor evaded, and one was hit. (“shot a cold heart” - idiomatic expression implying a sudden, chilling shock or demise)