Anime: Fight Sukuna at the beginning?.

Chapter 441 The Old Way! (Dungeon Opening)
Welcome to the [Derivative World], numbered 2a10871, to reincarnator g12781.

[This is your first time entering the [Derivative World], and you possess special privileges.]

[At the start of this mission, you will receive additional assistance based on your accumulated merit points.]

The feeling of weightlessness lingering in my body has not yet disappeared.

The narration added before each task in the space has not yet been finished.

A man who cannot control his body or sense his location.

Its conceptual heart, named "Dragon's Heart," began to beat strangely within its chest.

Inspired by Alien Blessing.

The man, who was in a deep sleep, had already heard an unusually sharp sound.

It was an eerie sound, as if listening for even a second longer would cause one's soul to be torn from their body.

It's like the mournful, piercing wind that lingers between buildings during severe weather, like a funeral procession.

This instantly made the man feel irritable.

The notification sound from the space continued.

The number of times the Grand Prize placed in this Derivative World has not been claimed is 37.

Due to the impact of [unclaimed attempts], the rewards for the [Grand Prize] will be significantly increased.

The difficulty of obtaining information related to the "grand prize" has increased dramatically.

Please explore and discover information about the [Grand Prize] on your own, as per the mission requirements.

The addition of a module to the [Derivative World] will not be publicly announced. Please remain calm and vigilant at all times.

As the blood-red 'Stay calm and alert' message disappeared from the man's retina.

The man also completely regained control of his body, completing the 'activation'.

The eerie sound that had caused such unease and irritation vanished without a trace.

It was like a wild beast that had caught sight of a fire.

They temporarily chose to retreat.

An unusual jolt came from beneath me, causing my body to tremble slightly with discomfort.

The crisp sound of horses' hooves and the friction of wheels against the ground filled my ears.

[Am I in a carriage? Is this the old dungeon road?]

What was that strange sound just now?

Why is there no 'background information' this time?

The man opened his eyes and instinctively looked forward.

Then I noticed something.

Besides him, there was another person in this cramped carriage.
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The dim light was provided by a kerosene lamp hanging in the simple carriage.

The man then saw the man sitting opposite him, who was taking a nap with his head down.

As Fang Yi looked at his companion, it seemed that he sensed Fang Yi's gaze directed at him.

The man with short, gray-white hair suddenly raised his head.

When their eyes met, Fang Yi caught a glimpse of the dense wrinkles on Fang Yi's face and the black eye patch covering his right eye.

The opponent had already gripped the long-handled meteor hammer beneath him and simultaneously retrieved the shield placed at his feet.

We switched to a high-alert combat mode.

The entire process was incredibly smooth and seamless.

And it only took one-third of a second.

He held a shield in one hand and a hammer in the other.

His arms remained completely still, like an old man standing firm as an unshakeable mountain.

Fang Yi was somewhat alarmed.

[No techniques were used; it was purely instinctive, like a conditioned reflex!]

[Strength is likely above 27, and Agility is no less than 24.]

[He exudes military bearing; is he a veteran? A reincarnated individual?]

"Staring at complete strangers while walking through the forest at night is not a good habit!"
"Ignorant and fearless, a young man who dared to venture into that town!"

The old man's words interrupted Fang Yi's thoughts.

It also brought a notification sound indicating the cycle of reincarnation.

Due to the influence of an unknown [module], functions such as [private messaging] are currently unavailable in this area. You can unlock these functions through exploration.

You will need to explore and obtain the background information on your own for this task.

Clearly, it's unrealistic for him to quickly contact Miss Gu Qi to complete the transaction for this mission.

He probably needs to push things forward first.

The prompts in the space are still ongoing.

Due to your access permissions, you have automatically learned the relevant languages.

[You have accumulated 611 merit points. You have gained a suitable teammate who can provide assistance and guidance.]

You can try communicating with them to obtain more information.

Fang Yi, having received the hint, did not respond immediately.

Instead, he squinted and examined how the spatial arrangement would benefit him.

I'm trying to find some openings for the conversation to move forward.
-
Through the gaps in the ordinary shield that the old man was holding, which could be found anywhere else.

Fang Yi quickly turned his attention to the tattered leather armor that covered the old man's slightly large body and exuded an extraordinary aura.

And a huge medal hanging on his right breast.

The inscription on this medal, featuring a lion design, is now somewhat blurred.

Even a man with a prodigious memory could only vaguely make out this line of text.

(Officer of the Order of)

[If we divide it into five levels, is this the fourth level medal?]

[Medals that can be obtained by lieutenant-rank officers above the rank of sergeant!]

Is this a junior officer with outstanding military achievements?

Fang Yi looked away from the medal.

Using [Basic Alchemy lv10] and [Alchemy - School of Truth lv15], they began to study the somewhat unremarkable, tattered leather armor on the other party's body.

The knowledge gained from the skill taught the man the crafting process of this leather armor.

This leather armor, carefully oiled and maintained, covers the old man's large body.

It is tanned from the skin of magical creatures that have undergone alchemical treatment.

Then, six layers of black paint with different effects were added to the nail surface, performing an 'enchantment' such as increasing hardness.

Its protective effect is no less than that of iron armor, and it is also lighter.

The quality must be at least [Tier 2 Excellent].

Fang Yi shifted his gaze slightly.

They quickly discovered a very obvious wound on the left chest, about the size of a bowl, that had damaged the overall structure of the leather armor.

The knowledge gained from 【General Knowledge of Alchemy lv10】told the man something.

Such wounds will cause the quality of the equipment to drop.

This was originally a leather armor of [Tier 2 Epic] quality.

[Is this the kind of equipment a junior officer should have? That can't be right!]

Fang Yi frowned and glanced at the other parts of the leather armor.

Soon, they observed several bloodstains that had turned dark brown and could not be washed off.

And numerous sharp object scratches.

The knowledge of weapon handling provided by the "Martial Arts Without Limits" skill instantly helped the man analyze the origin of these scratches.

[Most of the marks were from longswords; the near-fatal wound was caused by a spear.]

[They must be experienced veterans, having crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.]

Judging from the scattered dagger scratches, he probably also participated in bandit suppression.

Fang Yi felt something was wrong.

The initial assistance from space is so generous; it's probably not a good thing.
-
After sorting through the information, he looked at the veteran who was quite dissatisfied with his gaze as he examined the other's leather armor.

Fang Yi smiled, revealing his teeth.

"Although I pride myself on my extensive knowledge."

"But compared to you, a lieutenant-level officer with outstanding military achievements who has fought countless battles on the battlefield."

"Experience and knowledge are naturally insufficient."

A look of surprise flashed across the old man's face, as if he hadn't expected his military identity to be discovered.

Fang Yi extended his hand and began to introduce himself.

"But I think the difference between humans and wild animals is that humans can learn from each other's strengths and make up for each other's weaknesses and cooperate with each other."

"So I should be able to come in handy elsewhere."

Fang Yi, a young man who craves wealth and tries to 'strike gold' in a small town.

"What about you?"

The old man squinted and sized up Fang Yi.

Looking at the man's impeccable smile.

With the blessing of a series of [wonderful items], [achievements], and [relics] on the man that [increase the favorability of characters of the Order type].

The old man hesitated for a moment, then reached out his hand.

This was a response to Fang Yi's goodwill.

Corey was a lieutenant when he retired from the military.

"To serve as an instructor in that small town of Hamlet, teaching skills and knowledge."

After saying that, he looked at Fang Yi with great surprise.

"After I got on the bus, I noticed you hadn't said anything for a while, and I thought you didn't intend to talk to me."
-
Due to access restrictions, you have been granted initial funds of 100 Old Gold Coins.

You have triggered the quest "Travel to Hamlet Town". Upon completion, you will receive 200 Old Gold Coins and 2000 points.

[Upon arrival in this area, some previously restricted features will be unlocked.]

The actual amount of rewards issued will vary depending on performance during the task.

You have obtained partial information about the 'currency' [Old Gold Coin] in this [Derivative World].

Just as the notification sound from the Reincarnation Space finished, Fang Yi also heard the notification sound from the Main God. [You have obtained initial funds of [Old Gold Coins] x500.]

He glanced at the gold coins in his two personal spaces, which exuded a soul aura but had nothing to do with gold.

I briefly recalled the information that Miss Zhuang had previously revealed.

Fang Yi already understood what Corey meant by "old gold coins".

Similar to the 'event currency' in some games, which can be obtained by completing event stages and exchanged for materials in a limited-time shop.

The "Old Gold Coins" are clearly the 'tokens' closely related to the current "Derivative World" and other benefits.

I glanced at the keywords of the mission: [teamwork] and [mercenaries].

And the quest to travel to Hamlet Town.

I reflected on the game that served as the prototype for this world.

Fang Yi had already realized that he had unlocked some limited functions upon arriving in the town, and tried to contact Miss Gu Qi.

If we want to keep the mission going and make a profit, we'll probably need to recruit some team members to "go on missions".

Therefore, he had already begun to consider winning over this well-equipped and experienced veteran.

"So, Mr. Corey, you..."

Fang Yi hadn't finished speaking.

The old man in front of him raised his shield and swung it wildly.

The man also took out the [臣具] and [桐一文字].

The two had already realized who they needed to be wary of.
-
The next moment, several muffled gunshots rang out.

The galloping horse in front instantly collapsed to the ground.

Before the wooden carriage carrying the two people tipped over to the ground, it was riddled with holes, resembling a honeycomb.

Several bullets, passing through the carriage, approached the two men.

Before the man drew his sword, the old man, as if possessing a premonition, brandished his shield.

【guard】

Ding! Ding!
As the first metal projectile struck Corey's shield, it produced a crisp metallic clang.

Sensing the extraordinary force of these projectiles, the old man skillfully tilted his shield.

Then it spins.

It blocked all the projectiles like a city wall.

It also skillfully eliminated the astonishing force of the other projectiles.

All the bullets were easily removed.

After defusing the attack.

The old man slammed his left hand, holding a hammer, into the carriage.

After destroying the carriage, he casually tossed the long-handled meteor hammer aside.

He then reached for the throwing knife at his waist.

At the same time, he roared at Fang Yi.

"Get down, roll over! Find cover."

"Bandits! I'm coming!"
-
However, Fang Yi did not heed the old man's advice.

【Transparent World·Strengthening】

Through the transparent world, they glimpsed a group of bandits—one fat, two medium-sized, and seven short—lurking in the nearby woods.

He just opened his left eye.

After the blurry activation of [Binding Enemy Movement] and [Eye of Imprisonment],

He casually brandished the long sword in his hand.

They started using energy-saving techniques that they hadn't used in a long time.

【Breath of the Moon - Calamity - Full Moon】

In an instant, several crescent-shaped blade energies shot out.

It tore apart the carriages, pierced the dark night sky, and severed countless branches.

It also cleanly and decisively cleaved the body of a bandit who was trying to escape nearby in two.

They completely wiped out the lives of the ten-man gang of bandits in the distance.

You have killed 1 [Bandit Captain], 2 [Roadblock Bandits], and 7 [Bandit Musketeers].

You have been granted 20 years of spare lifespan; your current spare lifespan is 270 years.

You can try to collect the [Old Gold Coins] from your opponent and search for loot drops.

I heard the familiar notification sound indicating my lifespan had increased.

Fang Yi, having sheathed his sword, smiled and added a sentence to Corey.

"This is the first time I've ever seen someone use a shield like this."

"To give effective command in battle."

"But it seems they are the ones who should be fleeing."

Then, the man kicked the carriage that had turned to rubble at his feet.

The man was somewhat surprised that he did not see the coachman.

But soon the man pointed in the direction of the bandits and extended an invitation to the old man in front of him, whose mouth was slightly open.

"Let's see who the people who attacked us are."
"And maybe loot some spoils while you're at it?"

Corey didn't say anything.

He simply shut his mouth, gripped his hammer, and picked up his shield.

They led up the nag that was neither startled nor injured, but was simply pawing the ground silently.

He followed Fang Yi half a step behind, while keeping a wary eye on the gloomy forest.

But Fang Yi heard a notification that the character Corey's friendliness towards him had changed from 31/100 to 43/100.

And the old man secretly sized up the man and the man's long knife.

They all told Fang Yi one thing.

This veteran has begun to accept himself to some extent.

"You poor wretch! You don't have a single decent thing on you!"

"The guns were the cheapest kind! The positioning was loose, and the attack methods were very amateurish."

"They're probably novices who got wind of the town and decided to rob us here on a whim."

After searching the bandit's corpse, they only obtained 34 [Old Gold Coins].

Corey kicked a piece of corpse debris in annoyance.

Then, she pointed out 14 coins and tossed them to the man.

An explanation was then given.

"The carriage is broken, we have to pay for it."

"The rest are for the crows."

"crow?"

Fang Yi tilted his head and saw a crow land on the back of the nag that had been obediently following the two men.

This very ordinary crow was now staring at the coins in the two people's hands.

Corey removed a piece of cloth from the bandits beside him.

He wrapped the 20 coins in his hand and handed them to the crow.

"This is the 'horse driver' who transported us through the forest to the town."

"It will give us some guidance on changing the carriage."

"Trying to cross this forest on foot at night is an utterly foolish thing to do."

After saying this, the former officer habitually added a word of admonition to Fang Yi.

"These are all the experiences of the older generation, young people."

Before waking up, I had a vague feeling that this forest was not simple.

Therefore, Fang Yi did not refute the old man, but was determined to follow the mission procedure.

Upon seeing the cloth bag that Corey handed over, the crow nodded in a very human-like manner.

He grabbed the wallet, flew into the sky, and hovered above the two of them.

At the same time, it began to chirp loudly.

Corey looked at the crows in mid-air and was about to speak.

Fang Yi, with the blessing of [Heteromorphic Affinity], has already provided the answer.

"There is a campsite two kilometers to the northeast where you can rest temporarily."

“We can get supplies; there’s a larger wagon there.”

The old man did not speak.

She simply shut her mouth and glanced at the man in surprise.

It was as if they were examining some novel species.
-
A few minutes later, the two men, a horse and a crow, stood in front of the makeshift camp.

Before Fang Yi could even get close, the place was just a pile of wooden fences.

Around a campfire, about thirty people were gathered in the camp.

A richly dressed reincarnated person, surrounded by a crowd, stood up.

He bowed to Fang Yi from a distance.

"Two more formidable companions have arrived. This mission looks like it won't be easy."

Before Fang Yi could respond, the man asked him a rather strange question.

"Li Zhi, accumulated merit points: 315."

"Brother, how many merit points have you accumulated?"

This was a very strange question.

Fang Yi tilted his head.

[Aren't there carriages here? Why are they still here?]

What is the process of reporting merit points?

Let's see their strength!

(End of this chapter)