Survival on the Internet: A Bizarre Start at Sea

Su Zhisu ran her fingertips over the rough leather surface and slowly rolled up the animal skin diary.

"Astrologer Edwin C... he sensed the existence of the 'Marine Iguana' so long ago?"

"By observing celestial phenomena and energy fluctuations, we can pinpoint anomalies in the storm-affected sea area..."

Did he ultimately find the marine iguana? Was this box one of his belongings, or did he leave it behind after successfully reaching the destination?

The abrupt end of the journal left a huge question mark.

There were no further clues in the box about the astrologer's fate.

But the value of this diary itself is immeasurable.

It offers a completely new perspective—the perspective of a pioneer who attempted to explore and understand the supernatural phenomena of this world with reason and knowledge.

This is quite different from Nautilus's alchemy, which focuses on practicality and tradition, and Hydra's focus on life and bloodlines.

It is exploration, verification, and mapping of the unknown.

"Echoing fissures," "skewness phenomenon"... these terms swirled in Su Zhisu's mind.

He recalled his experience when he entered the "Undead of the Cape of Good Hope" instance, and the current state of Atlantis.

This astrologer's theories may help him to understand the underlying patterns of these phenomena more systematically.

He rewrapped the journal in oilcloth and carefully put it away.

This is not a simple adventure record; it is a ladder of knowledge, a key to the deeper secrets of the world.

"Astrologer Edwin C..."

Su Zhisu kept this name in mind.

He cleared the deck and pushed the boxes aside.

The harvest far exceeded expectations.

They not only gained practical materials and a commemorative piece of jewelry, but more importantly, they acquired a precious record that may reveal part of the truth about the world.

He looked once again at the small, gray-black island shrouded in the thinning fog.

The dark green water and phosphorescent flowers were still there, but without the box as "bait," they seemed much calmer.

The area's oddity value has stabilized at 25 and is no longer increasing.

"It's time to leave."

He didn't touch the phosphorescent flowers.

Their existence maintains the fragile ecological balance of this small area.

A hasty removal might alert an even more troublesome underwater entity.

Since the main source of influence has been removed, the remaining radiation is very weak and its impact range is limited.

He weighed anchor and adjusted the sail.

Guided by the hazy perception brought about by the "blessing of the white fog," the Redemption skillfully turned and slowly sailed out of the gradually fading fog, returning to the open sea.

A thin mist gathered behind us, concealing the island once more.

Su Zhixu glanced at the nautical compass; the pointer pointed firmly to the northwest.

He returned to the helm, steered the ship, and continued sailing towards Hydeland.

The voyage became regular and calm over the next few days.

The sea has regained its vast and ever-changing appearance.

On clear days, he would fish at the stern of the boat, watching seabirds glide over the sails and enjoying the rare tranquility.

When it was raining, he put on a waterproof cloak, stayed at his post, and ensured that the course was correct.

I have also encountered small groups of wandering "contaminated individuals".

These monsters are usually between Lv.4 and Lv.6, and come in various forms, but their strength is relatively limited, so they cannot pose a real threat to Su Zhisu in his current state.

He used these battles to further hone the combination of [Overlay Combo] and Night Watch Heart Flame, and experimented with the application of different emotional crystals in actual combat.

The experience points are increasing slowly and steadily.

Survivor Lv.9 (89%)

I'm just one step away from reaching level 10.

In addition, he checks the "unhatched ancient marine iguana egg" every day.

The egg's life force remained constant and faint, as if it had fallen into a deep hibernation.

But when he gets close, one can occasionally feel a very faint, dependent sense of intimacy, as if the life within him instinctively recognizes him as the "holder".

At night, he lay on the deck, gazing at the dazzling starry sky, so different from that of Earth.

Unfamiliar constellations outline mysterious patterns, as if telling the ancient secrets of this world.

During the day, he devoted himself to studying the knowledge of bloodlines and life weaving left by Hydra in the Alchemy Notebook of Oberon.

This knowledge was profound and difficult to understand, but combined with the marine iguana egg in his hand, he felt as if he had touched the tip of the iceberg of life alchemy.

The days slipped by quietly amidst sailing, fighting, studying, and meditating.

At the horizon, apart from blue skies, white clouds, and the occasional silhouette of distant islands, the outline of land remains invisible.

The compass needle remained steadfast.

Hydeland remains far away.

[Current Area]: Strange Sea - Outer Sea (Near the Hydroland Route)

[Time]: Day 38 (Day 8 of the second month), 2:30 PM.

[Environmental conditions]: Cloudy, light breeze, slightly rapid waves.

[World's Weirdest Value]: 28 (Stable)

[Area Oddity Value]: 19 → 24 (Fluctuation increasing)

Su Zhisu stood at the bow of the boat, her brows slightly furrowed.

Fluctuations in regional oddities are not uncommon, but the magnitude and speed of this rise are more noticeable than the minor events that occurred in the previous days.

There's something nearby.

He became more alert, his gaze sweeping across the slightly gloomy sea.

The wind was stronger than usual, pushing the white waves to surge and causing the Salvation to rock slightly.

Such environmental changes often foreshadow something unusual.

He maneuvered the Redemption, slightly adjusting its course and veering off in the direction where the fluctuations in the Strange Values ​​were more pronounced.

Instead of waiting passively, it's better to take the initiative to investigate.

After sailing for about half an hour, an anomaly appeared on the sea ahead.

A large area of ​​the seawater was noticeably darker, almost black, and constantly churning with fine bubbles.

The air was filled with a faint, pungent odor, a mixture of sulfur and rotting seaweed.

Area Oddity Value: 28.

It has already exceeded the world's bizarre value and is still slowly climbing.

"The source is down below."

Su Zhisu stopped the boat, closed her eyes, concentrated her senses, and carefully extended them underwater.

Soon, he "saw" it.

About thirty meters below the surface, the seabed is not a flat sandy area, but is covered with jagged black reefs.

In the center of these reefs, a narrow crack is gushing out turbid water with a strong and strange power.

A large number of strange creatures gathered around the crack.

They are not common fish, but rather distorted creatures that reek of filth.

These polluters seemed to be drawn by the strange power emanating from the cracks, gathering there like pilgrims, greedily absorbing the dissipating energy.

The majority of them are Lv.4-Lv.5 [Festering Lurkers] and [Spiky Stalkers], and there are a large number of them.

Above the crack, a particularly large and conspicuous figure was suspended.

It was a monster that looked like a sea anemone magnified dozens of times.