Douluo Continent: Gourmet Prisoner

By the time the three of them finally shook off the flock of chocolate birds that were tossing chocolates from the sky and stepped out of their circling range, dusk, like melted dark chocolate sauce, was slowly spreading over the entire forest.

The last glimmer of orange-red sunset struggled to peek through the gaps in the chocolate leaves, only to be quickly swallowed by the deepening night. All that remained between heaven and earth were the varying shades of brown outlines, and even the air was filled with a rich cocoa aroma, mixed with the freshness of grass and trees, so sweet it made one's nose itch.

The bad news is that once it got dark, this unfamiliar forest completely changed its appearance.

The once clearly visible tree trunk has now transformed into a menacing black shadow.

Occasionally, the cries of unidentified creatures could be heard from the woods, sometimes near, sometimes far, with an eerie tone that sent chills down one's spine.

Want to explore the heart of the forest in the dark?

It's simply a fantasy; you might accidentally step into some kind of chocolate swamp or bump into a candy monster lurking in the shadows.

But the good news is also quite encouraging—looking around, the chocolate trees are all ridiculously thick, with trunks that look like they were cast from dark chocolate, and the bark has a matte finish. If you get close, you can smell the rich bitterness, and just by looking at them you can tell that they are firm and crispy.

As long as you find the sturdiest tree and gnaw a hole in the trunk big enough for three people to fit, you can comfortably spend the night without worrying about sleeping outdoors.

Even more wonderfully, less than a hundred meters away from them, a winding river was shimmering with a soft, milky light, and the gurgling sound of the water, accompanied by a rich milky aroma, wafted over—it was a chocolate milk river.

The river wasn't deep, and the surface was as calm as a mirror. Even the pebbles on the riverbed were coated with a thin layer of white chocolate. Food and water were readily available, a truly heaven-sent blessing.

But for Zhu Lu right now, nothing beats any adventure or tree hole in comparison to one thing—rushing into that river of chocolate milk and taking a good bath.

She had the worst day ever; she was covered in chocolate sauce left by the chocolate birds, and it felt sticky and uncomfortable.

Her eyes lit up at the thought of warm, silky chocolate milk enveloping her body and washing away all her fatigue.

Thus, the division of labor was naturally determined.

The two girls headed straight for the Chocolate Milk River, leaving Shi Yu alone to eat a tree trunk and carve out a cave big enough to accommodate three people.

Before setting off, the two women thoughtfully suggested that Shi Yu take a bath first.

After a long day of travel, Shi Yu's stomach was already protesting its hunger. The candy animals he had encountered earlier were merely appetizers and could not satisfy him at all.

Looking at the dark chocolate tree trunk in front of me, which was emitting an enticing aroma, my mouth was watering so much that I couldn't move my feet.

Besides, it would be perfect to take a shower after eating.

He waved his hand, declining the girls' offer, and chose the thickest, most fragrant chocolate tree, rolling up his sleeves and starting to gnaw on it.

The texture of this chocolate tree trunk is absolutely amazing.

The outer bark is a thin layer of white chocolate, sweet but not cloying.

Biting into it reveals a rich, dark chocolate flavor with just the right amount of bitterness. It's crispy yet chewy, with a subtle nutty aroma.

When Zhu Lu and Huo Yutong returned after taking a shower, their hair was wet and carried a sweet scent that was a mixture of milk and cocoa. Even their cheeks were flushed with moisture.

Meanwhile, Shi Yu had already completed his mission and was leaning against the tree hole, happily munching on the last chocolate cube.

Upon seeing the two return, Shi Yu hurriedly went to take a bath.

When Shi Yu returned after taking a bath, Zhu Lu and Shi Yu were discussing the tree hole.

The tree hole was just the right size, big enough for three people with some extra space. He had cleverly gnawed the entrance, leaving only a narrow gap that could barely be squeezed through, which would both block the wind and prevent large creatures from entering.

The three of them crawled into the tree hole, lay down against the soft chocolate bar, and smelled the sweet aroma in the air. The fatigue of the day instantly washed over them.

Before long, the sounds of wind and water outside the tree hole gradually faded, and all three of them fell into a deep sleep.

But this night was destined to be anything but peaceful.

In the forest outside the tree hole, the intermittent roars never stopped.

The sound was sometimes deep and muffled like thunder, making the leaves rustle.

Sometimes it's sharp like a whistle, piercing the silent night sky and making people's hearts tighten.

Before going to bed, Shi Yu deliberately made the entrance narrow, just in case some uninvited guest broke in at night. But no matter how much he planned, he still couldn't stop a little guy.

In the dead of night, a small, dark shadow darted through the crack in the tree hole. It landed as lightly as a feather, yet it still startled the three light sleepers.

By the faint moonlight filtering through the crack, the three of them looked closely and saw that it was a small dinosaur about the size of a palm, with a pointed and narrow head, a protruding snout, and a pair of round, bright eyes that gleamed with a wary light, with a ring of milky white chocolate patterns around the eye sockets.

Two rows of fine, sharp teeth protrude from its mouth, making it look fierce, but its small size gives it a touch of cuteness.

What's even more peculiar is that its body is thin and small, its neck is as thin as a chocolate bar, and its fan-shaped tail is almost half the length of its body. Its whole body is covered with blue-black feathers that gleam faintly in the moonlight.

Its dark blue feathers were clearly the color of blueberry chocolate, and it even had a faint blueberry scent that was sweet and refreshing.

This is a miniature raptor, or rather, a miniature raptor made of chocolate.

"Hey, do you know that's called trespassing, you wretched black guy!"

Being abruptly woken from a sweet dream by this little creature, Shi Yu's tone was full of displeasure as he reached out to grab it.

If Shi Yu had a gun, he would have shot this intruding black guy long ago.

But the little chocolate raptor completely ignored his anger, only focusing on shrinking into the corner of the tree hole, its small body trembling incessantly, its big eyes fixed on the direction outside the tree hole, as if it were hiding from something extremely terrifying.

Its little paws gripped the ground tightly, its tail was taut, and even its breathing became rapid.

The three of them immediately understood that the little raptor had wandered into the area because it was being chased by predators.

The recipe for that thing must clearly state the name "Chocolate Velociraptor".

Unfortunately, chocolate is also a part of the human diet.

Shi Yu and the two girls exchanged a glance, a sly glint in their eyes, and their drowsiness vanished instantly.

Zhu Lu was already rubbing her hands together, and took a few steps closer with an expectant look on her face.

The next second, the little raptor, which had been cowering in the corner trembling, was surrounded by the three people in layers.

It cried out in alarm, its voice as crisp as a broken piece of candy. Before it could put up any resistance, Shi Yu had already picked it up.

Thus, this cold intruder naturally became a warm late-night snack for the three of them.

Shi Yu broke off a feather from a small raptor, put it in his mouth and bit down—with a crisp "crunch," the sweet and sour blueberry chocolate exploded on his tongue, carrying a rich fruity aroma that wasn't cloying at all.

Take another bite of its body, and you'll find the core is surprisingly rich dark chocolate with a slight bitterness that balances the sweetness of the feathers, creating a delightfully complex and delightful flavor profile.

What's most surprising is that when you break open its round little belly, you'll find a filling full of blueberry jam!

Thick jam drips down your fingertips, and sweet juice spreads across your tongue—it's a delightful little surprise.

The three of them took turns gnawing on the little chocolate raptor, and in no time they had eaten it all up, leaving not even the bones—after all, the bones were made of white chocolate, and they smelled delicious.

While munching on the sweet chocolate raptor, Shi Yu suddenly had a flash of inspiration and finally understood his previous doubts—no wonder the chocolate trees in this forest grew so thick and dense; it turned out that the center of this candy world was a prehistoric chocolate forest.

Not only are there chocolate birds here, but also chocolate miniature raptors, and maybe even more chocolate creatures resembling prehistoric dinosaurs.

Even though it was a relatively small creature among dinosaurs, the predators that would prey on the Chocolate Microraptor must have been extraordinary beings.

It might also be a dinosaur, and a prehistoric behemoth covered in chocolate with jam filling inside.

Perhaps it's a caramel-flavored "meat" dragon? Or maybe a matcha-flavored "vegetarian" dragon? Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.

The roaring outside the tree hollow continued, like an alluring summons.

Shi Yu's gaze as he looked out of the tree hole was filled with excitement.

Zhu Lu and Huo Yutong exchanged a smile, their weariness replaced by intense curiosity and anticipation.

Tomorrow's adventure is destined to be more interesting than you can imagine.