A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 247 - 197: Golden Tree_1

Chapter 247 -197: Golden Tree_1

Ratmen?

Upon seeing these ratmen, everyone instantly tensed up. However, they quickly noticed that these ratmen were different from those they had encountered outside.

How should I put it… They looked cleaner, and they didn’t seem as savage. Their fur was white all over, making them look somewhat adorable.

Put simply, if the Skaven ratmen looked as filthy, ugly, and disgusting as sewer rats, then these ratmen felt more like the laboratory mice.

Regardless of anything else, they were very clean and pretty.

“Don’t come any closer, squeak!”

“If you come any closer, we’ll bite you, squeak!!”

Their show of bravado was rather speechless to witness.

“Hmph!”

Seeing these ratmen, Duanmu Huai snorted coldly and then took a step forward. At this point, these ratmen trembled with fear and looked up at Duanmu Huai — and in the next moment, they let out terrified cries, quickly scurrying off and disappearing into the jungle.

“So, were those the ratmen? Bambi doesn’t feel they’re dangerous at all?”

Bambi was also perched on Duanmu Huai’s shoulder, curiously watching the escaping ratmen. It was reasonable for Bambi to think this way since these ratmen did feel different compared to those Duanmu Huai and Lorena had encountered in Modheim. Their sizes were smaller than the Skaven ratmen, and though they also looked like rats, they weren’t as repulsive as the Skaven ratmen. Of course, this was just their appearance, and Duanmu Huai wouldn’t be so naive to trust a pack of rats easily.

And what if… these rats have some connection with the Skaven ratmen?

After all, there are many conflicting accounts of how the ratmen came to be, all of which are like legends, but with no concrete evidence. This World Fragment’s timeline remains unknown, but it’s clear that it predates the emergence of the Skaven ratmen. Perhaps these rats are the origin of the Skaven ratmen.

“Anyway, let’s continue moving forward.”

Duanmu Huai swept his gaze around before speaking.

Under Duanmu Huai’s leadership, the group headed towards the enormous towering tree in the distance. They weren’t sure what this place was, but the vast tree was undoubtedly extraordinary. Reaching it should yield some findings.

Naturally, Duanmu Huai and the crew encountered numerous animals along the way — it appears that this forest indeed was an animal paradise, teeming with diverse species. However, no primitive creatures like the dinosaurs in “Journey to the Center of the Earth” were spotted. Instead, animals such as squirrels, hedgehogs, and moles were quite common. But upon sensing the Fearful Aura emanating from Duanmu Huai, they darted away as soon as they saw him.

“This place is quite interesting.”

Perhaps due to the lack of hostile encounters, the girls gradually relaxed and curiously took in the surrounding scenery. For them, this subterranean natural forest was probably an entirely new sight, so it’s no wonder they looked so fascinated.

“Ah, come on, Bambi wanted to play with the birds here.”

Watching as yet another group of resting birds quickly lifted off the branches, Bambi pouted unhappily.

“As long as the Master isn’t here, the small animals probably won’t be scared.”

At this moment, Ogis, as always, offered a sensible opinion while sneakily jabbing at Duanmu Huai.

“We’re not here for a vacation.”

Duanmu Huai swatted Ogis’s head, replying sullenly.

“Well, this way, it saves us a lot of trouble!”

As for whether small animals would approach him or not, Duanmu Huai didn’t care. Worst-case scenario, he finds a Spirit Animal card later, right?

During their conversation, they crossed the jungle and arrived at a grassland.

“Ah, Sir Knight, there seems to be a structure over there.”

At this moment, Lorena seemed to have discovered something. She quickly gestured towards a hill not far away. Following the direction of her hand, Duanmu Huai indeed saw a building resembling a monastery on the hill. So, everyone quickly changed course and headed towards it.

“Boom… Boom…”

However, just as they arrived at the foot of the hill, a few loud thumps echoed, and they saw a knight appear before their eyes. He held a war halberd in one hand and a massive shield in the other, enrobed in golden armor from head to toe, even his warhorse was armored.

Well, say what you want, but he does look like he’s loaded with money.

“Ah, it’s a good opportunity to ask him for directions.”

Upon seeing the knight, Duanmu Huai stepped forward and began raising his hand.

“Hey, mate…”

However, before Duanmu Huai could finish his sentence, the Golden Knight suddenly wielded his war halberd and, without any warning, rode his horse directly towards Duanmu Huai! He came right up to Duanmu Huai, abruptly pulled the horse’s reins, and made the front hoofs of the horse leap high. The Golden Knight then swung his halberd down, aiming right for Duanmu Huai’s head!

Damn! This guy doesn’t respect the code of martial arts, swings first and talks later! Does he even qualify as a Knight?!

Unable to dodge the Golden Knight’s attack, Duanmu Huai recoiled. Yet, he didn’t retreat. Although the Golden Knight was quite burly and sturdy, Duanmu Huai was not short either., In fact, just by standing there, he was almost as tall as the Golden Knight who was mounted on his horse.

As such, against the Golden Knight’s assault, Duanmu Huai roared and charged forward, slamming his shoulder into the abdomen of the rearing warhorse. He flipped the horse with the Golden Knight upon it onto the ground!

However, the Golden Knight wasn’t someone easy to handle. He skillfully rolled over to avoid the falling warhorse, and then he swept his war halberd again at Duanmu Huai —which was then quickly grabbed by Duanmu Huai.

“Don’t you listen when people talk!”

Duanmu Huai walked forward with a war halberd in one hand, and gave a swift kick at the Golden Knight——instantly, the Golden Knight flew out as if hit by a catapult, falling heavily on the ground. Even so, the Golden Knight did not give up, but attempted to stand up and continue the attack.

But by then, Duanmu Huai had already stretched out both hands, grabbing the Golden Knight’s war horse and smashing it down on him!

“Thud!!!”

The heavy war horse landed directly on the Golden Knight. The next moment, a cry of pain was heard from the horse, and then it, along with the Golden Knight beneath it, turned into dust and disappeared into the air.

Only the war halberd remained, stuck in the ground, a testament to a battle that had taken place.

“What… just happened?”

The girls also gathered around, looking at the scene before them with bewilderment, utterly at a loss for how to react.

“It seems there’s indeed something wrong with this place.”

Duanmu Huai clapped his hands, picked up the nearby war halberd, examined it, and then showed it to Lorena and the others.

“Have you ever seen anything like this?”

They should have heard something if it happened in their time.

“Um… I’m sorry, Sir Knight.”

Lorena carefully examined the war halberd, then shook her head.

“I have never heard of such a place underground.”

“Neither do I…”

Audrey also gave her answer. As an Aristocratic Lady from Manaria, she was knowledgeable, and if even she didn’t know…

“Ah! Bambi recalls that the queen once mentioned it!”

Surprisingly, the final answer came from Bambi.

“You know about it?”

“Yup!”

In response to Duanmu Huai’s question, Bambi nodded emphatically.

“Bambi remembers the queen once said that there was a powerful underground world somewhere, and there was said to be a golden tree in it…”

“That must be it.”

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Duanmu Huai looked up again at the huge tree in the distance, radiating a golden light. From afar, it indeed appeared as if it was made of gold.

All the world fragments were reflections from things that had been destroyed in reality, meaning this world must have been destroyed in reality, but how—-what led to its annihilation?

What had the Skaven Ratmen to do with it?

Duanmu Huai pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

“Anyway, let’s keep going.”

After defeating the mysterious golden knight, Duanmu Huai and his group climbed the slope and eventually arrived at a monastery, but regrettably, it had been abandoned. Although it was somewhat preserved from the outside, most of the ceilings, roofs, and walls inside had been utterly ruined, leaving only a few pillars.

As one might expect, not a soul was inside the ruins.

“We’ll rest here today.”

Duanmu Huai checked the time on his helmet. Though they were underground, there seemed to be some concept of time, at least the light above was beginning to dim. That made the golden tree in the distance look more like a signboard light shining brightly in the night.

Lorena and Bami didn’t object. They hadn’t done much on this journey, but the previous rat incident had already drained them. They all sat down to rest.

But at that moment, Duanmu Huai turned around and looked at a nearby bush.

“You’ve followed us all the way, it’s time for you to come out.”

He then called out quietly.

At the sound of Duanmu Huai’s call, the girls all jumped in surprise, only Ogis continued to sit there reading a book, unperturbed. The bush shook for a moment, and then, a petite figure stepped out of it.

She was a petite girl, dressed in a princess-like dress with an accompanying armor, a slimsword in her hand—of course, the most eye-catching feature was the the semicircular, mouse-like ears on her head and the thin, long tail poking out from her body, like that of a rat.

“Greetings, uninvited intruders,”

The girl looked at Duanmu Huai and said,

“I am Princess Melfy of the Spirit Rat Tribe. May I ask why you have come to this cursed place?”