Navigator: I Have a Legendary Exploration Log

The small boat scraped against the jagged rocks, making a series of slightly vibrating friction sounds.

With the vigorous rowing of Eddie and three other sailors, the small boat quickly reached the shore.

Chalice was the first to flip over the gunwale, his boots stepping onto the rocky beach that had been repeatedly washed by the sea but remained rough and hard.

He did not rush to venture deeper into the island.

Instead, he squatted down.

The crevices of the reef were filled with tiny, grayish-white debris, the composition of which was impossible to discern.

Among these scattered remnants, a dark red, viscous substance could be faintly seen.

Chalice pulled an ordinary dagger from the side of his boot, carefully brushed aside a few pieces of what looked like bone fragments, and picked up a clump of slime.

An indescribable smell entered my nasal cavity.

The strong smell of rust was mixed with a cloyingly sweet stench of decay.

Even with the help of a gourmet's sense of smell, the "pungent" odor made Cheryl frown slightly.

He stood up and looked around.

To see the big picture from small details.

The entire beach presented a similar situation.

The crevices of the dark reefs were filled with grayish-white debris, interspersed with an inconspicuous yet extremely unusual dark red viscous fluid.

Rule out the possibility of bloodthorn vines.

Chalice suppressed his doubts for the time being.

"Leave one person to guard the small boat; the rest of you, follow me."

A sailor carrying a Mauser rifle remained behind.

Rumlow, Eddie, and the other three, armed with weapons and ropes, followed Cherry slowly deeper into the island...

……

【Naval charts】are practically useless for islands.

However, Cherries's claim was not entirely unfounded.

The gourmet's spirit is fully unleashed at this moment!

The alluring fragrance deep within the island continued to guide Cherissa.

Although it's not intuitive or clear, having a general direction is enough.

At least they won't be circling around the island.

Reading the task briefing documents is not very intuitive.

Only by coming to this island in person can you know what it means to be all rocks.

The dark rocks of varying heights form a winding, narrow rock wall.

Unless you climb up a higher rock to get a better view.

Otherwise, one is like being in a maze.

Fortunately, with Chalice leading the way, although they went around in circles, they were still generally moving forward.

About fifteen minutes later.

My vision suddenly opened up.

A relatively flat depression came into view.

The depression still bears obvious traces of human activity, as well as a pile of extinguished campfires.

"Don't rush... observe first..."

Instead of rushing over, Chalice led his men to secretly circle around the rock face.

Only after confirming that there was really no one in this depression did they proceed.

The campfire was reduced to a few scattered embers hidden in the ashes.

Chalice reached out and placed his hand on the campfire to feel the residual warmth from a distance.

The person has been gone for some time, but the fire was definitely lit today.

"Captain, look here!"

Hearing Rumlow's call, Cherries, surrounded by several people, came to a drag mark.

If the previous marks were normal footprints or similar traces, then this more "coarse" mark is most likely not something a normal person could have made.

Chalice's gaze followed the direction in which the traces disappeared, tracing it all the way to a rock wall.

Behind that rock face, several scarlet vines clung quietly, seemingly harmless.

"Most of their people died in accidents, and they died in a hurry."

Chalice speculated, "It's either to save people or to escape. But I'm more inclined to believe the latter, because the large number of footprints didn't go in that direction..."

"They actually ran away?! What a godforsaken place!"

Eddie instinctively pointed his gun at the scarlet vines, his Adam's apple bobbing as he muttered, "Captain, what do we do now?!"

"Don't rush."

Chalice lowered the gun barrel he had slightly raised in his hand. "These are just the tendrils of the Bloodthorn Tree; the real trunk isn't here."

"These tendrils are like the tentacles of an octopus. Cutting off one won't kill you; it will only attract more."

He looked in the direction where the footprints disappeared.

That direction also comes from that direction.

"Let's follow them and see."

Chalice gave the order.

"Prepare the phlogiston injectors, but be careful. Only activate them when you hear my command, and don't accidentally injure your own people."

"yes!"

The five people walked briskly along the footprints.

while walking.

Chalis's expression suddenly changed.

It was because a bloody smell suddenly rushed into my nasal cavity.

And it's extremely fresh!

"Something's wrong! Be on high alert!"

After giving a soft reminder, Chalice took the lead and hurried forward.

Whatever happened to the team that arrived early, my timely arrival was more beneficial than harmful!

If they are friendly, then you'll have more helpers when you rescue someone.

If they are malicious, they can gather intelligence while refusing to help someone in distress.

If handled properly, arriving in time can at least replenish the information.

At the end of the rock face.

A man-made grotto appeared before them.

Chalice's expression was stern!

The reason was that three people were already lying in the center of the cave, or rather, three corpses that were beyond saving!

The three were still convulsing and were not yet completely dead.

But their limbs and torsos were entangled and pierced by countless thin, blood-red thorny tendrils.

The entire body was twisted beyond recognition, and most of the internal organs and bones were broken or fractured.

The dense, blood-red thorns even pierced out from their mouths, noses, and eye sockets, swaying and dancing like thin, red earthworms.

"Dog shit..."

"Oh my god... what is this...?"

Chalice was stunned by the sight before him.

The sailors naturally gasped and let out terrified screams.

And next to the corpse.

A man dressed in a dark blue captain's uniform was slumped on the ground with his legs spread apart, gripping a short knife tightly in his hand and waving it around.

The short sword burned with a transparent, bluish-green flame, which, as it was swung, seemed to form a curtain of flames, deterring the dozens of thorny branches surrounding him from approaching.

However, his left leg had completely disappeared below the knee, and the broken gap was tightly tied together with a simple and crude knot in the trouser leg.

But fresh blood continued to seep out.

The man's face was ashen.

It wasn't just due to excessive blood loss or a lack of hope for survival.

But there was no way to properly treat the wound; all they could do was try in vain to stop the thorns from getting closer.

In despair...

He saw Chalice!

"Oh...you've taken on an investigation mission too?"

The man's voice was hoarse, and his eyes shone with joy.

"Me too...I'm a captain too!"

Chalice glanced discreetly at the badge on the other person's chest.

That was the same bronze navigator's badge as his own.

"Is that your boat outside?"

"That's right!"

The man coughed painfully, his lips pale. "The boat was almost still here, but we're all gone... Brother, help me out!"

talking.

The man took a blood-red fruit out of his pocket and showed it to Cheris.

"I know what you're looking for! Bloodthorn berries! That's what I was after... Damn it! I risked my life, lost several crew members, to get just one!"

The man, panting, emphasized, "Take me away from here... and I'll give you the fruit! Otherwise..."

A ferocious look appeared on the man's face.

"I'd rather feed this stuff to these damn bastards! But I must warn you, this fruit only grows on the main trunk, that place..."

The man suddenly fell silent, his eyes widening as he stared behind Chalice.

Chalice also noticed something, turned his head and frowned as he looked over.

The blood-red thorns, almost completely obscuring the sky, resembled "walking" trees, swarming and rushing towards this direction...

"Ha...you can't leave either...damn it! I knew this mission wouldn't be easy..."

The man's face was ashen.

"We're doomed...we're all going to die here!"