Chapter 11

A small hill jutting out blocked the way, and the "THE·CHE" didn't have enough power to climb the slope. Karl also signaled that they would enter the forest from now on, and the car couldn't possibly advance through the dense woods.

Zhao Mai parked the car at the edge of the forest. Ranger Karl dragged over some vines and shrub branches, casually covering the car. This was an inevitable situation; Zhao Mai knew he couldn't always stay in the safe car. He looked around; there was no danger of landslides, and the area was rarely visited. Parking the car here should be fine. So he opened the trunk and took out what he had been thinking about.

Every car carries a spare tire, which can be used in emergencies when a tire is damaged. As part of the car, he hoped this tire would also have the characteristic of being indestructible. Its size and shape were very suitable for use as a shield.

Whether it was Karl's dagger or the Chimera's claws, they left no marks when they struck the tire. Normal rubber tires couldn't do that, which confirmed Zhao Mai's idea. Zhao Mai was absolutely safe behind the tire.

A new problem arose: the spare tire was not light. It was possible to lift it with one hand, but holding it at chest height and using it for defense was a bit too much for Zhao Mai. There were also gaps in the center of the wheel, and if the enemy aimed at these gaps and shot arrows, the tire shield would be useless. However, he couldn't give up on it just because of these issues. Zhao Mai had very few things he could use.

Weak arm strength could be improved with practice, and the gaps could be covered. Indestructibility was rare. Moreover, the edges of the tire were elastic, which greatly helped in absorbing impact. So Zhao Mai borrowed Karl's rope and, gritting his teeth, carried the spare tire on his back. The other thing he had to bring was the "Cihai" (Comprehensive Dictionary). Zhao Mai still hadn't mastered the local language and didn't dare to relax at all.

Following this interdimensional traveler, the old ranger began the journey through the forest. He first had to go home to unload the things he bought from town and prepare for battle before heading to Viper Cliff Castle. Having lived in the forest for almost his entire life, he was well adapted to the terrain. Spreading tree roots and sprawling branches were no obstacle to him, and the green and gray moss, though slippery, did not slow him down at all.

Zhao Mai couldn't do that. He stumbled along the way. If he moved slowly, he wouldn't be so embarrassed, but to keep up with the ranger's speed, he had to pay a price. He was determined, gritting his teeth and not making a sound, striving to follow Karl's steps. Minor scratches were nothing; the hardships he endured now were the result of past lack of exercise, but they would also become the foundation for future agility.

Since falling was inevitable, he couldn't fall in vain. He wouldn't let tears blur his vision because he needed to observe Karl's movements. The ranger's closeness to the primitive natural world was reflected in two aspects. One was his familiarity with the geographical environment, where he could forage, survive, track, hide, and fight with great expertise. The other was his ability to move through the forest, navigating through natural thorns, shrubs, and slippery environments as if walking on flat ground.

Forest walking is a wilderness skill, meaningless in the city. Only those familiar with stones, tree bark, grass, and moss could master its essence. In Golarion, this skill was passed down orally among rangers and druids, rarely taught to outsiders.

But this definitely didn't include Zhao Mai. As a qualified otaku from a world of knowledge and information explosion, once he viewed forest walking as a form of light kung fu, the secrets it contained were easily deciphered. Whether it was the Lingbo Weibu, Shenxing Baibian, or Babu Gan Chan, their magical qualities were far superior to forest walking. All steps involved controlling the body, mastering speed, angle, center of gravity, posture, and the environment. Forest walking had unique aspects in posture and environmental control, so Zhao Mai paid special attention to how Karl handled similar situations.

What posture to use on a tilted moss-covered stone slab, which part of the foot to place on the still damp arched tree roots, and how to use the branches jutting out to stabilize the body. Not everything could be learned from books; the initial learning involved observing with the eyes and then imitating with the body. Forest walking was a complete set of techniques that couldn't be mastered in a short time. But even mastering some basics was enough to help Zhao Mai avoid more injuries.

Karl didn't think much about it; he was used to this pace in the jungle. Most of the time, he was alone, and he lacked the habit of taking care of others. After an hour in the dense forest, he realized there was someone else behind him, a completely unskilled interdimensional traveler.

Looking back, Zhao Mai was standing just over three meters behind him. Although his clothes were covered in scratches, dirt, and crushed plant juices, and his exposed skin had many bruises, Zhao Mai's face was filled with a happy smile, showing no resentment for the hardships he had endured.

Karl knew he had been wrong, so he changed his plan and decided to rest earlier than planned. The forest would get dark very quickly, with the dense foliage swallowing the beauty of dusk, leaving only a pitch-black night. The ranger himself didn't need any preparation; he could sleep happily on a branch. But he knew "Mike" couldn't, as the interdimensional traveler lacked the aura of the forest.

He signaled Zhao Mai to sit down, then squatted to examine the wounds. Small scratches and some bruises were nothing; they only required simple healing spells. He casually picked a blade of grass from the ground, rubbed it in his palm, and prayed to the natural forces for a moment. The grass turned into a paste-like substance, which, when applied to the wounds, immediately stopped the bleeding and promoted healing.

Zhao Mai's eyes widened; this was the first time he had seen magic. Although the teleportation spell cast by the angel was more advanced, only a spell cast by a human hand truly had meaning. If others could do it, he had no reason not to be able to. He would eventually learn magic.

Zhao Mai wasn't interested in world-destroying powers, as nothing could match "Dongfeng Xidi." What he was interested in was the ability to heal, a "Remove Disease" spell that could combat all natural and unnatural diseases. Although he didn't know how effective this spell would be for uremia, it was a way to deal with the problem. Even if it didn't work, before considering whether resurrection spells would be effective, a "Flesh Regeneration" spell could solve the problem.

The sticky grass paste covered the wounds, and a cool sensation seeped in, feeling very comfortable. The repeatedly torn wounds immediately stopped bleeding and began to scab over visibly. The surrounding redness quickly disappeared, and a slight tingling sensation from the healing process emerged.

This substance was stronger than white medicine, and there was no doubt about it. The spell was cast on the leg, but its effects covered the entire body. The wounds on Zhao Mai's arms also healed at the same speed, showing that the grass paste wasn't the key; the spell was.

In less than half a minute, Zhao Mai was completely healed. This might have been just the lowest-level spell, not a major one. Zhao Mai continuously checked his skin, which was already beginning to scab over. He now knew what kind of power he needed most.

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