As they spoke, the skin doll thought of a way.
Pulling Zhang Wei back the way they came.
Not long after.
The two returned, but this time in heavy armor and with broadswords, their footsteps dragging on the ground, leaving deep tracks.
"Let's approach slowly..."
"Exactly, be steady."
Though they said so.
As soon as they neared the pool, they leaped, their broadswords flashing cold light, aimed straight at the strawberry roots!
This heavy armor and slow gait were all a disguise!
"Hahaha, the strawberries are ours!"
"Take this!"
Just as the blades were about to strike, the plant burst from the soil and retreated at lightning speed!
"What the heck?"
"A running tree?"
Then!
Countless stalagmites erupted from both sides of the island, then, cloaked in earth, they arched and closed together!
Trapping Zhang Wei and the other firmly inside!
The island vanished.
In its place rose a colossal four-clawed fish monster, its terrifying maw swallowing the entire island in one gulp.
And that strawberry, along with its root...
Grew from the top of the fish monster's head!
An Anglerfish!
Also known as a lanternfish, this creature originally inhabited the deep sea. In the pitch-black depths, anglerfish grow a lure from their heads, the tip of which emits a faint light, using phototaxis to hunt.
According to clues from ancient dried fish, this area was likely a sea in ancient times, so the appearance of such a deep-sea fish is plausible.
In this damp and dark cave, it evolved and reproduced, eventually transforming into this salamander-like state. This one was perhaps luckier, having its own independent pool.
It could be considered among its kind to have achieved a moderately prosperous life earliest.
*Pah pah pah pah~*
Applause echoed from afar.
Zhang Wei walked out with admiration: "Not bad, not bad, I never imagined your lure could be so realistic, you even fooled me!"
The skin doll, however, looked pained, rubbing its arm. "This guy bit off the nerve connection in one go. That limb is probably lost."
It wasn't just a pang of regret, it was real pain!
The part eaten by the anglerfish was materialized by the skin doll's own flesh and blood, while Zhang Wei had provided the equipment.
The purpose was to test the danger of this place.
To maintain enough strength so as not to reveal the deception, the two simulacra were separated from extremely high-strength muscle tissue. With this bite, the skin doll's power would be permanently reduced by ten percent!
If it had been more severe, a regression in rank would have been possible!
This round was like... cutting flesh to feed a hawk, throwing a meat bun at a dog!
"Chef, don't let this stinky fish get away!"
"Don't worry!"
Zhang Wei approached!
The system prompt immediately appeared!
[Discoverable Ingredients: Strawberry Anglerfish]
[Capture Level: 63]
[Type: Amphibious Fish]
[Description: A cunning fish that transforms a part of itself into bait to set ambushes, possessing meticulous skill in camouflaging its surroundings. It can store a large amount of water internally, allowing it to survive dry seasons.
Its flesh is plump and juicy, tender and delicious, with a texture similar to conch meat. It is an excellent choice for sashimi, steaming, or stir-frying.
Furthermore, the lure on its head is made of muscle tissue and is not real, but it is also the most delicious part of the anglerfish.]
The description did not reveal any combat information about the Strawberry Anglerfish; its fighting style remained a mystery to Zhang Wei.
Let's test it first!
"Spiral Fist Energy!"
"Twenty percent strength!"
For Zhang Wei at this moment, a level 63 beast was no match for twenty percent of his strength.
Facing the giant drill, the anglerfish opened its mouth and spewed a torrent of water and wind!
But it was too soft for Zhang Wei's drill!
The drill passed through the Strawberry Anglerfish's body without obstruction, shredding half of its body, sending flesh and green blood flying…
Zhang Wei was furious!
"This... is so useless!"
"Used too much force. Such a rare species, its quality ruined like this!"
Pain!
So painful!
My fish! My love…
This must have been delicious. Thousands of pounds of high-quality fish meat lost inexplicably!
Just then!
The Strawberry Anglerfish flipped over and came back to life.
Mucus surged from its wounds, instantly healing them and rapidly regenerating tissue!
However, after regeneration, the entire fish looked thinner.
"Amazing!"
"It's not dead!"
"An opponent with strong regeneration!"
Zhang Wei no longer dared to be careless with his attacks.
If he wore it down, there wouldn't be much fish oil left, and the meat would become dry and tough, making it less delicious!
"Lightning Release: Thousand Birds Flow!"
The water in the pool, muddied by the Strawberry Anglerfish, became the perfect conductor.
The electric net precisely ensnared the Strawberry Anglerfish. Immediately, the pool erupted in a blinding flash of sparks and a plume of dark smoke.
*Zzzzzzz~*
*Zzzzzzz~*
*Zzzzzzz~*
"Actually, electrofishing is illegal."
Zhang Wei walked forward and stepped directly onto the fish's body.
"Good, not dead yet. We'll fatten it up before killing it."
As for the minor electric burns on its body, they would likely heal instantly if it had enough food.
The fish had lost consciousness and was no longer resistant. Zhang Wei successfully stored it in his right side palace, to be dealt with later.
Zhang Wei clapped his hands: "Good harvest. This guy should be very delicious. Let's go, we still have a lot to do!"
The skin doll sniffed the air and said, "But... I can still smell food here... very... unique!"
"Food?"
"Yes, definitely. My sense of smell is very keen!"
Zhang Wei pondered: "Could it be that this fish, like the guardians of the poisonous caves, were placed here by some powerful beings to guard the ingredients?"
"The fish is just a smokescreen, and the real delicacies are hidden deeper within?"
Not impossible!
But this was the end of the cave. Where were the ingredients hidden?
Zhang Wei's sense of smell was lost, so he could only rely on the skin doll.
The skin doll concentrated for a moment, then pointed to a large hole in the wall. "It's coming from there!"
"Inside the hole?"
That hole hadn't been there before. Zhang Wei's Spiral Fist Energy had passed through the Strawberry Anglerfish and its residual force had struck the wall.
However, because Zhang Wei's Spiral Fist Energy was adept at digging, even its residual force penetrated deeply.
The two acted immediately!
After only a few dozen steps, they arrived in another space, separated from the fish monster by just a wall!
"This wall was added later, only seven or eight meters thick, to conceal the real prize!"
And in this small chamber.
A fruit tree stood alone.
The skin doll said cautiously, "Is it dangerous? Will it be a trap within a trap?"
"Probably not this time!"
Zhang Wei stepped forward and stroked the trunk of the fruit tree. "We've really found something incredible."
The system's prompt had arrived; this time, they had truly encountered something extraordinary!