Chapter 5 The Cooked Hachimga Egg

To be honest, Reef had never experienced anything so bizarre. After entering this world, even when conscious, he was inexplicably trapped!

If the purpose was to replenish the team, it should have been like when he met Fang Senyan in the Starship Troopers world. Everyone should have appeared together, then received a task requiring cooperation, forcing everyone to fight side-by-side in the face of danger, and cultivating the ultimate success through natural selection.

That's the normal team-building and growth model.

But the current situation was just plain strange. However, it was at least certain that the woman, Ilena, must have been a former team leader, which explained her bossy attitude earlier. Of course, based on her performance, she was undoubtedly not a good team leader – which was why she had failed and been thrown here to start over.

"Could it be that Space is only willing to give us two candidates? And we have to choose one from Franklin and Ilena?" Reef wondered.

Fang Senyan thought for a moment, then said with certainty:

"It won't be that outrageous. Judging by what you said, there's only one explanation: more than one team needs to replenish its ranks! The other team must be weaker than us, unable to compete with us fairly, so Space has undoubtedly given them some privileges, such as taking the initiative to rescue people, establishing prestige, building relationships, and thereby preferentially absorbing some members into their team, successfully seizing the initiative. We don't need to consider that for now; it doesn't pose a big threat to us. It's the other point that I haven't figured out yet."

Reef asked strangely:

"Which point?"

Fang Senyan frowned and said:

"Logically speaking, based on our experiences in the last world, we should be able to easily enter Rivendell, the elven city. But why did Space arrange an option that requires spending merit points to rescue Mafu Pombo right from the start? It's as if joining this Mr. Wright's caravan and entering Rivendell is essential for us. Conversely, if we don't choose it, we'll be at a disadvantage in the competition with the other teams?"

After listening to Fang Senyan's words, Reef said:

"Leaving aside other factors, just based on the matter at hand, if we reverse-engineer your theory, there's only one possibility: if we don't join Wright's caravan, we also won't be able to enter Rivendell!"

Fang Senyan narrowed his eyes and said:

"Yes, that's the only explanation. But if this explanation holds true, I can't figure out the reason behind it."

While the two were discussing, Mr. Wright was already looking at them and saying:

"You two can also follow my caravan to Rivendell. I wish you a pleasant journey ahead."

Then, this heroic man mounted a tall and magnificent black horse that someone led over, and raised his sword.

"Gentlemen! We are only forty-three miles away from home! The wealth of Rivendell is calling to us! I hope to see those magical ribbons that the elves have placed on the oak trees before the sun sets!"

All the caravan members raised their weapons high, cheered, and then began to return to the road and continue their journey.

At this time, Fang Senyan and Reef simultaneously received a series of prompts:

"Time: Third Age 3020 (1 year before the start of The Lord of the Rings)"

"Location: Misty Mountains, Middle-earth"

"Scenario: The Lord of the Rings."

"Difficulty: B+ (Dangerous)."

"Pain Reduction: 50%."

"Extra Personal Ability Enhancement: 0%."

"Current Scenario Exploration: 8.13%"

"Additional Notes: This scenario is a free scenario."

"You will automatically master the relevant language, allowing you to interact fluently with the characters in this world. This will be forgotten after leaving this world."

"Your appearance/identity has been processed and will automatically revert upon returning to the real world. You can also adjust your appearance settings in the Nightmare Space. If you have any questions, you can silently ask them in your mind through the Nightmare Mark, and you will receive an answer if your permissions are sufficient."

"Ace Squad, you have entered this world again and have gained a certain status and relationships. Therefore, the reputation, status, and positions you obtained before will be inherited. Please check the items you previously deposited in this world."

"Prompt: You have obtained an item of unknown properties, the Scorching Hachimga Egg."

"Prompt: You have obtained 3 platinum coins and seventeen copper." (Note: 1 platinum coin = 1000 silver coins)

"Prompt: Your relationships with important plot characters in this world are as follows: Dawn Elf, Wu Ge (in love), Saruman (hostile), Uruk-hai, Lurtz (sworn enemy)."

"Prompt: 'In love' is a special relationship, usually occurring between opposite sexes, but the possibility of it occurring between the same sex is not excluded. When relationship judgments are required, it has the same effect as 'worship'."

"Eh?" Fang Senyan asked strangely: "The Scorching Hachimga Egg? Why would this thing exist?"

Fang Senyan wasn't surprised by the platinum coins, as he had grabbed them from Saruman's wizard tower. But the Hachimga egg was very unexpected. Reef was also very surprised. At the time, the two had to split up, so he had taken all the Hachimga eggs with him. He didn't expect that Space would have intercepted one.

Fang Senyan hurriedly entered the team space to check and immediately understood why it had been intercepted.

Name: Scorching Hachimga Egg

Nature: Special Item

Reason for Formation: When the furious Balrog was injured, a drop of blood-soaked shards splashed into this poor Hachimga egg. Therefore, although nothing unusual can be seen from the outside, in fact, many wonderful changes have occurred after the Balrog's blood mixed into the Hachimga egg... Well, you wouldn't understand the following series of alchemical terms anyway, just understand that it's cooked through.

Consumption: Grants you immunity to water and fire damage for one hundred seconds. This effect does not apply to attacks from contractors.

Warning: If you dare to consume this item multiple times in a short period, then be prepared for your internal organs to be cooked through as well.

Description: This egg is very large and can be eaten at least ten times. Given its special nature, it cannot be taken out of this world.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Senyan and Reef continued to receive prompts:

"You have received the main quest: Choice."

"Completion Time Limit: Thirty days."

"Quest Introduction: The final battle between light and darkness is about to unfold. You must choose to support either the Middle-earth Alliance/Dark Lord!"

"Quest Objective: Obtain the corresponding qualification within thirty days and arrive at the Prancing Pony Inn in Bree/Gray Dwarf Settlement outside Angmar."

"Quest Hint: Each time you kill a plot creature belonging to the Middle-earth Alliance/Dark Lord at this time, or complete a related faction quest, you will gain a certain number of Destiny Points. When the number of Destiny Points accumulates to 1000 points, you will obtain the corresponding qualification."

"Main Quest Failure: You will be immediately teleported back to the Nightmare Space, and 50,000 Universal Points will be deducted."

"Hint: You can obtain the following milestones in this world (including this world and extended worlds)."

"Charming: Your relationship with all members of the Fellowship of the Ring has reached friendly."

"Scholar: You have read the three books, *On the Existence of Light Magic*, *Wrath of the Phantom*, and *The Origin of Plants*."

"Please explore and inquire for other milestones."

Looking at the relevant prompts for the main quest, Reef asked strangely:

"Why not just use reputation, but instead change it to this damn Destiny Point system?"

Fang Senyan said lightly:

"This is probably to put everyone on the same starting line. Moreover, in the plot, the White Wizard Saruman in The Lord of the Rings was also originally a pillar of the Middle-earth Alliance, but he fell because of Sauron. Therefore, neither the Middle-earth Alliance nor the Dark Lord trusts the past history, but directly needs to investigate the current performance. This reasoning also makes sense."

The caravan had already continued to move forward at this time. That contractor team had already begun to send out persuaders, trying to make contact with Franklin. Fang Senyan then thought of the celebration that Mr. Wright had mentioned, and he had a vague premonition in his heart.

He thought for a while and then strode towards the center of the caravan. However, at least fifty meters away from Mr. Wright, the sharp tip of a spear was pointed at Fang Senyan's throat.

In fact, the caravan still had considerable wariness towards these humans of unknown origin who had not offered proof of their loyalty.

"Stop, human, if you take another step forward, you will know how sharp Mr. Nedved's spearhead, which he sharpened all morning, is."

Fang Senyan spread his hands and said:

"I just want to ask Mr. Wright something."

"Go away." The one pointing the spear at Fang Senyan was a tall, thin man. "Mr. Wright is busy."

Fang Senyan still wanted to try to persuade him, but the two essential conditions for persuading someone are, first, charm, and second, strength. Unfortunately, Fang Senyan had neither at this time. So, five seconds later, not only had the number of spears pointing at him not decreased, but there were even more of them.

"Okay, I'll leave then." Fang Senyan shrugged helplessly. He suddenly saw the dwarf wearing heavy armor and carrying his huge war hammer looking over vigilantly. His heart suddenly stirred, and he thought of one of the dwarf's great loves, so he walked over to chat:

"Mr. Little Gimli?"