The two fled backward, the detonation behind them growing ever more furious—as though threatening to pierce the heavens. Though concealed behind a massive tree hundreds of meters away, Eric's heart quailed with unease; what on earth had transpired?
The dinosaurs' anguished roars cut through the night and blaze, searing Eric's ears.
"The explosions seem centered within the herd itself—someone is laying siege to the dinosaurs," the ponytailed player called out loudly.
After a time, the chaos subsided, leaving the air thick with the acrid stench of gunpowder and smoke. Eric inquired, "I want to inspect the site—what do you think?"
"Let's go together," came the resolute reply.
The wind, tinged with heat and the pungent odors of smoke and scorched earth, assailed their senses. Eric muffled her mouth and nose with her sleeve, moderating her breath even as her steps remained purposeful.
Soon they returned to their previous rest spot. Pushing forward about two hundred meters, they reached the blast zone—utterly obliterated, strewn with fractured tree trunks and scattered dinosaur remains.
"The aroma! Who would have thought roasted dinosaur meat smells so delectable," the ponytailed player whispered, swallowing hard. Having subsisted these past days on wild fruits and leaves, she dared not hunt. Tracking and evading dinosaurs was arduous enough; even snatching a mere berry made her wary. Now, confronted with the tantalizing scent of roasted flesh, her resolve wavered as she ripped off a chunk and consumed it.
Eric felt her saliva quicken at the scent, deciding she must seize an opportunity to stock some dinosaur meat into her supermarket stash.
The meat proved tough, its flavor tinged with an indescribable bitterness. Yet, to replenish energy, she swallowed the morsel nonetheless.
Chewing thoughtfully, Eric surveyed the blast site. The ground radiated intense heat—growing hotter closer to the crater—unsettling her deeply. No intact dinosaur carcasses lay about; here a disembodied massive head, there a severed limb, amid countless fragments of flesh unrecognizable in placement. It seemed as if explosives had detonated within the creatures' abdomens, for their demise was so catastrophically fragmented.
Standing amid this grisly mosaic, Eric's heart grew heavy. Who had committed this atrocity? What was the purpose?
The ponytailed player joined her, her smile fading to concern. Her theory mirrored Eric's somber musings.
"Whoever did this, what are their motives—and what is our role as players in this ordeal?"
"We should leave; the stench is overwhelming, and others may be drawn here soon," Eric advised.
Together they withdrew to a safer distance to observe.
As forecast, within minutes the earth trembled anew, heralding the arrival of another dinosaur cohort. They headed straight for the blast site, feasted upon their fallen kin's remains, then departed. Eric and her companion trailed the fresh target, only to witness a similar sudden, gruesome internal explosion by dusk—no survivors remained.
"Who do you think could plant explosives inside dinosaurs?" Eric whispered.
The ponytailed player exhaled deeply. "Certainly no mere amateur. Perhaps the key to the halo lies in the hands of those laying these bombs. I detest such dimensions—the heavier the NPC involvement, the harsher the challenge. I'd prefer simple predator pursuits over dealing with ruthless NPCs. Fleeing dinosaurs gives you a fighting chance; NPC machinations are a death sentence without even knowing why."
Eric concurred with a heavy heart. Her own bodily mutations were scars from the previous mission. That dimension's broadcast callously dismissed human lives, toying with and manipulating them—a pervasive despair she feared might haunt her indefinitely.
Alas, no clues emerged, forcing retreat once more to await another dinosaur wave.
This time, however, no foraging creatures appeared, signaling a loss of direction.
"I'll try climbing a tree," Eric declared.
Though unskilled, her mutation instilled an almost instinctual affinity for climbing. Initial hesitant attempts gave way swiftly to a deft ascent of several meters.
"Be careful," the ponytailed player urged anxiously, eyes fixed on Eric's silhouette weaving through the dense foliage until it vanished entirely.
Eric grew ever more adept and swift, soon reaching the summit. Cautiously stepping upon the treetop, she scanned the tranquil expanse below. No signs of dinosaur activity surfaced. Unyielding, she watched long and patiently until finally witnessing the telltale collapse of trees northwestward.
"Head northwest," Eric called as she swiftly descended to inform the ponytailed player. Renewed, they journeyed forth.
An hour later, fresh dinosaur droppings guided them to a watering hole where a herd drank.
The gentle babble of water tempted even the ponytailed player's parched lips.
Eric intended to collect water stealthily. Concealed behind a large boulder downstream, they sipped cautiously. Seizing the moment, Eric discreetly filled empty containers from the supermarket mod without alerting her companion.
"Roar!"
Sudden splashes doused Eric from head to toe. Peering forth, she saw a dinosaur plunging into the river, followed by a succession of others. The river spanned over ten meters in width, its depth unknown. Their movements churned the water into tumultuous waves, causing the current to surge wildly, submerging even the largest stones.
Eric and the ponytailed player retreated steadily. Observing closely, Eric discerned the dinosaurs bore no intent to frolic; they were crossing the river. The water reached only their bellies as these colossal beasts effortlessly strode across the expansive stream.
The spectacle was awe-inspiring, leaving both speechless. Only when the last silhouette vanished into the distance did Eric exhale sharply and urge, "Can you swim? Let's hurry—there's no danger in the water now."
The ponytail caught on swiftly: the dinosaurs' recent crossing must have driven away lurking aquatic threats, clearing the passage for their own fleeting use.
"Let's go!"
Leading the way, Eric plunged in. The waves stirred by the herd resisted her strokes, yet as the dinosaurs fully emerged and the river calmed, she and her companion swam with accelerating pace, closing the dozen-meter span with remarkable speed and reaching the far bank safely.
"They've moved on; this should be the direction," the ponytailed player declared, circling the area to trace the dinosaur trail.
Eric spotted a fractured log and lifted it questioningly. "Does this resemble the chair we saw earlier?"
The ponytail inspected it, nodding. "Yes, it's part of the chair's backrest! But that suggests there's more than one such box." Her gaze then flickered toward Eric's back, where the box remained strapped.
"Indeed," Eric replied, setting down the timber, a tense atmosphere settling between them. Meeting ponytail's eyes, she proposed, "Let's find another box, so we each carry one."
The ponytail glanced away briefly. "Sounds good."
Following the tracks, they trailed the herd once more, only to witness a devastating explosion unfold again beneath their watchful eyes. The familiar acrid blend of gunpowder and roasted flesh filled the air.
"Do you think someone is actively suppressing these dinosaurs?" queried the ponytail.
Eric harbored a darker suspicion. "Or perhaps someone is trying to stop us."
The ponytail shuddered. "Prevent us? From finding clues, uncovering the halo? That's absurd—we're simply here to complete a mission."
That, however, was merely Eric's conjecture; their only recourse was patience.
But thereafter, the dinosaur herds vanished completely—their imposing presence and menace suddenly absent. Occasionally, distant calls echoed faintly, but too remote to pinpoint.
Night fell, and Eric heard two more prolonged explosions, each lasting over ten minutes. Undoubtedly, yet another mass of dinosaurs perished.
This dimension's atmosphere reeked of uncanny malevolence. Initially presumed a frantic flight from predatory dinosaurs, Eric realized that as long as she remained out of their sight, the animals—preoccupied with their pilgrimage—had no impetus to pursue her.
At dawn, Eric and the ponytail pressed onward, bereft of the dinosaur trail for guidance. A whole day's march yielded no leads—only three sites scorched and littered with carcasses grown cold.
"I wonder where the other two players are," Eric sighed. "If they've found any clues."
The ponytail remarked, "I spotted the bald player inside. He's neighbors with a friend of mine at the hotel. Rumor is, he's formidable—doing dozens of tasks daily. Maybe he's already found a way out."
Eric recalled the bald player vaguely; judging by his bearing, he was indeed a seasoned veteran.
Far away, the bald player perched atop a dinosaur. The chair was crudely fashioned from rough timber, jarring with every gallop and abrasive against the skin, yet he clung tightly.
"The view up here is incomparable," he mused.
The dinosaur moved far swifter than any man, sparing him the burden upon his own poor legs. Scanning around, he noted the other dinosaurs paid no heed to him seated above—a sanctuary of safety.
These beasts seemed intent on returning home. Surely the halo lay within their nest; he would await triumph perched upon his mount.
Idle, he wielded a makeshift wooden knife, attempting to sever the thick ropes securing the box to the chair. Alas, the cords were too stout and tightly knotted, likely interwoven with fine wire.
"Damn it! Who's rigged these ropes? No blade could cut through!"
Suddenly, the dinosaur trembled violently beneath him. A muffled thud resounded as the creature wailed in agony, staggering and collapsing. The bald player was thrown to the ground but scrambled up swiftly.
Above, a screen affixed to the chair's backrest flickered ominously, displaying a red twenty-minute countdown.
"What the hell? I already disarmed the bomb—why's it still active?" he gasped, dread flooding him as other dinosaurs pivoted to gaze intently.
His hair bristled with terror.
No—they weren't looking at him—they were focusing on the stricken dinosaur!
"Roar!"
The herd charged fiercely in his direction. Panicked, he scrambled away, tumbling and darting clear of the lethal zone.