Chapter 489: Chapter 239: Rotting Swamp Lurker, Frost Dragon’s Breath

"It’s just ahead."

Deke pointed ahead, his expression grave. "This is the most dangerous and critical part of the mission..."

Lin Mo gazed ahead. The land before them was an inky, jet-black.

In truth, ever since entering the Blackwater Swamp, the ground had been vastly different from the yellowish soil outside.

In the outer regions, it wasn’t as obvious—just normal soil tinged with a faint black. But as they ventured deeper, the ground beneath their feet had gradually shifted to a bleak, grayish-black.

And now, they faced a deep black that looked as if it had been painted with thick ink.

To step upon it was to feel a constant unease, as if one could plunge through at any moment. It felt less like treading on muddy earth and more like walking over an abyss.

This was precisely how the Blackwater Swamp got its name.

"Let’s go."

After a quick check to confirm the horses and carriages were in good condition, Deke spoke again. The convoy of carriages rolled onto the deep black earth.

All was silent. The sound of the moving carriages was exceptionally clear, and a heavy chill filled the air.

Off the path and a little further out, they could occasionally spot large patches of swampland. A thick miasma drifted over, carrying the stench of rotten eggs.

*POP...*

The sound of gas bubbles bursting was especially stark in the silence.

A miasma filled the air, and visibility grew steadily worse.

They couldn’t see clearly what lay a short distance ahead.

The oppressive atmosphere made everyone’s hearts pound. The newcomers who had never experienced anything like it—namely, Ali and Feney—were coiled tight with tension.

Ali was doing a little better. Feney, however, wasn’t very brave to begin with, and the situation left her breathing ragged, her mind on the verge of shutting down.

Shefilya stayed by her side. Although the young Maid had never been to the Blackwater Swamp, her mental fortitude was clearly far superior to Feney’s.

Her gaze was sharp as she carefully observed her surroundings.

’This place... it’s too strange...’

Lin Mo couldn’t help but frown, a long-forgotten tension coiling in his gut.

But this tension wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Humanity’s fight-or-flight response was born from the hunts and battles of ancient times.

While tension might throw one into disarray when rational thought is needed, in a dangerous situation like this, its effects were more likely to be beneficial.

One’s Perception, reflexes, and explosive power could all be enhanced under these circumstances.

"Everyone, remember to drink your Antitoxic Potions!"

Deke called out as a reminder.

’Leave it to a veteran Adventurer.’ Because of the environment, the thought hadn’t even crossed Lin Mo’s mind.

Deke had already distributed the Antitoxic Potions he’d brought, so Lin Mo took out a few bottles and passed them around.

The caravan members were also prepared, so there was no need to worry about them.

For the first ten minutes after entering the area, nothing happened.

According to the map, they had already covered more than a quarter of the distance.

But no one dared to relax. The place was simply too oppressive; it was impossible to let one’s guard down while inside.

"Watch the road ahead! If you spot anything that looks like a swamp, shout it out immediately!"

The caravan leader, Glen, also wore a grave expression. This was, after all, the most critical juncture.

The carriage wheels had sunk more than ten centimeters into the ground, significantly slowing the convoy’s pace. Fortunately, they had yet to encounter any Demons.

Because this small area was close to the Blackwater Swamp’s Core Area, some Demons from the intermediate zones actually dared not linger nearby. So, as long as they didn’t run into any particularly nasty creatures, their passage might even be smoother than the previous stretch.

Fifteen minutes...

They were about halfway through the dangerous stretch of road.

The prolonged tension and focus had left everyone at least somewhat fatigued, but no one dared to relax. They all remained vigilant, constantly watching their surroundings.

Twenty minutes.

With only the final third of the dangerous stretch remaining, everyone was starting to get excited. It seemed their luck was holding out; they hadn’t encountered any powerful Demons.

"Leader, look up ahead!"

Just then, however, a caravan member suddenly cried out, pointing at the ground before them.

Instantly, countless pairs of eyes followed the direction of his voice. On the pitch-black ground, there appeared to be signs of something... flowing.

"A swamp?"

Glen frowned.

The routes planned by Fajade City were supposed to be clear of swamps, but in a place like the Blackwater Swamp, the formation of a new swamp was an unpredictable and random occurrence.

If your luck was bad, you could indeed run into a newly formed swamp on the path.

If that were the case, then their luck was truly abysmal.

’Of all the times and places for this to happen, it had to be right here...’

Glen’s brow furrowed, and the convoy had no choice but to halt. He dismounted and approached the patch of flowing sludge.

It certainly looked like a swamp. It was about seventy or eighty meters wide in a half-arc, though its total length was difficult to determine.

That left them no choice but to detour. They would have to find a swamp-free path nearby, cross through it, and then get back on the main road.

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