My different world is game mode.

"Vivian, you should go and rest."

In the pitch-black mine, the light of a torch is advancing steadily into the darkness.

There were two figures, one big and one small, in the light.

The one walking in front was naturally Lindsay, who was preparing to investigate the situation, and following next to him was Vivian, who still looked weak.

While Lindsay was arranging a temporary camp for the others, Vivian quickly came to her senses.

He had intended to let Vivian rest with the others.

Under the protection of dozens of mutant sheath knife worms, the safety here is beyond doubt.

But in this matter, Vivian showed extraordinary stubbornness.

That unwavering attitude even reminded Lindsay of her past self.

This is how he made his position clear in the Hidden Frontier, and then he was taken by An Rui to explore the Black Mountain world.

Now he is facing Vivian, whom he wants to train.

Lindsay was inexplicably touched and agreed to the request.

After all, with my current strength, I wouldn't lose an arm if I went exploring underground, right?

He wasn't going to give Vivian a straw hat.

In response to Lindsay's question, Vivian also spoke frankly about her thoughts:

"Mr. Lindsay, I think I should at least know what took those people's lives, and also understand who the enemy will be in the future!"

"..."

Responsibility for subordinates? Desire to protect?

Lindsay raised an eyebrow.

Vivian still shows a maturity that is not in line with her age.

For a child living in a wasteland, this is definitely a natural advantage, but Lindsay does not think it is good news for a child's growth.

For other children, it may not be possible to face their spiritual problems directly.

But Vivian... a sword is sharpened by grinding. Lindsay thought Vivian could do it, so she tried to talk to the little girl:

"I heard from Mir before."

"On your way to escape, a little boy mentioned his father."

"..."

Sure enough, Lindsay opened up.

Vivian fell silent and did not answer immediately as before.

Lindsay continued:

"Vivian, I don't know what you really think. But you haven't mentioned Mr. Yaloen since the attack on Camp Yalo. What do you really think about this matter?"

"..."

Vivian remained silent.

But Lindsay waited patiently for a few seconds, and then the little girl spoke:

"I, Mr. Lindsay, am incapable."

"This world is based on strength, but I'm not even an awakener."

"Of course I am worried about my father, but at a time like this, if I continue to act willfully, it will only cause trouble for others!"

"No...isn't it?"

Vivian is so mature that it even makes people feel a little distressed.

Lindsay's tone was also distressed:

"At your age, you should be willful."

Vivian lowered her head and said:

"But willfulness cannot change reality."

"What I learned from my childhood is to face problems with a practical attitude."

The girl suddenly looked up:

"Mr. Lindsay, do you think I have a chance to become an Awakener on the next Payday?"

"..."

Lindsay couldn't answer this question.

In his opinion, there is indeed a way to increase the probability of awakening.

That would require an ascender with a very high degree of source fusion to help an ordinary person adapt to the source for a long period of time, and would also require the assistance of some rare materials.

And after paying such a price.

What you get is just an increased probability of awakening, but it cannot achieve 100% success.

There was no way Lindsay could lie to a child.

But at this time, he looked at his bag again.

[Rare Object/Material: Seed of Origin]

[Special entities condensed from source matter, after ordinary people take them, they will increase the probability of becoming awakened; they can also be used as materials to make other props. 】

[Extremely rare magical items with high value. 】

Three of these things can be combined into a [Source Emblem].

According to Lindsay's understanding of the equipment system, this [Source Emblem], in addition to providing attribute bonuses, can most likely allow a person to become an awakener.

It’s a pity that this kind of thing is only produced by awakeners above the fifth stage, and the probability of it dropping is very small.

So far, Lindsay only has two.

in case……

"Master Lindsay, can I learn martial arts from you?"

At this time, Vivian suddenly spoke.

The girl recalled the story Lindsay once told her.

In the hidden border, the man who saved himself twice learned martial arts from that lord, and did not follow the path of the war school.

Lindsay was somewhat curious about Vivian's question:

"Vivian, don't you want to become an awakener?"

"Do you hope to follow the path of the war school in the future?"

"In fact, right now - ordinary combat capabilities, you can immediately acquire them by just going to our soldier training ground for some training!"

Vivian shook her head:

"I learn martial arts not to kill people, nor to become a high and mighty awakened one. I just... I just want to have the power to protect. Even if this power is very weak, I want to have it myself."

"..."

Vivian's maturity left Lindsay speechless.

He recalled the past scenes, and some words came out naturally:

"Kid, have you ever learned combat skills before?"

Vivian answered honestly:

"My father taught me some simple swordsmanship."

"But at that time, I felt that I might not be able to become an awakened one, so I didn't study seriously."

Lindsay continued to ask:

"What do you want to learn now?"

Vivian replied without hesitation:

"Sword! I want to learn how to hold a sword!"

Lindsay nodded seriously and made a promise:

"No problem, I'll teach you."

"..."

In the darkness, two figures, one big and one small, continued to go deeper into the mine.

The monster that had been driven away earlier seemed to have completely given up the fight.

Lindsay and his companions did not encounter any attacks on the way, and they stopped only when they reached the bottom of the broken mine tunnel.

"Vivian, did they come out from here before?"

The girl nodded seriously:

"Yes, this is it."

"Before the earthquake, there was no such crack!"

Vivian thought they were going to continue going deeper underground.

But at this moment, Lindsay did not continue to move forward. Instead, he stopped where he was and said in a teaching tone:

"Vivian, have you noticed anything strange?"

Vivian looked confused:

"Something strange? What?"

Lindsay said:

"The purpose of their attack."

Vivian was even more puzzled:

"Isn't it hunting to get food?"

Lindsay shook her head:

"But what about the body, or the blood?"

"As for the people you lost, or those who originally lived in the mine, we didn't see any broken limbs or even blood along the way."

"..."

Vivian was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head in shame.

This was indeed something she had not considered before.

Lindsay continued to confirm:

"Vivian, have you seen them eating people?"

Vivian thought carefully.

Lindsay's question was also a point that she had overlooked before.

Thinking back carefully at this moment, in all the tense and fierce crises, and even several times when she faced them directly, she had indeed never seen these monsters devour any humans.

"No, I haven't seen it!"

Hearing this, Lindsay opened the map.

The strategic map can describe the trajectory of his subordinates' activities to a certain extent.

And in the mine tunnels before us, there are routes that have been explored one after another, leading directly to four or five kilometers underground before finally disappearing!

“At this point, the marks have gradually disappeared.”

"Is that their lair? They drag their prey there and kill them. Or is there another answer?"

"Corruptor, poison of corruption, deformed flesh and blood..."

Lindsay sighed softly.

Then he held up the torch and took the lead in stepping into the darkness deep in the mine.