As the group stepped on the other side of the portal, the Bloodlands stretched out before everyone.
The land was bleak and barren. The sky overhead was a dull purple, streaked with jagged forks of black lightning that never reached the ground. Everywhere they turned it was all doom and gloom.
The mountains in the distance jutted like skeletal fingers, their peaks clawing toward the broken sky. The trees, if they could even be called that, were twisted husks of blackened wood with crimson sap dripping down their bark like blood.
It was very different from the Earth Online’s light faction continent with its blue skies, flowing rivers and thriving forests. And it was nothing like Earth itself, no birdsong, no green. Only a suffocating stillness, broken by distant howls that rolled over the horizon like thunder. The only familiar thing was the sun.
As everyone stared at their new surroundings, the system chimed again.
[Ding! You have entered the Bloodlands.]
[Warning: This is a forbidden zone. All creatures here are hostile. Survival is not guaranteed.]
Damon’s crimson eyes gleamed as he surveyed the desolate beauty before him. Perfect. Anyone else might have found this place creepy and depressing, but for Damon, it was very refreshing.
He turned to look at the others, and by now their looks had changed as well. The initial shock was now replaced with awe and surprise. It looked like everyone else was enjoying the atmosphere too.
This was because they were currently standing on the continent meant for the dark faction. The dark elements were higher in concentration here when compared to the light elements, making it very pleasing for everyone who was dark attuned.
Despite the doom and gloom, it would only feel like a spa retreat.
Erin closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, her lips curving into a smile. "Mmm... intoxicating. The Bloodlands hum with power. This place welcomes us."
Kate shouted from the side in excitement. "Hey! Look! Look! We have actually landed on a freaking beach!"
Sure enough, the cracked soil beneath their feet gave way just a few paces ahead to a shoreline of black sand stretching as far as the eye could see. Waves the color of dark wine lapped against the shore, glowing faintly in the dull purple light of the sky.
Kate laughed, throwing her arms wide. "Wow, you are actually right. I didn’t think this place would be so awesome!" She started running to the beach, wanting to see how different the water here was. Everything around them was new and everyone wanted to explore it all.
Only Damon did not look that excited. He smiled bitterly with a warning. "Kate, if I were you, I wouldn’t go so close to the beach."
Kate blinked and turned around just in time to hear sharp clacking sounds. Crabs, dozens of them, were crawling out of the black surf as if they had sensed the presence of new prey. Their eyes glowed a hungry crimson, and their mandibles dripped with brine that hissed like acid where it struck the sand.
[Ding! Demonblood Crabas (Level 85).]
[Ding! Demonblood Crabas (Level 90).]
[Ding! Demonblood Crabas (Level 93).]
...
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