Wasteland Development Diary

Regarding the ragged, red-scarfed skeleton, the Kestrel said, "This physiological characteristic indicates a Bone Man."

"It seems a Bone Man was born in the Mushroom Forest."

Zhou Yi knew about Bone Fish but had never encountered the Bone Man species.

The drone explained, "Bone Men and Bone Fish belong to two different branches of the Bone class, like how we Mecha-life forms have flight and agricultural types."

"Compared to the vast number of Bone Fish, Bone Men are much fewer. Their most significant feature is their considerable intelligence. Some even believe Bone Men are enhanced humans with greater adaptability and survivability."

"Currently, Mecha-scientists believe Bone Men can be seen as an altered branch of humanity after exposure to Death Light. The flesh structure is stripped away, retaining a simpler, more modifiable bone structure, though the detailed conversion mechanism remains unclear."

The Kestrel said, "Bone Men are also social creatures. They originate from Death Light but don't settle in the Dead Sea. Instead, they survive on land or coasts with weaker Death Light exposure."

"The Dead Sea is full of Photon-Na creatures, including powerful beings. The surface is much safer, giving Bone Men an advantage on land."

Zhou Yi was more concerned about, "Sounds like Bone Men can communicate?"

"Of course."

A synthesized voice sounded from the remote control: "Whether in Mecha-cities or human cities, larger places are never without Bone Men. They also have their own cities and settlements."

"Generally, Bone Men remain low-profile and hidden when traveling. Without enhancements, their body strength is even less than ordinary people, but their advantage is the ability to safely move in the Dead Sea, excelling at using their minds and technology to enhance their group's competitiveness."

According to the Kestrel's high-altitude observations, the Bone Man inside the giant was relatively weak, his body even inferior to the surrounding Black Hand Mushrooms.

But the Black Hand Mushrooms were protecting him.

Zhou Yi looked at the screen on the remote control.

In the overhead view, thoughts appeared above the Bone Man's head.

——The alien problem remains unresolved.

——The number of Exploding Mushrooms is decreasing. Continuing to feed them will only last two more days. These two days are our last deadline. We must find a long-term way to control the alien within this time. Otherwise, building a mobile castle with it as a framework will be impossible.

——Is there not enough energy? The biggest problem is the inability to communicate… Can we only guide it to walk in a specific direction?

——No. There must be a way.

——Unfortunately, those arrogant enhancers are impossible to talk to. They only want to simply and violently move the alien away. Otherwise, we might get some clues from them… If it really doesn't work, we can only evacuate and abandon the alien. We must ensure the safety of the Black Hand Mushrooms and prevent them from being taken into the Dead Sea.

……

The foreign Mushroom King was calm and rational, already prepared for the worst.

Most importantly, the Bone Man showed a willingness to cooperate with the outside world.

It was worth a try.

After Zhou Yi announced his decision, the Kestrel, Nightclaw, and Agricultural Machine Brothers all strongly objected.

The Kestrel's attitude was the most direct: "If you want to seize this Dead Sea alien, you can directly attack with the Samurai Crab Legion. I can lock onto the Bone Man's position. As long as the Black Samurai break through the defenses and kill or capture him, the goal can be achieved."

Nightclaw also echoed, "Yes, yes, Master, you don't need to put yourself at risk at all. Those mushrooms might have set up some ambush inside the alien, and if the giant goes berserk, it will be unpredictable."

Iron Horse also thought it wasn't a good idea: "Brother, I admire your courage, but it's too dangerous. Those enhancers seemed to be controlling things, awakening the alien, but they were actually being played by the Bone Man, working for him. That guy isn't as simple and straightforward as us brothers. He might have some dangerous methods, it's not worth it."

Zhou Yi overruled the objections.

The Black Hand Mushroom group led by the Bone Man could evacuate at any time. Once they left, without the Exploding Mushroom to feed and replenish energy, the giant might lose control and become active.

That would be the most dangerous moment for the giant.

If he could negotiate cooperation with the Bone Man now, it would be an attempt made under the premise that they were stabilizing the giant, no matter what. Winning would be a huge profit, losing wouldn't be a loss.

More importantly, the Mushroom Forest has existed longer than Mao Valley Town. The Black Hand Mushroom group is the old native and local power here.

Since they have a wise leader, Zhou Yi also wanted to contact him.

Besides, the Mushroom Forest is next to the company's farmland. Dealing with this neighbor in the future is inevitable.

Zhou Yi first tested the area around the Mushroom Forest.

After he stopped breathing, the toxins that could cause coma here had no effect on him.

Confirming his guess.

Strictly speaking, Zhou Yi is now just a humanoid creature. The essence of his body is a White Suanni, closer to Dead Sea aliens like the High-rise Giant. Toxins cannot enter the body in large quantities, so they won't affect him. This is based on past experience.

At Iron Horse's request, Copper Bull carried Zhou Yi all the way into the Mushroom Forest.

Mecha-life forms are also unaffected by the toxic fog here.

Although Copper Bull still didn't say a word to Zhou Yi, its two large-caliber machine guns were a kind of deterrent to the Mushroom Forest side.

Nightclaw ran in first and made contact with the Black Hand Mushrooms inside.

Soon, two people came over. They wore brown wide-brimmed round hats and clothes. They were only about 1.3 meters tall, like the size of ten-year-old children.

Zhou Yi saw the Black Hand Mushrooms up close for the first time.

The eyes, mouths, and noses of these mushroom people looked like they were painted on, reminding Zhou Yi of the makeup of his era. They looked quite lifelike. But because they weren't real eyes and mouths, their faces only twitched a little when they spoke, making them feel stiff.

"Powerful guest from afar, the Lord invites you to enter the alien's body to discuss."

The Black Hand Mushrooms spoke as if they had cotton in their mouths, their pronunciation was a bit sticky and blurry, but understandable.

They led the way, walking a bit wobbly, as if they were drunk.

Zhou Yi got out of the car, told Nightclaw to wait in place, and followed the mushroom people in alone.

Passing by tall, straight Giant Mushrooms, he got closer and closer to the dilapidated high-rise building.

Suddenly, the two Black Hand Mushrooms stopped.

Zhou Yi also stopped.

After standing there for five or six minutes, the Black Hand Mushrooms continued to move forward.

Zhou Yi also followed.

One of them then said, "A wild Exploding Mushroom was found ahead. Our people are moving it to avoid it exploding when passing by, so we were delayed a bit."

Zhou Yi nodded: "Thank you for your trouble."

The two Black Hand Mushrooms continued to walk wobbling.

Soon, the front suddenly opened up.

The ground around the Dead Sea alien was a mess, with collapsed and broken Giant Mushrooms everywhere. There was a huge irregular pit left on the ground, presumably caused by it crawling out of the ground.

Rusty steel bars extended from the base of the dilapidated building, intertwining and extending in all directions like the roots of a giant tree made of reinforced concrete.

The entrance was a unit building lobby, but the door was gone, leaving only a square hole. Many of the beige exterior wall tiles had fallen off, but the energy-saving lights at the top were still on, just flickering constantly.

There were two Black Hand Mushrooms holding crossbows at the door.

Zhou Yi followed the mushroom people all the way in. As footsteps sounded, the hallway lights actually still lit up.

The two Black Hand Mushrooms went in and climbed the stairs silently, saying that the Lord was waiting on the roof.

Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask: "Why not take the elevator?"

"Elevator? What's that?"

"It's this."

Zhou Yi pressed the elevator button, and a red downward sign appeared on it, followed by the heavy sound of the elevator descending.

The two Black Hand Mushrooms were shocked and immediately pulled out the small knives from their waists and gestured at him from a distance.

"What are you doing! Don't touch it! Do you want to kill us all!"

"What magic did you use! What do you want to do by awakening the giant's intestines?!"

Zhou Yi spread his hands helplessly: "Listen to my explanation..."

It wasn't until he took the initiative to enter the elevator, explained for a long time, and repeatedly tested it with stones and himself, that the two Black Hand Mushrooms believed that this giant intestine could be used to move up and down.

"It's amazing."

"This is indeed much more convenient... The giant's intestines are really good things!"

Zhou Yi taught them how to use it.

The two Black Hand Mushrooms were excited to master a new skill and began to press each button, stopping on each floor. Then they ran out to verify if the floor had changed, enjoying themselves.

This gave Zhou Yi time.

He put his hand on the inner wall of the elevator and tried to output his energy.

-

10-

10

……

Energy continued to enter the elevator from his body and then was absorbed.

On the wall were the community property service phone number, the hallway manager's WeChat QR code, and the name of the building.

This place was called Emerald City.

Zhou Yi looked at the wall and said silently in his heart: "Emerald City, can you hear me?"

A slightly blurred voice sounded in his mind a few seconds later.

"Are you my owner?"

Zhou Yi's eyes lit up.

This was the real purpose of his coming alone.

As long as energy is input into the Photon-Na body, it can be tuned to communicate.

It also works on Dead Sea aliens!