I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 53

The Druid’s Spine wasn’t just numerous.

It was also especially useful, particularly on the first layer of the Abyss.

The power to transform into creatures and control them remained effective even on deeper layers.

Survival, combat, exploration…

Any ability you could imagine, the Druid’s Spine could realize.

And as you used the relic more, your skill with its powers would only grow.

Plus, the Druid’s Spine’s cost was one-time-pay once, use forever, with no real side effects.

For new hunters just arriving at the first layer of the Abyss, it was incredibly beginner-friendly.

It was practically the starter gear for Abyss exploration.

Even now, some lucky hunters would find a Druid’s Spine as soon as they arrived on the first layer.

So the relic’s reputation was overwhelmingly positive, and there were plenty of news articles touting its benefits.

After reading the data, Li Luo casually picked up a spine from the ground.

These Druid’s Spines really did look identical, no different from ordinary animal bones by the roadside.

“No wonder people end up buying fakes.”

Staring at the dense pile of spines in the nest, Mo Ling was puzzled.

Were all of these Druid’s Spines?

Why were there so many here, and how were they formed?

Mo Ling compared the spine he got from the Transforming Tree Tribe to these Druid’s Spines-they really were the same type.

The image of the Transforming Tree Tribe’s jelly-like body floated through Mo Ling’s mind.

“Was that chieftain planning to use this relic? But how would he pay the cost?”

Mo Ling was completely confused.

But one thing was clear: the chieftain definitely knew what the Druid’s Spine did, and had been eager to try it, but the arrival of the cube made him give up.

Now, the spines covering the ground drew everyone’s attention.

Some soldiers couldn’t help but start picking them up.

Captain Su quickly stopped them.

“When I saw Prophet Baixiang before, I thought the ability felt familiar-I didn’t expect it to be the Druid’s Spine,” Captain Su said with emotion.

“Transformation ability?” Li Luo asked.

“Yes, the ability to become a creature. Of course, Prophet Baixiang’s use is much more terrifying,” Captain Su explained. “I’ve seen lots of Druid’s Spine users, but they can only turn into simple animals.”

Captain Su paused, then asked his deputy, “Who did we send our outpost’s information to at the monitoring station?”

The deputy thought for a moment and answered, “Directly to Station Head Liang’s office.”

“Liang Zhi?”

“Yes.”

“Did we try any other channels, send it to anyone else?” Captain Su pressed.

“No, only to Station Head Liang’s office. That’s the monitoring station’s rule.”

Captain Su clapped his hands, suspicion in his voice. “If our communications and lines are fine, is it possible the problem’s on the monitoring station’s end?”

The deputy didn’t dare answer. The surrounding soldiers glanced at each other.

After a moment, the deputy stammered, “Captain, are you suspecting Station Head Liang?”

Captain Su was silent for a moment, then explained, “The most famous Druid’s Spine user I know is just one person.”

“Sage of the Forest, Liang Zhi!”

The deputy was surprised. “You can’t suspect him just because he uses the Druid’s Spine, right? That could be a coincidence.”

Captain Su patted his shoulder, speaking seriously,

“In the Abyss, there are no coincidences.”

“Besides him, can you think of anyone else who’d hide information?”

The deputy was speechless.

Just then, a soldier stepped forward and calmly said, “No need to guess. It’s me.”

The soldier’s face twisted, and his appearance changed completely.

It was Station Head Liang!

Everyone was stunned and quickly surrounded him, watching warily.

Station Head Liang was unhurried. He took out his nameplate and showed it to everyone, proving his identity.

“No need to be nervous.” He waved his hand.

“The Druid’s Spine is a simple trick. Humans count as creatures too, so I can transform,” Station Head Liang said, pointing to his back.

But everyone just stared at him coldly.

Captain Su demanded, “What are you trying to do?”

“I want to find it,” Station Head Liang said calmly, pointing at the strange egg atop the pile of spines.

“That has nothing to do with you hiding among us,” Captain Su pointed out sharply.

Station Head Liang shook his head and explained, “If I’d told you directly, asked you to bring a team to look for something that might not exist-and might even be a suicide mission-would you have agreed?”

After hearing his explanation, no one said a word.

It was clear they’d been used, and no one was a fool.

“Why did you hide the riot in the containment zone?” Captain Su demanded.

“The riot was part of the plan. Only that way could I pinpoint its location,” Station Head Liang explained.

“You caused the riot?” Captain Su asked in disbelief.

“That’s right,” Station Head Liang admitted. “The Red Rope Worm too-it was all to find this thing.”

He turned, gazing longingly at the strange egg above the spine nest.

At his indifferent words, the soldiers couldn’t take it anymore. One rushed up, grabbed his collar.

“Do you know how many of us died?” the soldier shouted, full of anger.

“That’s the price,” Station Head Liang replied calmly. “Exploring the Abyss always has a price. You’ve been here long enough to know that.”

The soldier, even angrier, raised his fist to punch, but ultimately held back.

Now, all the soldiers stared at him with fury.

“Let him go,” Captain Su said coldly. “You’d better explain yourself, or I won’t let you off.”

The soldier threw Station Head Liang down hard.

He straightened his collar and began to explain what he’d really been doing all this time.

But his very first sentence stunned everyone:

“This starts from when I first came to this world.”

……

Station Head Liang wasn’t from this world.

He came from the other side of the Great Hollow Tree, from another world’s “Liang Zhi.”

Or rather, the Theseus Cell life version of “Liang Zhi.”

At the time, he was just a Level 1 Hunter with no relics, newly arrived in the Abyss.

His first mission was a simple one at the top of the mission board-collecting soil samples.

But by sheer coincidence, he stumbled into the never-before-seen “containment zone.”

In the other world, the “containment zone” was actually the area where normal cell life lived.

When he dug up deep soil as required, he found a small insect crushed by his shovel, oozing a dark green liquid that didn’t change color for a long time.

Liang Zhi was shocked.

This was a new kind of life!