Apocalypse Arrives: I Become a Powerhouse by Scavenging
Chapter 30: Mocha Forest 1

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Mocha Forest 1

Besides that, a primeval forest meant there would be lots of insects, especially since this was an alien one.

To keep poisonous, blood-sucking insects from crawling into her clothes unnoticed, she taped up the gaps at her wrists and ankles.

Once she was done, the system’s familiar notification tone sounded in her ear.

[Greetings, players. The third round of the game is about to begin. Please prepare yourselves.]

[3, 2, 1]

As the countdown ended, Moira Lynch’s vision went black. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a dense forest where the canopy blotted out the sky.

Compared to the sweltering heat of Caelus, the temperature here was quite pleasant. Moira Lynch couldn’t help but let out a comfortable sigh.

’This feeling of being out of the blazing sun is amazing. If I could, I wouldn’t even want to move!’

Looking around, she saw that she was surrounded by towering, colossal trees thicker than her entire body. The canopy overhead blotted out the sky, with only slivers of sunlight piercing through the gaps in the leaves.

Most of the other players around her had prepared in advance thanks to her tip. Only a small handful were unprepared, whether because they didn’t get the message or because the game started too abruptly.

These people were wearing various short-sleeved shirts; some were even shirtless.

Just as Moira Lynch was waiting for the game to announce the mission, a cloying, fragrant scent suddenly wafted over from nearby.

Catching the scent, Moira Lynch instinctively turned to look. A few paces away stood a round-faced girl in a white dress.

No one dared to get within three meters of her.

Moira Lynch also quietly took a few steps back. The overpowering scent was one reason, but also, strong smells could give away one’s position in a forest. After all, who knew what dangers lay hidden here.

’It was obvious that a primeval forest this vast couldn’t possibly be devoid of wild beasts.’

Just then, the system’s voice sounded in her ear once more.

[Greetings, players. Welcome to the final instance of the novice stage: the Mocha Forest.

The Mocha Primeval Forest on Planet Mocha, an undeveloped planet, is renowned as a treasure trove. It nurtures countless rare delicacies, coveted by many.

The Mocha Restaurant is a star-rated establishment whose selling point is its use of ingredients from the Mocha Forest. Every food and beverage they serve is sourced from the Mocha Forest.

For the next seven days, you are to enter the Mocha Primeval Forest and collect various ingredients.

The more valuable the ingredient, the more points it is worth. Please accumulate as many points as possible.

PS: There is no ’mission complete’ objective in this game. The bottom ten percent of players with the fewest points will be disqualified.]

As the system’s announcement concluded, an exquisite basket appeared in every player’s hands.

Moira Lynch was already quite familiar with this sort of thing. After a quick scan of her surroundings, she picked a direction and set off.

Just then, someone behind her shouted, "System, you haven’t told us how we’re supposed to eat!"

The previous two rounds had provided both food and lodging. This time, aside from the basket, there was nothing.

This change was a shock to those who had been expecting another round of good meals in the game.

At this person’s cry, the others also realized the situation.

This game was supposed to last for seven days! Over such a long period, people obviously needed to eat and drink. Especially water—a person couldn’t last three days without it.

However, no matter how much the players shouted, the system remained silent. Clearly, they were expected to fend for themselves.

The third round was originally supposed to be similar to the first two. But then some people had to mock the game for being too easy, for having no difficulty whatsoever.

Since they didn’t want a straightforward clear, it would grant their wish.

Moira Lynch, who had already walked a good distance, felt fortunate that she had her dimensional space and had prepared thoroughly.

At least she wouldn’t have to waste time searching for food like the others. While their task was to find ingredients, who knew if those ingredients were even edible raw.

As soon as she learned the third game would be in the Mocha Primeval Forest, Moira Lynch had used her Learning Machine to research it, familiarizing herself with its flora and fauna.

Just as the system had said, the place could truly be called a treasure trove.

She had also looked up what Energy Ores were, but the answer was vague. It only described them as a type of primitive energy stone containing vast amounts of energy.

In the early days of the Starfarers’ development, this energy stone was widely used as a power source.

However, due to subsequent, unchecked mining, these Energy Ores gradually vanished, forcing the Starfarers to find alternative power sources. Luckily, they eventually succeeded.

Moira Lynch didn’t know what the system wanted with these Energy Ores, but anything the Starfarers had used as a power source had to be valuable.

As she thought, Moira Lynch’s pace didn’t slow at all.

This game was all about who could get the most points.

And the fastest way to get points was either through quantity or quality.

Moira Lynch herself preferred the second method, since she also needed to set aside time to search for Energy Ores.

’Besides what I need for the system, I want to collect some extra for myself, just in case.’

Thanks to her prior knowledge of the Mocha Forest, Moira Lynch soon made her first find.

It was a termite mushroom, a delicious fungus that grows on termite nests.

Termite mushrooms also grew on Caelus, but they were nothing compared to the one in front of her.

She shoved the enormous termite mushroom into her basket, and the score displayed on her hand instantly changed from 0 to 10.

’A single termite mushroom is worth ten points!’

Next, Moira Lynch arrived at a small stream. ’There should be fish in a place like this,’ she thought.

Using her spiritual power to scan the area, Moira Lynch could sense many living creatures in the stream.

But when she looked with her own eyes, she saw nothing but stones.

Moira Lynch took out a fishing net and set a trap upstream.

After setting the trap, as she neared the bank, Moira Lynch suddenly spotted a pebble that was a solid, deep blue.

’A sapphire?’

Moira Lynch had been collecting gemstones all over the world recently, so her first instinct upon seeing the blue hue was that it was a sapphire. But on closer inspection, it didn’t seem like one.

She decided to just take out her Learning Machine and scan it.

[Water-cooling Stone: A mineral found only in pure streams, a specialty of Planet Mocha. The temperature within a ten-meter radius of the stone will continuously drop, but will not fall to freezing. The effect lasts for about half a month, after which it can be recharged by soaking it in a clean water source. Carrying it on your person is not recommended due to risk of frostbite.

PS: Touching it while it is in the water is safe.]

Moira Lynch’s eyes widened as she looked at the stone in her hand.

’The temperature drops in a ten-meter radius? Isn’t this basically a portable air conditioner?’