"Many areas inside are dangerous, so we’ll have to make detours. That ans we don’t need to explore too many regions."
Thanks to Bai Shi’s earlier explanation and the doodle-like map he held, they had a general idea of the Island’s shape.
It was a long strip: narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. A crescent-shaped gap in its upper part marked the bay where they had landed.
If the Island were divided in half, the town and the bay port would be in the upper section.
They began exploring this final area, their detours covering increasingly more distance.
Often, these detours involved massive bends in their path.
Since the map needed checking, Alka had Bai Shi walk around the periters of these dangerous areas, even when detouring.
Bai Shi also took the opportunity to explain to them why these areas were dangerous and how they had co into being.
He was truly playing the part of a tour guide.
This allowed Alka and the others to rapidly increase their understanding of the Island.
Thus, they arrived at a crucial location.
A valley lay before them, flanked by two Mountain Peaks of varying sizes.
At the entrance of the valley, a stone monunt had been thoughtfully placed, inscribed with symbols Alka couldn’t understand.
It was evidently the script used by the islanders.
"This stone tablet reads ’Broken Town.’
"About six hundred years ago—we can’t rember the exact ti—we lived in this valley. However, due to an outbreak from a ruin, the entire valley beca an extrely dangerous area. This forced us to relocate the town to its current position."
At this point, Bai Shi shrugged indifferently. "It’s also because of that ruin’s outbreak that the Island’s nights beca unusually dangerous," he said.
Hearing this, Alka, who was beside him, asked, "You’ve always said the nights are dangerous. What exactly happens on the Island at night, compared to the dayti, that makes it so perilous?"
"’You don’t know?’ Bai Shi asked, turning his head in so surprise."
He assud Alka and his companions had been in town for several days. How could they still not know why the nights were dangerous?
Alka felt slightly embarrassed. It was information they should have obtained much earlier, but they hadn’t intentionally inquired about it until now.
Even Alka himself spent most nights in the Dream Realm.
Apart from asking about it in soone else’s Dream Bubbles before arriving on the Island, they hadn’t specifically inquired about the nights since their arrival.
Knowing the nights were hazardous, the thought of venturing out then had never crossed their minds.
However, Bai Shi didn’t seem to mind. He explained, "It’s not clear why, but after that ruin beca active, shattered space rifts started appearing on the Island. If you’re accidentally pulled into one, you might never be seen again."
"So of those dangerous areas have fixed space rifts. But once night falls, these rifts can pop up anywhere on the Island. You never know when one might suddenly appear under your feet or right behind you. Get it?"
Everyone nodded upon hearing this. It indeed sounded extrely dangerous.
A single misstep could get soone sucked into a space rift, which sounded like a near-certain death.
But at this point, Bai Shi’s tone turned sowhat amused. He smiled and said, "You might not believe this, but my grandfather actually survived being sucked into one of those rifts."
Saying this, Bai Shi continued walking forward, and the others followed.
As they walked, Bai Shi continued, "My grandfather is considered a legend on this Island. When he was young, he was pulled into a rift due to an accident and was presud dead by everyone here.
"But in the end, he survived."
Bai Shi’s voice carried a clear note of pride; he seed to greatly admire his grandfather.
"He said that after being sucked in, he appeared on a very, very distant island. He only managed to return at the age of fifty-five. By the ti he ca back, my grandmother had already passed away, and I had been born. It really beca a legendary tale."
Hearing this, Pororo, who was nearby, asked, "So, does that an those space rifts are actually Teleportation Gates to other places?"
"’No idea,’ Bai Shi said, shaking his head."
"Because my grandfather is the only person known to have survived being pulled into one."
Everyone silently decided it was best to suppress their curiosity, not believing their own luck would be nearly that good.
"’Have you been to the outside world?’ Alka suddenly asked, looking at Bai Shi."
Bai Shi, walking at the front, glanced ahead briefly before replying, "Yes, I have. My grandfather often told about such things, so I beca interested in the outside world from a young age and went out to sea."
"However, it wasn’t until I ventured out myself that I discovered my experiences were quite different from what my grandfather described. So, after spending a few years exploring the outside world, I ca back."
"’Still, ho is the best,’ Bai Shi sighed."
Hearing this, Alka started to recall the information about the outside world he had obtained in the Dream Realm the previous night.
After a mont of thought, he formulated his question. "So, what was it like? What islands did you visit?"
"I’ve been to an island called the Landmark Island of Southern Cross. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it or been there. It’s not very large, but it’s truly the best island I’ve ever seen."
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