3: Chapter 3 The Straw Man's Body

"Observing monsters, understanding monsters... is it not as good as killing monsters?"

The physical exhaustion was washed away by the joy of successfully recording the Scarecrow. That is true; if prolonged contact and observation could increase the recording progress, then fighting, killing, and even dismembering might actually be the shortcut to recording.

Inwardly delighted, Wang Ting dared not show too much expression. Taking advantage of the gap to bandage his wound, he calmed his emotions slightly beside the wheat field.

Under the cold moonlight, the approaching shadows of the Scarecrows intertwined with the continuous sounds of gunfire.

He noticed that the Scarecrows did not surge like a tide like zombies, but came in waves, attacking suddenly like lurking hyenas.

"Two hours, five waves of Scarecrow attacks, and there are only three that managed to cross the fence and appear suddenly?"

Wang Ting smiled self-deprecatingly: "I really am unlucky enough."

The bandaging did not last long, nor was there any medical care. He simply obtained a gray cloth strip from a member of the Guard Team, wrapped it with some pasty medicine, and wrapped up his palm.

He was driven back to the wheat field. The Guard Team members shuttling around the wheat field were both defending against any Scarecrows that might appear at any time and acting as overseers within this wheat field.

He still had to continue harvesting. Even if other survivors were chilled to the bone by the Scarecrows, they had to force themselves to harvest the wheat.

The cold gun barrels were aimed not only at the Scarecrows, but also at them.

"People are like grass."

This thought inevitably arose in Wang Ting's heart. However, since he entered this Floor World to stay alive, he had to pay a price.

"Even these people from the Guard Team are not foolproof."

Screams rang out from time to time. The most deeply hidden Scarecrow climbed up the watchtower and dragged a Guard Team member down.

Although Fan Da quickly killed it, the dead team member could not be saved back.

Time passed bit by bit. Finally, the light of dawn illuminated the entire wheat field, and the last wave of Scarecrows was riddled with bullets in the dawn light, with straw chips and flesh scattered on the ground.

"Clean the battlefield, move the wheat into the barn, and give them six hours of rest time."

Six hours—this was already quite conscientious of Fan Da.

After the wheat was brought back into the barn, it still needed to be threshed before it could be taken to trade with other Shelters. All these things needed to be done by the survivors.

Carrying a bundle of wheat on his back, Wang Ting followed the team back to the barn bit by bit.

Passing by the wheat field, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Guard Team members holding sharp daggers, ripping open the bodies of the Scarecrows and rummaging for something.

"Looking for heart meat or something similar?"

The value of the Scarecrow undoubtedly lay in the heart meat Zhao Hu had mentioned earlier, but that thing was not something he could touch for the time being.

The sour, foul stench inside the barn became even heavier, just like stinky socks soaked in a jar of pickled vegetables for three days and three nights being stuffed into a steamer.

Frowning, Wang Ting found a corner by himself, leaned his body against the stack of straw, turned sideways, kept the sickle under his hand, pressed his back against the wall, and faced outward, looking as if he were resting.

No one dared to approach Wang Ting easily, not even the veterans inside the barn.

They did not know the details of Wang Ting fighting the Scarecrow, nor did they know that the Scarecrow had first been wounded by Fan Da before Wang Ting successfully killed it.

They only knew that a Scarecrow had died, and that Yang Qi, who had tried to trick people before, was now also dead.

Based solely on these two points, that young man lying on the straw stack was not someone they could easily provoke.

[Recorded abnormal entity Scarecrow, current monsters available for exchange items are as follows:]

[Photosynthetic Straw (Characteristic): 100 Monster Points]

[Scarecrow Physique (Characteristic): 100 Monster Points]

[Scarecrow Claw Knife (Creation): 150 Monster Points]

[Scarecrow Roar (Skill): 200 Monster Points]

[Scarecrow (Servant Beast): 200 Monster Points]

"Two characteristics, one creation, one skill, and one servant beast—all of them are things related to the Scarecrow, and the basis for exchanging everything is Monster Points?"

Wang Ting pondered in his heart. Creations, skills, characteristics, and servant beasts were probably the nature of exchangeable items. As to whether this distribution was stable or random, he could only figure it out after recording a second monster.

Moreover, the most urgent priority was not what to exchange, but figuring out how to acquire Monster Points.

"How are Monster Points acquired?"

[1. Recorded monsters grant a one-time reward; 2. Each type of recorded monster provides a certain amount of Monster Points daily.]

Hearing this, Wang Ting's heart suddenly surged with joy. So that was the reason for these 100 Monster Points.

"In other words, the more monsters I record, the more Monster Points I can get every day."

He continued to ask in his heart: "Are the exchangeable items fixed?"

[Five exchangeable items appear randomly for each recorded abnormal entity.]

Wang Ting still wanted to ask about the number of Monster Points generated by abnormal entities, but after asking several in a row, no prompt information lit up again.

"It seems I can only figure it out myself."

Although he felt disappointed inside, many of his doubts had already been resolved.

At this moment, he began to carefully look at the five available exchange options.

Photosynthetic Straw: Can absorb a certain amount of nutrients through sunlight and water to recover physical strength, spirit, and injuries.

Scarecrow Physique: Slightly enhances physique; through development, one can obtain physical strength identical to a Scarecrow.

Scarecrow Claw Knife: A special sharp blade integrated into the hand claws, comparable to ordinary alloy blades.

Scarecrow Roar: A roar emitted using physical strength and mental power, which can exert a certain deterrent effect on living creatures.

Scarecrow: A low-level abnormal entity Scarecrow that completely obeys you; if it dies, it can be resurrected by consuming Monster Points.

There were a total of five options. When the detailed introductions appeared before Wang Ting, the heavy stone in his heart finally dropped.

The activation of the Monster Collector, along with the things currently available for exchange, truly brought him hope for survival.

"Damn this wasteland doomsday, I'm going to live a good life this time."

Having made his vow inwardly, Wang Ting carefully pondered what he should exchange for.

With only 100 Monster Points, there were actually only two things he could exchange for: either Photosynthetic Straw or Scarecrow Physique.

"Judging from the introduction, characteristics should be similar to talents or passive abilities. Photosynthetic Straw focuses on survival, while Scarecrow Physique focuses more on strength. Although the Shelter of Scarecrow Town has limited resources, I am already inside the Floor World, and at least I don't have to worry about food for some time in the future. The biggest danger is actually the Scarecrows."

Wang Ting quickly analyzed his own crisis. Although food and survival were important, they were far less urgent than enhancing his strength.

"Exchange for Scarecrow Physique."

The 100 Monster Points disappeared, and the exchangeable items column displayed the words [Scarecrow Physique: Exchanged].

A warm current merged into his body. From his heart to his spine, his entire limbs and bones seemed to be soaked through by a warm spring.

A dry heat came from within his body, and his energy was rapidly consumed. His stomach immediately made a gurgling sound, as if thunder were rumbling.

The veins on his temples bulged, and his entire face instantly turned flush red.

"Hold on. I didn't expect it to hurt this much. My body's nutrition..."

Long-term weakness had already made his body frail. This sudden strengthening—even though it was merely the implantation of a characteristic rather than completing a special physical enhancement identical to a Scarecrow all at once—was still an unbearable process.

Wang Ting could not expose too much abnormality, nor did he have extra food. This time, he could only grit his teeth and endure it hard.

Precisely because of this reason, the metamorphosis in the corner of this barn lasted for about twenty minutes before it gradually subsided.

Unconsciously, his breathing became a bit hurried and heavy. Under the cover of the cloth strip, the wound on his palm had already quietly scabbed over, and his originally lean body now had some muscular lines.

"My strength has increased."

The realistic sensation of increased strength gave him a bit more peace of mind.

In a world like this, only strength could bring a sense of security.

And the only thing with more security than strength was probably an AK rifle.

"Creak—"

The barn door was pushed open. Zhao Hu led his team inside, with two members on the left and right carrying a large iron bucket that hit the floor with a heavy clatter, filled to the brim with pitch-black energy blocks.

"Those whose names are called come up to collect energy blocks. Wang Ting assisted in killing one Scarecrow, harvested 4 bundles of straw, three energy blocks."

The first one called was Wang Ting. The wheat he harvested was not eye-catching; after all, he had never harvested wheat before, and 4 bundles could only be described as mediocre.

Wang Ting stepped forward and took three energy blocks from the hands of the Guard Team member.

The energy blocks were dark and muddled, barely made into palm-sized brick shapes. They smelled with a faint fishy stench and looked like mushy soap.

"Thank you."

Wang Ting expressed his thanks and was just about to return to the straw stack when Zhao Hu's brows twitched, and he called him to a stop.

"What is your name?"

"Wang Ting."

Zhao Hu raised his eyes slightly, sizing him up from top to bottom. Seeing the slightly revealed muscle lines on his arms, he smiled: "You've got some guts. Work hard these next few days; after the harvest, there might be a chance for you to join the Guard Team."

Wang Ting showed a surprised look. Inside the entire barn, those who also heard these words subconsciously looked toward Zhao Hu.

Those who entered the barn earlier looked at Wang Ting with gazes carrying a bit of jealousy and envy.

Sweeping his gaze across, Zhao Hu said indifferently: "Anyone who performs well has a chance."

After the energy blocks were distributed, Zhao Hu led his people out of the barn. Wang Ting did not pursue the question, and Zhao Hu seemed to have no intention of answering either.

Setting aside the title of survivors, to put it realistically, they were slaves, and the Guard Team were the masters of Scarecrow Town.

Given the gap in status, he did not yet have the qualification to question further.

"Come here. Does the Guard Team have a convention of picking people from among the survivors?"

Wang Ting pointed his finger at a middle-aged man who had taken two energy blocks.

He remembered this person; before they entered the barn, he was already inside, belonging to one of the earlier batches to enter the barn.

He Yan's body trembled slightly. He cautiously glanced at Wang Ting before answering in a low voice: "Y-Yes, there is such a convention, but not everyone has the opportunity."