I'm Trapped in the Block

The creatures in these sandstorms didn’t seem as savage as the records claimed.

Nor did they leave a scene of utter devastation in their wake.

After that whale departed, more kept appearing. When they saw the sticky sand on the cactuses, they refrained from feeding and turned to seek other targets.

The sticky sand served not only as protection but also as a marker, indicating that the plant had already been fed upon by one of their own.

Just like whales on Earth, they were very gentle. They showed no interest in the Block, which clearly contained no water, and would leave after just a moment of curious inspection.

Except for one small whale.

It circled the Block, as if searching for a good place to take a bite.

But after a full circle, the metal block before it was a source of great confusion. It probably didn’t understand what this thing was.

It would even occasionally nudge the Block, as if studying its material.

The little whale’s antics were making Mo Ling uneasy. Just then, he noticed a half-empty bottle of mineral water left inside the Block.

’This is a perfect chance to test something.’

After loosening the cap, Mo Ling teleported the bottle of water to the top of the Block.

The little whale’s attention was instantly captured by the sudden appearance of the water bottle, and it began to circle it excitedly.

It cautiously nudged the bottle and accidentally knocked off the loose cap. Clear water streamed from the opening.

The little whale immediately surged forward, lapping up the spilled water as if parched. It then hastily spat out a bit of sticky sand, sealing the bottle’s opening tightly to prevent any more water from escaping.

Once it was done, it again let out that long, excited cry.

’They really are just looking for water...’

Moreover, these sand creatures seemed to require very little water and were extremely gentle with their food sources—a behavior completely at odds with their immense size.

Just then, the little whale spotted Li Luo hiding behind the Block. It then began trying to burrow underneath the Block.

’What is it doing?’

The little whale’s strange behavior caught Mo Ling’s attention.

’Do they need more than just water?’

Realizing its own strength was limited, the little whale began to call out, its melodious cry echoing through the sandstorm. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Before long, many more whales, both large and small, swam over. Upon arriving, they began to circle the Block, as if in conversation.

Then, the little whale and its companions lifted up the Block and a stunned Li Luo, carrying them ever upward.

Some whales supported the Block and Li Luo, while others formed a protective circle around them, shielding them from the assaulting wind and sand.

Amid the violent sandstorm, Mo Ling felt an unexpected, long-forgotten sense of peace.

A moment later, a ray of sunlight pierced through the gloom.

The whales had actually carried the Block and Li Luo to the very top of the sandstorm. Below them lay an endless sea of wind and sand. The whales spun joyfully, as if they had just performed a great deed.

Mo Ling understood at once.

’They’re saving people!’

These sand-whales, just like the whales on Earth, actually possessed an instinct to save humans, spontaneously lifting them to the surface of the sea.

And here, the surface of the "sea" was the top of the sandstorm!

Below churned the sandstorm; above stretched a clear sky. The pod of whales circled the Block, occasionally spouting jets of dry sand from their blowholes.

’What wondrous creatures.’

Moreover, the little whale led its companions toward the back of the sandstorm, as if intending to escort the Block and Li Luo completely out of it.

The long, drawn-out calls rose and fell one after another. Though Mo Ling couldn’t understand them, he could sense the bustling energy within the sandstorm.

Just then, a deep and sorrowful cry rose from below.

Mo Ling quickly looked down. A massive whale was communicating with its companions. It was larger than the others, its form more distinct—it was likely an elder.

Amidst the mournful whale song, the elder whale’s body slowly began to blur. Sand sloughed off its form, its movements grew sluggish, and the swaying of its tail came to a halt.

Because its body was made of wet sand, it didn’t dissipate instantly. Instead, it slowly descended through the sandstorm, sinking into the sea of sand below.

The wet sand fell into the Chaotic Sand Dunes, its moisture scattering to water the plants that had been fed upon.

A vast stretch of dry, barren land was covered by the damp sand. The moisture seeped deep into the root systems, just as if a heavy rain had fallen.

A pod of whales spontaneously gathered around this patch of moist earth. They didn’t absorb the water there. Instead, they sang their whale songs, spouted sand, and continued their journey through the boundless sandstorm.

A tiny whale calf emerged from the wet sand. After a final glance at the land of its birth, it followed the pod, swimming toward the front of the sandstorm.

The calves followed curiously behind their elders, learning how to forage and leave their marks.

Whale fall, life renewed.

This was their cycle of life...

The sandstorm never ceases, and this cycle will continue for all eternity.

Mo Ling was utterly awestruck.

’Are the other sandstorms like this, too?’

Perhaps other sandstorms held different creatures. The abyss was home to countless strange and wonderful beings; this was but a glimpse of one small corner.

Soon, the pod of whales reached the back of the sandstorm.

Before leaving the storm, they began their descent, setting the Block and Li Luo down on the ground. Then they quickly swam away, resuming their pursuit of the sandstorm.

The wind and sand gradually faded, leaving only damp sand covering the ground.

It didn’t look like the aftermath of a sandstorm at all. Instead, it was as if a long-awaited, heavy rain had fallen.

The surviving plants were covered in glistening dewdrops, enough moisture to sustain them in the Chaotic Sand Dunes for a long time.

Animals that had been hiding underground slowly emerged, climbing onto the plants to lap at the moisture.

In the wake of the sandstorm, the land had somehow become even more vibrant.

Mo Ling had considered the potential dangers within the sandstorm, had worried about unknown phenomena, but he had never imagined he would witness such a scene.

Li Luo was also stunned. The sandstorm had obscured her vision, and from the moment the whales lifted her, she had remained on high alert, pressing herself tightly against the Block.

She never expected they would get through the sandstorm so easily.

She took out a handkerchief and began wiping the dust from the Block, paying no mind to the fact that she, too, was covered in it.

Only after the Block was clean did she begin to tidy herself up.

Countless grains of sand were embedded in her clothes; it took a great deal of effort to get them all out.

Then, she began to determine their current position.

Fortunately, they weren’t far off course. In fact, the distance to Oasis City had been cut by more than half. It seemed the pod of whales had carried them a very long way.

"I didn’t expect we’d get there so soon."

Li Luo also took out the storage device Bai Zhou had given her and checked it. Seeing that it was undamaged, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Mo Ling was curious and asked via the electronic screen, "When we get to Oasis City, how will they handle the Black Tower Monitoring Station incident?"

"They’ll probably send people to collect the bodies, then seal off and decommission the Black Tower Monitoring Station. After a distortion event like this, it will probably be a very long time before anyone can be stationed there again, for safety reasons," Li Luo replied calmly.

Mo Ling understood, but his thoughts turned to Martin, the one who had helped with the ’correction plan’.

Would he still be a wanted man? Mo Ling was curious how the authorities would classify Martin’s actions.

So, Mo Ling asked, "What about Martin?"

Li Luo looked at the question on the screen, a confused expression on her face.

"Who’s Martin?"