The Hero Turned Into A Potato And The World Fell To Ruin

In the underground space, Liu Ji had half-buried himself in the soil and was staring into space blankly.

"Yo, what sort of unique pose is this?" Myza squatted in front of Liu Ji.

"I've been a potato for so long, it's easier to get inspiration while being buried in the soil," Liu Ji muttered. "But I'm afraid that I might lose track of time if I turn into a potato again. So, I decided to just bury myself like this for now."

"Looks like you really want to go out and explore with them," Myza said with a wry smile. "Personally, I would really hope you could stay. After all, it gets pretty lonely here when I'm all by myself."

"That's…" Liu Ji sighed, "not entirely impossible."

"No, better not. Clearly, you can't stay here in this state." Myza shrugged. "However, what I find rather strange is why you are so attached to them even though you haven't been with them for long?"

"Indeed, I'm afraid that I might receive news of their deaths one day." Liu Ji sighed deeply. "But more importantly, when I met them, I felt alive once again."

Turning to Myza, Liu Ji continued, "I'm not like you. You stay here in this desert for the sake of the world and for your lover's wish. But me, honestly, I was a potato all those years just because I couldn't survive in the wild. Compared to starving and braving dangers, it was much more comfortable to be a potato in the ground, soaking up the sun.

"I even once thought I might enjoy being just a potato. But I realized I was wrong! You told me I'd been a potato for over a thousand years. That's over a thousand years in a trance! I lived as a human for only about 20 years. Compared to that, I should identify myself as a potato.

"But the truth is, I still think of myself as a person. Those thousand-odd years felt like a long, comfortable sleep; pleasant, idle, but utterly meaningless. If possible, I really don't want to live aimless and numb anymore."

"Hmm… When you put it this way, I can totally understand." Myza nodded. "So, in that case, why don't you just leave with them?"

"That's easy for you to say." Liu Ji rolled his eyes. "How can an ordinary young man like me, who can't even catch a chicken, go up against a walking atomic bomb?"

"Who said you have to fight him right now? Are you that afraid?" Myza asked. "I also said that you have no obligation to save the world. After all, the world doesn't care who rules it.

"That guy took over a thousand years to conquer half the world; he hasn't even discovered the new lands beyond the desert. If you keep avoiding him, theoretically, you could wander around outside until all your companions die of old age."

"But you also said they have such a deep grudge that they'll definitely confront him one day." Liu Ji sighed deeply. "Wouldn't it be the end if they do?"

"Why does it have to be the end?" Myza asked in puzzlement. "I just asked them about it, aren't you able to transform into anything you eat? Your race has such amazing talent. Weren't there people just as powerful as the Tyrant in your previous world?"

"Huh?" Liu Ji was stunned. "Wait a minute, what talent?"

"Your racial talent." Myza blinked. "Being able to transform into anything you eat. That half-Ifrit girl told me you swallowed a pure water elemental and then momentarily turned into an elemental yourself."

"Ah? That's… not right?" Liu Ji said in shock. "Isn't that ability bestowed onto me by the summoning spell?"

"Huh? That spell only grants you a blessing; it doesn't give any abilities. Are you saying that this ability isn't a racial talent?" It was rare for Myza to be at a loss too.

"I… don't think so? The people of my world are all very ordinary," Liu Ji muttered. "In fact, the world I was in didn't even have magic."

The two of them just stared at each other in silence.

After quite a while of silence and a bit of thought, Myza spoke, "Uh, alright then, let's not worry about where this ability comes from for the time being. You can transform into a water elemental, right? There's plenty of water here, so why don't you give it a try?"

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BAAM!

A fist full of calluses struck the frail face of a young earthwalker boy.

He staggered back a couple of steps, then fell to the ground.

"Chick, you should know how much you owe us, you bastard!" a burly earthwalker with clenched fists growled. "The boss has raised you for so many years already. Each meal costs a crystal stone; you joined us at six and have eaten a full twelve years of meals. Now, do the math: how many crystal stones do you owe the boss?"

"Pah! I haven't just been eating and doing nothing all these years!" the young earthwalker addressed as Chick said as he tried to get up and run, only to be kicked back to the ground by another earthwalker who had blocked his path.

"That little work you did isn't even worth a sleeping shelter," the burly earthwalker hissed, rhythmically pounding his right fist into his left palm. "The boss kindly fed and raised you, and now you run off to join the military?"

"So what if I joined the army! Every earthwalker should fight bravely to defend our homeland!" Chick shouted. "My parents and grandparents were all great soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the sake of our race! I want to be like them!"

"Fine, go if you want to! But pay back the money owed to the boss first!" the burly earthwalker said, grabbing him by the collar. "You don't want to pay up and keep trying to run. Why do you have to make things hard for your big bro?"

"Pah! Who's your brother! Screw you! Bunch of bastards!" Chick spat out, landing a punch on the face of the burly earthwalker, who was nearly twice his size.

Despite the difference in size, Earthwalkers naturally had strong upper body strength. Such a close range strike hitting its mark made the burly earthwalker's head ring.

And naturally, this only enraged him.

The burly earthwalker shook his head vigorously and, through gritted teeth, bellowed, "You little brat, how dare you fight back? I'll teach you what it means to respect your elders today! Brothers, beat him up!"

With that, he threw Chick to the ground and aimed a kick at his head.

However, there was a loud duang, and he felt his knee nearly buckle as if he had kicked solid rock.

"Tsk tsk tsk, we've come across many unlucky fellas before, but you really have the hardest head I've ever seen," said the Miffy with the giant book strapped across his back, strolling over leisurely.

Clearing his throat, he glanced around and asked, "By the way, I heard you mention crystal stones earlier. Are those the shiny things along the streets? Do you guys have any on you? If so, could you spare me some?"