As a scientific researcher, why should I save the world?

Carl gently pulled out a sheepskin map from his backpack. Its edges had become fragile due to years of erosion. In the dim light, he almost had to put the map to his nose to make out the blurred lines. His fingertips moved slowly along a winding route and finally stopped at a point marked with crimson paint. "We are heading here," Carl pointed to the red dot and said with an unquestionable firmness in his voice, "According to the markings on the map, this should be an ancient relic." Mark leaned over and his eyes swept across the map, noticing the strange symbols on the edge of the map. They looked like some kind of ancient text, crookedly carved on the sheepskin. "Carl, what are these? Some kind of code?" he asked, his fingers gently touching the mysterious symbols. Carl shook his head, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness. "This is the ancient writing of the local tribe. I only know a few of the symbols that represent directions." He pointed to the symbols similar to arrows and circles on the edge of the map and explained, "I don't know anything about the others." He folded the map and stuffed it back into his backpack. "I hope this relic can provide us with some useful information."

Mark suddenly felt the energy in his palm fluctuate, weaker than before. This feeling was like a candle that was about to go out, flickering. "Carl," Mark said anxiously, "The energy in my body seems to be running out." He spread his hands, and a faint blue light flashed in his palms, which was much dimmer than before.

Carl stopped and observed the surrounding environment with a serious expression. The wind and snow seemed to be stronger than before, and the snowflakes fell densely, blocking the view. He noticed that there were some tiny black particles mixed in the wind and snow. These particles were not conspicuous in the dim light and could be easily overlooked if they were not carefully observed. "Wait," Carl stretched out his hand, caught some of the falling black particles, and rubbed them on his fingertips. These particles are hard and emit a faint chill, as if carrying some strange energy fluctuations.

Carl handed his finger with black particles to Mark, "Look, what is this?"

Mark carefully observed the black particles on Carl's fingertips, frowning. He stretched out his finger and touched it lightly, and immediately felt a chill invading his body. The energy fluctuations in his palm weakened again and almost disappeared. "These particles... seem to be absorbing my energy," Mark retracted his finger, with a hint of uneasiness in his tone, "I feel very uncomfortable."

"I also think these particles are strange," Carl stood up and looked at the snowflakes falling around him, "Maybe these particles are the reason for your energy decay." The wind and snow were getting stronger and stronger, and there were more and more black particles, flying in the wind and snow, like black ghosts. Carl took a deep breath and made a quick decision, "We have to change our route to avoid these black particles."

He took out the map again, studied it carefully for a while, pointed to another marked point on the map and said, "Let's go here, to a higher ice peak. There may be more clues there, and we can also avoid these damn snow and black particles."

Carl put the map away, pointed to the direction of the ice peak and said, "Let's go here." He took the lead and walked towards the ice peak.

Mark followed closely behind, and he felt that the energy fluctuations in his palm were getting weaker and weaker, and his heart was full of uneasiness. The wind and snow wrapped in black particles ruthlessly beat their bodies, and the thick snow under their feet made every step extremely difficult.

They climbed up the steep hillside, and the biting cold wind made them almost unable to open their eyes. The surroundings were all white, with only the whistling wind and the creaking sound of stepping on the snow under their feet.

Mark looked at Carl from time to time. Carl's figure was looming in the wind and snow. He walked forward firmly, like a towering mountain, guiding Mark in the direction.

Mark took a deep breath and tried to keep up with Carl's pace.