Chapter 68
“However, suddenly entering an illusion is still very strange. Everyone needs to stay alert; there might be more unknown dangers hidden in this wind and sand,” He Mingyue said. “Since the Little Young Master is awake, let’s keep moving. It’s better to get out early to avoid any accidents.”
Shen Shuyu nodded, retying the scarf that had been torn off. “Let’s go. We can talk about everything else once we’re out.”
He climbed up from the sand and shook the grit off his body. “Let’s move out! Let’s go!”
The others also adjusted their scarves. The group grabbed the rope and set off again, though this time, Wen Jiafei stood at the very back.
Shen Shuyu turned his head to glance at him but didn’t have the nerve to say anything. After all, he had been the one to act ‘rudely’ first.
In the desert map, even a tiny bit of wind could blow the sand on the ground three stories high. They followed the map for a long time, but every spot looked exactly the same, as if there were no boundaries in sight.
Everyone’s clothes were soaked with sweat. Large beads of perspiration evaporated into the dry air before they could even roll down their faces.
Shen Shuyu looked at the three people ahead of him and finally couldn’t help but ask, “Why do I feel like it’s getting hotter the further we walk?”
Even saying that one sentence made him feel like his throat was smoking.
In the front, Chi Yanxun stopped and looked up at the sky. “It’s already noon. The sun is strong.”
He opened the map in his hand again. According to the display, they were about three kilometers away from the boundary.
He was about to turn around and tell everyone, only to find that Shen Shuyu and Lin Xuyi were already sitting on the sand, disregarding their image entirely. Even the other three were resting, hands propped on their hips or legs to catch their breath.
Chi Yanxun was tired too, but he had to shoulder the responsibility expected of him.
He said, “Hold on a little longer. Once we get out, there will be water to drink.”
The water in their bags hadn’t been enough; it was long gone.
He Mingyue wiped his sweat. “I heard a senior say on the forum a long time ago that the desert map is absolutely perverse. He said he’d rather face fifty Zerg at the finish line than walk through the desert map again. At the time, I thought, ‘As an Alpha, how could he not endure even this little bit of hardship?’ Now I see I was the presumptuous one.”
The desert map was simply not a place for humans!
Alphas naturally had high energy and were generally resistant to the sun, but even they couldn’t withstand this kind of brutal exposure!
He would also rather face fifty Zerg. At least while dodging attacks, you could catch a breath. Here, even breathing was painful.
And there was no technique or experience to speak of—it was purely about endurance.
Shen Shuyu pulled down his scarf and rummaged through his bag for the half-bottle of water he had saved. He asked in shock, “Where’s my water? Where is all my water?”
Lin Xuyi couldn’t help but chuckle. “Little Young Master, didn’t you drink it all just now?”
Shen Shuyu had saved it hoping to mix it if they found a green source (oasis). He had been so sun-dazed he was confused.
He shook his head. “I’m never coming here again.”
He stuffed the empty mineral water bottle back into his bag and tried to crawl up, only to find his legs were weak.
When would this end?
He was truly about to be tortured into madness.
“Time to go, everyone,” Chi Yanxun reminded them. “We can drink water at the finish line. It’s the last three kilometers. If we walk at our fastest speed, we’ll be there in thirty minutes tops.”
Numbly, Shen Shuyu pulled his scarf back up. Last three kilometers, right?
He’d walk! Once he got out, he was going to rip the System a new one!
After the brief rest, the group set off again. Just like the Misty Forest, the closer they got to the edge, the less resistance they felt from the wind and sand.
Shen Shuyu felt that every step was torture. He sneakily looked back at Shen Xili and Wen Jiafei, then turned to look at Chi Yanxun walking at the very front.
As expected of the Protagonist Trio. Even when this tired, they all still looked so handsome.
In contrast, He Mingyue, Lin Xuyi, and he himself were as tired as dogs.
For the first time, Shen Shuyu felt the malice of the novel world!
Damn it! Couldn’t they arrange some ambiguous, flirtatious plotlines? He really didn’t like this kind of hiking! Even if he were a macho man himself, he wouldn’t like this!
Complaints aside, Shen Shuyu relied on his willpower to follow the main group to the edge.
The desert map exit, along with some water and nutrient solutions!
Shen Shuyu felt the beauty of words for the first time. Exit! They really reached the exit!
He was really, truly going to cry!
After experiencing all kinds of challenges over these past few days, they were finally ushering in the finale!
Everyone was overjoyed and summoned their strength to rush over. Shen Shuyu grabbed a water bottle and wanted to pour it down his throat, but Shen Xili blocked his hand.
Shen Shuyu said, “There is plenty of water.”
Meaning, don’t rob mine.
Shen Xili said, “Drink in small sips. If you drink too fast, your body won’t be able to handle it.”
With the reminder, Shen Shuyu remembered that fact. It really couldn’t be helped; having been thirsty for so long, the instinct upon seeing a water source was to replenish fluids quickly.
Shen Shuyu mumbled an “Oh.” No matter how anxious he was, he drank in small sips. As the water slid down his esophagus, calling it heaven wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
The six of them finished all the water before they felt slightly better.
Chi Yanxun distributed the nutrient solutions to them. “Partners, this is the final battle.”
He snapped open the cap of the nutrient solution and extended his hand. “Success or failure depends on this.”
The others followed suit, snapping open their nutrient solutions and gathering around. For the first time, the six of them shared a united ‘toast’.
After drinking the nutrient solutions, they followed the path forward. Not long after, they saw a forest.
Shen Shuyu had recovered some physical strength. Looking at a rock not far away, he asked in confusion, “Why do I feel like that rock looks familiar?”
The others followed his gaze. Lin Xuyi said, “We’ll know if we go take a look.”
“Let’s be cautious.” Chi Yanxun looked at He Mingyue. “You stay close to me.”
He Mingyue had one life left and was in a precarious position. Knowing he was easily eliminated, he nodded. “Okay.”
The six of them set off toward the rock. Upon arriving, Shen Shuyu couldn’t help but mutter, “Isn’t this the same rock we saw in the Misty Forest?”
Only now, the forest had no fog; it had returned to its original state.
“There’s something on the rock,” Wen Jiafei pointed out. Everyone looked and saw golden text appearing on the surface.
“Final level rules update?” Lin Xuyi muttered. “Confrontation match?”
Chi Yanxun said, “It seems there’s a new gameplay style this year.”
Usually, the final level was a different location. This year, they returned directly to the starting point, and it was a confrontation match?
Just hearing the name, one knew it wouldn’t be a friendly competition.
Shen Shuyu silently comprehended the meaning above. After a moment of silence, he said, “Does this mean they want us to do a wheel battle?”
Lin Xuyi gave Shen Shuyu a thumbs up. “Great summary.”
“Select one person to go to the PK stage and await the arrival of another team. The losing contestant is directly eliminated. The winner may choose to continue competing or choose to let a teammate substitute. Please note: if the substitution fails, both members are eliminated together. A team battle mode can be selected; if the team battle challenge fails, all members are eliminated…”
He Mingyue read all the words out loud. Summarized, it meant exactly what Shen Shuyu had said.
“They really know how to play,” Lin Xuyi lamented. “In previous years, they just gathered everyone who hadn’t been eliminated to go through a level together. This year, adding up new grudges and old hates, they’re afraid we won’t fight each other enough.”
Lin Xuyi couldn’t help but click his tongue.
After understanding the rules, Shen Xili said, “Actually, the best way is to wait for them to finish fighting, then we go up.”
“Can’t do that.” Lin Xuyi pointed to a row of conspicuous small print, cursing softly. “Each team must PK once per round. Teams that have not PK’d will have one member randomly eliminated. This text is so small, it’s easy to overlook. The organizers are too…”
He slammed the brakes on his mouth. He remembered that the organizer this year was their own planet. If he cursed them out, he’d be finished.
Lin Xuyi held it in for a long time before squeezing out a sentence: “Too distinctively creative. Sometimes, you need a sense of freshness. This level design is very… nice.”
Shen Shuyu wanted to be serious, but he couldn’t help turning his head away to laugh wildly.
The others also couldn’t help but smile.
“Alright, let’s discuss.” Chi Yanxun signaled everyone to sit down directly. Since they had reached this point, there was no need to worry about image.
He took out his tablet. “The team arriving soon should be Puce. So we have to think about how we should go up.”
After all, the winner would only be the team standing on the PK stage at the very end.
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