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墨書 Inktalez
"According to the batch grouping for this level, Player can form teams without a limit on numbers. Any team that can find all four Mermaid Statues within three hours and deliver them to the designated spots on the highest platform of the island will be able to proceed directly to the Supply Station."
The long-awaited voice of the System was as haunting and bloodthirsty as ever, sending chills down their spines. This time, the mission and rules were laid out clearly.
"Friendly reminder: First, there are currently three teams in this level; second, there are a total of eight Mermaid Statues hidden on this island, with only two platforms at the highest point; third, now is the time for Player to familiarize themselves with the Survival Game. The timer starts from six o'clock this afternoon and ends at six o'clock on the third day. Additionally, at two o'clock on the third day, the sea level will rise. By six o'clock that evening, half of the island will be submerged, and by ten o'clock at night, the island will be completely engulfed by water. Good luck to all Players."
The voice of the System abruptly cut off. Xu Nuan and Gu Ze exchanged glances at the highest point of the island before turning their attention to the two gray platforms not far away. They noticed that each platform had grooves on all four sides, meant for placing the so-called Mermaid Statues.
"Three teams, eight statues, two platforms."
After a moment of hesitation, Xu Nuan repeated the key points from the System's friendly reminder. Her bad premonition about entering this level was proving true.
Gu Ze quickly picked up her thoughts, his expression grim.
"This means one team will definitely be left behind, and since this island will be submerged... for the team that gets left behind..."
He hesitated to say certain words that might provoke Xu Nuan, but she filled in the grim conclusion with a serious expression.
"Only death awaits."
Realizing that this level was designed by someone other than Qin Yaojie, they cursed silently in their hearts as they began to descend.
In moments of tension and danger, Xu Nuan could analyze critical points more clearly.
"The sea will start rising at two o'clock on the third day. Just to be safe, we should start searching for that Mermaid Statue from the lowest point."
Despite her analytical tone, she couldn't hide her anger.
"Damn it, there has to be a sacrifice!"
As Gu Ze ran down, he took a moment to pat Xu Nuan on the shoulder.
"Let's think about this once we find all the statues; maybe things will turn around by then."
His words were filled with comfort, but anyone who had entered this game for two or three rounds could experience its overwhelming nature. Each level seemed endless, forcing players to obediently follow the prompts to find the Special Tree and reach the Supply Station. Anyone who attempted to leave a level without completing it would face dire consequences. In short, they all preferred to remember the fates of those who had tried to bypass the challenges. After enduring so much, they ultimately realized that they should never resist the tasks issued by the System, nor should they defy this base; their only way out was to succeed in the challenges.
Of course, this was his mindset before reaching this level and his only way to leave the Game Base. Now, both he and Xu Nuan sensed something was off about the Supply Station. Once he figured out how to transfer Players, he would do whatever it took to ensure Xu Nuan's escape; as for the Mastermind, he would handle that himself.
"Mm."
Xu Nuan could only nod solemnly at Gu Ze's comforting words while scanning their surroundings as they continued running down.
"This island is quite large, and I know how big the so-called Mermaid Statue is, plus there are so many hiding spots."
Perhaps frightened by the conclusion that some teams would be sacrificed, Xu Nuan, who rarely complained about the Survival Game, couldn't help but express her thoughts on the difficulty of this mission. Regardless, her team would not be among those sacrificed, and to some extent, she hoped no other sacrifices would occur either. She thought she understood why Qin Yaojie, one of the game's founders, still entered the game. With extraordinary talent, Qin Yaojie aimed to dismantle those mechanisms that triggered cruel missions so Players could experience a survival game at its limits rather than fighting for their lives in a game that revealed the darkness of human nature. Unfortunately, Qin Yaojie had died before fully realizing this goal.
Xu Nuan suddenly turned her head to look at the blue sea, her expression becoming quite complex. How could she believe that someone like Qin Yaojie was at the center of all these conspiracies happening to her?
"It's okay; there are many of us."
Occasionally exuding an air of dominance, Gu Ze was mostly a gentle and elegant man.
"Right now, we need to find the others and discuss how to divide our search for the statues while also keeping an eye out for any other Players who have yet to show themselves."
Gu Ze raised his hand to open the Tail Ring, and when he noticed that several light spots above were converging in the same direction, he let out a slight sigh of relief.
"It seems that Hang and the others have also realized the importance of searching from below."
Xu Nuan nodded. After spending so much time together, she had come to recognize and trust Xu Hang's abilities. Moreover, she had great confidence in He Min, who was both a mentor and a friend. The previous team division had been just right; only Xu Hang could temporarily hold back Deng Yinyin, while He Min's skills complemented the meticulous Xie Huai perfectly.
Thinking of this, Xu Nuan glanced at Gu Ze's slightly softer profile beside her. She and this man were reminders for each other.
The two did not dare to delay and quickly made their way toward the beach. When they could vaguely see several figures on the sand, Xu Nuan suddenly realized something.
"Other teams will likely prioritize gathering on the beach as well. Perhaps the mission to seize the statue has already begun."
Xu Nuan's brows furrowed with concern.
Gu Ze let out a soft sigh, slowing his pace. He gently pulled Xu Nuan, who was running in a panic without paying attention to the stones at her feet, toward him. Only when Xu Nuan looked up at him did he explain.
"Don't worry; there won't be that many extremists. We've already seen most of the First Batch of Players, and you know all the Second Batch Players. On the contrary, they are unfamiliar with the Third Batch of Players, which gives us a significant advantage."
Xu Nuan softened her expression and managed a smile.
"Actually, Zhou Long and his group of Designers entered this stage before us. I think we might be competing against them to complete the mission."
Gu Ze paused for a moment before smiling again.
"They only seem to have an advantage, and since they pride themselves on being talented, they won't resort to any underhanded tactics."
Xu Nuan's bitterness faded quickly. She vaguely felt that the task at hand was not simply about a single team sacrificing themselves. For someone capable of controlling so many Designers and leading one of the founders, Qin Yaojie, to become the next Mastermind, she doubted that person's intentions were merely twisted to this extent.
She began to fear the future, and she didn't want to voice these thoughts and unsettle others.
Gu Ze had been watching the light spots on the Tail Ring as they rushed to the beach together. The Tail Ring indicated that only two people had reached the beach, yet the number of people visible from afar was clearly much greater.
Xu Nuan squinted her eyes and surveyed her surroundings before walking over to He Min and Xie Huai, who were standing under a coconut tree with Gu Ze.
As they approached, Xu Nuan and Gu Ze inevitably made eye contact with other Players, who were clearly divided into two teams.
Both of them maintained calm expressions and had no intention of greeting those individuals.
Noticing Xu Nuan's narrowed eyes, Gu Ze immediately sensed something and asked softly, "Do you know them?"
Xu Nuan nodded, her gaze sweeping over those Players she had interacted with for over ten days. They showed no intention of greeting her either. Initially, they had been members of the same team when entering the game, but now they were rivals. Xu Nuan was unaware of what had transpired among them after their separation, but she could sense a significant change in their demeanor. Their eyes still held a desire for money, but more prominently was a yearning for survival. Additionally, there were other desires that Xu Nuan couldn't quite identify.
"They're all Second Batch Players. I barely remember them; Amin should have a clearer recollection. I'll have her tell you later."
"Okay."
Gu Ze nodded and subtly moved closer to Xu Nuan, using his larger frame to shield her from the gazes of those second batch Players. Perhaps due to years of practicing martial arts, he was particularly sensitive to stares; it seemed that a few Players were paying too much attention to Xu Nuan.
The two of them braved the scrutiny as they approached He Min and Xie Huai.
"You all have made it to the highest point, but why haven't Deng Yinyin and the others arrived yet?"
Xie Huai's expression looked better than before they set off. Xu Nuan glanced at He Min and smiled, likely due to the influence of her mentor and friend.
"There's no rush; some members from both teams haven't arrived yet."
Gu Ze was quite pleased with Xie Huai's current demeanor. Seeing that he wasn't intimidated by the System's mission eased his mind significantly. At least this version of Xie Huai could be a great asset.
"Amin, while we wait, could you introduce those Players? I only remember their names; I didn't pay much attention to the details back then."
Xu Nuan understood the importance of knowing both oneself and one's opponents. Since they were currently in competition with other teams, having a clear understanding of the members in those teams would be beneficial, especially if unexpected situations arose where they needed to seize their statues.
"Sure, I've spotted quite a few familiar faces."
A faint smile appeared on He Min's lips, but it carried a hint of calculation. The others followed her gaze to see two teams several dozen meters away.
"First, take a look at the three people closest to us who have gathered their team and are preparing to search for the statue."
"The man in the drab Tactical Jacket, who looks under five feet seven and is short and stout, is named Xiong Qi. He's a sole proprietor, fifty-two years old. Though he may not look impressive, he's actually quite clever."
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