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墨書 Inktalez
The group was well-acquainted with swamps, having experienced various types throughout their journey. For the Third Batch of Players, the first swamp they encountered upon entering the game encompassed several different varieties. Although they had suffered greatly due to the swamp's unpredictability at that time, they had persevered and transformed their painful experiences into valuable lessons.
This newfound experience allowed them to navigate the Arrogant Swamp with a sense of ease, skillfully avoiding the traps designed by the System throughout the day. Compared to the others who were struggling and forgetful, their confident demeanor in facing challenges was somewhat admirable.
The Third Batch of Players had endured Survival Games just like the other two batches of Players. The difference lay in the fact that the Third Batch had faced unexpected hardships during those Survival Games, leaving a lasting impression on them.
Everyone understood the gap created by this experience, and by the second day, all players performed at a similar level.
This was a scene of collective satisfaction; whether it was He Min, who had been despondent and ready to give up, or Deng Yinyin and Xie Huai, who had previously underperformed but recently excelled unexpectedly, or Feng Feng, who often diminished her presence yet could not be overlooked due to her Herbal Fragrance, or any of the others who were originally quite skilled—everyone's performance was roughly equal at this moment. When there were no disparities, a team could achieve harmony.
Xu Nuan felt gratified that everyone had adjusted their states; however, her relief was soon shattered by the fast-paced nature of this level.
Their experiences in each level had always followed a similar pattern: entering the Survival Game, triggering mechanisms, completing corresponding tasks, finding the Special Tree, and reaching the Supply Station for rest. Whether it was the previous Biological Modification or later puzzles that left them perplexed, they were forced to adhere to this pattern as it appeared before them.
All players accustomed to progressing through levels had developed such habits, and this level's format remained unchanged—this was a source of comfort for them. However, while the format stayed consistent, the pace had shifted.
Previously formidable creatures and torturous mechanisms had allowed them ample time to fight, think, and choose. With sufficient time, their final choices tended to be more accurate. Despite feeling that the System was cruel and tasks were perverse in earlier Survival Games, they ultimately had time to analyze pros and cons.
Yet on the second day in Arrogant Swamp, this style of tasking was swept away by a strong wind and could not return.
Their experiences that day unfolded similarly: after walking three meters, they triggered a mechanism that required them to choose a type of swamp within three seconds.
What could one think about in three seconds?
As soon as they understood the question and options, time ran out. The System automatically made a selection for them. In an instant, their surroundings transformed dramatically; they found themselves thrust into a Nutrient-Deficient Swamp. Looking around revealed nothing but depressions and marshes; there were hardly any green aquatic plants in sight—everything around them was a dull yellow-brown that stirred unease within their hearts.
However, before Xu Nuan and the others could fully grasp the situation, they inadvertently triggered a mechanism. This time, it was not a choice they had to make; instead, a swarm of large, colorful spiders was released.
The spiders came from all directions, moving swiftly over the lowlands and swamps, leaving nothing alive in their wake.
The sheer lethality of these creatures sent chills down everyone's spines. The spiders surged forward like a tide, approaching them at an alarming speed. If someone were watching from a higher vantage point, they would see that Xu Nuan and her group were completely surrounded by these beasts. Once the spiders breached their final line of defense, everyone would be in mortal danger.
For others, this was a life-threatening situation; for Gu Ze, it was a nightmare come to life.
Gu Ze was not afraid of much, but he had always harbored a deep-seated fear of spiders. Once upon a time, he had even used these disgusting creatures to his advantage against Xu Nuan. Now, however, he found himself in a position where he could not only lose but might also get bitten.
Standing beside Gu Ze, Xu Nuan had yet to devise a plan to deal with the oncoming swarm when she noticed the tension radiating from him. Turning to look at him, she saw his face darkened with dread. Surprised, she realized what was happening and felt an urge to laugh, though she quickly suppressed it out of sympathy.
At that moment, Chi Xiaoming let out a low growl.
"Everyone, take out the powder that Feng Feng distributed earlier and scatter it with the wind!"
Indeed, Feng Feng was not someone who could join this well-established team without contributing something significant. Gu Ze and Chi Xiaoming had not provided much introduction about Feng Feng; after all, in the eyes of these individuals, the First Batch of Players were seen as the root of their troubles. While there was some misplaced anger directed at them, it was clear that they held little regard for the First Batch of Players. Yet under such scrutiny, Feng Feng showcased her expertise in pharmaceuticals.
Feng Feng was not a doctor but was well-versed in various medications. The supplies available at the Supply Station were too basic; if a Player encountered a serious accident, those supplies would be useless.
In this context, Feng Feng's presence became particularly crucial. Even Deng Yinyin, who had initially been exclusionary towards her, found herself softening her stance. When it came to self-preservation, any previous biases became irrelevant.
Just days prior in Hidden Valley, Feng Feng had provided them with some potent insect repellent powder. This powerful formula worked wonders; any insect that came into contact with even a small amount would begin to disintegrate immediately. However, humans would remain unharmed by this powder. This effectiveness stemmed from the ingredients used in its formulation; as for the rest—whether or not it worked—was left to the experts to determine.
When Gu Ze felt a chill run down his spine, Chi Xiaoming was the first to react. Without waiting for any further developments, he reminded everyone how to deal with the spiders.
In an instant, the group moved in unison, pulling off their backpacks and taking out packets of powder. They scattered the powder in the direction of the wind. The white powder floated through the air, quickly covering the nearby and distant spiders.
Within about three seconds of the powder landing, the outer layer of the spiders began to corrode away. Soon, they lost their ability to attack and gradually succumbed to death. However, a foul odor began to permeate the air, and looking around, they saw nothing but spider corpses stuck to the surface of the swamp, which not only was disgusting but also blocked their path.
They had quickly dealt with the spiders, but now they found themselves in an environment with terrible air quality, obstructed by the bodies of the spiders. This meant they were still trapped in their predicament.
The group exchanged glances, their faces pale—not from realizing how dire their situation was, but from being overwhelmed by the horrible stench.
"Cough cough!"
Xie Huai was the first to cover his mouth and start coughing. He was already weak from previous injuries and showed strong discomfort in this environment.
Similarly, Gu Ze's wounds had not healed either, but he managed to hold it together. That didn’t mean Xu Nuan wouldn’t be concerned. Originally planning to take things step by step, she immediately began to survey her surroundings for an escape route. However, after taking a few steps forward, she triggered a mechanism.
This time, they were faced with a choice of swamps again, with a time limit of three seconds.
Xu Nuan didn’t even look at the options; she reached out and pressed down immediately. To her, having a choice meant there was a way out. That was enough for her—she had no time to worry about what kind of swamp they would end up in.
Xu Nuan’s speed was too quick for the others to react. By the time they realized what had happened, their surroundings changed once more.
They couldn’t accurately determine what type of swamp they were in now; all they knew was that there were more varieties of plants than before and more greenery overall. Looking up, they could see several trees swaying in the wind.
The environment had improved, but the crisis had not diminished.
They had just managed to lift their spirits and taken a few steps forward when they heard hurried footsteps behind them. The sound of hooves striking the ground in the low area, splashing against the water, echoed like a call to the dead, sending chills down their spines once again.
Startled, the group stiffly turned their heads to see hundreds of deer charging toward them. These deer were similar in size to those they usually encountered, reaching up to the waist of an average adult, with their heads below that height.
However, none of them dared to look closely at these deer. They resembled the White-Lipped Deer they had seen earlier; their bodies were unchanged, but their antlers had been reinforced, appearing sharp and powerful. A single strike from those antlers could result in a fate like Yu Hao's—being disemboweled.
Upon realizing that the deer were rushing toward them in a furious stampede, they immediately turned and fled forward. As they ran, they loudly discussed how to handle the situation.
The swamp presented two particularly frustrating challenges: first, its vast openness left them with nowhere to hide if they were attacked and unable to defend themselves; second, the ever-present threat of being submerged by the swamp meant that one misstep could lead to a permanent slumber.
It was precisely because of this dire situation that everyone felt a strong resentment toward the fast-paced traps they faced.
Yet even though their grievances against the mechanisms and the game itself were intense, it was futile; the System would not take responsibility for its design. In the end, it was always the Players who suffered.
"What should we do? Should we split up to disperse their strength?"
This was Xu Nuan's urgent suggestion. The sheer number of deer was overwhelming; even with their numbers, they couldn't withstand such an onslaught. However, if they could scatter the deer’s focus, some might still have a chance to escape.
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