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Xu Nuan's words were too direct, causing Xu Hang's expression to darken, especially after she injected the Antidote and added, "It's a pity you still think of this as a Survival Game. The tactics that work in the city won't work here."
Her lightly sarcastic tone made Xu Hang's face turn as dark as ink.
Gu Ze was surprised; his friend was usually low-key and reserved, rarely losing his temper. It didn't make sense for him to change his expression so easily.
Well, Gu Ze could understand Xu Hang's dissatisfaction at this moment. As a man, having his opinion rebutted like that was a blow to his pride. However, like the saying goes, harsh truths are hard to hear. Although Xu Nuan's words were blunt and laced with sarcasm, they did help the group maintain a serious attitude toward the upcoming game.
Xu Nuan's expectations were not wrong. After injecting several Antidotes, Xie Huai slowly regained consciousness, and the pallor on his face faded significantly. Seeing this, Tang Jingshu piled more Antidotes in front of Xie Huai, hoping he would recover quickly.
When Xie Huai woke up, the first thing he saw was a bottle filled with Antidote. It took him a moment to focus on the people surrounding him.
"Am I saved?"
Xie Huai had lost his glasses in the sandstorm, which allowed Xu Nuan to see his eyes up close for the first time. They were long and slightly upturned at the corners. Unfortunately, despite their beauty, the owner of those eyes looked pale and trembled all over, a mix of relief from surviving and fear from the disaster.
Since Xie Huai's poison had been mostly neutralized, everyone felt relieved. Given that he hadn't fully recovered yet, they decided to proceed slowly in search of the Special Tree, allowing him time to recuperate and helping everyone calm their anxious hearts.
Xu Nuan walked with an indifferent expression on one side of the group, ignoring the occasional glances from Deng Yinyin on the other end. Inside, she felt a twinge of regret.
She should have chosen a different direction to look for the Special Tree when she woke up that morning. She had a nagging feeling that being with these people would push her to lose her temper.
Of course, it might also provoke others.
Meanwhile, Tang Jingshu's bright eyes made it difficult for her to voice her thought of wanting to tackle challenges alone.
The desert was nothing but yellow sand and pitifully sparse vegetation, stripped of its original colors by the winds that swept through it. The vibrant green they once knew was nowhere to be found.
As for oases in the desert or rivers nourishing life, they had no fortune to encounter such wonders.
As everyone wore masks, their words were carried away by the strong wind, becoming fragmented and indistinct. A few simply decided to forgo the effort altogether. Thus, they became a group of six people, silently traversing the desert, each one scanning the surroundings in search of those red figures.
But there was no sign of them.
When the blazing sun reached its zenith directly overhead, Xu Nuan touched her face and discovered it was covered in salt residue; she had unknowingly sweated so much.
Beside her, Tang Jingshu couldn't help but vent her frustrations.
"It feels like it's fifty or sixty degrees out here. Even a hot shower wouldn't be this scorching."
Deng Yinyin chimed in from the other side.
"Yet we only have one set of clothes to change into. Even if we did change, they'd be soaked with sweat immediately. I'd rather face challenges in a cold place than stay in this heat."
As soon as Deng Yinyin finished speaking, Xu Nuan turned to look at her. Though her face was obscured by the mask, her light brown eyes sparkled with intensity.
"What are you looking at me for?" Deng Yinyin asked, puzzled.
"Is there something on my face? Wait, I’m wearing a mask."
Xu Nuan turned away again and murmured softly, "It might actually be similar to a glacier survival game."
Deng Yinyin was taken aback; she had just wanted to complain and didn’t expect such seriousness in response. She thought to herself how she wasn’t unattractive but wondered why Xu Nuan seemed so dense.
Meanwhile, Tang Jingshu, feeling lightheaded from the sun's rays, remembered Xu Nuan's remark and added with sarcasm, "The designer of this game must be a real sadist."
This statement resonated with both Xu Nuan and Deng Yinyin.
"Only a pervert could design a game like this."
Supporting Xie Huai, Xu Hang and Gu Ze claimed they hadn't heard anything.
The advantage of not being part of the team was that they could encircle their prey, and having extra hands was a significant benefit.
Considering that Xie Huai had been poisoned and was in poor condition, and that he and Deng Yinyin had lost their backpacks, Gu Ze and Xu Hang decided to hunt to avoid future food shortages.
Despite the lasting impression left by the Red-Eyed Sheep in the previous level, maintaining a positive mindset was one of their strengths.
Xu Nuan discovered that they had encountered the Saltpeter Thicket once again, with large patches of reeds swaying nearby. At the same time, she spotted a plump wild rabbit.
Except for Deng Yinyin, who was physically exhausted, and the weakened Xie Huai, who stayed behind to guard the backpacks, everyone else instinctively pounced on the rabbit.
A perfectly normal rabbit, which ran quite fast; if luck was on their side, lunch could be resolved just like that.
Surrounding, chasing, blocking, and capturing.
This tactic was executed to perfection by the four of them. Although they ended up looking somewhat disheveled, they ultimately caught the plump rabbit.
Gu Ze skillfully gutted the rabbit while Xu Hang assisted him with the seasonings he had brought from the Supply Station. Xu Nuan and Tang Jingshu were responsible for gathering firewood and boiling water.
In over a month since entering the game, it was Xu Nuan's first real meal. Although it was just a few pieces of meat, she looked up at Gu Ze sitting across from the fire. The flickering flames danced across his lean face, softening his features and giving him an unexpectedly gentle appearance.
Xu Nuan's eyes held a hint of admiration—not because of his handsome looks but due to his skill in handling game. If they could catch wild game regularly and this man continued to process it, staying in this team wouldn’t be so difficult after all.
She certainly didn’t want to meet that person while looking emaciated and malnourished.
Xu Nuan silently made this decision in her heart.
After enjoying a delicious meal, everyone's spirits lifted; complaints decreased, and walking became much easier. Their afternoon journey exceeded their expectations.
Unfortunately, such good fortune did not help them find the Special Tree. As the last rays of the setting sun began to disappear beyond the horizon, everyone started looking for a place to rest for the night.
The desert, influenced by different air currents, formed dunes of various shapes. The swirling winds caused the accumulation of yellow sand, creating areas that could be deadly or provide shelter.
Gu Ze carefully sensed the wind direction and chose a spot on the side of a dune. The circular structure helped shield everyone from the wind, while the rapidly dropping temperature prompted them to find clothes and blankets to wrap themselves in as they figured out how to survive.
Xu Nuan had just set down her backpack when she heard a sound slicing through the air. Her body immediately tensed up, and her hand trembled as it rested on her backpack.
"Nuan, what's wrong?"
Tang Jingshu had just unzipped her backpack when she noticed Xu Nuan's defensive posture.
"I think," Xu Nuan's face turned pale as she slightly raised her head to look at several dark shapes rapidly approaching. Her voice was low and serious, "We need to leave right now."
The others followed her gaze upward and their expressions changed instantly.
Soaring toward them were creatures resembling large eagles, bigger than ordinary ones. Their sharp talons glinted coldly in the dim evening light, instantly reminding them of the Skeleton Monkey's limbs that could tear flesh apart.
Everyone instinctively packed their bags onto their backs and took off running.
However, legs could not outrun wings, especially since Xu Nuan and the others were running uphill, trying to escape this dune and avoid becoming dinner for these predators, which made their efforts even more strenuous.
Before long, those eagle-like creatures were circling above them.
"Those are Killer Eagles. As the name suggests, they feed on human flesh. As long as they are full, they won't attack others. You players will have to figure this out," came the System's voice without surprise.
The group had no time to feel angry or search for cameras and speakers; resolving the immediate crisis was their top priority.
In the thin twilight, the sight of three Killer Eagles' talons sent chills down everyone's spines. No matter how fast they ran, they couldn't escape their hunting range.
"Ah! My backpack!"
The first to scream was Tang Jingshu, who was closest to Xu Nuan. As Xu Nuan ran, she glanced back and saw a massive Killer Eagle gripping Tang Jingshu's backpack tightly in its claws. Despite Tang Jingshu's desperate struggles, her legs were slowly being lifted off the ground.
Xu Nuan lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Tang Jingshu's legs, managing to momentarily thwart the Killer Eagle's plan. However, she soon felt her own body being pulled away from the ground as well.
Could the Killer Eagle really possess such strength? Xu Nuan tried to lower her center of gravity. Meanwhile, Gu Ze rushed over quickly, straining as he yanked at Tang Jingshu's backpack. In that instant, the Killer Eagle soared upward, taking the backpack with it.
Was it better to lose food or lose a life?
Undoubtedly, they chose the former.
However, this brief pause forced Xu Hang, who was carrying two incapacitated individuals, to stop as well.
The six people slowly drew closer together back-to-back. Xu Hang urged Deng Yinyin and Xie Huai to move toward the innermost part of their circle. He randomly pulled out a folding shovel from his backpack. It looked like an unreliable weapon, but it was the largest among what he had brought and would be most effective against aerial foes.
Xu Nuan handed her folding knife to Tang Jingshu and took out a bayonet for herself, while Gu Ze produced a combat knife, his thumb resting on the handle.
At that moment, the three Killer Eagles circling overhead suddenly dove down.
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