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墨書 Inktalez
Throughout a person's life, they will encounter countless choices, from which flavor of lollipop to buy to matters of life and death. Most people, during their school years, have both loved and hated multiple-choice questions; they loved them because even if they didn't know the answers, there was still a chance to score, and they hated them due to the numerous traps hidden within.
Xu Nuan and her three companions were now faced with a perilous multiple-choice question filled with dangers and unknown traps.
The timing of the volcanic eruption was uncertain. If they did not go to save Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai, they would undoubtedly perish. However, if they did go to rescue them, it was possible that those who went would lose their lives as well.
As they had initially thought, they had no right to complain about Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai's choices; that was their prerogative. At the same time, Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai should bear the consequences of their decisions.
Yet, Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai were their companions. To stand by and watch them die would surely become a nightmare for the rest of them.
Xu Nuan fell into deep contemplation, unable to make a decision. As she looked around, she noticed that the expressions of the others were equally varied and complex.
If Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai had not made a choice that disappointed everyone, perhaps they wouldn't be overthinking this situation.
No one knew whether the Designer had set a trap for Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai or if there was another trap laid out for the four of them. Without careful consideration, they could easily lose their lives.
While everyone remained silent in thought, the voice of the System suddenly echoed in the air.
“To ensure the normal progression of each Survival Game, you have only fifteen minutes to deliberate. After fifteen minutes, if you have not made a choice, the System will make one for you without accepting any objections.”
Already feeling flustered, Deng Yinyin snapped back in frustration.
“Do you people have no conscience? Do you need to see someone die before you feel happy? This is madness! What harm would it do to let us think a little longer?”
The System remained unresponsive and did not speak again.
Deng Yinyin shouted for a while, her face flushed with anger, until Xu Hang finally silenced her.
"They just love to see you like this; don't satisfy them."
Xu Nuan completely agreed with Xu Hang's words. In her eyes, anyone capable of designing a Death Game must have a twisted and perverse mind. However, she shouldn't waste her time seeking validation; instead, she needed to resolve the current predicament as quickly as possible.
What would Gu Ze do?
The first person that came to Xu Nuan's mind, caught in her dilemma, was Gu Ze, who was squinting at the large screen. Following Gu Ze's gaze, she saw two people on the screen struggling desperately and shouting.
She could only read their lips, and it was clear they were saying "Help!" She didn't miss the pain etched on Tang Jingshu's face either.
Hanging over a volcanic crater, this experience was no different from lingering at the gates of hell.
Xu Nuan sighed; she had made her choice.
Now it was time to see what the others would decide. The Minority Obeys the Majority—this was the best option.
Xu Nuan hesitated on how to ask for the others' choices when suddenly Gu Ze grabbed her hand.
"Whoa."
Xu Nuan gasped, her entire body frozen in shock as she stared at Gu Ze, too startled to pull her hand away.
While she was horrified, the others were merely surprised.
But at that moment, Xu Nuan couldn't care less about their astonishment. She stared blankly at Gu Ze, waiting for him to provide an explanation. However, Gu Ze avoided her gaze entirely and turned his attention to the astonished Xu Hang and Deng Yinyin.
"We chose to save them. Besides the fact that they are our companions, I will explain the other reasons later. How about that?"
Xu Hang and Deng Yinyin, still processing the situation, nodded obediently. However, Xu Nuan noticed Gu Ze pressing the button with satisfaction and then pulling her along as they stepped outside first.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Xu Nuan was so shocked that she didn't pull her hand back. Later, she lamented how long her reflexes were, allowing someone to take advantage of her.
It was the first time Xu Nuan had seen someone so confidently hold a member of the opposite sex's hand and then let go without any explanation, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Once they left the passage, everyone emerged from Cypress Forest, and Gu Ze casually released Xu Nuan's hand.
Xu Nuan waited eagerly for his explanation—perhaps he had grabbed the wrong hand. Or maybe he had a habit of holding onto something when making decisions, and she just happened to be standing there at that moment. Or perhaps he wanted to shock the other two into making the choice he desired.
Gu Ze said nothing, acting as if nothing had happened.
Left without answers, Xu Nuan had to endure the complex gazes from Xu Hang and Deng Yinyin.
For the first time in her life, Xu Nuan felt wronged. Too embarrassed to speak up, she used a piercing stare to compel Gu Ze to say something.
Gu Ze finally spoke.
"Let me explain why I made that choice."
Xu Nuan conceded defeat and listened rationally as Gu Ze continued.
"If we hadn't saved them, their chances of survival would have been zero. At first, I was worried that our choice to save them was exactly what the Designer wanted because Xie Huai and the others only fell into the trap after choosing 'yes.' I even considered whether choosing 'no' might give them a chance at survival."
Gu Ze paused and glanced towards Xu Hang and Deng Yinyin, an action that made Xu Nuan grit her teeth, yet she had no choice but to continue listening.
"Later, I thought about it again. If we choose 'n', they will die, and the path for us to leave this level will be a trap just like theirs. Considering this, the success rate of choosing 'yes' isn't high either, but it might not be a trap. After all, the Survival Game we are currently in is quite advanced, primarily focused on survival. Those games that involve strategic considerations should be much further back."
Xu Nuan had been confused by Gu Ze's repeated mentions of 'yes' and 'n', feeling completely lost. However, upon hearing the last sentence, she couldn't help but cast a doubtful glance at Gu Ze.
Where did he get the confidence that the subsequent Survival Games would involve strategy? Although she thought it was quite possible, she didn't share Gu Ze's certainty. Moreover, Gu Ze had previously shown no opinions about the game design at all. This sudden shift felt very strange.
Xu Nuan found Gu Ze odd and realized it wasn't a good time to ask questions, so she temporarily suppressed her thoughts.
Meanwhile, Xu Hang and Deng Yinyin quickly accepted Gu Ze's viewpoint and agreed to head up the mountain immediately.
"Huff."
With a very complicated mood, Xu Nuan fell to the back of the group. This time, unlike before, Gu Ze didn't linger at the back as well; to Xu Nuan's eyes, it seemed like he was feeling guilty about something. As for what that something was, that would have to be verified later.
The volcano already had numerous vents of varying depths. Previously, these vents had only emitted thin wisps of gas with a faint sulfur smell. However, now they seemed to be wound up like clockwork, operating at a much faster pace as thick gas quickly spread around everyone.
"Cough cough."
Xu Nuan covered her nose and quickened her pace, trying not to fall too far behind the others.
Not only that, but Xu Nuan also sensed movement within the mountain; the occasional sound of falling rocks echoed in her ears, making her anxious. She could already feel the ground trembling beneath her feet.
The few animals on the volcano had started to flee down the mountain. Turning back to look, Xu Nuan thought she saw trees collapsing in the misty haze.
This was undoubtedly the most thrilling scene she had ever encountered.
They had no idea when the volcano would erupt, which meant they were in danger at any moment.
Volcanic lava—this was a word that terrified Xu Nuan. She didn’t believe they could escape the lava when the volcano erupted and reach a safe area.
Their only chance was to ascend the mountain as quickly as possible, rescue Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai, and then descend at top speed to safety.
From what she remembered from the data she had seen, dormant volcanoes often erupted without warning, and the range of the lava flow was not extensive. She hoped that the Game Designers hadn’t taken it to that extreme.
If they had manipulated the exact eruption time, deliberately causing it to erupt after rescuing Tang Jingshu and Xie Huai or during their escape, then all six of them would have no way out.
Xu Nuan had already started running; a wave of heat hit her face, but behind her was a chilling cold, her feet caught between warmth and coolness.
She should trust Gu Ze. His calm decision must have been well thought out; there would surely be a turning point. Since she had joined this team, she needed to believe in its leadership.
This was how companions and teams should be.
Xu Nuan steeled herself and sprinted alongside Deng Yinyin and the others.
As they fought against gravity and ran uphill, their distance from the volcano’s mouth rapidly decreased.
The closer they got to the crater, the more they could feel the tremors of the mountain; the vents were increasingly active. If they weren’t careful, they could easily stumble and roll down.
For safety's sake, Gu Ze suggested that everyone slow down to avoid the vents before accelerating again.
Xu Nuan was not surprised that the leader had suddenly become Gu Ze; what puzzled her was Xu Hang's ever-changing expression.
As she dodged a jet of steam, she heard Xu Hang's voice.
"Actually, if I had encountered that Hidden Level, I would also choose to end the game immediately."
Deng Yinyin quickly chimed in, "I won't be ashamed to admit it; I would choose to end the game too. After all, we were all forced into this game. If leaving means receiving a compensation of one hundred million, it's no wonder those two would be tempted. Thinking about it this way, I don't really need to be angry with them."
Xu Nuan smiled, realizing they were all playing a game of truth.
"If I were part of the Third Batch of Players, I would also choose to leave."
Unfortunately, she was a voluntary participant in the Second Batch of Players. Until she achieved her goals, nothing could sway her heart. Once she accomplished what she set out to do, then those temptations might hold some appeal.
At that moment, Xu Nuan suddenly recalled Gu Ze discovering the Hidden Level. When they arrived, there had been signs that the Survival Game had been activated. According to the game's rules, a Hidden Level only activates for the first person to arrive. So Gu Ze must have seen the content of that Survival Game before returning to call them over.
If that were true, then hadn't Gu Ze already made his choice?
As someone who was forced into the game, why would he make such a decision?
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