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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Nuan had lost count of how many times she had run through the thicket. She paid no mind to the branches that grew wildly, nor did she care whether her companions were chasing after her. She was simply letting the unease in her heart control her.
The words of Zhang Xiao, Rao Tingxue, and Wang Yiyun echoed in her mind. It was impossible for everyone to be lying to her. Even if she assumed that ninety percent of what those three said was false, the remaining ten percent of truth, combined with what she understood from her memories, was enough to shatter the barrier of Rationality that held back her anxiety.
This stage was where three groups of Players had gathered, and it was also the closest she had ever been to the truth. She could not afford to give up this golden opportunity out of fear.
Seize the opportunity, uncover the truth, discover the Mastermind, and take revenge—this was her reason for staying in the game and her motivation to endure until now. Everything else no longer mattered to her.
The sound of gunfire shattered all her heartbeats, turning her back into the Xu Nuan who had been abandoned by everyone.
As the gunfire ceased, Xu Nuan feared she might have run in the wrong direction, so she quickened her pace, barely glancing at the ground beneath her feet.
This was an ancient forest, with towering trees and Old Vines entwined around them. The bushes were taller than a person, and a thick layer of fallen leaves covered the ground. Most of it had become slick and rotten from rainwater, making it difficult to traverse. A faint miasma lingered in the nearby dense woods, enough to make one dizzy and disoriented.
It was a harsh environment, and Xu Nuan, heedless of it as she followed the sounds, inevitably fell to the ground. Her already battered body received more wounds. This time, with a sprained ankle, getting back up proved difficult for Xu Nuan as she struggled against the leaves beneath her while the pain in her ankle hindered her efforts.
“Didn’t you hear me calling you from behind?”
A voice rang out above her, followed by two hands reaching down to grasp her ankle and twist it gently.
Xu Nuan gritted her teeth to suppress any sound and looked at Gu Ze squatting in front of her, momentarily unsure of how to respond.
She didn’t want to be coddled.
Once accustomed to such treatment, what would she do if it disappeared one day?
“I’m here now. If it hurts, just shout out. That way I won’t foolishly assume things and do something stupid.”
Xu Nuan's lips moved, but she still didn't make a sound.
Gu Ze continued to rub her ankle as he spoke.
"Even if you don't come out now, I can still figure it out. I suppose that's progress for me."
Xu Nuan suddenly clenched her hands on the ground. Her untrimmed nails dug into her palms, and the pain reminded her that what she heard was real.
"It could be dangerous; you should go back."
He was like a sun in her heart.
"Now that we're here, how can we go back?"
Gu Ze's voice carried a familiar warmth as he stood up and reached out to her.
"Let's go together, but you have to promise me that no matter what happens, you will ensure your own safety. Don't act recklessly or lose your cool over some strange occurrences."
Xu Nuan looked up at Gu Ze, who was rambling on like a concerned mother, and suddenly recalled the dream from last night. Aside from the ending that shattered everything, it had truly been a beautiful dream.
Placing her hand on Gu Ze's, Xu Nuan used his support to stand up, brushing off the dirt and leaves from her pants before nodding.
"I'll return those words to you: don't act recklessly. If you encounter danger, run."
Gu Ze chuckled softly a few times as they ran side by side toward the source of the gunfire, though their pace was noticeably slower than when Xu Nuan had run alone.
"Having me along is beneficial; I can discern sounds and their origins."
Xu Nuan felt a mix of warmth and helplessness. Here was a man who always wanted to show off his superiority but failed every time.
"You’re not a machine."
She realized that her inner unease had been slightly alleviated, and her Rationality had returned a bit. Lately, she had found herself losing control easily, often getting trapped in dead ends of Thought, but Gu Ze always managed to pull her back just in time, preventing her from breaking down.
Is this what it means to feel at ease?
Shaking her head, Xu Nuan stole a glance at Gu Ze's profile, her lips unconsciously curling into a smile.
The forest was vast, filled with numerous trees that somewhat muffled the sound of gunfire. The noises they heard were vague and indistinct, while the birds and animals in the woods fled in panic, creating a cacophony of sound. Yet, none of the beasts were running in their direction, which struck them as odd.
After running for a while, they thought they were getting close to the source of the gunfire. However, they saw no bloodstains, no bodies of people or animals, nor any scorch marks on the trees.
Xu Nuan and Gu Ze gradually slowed their pace and exchanged puzzled glances.
"We're not going the wrong way, are we?"
As soon as Xu Nuan finished speaking, another gunshot rang out—clearer than the previous ones but still at a distance.
Instinctively, Xu Nuan took a few steps toward the sound before stopping, hesitantly looking at Gu Ze.
"This gunfire is really leading us somewhere."
If they had come across bloodstains, corpses, or signs of a struggle, it would have been better. But the fact that they saw nothing only deepened her unease, a psychological pressure weighing heavily on her mind.
Xu Nuan's anxiety transmitted to Gu Ze. His purpose for entering the game was singular; while achieving that goal, he wanted to ensure Xu Nuan's safety within the game. Therefore, whether to act or not seemed meaningless to him.
"You decide."
Since everything seemed pointless, Gu Ze chose to fully respect Xu Nuan's decision.
Xu Nuan gritted her teeth, hesitating as she glanced in the direction of the noise and then at Gu Ze's trusting face. Ultimately, she decided to continue pursuing it. If anything felt off, she could always run back; she had to believe in her ability to escape.
The two of them continued running until they reached an area where the trees were spaced apart, providing a clearer view. Although the surrounding trees blocked much of the light, their path suddenly brightened. The ground was a yellow-brown soil with little underbrush, and the trees stood tall and straight, almost reaching the clouds.
After not hearing any gunfire for a while, Xu Nuan felt increasingly strange. This patch of land seemed prominent and odd within the forest. However, there was little bush or grass between the widely spaced trees; it was almost an endless expanse.
As soon as she and Gu Ze stepped onto that land, an eerie silence enveloped them. They could hear no wind, no rustling leaves, nor sounds of beasts running.
What Xu Nuan could hear was her own breathing; she could even hear her heartbeat.
At that moment, Gu Ze suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Just then, a dart flew past Xu Nuan and embedded itself in a nearby tree trunk.
As Xu Nuan regained her balance, she and Gu Ze simultaneously drew their short knives, watching the source of the dart as a figure emerged from behind a tree and clapped their hands.
"You two have quite some skills."
Xu Nuan and Gu Ze took a step back, warily observing the newcomer.
A middle-aged man, appearing to be in his thirties, stood there, his tall frame reminiscent of Gu Ze. His skin was slightly dark, and he sported an extreme hairstyle. His features were ordinary, but his gaze was sharp and penetrating. He wore a brown Tactical Jacket and was casually toying with a dart in his hand.
"First batch of Players?"
Xu Nuan was momentarily taken aback, scrutinizing the middle-aged man while remaining wary of his movements, fearing he might suddenly pull out a gun. Gu Ze had already positioned himself to Xu Nuan's right front, gently gripping her right hand with his left, subtly blocking the man's scrutinizing gaze.
Xu Nuan felt a brief pause at this protective gesture, but after a second, she resumed her focus on the middle-aged man.
The man's expression remained unchanged, yet he let out a cold chuckle as he twirled the dart in his hand.
"At this point, what does it matter what batch you're in? It's truly laughable."
Xu Nuan frowned, but before she could respond, Gu Ze spoke up first, his tone slightly chilly.
"Did you hear any sounds just now?"
"What sounds?"
The middle-aged man feigned sincerity, his voice taking on a sinister edge. "I heard many sounds—the cries for help from people, their screams, and the sound of something being devoured."
A chill ran down Xu Nuan's spine. Despite the absence of wind, she felt a cold breeze brush against her back. Unconsciously, she broke free from Gu Ze's grip on her sleeve and instead clasped his hand. The warmth of his touch offered her a small sense of reassurance.
Seeing their interaction, the man suddenly grinned widely, his smile appearing quite sinister.
"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sun Ming, one of the main Designers of this game. Welcome to this game; enjoy your journey through death."
Xu Nuan was startled and instinctively took a step back, but Gu Ze suddenly tightened his grip on her hand.
This was the third Game Designer she had encountered, and the first one to openly admit his identity as a Designer.
"Was it you who used the gunshot to draw us here?"
Perhaps sensing Xu Nuan's fear, Gu Ze decided to abandon any pretense of playing games with the man named Sun Ming and got straight to the point.
Sun Ming paused for a moment, then quickly returned to his expressionless demeanor.
"This game will not provide firearms; you must have misunderstood."
Xu Nuan furrowed her brows, looking at Sun Ming with suspicion, trying to detect any signs of deceit on his face. However, Sun Ming remained unfazed by her intense gaze and continued speaking.
"One of you looks familiar, while the other is a stranger. If both of you are willing, perhaps we can go together to resolve everyone's crisis."
Xu Nuan particularly disliked hearing phrases like "I know you," "I've seen you before," or "You look familiar." She always felt that such words carried unsettling implications behind them.
As usual, Gu Ze spoke up before she could respond.
"It doesn't matter whether we're willing or not. You need to explain this so-called familiarity, who exactly 'everyone' is, and what kind of crisis we've encountered before we can decide whether to follow you. Or do you think you can take on two of us and have a chance of winning?"
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