Passing by this strange tree, the group continued to move forward.
.
Their decision to keep moving was not made lightly. In this vast barren wasteland where not even a blade of grass grew apart from the strange trees, there could be lurking dangers they hadn’t anticipated.
Staying too close to the trees wasn’t a good idea since they still didn’t understand the rules of the “game” they were in. After encountering various horrifying creatures in the previous rounds, they couldn’t be sure if these eerie trees might suddenly sprout limbs and attack. However, standing out in the open wasn’t necessarily safe either. The seemingly barren land beneath their feet could just as easily become a monstrous threat.
The grid they were in was too desolate, with no shelter or rest areas in sight. They had walked for a long time without seeing any other plants or animals.
After passing several strange trees, Lu Chu stopped, surveyed their surroundings, and said, “We can rest here for a bit.”
They were in an open area with the strange trees far off in the distance. It seemed like a good spot to take a break.
Night fell, with only a sliver of moon and a few stars providing dim light.
The group unpacked their bags, ate some food, drank some water, and then took turns keeping watch while the others used their bags as pillows and lay down to sleep. Despite the discomfort of lumpy, uneven packs, everyone found a way to rest.
.
This grid was only slightly more challenging than an empty one. The monsters were not particularly hard to deal with; the main difficulty lay in their appearance, which could trigger fear or hesitation during battle. The monsters’ disturbing appearance was off-putting even for those without a phobia of clustered objects.
During the night, they were attacked by two monsters. 7 and Lu Chu, who were on watch, quickly killed one, and the recently awakened Yuan Kejie took care of the other. The rest of the night passed without incident.
It seemed the monsters’ activity aligned with human circadian rhythms, as they only faced two attacks during the night. However, at dawn, monster attacks became more frequent.
By noon, under the scorching sun, the attacks peaked. The sight of numerous monsters, naked and covered in countless eyes, charging at them was shocking, but everyone kept their composure. Even Yuan Kejie, who initially struggled, grew increasingly accustomed to the grotesque creatures.
Finally, after dealing with eleven monsters in a recent ambush, they had a moment to catch their breath.
“Last night was cool, but it’s so hot now I feel like I’m being roasted,” Yuan Kejie panted, wiping sweat from her face.
Fortunately, they still had some water. Otherwise, in this barren land, they would have had a hard time replenishing their supplies.
“It’s getting hotter,” Song Gui said, drenched in sweat. “In these conditions, constant fighting causes us to lose a lot of salt and water.”
Lu Chu shaded his eyes with his hand, looking up at the sky. The blinding sun hung directly overhead, its intense rays capable of scorching everything below. The heat shimmered off the ground, distorting the air.
The temperature was probably close to 40 degrees Celsius, with a chance of rising further.
Lu Chu licked his dry lips and said, “Maybe the difficulty of this grid isn’t just the monsters but also the harsh environment.”
Just then, a bottle appeared in front of him.
Lu Chu looked up to see 7 holding the bottle, offering it to him.
“Thanks,” Lu Chu smiled warmly and took a few sips from the bottle.
After drinking, he handed the bottle back to 7, who then twisted the cap back on, lightly brushing the spot where Lu Chu’s lips had touched.
.
As time passed, the heat intensified. Now, even wearing a backpack for a short time left their backs drenched in sweat.
Despite the extreme heat, they still had to fend off waves of attacking monsters. After several such battles, they were nearly out of water.
Roqi, dragging her backpack and carrying a shovel, had rolled her sleeves up to her shoulders. She glanced at Yuan Kejie and asked, “What time is it?”
Yuan Kejie squinted at the sun, estimating, “Probably one or two o’clock.”
Song Gui noted, “The hottest part of the day is around three. Even after sunset, it won’t cool down quickly. So, we have a long way to go.”
“And there’s no shade,” Lu Chu pointed to the strange trees in the distance. “Except for those… trees?”
Yuan Kejie sighed, “Let’s call them trees, even if they have more eyes than stars.”
Song Gui teased, “Seems like you’re getting used to it, comparing the eyes to stars.”
Yuan Kejie sighed again, “I have to…”
At this point, Qian Zhen suggested, “Should we rest under those trees?”
Yuan Kejie was the first to respond, “If it’s safe, let’s go. Don’t worry about me. I’ve gotten used to it.”
Song Gui laughed, “Sorry, but we weren’t planning on considering your feelings.”
Yuan Kejie: “…”
Safety couldn’t be determined by sight alone, so after a brief discussion, they decided to check the area. Whether the shade from the strange trees would provide any real relief was also uncertain.
.
The tree they chose was much larger than the others, standing tall and lush with foliage, though also covered in eyes.
They approached the shade with hope.
Qian Zhen: “…”
Yuan Kejie: “Do you feel anything?”
Roqi: “No.”
Song Gui: “Let’s go.”
Lu Chu and 7 exchanged a glance.
The oppressive heat was everywhere, not just in the sunlight. Standing in the shade made little difference.
.
Around three o’clock, the ground was so hot it could be felt through their shoes.
Roqi, frustrated by the sweat and discomfort, took off her shoes, hanging them around her neck and walking barefoot on the scorching soil. Her feet soon turned red from the heat.
Seeing this, Yuan Kejie commented, “Qiqi, your feet are going to be roasted.”
Roqi wiped her sweat, “It’s fine.” She then added, “And don’t call me Qiqi.”
The heat was unbearable for everyone.
Luckily, the monsters seemed to be avoiding the extreme temperatures as well, leading to fewer attacks.
.
They rationed their water, minimized movement, and avoided talking.
Following these rules, they endured until sunset.
As the intense heat finally began to subside, the air, though still filled with oppressive warmth, became more bearable.
At last, the tower appeared on the horizon like a savior. They rushed towards it and entered.
The cool, refreshing air inside the tower was a relief, allowing them to finally relax.
Yuan Kejie sighed, “It’s like being reborn.”
Song Gui declared he’d never want to experience a sauna again.
Lu Chu agreed, despite never having seen a sauna before.
Their lips were dry and cracked, a testament to the harsh conditions they had endured.
They took their seats and rested for a while before focusing on the next move. Last time, Qian Zhen had rolled a one, advancing only one square. This time, Yuan Kejie would roll the dice.
With a serious expression, Yuan Kejie held the dice, raised her hand, and, squinting, shook it vigorously.
“Ha!”
With a shout, she threw the dice with great force. It rolled for a long time before finally stopping on five.
Yuan Kejie sighed in relief, thankful she wasn’t like Song Gui or Qian Zhen.
Lu Chu complimented her, “Great roll.”
The others nodded in agreement.
This was their third time facing a blank square. Familiar with the process, they used the opportunity to rest, replenish their supplies, and restore their energy.
