As dawn broke, the mist rose from the dense forest, creating a light fog. After the rain, the trees looked even greener.
A broken branch lay nearby, and other branches were clearly pressed down by something.
The rain from last night hid many traces.
It was the second day of the game, 8 AM.
The system announced: [Remaining players: 85. Remaining S-rank players: 10.]
Five more players were gone.
After packing their things, Ye Nianchu and Qin Mubai left. They didn’t plan to stay long, especially after last night’s events.
They needed to find clean water quickly. Their supplies were sufficient but wouldn't last long.
The rainforest was filled with tangled branches and vines. Even though the sun was bright, the light barely reached the ground, and the thick leaves blocked most of it.
With no clear path, they chose a direction and marked the trees with a knife at intervals.
Ye Nianchu hoped to find some mushrooms along the way, but after an hour, all she saw were toxic ones.
Half a day passed, and they only found two pools of stagnant water and some sour fruits.
The game was tough.
No extra points or S-rank abilities were allowed.
It was a balanced challenge.
They rested under a large tree, ate a little, and then continued walking.
After about half an hour, the path finally opened up a bit.
They heard voices and quietly approached.
A group of three players was moving ahead.
The tall man at the front impatiently urged, “Chen Can, why are you lagging behind?”
“I feel more and more itchy,” Chen Can said, scratching his back, looking uncomfortable. “Dai Jie, Wu Min, can you check?”
Dai Jie and Wu Min turned, frowning. When they saw Chen Can's back, they stepped back in shock.
“Don’t you feel anything else?” Wu Min asked.
Chen Can realized something was wrong. “What’s on my back?”
The others exchanged worried looks. “There are bugs in your skin,” Dai Jie said.
Chen Can paled, quickly checking his arms. He saw bugs eating his skin—anyone would be scared.
“Help me,” he pleaded.
“What if the bugs get on us?” Wu Min shook her head.
“And we don’t have any disinfectant. Even if we help, your wound could get infected,” Dai Jie added.
They thought Chen Can was a liability. It was already merciful not to kill him for points.
The silent bugs could easily drill into his skin, and they didn’t want to take that risk.
Chen Can felt despair. Just as he was about to step forward, Wu Min warned, “If you move forward, don’t blame us for being harsh.”