Chapter 5

"Mechanisms? No way, right?" After staring at the map in his hand for a while, the leader became a bit doubtful. The dangerous spot marked on the map was further ahead at a turning point, but there was no such marking here.

Try it?

Well, since there's a risk, it's better not to try.

The three-meter distance was barely manageable; with some effort, it could be done... but first, he had to take off the heavy equipment he was wearing!

A quicksand trap was triggered when one of them failed to jump the distance. Zhengchen was also a bit stunned; he only sensed danger but saw nothing amiss in the surroundings, including the ground, which looked no different from the rest. Yet, it could trigger such a quicksand trap.

"Here, take this." Without hesitation, the leader handed the map to Zhengchen. Although he still had doubts about him, he was somewhat relieved at this moment.

Otherwise, if they had only relied on the map, they would have lost some of their group just now.

Zhengchen looked at the incomplete map in his hand, clearly the important parts had been torn away. He didn't mind and carefully examined the map.

After walking to the turning point marked on the map, he looked around carefully, not missing any detail, and then walked through without any danger.

He had explored many ruins in the wasteland, but most of them didn't have any mechanisms or traps. The main concern was the risk of collapse due to disrepair.

The structure around this place was very solid, but it was also very dangerous. He could feel a chill from the moment they entered.

"Leader... this map isn't reliable," Sihai Guiyi couldn't help but say after seeing Zhengchen's actions.

The leader gave Sihai Guiyi a harsh look, "You talk too much. Want to scout ahead?"

"No way! I might end up sacrificing myself after just a few steps!" Sihai Guiyi said, sweating profusely. Just as he finished speaking, he saw Zhengchen suddenly stop and stare straight at him.

This made him feel guilty, "Run!!"

"Huh? What?" Sihai Guiyi and the others were still dazed, but Zhengchen slightly tilted his head. On any other day, he wouldn't bother to remind them of such foolish behavior.

"Your voice is too loud!"

Zhengchen said in a deep voice. The leader, feeling the slight vibration under his feet, couldn't help but exclaim, "Damn!" The tunnel wasn't wide, so the vibration must have been caused by something heavy approaching!

"Run quickly!!"

Without hesitation, they followed Zhengchen and ran. The next moment, the wall behind them rumbled, and a boulder that filled the entire tunnel rolled over!

Zhengchen looked at the tunnel around him with a hint of helplessness. When the ground started to slope downward, he felt uneasy. If the map wasn't fake, it wouldn't have marked this spot specifically.

The boulder behind them emitted a crushing sound, and if the players hadn't thrown off their heavy equipment to jump over the quicksand pit, they wouldn't have been able to outrun the boulder.

Moreover, the tunnel was unusually long... He quickly glanced at the map in his hand; the route was winding, and this particular section was the longest!!

"Leader! I can't run anymore... forget it, you guys keep going!" A player at the back, panting, shouted. Even though the speed improvement in the game was fast, he hadn't focused on it much and couldn't keep up.

Zhengchen glanced back and shook his head lightly. He could have held on a bit longer but decided to give up?

The player stopped and bravely charged towards the approaching boulder, which surprised Zhengchen.

"Remember to treat me to a good meal when you get back!"

The player didn't last a second, being crushed under the boulder and disappearing in a flash.

"..."

Strange way to die.

The others didn't show much reaction, as if the one who died wasn't a companion but an ant.

Is this the mindset of 'players'?

Even with ordinary mental fortitude, they can do this...

"Old Liu really should have exercised more. Now he's like this." A player behind Sihai Guiyi panted, "Hey, we can't keep running like this, right?"

"Probably not... look, there's an incline ahead!!" Sihai Guiyi's eyes lit up, pointing ahead. The leader, running not far behind Zhengchen, glared at him.

"Shut up! You're too loud!"

Zhengchen didn't speak; he wasn't sure if there was any danger, but it might be a turning point?

When he stepped on the transition from the downhill to the uphill, his feet felt empty, and his body, which was leaning forward, made a cracking sound as it was forced to lean backward, grabbing the ground behind him.

Sihai Guiyi watched with wide eyes. That sound... it must have been a bone, and just hearing it made his waist ache.

After returning to the ground, Zhengchen quickly glanced at the approaching boulder, his expression heavy. He didn't expect the risk here to be so great and the situation so bizarre.

The ground looked normal but was empty, as if it were an illusion.

He quickly glanced at the map; this should be another dangerous spot in the tunnel. The map was rough, and if there were reference points, it could be more accurately confirmed. Without reference points, he could only cautiously explore.

He took a deep breath, crouched down, and jumped forward with all his strength. There was no time to hesitate; either he would fall or be crushed.

Landing on solid ground, Zhengchen breathed a sigh of relief. As the boulder approached, Sihai Guiyi and the others were too anxious to speak, and they all jumped forward with all their might from where Zhengchen had jumped.

Except for one unlucky one who hit the edge of the depression, the others managed to jump over, a distance of about three meters.

Slightly larger than the diameter of the boulder.

"This is amazing, an illusion." Sihai Guiyi touched the edge of the depression, looking at his finger that had penetrated the illusion, and said in surprise, "How is this done?"

"Who knows." The leader slapped Sihai Guiyi on the forehead, "You, be quiet and don't cause trouble."

"Take a break."

Leaning against the wall, Zhengchen, sweating, said in a low voice. Forcibly adjusting his body in mid-air had caused him considerable damage.

Are these people here to seek death? They didn't bring any specialized equipment from the start, and their weapons were ordinary.

Looking at the route on the map, Zhengchen felt a bit helpless. If this continued, he wouldn't have much confidence, and bringing along a group that was basically useless would lead to trouble.

"My suggestion, go back, prepare, and come again."

"No, we don't have time." The leader said decisively, also regretting not preparing more earlier. They had received the map too hastily and had no extra time to prepare. This thing couldn't be kept after the beta test ended.

Moreover, the game developers had specifically stated that the public beta test time was only ten days, which was too short...

"Alright."

Zhengchen didn't say more. At this point, he couldn't leave, and if he gave up, these players would likely team up against him. He didn't want to waste his energy on this.

Continue forward.

The dangerous spots recorded on the map, except for the initial quicksand trap near the entrance, had no errors.

Even though some traps were special, they managed to pass through with some danger.

"We're here, this is it." The leader, looking at the remaining two teammates, took a deep breath. The journey had been exhausting!

If they hadn't encountered this mysterious young man, they wouldn't have made it here.

"I'm not going in."

At this point, these players began to subtly reject him. Looking at the player blocking the stone door, Zhengchen said calmly, focusing on other matters.

The risks they encountered along the way, though dangerous, were within their capacity, as if they had been adjusted specifically. It was too coincidental.

"Uh... thanks then." Sihai Guiyi smiled awkwardly, knowing that he had received a lot of help from Zhengchen to get here safely.

The other teammates weren't so lucky.

"Sure."

Zhengchen nodded, watching Sihai Guiyi and the others enter the secret room, and shook his head. He was curious about what was inside, but... forget it.

What happened next was no longer his concern. Thinking about going back, he noticed the marks he had left on the wall had disappeared.

Checking other areas, the same thing happened. A chill ran down Zhengchen's spine. This place was not ordinary. Without hesitation, he quickly left.

The players' affairs were no longer his concern. Along the way, Zhengchen had heard many of their conversations. They were immortal... in this world, they were immortal. Dying meant their character data would be reset, but it wouldn't affect their 'real' selves.

Moreover, their beta test time was running out. What would happen after the beta test ended?

Zhengchen didn't know how to leave, but the players seemed to offer a possible way out?