Zhou You wasn't interested in their quarrel and asked Miao Miao, "Does this mean our group can't team up anymore? We used to go in and out together."

Miao Miao replied with a sigh, "Yes, but I've heard that a group of fewer than five acquaintances isn't restricted. We can split into two groups."

Shao Qi tapped Zhou You's shoulder, suggesting, "How about a competition today?"

"Compete in what?"

"Each of us leads a group. Whichever group scores higher today wins."

Zhou You glanced at Shao Qi and his subordinates, thinking: This is hardly fair. Their team's coordination is unmatched. The most crucial thing between teams is cooperation.

Seeing this, Shao Qi laughed, "How about I switch with you? You can team up with my three."

Zhou You pondered but declined, "No need. I don't have a rapport with them. Who knows if they might intentionally sabotage me?"

Miao Miao retorted immediately, "I'd never do something like that. Rapport can be developed! If we work together a few times, our coordination might even surpass that with the boss!"

Cheng Yuran, happy at the prospect of teaming with Zhou You and not having to see Shao Qi, quickly pulled Zhou You away, "Ignore her. With us, our team will undoubtedly win! We've already spent half an hour here; let's not waste more time."

Zhou You waved at Shao Qi. Upon leaving the city, he found out the vehicle rental rules had changed. Armored vehicles didn't need to be fully occupied. They rented two vehicles for their group of four and then each used a teleportation token, instantly arriving hundreds of kilometers away in the deep mountains.

Chapter 159: The Competition

Zhou You was dumbfounded. Their teleportation landed them directly into a wolf den, an area densely populated by wolf packs. Dozens of wolves noticed the humans who had suddenly appeared in their territory and circled around them, snarling menacingly.

"Damn, what rotten luck is this?" Cheng Yuran unsheathed his sword, chuckling to Zhou You, "Captain, your luck isn't bad. If we wipe out this wolf pack, our score today will definitely surpass the other team's."

Long Gan stood back-to-back with him, holding a large hammer in one hand and a blade in the other, scoffing, "You wish. How could the four of us possibly kill so many wolves?"

"If we die, so be it. We have two more lives anyway. Killing a few will make it worth it."

Zhou You didn't waste words with them. Given the situation, their only option was to fight their way out. "Let's begin. Attack!"

A large pack of wolves was a disaster; they were coordinated in their assaults. Faced with four prey, they swiftly divided based on the threat each presented. Zhou You was surrounded by thirty wolves. He held a dagger in each hand and kept a ring of throwing knives swirling around him, offering 360-degree protection. Even then, wolves managed to harm him from various angles, but the number of wolves he killed was increasing.

Over at Li Yunxi's side, there were only about ten wolves. She wished to quickly finish them off to aid Zhou You, but every time she tried to break free, the wolves closed off her escape route.

"This game is so frustrating! Did they enhance the intelligence of these wolves? They even use tactics!" Cheng Suyan decapitated a wolf with a swing of her sword, only to be immediately slashed on the back, decreasing her health by ten percent.

"Stay focused, keep moving. Be fast and precise with your attacks!" Zhou You controlled his game character to leap onto a tree branch. Of course, the mutated wolves could climb trees effortlessly. However, they didn’t need to; a few of them crashing into the tree was enough to topple it.

Zhou You hopped from one tree to another, confusing the pursuing wolves. He intermittently threw knives to harass them. If these were not data-generated wolves, they'd surely be angered by his tactics.

The others, seeing Zhou You’s success, tried to emulate him, but to no avail. They hadn't obtained the same martial arts skills as Zhou You. Everyone envied Zhou You's superior inner strength, which allowed him to control weapons from a distance.

From his vantage point in the tree, Zhou You noticed that Long Gan was having the easiest time, even though he was up against the largest number of wolves. Long Gan was skilled in luring them and deploying the deadly "Heavenly Silk" trap, a previous reward he had obtained. Wolves that charged into the nearly invisible threads had their heads cleanly sliced off.

"Impressive! When we get out, I'll find this 'Heavenly Silk' in the market. It's perfect for ambushes," Cheng Suyan commented while fighting.

Zhou You briefly examined the Heavenly Silk. The game's tactile feedback was different from reality, so he couldn't be certain if this weapon matched what he knew of the Heavenly Silk. If it were this potent, it would be immensely useful for hunting trips in the future.

Initially, everyone was relatively at ease. Despite the relentless attacks, they could afford to exchange a few words. But as time wore on and their health dwindled, the wolves became more ferocious, and everyone was left fending for themselves.

Zhou You lost track of his score. With every wolf he killed, a chime would sound, indicating his score. But as the battle intensified, these sounds faded into the background, replaced by a single thought: "Kill!"

Everyone assumed they'd be revived at a respawn point if the wolves killed them. However, after two and a half hours, none of them had died. Cheng Suyan was in the worst shape, with only ten percent of his health remaining, while Li Yunxi was slightly better off but still struggling.

After two and a half hours, a system notification sounded, indicating their time was up and forcing them to log out. Only Zhou You remained.