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Chapter314
Not only was Zhou You stunned for a moment, but the pack of wolves also paused briefly, then simultaneously flocked towards him.
Cursing under his breath, Zhou You had to exert himself fully to counter. Even though the four of them had just slain many, who knows if this pack of wolves had generations living here? It felt endless.
"I have half an hour left. Shao Qi is in the same situation. So, we're the only two fighting solo in the game. Strangely, even though we aren't at the same location, knowing Shao Qi is also here gives me courage," he muttered, "I must hold on until the last second, killing as many as I can."
What Zhou You didn’t realize was that, due to a new rule, scores of players initially ahead of him and Shao Qi hadn't changed today. Presumably, they were all caught up in skirmishes. But scores for Zhou You and Shao Qi kept fluctuating. When players noticed, they posted about it on forums. All players in-game watched as these two scores jumped, with Shao Qi leading one moment and Zhou You the next.
Some even set up betting pools, wagering on who would end with the highest score. Soon, bets shifted to predicting their final rankings.
Shao Qi's location wasn't any better than Zhou You's. While Zhou You faced numerous wolves, Shao Qi was transported to a cave. The group stood in the middle, with mutant beasts likely deeper inside and an exit behind. After a quick discussion, they decided to move out. Whatever dwelled within this vast cave had to be massive, and they weren't sure they could take it down.
If they were to compete with Zhou You's group for points, they needed the fastest scoring method. Taking down big bosses wasn't viable. They'd defeated a few before due to good fortune, but not all would be so easy. Their targets remained mid-level mutant beasts to earn points through quantity.
However, before they could leave the cave, Zhuo Hao stepped on a stone, making a faint noise. A roar echoed, shaking the cave as if it might collapse.
"Run!" The four dashed towards the exit, but froze in shock as they saw a group of mutant beasts of various kinds waiting outside. Oddly, they were lying down lazily, not fighting each other – a bizarre sight.
But when these beasts saw the humans emerge, their demeanor shifted instantly. No longer lazy, they began encircling the cave entrance.
"Boss, what do we do?"
Shao Qi glanced back at the dark cave. He couldn't discern what lurked inside, but his intuition told him retreating inward was a dead-end.
"Fight our way out! This even saves us the trouble of seeking them out one by one." Indeed, the mutants gathering together in one place made things more convenient.
The group had excellent synergy. The mutant beasts lacked such coordination, sometimes accidentally clashing with each other, which offered Shao Qi's group numerous opportunities.
Still, they were overwhelming in number and unpredictable in attack, catching the team off-guard and causing injuries.
Knowing they had less time and strength compared to Shao Qi, Zhuo Hao and the others instinctively shielded him, blocking several attacks.
This strategy had its cost. Miao Miu ran out of time and was revived at the respawn point. She debated using a teleportation scroll to help again.
Before she could decide, Qin Li Feng also appeared at the respawn point. He patted her and said, "No need to go back. I reckon we've got this win secured. Such luck to encounter so many mutant beasts at once!"
Miao Miu rolled her eyes, telling him to check the leaderboard. While they were fortunate, Zhou You was equally lucky. The race-like fluctuation of scores between the two teams entertained all the players spectating.
Touching his head, Qin Lifen asked her, "Shall we make another trip there?"
Holding the teleportation charm, Miao Miao hesitated before asking him, "Do you remember where we went just now?"
"How would I know? These teleportation charms work randomly, specifying only a distance. We never considered returning from where we came. Shao Qi set it to two hundred and eighty kilometers randomly. Unless we remembered our location before dying, it wouldn't be easy to return."
"Should we give it a try?"
"No, these teleportation charms are expensive. What are the odds of teleporting to the same location again?"
After waiting for about ten minutes on the spot, Zhuo Hao revived. The three exchanged glances, then made a round. Noticing a gambling bet, both Qin Lifeng and Zhuo Hao confidently bet on Shao Qi ranking higher. In contrast, Miao Miao discreetly placed her money on Zhou You, thinking, "It's not that I'm double-dealing, but it's risky to put all eggs in one basket. Moreover, if their leader confronts Zhou You, the outcome remains unpredictable."
Zhou You's eyes turned red with fury. Strangely enough, the closer he got to desperation, the longer he lasted. Each time he thought he'd perish, he dodged danger. The number of wolves dwindling until there were less than ten surrounding him.
Leaning against a tree to catch his breath, he thought, "In reality, after losing so many, the wolves would have fled. How could they fight to the bitter end?"
Wiping off the blood from his face and smelling it, he couldn't help but admit, "This game is eerily realistic. can actually smell the metallic scent of blood."
"Come on, final two minutes. Let's see whether you finish me off, or I take you down." Zhou You's mental energy was drained. He couldn't even control a flying knife. It was the first time since his retreat that he felt so depleted, and although it was in a game, the insights were real. He'd need to deeply reflect once he logged off.