Chapter 1510: Current Situation of Zone 017
Xu Huo had already read the game background introduction. The biggest difficulty of this instance was the tug-of-war between players; the most convenient way was for one side to give up clearing the instance and share information.
However, the format of this instance was six versus six. Excluding the four D-rank players and Xu Huo, who was fighting alone, one more person would have to be sacrificed.
The clearance rating would affect the players' rank upgrades. The two B-rank players were facing off, and neither was willing to let their own teammate become that sacrifice.
Xu Huo gave them an idea. "The red and blue sides each need six people. Counting the four of them, you each send out one more person. Fair and square."
The red-haired player and the combat suit player both turned to look at him at the same time. The former said, "Who the hell do you think you..."
Before he could finish, he and the combat suit player both frowned involuntarily. The person ten meters away hadn't changed his expression or movements, but they could feel the immense pressure radiating from him—players of the same rank couldn't even create such a strong sense of danger, let alone Xu Huo, who was a rank lower. This could only mean he was a Super Evolver, and a very powerful Mental Super Evolver at that.
The two weren't worried about their own safety, but their companions were clearly no match for Xu Huo. It wasn't worth becoming a lone commander just to clear a low-level instance.
In an instant, both B-rank players had made their decisions. However, the female combat suit player said, "Advanced players entering low-level instances have mandatory restrictions."
"You can't break the instance or the game rules." Otherwise, they might face punishment, the most severe being becoming a wanted criminal. Xu Huo smiled. "This is a competitive instance. Player casualties are too normal."
Neither side was willing to compromise immediately. Xu Huo didn't want to waste too much time here either. He raised his hand and gripped the Black Blade. "Quick victory?"
The red-haired player squinted at the Black Blade, his expression shifting slightly. He asked tentatively, "Where are you planning to go?"
"Zone 017." Xu Huo told him directly.
Straightforward and clear. The two B-rank players understood.
A C-rank Mental Super Evolver going alone into Zone 017—they knew exactly what that meant.
First of all, the cost of the props and instruments needed to enter a semi-open zone was extremely expensive. Whether it was spending such a large sum from buying and selling props, obtaining it from game rewards, or killing and robbing, it all indicated that this person was very strong.
And he was also very confident. Coming to Zone 017 was definitely for the Super Items. Although he might not necessarily have a chance to access them, the number of strong players who could enter Zone 017 was probably countless. Daring to go alone, to some extent, meant he had a confidence beyond ordinary people. At least both the red-haired player and the combat suit player had brought companions, sharing both the cost and the risk.
After a moment, the red-haired player was the first to back down, signaling with his eyes to an older player behind him.
That player was surprised but didn't dare to raise any objections.
Next was the combat suit player. She also called out one person.
Amid the confusion of their companions and the four D-rank players, the group began the instance.
The four D-rank players had no say at all. However, the two who had been singled out were confused and secretly found a chance to ask the leading B-rank players why they had to bow to a C-rank player.
"He's holding an A-rank prop." The red-haired player said in a low voice.
It wasn't unusual for wealthy players to buy a few good props, but a Super Evolver was already a standout among players. Combined with Xu Huo's solo trip to Zone 017, it was estimated that his strength could rival a B-rank player without issue. Their goal was the Super Items, and there would be plenty to do once they reached Zone 017. They shouldn't capsize in a ditch.
Besides, this didn't affect his rank upgrade.
"In the game, you can't just kill, kill, kill all the time. Sometimes you have to weigh the pros and cons. Don't waste energy on things with no obvious benefits." The combat suit player said to her companion.
With the disparity in strength and both sides keeping to their boundaries, the completion of this instance went very smoothly. Combined with the combat suit player's clearance strategy, Xu Huo obtained an S-rank rating along with them.
Since this was a D-rank instance, the rewards were given according to that rank's level. Whether it was props or anything else, nothing was particularly impressive.
After the red-haired player and the combat suit player had each used teleportation props to leave the instance venue with their companions, Xu Huo took out the "Doorbell."
After using the prop, a semi-transparent door appeared in the air in front of him. He raised his hand and gently knocked. As the realistic sound of knocking echoed, the door automatically swung open, and a swirling cloud of mist behind it sucked him in.
It was no different from using a ticket. In the brief darkness before his eyes, Xu Huo was transported to a strange and scorching city.
The temperature, already uncomfortable for the human body, wasn't due to the weather, but to the burning buildings in the city—a massive fire had already spread throughout the city. Thick smoke and flying ash mixed with various alarms that rose and fell, covering the sky and the ground. In the blurry vision, burning cars and destroyed houses were everywhere, along with burst pipes and fire hydrants spewing water columns, soaking large areas completely unrelated to the flames.
The entire city seemed to have just experienced a great disaster, but it had an eerie stillness. There were no human sounds. Apart from bloodstains and suspicious residues scattered throughout the city, there were also numerous traces of beast claws and teeth. However, now there was no sign of anything alive, as if all living things had been cleared out.
A toppled television on the street intermittently played the news:
"Zzz... zzz... incomplete statistics... canned goods mixed with human flesh from the factory have already caused... 89 victims... a large number of Cannibal Players appearing... the city is in panic... indirect victims are more than ten times the direct victims..."
"The number of humanoid beast monsters appearing in... city has reached... they massacred... citizens within five hours... highly contagious... rapidly spreading to surrounding cities... please ordinary citizens proceed to... shelters..."
"The AD conflict lasting one month... hundreds of thousands of casualties... Country A has fallen... Country D has abandoned the occupied territories... civil war breaking out..."
"...Nuclear war has left the major powers unable to care for themselves... at the same time, the establishment of Safe Zones is imminent..."
"Large-scale weapons are very effective against Xenomorphs... but poorly planned attacks have caused them to disperse and enter surrounding cities... player organizations and ordinary citizens are defending... heavy losses..."
"...Experts propose re-evaluating Cannibal Players... Cannibal Players may be incorporated into regular forces..."
"...Nuclear radiation has caused massive mutations in Xenomorphs... the nation warns... do not leave the Safe Zone without permission... if you are not in a Safe Zone... stay put and wait for rescue..."
"The nation's resources are limited. If you have been waiting for rescue for a long time, please strive to save yourselves. Though you are in darkness, you and I must firmly believe that dawn will come sooner or later!"
(Chapter End)