Chapter 1823: Sliding into the Abyss
The "high intelligence" here does not refer to those degenerated players being able to think like normal people before engaging in combat, but rather their battle instincts surpassing ordinary mutated animals. They are not normal people, cannot respond to human speech, which allows them to evade the effects of traits and items to a certain extent. Their long-term life-and-death struggles in game instances have honed their instinct for efficient slaughter in critical moments. Therefore, when the nation and government were completely unprepared, Zone 010 suffered massive player losses, because those attacked by them also had a certain chance of degenerating.
The toxins from mutated animals seemed specifically tailored for players. In cases of direct contact, antidotes were completely ineffective. Moreover, the aberrations degenerated from players were more organized than ordinary people and more likely to obey commands. They instinctively selected a leader quickly, then coordinated hunting—some group-living animals could also do this, but degenerated players seemed more efficient, as if possessing "human" intelligence.
This degeneration outbreak among players dealt a heavy blow to Zone 010. It was from this point that players began to leave their districts one after another. The virus that could turn players into beasts in an extremely short time, combined with the fact that even their living places were no longer safe, plus the harsh external environment and the spread of Black Thorn Disease, made the player community feel that they simply could not hold back Zone 010 as it slid into the abyss. For their own safety and the safety of their families, some people began to cut their losses.
Once players started retreating, the first line of defense was basically on the verge of collapse. The aberrant swarms, which had been breeding somewhere unknown, returned in full force, quickly destroying large numbers of cities. The survivors in these cities then entered a new cycle of death and degeneration, causing the aberrant swarm population to snowball, growing larger and larger. After years of attrition and devouring, it gradually became the situation we see today.
What is lamentable is that the sharp decline in Zone 010's population actually became a major reason for the significant reduction in aberrant swarm numbers. No population meant no new aberrations joining and insufficient food. Cannibalism among their own kind was also a method of consumption.
Now, the native players who can still remain in Zone 010 are mostly those who cannot bear to abandon their homeland.
As for Chang Shoujie, from his first battle against cannibal players from other zones, to his first confrontation with aberrant swarms, to later establishing safe zones, killing degenerated companions, and constantly moving to resist aberrant swarms—over the past twenty-plus years, apart from completing instance dungeons, he has spent almost all his time defending Zone 010.
The period after the first batch of numbered safe zones largely disappeared, transforming into scattered safe zones and small camps, when he mobilized local players to resist players from other zones, was merely a small part of his turbulent and eventful life.
The safe zone in the center of the Sand Sea was originally established by Zone 010 locals. Chang Shoujie even participated in its construction. After it was completed, he went to help elsewhere. Unexpectedly, after he left for a while, the compatriots who had once fought alongside him and sworn to make Zone 010 better were left with no bones left. A group of cannibal players from other districts stole their achievements, using that place as a stronghold to ruthlessly harm Zone 010 people!
Even now, when Chang Shoujie mentions this past that he himself doesn't fully understand, he still grinds his teeth with every word.
"The Sand Sea Safe Zone was originally built as a cornerstone for Zone 010. We even placed a lot of thermal weapons inside, aiming to receive more survivors. Who would have thought that the people we painstakingly brought back would become reserve food for players from other zones!"
Hearing this, everyone present was filled with hatred for those outer zone players. Fan Yunhong said, "Can't we take it back? That's our territory!"
Chang Shoujie had been doing exactly that for the past few years. He used the thermal weapons purchased for the Sand Sea Safe Zone as a bargaining chip to find other safe zones, getting their players to participate. Unfortunately, he tried repeatedly and failed repeatedly. Later, his goal was no longer even to take back the safe zone, but to directly destroy it, ruin the comfortable habitat of those outer zone players, and force them to leave Zone 010.
Similarly, this did not succeed.
Because under such circumstances, some instances emerged. In the tug-of-war, more and more players failed to complete instances, and some of them gradually joined the cannibal player camp. Until a few years ago, Chang Shoujie, who had already shown signs of degeneration, became the most unwelcome person in Zone 010. With his somber exit, this resistance against outer zone players seemed to never be mentioned again.
"The environment in Zone 010 is bad. In the early years, no players were willing to come here for instances. Even if someone wanted to find a place to retire, they would choose a place with a good environment and plenty of food. Who would have thought that those cannibal players would come and refuse to leave?"
Chang Shoujie sighed, and it was also his question. "A place like Zone 010 can't even keep its own people, yet someone would voluntarily stay."
"And I spent nearly ten years, yet I couldn't successfully reclaim even a single piece of land that originally belonged to Zone 010 people from outsiders..."
His voice was hoarse, as if choked with sobs, but he quickly calmed down.
"Bang!" Gao Dawei suddenly slammed his fist on the table and roared, "This is so unfair!"
"Why! Why did you exhaust yourself for Zone 010 only to end up being spat upon by everyone?"
"This is unfair! This is unfair!"
"Maybe the remaining Zone 010 people have lost their blood and guts." "Deng Xiahei" suddenly interjected.
This remark earned him a glare from Gao Dawei.
"Dawei." Chang Shoujie stopped him. "They didn't spit on me. It's just that they truly have nothing left to sacrifice."
"No strength, no supplies. Should they repeatedly send the last remaining people of Zone 010 to their deaths in the Sand Sea Safe Zone?"
"Calming down and gathering strength might not be a way out."
"But, but... how could they let you end up here?" Gao Dawei's eyes were red. "This place is full of cannibal players!"
Chang Shoujie had stopped being a player years ago. Here, he might even become food!
"They are not as heartless as you imagine." Chang Shoujie said calmly. "On the contrary, it was through their efforts that I was able to shed my player identity, and Ao Quan also provided me with some protection."
Gao Dawei was speechless, his heart full of pent-up anger with nowhere to vent. Finally, he let out a loud cry and rushed out.
"The kid is still naive, thinking the world is black and white." Chang Shoujie said, looking at his retreating figure, then turned back to Xu Huo. "I can leave anytime."
Xu Huo made no comment on the story he had told. He nodded slightly and took out some food for Fan Yunhong and the others to cook a good meal.
Some people are dead, but not completely dead...