Chapter 2838: A-Rank Instance "Small Cubicle"
The liaison officer glanced around at everyone before speaking: "The players who went in earlier haven't come out alive yet."
This wasn't a timed instance, so it wasn't strange for players to be trapped inside for a while without being able to exit. Coupled with the inability to contact the outside world, all information about the instance came from instruments and the original medical research institute.
The medical research institute was the origin of the instance, but Xu Huo saw that the information about the institute was written very vaguely. Most likely, nothing truly important was included, so it wasn't very valuable. The reason they suspected this was a multi-space instance was because the instruments detected clear abnormal fluctuations in spatial power.
Any instance involving time, space, or spirit was more difficult than ordinary instances. Sometimes it was hard to break through relying solely on combat strength; a bit of luck was also needed.
The players who came here had already thought it through in advance, so no one backed out. Instead, they asked as much as possible about the instance's situation and shared their own ideas and exploration strategies with each other.
Xu Huo checked the instruments issued to him. Besides a communicator and a micro bomb, there was also an energy detector, a jamming device, two small robotic dogs, and a single-person defense box.
Since the space couldn't communicate with the outside, there was no guarantee that they could open their personal panels after entering. So, besides these instruments, the players had to carry their commonly used items on their persons.
Putting the supplies from the Purple Life Research Institute into a large box, Xu Huo also took out a few passive defense special items and hung them on his body. He picked a few small A-rank items, though he had plenty of rings on his hands. The newly acquired "Domain of Heavenly Light" and "Three Seconds of Life" were both time-space items that could easily cause other players' time-space items to fail, so there was no need to take them out for now.
Although "Darkened Heart" could serve as a strong supplement, since the instance had multiple spaces, he couldn't guarantee where a jump might land him. So, he simply brought "Pure Heart" and the oval crystal given by Huahan along with him.
Of course, "Time-Space Hand," "Life Source," and the bone ring had never left his person.
Considering the specific situation, he picked a backpack specifically to store the "Cube Space."
Compared to him, the other players were overly prepared. His two teammates, Yue Yan'er and Wang Xin, had not only filled their fingers and wrists with items but also adorned every possible spot on their bodies with accessories—earrings, hairpins, necklaces, shoulder badges, buttons, and so on—replacing almost everything they could with items.
In addition, they had turned some items that were inconvenient to hang on their bodies into keychains and tied them to their waists.
Hmm, A-rank players really did have deep pockets.
"Aren't you bringing too few items?" Yue Yan'er asked, still unsatisfied after finishing her own items, and prepared to pick out some instruments to put into the box provided by the Purple Life Research Institute.
"If the personal panel can be opened, there's no need to carry so many on you. If the personal panel can't be opened, it's likely that the items won't work either," Xu Huo said.
The reasoning made sense, but most players didn't change their minds. Yue Yan'er explained, "Actually, what you're describing isn't unheard of in A-rank instances. Some instances are like that—the personal panel might not open, but the items you carry on you can still be used."
Xu Huo was slightly surprised. "This is my first time doing an A-rank instance. Are A-rank instances this strange?"
Hearing this, the surrounding players couldn't help but cast glances at him. Yue Yan'er said with a mix of admiration and complexity, "You just got promoted to A-rank and you're already pioneering? That's really bold and skilled."
Players called exploring a new instance "pioneering." The mortality rate was very high at such times, but those with good luck could reap considerable rewards. Besides, some naturally occurring items were hard to come by.
"You should pick an instance with a mature strategy to get familiar with the ropes first. There's no need to jump straight into pioneering," Yue Yan'er felt he wasn't fully aware of the unspoken rules. "We're all risking our lives for money. Newcomers don't need to do this."
Xu Huo timely showed some concern, and someone nearby encouraged him, "Maybe he has beginner's luck? Besides, with so many of us going in, we can't all die, right? Someone will surely clear it and come out. Maybe you'll be that lucky one."
The last sentence was directed at him.
Xu Huo hesitated slightly, then looked at the crates of instruments and the generous rewards, finally making up his mind to go.
During the discussion, people from other player organizations also arrived. They were also there to explore the instance, but the two sides didn't communicate. The leaders simply nodded to each other as a greeting.
Compared to Xu Huo's group, which was more scattered, the player organization was much more disciplined, and the team composition showed good tacit understanding, clearly the result of frequent cooperation and training.
During this time, someone also shared some experience with spatial instances. It was similar to what was posted on "Under Dimension"—the biggest fear in spatial instances was falling into some unknown gap and being unable to return to the instance venue. In such cases, it was basically like crying out to heaven and earth with no response. So, those with one or two experiences would stick closely together. Sometimes, a danger you might not notice yourself could be spotted by a companion. In a highly tense environment, anyone could have a moment of negligence.
The only feasible way to clear such instances was to strictly follow the instance requirements. Cutting corners was absolutely not allowed. In other instances, bold players could try testing the instance's limits, but in spatial instances, trying that could lead to being swallowed by completely unfamiliar spatial rules. So, not only did you have to restrain yourself, but you also had to restrain other players.
When it was finally time to enter the instance, the liaison officer emphasized once more that they shouldn't act rashly. If they weren't fully confident, they could wait—wait for later pioneers—to avoid damaging the instance venue or losing their lives.
Xu Huo had just added a few B-rank items, putting on a show of being short on funds in response to the curious glances from others, and then followed Yue Yan'er and Wang Xin through the gate of the medical research institute.
As soon as they stepped across the threshold in front of the door and entered the institute's range, the scenery outside completely changed. Inside, it was still dilapidated and abandoned, but outside had turned into a gray-black void. The hollow feeling that seemed ready to encroach gave no desire to go in and explore.
As the players gradually entered and found that everyone was together, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good thing we weren't scattered as soon as we came in," said an elderly white-haired man. "I imagine we'll trigger the instance once we walk a bit further. Three per team, how about we move in teams of two? More people means we can look out for each other."
No one objected. Xu Huo's group of three, led by Wang Xin, teamed up with Shen Ling'er's group of three. The six of them headed to explore the left side of the institute. As they crossed a patch of scorched ground, the game notification popped up:
[Player Passerby A has entered the range of the instance "Small Cubicle." Default participation in this A-rank instance.]