Chapter 3046: Points
The three of them scattered to avoid the first wave of attacks, hiding themselves in the dense forest for a while before taking out their signal devices to try and regroup.
However, the players lurking nearby likely had detection-type tools, as the moment the signal device was activated, they were pursued relentlessly. Forced to shut it down, they were fortunate that they weren’t too far apart and could sense each other’s positions. After hiding for a while longer, they managed to evade the surrounding people and reunite.
The situation was now clear: points were their lifeline. If they couldn’t find a way to raise their scores, they might be eliminated by Challenge Island after eight hours—though the method of elimination was unknown, it was likely far harder to evade than attacks from other players.
Fortunately, after this period of hiding, they understood that hitting others would restore their points.
“What’s going on with your points?” Xiao Deng asked Ice Shovel.
“Not sure,” Ice Shovel replied. “The bracelet didn’t give any prompts.”
Xiao Deng glanced at him but didn’t press further, instead turning to Xu Huo. “Brother, thanks for earlier. I didn’t expect you to be a Super Evolver.”
“Just barely scraping by,” Xu Huo said with a wave of his hand. “But the company didn’t forbid us from carrying items and instruments. Even if they can’t activate, they can still be used as ordinary weapons, so why aren’t they counted as valid items?”
“Maybe once points accumulate to a certain level, the permissions for items and instruments unlock?” Ice Shovel speculated uncertainly. “Then this probably isn’t an instance.”
It wasn’t an instance, but a closed-off area with game channels disabled.
“There’s no map on the bracelet,” Xiao Deng said. “The bracelet says we’re in the Fang Snake Zone. We need to find road signs or route maps nearby.”
The three had just landed on the island and were still unclear on the rules, but all around them were seasoned veterans eyeing them warily. Under the same conditions, the worse others had it, the safer they were. Regardless of the rules for random elimination, raising their own points while keeping others’ points low was the right move.
“We only have eight hours,” Ice Shovel said. “How about we head toward the island’s interior while searching for other players’ traces?”
Before landing, they had only roughly estimated the island’s size. Unlike ordinary instance grounds, this was a genuine multi-terrain island comparable to a small country. They didn’t know how many players were on the island, but those who could venture deep into its heart were likely no weaklings.
“This is locking us in to fight each other,” Xiao Deng said. “I wonder what new demands will come once our points aren’t negative.”
At that moment, Xu Huo’s point count changed, increasing by 2 to -298.
The bracelet gave no notification of the increase, but when he opened his personal interface, he saw a new message:
“Player Xu Zhi has been noticed and supported by a viewer, earning 2 points.”
He closed his personal interface, shook his head at Xiao Deng, and didn’t bother checking Ice Shovel.
It seemed the so-called Challenge Island project wasn’t just a survival game for those who landed; it was also an interactive entertainment program for outsiders. Ice Shovel’s point increase was likely due to external support as well.
But soon, Xiao Deng’s number changed again. Without any notice, he was deducted 5 points.
He also saw the message:
“Player Xiao Deng has been blocked by three viewers, deducting 5 points.”
Xiao Deng sneered after reading it.
Ice Shovel was slightly disappointed that the betrayal came so quickly; he had hoped to stall for more time.
“Before landing, we agreed this was just a temporary partnership. Now that we don’t know how many negative-point players are in the Fang Snake Zone, how about we part ways once our points return to zero?”
Xiao Deng said coldly, “I’m afraid someone might stab me in the back. Let’s just go our separate ways.”
After all, injuring someone cost 10 points, and killing them would likely be even more significant.
Ice Shovel shrugged. “Then there’s no choice.”
Xiao Deng grabbed his blade and stood up to leave.
Watching him disappear into the woods, Ice Shovel turned to Xu Huo. “What about you?”
“Take care,” Xu Huo said, picking up the lighter he had chosen.
Ice Shovel gave an ambiguous smile and chose a direction as well.
The island wasn’t equipped with instruments to restrict players’ senses. With Xu Huo’s level of Super Evolution, he could easily detect the distribution of nearby players, but he didn’t show it.
Super Evolution might be a plus, but being too strong could become a minus, especially with outside participation.
However, besides being wary of nearby players, the dense forest was also teeming with mutant species. After less than half an hour of walking alone, he “accidentally” had his sleeve corroded by venom from a poisonous snake. He wasn’t injured, and there was no point deduction prompt.
Along the way, he also inadvertently encountered two players. They exchanged blows at close range, and both had single-digit point counts but could still use instruments.
This confirmed his earlier guess: as points increased, the number of valid items would also grow. Injuring others would transfer their deducted points to him.
Still, these were all advanced players. Even without the support of items, instruments, or traits, their clashes remained fierce. Those who entered Challenge Island were likely experienced players who had been screened. Without tools, their combination of stamina, speed, and combat skills made them qualified human weapons.
Xu Huo crouched near two players locked in combat, feigning an attempt to ambush them. The two were clearly aware of him. Among them, a female player in a metal combat suit seized an opening in her opponent’s defense, executing a clean hook to bring him down. She spun behind him and swiftly swiped her hand across his throat.
Blood sprayed, and the player’s body fell. The bracelet chimed with a notification:
“Player Jinjin Budao has killed a player, earning 38 points.”
The female player frowned and kicked the corpse. “Useless trash, only worth this many points!”
She then turned her gaze toward Xu Huo, saw the number above his head, and lost interest, immediately walking away.
Xu Huo looked at the corpse. Before being killed, that player’s point count had been -5.
It seemed there were specific rules for injuring and killing, which explained why the players who had attacked them earlier fled immediately after succeeding.
Xu Huo took a step, intending to follow the female player, but at that moment, another player dropped down behind him with incredible speed, lunging straight for his throat!
He grabbed a broken tree branch from the ground and hurled it at the attacker. The newcomer immediately retreated, bouncing to a tree over ten meters away before speaking with interest, “A Super Evolver? Want to team up?”
Xu Huo watched him warily without responding.
The man was still smiling. “You’re new here, so you don’t know. Super Evolvers are in demand in the Fang Snake Zone. It’d be a shame to die with negative points. Let’s cooperate. I’ll find someone to help raise your points first, then we can move toward the island’s interior.”