Chapter 3062: Recognizing Dr. Wu as a Godfather
"This incident tells us that there can only be one head in a team, otherwise we might die by our own hands at any time." The Twin-Headed Man's smile faded as he looked around at everyone present. "How about we take a vote?"
Love Orange was a female player with a strong orange scent on her. According to her, it was an insect-repelling potion she had made herself, and she had even given small vials of it to Xu Huo and the others for free.
"A vote to decide is fine. Let's not have any internal conflict over this afterward," she said.
Wood and his two companions had no objections either.
Old Duan and Ding Xiang naturally supported Xu Huo, but unexpectedly, Twin-Headed Man and Love Orange also backed him.
"None of us are particularly good at using our heads," Love Orange said. "But a lot of people who are good at it are too slippery. I think you're pretty good—you even seek revenge for people you've only met by chance."
In truth, someone like Xu Huo was abnormal, but still, as the saying goes, bad people hope for more good people than anyone else in the world. A companion like Xu Huo was far better than one who would stab you in the back without hesitation when trouble arose.
Wood and his two exchanged glances and didn't object.
Like Old Duan, Love Orange was skilled at identifying plants, and she had some talent in poison-making. However, this method worked better in the Snake Fang Zone. In the Bear Hug Zone, many people carried defensive devices, making covert poison use less effective.
But Xu Huo could control objects from a distance, which made it easier for him to employ such tactics.
Twin-Headed Man came from a martial arts family and was proficient in various forms of combat. Logically, someone like him shouldn't have ended up on Challenge Island, but he volunteered the information without waiting for anyone to ask: "I have a hereditary disease. Once degeneration sets in, all my bodily functions will decline rapidly. I'm close to the onset, so I had to come to the island to earn full welfare benefits. If you pity me, you can take care of me a bit more, give me any spare items, and if there's a chance to escape, it'd be best to let me have it."
No one paid any attention to his sob story.
Wood and Wolf Fang were brothers. Wood had begun showing signs of degeneration, and Wolf Fang was worried about him going to the island alone. Since he also wanted to quit the game, the two came together.
Navi had undergone a secondary evolution, had decent physical stamina, and possessed some resistance to toxins.
After getting to know each other, the eight of them rested for one night and left Little Bear City early the next morning.
Traveling in a group of eight indeed increased the chances of earning points. Even if they encountered a formidable opponent, retreating unscathed wasn't difficult.
During breaks, Navi helped Love Orange collect various toxins and turn them into small hidden weapons. Not only did Xu Huo carry them, but everyone else did too.
"In case you can't react in a crisis, Xu Zhi might be able to use this to save you," Love Orange said.
Twin-Headed Man looked at the wooden spikes tied to his leg and couldn't help asking, "What if I accidentally poison myself?"
"Don't worry, I know my poisons well. I've dug up plenty of antidote roots. If you do get poisoned, just toss one in your mouth and chew," Love Orange replied.
Twin-Headed Man weighed the two white roots in his hand. "Eating this can cure the poison? Then the poison can't be that strong. Can it actually take someone down?"
Love Orange smiled. "Eating this only delays the poison's onset, buying you a little time to live. The real cure still requires an antidote."
"If you keep asking endless questions, when the time comes, I won't give you an antidote—I'll throw in two bottles of poison to send you on your way quickly."
Twin-Headed Man shut his mouth.
Xu Huo, on the other hand, asked Wood about some details regarding degeneration.
The symptoms of degeneration caused by Evolution Agents varied widely. Some people developed animal traits, others experienced a gradual loss of bodily functions leading to atrophy, and in more severe cases, they could weaken and die within a short time. Even for players, how long they could survive after degeneration began was purely a matter of luck.
"Does the treatment agent provided by Zone 025 really work?" Xu Huo couldn't help asking.
"It has some effect," Wood said, having personally seen players who had received treatment. "Degeneration often isn't just about loss of function; it comes with many other complications, like severe pain, hallucinations, and mental instability. Some people even undergo sudden personality changes due to brain degeneration, losing their sanity. If someone goes mad and loses awareness, it's not so bad, but if it's severe pain or hallucinations, it's hard to endure."
"The agents the government gives can't cure the degeneration, but they can significantly alleviate these complications, allowing people to live their final days with some dignity."
He touched his leg—that was where his degeneration had set in. Similar to the white-haired man from the Toy House, his muscles showed signs of atrophy, though it hadn't yet severely affected his mobility.
"It's ridiculous that the game can develop Evolution Agents but can't create a Perfect Potion," Old Duan couldn't help saying.
The Perfect Potion couldn't be a secret among A-level players. Even if they hadn't known about it before, they would certainly learn of it when trying to save themselves from degeneration.
"People like us are probably just not suited for evolution," Ding Xiang suddenly said. "The earlier degeneration appears and the more severe it is, aside from taking Evolution Agents too frequently, the main reason is that our bodies can't adapt to evolution. That's why some people show symptoms early, while others, even after becoming Super Players, have no issues."
This came down to genetics, but it was an unsolvable problem in the game as well—after all, the game hadn't even developed the Perfect Potion.
"I think the game is just trying to eliminate players and make money off our treatment fees," Twin-Headed Man said. "I don't believe they really can't develop it. The game's pharmaceutical R&D team must have gathered geniuses from every wormhole point. Are they really inferior to a Dr. Wu?"
"And even if they are, Dr. Wu has scattered so many Perfect Potions out there like bait—can't they just replicate them?"
"That's hard to say," Wood replied. "There are barriers even among geniuses. Otherwise, why would the Game Government be searching everywhere for Dr. Wu?"
"I hope one day the Game Government can develop the Perfect Potion too," Wolf Fang said. "At least future players won't have to suffer the pain of degeneration."
Wishes were always beautiful, and they were also a source of hope.
"Don't count on those people," Twin-Headed Man said, lying back on the grass with his hands behind his head. "Counting on those who exploit players is worse than hoping to get lucky and recognize Dr. Wu as your godfather."
This remark made everyone laugh, and the laughter dispelled some of the earlier gloom.
"But Dr. Wu has lived so long. If he's still alive now, I probably won't be able to see him off in his old age—he might even have to see me off instead..." Twin-Headed Man rambled on, then laughed to himself. "I wonder who's the godfather..."
Love Orange slapped him. "Don't speak ill of Dr. Wu."
"I'm not," Twin-Headed Man quickly said. "Just talking nonsense. I absolutely mean no disrespect!"
Although for most people, Dr. Wu was merely a figure of legend, that didn't stop them from respecting and admiring him.