Chapter 521: Headshot Game
“You don’t need to identify every piece of supplies yourself. The target glasses will give you a prompt if something matches.” Wan Xiao said impatiently, “You don’t need to ask about these details. You’ll understand once you’re out there.”
After speaking, he walked a short distance away to talk with a few other companions, complaining along the way about how players from technologically underdeveloped game zones had no experience.
“He said that on purpose for us to hear, didn’t he? Doesn’t he know players have sharp hearing?” The female player clenched her fist.
“Forget it. Better to avoid trouble than to court it.” Zhuo Wangsun advised.
Soon the soldiers were ready. The gate in front slid open, and a burst of intense light suddenly flooded in, so bright it forced people to squint. A staff member nearby said, “Close your eyes. The full-vision glasses will adjust within ten seconds. Once you’re outside, you can use the Cleanup Zone environment.”
A few seconds later, Xu Huo opened his eyes. Sure enough, the outside scenery was now almost indistinguishable from normal naked-eye vision, and ahead lay an endless stretch of Gobi Desert.
The group stepped into the elevator, and the rear door closed behind them. He looked up at the high-intensity lights installed on the protective wall, which now appeared no different from ordinary lights.
The elevator rumbled down to the base of the wall. As the door opened, a strong wind blasted them head-on. Yi Mao and the others standing in front instinctively leaned forward, gripping their guns as they stepped out. Yi Mao turned around and said through the communicator to everyone, “The first cleanup is set for five hours. If we don’t encounter any Xenomorphs, five hours will be enough to cross this Gobi Desert and enter the swamp zone.”
“The Gobi zone has no cover, and it’s also the safest place in the Cleanup Zone. The chance of Xenomorphs appearing is very small. But everyone still needs to be careful—while guarding against Xenomorphs, also watch your surroundings to avoid being ambushed by others.”
“The protective suits are bulletproof. Ambushes might not work too well.” Kang Yongjie chuckled. “As long as they don’t kill me with one shot, they’d better be ready to die!”
Yi Mao nodded and made a gesture to move out.
Other teams also entered the Gobi zone at the same time. Everyone had different tasks, and after a stretch of wary distance from each other, they gradually dispersed. An hour later, almost no one else could be seen around.
This caused the players, who had been on high alert at the start, to slowly let their guard down. Because aside from gravel, windblown sand, and the occasional small animal popping up, there was almost nothing in the Gobi zone. And perhaps due to the special nature of the environment, everyone felt exceptionally thirsty.
Xu Huo pulled down his mask and took a sip of water. “The food and water we brought probably won’t last long.”
“It’s okay. Once we pass the Gobi zone, there will be clean water sources in the swamp zone.” Yi Mao said.
Upon hearing this, the players all paused in their movements. Yi Mao quickly explained, “To ensure our side has drinking water, each zone guarantees two to three clean water sources. And your task isn’t to contaminate the nearby water sources—at least not until we reach the opposing zone where Xenomorphs are active.”
“Will players casually contaminate water sources?” Xu Huo asked.
“Of course they will.” Wan Xiao chimed in. “Even if you tell these people it’s useless, they’ll contaminate any water source they see just to clear the instance. It forces the government to send special teams every time to purify the water, just so the soldiers behind us have water to drink. In my opinion, players shouldn’t even be allowed to participate in cleanup missions.”
“If you contaminate the water sources on your own side, can you still clear the instance?” The female player immediately asked.
Wan Xiao squeezed his water bottle hard. “Try it!”
The female player muttered, “I was just joking. No sense of humor at all.”
Game missions were never as simple as they seemed. Not just the water sources, but the third task’s flag-planting target location also had no hints.
“Can you share a copy of your map with us?” Hao Mei asked Yi Mao. Besides the issued map, Yi Mao and his team also carried a private map.
“Of course.” Yi Mao pressed a button on his glasses, and all the players present received a new map.
This map was of the swamp zone, with relatively detailed depictions of the swamp distribution.
Yi Mao naturally wouldn’t give them the full map, and he explained, “Every time we advance to a new zone, I’ll send you the map.”
Zhuo Wangsun and the others had no objections, and Kang Yongjie and his companion didn’t express dissatisfaction either.
Xu Huo understood. These people had all done their homework beforehand and should be prepared.
After another hour of walking, Wan Xiao proposed a rest.
Yi Mao hesitated before agreeing to a fifteen-minute break. Wan Xiao apologized slightly, explaining that he wasn’t deliberately holding them back, but the temperature in the Gobi zone was at least five degrees higher than the data indicated, and wearing the tight protective suits consumed more stamina.
“Does the situation in the Cleanup Zone keep changing constantly?” Zhuo Wensun asked curiously. “Then how much reference value do the maps circulating outside still have?”
“Generally not much different, just some small changes.” Yi Mao said as he nodded to a team member who signaled he needed to relieve himself.
That team member walked a bit farther away, his hands working in front of him. But at that moment, Xu Huo suddenly heard a faint mechanical sound from the left. He turned his head, and the team member’s head burst open like a watermelon!
“Enemy!” The players scrambled to pull out the shields they carried on their backs, covering their heads and chests, forming a back-to-back circle. But before they could even get into formation, another shot rang out, and the soldier to Yi Mao’s left lost both his shield and head.
“Didn’t you say it was bulletproof?!” The female player yelled.
“I don’t see anyone! What kind of equipment are they using to shoot?!” Kang Yongjie remained relatively calm, observing the direction the bullets were coming from.
“Sniper rifles have a long effective range. Even if we find the person, it’ll be hard to get over there and kill them. Let’s get out of here quickly!” Zhuo Wangsun urged.
“Go, go, go! Move it!” Wan Xiao pushed, instructing Liang Song to protect Yi Mao.
The group maintained their circle formation and ran forward. The side the bullets came from was blocked by several players using items, but the shooter clearly had no intention of letting them go. Another shot took down one more.
In just three minutes, they had lost three people. Yi Mao was both shocked and furious. “Who the hell is ambushing me! Everyone here is working for Clown City. What good does killing us do them!”
“Oh, come off it. Does killing need a reason?” The female player said as she ran. “You’re obviously dripping with wealth. Who else would they rob but you?”
“The sniper rifle they’re using is extremely expensive. All the equipment we’re carrying combined isn’t enough to buy one!” Yi Mao’s mind was still clear enough to identify the weapon being used. He caught his breath and said, “This kind of gun has a flaw—after three shots, you have to change the magazine, which takes two minutes. We need to use that time to run out of their range…”
Before he could finish, another person beside him dropped!
“Why?!”
As Yi Mao roared in anger, another shot came. But this one was aimed at Xu Huo. Sensing the bullet closing in, he jerked his head to the side!