Chapter 818: Internal Attrition
Although they had temporarily escaped danger, the atmosphere in the group was noticeably worse than before. Under the weight of exhaustion, all the players were on guard against each other, especially since at least ten players had died under unclear circumstances during the earlier flight.
Xu Huo took the initiative to walk over to the train conductor. After greeting him, he asked, "Is there any significance to daybreak and nightfall?"
"They're pretty much the same. If there's a problem with the space, it doesn't matter whether it's day or night. The difference is that during the day, you die knowing what's happening," the train conductor said lightly. "But staying in a lit area makes it easier for the Orbital Supply Department to spot us."
The staff member who had served them food added, "Spaces with normal day-night cycles are relatively stable."
In other words, even on the tracks, the alternation of day and night was a recognized form of order.
Xu Huo sat down nearby. Before long, Yan Jiayu also came over. She generously shared her food with the staff, most of which they accepted. However, the train conductor said, "The rescue team hasn't arrived yet, and you're willing to give your food to others?"
"Didn't you say they'd be here soon?" Yan Jiayu said matter-of-factly. "The accident in the past two days doesn't count. There shouldn't be any more problems from now on. Besides, if the rescue team really doesn't show up, I think something worse than a food shortage will happen."
She wasn't wrong. A strange atmosphere was already brewing among the players.
Neither of them went back. Before long, the old man and his group also moved over to their side. Their larger numbers drew many wary glances.
Someone sneered, "Even brothers will bash each other's brains out over a bite to eat."
Xu Huo and Yan Jiayu paid no attention to such remarks. However, the old man and his group had already started rationing their food, eating a piece of dried meat every hour or two and taking a sip of water.
Players were no strangers to hunger; this was standard procedure. But someone like Yan Jiayu, who went around handing out food, was a first.
"If you don't eat your fill, you won't have the strength to fight," she said with a smile. "If someone tries to rob me, I'll just take their food instead."
No one took this as a joke.
Night fell quickly. Shortly after dark, the train conductor didn't use any lighting items, forcing the other players to provide their own light. But their items couldn't last long. So, when the first batch of players' lighting items failed, some players made their move.
Xu Huo leaned against Yan Jiayu's soft sofa. With a slight turn of his head, he could see the entire fight. During the scuffle, some players who were caught in the crossfire used lighting items, but the flickering light soon died out again—anyone trying to illuminate the fight would become a target.
This group wanted to take advantage of the darkness to kill their opponents and plunder resources.
Xu Huo wasn't the only one who could see in the dark. Aside from the staff, he spotted at least four others, including the baseball cap player near them.
The other person noticed him too, nodded in his direction, and then looked away.
The fight ended temporarily with four players killed. As the smell of blood spread, someone swallowed hard. Not long after, sounds of tearing and chewing came from the rear of the group.
"Damn it!" someone cursed under their breath. But judging by the noise, there were at least five or six players involved. Unless some were willing to cooperate, two or three people couldn't take them down.
Most people ignored this act of cannibalism.
Two more incidents followed. The first two were started by other players and ended after someone died. The third, however, involved the two female players suddenly sneaking up on the pink-haired female player.
As the three fought, the Unlucky Face and his group, who were sleeping nearby, immediately backed off to make room. "What's going on? Why are they fighting?" one of them asked.
"What else? They see someone injured and want to take advantage," said one of the male players playing cards. "Didn't those two go out the other night and kill two people too..."
Before he could finish, a female player not far from them suddenly attacked. Two automatic animal traps pierced through the Unlucky Face's calves without warning!
The Unlucky Face screamed and threw an isolation item at the female player, trapping her in an upright isolation box. He quickly followed up with a lock, sealing the box shut!
Seeing the female player struggling inside but unable to escape, the Unlucky Face couldn't help but mutter, "Why does it have to be me again..."
Before he could finish, the female player tore open the isolation box and lunged at him, completely ignoring the card players nearby.
The one who had spoken earlier teased the Unlucky Face, "Looks like you're really hated. Did you say something offensive to piss her off?"
The Unlucky Face had indeed spoken to this female player, but only to greet her. "That's ridiculous! Are all women this vengeful?"
On this side, the injured pink-haired player was forced by the two female players to retreat near Xu Huo. Since the two had initiated the attack and no one else helped, the pink-haired player didn't deliberately avoid Xu Huo when she dodged toward him. But at that moment, Xu Huo suddenly reached out!
Startled, the pink-haired player used an item to twist around him in a way no normal person could. As she turned to counterattack, Yan Jiayu stepped in with her demon-subduing pestle. An ordinary-looking stone rod, yet she swung it with enough force to break the sound barrier!
The pink-haired player quickly retreated.
However, Xu Huo's target wasn't her, but the short-haired female player behind her. As the latter approached him, her speed and movements slowed. Then she saw the mirror in his hand, and her eyes instantly lost focus.
"Bang! Bang!" The moving metal automatically blocked the short-haired player's attack. Xu Huo easily grabbed her throat and, with a flick of his fingers, knocked her unconscious.
Compared to him, Yan Jiayu was much more straightforward and brutal. With her rod in hand, she could go head-to-head with any blade or sword. As long as her opponent wasn't far faster than her, she could rely on her stamina to beat them until they couldn't even hold their weapon.
The curly-haired female player clashed with her twice before immediately pulling back. But Yan Jiayu's "Good Friend Hug" brought her back, and a light tap on the back of her head with the rod sent her to the ground as well.
Dragging the two together, Yan Jiayu asked, "What's wrong with them?"
Xu Huo turned to the pink-haired player in the distance. "Did you strike first?"
"It wasn't me," the pink-haired player said warily.
Xu Huo crouched down to examine the two. At least the exposed skin showed no strange signs. Based on their earlier behavior, they didn't seem like people who would suddenly go crazy. Besides, they had enough food, and the pink-haired player's combat ability was obvious—there was no need for this.
"Wake them up and ask," Yan Jiayu said, taking out a coffin-lid-shaped item and covering the curly-haired player with it, leaving only her head exposed. Then she splashed water on her to wake her up.
"Ugh..."
(Chapter End)