Chapter 30: Level 5 Raft + Final Race + Deep Sea Fear Upgrade...

A sudden change occurred.

The surrounding mountains of gold shook violently, like a volcanic eruption, with gold coins gushing out and hitting people and the ground with a crackling sound.

With the exit just around the corner, Fang Zhiyi disregarded everything else, sprinted and leaped, soaring into the air and plunging headfirst into the lake.

【ma!】

Meanwhile, the little sea monster, Pupu, looked up with longing eyes and used its tentacles to push the raft to catch it.

Fang Zhiyi staggered forward a step and landed steadily on it.

The raft lost its balance and sank to one side, splashing up icy water. He steadied himself and turned to look.

Golden dust blotted out the sky, and gold coins on the ground rose into the air, melting together to form a giant golden python.

The triangular snake head lowered, hissing as it flicked its tongue, its tail thrashing wildly. One after another, golden mountains collapsed, and countless skeletal pirates crawled out from within.

Chu Zhao lagged behind by a step, his figure bursting out from the smoke and dust.

Fang Zhiyi steadied the swaying raft and reached out to help: "Come on up!"

Their eyes met through the golden rain.

At this moment, all the images are slowed down.

The golden python lowered its head and flicked its tongue, its scales gleaming like gemstones.

Skeleton pirates spread their arms and charged out one after another, countless pale finger bones extending out, trying to grab any living thing and drag it into the hell made of gold coins.

The parrot, agile as ever, narrowly escaped the scimitars and hooks, its colorful feathers fluttering down and gently landing on the raft.

With a flap of its wings, a dazzling light flashed, and between its claws, a pigeon-blood gem shimmered with captivating fire.

Greedy thief!

The giant python opened its blood-red maw, letting out an angry roar, and lashed its tail violently against the ground as if it had gone mad.

Chu Zhao's body lurched, nearly being swept away by the snake's tail. He rolled forward, narrowly avoiding the giant python's shadow, and without pausing for a moment, he leaped up and grabbed Fang Zhiyi's hand in mid-air.

Hands clasped together.

Fang Zhiyi suddenly pulled back with all her might. A loud "thud" was heard as Chu Zhao crashed heavily onto the raft. Just hearing it made one's teeth ache, but he acted as if nothing had happened, whispering, "Let's go!"

Fang Zhiyi swung his hand back and slashed at the rope that was tethered to the shore.

As soon as the rope snapped, the raft was instantly swept away from the shore by the current. The water rushed by, and the Gold Coin Cave receded rapidly from view.

Before they could even catch their breath, the skeleton pirate let out an angry roar.

Across the water, will-o'-the-wisps lit up, and they chased after us, stepping on the gold coins.

The moment they left the Gold Coin Cave, the skeletons screamed and evaporated, but they were fearless. Before the skeletons in front were completely dead, the skeletons behind stepped on the corpses, piling them up one after another, creating a path on the water and chasing after them.

Countless bony hands frantically swung forward, finally managing to grab onto the raft.

The raft lurched and was pulled backward uncontrollably.

Countless skeletons surrounded them. The pale skulls raised their heads, their jaws clicking, struggling to climb up.

Fang Zhiyi grabbed the wooden paddle and slammed it down hard.

Snap!

With a crisp sound, the fastest-rushing skeleton was smashed into the water, struggled for a moment, and then sank.

Without a moment's hesitation, the skeletons behind charged forward one after another, turning everything in sight into a sea of ​​white bones, rising and falling, threatening to engulf you in a maelstrom of white flesh.

With a shrill cry, the parrot swooped down on the horde of skeletons, snatched a skull with one claw, and tossed it far away. Headless, the skeleton pirates lost their bearings and blindly rushed to steal other skulls, causing a small commotion.

Chu Zhao held a curved blade and precisely sliced ​​away the skeleton pirates blocking his way, clearing a path.

Fang Zhiyi seized the opportunity, paddled hard with the wooden paddle, and barely managed to escape through the gap. He kicked the skeleton that had climbed up from behind, and before it could even stand up, it waved its hands and fell backwards onto the water.

There were just too many skeletons, and the raft seemed to get stuck in the mud, only managing to paddle a short distance before coming to a standstill.

Fang Zhiyi took a breath and said, "Three minutes."

I can only hold on for three more minutes.

If they still can't break through, they'll have to give up on that pigeon blood gem.

Chu Zhao replied in a deep voice, "Okay."

Fang Zhiyi wasn't one to be sentimental. Since he had already agreed to take the risk, he wouldn't complain anymore and would focus on dealing with the onrushing skeletons.

Another skeleton was knocked into the water.

The little sea monster poked its head out from underneath, looking around curiously, and then picked up a struggling rib.

Chew—

Fang Zhiyi glanced at it briefly: "This can't be eaten!"

【oh……】

Chew it, it has no taste, spit it out.

vomit--

The little sea monster, Pupu, lost its appetite for the skeletons. It twisted its tentacles, looked at the skeletons chasing after it, and then at Fang Zhiyi, as if it understood something.

【Ma...I'll help you!】

The little sea monster writhed its tentacles, as if holding its breath, and emitted a sharp sonic boom. Its originally palm-sized body suddenly swelled into a colossal creature, its intertwined tentacles frantically churning the water's surface.

No...

【Bully……】

【Mama!】

The skeleton was tossed about by the surging waves, its white bones scattered and disintegrating. The little sea monster stretched out its tentacles and gently pushed forward, sending the raft drifting a distance, leaving the skeleton far behind.

The little sea monster, Pupu, shrank back to the size of a palm, curled up in Fang Zhiyi's arms, and beckoned with its tiny tentacles.

【ma……】

Fang Zhiyi patted the little sea monster Pupu's head, then looked up again. The raft had already reached the shore.

The water was shrouded in darkness, and the Gold Coin Cave fell silent once more.

[Title Acquired: Treasure Raider]

You are brave, you are rational; you are reckless, you are greedy. Whatever it may be, you will always get what you want, and you will ultimately succeed.

[Passive skill: Increases the chance of obtaining treasure chests by 10% when killed by monsters after equipping this skill]

Fang Zhiyi was the first to reach the shore.

I walked in silence the whole way.

After a lot of trouble and a long escape, both of them were in a sorry state, covered in dust and sweat.

Fang Zhiyi patted his pockets. After rolling around in the pile of gold coins so many times, he hadn't even brought out a single gram of gold.

hateful.

He gritted his teeth.

Chu Zhao paused, then suddenly said, "I'm sorry."

Fang Zhiyi's expression froze, bewildered: "Huh?"

Chu Zhao admitted, "I misjudged the situation."

They could have safely left the Gold Coin Cave, but his last-minute decision plunged them back into danger.

He continued, "It's my fault."

Fang Zhiyi blinked: "Wanting to live isn't wrong."

Only a level 5 raft can be used to pass the level, and the upgrade materials are right in front of you. It's hard to imagine anyone giving up so easily.

Even Fang Zhiyi couldn't.

Since we can't give up, we might as well take a chance.

Fortunately, despite some setbacks, they managed to escape safely.

Therefore, Fang Zhiyi did not think that Chu Zhao had done anything wrong.

Nobody's to blame in this matter; the only one to blame is this damn game.

Chu Zhao: "It's something I owe you..."

Fang Zhiyi interrupted him: "If that's the case, then we're in a mess."

From the start of our collaboration in the shipwreck area, we encountered countless dangers along the way: sea monsters, sirens, ghost pirates... each one fraught with peril, but in the end, we escaped unscathed and reaped great rewards.

This time was no exception.

So there's no need to feel guilty about it.

"I'm leaving!" Fang Zhiyi waved at him, trying to appear carefree, but accidentally aggravated the wound on her shoulder, making her wince in pain.

...

I'm so eager to get home that I always feel the return journey is shorter than the way I came.

However, no matter how fast they sped up, the round trip still took a considerable amount of time, and by the time they saw the light of day again, it was almost dusk.

Bending down as he emerged from the cave, the light was blinding, and Fang Zhiyi instinctively flinched, tears welling in his eyes. After a while, he looked up at the distant sky; the setting sun, like a giant orange, was swallowed whole by the sea.

After passing through lakes and palm groves, we returned to the beach, feeling as if we had been transported to another world.

White waves crashed in, leaving colorful seashells on the beach. The hermit crabs nudged their heads and slowly burrowed into the sand.

The raft was moored on the shore.

When I got closer, I wondered if it was just my imagination, but it seemed like the distance between the raft and the shore had increased.

Fang Zhiyi didn't think much of it and climbed onto the raft.

They're finally back!

He was so exhausted that he collapsed on the raft.

In the nearby sea, an underwater volcano erupted in bursts, stirring up towering waves.

From a distance, it looks like fireworks.

Fang Zhiyi was so exhausted that her thoughts were frozen. She didn't want to think about anything and just quietly watched the volcano erupt.

As darkness gradually fell.

Having regained some of his strength, he sat up cross-legged and began to take stock of his spoils.

The skeleton pirates dropped a lot of items.

[Bone Shards x67, Will-o'-the-Wisp x23, Coconut x5, Dried Fish x16, Bone Spike Longsword x1, Skull Lamp Blueprint x1, Raft Skin (Skull Theme) x1]

Fang Zhiyi learned how to design the blueprints and tried making a skull lamp using bone fragments.

A miniature skull appeared in the palm of the hand, and two clusters of will-o'-the-wisps suddenly shot out from the empty eye sockets.

Fang's meaning: ...

unlucky.

He tucked the skull lamp into a corner of the raft, showing little interest in skull-themed skins, but after looking at them, he realized they were quite rare, with a drop rate of only 1%. For that reason alone, he decided to give it a try.

[Replace the raft skin (skull theme)]

In an instant, the light and shadow on the raft shifted, turning into a dark and eerie hue. The wood by the campfire transformed into skeletons, will-o'-the-wisps drifted around the raft, bone claws emerged from the mast's joints, and even the background music playing in the music bonsai changed to a fittingly sinister and terrifying style.

Ghost Ship

[Passive effect: Increases speed by 10%]

[Active effect: You can choose to enter a 1-minute ghost time, hide in another space, and become immune to any attacks.]

No wonder the drop rate is so low; it turns out the skins have attributes too.

Fang Zhiyi immediately stopped complaining.

It smells so good.

Aside from some random drops, the most important item is the [Heart of the Ocean].

With the [Siren's Tears] I obtained earlier, I now have all the main materials to upgrade the raft to level 5. I only have some scattered basic materials left, which I can collect on the way back and upgrade it immediately.

Fang Zhiyi glanced at the sky.

It was already dark, and visibility on the sea was low at night. The volcanoes on the seabed were still erupting continuously. For safety reasons, it would be better to wait until dawn before setting off.

I patted my stomach; my strength and hunger were both completely depleted, and my stomach was growling loudly.

I rummaged through my backpack and found only dried fish to eat. It's a high-quality food in the game—plenty, filling, and keeps you full for a long time. It's good in every way except for its unpalatable taste.

Looking at the dry, hard dried fish, I suddenly didn't feel so hungry anymore.

I escaped death so easily, it was so thrilling and exciting, but now all I can eat is this kind of food? I might as well have died.

I must eat something good.

A campfire is lit.

I took out a coconut from my backpack, pried open the shell with a knife, and used it as a pot. Flames licked at it, and the coconut water quickly boiled, bubbling away.

Coconut water is perfect for cooking chicken. He took a package of chopped chicken from the supermarket and poured it into the coconut water.

The chicken meat bobbed and tumbled in the water, mingling with the snow-white coconut flesh, releasing an irresistible aroma. The free-range chickens from the farm were golden in color, with glistening fat floating on the surface, yet not greasy at all.

Fang Zhiyi held a bowl made of coconut shell, enjoying the evening sea breeze. The steaming soup entered her mouth, and her frozen hands and feet regained their strength.

Pick up a piece of chicken, and you'll find that the essence of the seafood coconut juice has been fully absorbed by the chicken, leaving no fishy smell. One bite reveals a tender and firm texture, and you can also taste the sweetness of the coconut.

Fang Zhiyi let out a comfortable sigh. All her fatigue vanished, and the tension that had been building up inside her finally eased.

He picked up a coconut shell and handed it to Chu Zhao across the sea.

"How about it?"

Chu Zhao took it, lowered his head and tasted it: "...Very good."

He seemed preoccupied, eating absentmindedly.

Fang Zhiyi saw through it, but didn't expose it.

Survival games are already this difficult, why make things harder for yourself?

As long as you're alive.

As long as you're still alive, that's enough.

Fang Zhiyi raised the coconut shell in her hand, smiled, and said, "Cheers. Let's celebrate that we've lived another day."

Chu Zhao snapped out of his daze, and the two coconut shells collided with a "bang," repeating, "Celebrating that we've lived another day."

The last rays of the setting sun disappeared completely below the horizon, and it was pitch black.

Fang Zhiyi's stamina had fully recovered, but his stomach was still a little empty. He used what he could find: small fish in the waves, clams hidden under the sand, octopuses swimming in the shallow water...

Another pot of coconut seafood soup is freshly made. Opened clams, bright red prawns, octopus curled up in a ball... the flavors of various seafood are mixed together, so fresh that you'll want to swallow your tongue.

【ma……】

The little sea monster, Pupu, was awakened by the aroma and stretched out its tentacles, which climbed onto Fang Zhiyi's knee.

Fang Zhiyi peeled the shrimp shells and handed the snow-white shrimp meat to Pupu.

With a quick flick of its tentacles, it scooped up a handful of shrimp meat and brought it to its mouth, munching away with great concentration.

【ma……】

The child had never eaten anything so delicious before; his eyes sparkled as he stared longingly at it.

Fang Zhiyi broke off another piece of fish and fed it to it.

Pupu ate with two tentacles, while also being restless, secretly using the other tentacles to probe into the coconut shell.

Zi—

The coconut shell had been roasting over the fire for so long, and the broth inside was still scalding hot. As soon as the tentacles were inserted, they were immediately sizzled by the heat.

The tentacles curled up, their tips tinged with red, looking pitiful.

Pupu looked at the octopus sleeping peacefully inside the coconut shell, then at its own tentacles, and suddenly let out a loud popping sound.

【ma——！！！】

Fang's meaning: ...

Fang Zhiyi quickly grabbed the octopus and stuffed it into his mouth to destroy the evidence, wincing from the heat as he comforted the little sea monster: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, there's nothing there."

The child, with tears in his eyes, was quite frightened. He twisted his tentacles and burrowed into Fang Zhiyi's arms, refusing to come out no matter what.

Fang Zhiyi had to use all his persuasion and even offered several large shrimp to coax the little sea monster out.

Pupu held the fragrant shrimp and ate it very seriously.

The night is still long.

The waves crashed against the shore, and the sea was exceptionally still.

“…I’m definitely not a good person,” Chu Zhao said abruptly.

The lights on the two rafts shone brightly, but he was backlit, his expression indistinct.

"I help others in the channel for profit, to use them for my own purposes, and to test the survival rules of the game."

"You shouldn't be so good to me."

Fang Zhiyi didn't think that much: "Judging by actions, not intentions. You did do good deeds and helped me a lot."

Regardless of his motives, Chu Zhao did indeed help many players. Therefore, we cannot deny everything he did.

Chu Zhao was prepared to be disliked and hated after confessing, but she did not expect Fang Zhiyi to say such a thing.

After a long silence, he said, "You've helped me a lot."

Fang Zhiyi said nonchalantly, "It's about helping each other. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to collect so many materials so smoothly."

Chu Zhao said in a low voice, "You can succeed without me. You... are very capable."

Fang Zhiyi seemed to possess a vibrant life force; he was fearless in the face of danger and bravely confronted everything. Only someone like him could truly pass the test.

He, on the other hand, was afraid of being eliminated, always leaving himself a way out, and would never fight with all his might.

He could only look up to Fang Zhiyi.

Fang Zhiyi's cheeks flushed from what he was being told.

Is he really that good?

Yes... I guess so.

After all, he's going to complete the survival game, conquer the apocalypse, and become the king of the apocalypse!

Fang Zhiyi was immediately filled with pride and accepted all the praise with a smile: "Haha... It's nothing, it's all what I should do."

Chu Zhao was filled with mixed feelings, and suddenly said, "Actually, players don't die immediately when they are eliminated."

Fang Zhiyi was somewhat surprised.

"Eliminated players will return to the main world and face the catastrophe that will strike in a few minutes. At the start of the game, time in the main world is frozen, and as long as someone can completely complete the game and eliminate the doomsday factor, they can also avoid death."

Fang's meaning: "...So?"

Chu Zhao said earnestly, "So, I will help you clear the game. Maybe one day I will be eliminated, but I will always wait for you to come and save me."

These words stirred Fang Zhiyi's emotions, causing the raft to sway gently.

No, no... the raft is really rocking!

Fang Zhiyi suddenly stood up, the raft beneath his feet trembling violently. Looking out, he suddenly noticed that the seawater around the island seemed to be boiling, with snow-white waves surging in all directions.

Buzz—

A long, melodious murmur came from the seabed, stirring the eardrums.

The island is slowly sinking, and the waves are gradually submerging the beaches and palm trees. The siphon effect created during the sinking is stirring everything.

No wonder the lakes on the island are seawater, and the heartbeats heard in the caves weren't an illusion—the islands are alive! They were sleeping on the surface of the sea before, and now they've woken up.

As for why it woke up... the Ocean Heart in Fang Zhiyi's arms trembled slightly, as if responding to the island's call.

Damn it!

If you take someone's heart, won't they wake up?

Fang Zhiyi jumped up: "Stop talking nonsense." He forcefully pulled down the sail, "You're about to be implicated by me."

The island awakens and turns its life around.

For the islanders, this is a habitual stretch upon waking, but for them, it is a catastrophe.

The pirates sank, creating a huge whirlpool on the sea surface.

The sails on the mast were hoisted, increasing the speed.

The waves rolled and surged.

The raft rocked and swayed, fine raindrops pattered down, and lightning flashed and thunder roared, like an apocalyptic scene.

Even a Class 4 raft is like a piece of paper in the face of the power of nature; a slight misstep and it will be smashed to pieces.

Fang Zhiyi tried to escape the sweeping waves. However, the area where the island had sunk was too large, and the whirlpools created by the siphon were bottomless, capable of tearing everything apart. Not only could he not escape, but he was even being pushed back, teetering on the edge.

Everything in front of me is going backwards.

Fang Zhiyi gritted his teeth and used all the speed-up items and skills on the raft.

The raft rocked violently, finally whipping its tail to break free from the siphon, and with a burst of speed, it sailed alongside the waves.

Wave after wave crashed in, and the raft spun and tumbled inside.

Chu Zhao's raft was also struggling to stay afloat amidst the waves.

[Chu Zhao requests to merge the raft with you]

Do you agree?

agree!

After clicking "agree," it seemed as if an invisible hand was pushing the two rafts closer and closer. Finally, with a "crack," the two Class 4 rafts were linked together with an iron chain, resisting the wind and waves together.

1+1>2

Fang Zhiyi had taken control, now controlling both rafts, and immediately felt the speed increase significantly. He turned the rudder and rode a small wave forward.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

The geological changes in this sea area triggered a series of volcanic eruptions. With raging waves behind and towering surges in front, the raft was caught in a pincer movement, teetering on the brink of capsizing.

Fang Zhiyi lost his footing and was nearly thrown against the wall of the control room. He grabbed the rudder with all his might and steered the ship with all his might. He barely managed to brush past the erupting volcano and almost crashed into the undercurrent.

The ground trembled violently, as if the raft would disintegrate at any moment. The campfire flickered and died, and the lamp hanging at the bow of the boat made a crackling sound from the poor contact.

Fang Zhiyi was drenched in seawater by the crashing waves.

The raft is damaged and requires 16 pieces of wood to repair.

[Should it be repaired?]

"Repair the raft!" Fang Zhiyi shouted.

You can't do two things at once.

In this situation, he was unable to control the direction while repairing the raft.

Fortunately, the two rafts merged together. Chu Zhao promptly repaired the holes and damage on the rafts and added wood to the campfire to prevent them from being plunged into darkness and attracting monsters from the sea.

The two worked together seamlessly, and when they turned their heads, the waves were catching up again.

The island roared angrily, whipping up giant waves tens of meters high. The violent impact sent the raft flying into the air, tossing it high before crashing it down, like a toy being casually tossed from one side to the other.

Fang Zhiyi was so shaken that he almost vomited bile, but he swallowed it down.

Ghost ship, speed up!

Another wave rolled in, and for a moment, the raft's silhouette blurred, becoming semi-transparent. Will-o'-the-wisps roared, enveloping the raft in another world. When it reappeared, it was already ahead of the waves.

But it still couldn't shake off the waves.

It seems that only by upgrading the raft to level 5 can it accelerate its journey through the waves.

However, we don't have enough materials to upgrade the raft.

Chu Zhao also thought of this.

Chu Zhao has submitted a transaction request to you.

[Acceptance or rejection]

Chu Zhao has submitted a transaction request to you.

[Acceptance or rejection]

【Chu Zhao...】

A series of applications popped up.

Without thinking, Fang Zhiyi clicked "accept".

[Obtained 137 wood, 79 iron, 29 ropes...]

A massive amount of materials flooded into his backpack.

Chu Zhao, unaware of how many materials he lacked, crammed everything into his hands.

The button to upgrade the raft lit up instantly, and he pressed it without hesitation.

Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade!!!

The waves roared and suddenly piled up, forming a wall of water that stretched between heaven and earth, making a deafening sound, like a gaping maw of an abyss, swallowing everything visible to the naked eye.

Amidst this overwhelming force, a raft raised its sails, riding the waves with unstoppable momentum, and leaped into the air.

Daylight broke.

A streak of light leaped and outlined the raft, the flowing light making the figure standing at the bow increasingly clear.

[fzy's Level 5 Raft]

...

The ocean is boundless.

Even the biggest waves eventually subside. After everything is over, the waves calm down and become gentle and mild.

The sixth day of survival.

The sky cleared, the clouds were thin, and the wind was calm.

Fang Zhiyi lay on the raft, motionless, not wanting to do anything, just letting the raft drift with the waves.

It's more like a sea fortress than a raft now.

After upgrading to a level 5 raft, the spacious 10x10 platform is surrounded by sturdy railings, with rows of life tires hanging on both sides and a trawl net towed behind. Masts stand tall, and sails of three sizes (large, medium, and small) billow gracefully. The second-floor platform extends out to include a control room, bedroom, bathroom, and a rooftop garden. Below the platform, a 2x2 area campfire blazes, with rows of crafting tables, material boxes, water purifiers, and other miscellaneous items. The sea cannons are raised, their barrels aimed at the sea.

This is a level 5 raft.

Its defense and speed have been greatly enhanced. If it encounters sea monsters and sirens again, it definitely won't be as helpless as before.

However, upgrading the raft to level 5 is the limit; after that, you can only modify the raft.

There are three possible directions for modification: speed, defense, and attack. Each modification requires a massive amount of materials, and only one can be chosen.

Fang Zhiyi chose speed.

Having experienced so much, he has come to understand that at sea, it's better to be good at running away than good at fighting.

[Modification: Propeller]

[Requires 25 wood, 15 iron, and 5 wind crystals]

Fang Zhiyi glanced at the materials and suddenly saw Chu Zhao come over to say goodbye.

Chu Zhao: "I need to go find the materials for the upgrade."

The breakup was within Fang Zhiyi's expectations. They had shared a common goal for a short time, but would part ways due to different goals.

Chu Zhao was going to find the heart of the sea monster, while he was going to find ore.

"goodbye!"

Fang Zhiyi waved at him.

The two rafts passed each other by and quickly went their separate ways.

The raft cut through the waves and continued forward without stopping.

The music bonsai bobbed and swayed, then switched to a farewell background music, sounding somewhat lonely.

Fang Zhiyi grabbed the potted plant and shook it: "Change to something more cheerful."

Musical Bonsai: ?

Aren't you sad?

Fang Zhiyi's eyes sparkled, completely unaffected: "What's there to be sad about?"

Every parting is for the sake of the next meeting.

Besides, as long as you complete the game, you'll always run into each other in the main world.

[Chu Zhao: Feel free to contact me if you need any materials or have any other requests.]

Fang Zhiyi didn't know where the Wind Ore was, so he asked Chu Zhao to keep an eye out in the channel. He then remembered that his first trading partner had mentioned that some ores always spawned in the waves in his area, and that he had also obtained his flint and steel from him.

The ocean is full of waves.

Fang Zhiyi found this player. Fortunately, the avatar was lit up, meaning the player hadn't been eliminated.

After several exchanges, they obtained coordinates and information. Not far from this sea area, they hoisted the sails and set sail towards their destination.

【ma——】

The little sea monster popped out of the sea.

In the distance, light and shadow refracted, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. The raft sailed through the waves, passing right beneath the rainbow.

The level 5 raft sped forward and reached its destination in less than half an hour.

The waves rolled in, crashing against the raft without moving an inch. Fang Zhiyi picked up the materials from the trawl net.

[Flint x5]

[Iron x13]

【Sea Salt Stone x6】

[Miscellaneous Fish x7]

【Seaweed x6】

Fang's meaning: ...

Wait, something has sneaked in.

Fresh seaweed and some still-living fish appeared on the deck. Before we could even process them, we heard the sound of waves breaking apart.

At first, he thought it was the little sea monster Pupu playing in the water, but when he turned his head, he saw a smooth, white figure emerging from the water.

It's a dolphin!

The dolphin shook its head and made "coo coo coo" sounds, curiously watching the raft. Its forehead bulged, and its mouth opened and closed as if it were smiling.

Fang Zhiyi held her breath, afraid of disturbing it.

The little sea monster puffed and brandished its claws, about to pounce.

The dolphin moved nimbly, transforming into a white wave as it swam past, then emerged from another direction.

The little sea monster, Pupu, wanted to give chase, but Fang Zhiyi stopped him. He grabbed Pupu and said to the dolphin, "Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you..."

He picked up a small fish and threw it into the sea.

The dolphin tentatively swam over, snatched up a small fish and swallowed it whole, then swished its tail and approached the raft.

Fang Zhiyi picked up another small fish and tried to reach out. After waiting for a moment, he felt the cold water splashing on the back of his hand, and then his hand felt light as the fish fell into the dolphin's mouth.

The dolphins were very good-natured and friendly. They let out a sharp cry and swam ahead of the raft. After swimming a distance, they turned back to look, as if leading the way.

The dolphin carried him for over ten nautical miles until they reached a secluded area. This was the dolphin's habitat, where the pristine white creatures played freely, curiously watching the intruder.

Fang Zhiyi looked down.

Here, the sea is close to shallow water, and the sunlight shines directly on the surface, making the seawater clear and blue. You can see colorful minerals dotting the seabed.

Fang Zhiyi had an idea. She changed into a diving suit, put on her goggles, and plunged into the water.

As you swim downstream, the underwater scenery becomes clear.

Starfish lay in the sand, clusters of coral swayed, clownfish darted among them to hunt, and crabs and lobsters lurked among the rocks.

Based on his intuition, Fang Zhiyi picked up a piece of emerald green stone.

【Wind Crystal Stone】

They rummaged through the gravel and soon gathered enough materials to modify the rotor blades.

Fang Zhiyi didn't rush up. Since she was already there, she might as well collect more.

He ransacked the area, taking all the visible ore, even the rocks beneath the reefs, reaching in and grabbing a lobster's antennae.

The lobster's tail snapped back forcefully, unleashing a tremendous impact that caught Fang Zhiyi off guard, causing the lobster to slip from his grasp. Just as it was about to escape back into the crevice, the little sea monster, Pupu, swiftly offered its help, its tentacles tightly binding the lobster, and it sidled up to it as if seeking praise.

【ma...look! 】

Fang Zhiyi exhaled a bubble, took the lobster, patted Pupu's head, and held his last breath as he surfaced.

[Wind Crystal x13, Deep Sea Lobster x1]

After changing out of his diving suit and lifting his wet hair, Fang Zhiyi began modifying the propeller.

The materials disappeared, replaced by a cloud of mist that enveloped both sides of the raft, from which tinkling and clanging sounds emanated.

With some time still remaining before the upgrade was complete, Fang Zhiyi decided to deal with the deep-sea lobster first.

The lobster landed on the deck, and before it could even figure out what was going on, it raised its pincers and bared its teeth.

Fang Zhiyi grabbed its neck and, with a swift and clean snap, separated its head and tail.

Crack open the lobster shell, remove the vein, and place the glistening lobster meat on the campfire. Take a piece of butter from the supermarket, spread it on the meat with a knife, and let it melt quickly under the high heat, sizzling. Don't waste the lobster head either; crack open the huge claws and put it on top to grill together. Scoop out the lobster roe and mix it with the lobster meat as a flavor enhancer.

【fragrant……】

[It smells so good!]

The lobsters, caught straight from the deep sea, are served on the table without a second's delay. They require no seasoning, only pure, unadulterated freshness and sweetness. The lobster meat is firm and bouncy, practically dancing on the tongue.

Pupu hugged a pair of pliers and gnawed on it with relish.

Fang Zhiyi wiped his lips, still savoring the moment. The propeller had been upgraded, and he tested the speed of the raft. With a slight push, the propeller whirred and sped off for a considerable distance.

Next came upgrading the sails, mast, and propulsion system. After the upgrades, the raft was completely transformed, and Fang Zhiyi's backpack was emptied of all the materials.

Dolphins frolicked and played around the raft.

The sun slowly sank in the west.

Fang Zhiyi spent the sixth day of his survival in Dolphin Bay without encountering any danger; the sea was calm and peaceful. But there was a sense of calm before the storm.

Fang Zhiyi sat by the campfire, roasting large scallops he had fished from the seabed, the butter bubbling and gurgling, waiting for the final day to arrive.

[Area] [Raft Survival] [5784/36500]

【Aaaaaaaah, I've finally made it to the last day!!!】

[This damn game is finally coming to an end!]

[Hahaha, I did it! I can clear the game and go home!]

The number of people in the channel had decreased significantly; the few familiar faces had all disappeared, and the remaining people were either cheering and celebrating or cursing this damn game.

Despite the atmosphere, Fang Zhiyi did not relax at all.

Beware of opening champagne at halftime.

Until the very last moment, no one knows what will happen at sea.

He got up and inspected the raft, checking for any leaks and repairs. He also collected enough wood to repair the damage. Finally, he told Pupu to stay put and not run around.

After doing all that, I sat back down in front of the campfire.

The scallops are already cooked; they only need a little butter for seasoning to retain their original fresh and sweet flavor.

I took a sip of the soup and saw a private message pop up.

[Chu Zhao: I upgraded my raft to level 5]

[fzy: Congratulations]

[Chu Zhao: The last day is very dangerous; something like %#@ will happen.]

[fzy: What?]

[Chu Zhao: @*%]

I sent several messages in a row, but they all came out as gibberish.

Just as Fang Zhiyi was about to ask what was going on, his heart skipped a beat. He remembered the abyss-like giant he had seen beneath the iceberg, and his mouth went dry. His thalassophobia was about to kick in.

...No way.

If that's the case, very few people in this world will live to see the end of their lives.

The sea suddenly became deathly silent.

The playful dolphins have vanished, leaving only a deep, dark sea, eerily quiet.

Even the musical bonsai sensed the impending storm and huddled inside, motionless.

The damp, cold sea breeze felt cool on my skin and brought a pang of anxiety.

Fang Zhiyi swallowed hard, trying to remain calm.

Nothing has happened yet, there's no need to scare yourself. Even if a deep-sea monster appears, his raft is at its maximum speed, he should be able to escape.

Chu Zhao realized what was happening and stopped trying to send messages.

As we waited, the seventh day of survival arrived as promised.

After midnight, the leaderboard rewards were settled first. 10 survival points were credited, bringing my total to 50.

Immediately afterwards, a bright red countdown appeared in the upper right corner of my eyes.

【23:59:59】

The ticking away of time felt like a death knell, creating a strong sense of pressure.

[Racing Challenge]

Please reach the destination before time runs out to complete this game. Those who fail to reach the destination before time runs out will be eliminated.

A beam of white light shot into the sky, instantly illuminating the entire sky and reaching the eyes of all the players.

The channel was buzzing with excitement.

What's going on? Are you making it harder to beat the game again? Just say you want to kill me!

Damn it, it's so far away, I hope I can't get there?

[I just want to cower in a corner and wait for it to end! Ugh, I'm doomed!]

Amidst the chaos, Chu Zhao's message popped up.

[Chu Zhao: Failure to arrive by the end of the countdown will result in elimination]

[Chu Zhao: Then, it's very likely that arriving early will allow for early clearance.]

Fang Zhiyi understood what he meant. Now it was all about speed. As long as they could get there faster than the danger, and reach their destination first, they could avoid all danger.

Whoosh—

A strong sea breeze blew by, and the sails billowed instantly. The raft shot out like an arrow, leaving a white trail of foam on the sea.

Without needing to think, all he had to do was speed up, speed up, speed up!!!