Chapter 4 Treasure Chest The contents of the treasure chest far exceeded his expectations…
The overhead lights came on, revealing a wide variety of supermarket goods, a sight that was equally dazzling.
Fang Zhiyi glanced at the shelves that were fully stocked.
Having learned from the first experience, every pickup opportunity is precious and should not be wasted on unnecessary things.
After lingering for a moment on luxury items like instant noodles and self-heating hot pot, my gaze finally settled on the beverage shelf.
On the high seas, freshwater resources are scarce. Even after the game data is digitized, it is simply and crudely divided into two values: "stamina" and "hunger." However, if you don't drink water for a long time, your body will still feel thirsty, dizzy, and lightheaded.
As is typical of survival games, dehydration might cause negative effects and continuously deplete stamina.
Fang decided to get the water first.
It's better to be prepared.
Upon reaching the shelves, various brands of water and beverages were neatly arranged. At the top were 24 bottles of 550ml mineral water, and below were 3 5L jugs. The rest were a wide variety of drinks, including juice, cola, sparkling water, and tea.
Fang Zhiyi took out a bucket of mineral water.
[A Fresh Food Supermarket Lv.1]
[Daily pickup count: 0/3]
The 5L bottle of mineral water felt heavy in my hand, and even the raft trembled slightly.
An adult's water intake is about 2000ml. Even if they are exposed to the sun on the sea, 5L would be enough for them to use for two days.
Fang Zhiyi unconsciously swallowed.
I wasn't thirsty just now, but now my mouth is suddenly dry and my throat hurts when I swallow.
I unscrewed the cap, held the water bucket, and gulped down a big mouthful. The mineral water, which normally has no taste, now tasted slightly sweet. The sweetness was soothing, and my fatigue vanished instantly.
Fang's meaning was still not fully expressed.
I have a slight doubt that if I drank freely, I could finish all 5 liters of water in one go.
The number of random spring waters on the supermarket shelves can be counted. If we drink them all in this world, what will happen in the next apocalyptic world?
The thought flashed through my mind; I decided not to consider things too far in the future.
Even with the most pessimistic outlook, it's questionable whether one can survive to the seventh day and complete the game.
Live in the moment.
The most important thing right now is to get through this night safely.
I added two more pieces of wood to the campfire and checked it to make sure it would burn long enough to last until dawn, just in case something unexpected happened.
Make all the necessary preparations and wait quietly for night to fall.
The sun is setting.
Clouds and rosy hues scattered across the sky.
In an instant, the sky darkened. It was as if someone had drawn a tight, airtight curtain, preventing even a sliver of light from getting through.
Splash—
The waves lapped slowly, the darkness thick and impenetrable. Shadows roamed, as if some enormous creature was lurking beneath the surface, surrounding the small raft.
Fang Zhiyi clearly felt the raft shake slightly.
Immediately, a strong, fishy smell filled my nostrils, making me want to vomit.
Splash—
Tentacles and tentacles, extending from the deep sea, tentatively made their way onto the raft. Entwined with seaweed and shellfish, even a mere section was enough to suggest the enormous creature beneath.
King Squid
Even a level 2 raft is like a toy in the face of a deep-sea monster; a mere touch is enough to kill it.
Before it could even exert its power, the flames in the campfire suddenly shot up, the tentacle trembled, and as if scorched by the flames, it abruptly retracted, creating a terrifying wave.
Fang Zhiyi steadied himself, not surprised at all.
Deep-sea monsters are afraid of fire.
With the campfire nearby, it dared not approach, but it was not willing to give up, still lingering around, eyeing the campfire menacingly.
Under the watchful eye of the giant squid, Fang Zhiyi calmly grilled the fish.
With a sizzle, the raw fish was grilled into cooked fish and then put back into the prop backpack.
Food can expire.
Raw fish pieces will spoil in 6 hours, while cooked fish pieces can have their expiration time extended.
Now that there's a campfire, it's a good time to process the fish and meat. We can eat them directly or use them to trade for supplies later.
The process of grilling fish was very relaxing. Fang Zhiyi multitasked, keeping an eye on the King Squid's movements while also browsing the channel for messages to see if he could get any useful information.
[Area] [Raft Survival] [24468/36500]
Every second, the numbers are decreasing.
Not everyone has the courage to kill fish; they take a chance, thinking, "There might not be any danger at night," or "Even if there is, it might not be my turn."
Survival games are brutal; there's no room for luck. Neglecting your duties will only lead to elimination and death.
The ocean presents both dangers and challenges, but also opportunities.
Fang Zhiyi secretly reminded herself that she must not be complacent just because the supermarket existed.
Survival, upgrading the raft, and conquering the sea are the only ways out.
The number representing the players is still decreasing.
The rabbit mourns the fox's death.
The channel was filled with a somber and oppressive atmosphere, with many people venting their negative emotions.
I want to go home. I don't want to play this stupid game anymore. I miss my mom.
My home is located at Unit 201, Building 33, Ping'an Street, X City. If anyone can go back there, please help me check on my parents.
[Waaah...]
There were also dissenting voices that mocked the group.
[Ouyang Ge: Useless people should just die sooner rather than later, don't waste resources here]
This news caused a huge uproar and made the person the target of public criticism.
How can you say such a thing? Don't you have any conscience?
Is it so hard to shut up?
Scum like you should die.
[Ouyang Ge: Sorry, not only am I not going to die, I'm actually doing just fine.]
[Ouyang Ge: I also have to thank @Chu Zhao, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known to build a bonfire]
The atmosphere on the channel was subtle.
Chu Zhao made his presence known in the channel.
The beginner's guide has helped many players; a large portion of them have survived to this day because of its guidance in obtaining the campfire blueprint.
For this reason, many people in the channel follow his lead, forming a considerable force in the process.
[Ouyang Ge: @Chu Zhao I know you're a good person, why don't you go all the way and distribute supplies to those who don't have a campfire?]
[Ouyang: You can't just stand by and watch them die, can you? (smiley face)]
Where there are many people, there will be trouble.
Some people appreciated his kindness, while others disliked Chu Zhao's behavior, feeling that he was just trying to attract attention.
Now, Ouyang is blatantly sowing discord, putting Chu Zhao in a very difficult position.
Sure enough, after these words were spoken, many people began to focus on Chu Zhao, and some even tried to take advantage of the situation.
[@ChuZhao Since you're a big shot, you must have a lot of supplies. Share them with us!]
Give me some water, I'm almost out of energy.
You are a hypocrite.
[...]
The channel was in complete chaos, with all sorts of strange comments.
On the Diversity of Human Species
Fang's intention was still to honor Chu Zhao's feelings.
After all, this information is invaluable and can save you from many detours.
He stared at the channel, waiting for Chu Zhao to appear.
But even after my eyes got sore from looking, I still didn't see anyone.
That makes sense. Even though we're all on the same wavelength, the ocean is so vast that we never even see each other. Once we go offline, who knows who we are?
He would also choose to turn a blind eye.
Fang Zhiyi felt he was a bit indifferent, unmoved by the elimination of others. After all, he hadn't witnessed it firsthand; to him, it was just a decrease in numbers, making it difficult for him to empathize.
However, those who think like him are ultimately in the minority.
For example, Chu Zhao must be a kind-hearted person, otherwise he wouldn't have made this information public to help other players survive.
He's probably feeling sad and upset right now because he's been betrayed by other players.
Upon thinking about this, Fang Zhiyi immediately lost interest and was about to leave the channel when a new message popped up.
It is Chu Zhao.
[Chu Zhao: Survival of the fittest]
[Chu Zhao: I have no obligation to be responsible for you.]
A cold, impersonal line of text.
In stark contrast to her previous image as a gentle and attentive professor, she is kind-hearted, gentle, yet rational.
This contrast unexpectedly piqued Fang Zhiyi's interest.
The fish is cooked.
Fang Zhiyi didn't want to see any more of this messy information, so she left the channel.
Therefore, I haven't seen any new messages.
[Ouyang: Don't be fooled by him. He's just using you to test the rules of the game, using you as scapegoats to test the waters with your lives.]
Fang Zhiyi turned his gaze to the sea.
The deep-sea monster was still lingering nearby, but because of the campfire, it was impossible to get close.
The night is still long.
The sky was dark and gloomy, with no stars or moon. The light from the campfire just enveloped the raft, and one could barely see the sea surface within half a meter.
Fang Zhiyi stretched, putting the unpleasant things that had happened on the channel out of his mind, when he caught a glimpse of a flash of white light out of the corner of his eye. Looking closer, he saw a box bobbing up and down in the waves.
I haven't seen a treasure chest all day, but now wild treasure chests have finally spawned!
Fang Zhiyi had only ever opened dropped bronze treasure chests before, but this one in front of him was clearly much more advanced. Just thinking about the supplies that could be found inside made him excited, and he paddled his raft over.
The distance to the waves gradually decreased.
In the dim firelight, the treasure chest shimmered with an alluring glow.
Fang Zhiyi was about to open it when she suddenly remembered what Chu Zhao had said in the channel.
Treasure chests will spawn in the waves, but they will always be guarded by sea monsters.
Fang Zhiyi stopped the raft.
Upon closer inspection, the treasure chest floated on the water's surface, shrouded in a distorted shadow beneath it. By the light emanating from the chest, one could see a fish the size of a small cart. Its scales were rough and uneven, and the treasure chest floated atop a gaping, blood-red maw with fine, closely spaced teeth, ready to swallow its prey whole.
【Treasure Chest Fish】
My sixth sense was screaming for danger.
The [Treasure Chest Fish] that spawns near the treasure chest is not in the same league as the [Silver Blade Fish] that appears during the day; it's not something he can handle.
Even a level 2 raft is as fragile as a piece of paper in front of the treasure chestfish's teeth.
Give up?
It was frustrating to watch the treasure chest slip away right in front of me.
Fang Zhiyi hesitated.
He had a feeling that what he would find in the treasure chest would far exceed his expectations.
A note from the author:
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