Its sharp claws tore through Nia's clothes, embedding themselves deep into her flesh, and blood spurted out, staining a corner of the carriage red.
Nia did not struggle, did not shout, and did not even show the slightest expression of pain; instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
As the surrounding noise gradually faded away, Nia's thoughts drifted back to that heartbreaking moment—the helpless look in his daughter's eyes in the previous instance, and the desperate message his brother sent at the end.
Everything felt like a sharp blade cutting into his heart.
Nia lost the two most important people in his life, and the world felt like a wasteland to him.
Under the monster's claws, Nia's body gradually shattered, but the smile on his lips never faded until the very last moment.
This is a silent farewell, a final mockery of this cruel world, and a release from one's own tragic fate.
Nia chose to end it all in her own way, closing her eyes forever with sorrow for the past and despair for the future.
————
Let's return to the present.
Xiao Jin's finger hovered over the light screen, and the messages pierced her eyes like cold needles.
As she looked further down, her hand instinctively tapped on her friends list. The list, which had once been bustling with at least a dozen lit-up avatars, was now mostly grayed out.
Mao Liu from the Acid Rain World, Han Chuan from Linhai High School, Deng Xing, the leader of the trio from the Extreme Cold World, and... Gao Ya...
As her fingertips traced those somber names, Xiao Jin's breathing suddenly became labored as she read to the end, her lips pressed into a cold, hard line.
For an unknown amount of time, Xiao Jin stared at the panel in front of her. Even when Tong Xiaolu sent her a voice message filled with sobs and worry, she just stared at the little red dot and didn't click on it.
A profound weariness, not just physical but also spiritual, enveloped her completely.
She thought that having experienced her previous life, she would get used to it.
It turns out, she's always been a timid person!
As night falls, the simulated lights in the carriages soften.
Xiao Jin lay on the bed, her consciousness rising and falling amidst extreme exhaustion and turbulent thoughts, until finally she was dragged by an invisible force and plunged into a bizarre and surreal darkness.
The feeling of weightlessness disappeared, and I felt a solid touch under my feet. The night breeze, carrying a damp coolness, brushed against my cheeks.
She found herself standing on a viewing platform atop a towering tower, with the vast, surging river below, reflecting the city lights on both banks as dazzling as a galaxy.
Neon lights outlined the skyscrapers, traffic wove flowing ribbons of light across the overpasses, and giant billboards in the distant commercial district shimmered with mesmerizing colors.
On the opposite bank, the lights of countless homes, like scattered stars, outlined the warm contours of everyday life. The background noise of the bustling city faintly drifted in—steam horns, voices, and indistinct music… everything felt so real it was breathtaking.
Is this... a night view of a once bustling city on Earth?
Just as Xiao Jin was gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar "human world" beneath her feet, slightly lost in thought, a familiar yet cool embrace gently came from behind and hugged her.
Jian Yiqiu's chin rested on the top of her cool hair, and his warm breath brushed against her ear.
"Do you still like it?" His voice was low, with a hint of barely perceptible... caution.
Xiao Jin's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed, leaning back into that reassuring embrace.
Neither of them spoke again, but simply nestled together, gazing down at the "human world" below, a place that was both illusory and incredibly real, brimming with the light of life.
The night wind high above stirred their clothes, seemingly temporarily dispelling the suffocating silence in the carriage.
After a long silence, Xiao Jincai spoke in a low voice, slightly hoarse: "...It's different now. Many people have died, a lot." She didn't elaborate, but Jian Yiqiu clearly understood.
“I know.” His arms tightened slightly, his voice deep and serious: “Every selection process is a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Anger, fear, despair… are all normal reactions.”
The speculation on the channel was correct; the system... or rather, the entity behind it, wanted this 'fuel'.
"Fuel?" Xiao Jin turned her head and met his deep eyes. This man had indeed been spying on her all along.
"The strength of the soul, the resilience of the will, the energy that erupts under extreme emotions... these may all be their targets." Jian Yiqiu didn't elaborate, but simply kissed her forehead lightly and changed the subject.
He said with a hint of deliberate ease, "Don't think too much about it. At least for now, we can still enjoy the 'scenery' here."
If you don't like it, in the next world…
Jian Yiqiu paused, looking into Xiao Jin's eyes: "You can relax a bit."
Although it wasn't explicitly stated, the meaning is clear: the next instance world should be quite easy.
"Heh." Xiao Jin smirked, letting out a short, sarcastic laugh: "A slap followed by a sweet treat? The system's got that trick up its sleeve now?"
"Just think of it as... catching your breath." Jian Yiqiu didn't refute, but simply hugged her tighter, as if trying to transfer his strength to her.
"Only by surviving can you have the right to think about the future."
The night in my dream was gentle, and the city lights shattered into flowing golden sands on the river.
But this brief moment of tenderness and the "easy" preview failed to truly dispel the gloom in Xiao Jin's heart. She knew that this was just a false calm before the storm.
During the subsequent ten-day break, the player channel was like a swamp soaked in despair.
The oppressive silence and the occasional negative comments hung over every player like a persistent dark cloud.
Some train like madmen, trying to grasp at the straw of becoming stronger; others indulge in the low-level entertainment provided by the system, numbing themselves.
But many more people endured the torment in silence, staring blankly out the car window at the eternal, empty darkness.
Xiao Jin spends most of her time in the train carriage and practice room...
You can either organize your resources and research newly acquired skills and equipment, or you can use your points for intensive recovery training.
I occasionally check the channel, but only skim through it and never participate in the discussion.
She eventually replied to Tong Xiaolu's message with a simple "All is well." She didn't mention a word about the devastation of the previous instance.
With ample care, Amo recovered quickly. Its black jade-like scales regained their cold luster, but its eyes seemed even colder and more aggressive.
It spends most of its time perched at Xiao Jin's feet, like the most loyal guard. Occasionally, Xiao Jin will take it into the training room for combat training.
Time slowly slipped away amidst the daily training, silence, and repression.
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