Chapter 37: Skynet World

While the group discussed their new items, No. 002 did not interrupt. She waited until they had almost finished before interjecting, “Alright, it’s time for each of you to draw your rewards. Now, follow me.”

The five looked at each other. Chen Kaijie sighed and said, “Although this instance was even more dangerous than my last one, I still feel glad to have cleared it with all of you. I hope you all stay safe and successfully pass the next instance.”

“Thank you, take care!”

“Take care.”

“Also, thank you both.”

After bidding farewells, the other three simultaneously expressed gratitude toward Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu. The former was indifferent, while the other remained calm and composed. They both nodded in tacit acknowledgment.

Previously, No. 002 mentioned that there would be team instances later on. They had considered teaming up with Shen Qingqiu and Xiao Muyu. However, both of them had such distinct personalities.

Even though the two had helped them a few times, it was clear from their words and actions that they didn’t want to get too involved with them. Chen Kaijie understood this well and knew they wouldn’t agree to team up, at least not then.

Chen Kaijie didn’t bring it up, and the sharp Su Jin also refrained from suggesting it. As a newcomer, she figured she wouldn’t be much help to them anyway. Zuo Tiantian, on the other hand, was too shy to say anything.

The three of them, however, were open-minded about the matter. Chen Kaijie and Zuo Tiantian generously shared their contact information with them before leaving.

Shen Qingqiu was surprised by their openness, but she didn’t mind. For now, she only wanted to team up with one particular person.

Seeing Xiao Muyu also about to leave, Shen Qingqiu quickly spoke, “Where are you staying? I’ll come find you once we’re out.”

Xiao Muyu glanced at her and calmly replied, “No need, and I don’t have a fixed place to stay.”

Shen Qingqiu hit a wall with that response, which she expected, but it felt no less unpleasant.

“I know what you’re worried about. Since we’ve cleared two instances together, and because of this,” She pointed to her wounded chest, “could you give me a chance to talk with you?”

Shen Qingqiu had always been proud and never one to easily extend favors. Even when she did help others, she never expected anything in return. But for the first time, she asked Xiao Muyu, indicating her wound.

Xiao Muyu’s brows furrowed instantly, her eyes fixed on Shen Qingqiu’s wound.

That uncomfortable feeling surged up inside her again. It wasn’t disgust at Shen Qingqiu’s behavior, but rather…

She pressed her lips together.

Shen Qingqiu realized they had reached a compromise, and relief immediately washed over her.

As No. 002 was about to take her away, she loudly called, “I’ll be waiting for you in the Skynet World, all cleaned up, at the Abyss Grand Hotel in the Yellow Springs District!”

Xiao Muyu’s lips twitched, and even the usually expressionless No. 002 couldn’t help but avert her gaze slightly, muttering, “Who would’ve thought that you’re both so… bold.”

Shen Qinqqiu’s comment had instantly swept away whatever faint frustration Xiao Muyu felt. How could this woman flirt so casually, without regard for the situation?

She hadn’t even paid attention to Skynet World’s map.

The Abyss Grand Hotel in the Yellow Springs District—what kind of names were those? Did they think players didn’t get enough thrill from the instances?

When Xiao Muyu returned to the private single-person room, she felt dazed.

The recent instance had been a wild ride. There was only half an hour of rest between the game’s six rounds. It put an enormous strain on both her mind and body. Although it only lasted eight hours, it felt more grueling than eight days.

“Tough, was it? But you managed to get an S rating—that’s no simple feat. Looks like your good luck is still with you.”

No. 002 had more life than the system. Her expressionless face aside, her behavior was humanlike.

Xiao Muyu wasn’t polite to her. Although No. 002 hadn’t provoked her and probably didn’t design the game, Xiao Muyu still didn’t feel any fondness toward her.

“Surviving in such a cruel game takes more than just a bit of luck.”

People like Lin Hai, who was somewhat unlikeable; Ni De, who seemed honest; Zhang Qiang, the taciturn type; and Wang Yushan, who tried her best to clear the rounds despite her timidity—all of them were real people, yet in this cursed place, they were at the mercy of monsters.

No. 002 didn’t get upset, her voice still calm and unperturbed: “You’re right, but when it comes to gacha, it’s all about luck. Please, go ahead.”

Looking at the familiar interface, Xiao Muyu took a deep breath. The last time, the ‘Thanks for playing’ card had nearly traumatized her.

She tapped the button, and a card appeared before her, with the words: “Extinguished Carousel Lantern.”

Extinguished Carousel Lantern
Rarity: $
Drop Rate: Low probability of dropping after completing ‘Deadly Room Numbers (Collector’s Edition)’.
Item Description: What are you thinking? What use could an extinguished carousel lantern possibly have?

Xiao Muyu: ……

‘That’s it?’ Xiao Muyu was incredulous.

She prided herself on staying calm, but when she saw the item description abruptly cut off like that, she couldn’t help but feel the urge to curse.

Was this system serious? This item was worse than a ‘Thanks for playing’ card! At least ‘Thanks for playing’ was straightforward, unlike this sarcastic nonsense about what use an extinguished carousel lantern could have.

On top of not giving a proper item, the system was mocking the player!

And what was with the vertical line? Was it supposed to be a dollar sign or a fake S?

Xiao Muyu’s expression was unreadable. Holding the card, she asked No. 002, “What is this supposed to be?”

No. 002 glanced at it and shook her head, but her expression seemed a bit… cryptic.

“I’m only responsible for letting you draw, not interpreting your rewards. As the rules dictate, you still have one more draw.”

Xiao Muyu knew she could do nothing about it, so she put the card away for now, took a deep breath, and rubbed her hands.

How could her luck fail her at such a crucial moment? It was downright terrible.

On her second draw, she finally got a normal card. Although its rarity wasn’t high, it was by far the most useful item Xiao Muyu had ever drawn.

Raw Rhinoceros Horn
Rarity: B
Drop Rate: It has a certain probability of dropping in various instances
Item Description: The ancients say you should not burn a rhinoceros horn. When burned, it emits a strange fragrance. If it touches your clothing, you can communicate with ghosts.

Xiao Muyu always had this one suspicion in the back of her mind.

In her understanding, what made ghosts so terrifying wasn’t just their creepy, unnatural appearances or their violation of logic that made them hard to accept. The main point was that humans were powerless against them.

People couldn’t fight ghosts.

Ordinary human bodies were no match for them, and in many cases, they couldn’t even see where the ghosts were.

In the face of such helplessness, fear would multiply.

However, in the two instances she had encountered so far, no matter how complex they were, one thing was constant: ghosts could be defeated.

Some were unkillable, and some feared no pain, but they were not unstoppable. Most importantly, they were visible, and it was clear what they were trying to do.

This rhinoceros horn gave her a suspicion: the ghosts in the upcoming instances might be closer to the traditional concept of ghosts that she was familiar with.

“You mentioned there would be team instances. How do we choose our teammates?”

Xiao Muyu wasn’t sure why, but she always felt reluctant to team up with others. Maybe she feared getting involved with them.

However, based on the second instance, she realized that teammates were crucial.

No matter how skilled someone was, they had limited abilities, as were the items they possessed.

If it weren’t for Zuo Tiantian’s red string, Shen Qingqiu would have been… And, without Shen Qingqiu, it would’ve been difficult for Xiao Muyu to survive and clear the instance herself.

No matter how unwilling she felt, logic told Xiao Muyu that she needed to prepare in advance, or, at the very least, to understand how things worked.

No. 002 answered her question readily.

“Most players in Skynet World are already aware of this. If you want to team up and avoid getting random teammates assigned to you, there are generally two options:

1. Team up with players you meet in an instance.
2. Recruit teammates through the player forums in Skynet World.

However, regardless of the method, you’ll need a team card to bind your team members. Only then will you be able to enter the same instance together.”

Xiao Muyu frowned slightly.

“Do you have to obtain the team card from an instance?”

“Various team-binding items can drop randomly in instances, but the chances are low. Of course, there’s another option: purchasing it at the Trading Center in Skynet’s main city. However, it’s not cheap. Binding one person costs 10,000 gold coins. Although there are other team-binding items, including contracts, they’re rare and not always available for purchase.”

10,000 gold coins? That meant she would need 100 points.

Xiao Muyu couldn’t help but think of the Chen brothers, Chen Dong and Chen Xi, and the young couple who tragically died on the first day.

Both pairs had entered the instance together, and that wasn’t the first time Chen Dong and Chen Xi had been teaming up, so they must have been bound together.

As for the young couple, it had likely been their first instance, and the game pulled them in simultaneously.

“If you successfully form a contract or team up, will future instances keep the team bound together, even if they aren’t team instances?”

“Correct. In team instances, as long as the team completes the group quest, they can clear the instance. The overall rating depends on the team’s performance. In a normal instance, each player completes their quest individually, and the ratings will be calculated accordingly.”

Xiao Muyu now had a clearer understanding.

Teaming up had a definite advantage over going solo, especially since you never knew what kind of players would be matched with you.

If she ended up with people like the Chen brothers, she would drop dead without knowing what happened.

“Can teammates be unbound?”

“Yes. When forming a team, you can designate one person as captain. The captain has the authority to remove teammates.”

Xiao Muyu thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Thank you. I have one last question. What’s the average elimination rate for a level B instance?”

She couldn’t shake the feeling that these two instances were too much for beginners. If that was the case, she wondered how much tougher level A, S, or SSS instances would be.

Was it even possible to clear them?

No. 002’s expression became more solemn. She gave a serious response. “Even though it varies according to the scenario, the difficulty is still scaled to match the player’s level. Of course, the differences won’t be too extreme. The average elimination rate for a level B instance is around 50%. However, there have been cases where players make reckless decisions, leading to elimination rates higher than 70%.”

Xiao Muyu had nothing to say to that.

No. 002, thinking she might find the statistics too harsh, added, “Coming back from the dead requires a price. If someone lacks the strength or courage, early elimination may be a form of release.”

Xiao Muyu nodded, but her silence came from another reason.

She believed that people like Shen Qingqiu were significantly rare, and she herself had performed well.

However, in both instances, the elimination rates were nearly 60%, far above the average. Even if Xiao Muyu only considered the players she knew had officially started the game, without counting all the players that had entered the instance.

“Alright, time’s up. The next instance should start in two days. You can take a break in the meantime.”

No. 002 made a welcoming gesture, and Xiao Muyu disappeared before her eyes.

No. 002 let out a sigh and sat down in her chair.

A moment later, she furrowed her brow, raising her head with some hesitation as she spoke into the void, “This is only a level B instance, but it is too difficult. Should it be adjusted?”

————

Xiao Muyu found herself back at the place she had entered after the first instance.

Like the first time, her sudden reappearance out of thin air didn’t attract much attention. The people around her seemed unaware that anything unusual had occurred.

The so-called Skynet World was bustling with life, a vibrant scene filled with various people passing by.

Some were walking briskly on their own, while others moved in groups.

There seemed to be no difference between this world and the real one.

However, as Xiao Muyu brushed through the crowd, she couldn’t help but notice those who seemed out of place amidst the noisy bustle.

On their faces, she saw expressions that had nothing to do with happiness.

Some were serious and indifferent, others apathetic, while some looked lost and anxious.

Xiao Muyu observed them. At times, they would look up and meet her gaze.

Their eyes unmistakably conveyed the message: they were players too.

It was too easy to tell them apart. In Skynet, players were merely passersby, forever unable to enjoy peace.

For them, each day could be their last. Death and fear loomed like the Sword of Damocles, perpetually hanging over their heads.

It was hard to imagine how many people could still be considered ‘normal’ under such circumstances.

Xiao Muyu looked up at the sky in Skynet World.

It was clearer and more blue than the sky in the real world, seemingly without a trace of gloom.

Yet her expression grew heavier. After a long pause, Xiao Muyu lowered her head and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

What was the point of feeling sentimental? The illusion she had seen in Instance No. 002 had already reminded her that darkness also clouded the so-called ‘real world’ she remembered.

When Xiao Muyu looked up, she noticed a phone store. After thinking for a moment, she walked inside.

Xiao Muyu came back out holding a new phone. The phone models and brands in Skynet World were nearly identical to those in her world, but the prices were ridiculously high.

Phones had become luxury items here.

She had 225 points prior to spending 3,500 gold coins on food, hotel stay, and clothes. The phone, along with the phone plan, cost her 6,000 gold coins.

So now Xiao Muyu only had 130 points left. If she bound a teammate, that would leave her with 30 points to spend, which was admittedly too little.

Suddenly, she recalled Shen Qingqiu mentioning that points were more than for exchanging into gold coins.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Muyu opened her phone and searched for the player forum No. 002 had told her about.

The forum required registration and login, and even featured facial recognition.

When Xiao Muyu scanned her face to gain entry, the screen displayed:

[Detected player in Skynet World. Player No. 52348526: Xiao Muyu.]

[Identity verification successful. Please register to join the player forum.]

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Author had something to say:

Teaming up is definitely necessary, but not right now for the teammates. They need to grow first. Xiao Shen and Xiao Xiao’s personalities are just like that, so they won’t choose their teammates for now.

Xiao Xiao got played by the system again, haha. I’m going to throw all kinds of weird stuff at them and just have fun teasing them, hehe.