Apologies, I, Xu Fan, am on the Fifth Floor!

[Major Announcement! Diyat Du, the contestant from the Zhayu Kingdom, has been confirmed dead in the Outer Forbidden Zone!]

A shocking piece of news appeared across every contestant's Live Stream Room.

This was the first death to occur since all contestants worldwide entered the Outer Forbidden Zone!

Before this, many had assumed the first to die in the forbidden zone would be Xu Fan from the Yan Kingdom.

In an instant, countless viewers abandoned the streams they were watching and flooded into the Zhayu Kingdom contestant's Live Stream Room.

This contestant, like Xu Fan, had been born in the Snowfield Region.

And the supplies he had prepared were more than ample.

Yet unfortunately...

Even with warm clothing prepared, this contestant still couldn't withstand the harsh environment.

After entering the forbidden zone, his instinct drove him to escape the area.

But in his haste, he stumbled into a wolf pack's territory.

When he encountered a Sentinel Wolf, he didn't adopt the cautious approach Xu Fan had used.

Instead, he opened fire with his Pistol.

But this contestant's marksmanship was far from impressive.

Not only did he fail to seriously wound the Snow Wolf, but the recoil numbed his arm.

And with limited ammunition.

In no time at all, the Zhayu Kingdom contestant found himself surrounded.

He struggled, but it was already beyond saving.

In the end...

A Snow Wolf lunged forward and bit through his neck. Blood gushed like a fountain, and he soon collapsed to the ground.

One after another, vicious Snow Wolves piled on, tearing at his flesh with savage bites.

His calf, his arm, his ear—each was ripped away in the wolves' frenzy.

The scene was so bloody that the director had to blur it with mosaic.

Many viewers who were eating nearly vomited up everything from the day before.

And the Yan Kingdom viewers who flooded in.

Felt a wave of lingering fear.

Because their contestant, Xu Fan, had just encountered these very creatures!

"So this is how terrifying their combat power really is."

"Wait, look at the surroundings—it's almost identical to our Xu Fan's area. The Zhayu Kingdom contestant and our country's contestant are in the same region!"

"Now that you mention it, it really does seem that way. Wait, doesn't that mean Xu Fan's crisis isn't over yet?"

A torrent of comments scrolled past.

Though they sympathized with the Zhayu Kingdom contestant's fate, they were even more worried about Xu Fan's safety.

After all...

Everyone has their own selfishness.

Especially when it comes to national pride.

Everyone hoped the contestant representing their own country would return safely.

But...

The Zhayu Kingdom contestant's death was only the beginning.

As his death was confirmed.

The punishment followed.

Across the cities of the Zhayu Kingdom, corpses began appearing with alarming frequency.

Not only did this cause a certain degree of panic among the populace.

But even the authorities were at a loss on how to handle the bodies.

Moreover, for a small nation like the Zhayu Kingdom, a sharp decline of ten million people was no joke!

The Zhayu Kingdom citizens who had been watching the forbidden zone livestream grew furious.

On the public screen, they vented their dissatisfaction wildly.

"This guy is the biggest waste our country has ever produced. How could they choose him for the forbidden zone!"

"Ten million people lost their lives because of him. I suggest nailing him to the pillar of human shame! And his family—no mercy, they should pay with their lives!"

At the same time...

This incident made everyone fully realize...

The warning about the forbidden zone was no joke.

All of humanity could indeed receive gifts from the forbidden zone.

But in return, the forbidden zone also coveted their lives!

The contestants representing their nations were truly bound to their country's fate!

After entering the Zhayu Kingdom contestant's live stream room, the Yan Kingdom viewers quickly returned to Xu Fan's live stream room.

And...

Began praying for Xu Fan in their hearts.

Hoping he would make it through safely.

In the Outer Forbidden Zone.

Xu Fan knew nothing of what was happening outside.

The notification of a contestant's death was only shown to the live stream audience, not relayed to those inside the forbidden zone.

At this moment, Xu Fan was still following the snow wolf's paw prints.

Even he couldn't tell how long he had been walking, or how far he had gone.

But thankfully...

Everything was going as Xu Fan had expected.

The snow underfoot wasn't as thick as before.

Meaning he was leaving the snowfield.

Smoothly.

"Even if it's a beast from the forbidden zone, it still lacks real intelligence, and has no concept of counter-tracking," Xu Fan thought to himself.

He felt that, aside from using tools, this was the biggest difference between humans and beasts.

If this snow wolf were smarter, after encountering a strong enemy, instead of seeking its companions, it would have sacrificed itself to lead the enemy into danger...

Of course, even though the current situation showed the creature wasn't as clever as he'd imagined, Xu Fan still prepared for the worst.

"So no matter what, I can't stay on the surface level."

"Even though the snow wolf's tracks are leading me away from here right now."

"I still have to prepare for the worst."

As he moved, Xu Fan made a point to step exactly where the wolf's paw prints landed.

And...

Every time, he tested the ground with the tip of his foot.

If something was wrong, his other foot could support his center of gravity, keeping him from falling into a trap hidden beneath the snow.

Details.

That was also why Xu Fan could never walk fast.

And the guests in the live stream room were now completely stunned.

Especially Warrior King and Brother Qiang.

They were experts in wilderness survival themselves.

But compared to Xu Fan, they suddenly felt like they didn't know the first thing about surviving in the wild.

"Our country's contestant... isn't he a bit too cautious?" Brother Qiang couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.

At first, he thought Xu Fan was walking slowly because of the environment.

But after observing for a while, he suddenly realized.

Xu Fan had been on guard the entire time against potential dangers hidden under the snow!

Realizing this, Brother Qiang couldn't help but complain in his heart.

"I thought I was on the second level, and Xu Fan was on the first, but now I realize he's on the fifth!"

"He can even notice details like that, and in that kind of environment—is his mental fortitude even human?"

Brother Qiang's thoughts were extremely complicated. Right now, Xu Fan felt more like an emotionless robot!

In fact, it wasn't just him. Even Warrior King beside him was starting to doubt Xu Fan's true identity.

Based on his understanding, Xu Fan's performance was nothing like an ordinary person's.

And if their roles were swapped, he didn't think he could do as well as Xu Fan.

But just as Brother Qiang was about to discuss his thoughts on Xu Fan with Warrior King.

A new change appeared on the live stream screen.

Ahead of Xu Fan...

A flash of bright red appeared!