The Choice

The six of them huddled together, looking at one another, and no one seemed willing to speak first.

In the end, Li Shuangmu coughed and said, "Tell us what you think. Should we accept this gamble of a mission, or turn it down? Let's talk it over. Personally, I'd like to accept it. Backing down in the face of trouble isn't my style. Besides, I think that since this Entrance Exam is meant to give us newcomers a helping hand, the reward for such a rare Hidden Mission probably won't be too shabby, right?"

Liu Xiatian said, "I think... we should forget it." He gathered his thoughts and continued, "Didn't the senior say he didn't even know how much the Hidden Mission would reward us? There's no telling whether we'd be wasting our time. And he said the mission was very difficult and full of danger. Do you really think a bunch of clueless rookies like us, who don't know or know how to do anything, can complete it? Our current mission is only to survive for five hours. If we're careful, that won't be hard at all. There's no need to make trouble for ourselves."

Wang Ning disagreed. "Who says all we have to do is make it through five hours? Come on, man, you've got to think further ahead. Don't just focus on the present; look to the future. Sure, by your reasoning, we'll get through this safely. But what about next time? If we make the most of this Entrance Exam and earn more Study Points, then buy those expensive abilities and items, we can keep getting stronger and survive all the dangers to come."

Yin Kuang pondered for a moment and opened his mouth. He wanted to accept the mission, too. But... a number suddenly came to mind, a sword of Damocles hanging over his head—34!!

He had only 34 years to live!

Thirty-four years—how short a time that was. Not just in the real world, but even in this strange and mysterious "university," thirty-four years was his greatest, and fatal, weakness—a constraint that could hold him back.

He had only one chance to die. Just one.

So, instinctively, he felt he should take things one step at a time and live carefully.

He didn't want to die.

He'd lived for 19 years without ever seriously thinking about what death meant. At just 19, he'd felt death was far too distant to concern him. But things were different now. He knew exactly how long he had to live: only 34 years. And he had only one chance to die!

At that moment, he truly felt death's shadow looming so close.

He was terrified, truly terrified. He feared death and dreaded it. If he died, he'd lose everything: his family, his friends, love... He hadn't yet made a fortune and bought his parents a villa, or gotten his younger sisters expensive, limited-edition Barbie dolls... He hadn't even found someone he loved who could stay by his side for the rest of his life...

Death... danger... death...

Yin Kuang's thoughts wrestled with one another... He thought he was being too sensitive. It was only a Hidden Mission he'd stumbled upon by chance. Even if he accepted it, even if it was difficult, that didn't mean he'd die. Maybe a generous reward was waiting for him...

But then the scene of Wei Ming's head exploding suddenly flashed through his mind... What if... what if I'd been the one bitten by the Zombie back then... What if it had been me...

"Yin Kuang? Yin Kuang?" Wang Ning nudged him.

"Huh?" Yin Kuang snapped out of his fear and stared blankly at everyone.

"What are you spacing out for? Everyone thought you were about to give your opinion, so we've all been waiting. And there you are, daydreaming."

Liu Xiatian said, "I think he agrees with me. Right? There's really no need to take this risk. If we survive the exam, we'll still get 200 Study Points, won't we? I remember the things we can exchange them for. Two hundred Study Points is enough to get us plenty of stuff."

"Two hundred..." Yin Kuang shuddered and fell into thought again. "Only... 200 points... A Magnetic Pistol costs 200... one Fire Talisman costs 200... a Cell Regeneration Serum costs 200... even the most basic Dwarf Bloodline costs 200, plus an F-grade evaluation... With 200 points, you can't buy anything at all!"

"If I can't buy powerful weapons and equipment... if I can't exchange for a powerful bloodline... Even if I manage to keep myself alive now, what about later? Yin Kuang, Yin Kuang, how can you not understand something so obvious? When did you become so short-sighted?"

At that thought, Yin Kuang bit down hard on his lip, nearly drawing blood. "I agree with Wang Ning. The seniors keep emphasizing the Entrance Exam, which shows how important it is. And in the long run, if this is the easiest mission scenario the senior mentioned, it's hard to imagine how dangerous future scenarios will be. Without strength, we'll have nothing to look forward to but death."

Yin Kuang didn't want to die. He was fiercely determined to survive and return to his old world, no matter what. He wanted to see his mother smile again, hear his younger sisters' laughter as they hugged their Barbie dolls, and meet his father's stern gaze...

Yin Kuang also believed he could survive. He had the protective charm his mother had given him, and he could always feel the warmth and encouragement it gave him against his chest.

At the same time, he prayed. He prayed to the all-powerful Divine Dragon said to circle above the village, asking it to protect his family and him.

At that moment, Yin Kuang had no reason to back down. He had to make full use of the Entrance Exam opportunity, earn Study Points, and exchange them for those expensive enhancements!

No matter what, he'd give it everything he had!

Liu Xiatian hadn't expected Yin Kuang to say that, and he was a little annoyed. "But should we really put ourselves in danger now for dangers that might not even exist in the future? Besides, this is just a gamble! Can you be sure that accepting the mission will definitely bring a big reward?"

"But if we don't accept it, we get nothing," said Zeng Fei, who hadn't spoken until now. "If you want to gain something, you have to put something in. I don't want to sit around for five hours, wait for the mission to end, and go back empty-handed, either. Two hundred Study Points can only buy two Explosive Bullets and one AWM. And that's with a discount. You can't possibly rely on those 200 points to keep yourself alive. So I want to complete both our current mission and the extra-reward missions they've announced. More importantly, my dad taught me that people who back down when they meet hardship will never be able to stand tall, and soldiers who retreat from dangerous missions will always be cowards! And I'm already a Qualified Soldier."

Zeng Fei tightened his grip on his sniper rifle. "I'll prove to him that I'm a good soldier! Kicking me out of the unit was his loss. I'm accepting the mission, and I'll complete it! My bullets will fly straight and true, and they'll go far!"

"You... you people are unbelievable..." Liu Xiatian said in frustration. "How did I end up on a team with a bunch of lunatics? If you want to get yourselves killed, don't drag me along. I don't want to lose ten years of my life. Besides, I barely know any of you. This kind of thing... I don't even know what to say. I'm not getting mixed up in it."

Xiong Ba, who'd been silent all this time, suddenly said to Liu Xiatian, "If you want to go back, I'll give you a bullet for free. I've already lost one point in my Comprehensive Evaluation, so I don't mind losing another. Heh."

Clearly, he looked down on Liu Xiatian.

Liu Xiatian flinched, muttered under his breath, and fell silent. He wasn't stupid. He knew his cowardice had displeased Xiong Ba, but he had his pride and dignity, too. He'd never admit he was afraid, so he used "It'd be pointless anyway" as an excuse.

Meanwhile, Qian Qianqian, who'd been rather unremarkable until now, said timidly, "I... I'll go with everyone..."

"I'll accept the mission, too," Li Shuangmu said. "Then it's decided. We accept?"

"Accept!"

Everyone except Liu Xiatian answered in unison.