Nighttime activities

For a moment, Lin Ye had no idea what to choose. Every item in the room was strange. Never mind him-even a master appraiser could only have picked one at random.

Lin Ye was in no hurry. Rushing would do no good. He couldn't make sense of anything here anyway, so he decided to choose something he liked.

First, he ruled out anything that moved. If it could still move after being rendered harmless, what couldn't it do before that?

If the harmlessness was temporary and the items gradually recovered after seven days, he would be in trouble. It was best to choose something relatively controllable.

In the end, Lin Ye chose a red deck of cards. The card box was made of an unknown material, with a pale gold ring drawn on its dark red surface.

The box contained 100 cards, also made of an unknown material. But no matter how many he drew, the cards inside automatically replenished themselves, while the cards he drew automatically disappeared.

Lin Ye didn't like gambling, but he loved playing cards. He knew more than a dozen ways to play with a standard deck and had played pretty much every kind of card game. That was why he chose this deck.

[Confirm selection?]

"Confirm."

The strange items in the room began to disappear, including the card box he held in his hand.

Some of the items clearly didn't want to leave the Shelter, but the system forced them back into the Abyss Box. Finally, the Abyss Box slowly disappeared too, leaving nothing behind.

[Rendering completely harmless...]

[Process complete. Abyss Relic obtained: Card box]

[Please draw today's card]

A card box appeared out of thin air in front of Lin Ye. As he reached inside, he couldn't help calling out:

"My turn! I draw!"

The card was made of an unknown material that felt a little like some creature's skin.

Intricate patterns covered the back of the card, while the front depicted a goose-like creature.

The card dissipated, and a blood-red creature that appeared to be a goose materialized in Lin Ye's Shelter.

Lin Ye: ?

Goose: Honk?

Their eyes met. Lin Ye studied it for a long while but still couldn't work out what use the goose had.

Seeming to notice Lin Ye's confusion, the goose elegantly raised a wing, pulled a steaming bowl of goose-leg rice out of thin air, and pushed it toward him.

"Uh, can you conjure up anything else?" Lin Ye asked.

"Honk, honk (no)."

"Then can I have another bowl?"

"Honk, honk (no)."

After communicating with the goose for a long time, Lin Ye finally confirmed that it could only provide him with one serving of goose-leg rice and wouldn't answer any questions unrelated to goose-leg rice.

So this is what being rendered harmless means? Isn't this a little too harmless?

In silence, Lin Ye took a photo of the goose-leg rice and sent it to the group chat. He felt awful right now. Surely he couldn't be the only one who had to feel that way.

This was Lin Ye's first time posting in the group.

By now, the group had quieted down considerably. Many people were lurking, silently watching the messages as everyone considered what to do next. Some were chatting privately; after all, plenty of things weren't suitable for discussion in the group.

Then Lin Ye's single photo dragged all the lurkers out.

"Holy shit! Goose-leg rice!"

"Oh my god! System, someone's cheating!"

"Dude, where did you get goose-leg rice? Did you go outside?"

"It's still hot. Did you make it yourself?"

"Boss, please let me have a bite of that goose leg. I'm begging you!"

"Hungry! Food!"

"Is it for sale? Name your price."

Lin Ye: Jealous? I got it with my talent.

Lin Ye wasn't lying. His talent had given him the Abyss Box, the Abyss Box had yielded the card box, the card box had produced the goose, and the goose had given him a serving of goose-leg rice.

After seeing Lin Ye's message, the others weren't so envious anymore. Instead, they felt a little sorry for him. After all, having a talent that got you goose-leg rice was pretty miserable.

"Uh, what's your talent?"

"The goose-leg talent. Truly terrifying."

"Awesome. Can you get me a bowl too?"

"Boss, please get a few more bowls. Plenty of people are still hungry."

"Has no one gone outside and come back alive yet?"

"Are all your talents this goofy?"

Lin Ye: I can only get one serving a day. I don't even know whether I can get one tomorrow.

Lin Ye ate his goose-leg rice while scrolling through the group chat. Quite a few people wanted to add him as a friend, but he couldn't be bothered to respond.

The time spent in the simulator seemed to be synchronized with reality. He just didn't know whether his actual body remained in the Shelter during a simulation.

When Lin Ye arrived here, he had only the clothes on his back. Nothing else had come with him. The others seemed to be in the same situation.

Lin Ye soon finished his goose-leg rice. Outside the window, the sky was growing dark. Just as he lay down on the bed, preparing for a short nap, a notification suddenly popped up before his eyes.

[Nighttime activity commencing]

[Tonight's activity: Maze Exploration]

[Join?]

[09:59]

A ten-minute countdown appeared before Lin Ye's eyes. He had to decide before it ended.

"Are you guys joining the nighttime activity?"

"Of course I am. I can't conjure up goose-leg rice, and I don't dare go outside. If I don't get some food soon, I'll starve to death."

"I'll wait and see how it goes, then join tomorrow."

"Good luck, guys."

"I'm useless. I'll wait until tomorrow."

"Good luck. Best wishes."

As he read the group chat, Lin Ye was already sorting out his equipment.

He was definitely joining this nighttime activity.

First, he should be among the best-equipped survivors. If even he couldn't survive, then even accounting for their talents, at least half the people participating in the nighttime activity would have to die.

Second, he still hadn't found a way to upgrade the Shelter. Perhaps that lay in the nighttime activity. If he didn't go this time, he might fall behind in upgrading his Shelter. One step behind meant falling behind at every step, until the others eventually eliminated him.

So Lin Ye wouldn't miss this opportunity.

After putting on his equipment, Lin Ye sat on the edge of the bed, petting the goose while watching the countdown and the group chat. The goose nestled quietly in his arms, occasionally preening its feathers with its beak.

[00:01]

[00:00]

Rubbing his temples, Lin Ye climbed up from the dark red floor. He stood in the middle of a corridor, with doors spaced irregularly along both sides. The floor and doors were all dark red.

The sharp headache gradually eased. Lin Ye drew the pistol tucked at his waist. The goose hadn't been brought along, but every piece of his weapons and equipment was there.

[During the first three days of nighttime activities, treasure chest spawn rates are increased, Tiered Creature spawn rates are reduced, and the quality of treasure chest contents is increased. The first treasure chest each participant opens is guaranteed to contain a Shelter Upgrade Blueprint]

[Nighttime activity commencing]

[1:59:59]

A two-hour countdown appeared beneath the system panel. Presumably, the system would teleport the participants back to their Shelters after two hours.

Lin Ye aimed his pistol at the nearest door and knocked gently.

There was no sound from inside. He pushed the door open. The fully enclosed room contained no living creatures and had no windows, only rubbish strewn across the floor.

Empty drink bottles, scraps of paper, broken stones, a battered table...

The drink bottles and paper scraps bore writing Lin Ye had never seen before but could understand. He picked up some rubbish with writing on it and stuffed it into his pockets.

Among the piles of clutter, Lin Ye discovered a dark red metal coin. It was the size of a one-yuan coin and a little heavier than a normal coin. One side bore an intricate pattern, while the other bore a blood-red eye.

Lin Ye put the coin in his pocket and left the room.