The real world (the world that hadn't fallen into disorder yet).
Inside a university dorm.
Zhou Jue, the owner of the Hell ID [A Zhongde Dried Meat Wholesale], regained consciousness.
A notification scrolled continuously across his helmet's built-in screen:
[Abnormal bodily condition. Forced logout. Current status: paralyzed. Time remaining: 01:12:36]
Zhou Jue had never been so frustrated-in any game, he had never been killed by a wild animal.
Then again, could that thing really count as a wild animal?
Ultimately, he just didn't want to admit his own misjudgment. Everything in this World of Disorder should essentially be a monster; the only difference between them was how crazy they were.
Looking out into the pitch-black night beyond the window, Zhou Jue realized that without this game, he might find it hard to sleep so soundly in the future.
After working out the time, Zhou Jue, who felt full of energy, took out his phone, ready to scroll through some videos while waiting for his respawn timer.
Ding.
A message arrived. Zhou Jue saw that it was a private message from [Do Some Farm Work]:
"You there?"
"Yeah."
"Looks like that poison was pretty nasty. Even five points of constitution couldn't withstand it."
"Yeah. Just wait to respawn. Nothing else we can do. I'll go see how their raft is coming along in a bit. I don't have any friends I want to bring into the game right now anyway, so I'm done messing around with you."
"Come on, bro. 'teary-eyed.jpg'"
A string of pitiful reaction images arrived from the other end.
"Gross."
Zhou Jue remained unmoved.
"Fifty."
"What?"
"Help me get a test slot, and I'll send you fifty on WeChat."
"That generous? Is tomorrow Thursday?"
"It's got nothing to do with that. [Shit Appraisal Master] is loaded. If we can get him a closed beta slot, he'd definitely be happy to buy it. Consider the fifty compensation for the progression you missed out on while helping me."
Hiss-
Zhou Jue involuntarily sucked in a breath, his throat bobbing slightly.
Since accounts were locked to their devices, there was clearly no value in selling accounts for this game. In other words, aside from being fun, "World of Disorder" had yet to demonstrate any other money-making potential.
But even if there was absolutely no way to make money from a game like this, a closed beta slot would definitely be very valuable. He simply hadn't considered that angle before.
At that thought, Zhou Jue narrowed his eyes slightly and began tapping rapidly on the screen:
"[Shit Appraisal Master] is loaded?"
"Yeah."
"He's willing to pay for a slot?"
"Yeah."
On the other side of the screen, [Do Some Farm Work] felt he was about to persuade him.
[Zhongde]: "And you're only giving me fifty?"
[Do Some Farm Work]: "?"
"I bet you're skimming the Imperial Army's money, you bastard!"
"No... how much do you want, then?"
Zhou Jue thought for a moment, then replied without standing on ceremony:
"He's your friend, so you set the price. We'll split it forty-sixty. Since he's your connection, I'll take forty and you take sixty."
"Deal."
[Do Some Farm Work] actually wasn't sure how much [Chief Shit Appraisal Master] would pay. He just thought this online friend would probably pay for it, but what if the man's enthusiasm for the game had already rapidly faded?
Someone who wasn't particularly short of money certainly had plenty of choices in life.
At that thought, [Do Some Farm Work] grew increasingly anxious. The countdown on his helmet's built-in screen was wearing away his patience little by little.
Just then, the countdown suddenly changed, its previous text replaced by:
[Body receiving treatment. Paralytic toxin removed. Awakening in: 00:00:20]
Huh?!
Ji He (Do Some Farm Work), who had witnessed the whole thing, stared wide-eyed, quickly sent [Zhongde] a message, then put on his helmet.
Twenty seconds later, the two opened their eyes in the World of Disorder once again.
"The toxin in your bodies has been removed. You may continue exploring."
As Ed spoke to them, they saw several flowers identical to those on the deer-type aberration rapidly withering and falling from the crown-shaped sapling on his head.
Looks like the guide saved us.
With that thought, he thanked Ed very politely, and the two resumed their hunt.
This time, they didn't dare take any more risks. Compared with the "sika deer" that left people weak all over, those "Vine Sheep" were less aggressive. Even with just the two of them, they could handle a weakling monster that had strayed from its flock.
The two soon got moving, while Ed followed behind them as before, carrying the sack used to hold player fragments.
About a kilometer away, by the river.
As the short spear's blade slashed down, the twentieth vine suitable for use as rope fell to the ground.
[Howling Pothos] and [Good Times Don't Last] looked at each other, each seeing the other's pale face.
Since each had used their flesh and blood to grow ten vines, both now had the [Weakened] debuff on their panels, reducing all their attributes by one point.
Though the weakness was only temporary, both felt unable to muster any strength. The game blocked almost all pain, but it handled the five senses extremely well. That immersive sensation actually made both of them feel physically drained.
"How do we get rid of the debuff?"
[Good Times Don't Last] asked.
[Howling Pothos]: "Remember the notifications when we logged in today?"
"Which one?"
"The one about the stamina bar and replenishing nutrition."
"Yeah. So?"
"So we're just weakened. If this game really is that... true to life, we only need to eat to alleviate the symptoms. Of course, it might take a day or two."
"Are we still building the raft, then?"
"Of course. This is the main quest. Didn't those two go hunting? Hopefully they'll bring something back. If all else fails, we'll tell them after logging off today, then everyone can eat their fill tomorrow before we get back to work together."
"Good idea."
The two worked together to begin building the raft, while the hunt on the other side also made slow progress amid repeated failures.
The second day of testing soon drew to a close. It was now six in the evening in the World of Disorder, or six in the morning in the real world.
The four players and one NPC finally met up near the old castle again. Ed had already lit a campfire, and the two in charge of building the raft pointed toward the river, their faces plainly asking for praise.
Meanwhile, the two hunters had carried back four Vine Sheep in total. Two were already dead and would soon become dinner, while the remaining two bleated, still trying to struggle from time to time.
[Do Some Farm Work] set the two living sheep down in front of Ed:
"Honorable Lord, might these two living lost souls allow you to perform Otherworldly Soul Summoning once?"