C9 Activating the Game

"We currently have enough supplies to last us over two months. We might end up staying here for quite a while," Yan Cheng stated. "Let's prioritize eating the perishable food and save the non-perishables for later."

"But what if our classmates come looking for us? What do we do then? Do we let them in or not?" Huang Qiu inquired.

Given that this was the school's supermarket, it was the obvious place for anyone searching for food. Huang Qiu's concerns were likely to become reality.

After pondering for a moment, Yan Cheng responded, "We can't just hand over the food, but we can allow them to exchange crystal cores for it. As long as they provide crystal cores, we'll provide the food."

"Do you really need that many crystal cores?" Huang Qiu asked, aware that she was delving into Yan Cheng's secrets.

Yan Cheng nodded affirmatively. "Indeed, I need a substantial number of crystal cores. We've worked hard for this food; I'm not inclined to distribute it without compensation."

"I'm on board with that," Lang Zhe chimed in. "But if everyone starts offering crystal cores, we might not have enough food to go around."

"Don't worry, we'll make sure to reserve enough for ourselves first, then allocate the rest for exchange. It's not like we three can consume all the perishables before they go bad. That would just be wasteful," Yan Cheng assured.

"How will we determine the exchange rates?" Huang Qiu questioned.

"One crystal core will be worth ten catties of rice or an equivalent amount of other food. We'll set the specific terms," Yan Cheng declared.

Huang Qiu nodded, then asked, "So, what's our next move? Do we just stay put here?"

Shaking his head, Yan Cheng outlined their plan: "We need to keep honing our zombie-killing skills. Let's use the supermarket as our base and hunt in the surrounding area."

Yan Cheng had become the de facto leader, his status as an Evolver lending authority to his decisions, and neither of his companions contested his strategy.

The following day, Yan Cheng secured the supermarket's doors with two new locks and cautiously began scouting for targets. Zombies were scarce in the area, making it easier for the trio to find isolated prey. Their teamwork was seamless: Lang Zhe tackled and pinned the zombies, Huang Qiu restrained one of the zombie's arms while monitoring their surroundings, and Yan Cheng stepped on the other arm, delivering the fatal blow with his knife.

The problem with zombies is that they tend to scream when they're cornered. These screams attract other zombies in the vicinity, causing them to converge on the location. After dispatching a zombie, Yan Cheng and his team had to quickly find a hiding spot and wait for the horde to disperse before they could venture out again to hunt for solitary zombies.

This approach significantly hampered their efficiency, but within a day, Yan Cheng and his two companions managed to eliminate six zombies, spending most of their time seeking targets and evading the encroaching undead.

Checking his watch, Yan Cheng saw it was already four in the afternoon. He decisively announced, "That's enough for today. Let's head back."

The others nodded in agreement, and the trio swiftly retreated to the safety of the supermarket. Once inside, they barricaded the door and blocked it further with numerous shelves. After a quick meal, they settled down on the makeshift bedding laid out on the floor.

"Tonight, Huang Qiu is on watch from 6 to 10, Lang Zhe from 10 to 2, and I'll take the 2 to 6 shift," Yan Cheng instructed.

"OK!" responded the others.

Lying on the ground, Yan Cheng silently communicated with the system assistant in his mind.

"How much energy do I have now?"

"You have 139.5 points of energy."

"At last, I have enough to start the game!" Yan Cheng thought, feeling a mix of anticipation and relief.

The game involved 100 people being dropped onto an island by plane, each choosing where to land. Once on the ground, they had to scavenge for supplies, including firearms, ammunition, and medical kits, with the goal of being the sole survivor. Some might wonder if the game could go on indefinitely if everyone just hid. However, the game's brilliance lies in its safe zones. Players outside these zones must move toward them, and as these zones shrink, encounters become inevitable.

"Starting this game will consume 100 points of energy. The game is now underway. You have 39.5 points of energy remaining. Be advised: upon entering the game, you will be everyone's primary target for elimination."

"Am I supposed to take on 99 people by myself?" Yan Cheng's heart sank. The rule seemed brutally unfair, especially since he was not adept at gaming. He had never won a game on his own; in fact, he often lost.

In the quiet that followed, Yan Cheng pressed on, "So, in the real world, can I actually get all the guns I picked up in the game?"

"Yes, you can materialize the maximum number of guns you had when you left the game."

"I seem to be able to carry only two guns at a time in the game. Does that mean I'm limited to just two guns?"

"Anything you've touched can be materialized."

"Is that so?"

"What's your take?"