Natalie clutched her chest, her face pale.
She leaned closer to the player beside her, whispering with clear discomfort,
"I feel... weird. Not right..."
No. 31 heard her and offered calm reassurance.
"It's fine. I felt the same earlier. But look at me now—totally fine!"
He tapped his chest with pride.
"Probably just some lingering radiation. It'll pass."
His words comforted Natalie, who smiled and nodded faintly.
"This... is how one becomes a forbidden creature. Players might not even realize it until it's too late," Lin Bei thought, rubbing his chin.
"Could it be that we return to normal after the copy ends?"
This zone was brimming with oddities, each corner hiding secrets that deepened Lin Bei's sense of unease.
Despite rescuing two NPCs, the four players showed no gratitude to the red-haired youth.
"He kept whining about staying inside after dark. What a coward. Makes excuses to mask his cold heart."
The players didn't involve themselves in the argument. They stood aside, observing.
The red-haired boy's face darkened. He had no words to defend himself.
After all...
Everyone who left the building came back alive.
Ashamed and angry, he stormed into his room.
Boom!
He slammed the door shut.
The other two NPCs eventually approached Lin Bei with concern.
"Our backpacks are still in the room with water and supplies..."
"Jason, can you help us grab them? We'll sleep elsewhere tonight."
"Sumarokov doesn't dislike you. He'll let you in."
Lin Bei's expression faltered, as if caught in a difficult decision between friends.
But eventually, he gave a reluctant nod.
He retrieved the backpacks and exited with them in hand.
Soon, all players and NPCs found rooms to rest in for the night.
"The two NPCs are lovers. Naturally, they'll share a room," Lin Bei noted.
His gaze shifted to the five players.
"Players will always band together in a dangerous environment. Trust through necessity."
After handing the bags to the NPC couple, Lin Bei pulled out two bottles of water and offered them to the players.
"You didn't bring supplies, right? Here's some water."
He stood directly in front of Jason.
[Risk Assessment: Evaluating Host Strength...]
[Player Jason: Advanced Danger → Intermediate Danger → Low Danger]
Jason coughed, visibly uncomfortable, then took the water.
"Thanks."
Lin Bei smiled awkwardly and returned to the red-haired youth's room.
The five players overheard the couple chatting as they entered their room.
"Jason's so kind. Only he can tolerate someone like Sumarokov."
"No way I could sleep in the same room as him. Always complaining."
Boom.
The door shut, sealing their voices inside.
No. 31 murmured, "That NPC who gave us water is definitely safe. The water should be fine."
Ferry snatched a bottle from Jason and drank deeply.
"Aren't some NPCs designed to provide water and food? Stop being so paranoid."
When nothing unusual happened to Ferry, the rest of the players relaxed and drank from the second bottle.
As night deepened and dawn neared, everyone tried to sleep.
But Jason couldn't.
He tossed and turned, body aching, fatigue clinging tightly to him.
Suddenly, his system panel began flashing wildly.
[System Prompt: Player Jason contaminated by mutant radiation. Mental -10, Mental -20, Health +20, Strength -25...]
His stats began fluctuating without rhythm, chaotic and violent.
Jason bolted upright.
"What the hell is going on?!"
Looking around, he saw Natalie and No. 31 tossing in pain, scratching at their heads.
[System Prompt: Player Natalie contaminated by mutant radiation. Mental -9, Mental -11, Health +15, Strength -9]
[System Prompt: Player Trevor contaminated by mutant radiation. Mental -6, Mental -9, Health +1, Strength -4]
The others, disturbed by the noise, stirred awake.
Caleb opened his eyes groggily—
Only to see Jason directly across from him.
His eyes went wide in horror.
"You... you...!!!"
Jason reached for his throat. It felt different.
His skin was now soft flesh... fangs... and holes.
A mouth had grown on his neck.
Mutations erupted.
Natalie and Trevor were both affected.
Jason cracked his neck; the sound echoed unnaturally.
"Hungry... I'm starving..."
His eyes locked onto Caleb's bulging veins—
They looked absolutely delicious.
"AHHHHH!!!"
[System Prompt: Player Caleb has died. Number: 10]
[System Prompt: Player Ferry has died. Number: 2]
[System Prompt: Player Jason killed the wrong target and has been eliminated. Number: 48]
[System Prompt: Player Natalie killed the wrong target and has been eliminated. Number: 37]
[System Prompt: Player Trevor assisted in killing the wrong target. Eliminated. Number: 31]
[Current players remaining in dungeon: (40/50)]
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