For a moment, Lin Ye didn't know how to choose. Every item in the room was peculiar. Even if an appraiser came, they could only make random guesses.
Lin Ye wasn't in a hurry—there was no point. Since he couldn't understand any of the items here, he decided to pick something he liked.
First, he ruled out anything that could move. Even after neutralization, they could still move. Who knew what they'd do before being neutralized? If the neutralization was temporary and the items gradually regained their original properties after seven days, it would be troublesome. It was better to choose something relatively controllable.
In the end, Lin Ye chose a set of red cards. The material of the card box was unknown, with a dark red surface adorned with a pale golden ring.
Inside the box were 100 cards of unknown material. No matter how many were drawn, the box would automatically refill, and the drawn cards would disappear.
Lin Ye didn't like gambling, but he enjoyed playing cards. He knew over a dozen ways to play poker and had tried almost every card game out there, which was why he chose this set.
[Confirm selection?]
"Confirm."
The strange items in the room began to vanish, including the card box he was holding. Some items seemed unwilling to leave the shelter but were forcibly retrieved by the system into the Abyss Box. Finally, the Abyss Box itself slowly disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
[Neutralization complete. Obtained Abyssal Relic: Card Box]
[Please draw today's card]
A card box materialized in front of Lin Ye. As he reached inside, he unconsciously shouted:
"My turn! Draw!"
The card's material was unclear, feeling somewhat like the skin of some creature.
The back of the card was engraved with intricate patterns, while the front depicted a goose-like creature.
The card dissipated, and a blood-red creature resembling a large goose appeared in Lin Ye's shelter.
Lin Ye: ?
Goose: Quack?
The two stared at each other. Lin Ye studied it for a long time but couldn't figure out what the goose was for.
Seeming to sense Lin Ye's confusion, the goose elegantly raised its wing and pulled out a steaming bowl of goose leg rice from thin air, pushing it toward Lin Ye.
"Uh, can you make anything else?" Lin Ye asked.
"Quack quack (No)."
"Can you make another bowl?"
"Quack quack (No)."
After a long conversation, Lin Ye finally confirmed that the goose could only provide him with one serving of goose leg rice and wouldn't answer any questions unrelated to it.
'Is this neutralization? It's a bit too harmless, isn't it?'
Silently, Lin Ye took a photo of the goose leg rice and posted it in the group chat. He was feeling miserable and didn't want to suffer alone.
This was Lin Ye's first message in the group.
By now, the group had quieted down. Many were lurking, silently observing the chat while contemplating their next steps. Some were privately messaging, as certain topics weren't suitable for public discussion.
Lin Ye's photo instantly brought all the lurkers back to life.
"Holy shit! Goose leg rice!"
"Oh my god, system, someone's cheating here!"
"Bro, where'd you get that? Did you go outside?"
"It's still steaming hot—did you make it yourself?"
"Big bro, please let me have a bite of that goose leg, I beg you!"
"Hungry, food!"
"Wanna sell it? Name your price."
...
Lin Ye: Jealous? Traded my talent for it.
He wasn't lying. His talent gave him the Abyss Box, which contained the card box. Drawing a card summoned the goose, which gave him the rice.
After seeing his explanation, the others weren't as envious anymore—some even pitied him. Getting goose leg rice as a talent was just tragic.
"Uh, what's your talent?"
"Goose leg talent. Terrifying."
"Impressive. Can you get me a bowl too?"
"Big bro, please get more. Lots of us are still starving."
"Has anyone gone outside and come back alive yet?"
"Are all your talents this hilarious?"
Lin Ye: Only one bowl per day. No idea if I can get another tomorrow.
Lin Ye scrolled through the chat while eating. Many tried to add him as a friend, but he couldn't be bothered to respond.
Time in the simulator seemed to sync with reality, though it was unclear whether his physical body remained in the shelter during simulation.
When he arrived here, Lin Ye only had the clothes on his back. No other belongings. Others seemed to be in the same situation.
Soon, Lin Ye finished the rice. Outside, the sky grew dark. Just as he lay down to rest, a notification suddenly popped up.
[Nighttime Activity begins]
[Tonight's Activity: Maze Exploration]
[Participate?]
[09:59]
A 10-minute countdown appeared before Lin Ye. He had to decide before it ended.
"Are you guys joining the nighttime activity?"
"Of course. I can't summon goose leg rice, and I'm too scared to go outside. If I don't get food soon, I'll starve."
"I'll wait and see. Maybe join tomorrow."
"Good luck, guys."
"I'm useless. I'll wait till tomorrow."
"Good luck and blessings."
...
Reading the chat, Lin Ye began preparing his gear. He was definitely joining this activity.
First, among all survivors, he was likely among the best-equipped. If even he couldn't survive, then at least half of the participants would die, even accounting for talents.
Second, he hadn't found a way to upgrade his shelter yet. The answer might lie in the nighttime activity. Missing it could mean falling behind in shelter upgrades—one step slow, always slow—until others surpassed him.
So Lin Ye wouldn't miss this chance.
Once geared up, Lin Ye sat on the bed, watching the countdown and petting the goose, which quietly nestled in his arms, occasionally preening its feathers.
[00:01]
[00:00]
………………
Lin Ye rubbed his temples as he climbed up from the dark red ground. He stood in the center of a corridor lined with irregularly spaced doors on both sides. The floor and doors were all dark red.
The sharp headache gradually faded. Lin Ye drew the pistol at his waist. The goose hadn't been brought along, but all his weapons and gear were intact.
[For the first three days of Nighttime Activities, treasure chest spawn rates are increased, higher-tier creature spawn rates are decreased, and treasure chest quality is improved. The first chest opened by participants is guaranteed to contain a shelter upgrade blueprint.]
[Nighttime Activity begins]
[1:59:59]
A two-hour countdown appeared beneath the system panel. Presumably, participants would be teleported back after two hours.
Lin Ye aimed his pistol at the nearest door and gently knocked.
No response. Pushing it open, he found a windowless room filled with trash—empty bottles, shredded paper, broken stones, a wrecked table...
The bottles and paper bore unfamiliar yet comprehensible text. Lin Ye pocketed some of the printed trash.
Amid the clutter, he found a dark red metal coin—the size of a one-yuan coin but slightly heavier. One side bore intricate patterns, the other a blood-red eye.
Lin Ye pocketed the coin and left the room.