Chapter 23: Sailing Through the Storm Together

It is a pity that he is not in this district; it will be a long time before the game merges districts. Currently, each district houses ten thousand players. When the population drops to five thousand or fewer, the system automatically triggers a merger with another district of equal or smaller size.

Most positioning items, chat functions, and trading are restricted to one’s own district. Only a select few special items can be used across district boundaries. No matter; a gentleman’s revenge is a dish best served cold. For now, prioritizing the growth of her own strength is what matters most.

Su Liu remembered that tomorrow at twelve noon was the scheduled start time for the game’s first mandatory dungeon. She wondered what this dungeon would entail. Without hesitation, Su Liu cleared out all the supplies, turned, and ran steadily toward the depths of the grasslands. Her pink figure was vibrant and eye-catching under the sunlight, leaving behind only two cooling corpses and a scene of chaotic devastation at the crossroads.

[Player has achieved a double kill. Title "Hardened Heart" has been updated to "Rose Thorn." When equipped, hidden attribute Sanity +5.]

In the blink of an eye, the time for the first mandatory dungeon arrived. Su Liu held her little furball in her arms, a sharp, resilient dagger tucked at her waist. Her repacked backpack contained various food items, medicines, and a level-two poisoned short blade, ready at any moment to deliver a fatal strike to any ambushers.

[Greetings, players! A week has passed, and I trust you have all adapted to the rhythm of the game.]
[Let us add a little spice to your tedious lives.]
[The monthly mandatory dungeon is about to begin. At twelve noon, you will be assigned to groups of six at random.]
[However, as you are still under the novice protection period, failure in this dungeon will not result in death, but only the deduction of ten types of items from your backpack.]
[Note: ten types, not ten individual items.]
[Now, let the revelry begin, players!]
[Random matching in progress... (1/6)]
[Match successful (6/6)]

A dilapidated wooden boat tossed violently on the deep blue sea. Six flashes of white light flickered, and the players tumbled clumsily onto the leaking deck. A gale whipped the salty, fishy spray against their faces, and the hull groaned with a teeth-gritting sound.

[Welcome to the monthly mandatory dungeon—"Storm-Tossed Together."]
[Dungeon Objective: Survive 72 hours in the endless sea.]
[Warning: The symbiotic boat is your only shelter. If the boat is destroyed, all members will be eliminated!]

The cold, mechanical voice echoed in every player’s mind before vanishing entirely. Aside from the sounds of the boat struggling against the wind and waves, there was no other guidance.

Su Liu feigned fear, glancing around inadvertently to lock onto key positions: the helm, the kerosene lamp bases, and the areas with the most severe leaks. At the same time, she calmly lowered her center of gravity, bracing herself against a sturdy section of the railing to avoid being thrown overboard. The little furball in her arms felt its owner’s tension, letting out a low whimper as it perked up its ears and bushy tail, the energy of "Void Trace" flowing quietly within its body.

Just as everyone stared at each other, unsure of what to do, a man who appeared composed prepared to speak. Suddenly, the bottom of the boat slammed into a reef. With a sharp "crack," seawater surged up through the gaps in the deck!

The person closest to the leak was a woman in overalls. She lunged toward the breach and shouted urgently, "Quick, don't just stand there! There’s a crack here! We need something to plug it!"

The man who had been about to speak reacted immediately, ignoring his own disheveled state as he tore off his coat and stuffed it into the crack.

"Stabilize the ship! If we don't, we'll capsize!"

Another calm male voice spoke up—a man in a suit wearing gold-rimmed glasses. His lenses were fogged, but his gaze was sharp. A mechanical spider perched on his shoulder, scanning the surroundings rapidly.

Nearby, a girl with twin tails huddled in a relatively sheltered corner at the stern, clutching a shivering rabbit and sobbing, "W-will the boat sink...?"

Su Liu put on a panicked expression and quickly handed over some spare clothing. "I hope this can help."

Suddenly, a black shadow flickered. A figure cloaked in black appeared at the bow as if they had been standing there all along. A black raven perched silently on their raised arm, showing no signs of panic, only an unfathomable stillness.

A slightly raspy voice spoke: "Turn left 30 degrees."

The composed man hurried to the helm. "I'll trust you once! My name is Chen Wu, a retired marine. My spirit beast is a Black-Armored Turtle, specialized in defense!" A phantom of a black turtle flickered at his feet, projecting a sense of heavy reliability.

"Luke, investment bank risk manager," said the man in the suit. "My 'Analyst' can detect the environment! I have some basic supplies in my pack, too."

Su Liu spoke next: "I'm Su Su, a fresh college graduate. My spirit beast is a little fox; it’s quite fast."

"W-w-weeping... I'm Luo Lin... a beauty blogger," Luo Lin sobbed, hugging her rabbit tightly. "This is my Little Moon... it knows a bit of healing..." The Moonlight Rabbit glowed faintly in its owner's arms, seemingly releasing a weak, soothing energy.

Aya was tapping a floorboard to listen to the sound. Hearing this, she quickly said, "Aya, mechanical engineer! This is my partner, the hamster 'Zhi Zhi,' who specializes in repairs! My tool belt should still be here!"

The repair hamster squeaked in agreement.

All eyes subconsciously turned to the silent, black-robed figure at the bow. Mo Yu turned slowly; his oversized cloak barely stirred in the gale. His black raven let out a "shoo" sound, darting like a bolt of black lightning through the veil of rain. After circling ahead for a moment, it flew back and landed on his raised finger.

His low voice sounded as if it were veiled in fog, concise and direct: "Mo Yu. This is 'Raven.' It can pierce through certain illusions and mists."

He did not mention his spirit beast's breed, the details of his abilities, what was in his pack, or even what he did for a living. His introduction was even more vague than Luo Lin's, carrying a sense of mystery that held others at arm's length.

Chen Wu wiped the seawater from his face. "The leak is temporarily controlled; we need clear divisions of labor."

"Aya and I will check the seemingly rusted water pump and drain the incoming seawater."

"Mr. Luke, please keep an eye on the helm. Luo Lin, take care of your rabbit; its healing ability is vital."

"Mr. Mo Yu, did your 'Raven' see anything? We need a heading."

"Su Su, go check the two lamps in the center and stern of the boat."

Chen Wu was every bit the retired marine, quickly assigning tasks based on everyone's strengths. Everyone signaled their understanding, and Mo Yu gave a silent, affirmative nod.

Su Liu quickly checked the kerosene lamp in the middle of the boat. As she approached, she noticed the flame burning with an eerie pale blue light. She tried to touch the base—it was freezing! At the same time, the rain near the light seemed to be pushed away by an invisible force. She checked the oil level; there was a gauge and what appeared to be a port for an oil canister.

After some exploration, Su Liu discovered that the kerosene lamp required an unknown fuel to function, and it seemed to have the effect of dispelling rain and mist while providing a form of protection.