Long Ming took one last calm look at the red-spotted giant lizard, then turned and ran.

It was the first time he had ever seen a lizard this massive. It was covered in red pustules and looked anything but natural.

With no firearms or other weapons on hand, there was no way they could win.

Just then, the player running at the very back let out a terrified scream.

"Help me!"

Long Ming glanced back over his shoulder. The red-spotted giant lizard was closing in at terrifying speed. It opened its gaping, blood-red maw, revealing rows of sharp fangs, and pounced on the player who had fallen behind.

"Run for it!"

....

Seeing this, the crowd ran for their lives.

A chill ran down Long Ming’s spine. He suddenly accelerated, running past one player after another.

"AHH!"

One by one, players were overtaken by the red-spotted giant lizard, their desperate screams echoing behind them.

Even knowing it was just a game, the sound of those bloodcurdling screams was enough to make one’s skin crawl.

Just then, Gu Yi, who was running ahead of Long Ming, missed his footing. His left foot sank into a patch of quicksand, and his entire body pitched forward.

"Chen Wei, help me!"

Gu Yi yelled to his companion.

A tall, lanky man of about six feet, with a scar on his chin, immediately stopped. He grabbed Gu Yi’s hand and tried to yank him out.

But just as Chen Wei pulled, one of his own feet sank into the sand. With no leverage, he couldn’t exert any force and was nearly dragged down himself.

"Dammit, get over here and help!"

Chen Wei yelled at several other players they had just met.

But those players were already scared out of their wits and just kept running for their lives.

Seeing that Chen Wei was about to be dragged into the quicksand with him, Gu Yi said anxiously,

"Chen Wei, let go."

"Bullshit! You think I’m that kind of guy? If we’re gonna die, we die together!"

Chen Wei held on tight, refusing to let go, and the two of them sank deeper and deeper into the quicksand.

Long Ming saw this and was a little surprised. ’I didn’t expect these two to be so loyal.’

Just when they thought it was all over, an iron chain suddenly landed in front of them.

Gu Yi stared at the chain in a daze for a moment before snapping out of it and grabbing on.

Long Ming and Chen Wei both yanked with all their might, instantly pulling Gu Yi free.

After pulling Gu Yi out, Long Ming didn’t linger and immediately started running again.

Chen Wei and Gu Yi scrambled to their feet and fled for their lives as well.

A short while later, Long Ming’s group had managed to shake off the red-spotted giant lizard. They all trudged forward, gasping for breath.

The group, which had originally numbered around a hundred, was now down to just a few dozen. The rest had scattered.

Just then, Gu Yi and Chen Wei walked up to Long Ming’s side.

"Thanks, bro!"

Long Ming ignored them and just kept walking.

Seeing Long Ming’s lack of response, the two of them followed beside him, dumbfounded. Gu Yi asked, puzzled,

"Hey bro, we’re thanking you. Why aren’t you saying anything?"

"What’s the point? I’d rather save my energy for walking."

"Look, man, I don’t think you should keep walking. We won’t get far in this heat. We’d be better off waiting until night when the temperature drops to explore further."

"Naive. The temperature in the desert plummets at night. You’ll freeze to death."

Long Ming continued walking, his face expressionless.

Gu Yi and Chen Wei were stunned by Long Ming’s words. After a moment, they snapped out of it and hurried to catch up.

"Hey, bro, I’m Gu Yi, and this is my buddy, Chen Wei. What’s your name?"

Gu Yi asked eagerly.

"Designation NO. 841221."

Long Ming replied coldly.

The corner of Gu Yi’s mouth twitched when he heard this, but he quickly forced a smile and said,

"You’re not going to change your name? Or tell us your real one?"

Long Ming shot Gu Yi a glance and went back to ignoring him as he walked on.

Gu Yi wasn’t discouraged by the cold shoulder and kept following close behind Long Ming.

By now, many of the other players were too exhausted to move. But seeing Long Ming still pushing forward, they could only bite the bullet and follow him.

「Time trickled by, and soon it was evening.」

The scorching heat gradually began to subside.

Long Ming grew increasingly uneasy. ’Given how arid this place is,’ he thought, ’the temperature will probably drop below freezing tonight.’

Still, he was starting to despair as he walked through this endless desert.

Gu Yi and the others were so exhausted they could barely see straight. They finally collapsed onto a sand dune.

"I can’t go on. Even a real survival show wouldn’t be this brutal, would it?"

"Yeah! Me neither. Just let me die here."

...

At this point, Long Ming couldn’t walk anymore either. He simply collapsed onto the dune, panting heavily.

"Ugh... What kind of crap game is this? Did we sign up just to suffer?"

"I can’t even tell if we’re playing the game or if the game is playing us."

...

Gu Yi and Chen Wei complained to Long Ming.

But Long Ming didn’t answer them.

"Hey, man, why aren’t you talking? Do you hate it that much?"

Gu Yi turned to look at Long Ming, completely baffled. ’This guy is just too damn cold.’

Long Ming finally opened his cracked lips and replied irritably,

"What is there to say? My throat is killing me. Aren’t you thirsty?"

"Of course we are!"

"Then shut up. Stop blabbering next to me. If you want to talk, go lie down somewhere else."

Long Ming really couldn’t be bothered to waste his breath on them.

He stared up at the stars that were beginning to pepper the sky, his mood sinking.

He had entered the game full of enthusiasm, thinking that with his talent, even if he didn’t exactly thrive, he could at least earn enough to get by. He never imagined the game would be like this.

If he didn’t find something soon and had to keep up this brutal survival, he’d probably end up a beggar for real.

The seconds ticked by, and the temperature dropped steadily.

Long Ming was so tired his eyelids felt heavy as lead. ’If I close my eyes now,’ he thought, ’I probably won’t wake up again.’

But just then, the sand beneath them began to vibrate faintly.

"Wait, something’s happening!"

Long Ming’s eyes snapped open as he shouted a warning.

Hearing Long Ming, Gu Yi and the others leaped up from the ground, looking around in terror, afraid some monster was about to crawl out of the sand.

But after a long moment, nothing appeared.

Just as everyone was starting to get confused, Gu Yi’s jaw dropped. He pointed into the distance and screamed in terror,

"Look over there!"

Long Ming and the others scrambled over the dune and looked toward the horizon.

There, on the distant horizon, a behemoth dotted with twinkling lights was on the move, letting out a massive roar from time to time.

"What the hell is that thing?"

"I have no idea!"

...

The players muttered to themselves, dumbfounded.

Long Ming’s expression flickered, and then he charged toward the moving behemoth.

Seeing this, Gu Yi and the others quickly followed suit.

As they got closer, Long Ming and the others finally got a clear look.

It was a dilapidated mobile fortress. The entire structure was built from black metal. The upper section consisted of interconnected steel buildings, its edges lined with turrets and metal smokestacks belching black smoke. The entire thing moved on a set of massive, specialized treads.

The entire mobile fortress was battered and ravaged, covered in gaping holes.