Vol. 2 Chapter 10: The Great Gaze

Chapter 10: The Great Gaze

The four discussed the dungeon, although it was mainly Gao Xiaowen and Xu Haoran conversing, while Lu Li played the role of a curious newbie, and Hu Wenxu resumed his meditative state with a cold expression.

None of these individuals seemed easy to deal with; their names were likely aliases, and apart from basic information, none shared any vital details. Although Xu Haoran shared the data on the mermaid, it was for the mission.

Xu Haoran hadn't disclosed his other skill or basic enhancement ability, but his detection skill made him seem like the de facto leader of this temporary team. Gao Xiaowen, who had initially taken a leading role, seemed to step back and support Xu Haoran's suggestions during the discussion about the mission.

"I have a question. The game has issued the dungeon mission, but it doesn't say we have to complete it. There are no stated penalties for failure. Can we abandon the mission and go elsewhere to kill monsters for loot?" Lu Li asked curiously after their discussion ended.

"You think this is still a test dungeon? In formal dungeons, except for powerful bosses, monsters rarely drop modules. Rewards are usually obtained through missions, and the lottery at the end is influenced by your mission completion rate. If you don't complete the mission, do you believe all the cards in the draw will be blank?"

"But that's not the most important part. The critical issue is that not actively completing missions can lead to terrifying events. You might end up trapped in the dungeon world, suffering endless torment!" Xu Haoran sneered. The game hadn't explicitly stated it, but those who deliberately failed to complete missions met dire fates. If one sincerely tried to complete the mission, there might be a chance to escape. Remembering the previous dungeon and the second-stage Drill Demon Worms full of tentacles that he encountered after avoiding the mission, fear flashed in Xu Haoran's eyes.

"Guests, please follow me!" A mermaid swam into the palace, addressing the four. They exchanged glances, ending their conversation, and followed the mermaid up the ice stairs to the lake surface.

They followed a hidden river path along the island, with the mermaid leading in the water and the four players walking on the narrow bank. Soon, they reached the island's shore, where a small boat was docked. Inside the boat were some supplies and even Lu Li's discarded clothes.

"The princess has instructed you to set off as soon as possible. Just get on the boat; we will guide you." The mermaid's voice lacked politeness, but its unique sweetness made one want to bask in it indefinitely.

The group boarded the boat without complaint, and they saw many shadows moving beneath the water, tails swimming. The boat quickly set off toward their destination.

The sea breeze was brisk, with a salty smell that could make one nauseous. Watching the endless sea and the island shrinking into a small black dot made them feel uneasy. Especially seeing the fish tails flipping under the sea, their thoughts wandered. There were too many unknowns below. Humans always feared the unknown, and the ocean's depths were the biggest unknown on this planet. Compared to the vast ocean, they felt like ants before a giant, as if they might perish at any moment.

Fortunately, these players were not ordinary people. The initial fear gradually subsided. Lu Li had long stopped worrying about such negative emotions, but to maintain his newbie persona, he feigned lingering fear and asked the others, "What just happened? Why did I suddenly feel so scared?"

"It seems this dungeon also has such beings!" Xu Haoran's face showed lingering fear. He glanced at the understanding expressions of Gao Xiaowen and Hu Wenxu, then at the confused Lu Li, forced a smile, and said:

"Newbie, in some dungeons, special beings may appear, usually sealed or dormant. These beings can't move, but occasionally they gaze at us. Even their gaze can trigger special reactions. Sometimes, their gaze leaks something that causes events to mutate."

"Somewhere deep under the sea, there's likely such a being!" Hu Wenxu said more than usual, though initially maintaining his indifferent facade. His tone became fervent, "I wish I could dissect such beings someday, to see how they differ from humans, how they exist, and why their eyes, which receive light, can emit various substances as magical organs..."

The others' expressions changed. What they thought was a focused, cold-faced cultivator, likely the strongest among them, now seemed to be a research-obsessed lunatic. Who knows, you might end up on his dissection table before you realize it.

"Hey, Brother Hu, do you know how to dissect? It sounds interesting. Could you take me along next time?" While Xu Haoran and Gao Xiaowen were figuring out how to deal with this problematic teammate, they heard the supposed newbie eagerly ask.

"Are you interested in dissection? I could use an assistant. I'll teach you some knowledge. This game is fantastic, full of various strange materials. This is our paradise!" Hu Wenxu said excitedly, occasionally glancing at the mermaids under the boat, his intentions clear.

Xu Haoran and Gao Xiaowen exchanged glances, thinking how they ended up with such a chaotic team, each person more problematic than the last.

(End of the chapter)