Chapter 186: Level III 10
Everyone just briefly mentioned this issue; the most important thing now was to escape.
Countdown: 4:21:33
They reached the edge of District 63.
Currently, they were still near District 911, with the edges of the two Big Eyeballs pressed tightly together, without any cracks.
District 911 was red, but this didn’t stop some people from already crossing over; they were clearly preparing to continue north, as there were more odd-numbered districts on the map in that direction.
Their team didn’t stop at all, directly pedaling their bicycles furiously in another direction.
District 567 was still red.
Keep going!
Then they arrived at District 186, between District 567 and District 231.
The even-numbered districts had completely collapsed; looking from the edge, all that could be seen was an abyss. It was pitch black inside, and light couldn’t penetrate. It was unfathomable, bottomless. It was nothingness, non-existent.
This was the feeling District 186 gave after its collapse.
This void of space took a full 20 minutes to cycle through, and ahead was District 231, its red light falling into everyone’s eyes, causing some disappointment.
Indeed, safe zones were not easy to find.
At the intersection of the two districts, many people were coming and going.
The eight people’s bicycles were enough to attract the attention of others around them. The group tacitly pulled out guns and weapons, aiming them at those eager to approach while quickly leaving the intersection.
According to the recorder, their final decision was to head south of District 231, taking the 839+147 route to the area with the most remaining districts. Spanning two districts, plus these two, there were 7 odd-numbered districts along the way.
As for whether there would be any green safe districts, that depended on their luck.
Do your best, and leave the rest to fate.
They raced against time to make progress.
The bicycles sped along roads packed with cars. Chu Yian’s legs were now sore and aching, as if they no longer belonged to her.
Countdown: 2:08:11
Arrived at District 839.
District 839 and the districts connected to it were all red.
Two hours left.
The group looked at District 147, which was connected to District 839, without questioning or breaking down, but instead got back on their bicycles. Districts 723, 661, and District 999, connected to District 147, were still there; they still had a chance!
The bicycle chains were almost sparking under their furious pedaling.
Bang!
A snapping sound.
Someone in the team’s chain broke. Because of the high speed, he, bike and all, crashed into the adjacent wheat field. There was no time to repair the bike now, so the player, covered in mud, got up and sat on the back of someone else’s bicycle.
Countdown: 0:43:46
They crossed District 147 and finally reached the nearest odd-numbered district, District 723.
Red!
It was still red!
“Go, go, go!”
There was no time to linger; five bicycles drifted and turned around.
And the further they went, the crazier people became.
“Wait for us!”
“Help!”
“There’s still room on the bike, please save us!”
…A large crowd chased after the bicycles.
They couldn’t be caught by these people!
Everyone in the team knew this. Even if their thighs were so sore they could barely move, even if sweat dripped into their eyes, blurring their vision of what was behind them, they still mustered all their strength and pedaled mechanically forward!
Countdown: 0:21:03
They saw District 661 enveloped in red light.
At the boundary between District 147 and District 661, only a few exhausted people sat on the ground.
These people had clearly given up hope. In these last twenty minutes, they didn’t even try to block the bicycles, sitting in place and watching them leave.
But District 999—it was green!
The team, originally in low spirits and on the verge of collapse, screamed when they saw the green safe zone.
They were excited!
They were thrilled!
They had worked so hard, and something that seemed like a slim hope had actually been achieved; how could they not be excited and joyful?
“Don’t get happy too soon, look ahead.”
Jie Yan’s words were like a splash of cold water, instantly sobering everyone.
There were so many people in District 999!
To be precise, many people were blocked between District 999 and District 147. What blocked them was a long river and towering shipping containers piled on the cross-river bridge.
A man, dusty and fleeing, had a white shirt that was now dingy yellow, and one of his leather shoes had been lost during the escape. The joy on his face hadn’t faded, but his eyes were filled with disbelief.
“Are the people on the other side crazy?”
“We finally escaped here, why are the people inside doing this?!”
Yes, why were the people in District 999 preventing them from entering?
Chu Yian suddenly recalled a line the child’s voice had said before the sixth collapse: “The current number of survivors exceeds one million, and the sixth collapse will begin in 6 hours.”
“They don’t want too many people to pass.”
Chu Yian frowned. “If the number of survivors in the sixth collapse still exceeds one million, there might be a seventh collapse. Someone inside set up roadblocks specifically to control the numbers!”
“Damn it! This game is full of traps everywhere.”
Zhang Yunwu, the hot-tempered one in the team, cursed, while the others looked at the river.
The river was swift today, with surging waves.
But many of those who wanted to cross jumped into the water and swam towards the opposite bank. Every now and then, someone would be swept away by a large wave or the rapid current, never to resurface, yet more and more people kept jumping into the river.
You Che: “Should we jump too?”
“No, there’s no time.”
Jie Yan looked at the countdown in the sky; only 8 minutes remained. “Follow me to the bottom of those containers. Zhang Yunwu, prepare the cannon.”
The bridge was packed with people, so full that it was almost impossible to move.
Jie Yan then called another name, “Xu Li, use your item.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a V-shaped shield appeared in the hand of the player named Xu Li.
“Everyone, keep up!”
Xu Li, holding the shield, charged through the crowd, forcibly carving out a path. The 8 people, in a ‘train’ formation, rushed to the front of the containers. Zhang Yunwu then hoisted his flamethrower.
“Everyone get out of my way!”
Zhang Yunwu roared and pulled the trigger.
A huge fireball shot towards the containers ahead. This time, its power was dozens of times greater than when they snatched the weapons earlier.
Boom!
Rolling black smoke rose, and flames burst out from the smoke.
The high temperature melted the steel, and intense heat washed over them. Within the embrace of the black smoke, a large hole in the containers appeared faintly.
Countdown: 0:03:23
There was no time to wait for the flames to die down.
The team members looked at the thick black smoke, closed their eyes, and charged into the fire.
