Chapter 96: The Stage of the World (Bonus Chapter)

This was the first time Chen Mo had ever seen Zhang Shengmo fight, and the moment he moved, his bearing was extraordinary.

From start to finish, Zhang Shengmo’s hand never touched the white sword, yet he controlled it from afar, as if he were using the legendary sword-control art from immortal tales.

Chen Mo tried to analyze the principle behind this technique with a data scan, only to be met with nothing but question marks.

There was simply no way to study it.

Not far away, a group of students in the uniforms of Capital City First High School were chatting idly.

“Xiao Sanyue, look over there. Something interesting is happening. It looks like two schools from Star City are arguing!”

Xiao Sanyue, wearing sunglasses, glanced over and said with disdain, “Just two rookie schools. Let them peck at each other like chicks. I just saw Fudan Middle School from Shanghai arrive too. Last time, we were ambushed and killed by people from Fudan Middle School. This time, we’re definitely taking revenge!”

While everyone was busy observing the island and sizing up their opponents—

Ding-a-ling—

The female elf appeared.

Just like in the novice instance, her skin glowed with a pale sheen, her long hair was ice-blue, her ears were pointed, and her most mysterious parts were covered by petals.

“Welcome to Spawn Island! The instance you will challenge is—Battle Royale!”

Tang Qi said excitedly, “See? I told you it was a Battle Royale instance! I’m just too smart!”

Coach Moon Fox had been right: the first time entering a high-level evolution orb, there was a great chance it would be a survival-type instance.

The female elf smiled sweetly and said, “Now I will explain the clearance rules for the Battle Royale instance. Once the instance begins, everyone will be randomly teleported to a location on the island. There are five levels of zombies on the island. Killing a D-rank zombie grants 1 point, a C-rank zombie 5 points, a B-rank zombie 100 points, and an A-rank zombie 1,000 points. In addition, there is a chance for an S-rank zombie to appear. At most, only one can spawn on the entire map. Killing an S-rank zombie will grant 10,000 points and a first-kill reward. The method of clearing the instance is simple: survive. As long as you are not killed by zombies within twenty-four hours, you will receive a clearance reward. The higher your points, the better your reward. There will also be a ranking for points; the higher your rank, the greater your reward. The player in first place will not only receive a unique A-rank treasure chest, which has a chance of containing skills or equipment above A-rank, but will also receive a permit to enter the Evolution World!”

“In addition, players are allowed to kill one another. Killing a player grants 10 points and absorbs all of that player’s points. Friendly reminder: every player can activate Slaughter Mode through the Mind Core. Once activated, a red name will appear above your head, your attributes will double, and everything will double as well—the points you earn for killing zombies, the points you earn for killing people, your luck in triggering hidden quests, and so on. After killing another player, there is also a chance they will drop an item. However, the price is that once you die, you die forever!”

“Only a fool would turn on Slaughter Mode!”

“Watch out for the Xingtian Guild. I heard those people kill without blinking. They’re definitely going to use Slaughter Mode!”

“Classmates, no matter which school we’re from, we have to unite! If anyone turns on Slaughter Mode, we’ll gang up on them together!”

Tang Qi raised a fist and shouted, “Exactly! As students of an evolution school, we’re all family! We must never turn on each other! We need to stand together against outsiders!”

Heh.

Chen Mo sneered inwardly. Even people from the same school could stab each other in the back, let alone students from different schools.

Tang Qi walked up to Zhang Shengmo, full of expectation. “Zhang Shengmo, team up with us! We’re all from Pingli Middle School, so we should help each other. The coach definitely wants us to do well!”

Tang Qi was very clever, bringing up Pingli Middle School and the coach to persuade Zhang Shengmo.

“Sorry, I don’t team up with trash.” Zhang Shengmo refused with chilling indifference.

“You!” Tang Qi’s face darkened. He clenched his fists, but did not dare make a move. First, he was no match for him; second, he did not dare fight here.

After taking a deep breath, Tang Qi turned to Chen Mo.

“Chen Mo, do you know something? When you were still in Class F, I thought very highly of you. I always felt that you and your sister were strong and helpful people at our school. Team up with us. I’ve studied the strategy guides, and I know where it’s safe and where it’s dangerous in the Battle Royale instance. I also know the best places to farm points. As long as we work together, we can definitely achieve a great result!”

“Sorry, I prefer to act alone.”

Of course Chen Mo would not team up. He still had to release the Great Demon King.

“I’ll team up with you!” Shangguan Chaoyue stepped forward on his own initiative, deliberately glaring at Chen Mo.

Tang Qi was overjoyed. Although Shangguan Chaoyue had been defeated by Chen Mo, he was still widely recognized as one of the top experts at Pingli Middle School.

“Excellent! Chaoyue, you’re an assassin. You can turn invisible and scout the terrain. With you on our side, our team is absolutely unbeatable!”

Shangguan Chaoyue basked in Tang Qi’s praise. “Relax. With me here, I’ll definitely lead you through the instance. Some classmates are just selfish—only thinking about themselves and not the group. Truly embarrassing!”

Tang Qi echoed him at once. “Exactly! We’re all from the same school, so why put on airs? Do they really think they’re invincible?”

On the island, the female elf continued, “You may use the Mind Core to open the instance map. The map will only show your own location and the locations of your teammates. If team members stand together, they will be treated as a party. After the instance begins, all players in a party will be teleported to the same location.”

Everyone hurried to open the map. A translucent display screen appeared before them, showing the entire instance map. Spawn Island lay in the lower-left corner of the map, a tiny island by itself.

At the center of the instance was a massive island divided into five zones. The D-rank zone occupied the middle and had the largest area. The S-rank zone was in the northwest corner and had the smallest area. The C-rank zone was in the north, the B-rank zone in the east, and the A-rank zone in the south.

The map also labeled the terrain and structures of each area, such as jungle, desert, ruins, lake, bomb shelter, school, prison, police station, and so on.

Tang Qi said with absolute confidence, “No matter where we’re teleported later, don’t get stuck in a fight. Run the moment you see anyone. Run even if you see zombies. We’ll gather at the prison. That map is in a valley, easy to defend and hard to attack. As long as we hold the only exit, we can survive easily!”

Feng Jing deliberately pressed her chest against Tang Qi. “Tang Qi, you’re so smart. You’re amazing!”

The female elf’s voice turned solemn. “Preparation time is over. In five seconds, everyone will be teleported into the Battle Royale instance.”

Chen Mo and Zhang Shengmo almost simultaneously stepped out of Pingli Middle School’s team and walked alone to an open area.

Clearly, both of them intended to fight on their own.

Chen Mo and Zhang Shengmo exchanged a glance, a silent understanding between the strong. Neither of them said a word, yet their sharp gazes met in midair and said everything that needed to be said.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Battle Royale instance—officially begins!

Buzz-buzz-buzz!

Thousands of blue pillars of light rose at once, and everyone, in the same instant, shot down toward different parts of the island like a meteor shower.