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墨書 Inktalez
After confirming that the Parasite Beast was dead, the girl, with a vacant stare, burst into tears, leaving the men around her in a mix of laughter and pity. The young man with the Afro lay in the sand pit, gasping for breath, never expecting that death was so close to him.
Freyr calmly responded, "This place is no longer safe. We need to hurry to the oasis, which is marked as the Rally Point on the map. There, we might have a chance of survival." Following his words, those who were moved by what had just happened exchanged glances, and after a moment, one person symbolically stepped forward.
One of the men clapped his hands enthusiastically to rally everyone's spirits. "We should unite. From now on, let's avoid going off alone unless absolutely necessary."
"Until we establish a decision-making process, we hope everyone can set an example by raising their hands to indicate their choices. The minority will follow the majority. We will decide based on team actions or individual perspectives, using a clear one-person-one-vote system."
At that moment, a man's voice came from another side. He sat cross-legged on the ground, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, his face pale like porcelain. Flanking him were two strong men who had their arms draped over each other's shoulders, appearing to be close friends.
In their hands were different weapons that captivated everyone's attention with their impressive designs. One was a modified Barrett .50 cal sniper rifle known for its precision; it was said that an excellent Special Forces operator could take out enemies from a kilometer away without revealing their position. The other man carried a uniquely shaped submachine gun with a white finish; its magazine was adorned with a silver skull.
The skull symbolized a fervent weapon expert; it represented modified weapons handled by the equipment department. Both weapons had enhanced magazine capacities, and every bullet was infused with deadly poison—certainly lethal to humans and even more devastating to insects. No cell could survive under the influence of such potent toxins.
With the Parasite Beast now dead, those who remained were still shaken as they returned to sit near the tents. They held a brief meeting; the new recruits, who had previously been at odds with one another, now gathered together after experiencing the recent events. They raised their hands to vote on the earlier topic with calm expressions.
"Those who think we should split up and try our luck can raise their hands. I respect each of your choices, but this concerns everyone's safety. You wouldn't want to risk your lives for a meaningless test, would you? This place is far from what you imagine; there are creatures here beyond just the Parasite Beast—predators at the top of the food chain that are much more terrifying than humans."
Nosty spoke slowly, and everyone turned in surprise to look at the man sitting cross-legged. They were astonished but found themselves unable to speak; they felt his words imprinting on their subconscious minds. As they widened their eyes in confusion and glanced around, the meeting remained silent—no one dared interrupt.
Watching this peculiar man surrounded by two burly bodyguards made some feel hesitant about speaking up. Finally, someone stood out: it was none other than the young man with the Afro—the one who had bravely faced off against the Parasite Beast and nearly sacrificed himself. Now he stood among them like a hero; even without any accolades, most were willing to follow such a leader.
The Afro-haired young man raised an eyebrow and said, "Splitting up isn't wise. We need to move together; having more than twenty people traveling as a group gives us better odds than going out alone."
"Before we proceed, let's report on everyone's weapons, food, and water reserves. We don't know what changes might occur while traversing this desert. We may have to stay here for another night, so we need to conserve our supplies. I think it would be best to distribute food evenly among the capable fighters, while leaving some for those who are currently weaker. What do you all think of this approach?"
Freyr hesitated for a moment, observing the reactions of those around him. Some seemed to agree with his reasoning, while others displayed signs of unease. These individuals lacked the ability to protect themselves and understood well what water represented in the desert—it was a matter of survival.
Suddenly, Nosty’s voice rang out again: "You're right about the need to leave the desert as a team, but I cannot agree with your plan to gather resources afterward. Water and food are vital lifelines for everyone. Abandoning the weak is morally indefensible; judging right from wrong in such a situation yields no results. Instead, it reveals flaws in your character."
Afro exploded in anger, pointing at Nosty, who was sitting cross-legged with his arms around his knees. "What do you propose? In the worst-case scenario, most of us might survive, but we all saw what happened earlier. If I had been even a moment slower, that Giant Bug would have devoured me. If I hadn't prioritized my own safety over that woman’s, we wouldn’t be having this discussion at all. So logically, I deserve some reward for my efforts—at least enough food and water to sustain myself."
"Everyone needs to calm down," Freyr interjected. "We're discussing how to survive and escape, not settling personal grievances. Surviving is more important than anything else. If we get the chance to fight again later, so be it."
His simple statement struck a nerve, causing many to turn their attention toward Freyr. The once indifferent Goatee also seemed to lose his composure at that moment; clearly, he was one of those who had attacked the Parasite Beast. Afro glanced at him but swallowed back his words before he could speak again. "Right now, our priority is figuring out how to survive and escape together. Let's distribute weapons reasonably; any compatible ammunition should go to those skilled with firearms. Those without combat abilities should stay in the middle of the group while keeping watch at both the front and back. As for your food and water concerns—let's set that aside for now. We're all walking the same path; our suffering is relative. If anyone can't hold on, I'll share my water with you."
As soon as he finished speaking, many felt their anxieties ease somewhat. However, they were unaware that this was only the beginning; resentment flickered in some eyes, though no one noticed it—not even Freyr could remain vigilant about everything happening around him. Nevertheless, he knew his responsibility was to lead everyone to safety.
The Explosive-Haired Man seemed willing to support Freyr's stance; he nodded slowly with an air of generosity and composure. "It seems you're more reasonable after all—not abandoning anyone... That's commendable. Our methods may differ, but we share the same goal: surviving this desert together. Let's cooperate; I'll agree to your terms if it means everyone is more willing to follow your lead."
Feeling the urgent pressure lift slightly, Freyr took a deep breath and replied calmly, "So we're still friends in this desert." He then glanced at Duan Shuai's group of unfriendly faces behind him; their eyes held a resentful glint that sent a chill down his spine.
In truth, the perceptive Freyr sensed hostility from many within the group toward him. Rather than hoarding supplies individually, he believed it would be better to oppose the jungle law mentality that Duan Shuai advocated—where strong individuals protect the weak but demand payment for their protection—a sort of extortion disguised as safeguarding.
From a moral standpoint, this was akin to taking advantage of others' misfortunes; these people were no different from robbers demanding essential resources from their companions. Yet everyone was clever enough not to escalate tensions openly; instead, subtle actions would likely continue behind the scenes. In this death-laden desert, with hidden schemes at play among them, traversing twenty kilometers would prove arduous.
Amidst heated arguments among the group, some decided to brave the most dangerous areas for training purposes and courage-building while others preferred safer shortcuts—routes that consumed less time yet were still less perilous than extreme danger zones. This approach would take longer than the previous plan but was manageable under certain conditions. Ultimately, only a minority suggested taking completely safe detours that would add five to eight kilometers to their journey—rugged paths where most could look out for one another and increase their chances of survival significantly.
Both the Conservatives and the stubborn Radicals held differing opinions, arguing back and forth until it all came to nothing. No matter which path they chose, the ultimate outcome could only be known after taking a step forward; their discussions in place would yield no results. Instead, they would exhaust themselves with endless talk, drinking up the water meant for their journey, ultimately leading to their own demise from thirst.
Looking at the scene, it didn't seem likely anyone would notice them. At least Cousins had the courage to bring them here, suggesting that when danger loomed, he had a foolproof plan to ensure his own safety.
Freyr remained silent amidst the heated arguments. He knew that bickering would only incite more panic and drain their energy. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke up, "We can't drag this out any longer. We need to move forward to know how to plan for what's ahead."
The other voices fell silent once again. Some people stood up from the ground, brushing off dust and organizing their belongings in their backpacks. It seemed there would be no further dissent regarding his words. These individuals no longer held onto fantasies; they rose one by one, initially a few but soon influencing most of the group. Seeing this, the remaining few were also moved.
(Let's go... The road ahead is still long...)
(But so what? Fearless in the face of danger is a warrior's mission. They are a group unafraid of sacrifice, great adventurers...)
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