"How about it? Sister, let's form a team!" Tian Tian took out a Team Card from her system inventory and handed it to Bai Xi. "Look, Sister, I really didn't lie to you. I don't dare form a team with anyone else; I'm afraid they would bully Momo."
Looking at the card before her, Bai Xi was surprised. The girl had actually just handed the card over directly.
Taking the card, Bai Xi carefully read the instructions on the back. It was exactly as Tian Tian had said; she hadn't hidden anything.
If that were truly the case, forming a team was a viable option. The siblings were very united, each had their own strengths, and they were mature enough. As for the concern about elaborate schemes to backstab teammates, Bai Xi didn't think she was stupid enough to fall for a trap set by two children.
"Since that's the case, alright then!" Bai Xi said as she returned the card to Tian Tian.
Tian Tian nodded repeatedly in pleasant surprise and hurriedly used the card, afraid that Bai Xi might go back on her word.
After forming the team, Bai Xi felt the strength in her hands increase slightly. She checked her personal information.
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Bai Xi
Level: Class C Player
Points: 0
Lottery Draws: 0
Overall Stats: 67.98 (66)
Ability Level: Level 1 Spatial Ability (Storage Space: 2 cubic meters; Spatial Jump: 1 meter)
Items:
1. Green Tier: Speed Boost Card x1, Invisibility Card x1, Item Card x1
2. Gray Tier: Black Gold Dagger x1, Stamina Potion x1
Status: 3% Team Overall Stat Bonus
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Her overall stats had increased by nearly two points. Now, Bai Xi finally understood why Tian Tian had been so eager to form a team.
"You're a good sister," Bai Xi said, looking at Tian Tian with praise.
Tian Tian smiled sheepishly.
As the cardholder, Tian Tian was the captain. She had an affinity skill that could increase the probability of herself and a specific team member being assigned to the same game round. Tian Tian hadn't hesitated to choose Tian Mo. Her urgency to form a team was all for his sake. No matter how sensible Tian Mo was, he was still just an eight-year-old child. He had no way to face the game and survive on his own. Moreover, the game offered some leniency to novices, which was also how the siblings had managed to obtain a Team Card.
"Sister Bai, if you and Momo are ever assigned to the same game round in the future, please take care of him a little. You don't have to go out of your way, just take him along. He's very well-behaved and won't cause you any trouble." Tian Tian bowed to Bai Xi. She knew her request was imposing, but she had no other choice.
Bai Xi helped Tian Tian up. "Stand up! If the opportunity arises, I will look out for him."
"Let's formally introduce ourselves. Bai Xi, twenty years old, Spatial Ability, first game round," Bai Xi introduced herself.
"Tian Tian, fifteen years old. My ability is olfactory, second game round." Tian Tian patted Tian Mo's little head and introduced, "My little brother is Tian Mo, eight years old. His ability is telepathy; he can sense whether someone harbors malicious intent. Currently, he can only sense people within a two-meter radius. It's also his second game round."
The three of them then shared their respective game experiences.
Based on the information shared by the siblings, this survival game was roughly divided into three stages.
The first stage was relatively safe. The game would issue one or two missions, giving players time to prepare and accumulate resources. In the second stage, survival became more difficult, and fewer missions were issued. The third stage was a matter of life and death. To survive, many players would kill others to steal their cards.
However, players in their novice period received some leniency; there wouldn't be overwhelmingly powerful players spawning near them. As long as they worked hard to complete the earlier missions, it was still possible to pass smoothly.
As the three were talking, a violent explosion echoed from the direction of the city. The flames illuminated the entire night sky.
"How did they cause such a huge commotion?" Bai Xi stood by the window, watching the blazing fire in the distance. She seemed to have passed by that exact spot in the afternoon.
Tian Tian felt a wave of relief. Thank goodness they had followed Bai Xi out of the city; otherwise, tonight would have been a nightmare. The siblings looked at Bai Xi. They had to try their best to stick close to this incredibly capable older sister.
After watching for a while, Bai Xi turned and walked back inside. She took out a blanket from her dimension and spread it on the floor. "Let's sleep! It shouldn't affect us here."
"Sister Bai, you and Momo sleep first! I'll take the first watch."
"Alright. I'll take over for the second half of the night."
Saying so, Bai Xi lay down to sleep. Tian Mo also nestled close to his sister and drifted off peacefully.
In reality, Bai Xi wasn't deeply asleep. She hadn't completely dropped her guard around the siblings yet.
Around eleven o'clock at night, noises came from outside the house. Bai Xi got up and went to the window to look. A group of people was hurrying over.
"Hurry, there's a house ahead. We can rest there for a bit."
"We finally made it out of the city."
"Grandpa, slow down."
The group settled down on the first floor. From the sound of their voices, it was a sizable team consisting of both young and old.
"Professor Chen, you all rest for a while. I'll go check for any dangers," a familiar voice rang out.
Bai Xi was quite surprised. She hadn't expected to run into Tan Mingshan here. Han Dong was probably with him as well.
Right on cue, Han Dong's youthful voice followed, "Uncle Tan, I'll go with you."
Not long after, footsteps and the beam of a flashlight appeared in the stairwell. Tan Mingshan and Han Dong cautiously made their way upstairs. The flashlight beam swept across the room and suddenly illuminated a figure, scaring Han Dong into a loud yelp.
The people downstairs panicked. "What happened? What happened?"
"It's nothing, just bumped into an acquaintance," Tan Mingshan's steady voice replied. He looked at Bai Xi with pleasant surprise. "I didn't expect to run into you here."
"After parting ways at the police station, I never thought we'd meet again," Bai Xi smiled.
At this time, Tian Tian and Tian Mo also woke up, causing soft rustling noises in the room. Tan Mingshan smiled. "You have friends with you?"
"Yeah, met them on the road. Uncle Tan, your team isn't small either!" Bai Xi teased.
"It's mainly to protect Professor Chen. We met others along the way, so we just brought them along." Tan Mingshan made it sound simple, but leading such a team was no easy feat.
"Bai Xi, where are you heading?" Han Dong asked.
"Nowhere in particular. As long as it's safe, anywhere is fine," Bai Xi replied.
"Then why don't we travel together? Professor Chen said the monsters in the city are too concentrated, so it's actually safer outside the city." Han Dong was quite happy to run into a familiar face on such a dangerous journey.
Bai Xi nodded. She was thinking the exact same thing.
"Alright then. You guys get back to sleep. We'll go downstairs and settle in."
Tan Mingshan took Han Dong downstairs and briefed the others about Bai Xi's situation upstairs. The crowd grumbled a bit about having more freeloaders to feed. However, since most of the supplies were scavenged by Tan Mingshan and Han Dong, they didn't dare object openly.
Game Day 9.
Bai Xi woke up from her light sleep and glanced at the progress bar. The survival rate was 26%. Out of 210,000 people, just over 50,000 were left.
Footsteps sounded from the stairwell as Han Dong walked up holding three loaves of bread. "You're awake. I brought you guys something to eat."
"Thanks, but there's no need. We have our own," Bai Xi said, patting her backpack.
Han Dong looked at Bai Xi's group—two girls and a young child. How many supplies could they possibly have? "It's fine. We have plenty of supplies, just take it!"