These four words were still crimson red.
In other words—
Shan Mao Zi had also entered an extreme difficulty map, though not "Dragon Fortress," but "Biohazard."
"Him?"
"Shan Mao Zi, Biao Ge?"
The remaining nine members of Team One, standing frozen in place, were slightly bewildered by this scene. Although Biao Ge had already shared the secrets to clearing the "Biohazard" map with them, and each of them had cleared the normal difficulty Biohazard three times.
But...
For the extreme difficulty Biohazard, currently on the Stellar Train, only Biao Ge had cleared it. Even Zhang Da Mei hadn't managed it yet.
In the extreme difficulty Biohazard map, one either had to maximize evasion to minimize injuries or, like Biao Ge, trick their brain into thinking they had taken a "stimulant injection."
Easier said than done. They had tried for a long time but still couldn't figure out how to deceive their own brains.
"Forget it."
At that moment—
Zhang Qi, a member of Team One, stepped forward and walked towards the "Combat Training Virtual Space," calmly saying, "Since I haven't even cleared the normal difficulty, yet I have the courage to go for the extreme difficulty and fight with my back against the wall, how much weaker am I compared to Biao Zi?"
"I'm going too."
"Since I'm a member of Team One, of course, I should be more determined than the members of the sub-teams."
Soon.
Zhang Qi's device also displayed the crimson words "Biohazard."
Er Gou stood in place, his expression complex as he looked at Biao Ge's "Combat Training Virtual Space." It had been over ten minutes, and since the light hadn't gone out, it meant Biao Ge wasn't dead—there was hope he would clear it.
He had been the earliest to follow Biao Ge.
Before the apocalypse, he had followed Biao Ge out of the village to find work. After the apocalypse, many had scattered or died, leaving only him, Biao Ge, and Hei Hao.
Hei Hao was dead.
Now, of the original construction team, only he and Biao Ge remained.
He knew Biao Ge had always harbored a determination to catch up to the other prodigies through hard work, but he hadn't expected Biao Ge to push himself to such extremes, forcing himself into a do-or-die situation.
After a long silence, Er Gou lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, then stubbed it out in a nearby cola can, muttering, "If he dies, so be it."
Then he also entered the "Combat Training Virtual Space."
The device's exterior also displayed the crimson words "Biohazard."
The remaining members of Team One exchanged glances, then gritted their teeth and entered as well. They, too, would fight with their backs against the wall, just like Biao Ge!
Only Zhang Yi and Zhang Er, who were munching on steamed buns, were left.
"Huh?"
Zhang Er, somewhat confused, picked up a bun and stuffed it into his mouth, looking at the scene before him. "Isn't it mealtime? Why is everyone going in again?"
"Don't know. Since everyone's going in, we should too."
"Oh, okay."
In the extreme difficulty Biohazard map.
Zhang Er was standing in the elevator, holding a steel pipe, looking bewildered at the monster dead at his feet. The monster had been clawing at the elevator, so he had pulled it down and stabbed it a few times, killing it.
The monster's skin was tough.
He couldn't pierce it at first, but after trying a few times with more force, he finally managed.
"Now, where do I go next..."
Zhang Er furrowed his brow, trying to recall what Biao Ge had told him—was it the seventh floor or the eighth floor? It seemed like the eighth, but maybe the seventh.
"Forget it."
He shook his head, climbed up the elevator, grabbed the steel cable, and quickly ascended the elevator shaft towards the top.
Since the ultimate goal was to reach the rooftop, this should work, right?
Among the two brothers.
Zhang Yi was the sharper one. By now, he had already reached the seventh floor, found the fire axe in the office, and cleared all the Zombies in the fire escape.
But...
"Did Biao Ge say to go down or up after clearing the Zombies in the seventh-floor fire escape?"
Zhang Yi frowned, trying to remember. After a while, he shook his head.
"If the goal is to reach the top, why would I go down?"
"Of course, I should go up."
"Biao Ge must have said to go up."
Then, gripping the fire axe, he roared and charged up the fire escape towards the eighth floor!
Inside the Stellar Train, Chen Mang silently watched the three split-screen images on the monitor.
One was Biao Zi, the other two were Zhang Yi and Zhang Er.
He couldn't help but marvel at how terrifying prodigies could be.
Zhang Yi and Zhang Er had already reached the top, successfully clearing the "Extreme Difficulty" Biohazard map.
When Biao Zi had entered this map, he concluded that the monster at the top of the elevator was unbeatable—it was an instant kill at the start. One had to leave the elevator as quickly as possible to truly enter the map.
But this monster.
Zhang Er had pulled it down and stabbed it to death with a few strikes.
Then, like Spider-Man, he climbed up the elevator shaft's cable all the way to the rooftop, not encountering a single Zombie along the way, effortlessly clearing the map that had nearly killed Biao Zi.
Zhang Yi was more obedient.
Since Biao Ge had said the starting monster was unbeatable, he obediently left the elevator and proceeded normally to the seventh floor.
Then, without picking up any armor, weapons, or stimulants from downstairs.
Relying solely on his formidable physique and a fire axe, he hacked his way from the seventh floor to the rooftop, covered in blood, bearing countless injuries, his eyes red, but he pressed on with unwavering determination until he reached the zipline at the rooftop and cleared the map.
Though the two brothers cleared the map differently.
Both did so with ease.
As for the techniques Biao Ge had taught them—like going downstairs first to get weapons and armor, or tricking their brains—none of it was used. Especially Zhang Yi, who was like a god of war!
He didn't use a single stimulant or weapon!
Just a fire axe, and he tore through the map!
"These two are warriors."
Chen Mang sighed lightly, leaning back in his chair, somewhat helplessly looking at the two on the screen. It was truly an exhilarating battle. With just their physical fitness already so outrageous, if these two were equipped with higher-grade mechs in the future.
They would be unstoppable war gods.
And their consumption was minimal—just keep them fed with Roujiamo.
As for Biao Zi...
He was still lying on the rooftop, unmoving, seemingly not ready to face reality yet.
It had been half an hour; he should move soon. He couldn't just keep lying there forever.
My name is Biao Zi.
If you haven't heard of me, you must have heard of the Stellar Train.
That's right, I'm the captain of the Stellar Train's Guardian Team One.
I'm impressive.
But right now, I'm pondering a question.
With nutrient fluid replenishing my body's functions from the outside, if I just lie here for forty or fifty years, I could probably survive, though the living space would be a bit cramped, and it wouldn't be much of a life.
"..."
Biao Zi's face was bitter, his mind uncontrollably wandering. He had no idea how he had accidentally landed himself in this do-or-die difficulty map twice.
He didn't want to die; he wanted to live!
But clearly, lying here forever wasn't a realistic plan.
A minute later.
He slowly moved his body, rolling over and climbing up from the rooftop, his gaze gradually firming. The monsters in the extreme difficulty map were only slightly stronger than those in the normal difficulty, and if you failed, you really died, and...
Just as he mustered his courage, Biao Zi's face fell into despair again, and he lay back down.
He didn't mind risking his life.
But at least let him clear the normal difficulty first before throwing him into the extreme difficulty, right? He had already failed the normal difficulty eight times in a row!
Taking a few deep breaths.
He summoned his courage again, recalling the "brain control techniques" Li Shiji had taught him. He treated this as a normal difficulty map. Having failed eight times in a row, it was time to succeed the ninth time!
Nine was the ultimate number!
Biao Zi's eyes gradually turned cold as he looked down at the monster that had just walked beneath the rooftop. Without hesitation, he leaped down, driving his dagger straight into the monster's throat, and tightly covering its mouth to prevent any screams.
For some reason.
He suddenly felt his body becoming light, as if his perspective had detached.
It was like he was controlling the world from a third-person perspective, slipping into a state of extreme calm and indifference. Then, as light as a swallow, he moved swiftly along the wall in the night, taking quick, precise steps.
At this moment—
All the emotions he had just been feeling were cast aside, as if he were playing a single-player game, controlling his body with a strange mix of third-person and first-person perspectives, executing standard actions with cold precision and without thought.
His eyes were filled with pure killing intent.
Not a trace of extraneous emotion.
Half an hour later.
-
"Congratulations on becoming the first member of the Stellar Train to clear the 'Dragon Fortress' map on extreme difficulty."
"Pioneers are always deserving of reward."
"You receive an additional 1.0 boost to your Physical Fitness Index."
-
In the white space, Biao Zi stood trembling, though all his injuries had vanished, the searing pain lingered. But when he saw the panel before him, he couldn't help but grin.
He, the great Biao Zi!
Such an impressive guy, hadn't even cleared the normal difficulty, but now he had cleared the extreme difficulty!
After exiting the Combat Training Virtual Space.
As Biao Zi climbed out of the training pod, he saw the members of Team One gathered around, their eyes red, and he instinctively asked, "What's going on here?"
"Biao Ge!"
Shan Mao Zi, his eyes red, spoke word by word, "Your courage to fight with your back against the wall has inspired all of us. The entire Team One has successfully cleared the extreme difficulty Biohazard map."
"Your actions showed us."
"If you tell yourself you can't do it, then you really can't."
"When you truly can't do it, you must fight with your back against the wall, giving yourself the courage to break through and stand anew!"
Zhang Qi, full of admiration, looked at Biao Ge, his voice firm, "Biao Ge, you're the most ruthless person I've ever met towards yourself. Someone like you, if you don't succeed, it would defy all reason."
Only then did Biao Zi, who had just realized what was happening, silently climb out of the training pod, stand up, light a cigarette, take a deep drag, and then scan each person present, speaking word by word.
"It seems you've all realized."
"That's right!"
"I wanted to show you through my actions what it means to fight with your back against the wall. Only by cutting off all retreats can you find new hope!"
"I'm pleased that you've understood this and put it into practice."
"Currently, only our Team One has cleared the extreme difficulty Biohazard on the Stellar Train, symbolizing our team's strength!"
"You all stay here and reflect a bit more. I'm going to find Li Shiji."
Biao Zi coughed lightly, then strode out of the refrigerator, planning to discuss his earlier mental state with Li Shiji. Of course, he wouldn't admit to his team that he had accidentally clicked the wrong option and was forced to clear it.
Given the choice, he wouldn't do it again.
But this was a great opportunity to boost his reputation, so he naturally wouldn't miss it. It was an unexpected but massive boost to his prestige. Fighting with your back against the wall—ah, those words sounded so good. Maybe that's what he had been thinking all along.
Maybe it wasn't an accident after all. Maybe his subconscious had told him to fight with his back against the wall.
Truly, I, the great Biao Zi, am impressive.
But just as he was about to leave the refrigerator, he stopped and turned back, frowning at Zhang Yi and Zhang Er in confusion.
"You two cleared it too?"
"Aren't you two always... forgetful? Did you remember the techniques I taught you?"
"Huh?"
Zhang Er scratched the back of his head, saying softly, "I forgot. I forgot as soon as I went in. But after I killed the monster at the top of the elevator, I found I could climb up the cable in the elevator shaft all the way to the rooftop, so I climbed up."
"I didn't see any Zombies along the way."
"I didn't forget."
Zhang Yi said seriously, "I strictly followed the process you taught me, Biao Ge. I left the elevator immediately at the start, entered the seventh floor, found the fire axe, and then went to the fire escape, fighting my way up until I reached the rooftop and cleared it."
"Did you go downstairs to get the armor, flamethrower, and stimulants?"
"What armor?"
"..."
Biao Zi stood still, his expression blank as he looked at the two of them, their eyes filled with confusion. After a long silence, he stuffed the cigarette into a nearby cola can, turned, and walked out of the refrigerator.
"Never mind, it's time to eat."
"You two go eat. Don't let the kids starve."
But he quickened his pace slightly. Damn these prodigies—they're really something else!
That monster at the top of the elevator was supposed to be an instant kill at the start. If you didn't leave the elevator immediately, you were doomed!
How the hell did Zhang Er kill that monster?
Are you crazy?
How did you even do that?
I had stabbed it so many times and couldn't pierce its skin. I thought it was a high-level Zombie, immune to my attacks. But it seems I just wasn't using enough force?
Well, great.
Great strength brings miracles, reasonable.
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