After strapping on the oxygen tank, Jenny was just about to dive back in for more exploration. This time she could stay underwater for a full thirty minutes and definitely gather way more resources.
But right at that moment, Jenny suddenly noticed the inside of the pod had grown much darker.
"Huh? Why is it getting dark?"
Jenny looked up and realized the sunlight coming through the upper hatch was fading fast.
"Ding. Backup power activated." Gaia's voice sounded as the lights embedded in the pod turned on, once again filling the escape pod with brightness.
"Oh, it's nighttime already." Jenny finally understood. "How did it get dark so quickly? How long is a day on this planet?"
"Four hours." Gaia gave the answer instantly. "Daytime and nighttime are each two hours long."
"A day is only four hours? That's way too short."
Jenny complained out loud, then suddenly thought of something.
"Hey, chat, I'm going outside to take a look. The graphics in this game are so realistic. Maybe we'll get to see a beautiful starry night sky!"
Jenny said excitedly, and the viewers who heard her immediately grew interested as well.
So Jenny quickly climbed the ladder with both hands and feet, opened the upper hatch, and the moment she poked her head out, her entire body froze stiff.
Because right above her, a massive red-brown planet was silently floating there, so enormous it defied belief.
This red planet was so huge it took up half the sky in Jenny's field of vision.
She could see every single crater and rugged geological feature on its surface with perfect clarity!
It felt like the next second the planet would come crashing straight down onto her face!
The giant carrier Aurora, still lying across the sea surface, looked like a cute little toy compared to this crimson planet.
[Holy shit!!!!]
[What the hell is that? It scared the crap out of me!]
[Is that a planet? It's way too fucking big!!!]
[My scalp is tingling just looking at it!]
The instant the giant planet appeared, the viewers in the livestream room instantly started cursing up a storm!
Jenny didn't say a word, but she was the one hit hardest by the shock. Her whole body began trembling uncontrollably.
The fear, the sense of insignificance, and the overwhelming loneliness brought on by megalophobia were simply too intense.
"Based on visual observation, the planet in front of you should be no more than one hundred thousand kilometers away from the planet you are currently on."
Gaia's voice rang out.
But Jenny's wasn't in any state to listen.
"Holy fucking shit."
She forced out the three words while shaking, barely managed to control her body, and stumbled back into the pod. Then she quickly slammed the upper hatch shut.
"What the hell is that thing? I just wanted to look at some stars."
Jenny took a moment to steady her nerves, then shouted, "Didn't the fucking developer say this game wasn't going to be scary? How is it still this terrifying!"
"Wait, wait. It's nighttime now. Doesn't that mean the situation in the sea is even worse?"
Jenny suddenly thought of something else. She squatted down, trembling as she opened the lower hatch that led to the seabed.
Sure enough, below the hatch was pitch black, like a deep black well, thick and chaotic.
[Hiss, the sea looks fucking terrifying too!]
[The sea is completely black. You can't see your own hand in front of your face!]
[Holy crap, just watching this gives me the creeps.]
Looking at the ink-black seawater below, the viewers in the livestream room subconsciously refused to even imagine it.
"Ah!" Jenny broke down again. She threw her head back and roared, "You said it wasn't going to be scary! Devs, come out and say something! Is this what you call not scary?!!!"
[Haha, guess the devs lied again.]
[The developer really knows how to torture players!]
"Forget it. Who knows how terrifying the sea is right now. I'll just stay here for now and wait until daytime before I go back in!"
Looking at the pitch-black water below, Jenny waved her hand again and plopped down onto the seat.
[No way, Jenny! From what we've seen, the game's time runs the same as real time. If you wait for daytime, you'll actually have to sit here for two whole hours!!]
[Yeah! You expect us viewers to watch you sit here for two hours?]
[Jenny, don't be scared! You already survived Silent Hill. What's Subnautica compared to that!]
[I'll gift subs you right now. Let's charge straight in!]
The viewers were clearly not happy about this and flooded the barrage with messages. Hearing the comments pouring into her ears, Jenny started hesitating too. Waiting until daytime really would waste too much time.
Just as she was torn, Gaia's voice suddenly sounded:
[Ding. Wireless transmission received from another escape pod. Play it immediately?]
"Wireless transmission?" Jenny froze.
"This system has built-in wireless equipment capable of receiving and sending broadcasts under any harsh conditions," Gaia answered.
"Then what's the deal with the other escape pods?"
"When the Aurora made its forced landing, the crew members escaped in different escape pods. You are currently in Pod No. 5."
"So that's how it is!" Jenny suddenly understood. "You're saying that besides me, other crew members from the Aurora also escaped safely?!"
[Adv. 30 chapters on my patreon .com/EdgyReader]