Chapter 180 [The Pet Acquisition Ceremony is About to Begin]

【Final Ranking Rewards】

· 1st Place Island: Pet Skill +1

· 2nd Place Island: Pet Overall Attributes +20%

· 3rd Place Island: Pet Overall Attributes +15%

· 4th Place Island: Pet Overall Attributes +10%

· 5th Place Island: Pet Overall Attributes +5%

· 6th to 10th Place Islands: None

【Tip: Rationally allocating resources and enhancing pet combat power is an important way to achieve a high ranking】

【Pet acquisition points for each island have been marked】

【Please proceed to the Misty Hidden Abyss on your respective islands to obtain your pets】

【Pet acquisition will begin in 10 minutes】

“???”

Sun Zhiyuan's expression changed. "Ah? It really is a pet?"

Liu Manqing was somewhat helpless. "Deputy Commander Sun, I'm kindly reminding you that on this Vehicle, it's better to stay honest and be careful not to let your mouth get you into trouble."

Sun Zhiyuan chuckled and whispered, "Teacher Liu, do we really need to say such things between us? I understand you care about me, but sometimes, you have to show that care more openly."

Liu Manqing: "Hmm?"

Sun Zhiyuan explained, "When do you plan to tell everyone about our relationship? These kids are curious too..."

Liu Manqing was stunned. "What relationship?"

Taking advantage of everyone around discussing the pet duel, Sun Zhiyuan whispered:

"Before the apocalypse, we were mutually in love. After the apocalypse, I even saved you. What would you say our relationship is?"

"Deputy Commander Sun."

Liu Manqing shook her head and spoke clearly, "I am very grateful for the care you've shown me over these four years. Professionally, you are a senior; personally, you are a friend."

"Furthermore..."

Liu Manqing paused. "Of those four words 'mutually in love,' at least three of them are wrong."

Sun Zhiyuan's smile froze on his face.

There was no mockery in Liu Manqing's gaze, only a decent distance common between adults.

"Deputy Commander Sun, we've worked together for so many years, and I've always respected you as an older brother. You are a good person, but regarding some things, you might have truly misunderstood."

This was said flawlessly,

but precisely because it was too polite, it felt exceptionally cruel.

Sun Zhiyuan was speechless, his face growing darker and darker.

The crowd around them was still discussing the pet duel; no one noticed this little interlude.

After all, there were only ten minutes left until they could get their pets. Everyone was frantic and chatting eagerly.

【System Tip: All teams please continue forward for three hundred meters】

【Proceed to Misty Hidden Square】

【The Pet Acquisition Ceremony is about to begin】

【Representatives of each team, please be prepared】

As the notification sound faded, the crowd began to move.

Three hundred meters wasn't long, but the walk was slower than imagined.

It wasn't because the road was difficult, but because... the further they went, the more obvious the changes became, and everyone couldn't help but marvel for a while.

On the left, massive ferns began to appear, their leaves overlapping to block out half the sky. Vines hung down from above, some thicker than an arm and covered in thorns.

"What kind of plant is this?"

"Never seen it before?"

"It's so big..."

The right side was completely different. The ground was cracked with fissures of various sizes. The edges of the stones were burnt white and emitting heat, and several thin wisps of smoke could be seen rising in the distance.

"Whoa, that looks really hot!"

"Could this be a volcano?"

"An underground volcano? This is too much!"

Directly ahead was the quietest part. A vast, bottomless pool of water lay before them, its color so dark it appeared black. Just looking at it, one could feel its immeasurable depth...

The so-called Misty Hidden Square was actually a giant venue surrounded by three extreme environments.

The three types of auras clashed against each other, making people's chests feel tight and uneasy.

"So amazing..."

Li Mengyao marveled, "There's actually such an interesting place on this island!"

Wang Mengmeng chimed in, "Road to Survival is too boring. We should have had a Pokéball battle a long time ago. I'm ready to capture a god-tier spirit and dominate the Kelo Kingdom!"

Zhang Wanyue said helplessly, "Each team can only have one pet. It'll definitely be Chen Yu who steps up!"

Wang Mengmeng pouted, "I was just saying..."

Shen Qingci pointed to the sky above the square: "Look there."

A massive light screen hung in mid-air.

The light screen was over ten meters wide, with silvery-white light flowing across its surface.

"What is that?"

Deng Yuxin frowned. "It looks like a projection screen..."

Just as she finished speaking,

the silver light on the screen suddenly retracted. After a few seconds of blankness, text began to emerge.

【Welcome to Misty Hidden Square】

【Next, each team please choose your path】

【Each team has three drawing opportunities】

【If you are unsatisfied with your pet, you may release it and draw again】

【But please remember—】

【If three opportunities are exhausted and a match is still not successful, the team will lose its eligibility to acquire a pet】

Then, three images slowly unfolded—

The one on the left: A dark jungle, with a hand suspended above the edge of a leaf, a drop of blood seeping from a fingertip.

【Step into the jungle, feed the leaves with blood】

The one on the right: Cracked, scorched earth, with a clear handprint pressed onto a rock.

【Step onto the scorched earth, face your palm to the fire】

The one in the middle: Dark pool water, with a hand reaching into the surface up to the wrist, a faint eerie light shimmering beneath the water.

【Stand by the pool, reach your hand into the water】

The three images remained on the light screen for a long time, as if intentionally letting everyone see them clearly.

"Feed the leaves with blood? Does that mean we have to cut ourselves?"

"It's just a small cut, it's not like it'll kill you."

"Facing your palm to the fire... wouldn't that burn off a layer of skin?"

"Looking at it this way, sticking your hand in the water is the easiest. Let's choose that?"

"Are you stupid? Wouldn't the easiest one result in the trashiest pet?"

Everyone looked around, eagerly discussing which path they should take.

After all,

the information was clear enough.

Water, Fire, Wood—the three paths countered each other.

Anyone who had played games before the apocalypse would understand:

Water > Fire!

Fire > Wood!

Wood > Water!

In the 13th Department of the Haicheng Military Region, Pei Yuanheng read the rules over and over again.

Cheng Minglang asked from the side, "Officer Pei, what do you think of these rules?"

Pei Yuanheng thought for a moment and said one word: "Fair."

Cheng Minglang was stunned for a moment. "Fair? This is completely based on luck. You get what you draw, and you can't even choose."

"Since the apocalypse began, how many things have you seen that actually let you choose?"

Pei Yuanheng glanced at him. "In a situation where you have absolutely no idea what's going on, giving you three chances to change your mind—if that's not called fair, what is? This stage also tests human nature..."

Cheng Minglang fell silent but took those words to heart.

Over at the Research Team, Captain Zhou Ting held a tablet, zooming in on the three images on the light screen, taking screenshots, zooming in more, and taking more screenshots.

The screen was full of details:

The fuzz on the leaves, the sparks in the rock cracks, the ripples on the water surface.

A girl wearing glasses leaned in to look. "Captain, did you find anything?"

Captain Zhou Ting pushed up his glasses and lined up a large number of screenshots side by side.

"In the jungle on the left, after the blood drops, the path the leaf veins light up isn't random. It bypasses the densest patch of vines and points towards the brightest spot in the depths."

"What does that mean?"

"This choice isn't random; it's a matching process."

"Huh?"

Captain Zhou Ting nodded and suddenly smiled. "Of course, even if it's matching, there will be cases of one-to-many. We must make good use of our three chances."

New text emerged, larger and more eye-catching than before—

【Please proceed to the designated locations, team representatives】

【Begin pet drawing】

The square fell silent for a second.

Then, everyone's gaze turned toward the same direction in unison.

In a position slightly left of the center of the square, Chen Yu stood there.

Everyone knew who he was: ranked tenth on the highway, the Baby Bus car owner.

Wang Mengmeng stood on her tiptoes and whispered, "Brother Chen Yu, it's your turn!"