50: Survival island? No, it's a resort!

Virtual Reality: Survival Island. Night falls.

This was supposed to be a night filled with slaughter, conspiracy, and fear.

According to the scripts of previous Freshman Grand Competitions, at this very moment, a textbook example of the "Dark Forest Law" should be playing out deep in the jungle.

The weak tremble in the mud, while the strong move like ghosts through the treetops, fighting until they are bloody and bruised for a single point, a mouthful of dry rations, or even a bottle of clean water.

However, tonight's vibe seemed to have been completely derailed by some mysterious force.

The lake area in the center of the map was now brightly lit.

If you looked down from a high vantage point, you would find that it wasn't a survival battlefield at all, but clearly a "glamping site" in operation.

"Sizzle, sizzle—"

That was the wonderful sound of fat dripping onto charcoal.

The scent of cumin, chili, and roasted meat wafted through the night breeze, teasing the nerves of every hungry contestant.

In the center of the camp, a luxury self-inflating tent had already been set up.

Beside it, the small nuclear fusion generator originally intended to power mechas was now begrudgingly connected to a string of colorful fairy lights and a high-power electric grill.

"Come one, come all! Take a look!"

"Authentic Xinjiang red willow mutton skewers! Freshly baked Orleans chicken wings! And ice-cold Happy Water!"

"Not 998, not 888, as long as you have enough Points, you can take them home right now!"

Gu Fan sat on a folding lounge chair, holding a megaphone, hawking lazily.

He wore sunglasses, with half a bottle of ice-cold beer by his feet, looking as relaxed as if he were on vacation in the Maldives.

Behind him, the "Laborer Duo" was working up a sweat.

Xiao Fan, as the "Vice President," was squatting on the ground fanatically fanning the charcoal, his face covered in black soot like a refugee who had just come out of a mine.

"President... is it really okay for us to do this?"

Xiao Fan swallowed his saliva while fanning, "This is the survival competition! Instead of hiding, we're building a fire and cooking? This is practically like having a global taunt hack on the map!"

"Your vision is too narrow."

Gu Fan picked up a skewer of freshly grilled pork belly and took a bite, his mouth dripping with oil. "Who says survival has to mean gnawing on tree bark like a savage? The highest Realm of survival is making others watch you live and then envy you to the point of plasmolysis."

On the other side, the always-proud Eden agent Lin Xue was currently wearing her oil-stained combat uniform, holding the priceless S-rank alloy warblade "Star Crusher."

But this divine weapon was currently suffering the greatest humiliation of its existence—cutting onions.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

Lin Xue's blade technique was exquisite, and the onion slices were cut paper-thin. But her tears wouldn't stop flowing.

This wasn't just from the onion fumes; it was mostly from anger.

"Gu Fan... you bastard..."

Lin Xue cursed frantically in her heart as she sliced, "Making a dignified Succubus like me cut onions for you? And even making me thread skewers? You just wait, once I find an opportunity..."

She glanced at a bottle of white powder beside her hand. That was the potent laxative she carried with her, "Thousand-Mile Diarrhea Powder," originally intended for dealing with large Vicious Beasts; just one gram could make an elephant defecate until it was dehydrated.

"Hmph, I'll sprinkle this medicine on your chicken wings later and make you shit until you can't even take care of yourself!"

Just then, a rustling sound came from the bushes.

Three freshmen wearing camouflage, their faces covered in dirt and their eyes glowing green like hungry wolves, crawled out.

They were the "Hungry Wolf Squad." They had been lurking in the jungle for six hours without a drop of water, and now they had followed the scent here.

"Boss! It's meat! It's really meat!" One lackey looked at the skewers in Gu Fan's hand, his drool flowing all over the place. "Let's rob them!"

The leader swallowed hard, his eyes fierce. "That kid sitting there looks completely defenseless. Let's all three charge together. First, we'll take out that dog... that is a dog, right? First, take out the watchdog, then grab the supplies and run!"

The three looked at each other and reached a silent agreement.

"Go!"

The three suddenly lunged from the bushes, holding tactical daggers that glinted in the moonlight, heading straight for the "Husky" that was currently gnawing on a bone.

However.

Wang Cai (formerly the Flame Lion), who was focused on dealing with a large beef bone, felt the killing intent coming from behind.

It was very displeased.

It was just getting to the tastiest part of the marrow; how dare some bugs disturb it?

"Roar—!!!"

Wang Cai suddenly turned its head. Its suppressed size instantly expanded by a notch, and a low, majestic lion's roar erupted from its throat.

In that instant, the terrifying Aura of an S-rank Vicious Beast was released without reservation.

The three freshmen who had just jumped into the air felt a wave of heat hit them in the face, and they were instantly terrified and bewildered.

"This... this isn't a dog..."

"It's a Flame Lion, holy shit!!!"

The three braked hard in mid-air, but their momentum meant they couldn't stop.

[Ding! Detected 'Hungry Wolf Squad's' intent to rob the BBQ stall.]

[Malice Level: C-rank.]

[Backlash Triggered! Multiplier: 30x!]

[Mode Loaded: Plants vs. Zombies - Vine Entanglement Version.]

Just as the three were about to land, several ordinary-looking weeds on the ground suddenly grew wildly, instantly turning into tough vines that precisely tripped the three by their ankles.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Three crisp sounds.

The three landed face-first in perfect unison, sliding for several meters before finally stopping right at Gu Fan's feet in a standard "five-body prostration" posture.

The scene instantly fell silent.

Only the meat on the grill was still sizzling.

Gu Fan looked down at the three brothers "performing a grand salute" at his feet, pushed up his sunglasses, and looked touched.

"Oh my, you classmates are too polite. You're just here for a meal, why perform such a grand salute? Please get up, please get up."

The leader of the Hungry Wolf Squad looked up, his face covered in mud and his nose bleeding. Looking at the Flame Lion still licking its paws in front of him, his mental state completely collapsed.

"B... Big brother... we... we're here to buy food." The leader reacted quickly, immediately pulling out his Points card from his pocket and offering it with both hands. "I have fifty Points! I beg to exchange them for one roast chicken!"

"Buying food? You should have said so earlier."

Gu Fan took the Points card with a smile. "Although your entrance was quite unique, the customer is God. Lin Xue, serve the food! Give these three Gods a 'Supreme Beggar Combo'."

Lin Xue, with a dark expression, threw over three burnt chicken drumsticks.

The three treated them like treasures, not even caring that they were hot, grabbing and gnawing on them while weeping.

"It's so delicious... sob sob... Mommy, I want to go home..."

This scene acted as a signal.

The dozens of teams originally lurking around and watching saw this, and their psychological defenses completely crumbled.

Fight? Fight my ass! Even their watchdog is an S-rank Vicious Beast!

And that fragrance was simply too irresistible!

Thus, the vibe suddenly shifted.

The originally tense jungle instantly turned into a massive queuing scene.

"Boss Gu! I'll give thirty Points! Exchange it for a bottle of cola!"

"Grandpa Gu! Give me a skewer of kidneys! I'll leave my A-rank dagger here as collateral!"

"Don't push! Hey you, don't cut in line! Where are your manners!"

In just half an hour, Gu Fan's Points soared from a few dozen to over five hundred, shooting straight to the top of the leaderboard.

[Ding! Detected a large amount of 'envy, jealousy, and hatred' emotions.]

[Malice Points continuously being harvested... Current progress: 98%...]

Gu Fan looked at the System panel, grinning from ear to ear.

This wasn't Survival Island; this was clearly his personal ATM!

However, just then.

"Boom!"

A loud explosion suddenly came from the woods in the distance. Several trees as thick as a hug were blasted in half.

A powerful Aura, accompanied by fury, was rapidly approaching the lakeside.

The crowd instantly fell silent, fearfully parting to make a path.

A dozen figures emerged from the dust.

The leader was a man of sturdy build, wearing a golden limited-edition combat suit and holding a Heavy Psionic Machine Gun that was still smoking. Although there was still a band-aid on his face (from when he was hit by the Stone Lions earlier), his arrogant and overbearing attitude hadn't diminished in the slightest.

Behind him followed a dozen fully armed elites, and even two Ability User holding staves.

This lineup is absolutely crushing among the freshmen.

Zhao Gang looked at the bustling barbecue stall before him, then at those freshmen who had lost all dignity for a bite to eat, and finally, his gaze landed on Gu Fan, who was lying on a lounge chair drinking beer.

He was so angry his lungs were about to burst.

They were being bitten by poisonous mosquitoes and chased by Vicious Beasts in the forest, drinking filtered muddy water and eating hard, dry compressed biscuits.

And what about Gu Fan?

He was on vacation! He was even making money selling barbecue!

"Gu! Fan!"

Zhao Gang roared, chambering a round in his machine gun, "You're going too far! This is a competition! A serious competition! How dare you disrupt the market order here?!"

"Surround him! Today, I'm going to smash this stall!"

At Zhao Gang's command, the Elite Squad behind him quickly fanned out, surrounding the barbecue stall. Various weapons were pointed at Gu Fan.

The students buying food nearby scattered like startled birds and beasts, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Gu Fan remained lying in his chair, not even changing his posture.

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Zhao?"

Gu Fan shook the beer bottle in his hand. "What? Did you follow the scent? Pity, today's VIP seats are full. If you want to eat, you'll have to line up at the back."

"Eat my foot!"

Zhao Gang kicked over an empty crate nearby. "Gu Fan, don't think you can be arrogant just because you have a lion. These people behind me are a Hunting Team specialized in dealing with Vicious Beasts! Let's see who can save you today!"

At this moment, Lin Xue, who was in front of the grill, suddenly had her eyes light up.

An opportunity!

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

The scene was chaotic now, and Gu Fan's attention was definitely on Zhao Gang.

She quietly took out that bottle of "Thousand-Mile Diarrhea Powder" and poured the entire bottle onto an extra-large mutton skewer that was sizzling with oil and looked enticingly golden.

With this dosage, forget humans, even a Tyrannosaurus Rex would have a prolapsed rectum from diarrhea.

"Gu Fan, drop dead!" Lin Xue rejoiced inwardly.

Holding the plate and feigning panic, she ran to Gu Fan's side.

"President! This is bad! There are too many of them!"

Lin Xue tremblingly handed the plate to Gu Fan. "You... you should eat something to regain your strength, so you'll have the energy to run away later!"

This reason was simply perfect.

Gu Fan looked down at the skewer.

[Ding! 'Laced Mutton Skewer' detected. Ingredients: Potent Laxative. Source: Lin Xue.]

[Malice Level: Rank B (Giving someone diarrhea at a time like this is truly heartless).]

Gu Fan smiled playfully.

Trying to trick me?

He didn't expose her but instead took the skewer.

Then, under Lin Xue's expectant gaze and Zhao Gang's furious stare.

Gu Fan slowly stood up, holding the skewer, and walked toward Zhao Gang step by step.

"Senior Zhao, look at you, so much anger is bad for your liver."

Gu Fan looked sincere as he walked right up to Zhao Gang, ignoring the dozen or so guns pointed at his head.

"We may have our misunderstandings, but we are classmates after all. Here, I specially grilled this skewer for you as an apology. This is the 'treasure of our shop,' seasoned with secret spices."

As he spoke, Gu Fan held the skewer up to Zhao Gang's mouth.

The aroma was mouth-watering.

Zhao Gang was stunned.

He had thought Gu Fan would resist, beg for mercy, or even release the lion.

But he never expected Gu Fan to pull a move like this.

"An apology?" Zhao Gang looked at Gu Fan suspiciously. "Would a kid like you be so kind?"

"Heaven be my witness!" Gu Fan swore to the sky. "If I have even the slightest intention of harming you, let me... let me never eat meat again for the rest of my life!"

At that moment, Zhao Gang's stomach let out an uncooperative growl.

He was truly hungry. Moreover, the skewer smelled incredible; the chili powder and cumin seemed to be beckoning him.

"Hmph, at least you know your place."

Zhao Gang sneered, lowered his machine gun, and snatched the skewer. "I bet you wouldn't dare play any tricks. For the sake of this skewer... I'll deal with you after I eat!"

With that, Zhao Gang opened his large mouth and took a huge bite.

Not far away, Lin Xue's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

"No!!!" she roared internally. "That was for Gu Fan! Zhao Gang, you pig of a teammate! Don't eat it!"

But it was too late.

Zhao Gang finished the skewer in a few bites and even licked the stick, wanting more.

"The taste... is actually quite good."

Zhao Gang smacked his lips, about to give a review.

Suddenly.

His expression changed.

His face turned from red to white, and finally to a deep purple.

A thunderous roar erupted from his stomach.

"Gurgle—Boom—"

The sound was so loud it even drowned out the noise of the nearby generator.

"My... my stomach..."

Zhao Gang clutched his stomach, instantly breaking into a cold sweat, his legs shaking uncontrollably. "What... what's happening... I feel a primordial force..."

[Ding! Detected 'Zhao Gang's' extreme panic and resentment towards the host as he is about to spray.]

[Malice Level: Rank B.]

[Backlash triggered! Multiplier: 50x!]

[Backlash Special Effect: Sphincter Failure · Jet Propulsion.]

The next second.

"Pffft—!!!"

A massive sound echoed through the night sky.

Under the horrified gaze of hundreds of people, Zhao Gang was actually pushed off the ground by the massive recoil of the airflow, flying toward the lake behind him like an out-of-control rocket.

"Aaargh! Gu Fan! You poisoned me!!!"

Zhao Gang screamed as he traced a 'fragrant' arc through the air.

"Splash!"

A huge splash rose. Zhao Gang fell into the water.

And for some indescribable reason, a layer of eerie turbidity instantly spread across the lake's surface, and schools of fish began floating up with their white bellies showing.

The entire scene was deathly silent.

The dozen or so Elite Squad members stood frozen in place with their guns, unsure whether they should open fire.

Was this... a biological weapon attack?

Gu Fan spread his hands innocently and looked back at the completely stunned Lin Xue:

"Student Lin, your secret spices... are quite potent. Use less next time. Look how moved Senior Zhao was; he even went for a swim in the river."

Lin Xue: "..."

She felt her vision go dark and almost fainted. It was over; there was no way to explain this now.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Malice Value has reached 100%!]

[Obtained one Epic Malice Blind Box! Open it?]

"Open." Gu Fan was delighted.

[Congratulations, host, for obtaining the reward: Map-wide Taunt Megaphone (Law of Karma Item).]

[Item Description: Once activated, your voice will ignore distance and be forcibly transmitted into the mind of every creature on the map. Additionally, your words will carry a 'punchable' attribute, maximizing the listener's rage.]

Gu Fan's eyes lit up.

Good stuff!

He pulled the golden megaphone out of the System space and cleared his throat.

"Hello, hello? Testing, testing."

The next moment, across the entire Survival Island, whether it was the campers hiding in caves or the experts engaged in combat, Gu Fan's lazy voice rang clearly in their minds.

"Good evening, fellow students. I am your dear classmate, Gu Fan."

"Due to a minor 'biological leak' accident just now, our barbecue stall is temporarily closed for rectification."

"However, Senior Zhao Gang just tried to dine and dash, not only kicking my crate but also polluting the water source. We need to settle this debt."

Gu Fan held the megaphone and shouted at Zhao Gang, who was still splashing in the lake.

"Young Master Zhao! Stop swimming! That water is dirty! Come up and pay! That grill is my family heirloom; it's worth at least five thousand Points, right?"

"If you don't pay, I'll use this megaphone to broadcast the footage of your 'jet-propelled flight' on a loop across the entire island for three days and three nights!"

"I'm sure Young Master Zhao doesn't want to be the first person in our academy's history to suffer social death because of 'that,' right?"

In the middle of the lake, Zhao Gang, who had just surfaced, heard this, his vision went dark, and he fainted from pure rage.