Players, Please Board the Train

Everyone turned their heads to see the snowy plains and forests on both sides had vanished, replaced by steep cliffs and precipices. The train was now traveling along a narrow mountain-hugging track with no visible path ahead or behind, creating an extremely perilous situation.

”Stop worrying about outside,” Professor Han said gravely as he examined the two corpses in the carriage.

Chen Yi lay against the wall with a bloodied toothbrush missing its head pressed under his foot. Aside from the stab wound on his chest and bloodstains on his cheek, there were no other injuries.

The oval-faced woman’s condition was far worse. Her neck had been twisted, leaving her head tilted at an unnatural angle. Bloodshot eyes bulged grotesquely from their sockets, presenting a horrifying death mask.

Three bite marks of varying sizes marred her shoulders and arms, the flesh torn away unevenly. Blood had soaked through her entire clothing.

”Why are people still degenerating?” The female student hid behind Professor Han, tears streaming down her face.

Professor Han sighed, already understanding the answer. Reserve players trying to avoid violating game taboos should minimize their actions. Yet some still resorted to cannibalism - proof that his earlier warnings weren’t ineffective, but that this outcome was inevitable.

”The train’s food might be useless for Evolvers who’ve already tasted human flesh. They’ll still get hungry at night.”

Xu Huo wiped dried blood from his hand and leisurely lit a cigarette, his gaze sweeping over the square-faced man, Li Fei, and the middle-aged woman.

Professor Han was right - Evolvers who’d eaten humans would experience gluttonous urges at night, aligning with the train’s hidden rules. Anyone who consumed human flesh, whether before or after boarding, would be categorized the same.The train’s provisions couldn’t fully satisfy this hunger. By now, all Bloody Players aboard must realize this, meaning they’d have to kill Ordinary Players to survive.

”There must be Bloody Players among us,” the heavily made-up woman said suspiciously, eyeing the square-faced man.

”I’m injured, and everyone in our carriage has clean hands,” the square-faced man argued, pointing to scratch marks on his arm. ”I heard someone run out earlier - it might not be our carriage’s players.” The blood on his hands came from examining corpses yesterday.

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Huo flicked his cigarette butt directly at the man’s face from several meters away!

”What the hell—” The square-faced man’s angry shout died as Xu Huo appeared before him in an instant. Before he could react, Xu Huo grabbed his throat, slammed him against the wall, and ran him through with a knife!

The carriage erupted in horrified shouts: ”What are you doing?!”

The square-faced man stared wide-eyed, utterly confused by Xu Huo’s sudden attack. As he tried to speak, Xu Huo kicked him into the corner to join the oval-faced woman without another word.

”Xu Huo! Explain yourself!” Li Fei grabbed Xu Huo’s shoulder. The square-faced man had been his ally - was this attack meant for him?

”He was a Bloody Player,” Xu Huo said calmly, shaking off Li Fei’s grip. He retrieved his knife, wiping it clean on the dead man’s shoulder as if he hadn’t just committed murder.

The carriage fell silent until the heavily made-up woman demanded, ”Where’s your proof?”

”Third-class players can’t open rear doors,” Xu Huo explained. ”Didn’t you notice the doorbell outside? Unless second-class players open it from inside, third-class players can’t enter.”

”Of course!” Professor Han was first to understand. ”We can’t open first-class’s rear door either.” He’d noticed the door differences during yesterday’s bathroom trip but had been too focused on preventing invaders to consider the doorbell’s function.

”You’re just making claims without proof!” Li Fei scoffed. ”Third-class players can’t corroborate your story!”

”Try opening first-class then,” Xu Huo retorted.

Li Fei hesitated - who would risk going out and getting attacked?

”But that doesn’t prove he was a Bloody Player,” the heavily made-up woman argued. ”There were two others guarding the door. Maybe he was fooled too.”

”He was the only one claiming someone entered and hearing footsteps,” Xu Huo countered. ”Highly suspicious.”

Evolvers’ hearing far surpassed ordinary humans. It was unlikely others could approach the door undetected, making the three door guards most suspect. The square-faced man’s insistence about hearing exiting footsteps after raising false alarms was practically a confession.

Of course, he’d missed the doorbell’s purpose - a fatal oversight for such an obvious mistake.

That said, the other two weren’t above suspicion either.

”Easy to say whatever you want after killing him!” Li Fei accused. ”Executing someone without questioning proves you’re no saint either!”

”The Dimensional Rift is ultimately a game with rewards. You’ve been moving between carriages like you know insider information. Does killing other players help you win? Is that why you’re so eager to murder?”

Positioning himself among the players, Li Fei declared passionately, ”Listen everyone! He killed without evidence. If those two weren’t Bloody Players, we’re being deceived. What if he kills more tonight? We can’t just wait to die!”

”You also lack proof they were Ordinary Players,” Professor Han said with mixed feelings. While Xu Huo’s reasoning held merit, killing on mere suspicion revealed a frightening ruthlessness. Still, he recognized this as the swiftest way to eliminate threats.

The female student stepped forward. ”I trust Xu Huo. He saved me yesterday - otherwise Chen Yi would’ve killed me too.”

”The benefactor speaks truth. Mr. Xu is virtuous,” Yan Jiayu spoke up unexpectedly. ”He shares food with the weak - surely kindhearted.”

Such simple logic infuriated Li Fei. ”That’s because he’s rich enough! He bought insider information! With his wealth, I wouldn’t care either!”

”The woman had three wounds,” He Yang pointed out. ”Evolvers only need a little flesh - why take three bites? Who took the rest? Chen Yi’s corpse is intact, but you... Weren’t you by the door during roll call?”

Li Fei’s face darkened. ”I helped because I heard intruders! Don’t slander me if you don’t believe it! Besides, her wounds are bites - I’ve got no blood on me!”

Indeed, the oval-faced woman only had bite marks. Though injured, the square-faced man’s mouth had been clean.

No evidence connected them.

”Maybe the game helps them...” the female student whispered. ”Maybe it assists Bloody Players against us Ordinary Players.”

Multiple gazes snapped toward her, even the middle-aged woman who’d been cowering in a corner looked up, frightening the girl back behind Professor Han.

”Believe what you want,” Li Fei said irritably, unwilling to escalate further. ”Don’t forget - there’s still one more door guard!”

”Honored elder, did you hear anything?” Yan Jiayu asked the old man resting by the door.

The old man shook his head. ”No footsteps, but someone bit me.” He indicated teeth marks on his shoulder. His uniform’s shoulder insignia had been deformed by the bite, though it had thankfully prevented serious injury.

”So you’re military!” Professor Han said respectfully, moving to assist him.

The old man waved him off. ”Just an ordinary old man.”

Xu Huo examined the marks. ”Nearly bit through the stars. Must’ve shattered their teeth.”