Players, Please Board the Train

The slender mycelium tentatively extended like tentacles, then burrowed into the water droplets. Within just two seconds, the oily film-like substance on the droplets receded, replaced by a section of mycelium that turned black, withered, and snapped off.

So it really was poisonous.

Xu Huo’s gaze shifted upward toward the sky. Based on the recent weather, there shouldn’t have been rain here.

He turned his attention back to his phone. Sure enough, this rain had already caused an uproar online. Not only did it cover the Special Defense Department headquarters, but as the downpour intensified, the rain clouds had expanded to cover more than a third of the entire city.

The rain didn’t take immediate effect on people, but its impact on greenery and small animals was instantaneous. Large swaths of urban vegetation withered, fish raised in artificial lakes turned belly-up in droves, and stray cats and dogs exposed to the rain went mad for a short time before quickly dying.

This was a poison rain.

”Xu Huo.” Zheng Liang and the others had found their way into this building. They climbed in through the back window balcony and only spoke after entering the room. ”It took some effort to shake off the Special Defense Department people.”

”I didn’t expect the dungeon to end so quickly. Gu Yu went to find Lichun and hasn’t come back yet,” Wen Xuelin said.

Xu Huo nodded. ”Contact her and tell her not to come. Find a place to take shelter from the rain.”

”You can tell this rain isn’t normal too?” Brother Liang said with worry. ”What the hell is going on? Is this some kind of phenomenon caused by merging with the game?”Xu Huo wasn’t sure either. ”For now, it’s best not to move around randomly. This rain is poisonous.”

The others agreed. Since they couldn’t leave for the time being, they searched the room and found some food in the refrigerator.

”I’ll cook,” Wen Xuelin volunteered.

Water rushed from the kitchen faucet while the rain outside grew heavier. The streets and lampposts were covered in black water, and everything in view was almost dyed black.

”Is it the end of the world?” Zheng Liang stood about two meters from the window, placing a sofa in front of himself to avoid being splashed—he had no choice. Xu Huo was standing at the window, and if he didn’t close it, no one else could.

”Will this heavy rain affect the drinking water?” Brother Liang suddenly thought of this and asked Wen Xuelin, who was carrying dishes out.

”It shouldn’t be that bad,” Wen Xuelin said. ”Even if it does, it won’t happen that fast. There’s stored water in the neighborhood.”

”Let’s test it and see.” Guan Zuhong took out a thermometer-like item and inserted it into the dinner plate. The pointer jumped to the number ”7” on the scale, and his expression changed. ”Anything over 5 is lethal poison.”

Wen Xuelin immediately threw the plate away. ”The water’s poisonous too? That can’t be right—how come I’m not poisoned?”

”You took an antidote earlier,” Xu Huo said. ”The effects probably haven’t worn off yet.”

Wen Xuelin was still optimistic. ”So in theory, we could go out and get caught in the rain right now and be fine?”

In theory, yes, but no one could guarantee there wouldn’t be other side effects.

As the rain continued to grow heavier with no signs of stopping, Brother Liang said, ”Even though it’s only raining in Capital City, it’ll definitely contaminate the rivers and groundwater. Who knows how many places are going to suffer.”

”There’s still no news online about people showing symptoms after getting rained on.” Zheng Liang held his phone, then turned to see Xu Huo still standing motionless by the window. He said irritably, ”Are you planning to use yourself as a test subject—”

Before he could finish, Xu Huo suddenly reached out the window and grabbed a blackened arm from the rain curtain, yanking it into the room!

Black rainwater splattered everywhere. When the thing rolled into the living room, Zheng Liang and the others saw it was a person—but it could no longer be called human. It crouched on all fours like an animal, emitted a hunting signal, then lunged straight at Brother Liang, who was closest!

”Mutant!”

Brother Liang was standing right behind the sofa. He kicked the sofa out, but he hadn’t expected the creature to be not only fast but also incredibly agile. It twisted in midair, using the sofa for a second boost, and closed in on Brother Liang in the blink of an eye!

He barely had time to raise a defensive item in front of himself before being slammed into the wall. Guan Zuhong and Zheng Liang used a rope item to loop around the Mutant and drag it backward.

The Mutant’s bulging, bloodshot eyeballs rolled wildly. It seemed to have lost its mind, but its instincts remained intact. It glanced around, grabbed the rope, and yanked hard to the side, nearly pulling both Zheng Liang and Guan Zuhong over.

Luckily, they let go in time to avoid colliding with it, but the Mutant dragged the rope and lunged at Brother Liang again. Wen Xuelin grabbed a paintbrush and swept it through the air. A translucent wall-like barrier materialized out of nowhere, sending the Mutant bouncing back!

”One, two, three, cheese!” Zheng Liang made a frame gesture with his hands, and the Mutant froze in place on the spot. Guan Zuhong rushed in for the finishing blow, stabbing straight through its heart!

Bright red blood dripped down the blade. The Mutant dropped to its knees and went still.

”Hey, that looks like a Special Defense Department uniform,” Zheng Liang said, staring at the dead man. ”How did a Special Defense Department player turn into a Mutant?”

Before anyone could answer, Xu Huo slammed the window shut at the other end of the room and moved a standing door to block it. Immediately, they heard pounding thuds from outside, along with the sound of shattering glass not far away!

Piercing screams came from somewhere, but Zheng Liang and the others had no time to worry about anyone else. The glass in the suite they were hiding in had been broken too!

”Bathroom!”

”Bedroom!”

Zheng Liang and Brother Liang spoke at the same time. After a quick exchange of glances, they split up to close the bathroom and bedroom doors.

But Zheng Liang was a step too late. The Mutant that had squeezed in through the bathroom window was already in the hallway, looking around. When it spotted him, its numb expression twisted into a vicious snarl, and it lunged at him with inhuman ferocity!

”One, two, three, cheese!” Zheng Liang used his characteristic to freeze its body, then dropped a frisbee-like item from his body. While the creature was immobilized, he kicked the item over. The moment the frisbee touched the Mutant, it exploded with hundreds of needles, blasting its legs into something resembling a honeycomb!

Zheng Liang took the chance to run, but to his shock, the Mutant ignored its leg injuries entirely and still chased him at breakneck speed!

”Holy shit!” Zheng Liang ducked low to dodge the Mutant’s pounce. Guan Zuhong happened to be right in front of him, shielding himself with a sheet of tinfoil. When the Mutant hit the tinfoil, parts of its body stuck to it. It rolled onto the ground, its limbs stuck together, and Zheng Liang chopped its head off in one clean swing.

”Block the window!” he told Guan Zuhong, but before they could even get to the bathroom, Brother Liang was already backing out of the bedroom too. Moments later, several Mutants poured into the cramped living room from different directions.

Just then, Xu Huo had finished setting up on his end. He threaded ”Hurt Others, Not Yourself” across the window and put away ”The Severing Ties Door.” After watching the Mutants trying to rush in get sliced into pieces by the wire blade, he turned around and blew several Mutants’ heads off with a few shots.