Chapter 132 - 123: Crisis Hidden Beneath the Ocean

Chapter 132: Chapter 123: Crisis Hidden Beneath the Ocean

Rowan Rhodes stayed lurking in the main group chat, watching players from various districts discuss the matter and reveal the situations within their respective districts. Seeing the cautious attitude toward the Sea Survival Shop conveyed between the lines of the players’ conversations, Rowan felt much more satisfied. Only by gradually deepening their reverence for the Sea Survival Shop could it truly take root in their hearts.

However, the hype surrounding the expulsion of the permanent players quickly faded. To the players, their own survival was a far more pressing issue. Soon, the topic of conversation shifted to planting Eira Grass or trading Eira Grass Seeds with players who possessed the Farming Skill. After all, players with the Farming Skill could grow more Eira Grass and Eira Grass Seeds, which meant they could acquire more Antidotes. As a result, players with the Farming Skill suddenly became highly sought-after.

Take Skye Schuyler’s small group chat, for instance—the group of farming players was overwhelmingly busy. Meanwhile, permanent players without the Farming Skill began recruiting players who had it within their own districts, acting as middlemen. It could only be said that the Sea Survival Shop, which connected multiple districts, was the commercial hub players had always dreamed of.

For a time, countless players busied themselves over Antidotes. The same was true for Rowan. As soon as she got her hands on Eira Grass and Eira Grass Seeds, she distributed them almost immediately. She didn’t strictly require Eira Grass in return; instead, she accepted other resources, Equipment, gourmet food, and seeds. Her distribution channels included the Sea Survival Shop, the District 122 Trading Hall, Zelda Parrish and her group, Jaina Harmon, and so on. It was safe to say that the players who tagged along with Rowan had all raked in profits. Furthermore, players who managed to snatch up Eira Grass and Eira Grass Seeds also made a tidy little profit.

Due to the increasing abundance of Eira Grass and Eira Grass Seeds, the amount of Antidotes in the Sea Survival Shop and the trading halls of various districts surged as well. Many ordinary players now had access to them. This was especially true for the players in District 122. The quantity of Antidotes in their trading hall was quite substantial.

"Everyone was complaining about the shortage of Antidotes before, but after just one night, it feels like they’re flooding the market."

"You say flooding the market, but if you average it out among all the players, it’s still far too little."

"Exactly! Our district really is great! We have a lot of permanent players, and their abilities are strong across the board. That’s the only reason we can afford such a luxury right now."

"I originally wanted to tough it out and save my prepared Antidote for a life-threatening emergency, but then I managed to grab another one. I used it, and it really makes a difference."

"Yeah, I felt it too. When you’re poisoned, your body definitely feels somewhat unwell."

"To be safe, everyone should just use an Antidote when poisoned!"

"Agreed."

"It’ll soon be the second day of the natural disaster. We’ll see if there are any clear notifications then."

"Aside from the poisonous gas, there are also the mutated marine creatures!"

"Speaking of the mutated marine creatures, have you guys noticed that they’re coming in increasing numbers?"

"Yes. We were able to deal with most of the first wave, but it’s been getting harder and harder since then. Even when the attacks stop, I feel like I can still spot traces of them around."

"Right, exactly! I have that feeling too. I just went out to salvage resources and ended up pulling up mutated marine creatures. I killed them and I’m still salvaging! I’m not just using my Hook Claw, but my fishing net too, and I’m always catching something. It makes me feel like even though the mutated marine creatures aren’t actively attacking, they’re still lingering around our rafts."

Celia Lynch: "Hearing you all say this, I have a theory. Could it be that the mutated marine creatures we fail to kill in the previous wave linger until the next one, constantly accumulating?"

"Holy shit, Celia! I think you’re absolutely right!"

"The sky is falling! How did a casual chat lead to such a terrifying realization?"

"It’s spine-chilling. Just thinking about a horde of mutated marine creatures glaring hungrily at me from around my raft terrifies me."

"Everyone, hurry up and figure out ways to clear out the mutated marine creatures around you!"

"I knew this game wouldn’t be that simple."

"..."

As the players chatted, they suddenly uncovered a massive problem lurking beneath the ocean. Panic spread throughout District 122. A crowd of players immediately grabbed their Hook Claws and weapons, preparing to test the waters around their own rafts.

Meanwhile, Rowan, who was taking a break after finishing her tasks, was genuinely surprised when she saw the discussion in District 122’s world channel.

"They actually figured it out?" she thought. "This really is good news! At least I won’t need to drop hints, saving me a lot of trouble."

This news didn’t just stay confined to District 122. Zelda Parrish and her group also shared the information in the Sea Survival Shop’s main group chat.

"The mutated marine creature attacks under this current natural disaster are highly likely to be cumulative. The mutated marine creatures from the previous round will linger around the rafts and wait to attack alongside the next wave. The number of mutated marine creatures will only continue to increase. Everyone, be careful."

"Is this news real or fake?"

"You’re kind enough to just share this with everyone?"

"Which player discovered this? Show yourself, let’s get to know each other."

"Actually, someone in our district noticed this too, but they had no intention of telling anyone else. I never expected someone to just share it so directly."

"Same in our district."

"So it’s true?"

"Verified, it’s true. People in our district are currently going all out to clear these mutated marine creatures! We’re terrified that if they accumulate too much, we won’t be able to handle them later."

"Holy shit, you guys were really keeping it under wraps! When it involves human lives and there’s no conflict of interest, you could totally share more! It could save a lot of lives!"

"I feel the same way. It’s true that there’s competition among players, but in situations where no interests are compromised, we can absolutely share some information."

"Yes! I don’t think we should let the Sea Survival Game lead us by the nose."

"Agreed."

"I’ll relay this news back to my district."

"Me too."

"..."

Led by a group of permanent players, this news was transmitted back to various districts with lightning speed. The players who had managed to survive until now were, fundamentally, all striving hard to stay alive. Upon seeing this news, regardless of whether it was true or not, they began to prepare. For a time, countless players started working around the clock to deal with the mutated marine creatures around their rafts.

Some who hadn’t taken the cleanup seriously decided to test the waters, only to find that they could effortlessly hit a mutated marine creature with every strike. This meant that a significant number of mutated marine creatures truly were swarming around their rafts. At this thought, cold sweat couldn’t help but bead on the foreheads of many players. They also felt a deeper sense of gratitude toward the permanent players who had leaked the news and the Sea Survival Shop backing them. Without this channel, a lot of information would likely have been kept tightly under wraps.

Moreover, many players realized something else. Although competition existed among players within a district, they didn’t necessarily have to slaughter each other on a daily basis. At the very least, with more players surviving in the district, they could trade resources with one another based on their different abilities. Additionally, even if someone truly wanted to plunder, the more players that were alive, the more there would be to plunder. With this realization, quite a few districts actually began to shift their mindsets.