Apocalyptic Extraordinary Convoy, I'm really not weird!

It was an endless grid.

The small spaces are neatly arranged, densely packed, stretching into the distance as far as the eye can see.

Each grid is about 100 meters in diameter, like a miniature version of the Colosseum.

Some cubicles were empty, while others had shadowy figures moving about.

Su Ye stood at the edge of the viewing platform, gazing at the maze made of grids, and a sense of foreboding welled up in her heart.

Just then, the light on his wristband suddenly flashed intensely.

He looked down and saw that the number of the 426 stars began to fluctuate, the number decreasing rapidly, and streaks of light flew out from the bracelet, drifting towards a distant direction.

426 ... 326 ... 226 ...

half.

Two hundred and thirteen stars, just like that, detached themselves from his wristband and flew away in a distant direction, like birds returning to their nests.

Su Ye's face instantly darkened.

The crow-man's words echoed in his mind:

"The one who initiates the game will receive half of the stars possessed by everyone who comes to the game through him."

half?

Is this the rule?

The one who took away half of his star was "the one who brought him in"?

Zhou Lie.

In any case, someone is sharing in his fruits.

Without hesitation, Su Ye flashed away, chasing after the trail of light.

The streaks of light passed through the arenas, swept over the silent onlookers, and finally stopped in a corner.

There was a person standing there.

The figure from behind looked familiar.

The stars, like birds returning to their nests, filed into his wristband.

Su Ye slowed her pace, staring at the figure's back, and approached step by step.

Why?

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a knife, piercing straight through.

The figure turned around.

It was Zhou Lie.

But it's not Zhou Lie.

That face was still the one Su Ye knew well—rough, with a ruthlessness forged in the apocalypse.

But at this moment, strange blood flames danced in those eyes, and crimson light burned deep within the pupils, making the person's entire demeanor strange and sinister.

Zhou Lie looked down at his wristband, which had just gained over two hundred stars.

He grinned, a smile that carried a hint of wickedness, amusement, and a certain condescension.

"Why? Why?"

Su Ye stared at the blood flames in his eyes, speaking each word clearly:

"Are you Zhou Lie, or Xue Yan?"

Zhou Lie raised his head and met his gaze, blood flames throbbing in his eye sockets.

"Is there any difference?"

He tilted his head, his tone flippant and unlike his usual self.

"When you were brought in, you were no longer yourself."

Su Ye frowned.

It's not you anymore?

What does it mean to say "you are no longer yourself"?

He thought of Xu Xin, and he thought of Xu Jiang.

After being corrupted by the blood flame, the two people showed no signs of abnormality on the surface until the very last moment when their true nature was revealed.

Could Zhou Lie be in the same situation?

Or……

Before he could figure it out, he suddenly heard rustling footsteps around him.

Su Ye glanced around and found that seven or eight people had gathered around without him noticing.

They stood at the various entrances, men and women, young and old, their eyes all fixed on Zhou Lie's wrist.

Or rather, it falls on the number of stars that has just surged.

Then, those gazes shifted to Su Ye.

His eyes held a scrutinizing gaze, an assessment, and... greed.

Three people stepped out from the crowd.

The leader was a burly man who was nearly 2.5 meters tall, bald, with a face full of scars, and his bare arms were covered with wounds.

He was followed by a man and a woman, their eyes wary and their steps steady.

The burly man's gaze swept between Su Ye and Zhou Lie, finally settling on Zhou Lie's wristband, a burning glint in his eyes.

"Kid, you're pretty capable."

He spoke, his voice deep and resonant like muffled thunder.

Su Ye turned to him but did not speak.

The burly man didn't seem to care and continued:

"There's some news worth ten stars."

Do you want to buy it?

This will be very useful to you.

Su Ye looked at him and nodded:

"you say."

The burly man grinned, and without asking for payment first, he spoke directly:

"In this place, on this second floor, if you want to fight, you must submit a duel request."

"You can't attack directly, or you'll be instantly killed by the rules here."

He paused, then gestured with his chin towards the densely packed arenas in the distance:

"Do you see those squares?"

That's the Colosseum.

Those who came up from the first floor without paying for tickets will be teleported directly in and then endlessly participate in the Colosseum.

Those of you who paid for tickets can wait until the game starts and then spend stars to join the arena you want.

Or they could simply wait until there were 40 people left in the arena and be sent in by the rules.

Then, once the duel begins, there are only two ways to leave the arena.

One option is to kill the opponent; the other is to spend stars.

Su Ye listened silently.

The burly man glanced at him again, a meaningful glint in his eyes:

"Finally, here's a free message for you—"

His gaze shifted to Zhou Lie:

"Your initiator did not have any stars to erase the shadows left by the eerie invasion when the last round of the game ended."

Ultimately, he was swallowed by that shadow.

Su Ye's heart skipped a beat.

shadow?

"If you have the ability, try your best to get stars."

The burly man's voice lowered.

"Stars are the hope for survival."

Su Ye took a deep breath and asked the most crucial question:

What is a shadow?

The burly man's smile widened:

"I want twenty stars for this news."

Su Ye did not hesitate:

"Can."

The burly man nodded before speaking:

"I don't know how you got in."

However, before entering, within the area covered by the key, there will inevitably be countless strange and unpredictable rules.

Those strange entities won't kill people, but they will teleport everyone inside the strange realm into the game.

His voice was lowered:

"And anyone who is teleported here will have a shadow appear on their body to some extent."

These shadows are undetectable; they can only be eliminated using stars after completing the level.

Countless images flashed through Su Ye's mind in an instant—

The survivors in the amusement park who were walked through by "tourists".

Those who age rapidly and have vacant eyes.

The strangeness of Old Zhao and Wu Feng's disappearance.

And there was the blood flame in Zhou Lie's eyes.

"What if it's not eliminated?"

he asks.

The burly man didn't answer, but looked at Zhou Lie again, his eyes saying everything.

Su Ye remained silent for a few seconds, and then thirty stars automatically appeared on his wristband, flying towards the burly man.

After the burly man received it, he nodded to him:

"Kid, you'd better watch yourself."

He turned and left with his two companions, quickly disappearing into the densely packed arena.

Su Ye looked at Zhou Lie again.

Zhou Lie remained standing in the same spot, watching everything with great interest, as if the conversation had nothing to do with him.

"You heard me."

Su Ye said,

"You've been swallowed by the shadows."

Zhou Lie smiled, a smile that sent chills down Su Ye's spine.

It wasn't anger, nor sadness, but a strange smile, as if finally relieved.

"Devour?"

Zhou Lie raised his hand, looking at the two hundred-plus stars on his wristband, his tone elusive:

No, I was not swallowed.

I just...

I finally understand.