Chapter 12: The Unfortunate Player

On the third day, Ning Yun woke up to find it was already seven o’clock. Though only two days had passed, it felt as if two years had slipped by. The aroma of the scent diffuser combined with the silk quilt had granted her a night’s sleep more comfortable than any at home.

Stretching lazily, she finished off three pieces of toast and ate a banana. She also packed a piece of chocolate, a steamed bun sweetened with brown sugar, and an apple—her lunch for the day.

As soon as it struck eight, Ning Yun dashed out of the house, heading straight for her destination.

In the nearby woods, there was an area with many stones, a spot she had memorized well. Coincidentally, it was in the same direction as the burrow of the short-toothed rabbits she had previously discovered. She had planned that once she gathered enough stones, she would try her luck there.

Among all the players, not everyone was as fortunate as Ning Yun. Most people could only find about three chests a day, and the food they yielded was meager. More often than not, survival depended on foraging in the wild.

Players born in resource-poor areas were at a severe disadvantage.

Just like Yang Baiwei at this moment, her eyes practically green with hunger.

On her first day, she only managed to find some small fish and shrimp along the shore, collecting no other food. The second day, having not learned to swim, she exhausted herself without success.

Thankfully, as dusk approached, an ordinary chest was washed ashore by the tide, allowing her to open one for the first time. But inside, there was only a bottle of water and a pair of gloves.

After two whole days, she finally had a sip of water.

Now, on the third day, she had to find something to eat—otherwise, she would die not from hunger but from thirst!

Since she couldn’t retrieve the chest, her only hope lay in a small patch of coconut trees.

However, these coconut trees, though seemingly identical to those on Earth, were quite different. Their trunks were unusually smooth, making them difficult to climb.

She had tried wearing gloves to improve her grip, but after much effort, she could only manage to climb one meter.

In the chat channel, someone mentioned that despite lacking an axe, they had worn down a Boromi tree’s health with their bare fists, obtaining both wood and Boromi fruit.

Inspired, Yang Baiwei wanted to try the same, but night fell on the second day before she could attempt it.

So, early on the third day, she charged toward the coconut grove.

She punched a tree, barely reducing its health by one point.

The entire coconut tree had a staggering 200 health points!

Yet she had no other choice.

Punch after punch, strike after strike...

Yang Baiwei’s hands went from feeling pain to completely numb. Her movements became mechanical. After two days of hunger, her mind was foggy, her vision blurred.

The sound of waves crashing against the shore seemed hypnotic, tempting her to lie down and surrender to sleep.

No!

She shook her head fiercely; she could not die!

If she died, what would become of her aging parents and young daughter?

The thought of her family rekindled a fierce will to live within her.

Her daughter was only three years old. If she entered the game, death would be the only outcome waiting for her.

Yang Baiwei’s hair had long become disheveled, strands clinging to her forehead and neck. The island, devoid of other trees, offered no shelter from the harsh sun, and she was drenched in sweat from the relentless heat.

Her tired eyes stared blankly ahead.

But whenever she thought of her family, her gaze hardened with determination.

No, she had to hold on!

Punch after punch; though her hands felt as if they were falling apart, she dared not stop.

At some point, the waves grew higher and the wind colder.

Her vision darkened, and her movements slowed.

Finally, she collapsed onto the ground, gasping heavily.

She was parched.

But she dared not drink much from the 250ml bottle of water she had.

Now, on the verge of collapse, she pulled the bottle from her backpack.

Her hands trembled, barely steady enough to hold it.

Bloodstains marked the bottle, painfully vivid.

Her cracked lips had already scabbed over with dried blood.

Carefully, she opened the cap and sipped lightly before quickly screwing it back on, afraid she would gulp down the entire bottle at once.

After only a few minutes’ rest, Yang Baiwei forced herself to stand.

But her strength failed her; she staggered just a few steps before collapsing heavily once more.

Before she could cry out, something unfamiliar yet oddly familiar floated on the sea not far ahead.

Could it be—a chest?

In that instant, her exhaustion and pain vanished.

With unmatched speed, she plunged into the water, taking about ten steps forward.

A wave crashed over her, nearly knocking her down—but that wave pushed the chest closer!

Just one reach, and she could grab it.

Overjoyed, Yang Baiwei lunged forward and clutched the chest.

Without waiting to return to shore, she hastily opened it.

Inside lay two items: a small axe and a knife.

The axe was indeed petite, yet crafted of steel!

Her mind hadn’t fully registered this, but her body acted before thought, crawling back to the coconut grove with all limbs engaged.

One swing of the axe, and the coconut tree’s health dropped by twenty points!

That meant only ten strikes were needed.

One, two, three...

As the coconut tree fell, the system notified her:

[Congratulations! You have obtained 2 pieces of wood and 1 coconut.]

Wonderful!

Tears welled in Yang Baiwei’s eyes, but none fell.

She used the small axe to crack open the coconut, eagerly pressing her lips to it.

Her throat emitted a grateful gurgle.

The first sip of coconut water filled her with renewed vigor; her parched body began to revive.

The sweet, refreshing flavor spread through her mouth, a coolness spreading from throat to limbs.

Soon, she had drained all the coconut water.

She picked out the tender coconut meat bit by bit and ate it.

At long last, she felt full.

Yet, seeing her empty backpack, the sense of crisis returned.

“No, I can’t eat more—I must keep working.”

With the sun still high, she raced against time, swinging the axe to clear the coconut grove.

By sunset, her backpack was filled with over ten coconuts.

For a while, she would not die of thirst.

But her supplies remained scant.

Night was perilous; lacking weapons, she dared not venture out recklessly.

And once the coconut trees were gone, where would she find food?

Though Yang Baiwei’s survival was arduous, she had made it through.

Others, however, had succumbed to various misfortunes.

In the chat channel, players discussed how the survival game might change once the fog zone lifted after three days.

Most were pessimistic.

Yet the system did not make them wait long.

“916 players, have you enjoyed your first three days?”

“Congratulations on surviving the newbie period!”

“But don’t celebrate too soon—the game will receive a small update at 8 am on the fourth day.”

“I’ve heard all your complaints.”

“Remember to get up early tomorrow—there will be many little surprises!”

The system disappeared, and the chat channel erupted with messages once more.

Ning Yun said nothing, silently upgrading her thatched hut to level one.

The entire house underwent a dramatic transformation!