The eight of them took turns on guard duty that night, with the fat spider also keeping watch around them. Fortunately, no incidents occurred.
The next morning, everyone packed up and left, finding a new place to set up camp. However, after the map revelations in the morning and evening, it felt as if someone had been lurking around, eyeing them covetously.
It was unclear what these other teams were up to, but they all seemed to be pursuing Luo Qi’s squad.
Luo Qi’s group indeed encountered a team. This time, the opposing team was more cautious and stronger than the previous one. Luo Qi’s squad had to exert considerable effort, and they were even almost caught up by others.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Perhaps because most of their food supplies had been consumed, more teams began to encounter each other frequently, and battles were constantly breaking out.
If one were to hover above the dense forest, they would notice faint yellow smoke rising from many areas. Accompanied by this smoke, students covered in fluorescent substances were being carried away from the battlefield by Earth Star soldiers.
As time went on and the number of participants dwindled, the blue dots on the map became fewer and fewer. Those remaining gradually felt a sense of unease, like birds startled by the rustling of wind.
It had to be said that this final exam was very close to actual combat. Consequently, as the number of participants decreased, even those who had initially not taken the exam seriously became involuntarily tense.
If one looked closely at the map covering the entire area, they would discover that most of the conflicts were concentrated around two corners.
The first was Luo Qi’s squad, seemingly surrounded by all the other teams. The second was like a sharp sword, thrusting directly towards Luo Qi’s team.
All the teams encountered along this route were eliminated without any resistance.
Not only Luo Qi, but even the other members of his team had noticed something was amiss.
The assessment had now reached its eighth day, more than halfway through the allotted time, and the number of teams on the map had significantly decreased.
This particular team’s movement route was very obvious. Even after Luo Qi’s squad had relocated twice, they continued to move in their direction without any deviation.
They were coming specifically for them.
111 suddenly spoke, "I can sense it. It's that defective product."
Luo Qi nodded, clenching his fingers. "Remind me beforehand when the time comes."
111 hummed in response and hesitated before asking, "Are you really not going to tell your teammates?"
Luo Qi looked at his teammates in the distance. Although they were all very capable, they looked much more disheveled after these few days.
Their combat suits were stained with dirt, their faces bore smudges they hadn't had time to wipe clean, and there were even minor scratches or bruises.
But these were not major issues. These small injuries would heal in time. However, if he were to lead them directly against Mo Jue, it would not be so simple.
During the first eight days, to conserve his strength, Luo Qi had not made many moves. The people around him were also accommodating, and often only the fat spider by his side accompanied everyone.
Luo Qi knew that everyone was taking care of him and protecting him. He lacked stamina, was not good at close-quarters combat, and was not even very skilled at piloting mechs. Being in the team made him feel like the biggest burden.
Yet, no one had ever looked down on him.
Luo Qi also wanted to protect everyone.
Everyone in this team was his friend, one of the most precious friendships he had found in this world. He could not knowingly lead them into danger and have them sent to their deaths.
Luo Qi knew his current mindset was somewhat like a chuunibyo protagonist in a cheesy anime, but he could not imagine the scene of his friends falling one by one if they faced a real battle.
He would be heartbroken for the rest of his life.
Rather than that, it would be better for him to resolve it himself. If he won, even if he lost his life, his friends could live well, and this world could continue to function properly.
If he lost, then everyone would perish together in this vast sea of stars.
Luo Qi hummed, "No need to tell them. This is our business."
111 fell silent. However, it knew that just as Luo Qi cared for his friends, his friends also cared for him.
Another two days passed. During these two days, Ye Mu seemed to have noticed something was wrong. Although the team members said nothing, they had been taking turns staying close to Luo Qi.
Luo Qi had also calmed down, appearing flawless in front of everyone, showing no signs of any issues.
However, this did not lower Ye Mu’s vigilance. Instead, he paid even more attention to Luo Qi.
Luo Qi did not resist or react in any other way. He even actively approached Ye Mu, showing no abnormality.
Tonight, Lei Wa and Luo Qi were on guard duty. 111 suddenly spoke, "They're here."
Luo Qi's pupils contracted sharply, then returned to normal. "Where are they now?"
111's tone was serious. "Less than two kilometers away."
Luo Qi pursed his lips. It was enough.
"Can you let Lei Wa sleep first?"
111 hummed.
It was already late into the night. Lei Wa, who had been wide awake thinking about what to eat tomorrow, suddenly yawned.
This yawn seemed to have triggered something. He suddenly felt so drowsy that he couldn't keep his eyes open.
In his last moments of consciousness, he saw Luo Qi helping him lie down. Luo Qi's gaze was firm yet sorrowful. Lei Wa suddenly felt that something was not right.
But it was too late. He fell into a deep sleep.
Luo Qi quietly stood up and walked towards the direction from which Mo Jue and his group were coming. The camera tracking him was simultaneously blocked by 111.
Cecil, who was monitoring the cameras, stood up abruptly, his face grim. "What's going on?"
Moving further and further away from the warm campsite with its burning bonfire, Luo Qi tightened his grip on the dagger, which 111 had hidden in its system space long ago.
With a flash of light beside him, a metallic figure much taller than him appeared.
It was entirely clad in a cold metallic sheen, with long limbs, and composed of a hard alloy. It was likely 111's true form.
The surrounding trees seemed to swallow all light. Luo Qi and 111 walked in silence without turning on any lights.
111 suddenly spoke, "My android body is ready. I wonder if I'll have a chance to use it."
Luo Qi was silent for a moment. "You will."
After walking for about forty minutes, Luo Qi and 111 stopped, as Mo Jue's figure appeared before them.
Beside Mo Jue was a metallic figure that looked similar to 111, likely the defective product.
Luo Qi said coldly, "Weren't you looking for me?"