Caris: Are relics that common of a thing?

Chess: Not at all.

Amy: I've never even touched one... Can I feel your clothes?

Lin Ye: I suggest you don't. If you insist on touching them, then all I can say is, you're on your own.

Two prompts popped up in the chat room:

[Please choose any station to disembark, survive at that station until the train arrives tomorrow, and leave the station by boarding the train]

[Note: After ten stations, the train will enter the Deep Sea Area]

A system prompt appeared before Lin Ye's eyes:

[Obtained Special Ability: Penguin Baby]

[You can summon a Penguin Baby that others cannot see. It can slide around you]

[Note: Perhaps it has other functions]

'...So because I didn't want to slide, you come to slide for me? How much do you love sliding?!'

Lin Ye was speechless, looking at this ridiculous special ability.

Soon, the first station arrived. The train stopped beside a sea platform. In the center of the platform was an emerald green portal. Next to the portal stood a signboard with a station introduction poster resembling a movie poster:

Abyss Exploration Squad Recruiting!

A squad of Survivors has decided to explore the Ruins that have fallen into the depths of the Abyss, pursuing legendary relics. Will they make it out alive?

Beneath the text was a pitch-black Abyss, with four abstract stick figures falling into it.

Lin Ye: Next.

Caris: Is that Abyss *the* Abyss?

Chess: Probably not, right? We're at most Mid-level Spiritual Energy Users. How could we possibly come into contact with the real Abyss?

Amy: Hard to say. Let's go to the next station.

Caris: Agreed.

Ten minutes later, the train arrived at the second station.

Station Introduction:

Four fishing enthusiasts made plans to go deep-sea fishing on a yacht. However, due to some unknown reason, the yacht sailed into a red, uncharted sea. Can they return safely?

Beneath the text was a dark red sea. A yacht was sailing on the surface. Four red-hued abstract stick figures were casting lines from the yacht. A massive Shadow loomed faintly visible beneath the water.

Lin Ye: This one seems pretty good. I'm somewhat skilled at fishing. I can share any extra catch with you all.

Chess: The color of this sea reminds me of the liquid inside the red maze. I suggest going to the next stop.

Amy: Could this be the legendary Red Sea?

Caris: Even if it's not the Red Sea, it's related to it.

Ten minutes later, the train arrived at the third station.

Station Introduction:

The Bottomless Pit is recruiting cleaners. A squad of Survivors seems very interested in this recruitment. Can they leave the Bottomless Pit alive?

Beneath the text was utter darkness. Four white abstract stick figures were queuing up, moving deeper into the darkness. Piled around them were masses of Dark Shadows even deeper than the darkness itself.

Lin Ye: Ah, this place is kind of my territory. But I don't really recommend you choose this. It's very troublesome inside. Better to go fishing in the Red Sea.

Chess: I've heard of this place. It's said to be an extremely dangerous area.

Caris: I don't like this kind of dark environment. Let's look at the next one.

Amy: What if all the stations after this are like this?

Lin Ye: Then we'll just have to take a peek at the Deep Sea Area.

Ten minutes later, the train arrived at the fourth station.

Station Introduction:

Four travelers mistakenly entered an uninhabited city during their journey. They plan to rest in this city for the night and leave tomorrow. Can they spend this night peacefully?

Beneath the text was a completely empty city. Heavy gray-white mist drifted through the city. Four abstract stick figures stood at the city's edge, about to enter.

Lin Ye: ...Sorry, maybe I should refuse the Station Mission.

Chess: Is this place dangerous too?

Lin Ye: This is no longer a question of danger or not.

Amy: Big shot, are you really a Survivor from the same batch as us?

Lin Ye: Yes.

Caris: The stations after this won't all be this difficult, will they?

Lin Ye: Sigh, I feel like it will be hard for you all to make it back alive.

Amy: Don't say that, big shot! I want to live a long life!

Lin Ye: I can preserve you as a specimen with a shelf life of over a hundred years.

Amy: Thanks, but no thanks.

Ten minutes later, the train arrived at the fifth station.

Station Introduction:

The festival is about to begin. A squad of Survivors received a festival invitation. Amidst the joyous atmosphere, they joined the festival celebration procession.

Beneath the text was a city painted with colorful stripes, packed with merrymaking abstract stick figures.

Lin Ye: This station definitely has problems too, but I don't know what 'the festival' is. Rather than going to such an unknown place, it's better to come fishing with me in the Red Sea.

Chess: Let's choose this one. At least this station appears relatively safe on the surface.

Caris: Agreed. At least it's not a terrifying place like the Abyss.

Amy: I agree too. I like festivals. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Lin Ye: Then we'll choose this station. It can't be worse than the others anyway.

The four of them disembarked the train and entered the emerald green light gate at the island's center one by one. Lin Ye lost consciousness.

[Station selection complete. Additional tasks obtained, optional]

[1. Kill enemies. Receive rewards based on enemy quantity and strength]

[2. Participate in the festival parade]

[3. Obtain festival gifts]

Three additional tasks popped up in the chat room. Lin Ye woke up on a park bench.

'No room this time either? Is it because the festival hotels are all full?'

Lin Ye looked around. He was inside a park. There wasn't a single person around.

Chess: Where are you all? I'm inside a completely lightless sealed space. Spiritual perception is restricted here. It seems someone else is in the same space. Is that you?

Amy: I'm on a hotel rooftop, but I don't have an Access Card on me.

Caris: I'm eating at a Restaurant, but I don't have the local currency on me.

Lin Ye: I'm in a park. No one around.

Caris: Let's solve the problems around us first, then find a place to regroup.

Chess: Understood.

Lin Ye: Okay.

Amy: Received.

Lin Ye had no problems around him. He used his Special Ability, Penguin Baby.

A plump-bodied Red-Skinned Penguin appeared within Lin Ye's field of vision. He had been deceived. This was no Penguin Baby at all.

It was a Card Creature whose size hadn't changed at all.

After being summoned, the Red-Skinned Penguin began sliding around Lin Ye, as if that's all it knew how to do.

Lin Ye wanted to grab the Red-Skinned Penguin's wings but found it seemed to be just a Phantom. He couldn't touch this penguin that kept sliding around him at all.

"So you just wanted to come out and slide for a bit?"

Lin Ye felt a headache coming on. This Special Ability might be even more useless than the one from this morning.