"Master Chef, you're truly my god!"
"So fragrant, so fragrant! Forgive my lack of words, brother, but just look at my drool—that says it all."
"This looks absolutely delicious. Even before this survival game, I’ve never had such a feast."
Dongfang Yuan nodded. "Yeah, I’ve always heard about the wonders of Chinese cuisine, but I never got the chance to return and try it before being thrown into this damn game."
Qi Xu paused. "You weren’t in China when the survival game started?"
"No. I was born in China, but I moved abroad at three and never went back."
Qi Xu’s mind raced. So, the server divisions must be based on nationality, not physical location.
But then, what about that clearly Western-looking player he’d met in the last round?
He thought back—they must have been in a dungeon instance.
Did that mean dungeons could cross regions... or even servers?
Snapping out of his thoughts, Qi Xu noticed everyone staring wide-eyed at the table full of dishes and chuckled. "You... must’ve been saving ingredients for a long time, huh?"
Master Chef grinned. "Yep, but it was worth it! Come on, dig in! Pass around the disposable utensils—saves us the trouble of washing up."
"Not in the mood for soup? I’ve got juice and pineapple beer!"
At that, everyone’s restraint vanished.
For a while, no one spoke, too busy stuffing their faces.
Master Chef watched with satisfaction. See? No one can resist my cooking.
Qi Xu served himself a small bowl of rice and grabbed a steamed bun, only to realize... the bun was far more delicious.
Made from dough monster’s flour, it was chewy and subtly sweet—Master Chef swore no sugar was added, yet the sweetness lingered.
After finishing one bun, Qi Xu even triggered a special effect: a +0.5 boost to agility. So, he ditched the rice and devoured two more buns.
Once the meal was over, they pulled out sofas and recliners to lounge and chat while digesting.
Magic Sister sighed. "I wish we could stay together like this every day."
Bubbly Girl Guo Degang agreed. "Yeah, being alone all the time is so boring."
Qi Xu reassured them, "Maybe someday. The dungeons seem to be pushing players toward forming factions or teams."
Master Chef immediately declared, "Boss Whirlwind! If that day comes, you’ve gotta take me in."
Golden Bell Armor Iron Shirt raised his hand solemnly. "And me! It’s rare to find such great friends—we should stick together."
Old White Dragon in the Waves grew excited. "With our brains and brawn combined, we’d crush every challenge. Unstoppable!"
Warwolf 009 chimed in, "Count me in too."
Qi Xu glanced at Warwolf 009 with a hint of regret. The man was strong, kind, and reliable—but what if they ran into his old teammates from the last round?
They’d trained together for years before the game. Where would his loyalty lie?
Still... no harm in trying. Loyalty wasn’t first-come, first-served.
So, Qi Xu nodded. "Alright, it’s settled. If factions or teams become a thing, all eight of us stick together. No one gets left behind."
"No one gets left behind!"
Dongfang Yuan, though quiet, savored the moment.
Especially when Qi Xu said those words.
Something stirred in his chest. For the first time, he felt this survival game might not be so bad. In just a month, he’d found friends he’d never had in his first twenty years.
The meal and relaxation lasted over an hour—a luxury, by survival standards.
But everyone agreed it was worth it.
Their spirits lifted, their pent-up stress released. The unknown path ahead felt a little less daunting.
Qi Xu realized then that a team wasn’t just about mutual aid. It was also emotional support.
Looking back, his solo approach in the last round—thinking he was above the fray—now seemed stubborn and narrow-minded.
After stretching and packing up, Qi Xu pressed the button to enter the fifth dungeon.
As the door cracked open, a foul smell wafted out—still better than the second dungeon’s stench.
When it fully opened, the sight of the monsters inside made Three Dishes shudder and step back instinctively.
Even Old White Dragon in the Waves and Golden Bell Armor Iron Shirt felt a visceral discomfort.
Dozens of snakes of varying thicknesses and colors slithered into view.
For those unaccustomed to cold-blooded creatures, the sight was enough to raise goosebumps.
The good news? The snakes didn’t attack immediately, giving the group time to brace themselves.
Warwolf 009, ever dependable, spoke first. "Don’t panic. Most of them aren’t venomous."
Dongfang Yuan added, "Relax. Only a few are actually dangerous. The rest are trash."
Qi Xu, meanwhile, was unfazed. In later dungeons, monster nests like this were common. The Jade Heart that granted his rebirth? He’d looted it from a snake pit.
Fear was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
"I’ve got antidote pills. Quick, take two each. If you’re poisoned, swallow one immediately—no delays."
No one hesitated, grabbing the pills from Whirlwind Boss.
The battle erupted.
As the snakes grew agitated and lunged, Old White Dragon in the Waves unleashed a volley of silver needles from his hidden weapon box.
With so many targets, nearly every shot hit.
But it only enraged the swarm. Several furious snakes shot forward. Qi Xu met them head-on, chainsaw roaring. He sliced through many, but snake blood splattered across him.
Now the swarm fixated on him—exactly what he wanted. With teammates backing him up, he could afford to push his limits.
His chainsaw in one hand, a long blade in the other, Qi Xu moved with lethal precision.
........
