Chapter 6: Red Giant Python, Crisis Strikes!

After replenishing his energy, Nick sat by the stone campfire and opened the [Regional Chat] channel, enjoying the rare leisure time.

The moment he opened the chat window, countless messages flooded in like a tide, making him a little dizzy.

Nick didn't immediately check the chat content. Instead, he looked at the number beside it. After two days of the dungeon's baptism, the number of people had dropped from 1000 to 837.

Just from the rate of attrition, he could tell that the other players were gradually adapting to the dungeon environment.

"I just wonder how their progress is..."

Nick looked at the numerous chat messages, wanting to glean some useful information. As long as he could understand the progress of others, and they didn't pose a threat to him, he could still try to make contact.

"Today, when I was exploring the dungeon, I actually found a machete in a treasure chest. It's very sharp, and I can easily chop through wooden boxes."

"Anyone want to team up? Looking for a few teammates who also have weapons. We'll split the resources evenly. If we want to survive here, sticking together is the best choice."

"Anyone have extra water? I'll trade food for it. Come find me at the trading market!!"

"Where's the trading market?"

"..."

Looking at the numerous messages in the chat channel, Nick had a general understanding of the progress of others. Teaming up was inevitable.

And now, it was likely that many people had obtained weapons. Nick had already seen several in the chat channel, and there were probably even more people hiding weapons as their trump cards.

Some of the more fortunate ones had even started trading survival resources.

However, Nick's main focus was on the so-called trading market. Although the game instructions mentioned the existence of this type of dungeon, a safe area where players could trade, Nick hadn't found any clues during his two days of exploration using the hints. It seemed that finding the so-called market would take a lot of effort.

"I need to speed up the exploration... It's best to find that trading market."

Nick made up his mind. He definitely had enough survival resources right now. After finding the trading market, he could trade the resources scavenged from the corpses, and he might even have unexpected gains.

After all, using those survival resources after witnessing everything was a bit difficult for Nick to swallow.

He continued to browse the regional channel, but after not finding any more useful information, he prepared to rest, adjust his state, and wait for the digging count to refresh tomorrow.

Just as Nick got up and was about to return to the tent to rest...

With the soil falling from the wall not far away, the original small crack gradually expanded, and finally, a hole appeared in front of Nick.

"Someone else dug their way here?!"

Nick frowned slightly. This couldn't go on. Luckily, he hadn't gone to sleep yet. If he had, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

This was also one of the drawbacks of the temporary camp.

His face became much more cautious. He skillfully cocked the hand crossbow, loaded a bolt, and waited for this uninvited guest.

If that person had malicious intentions towards him, Nick wouldn't mind making his first kill in the dungeon world a human.

As the hole gradually expanded, a figure covered in scales, curled into a ball, rolled into the dungeon. It was somewhat inappropriate to describe it as an uninvited guest; more accurately, it was an unknown creature.

"A dungeon creature?"

Nick frowned slightly. He didn't act rashly. Those black and shiny scales might not be easily pierced by the hand crossbow.

And the curled-up unknown figure, after sensing no potential danger, revealed its original form. It was about 60cm long, with short, thick limbs.

With just one glance, Nick recognized the type of the unknown creature: a pangolin.

Judging from its size, this little guy was still in its juvenile stage and posed no threat to him. Nick was puzzled as to why he would encounter this creature in the dungeon...

Also, could pangolin meat be eaten?

Just then, the pangolin lying on the ground, stood up slightly like a kangaroo, its beady eyes sizing up Nick, as if assessing the level of danger.

Finally, the pangolin ran towards Nick's side, not particularly afraid of him, trying to continue digging to escape from this dungeon.

"Could something be chasing it?"

This thought quietly emerged in Nick's mind. As the hole instantly expanded, it immediately confirmed his guess.

A large snake with a body covered in small, fiery red scales followed the path dug by the pangolin and directly entered the dungeon where Nick was.

A python!

And a very large python, at that. Its size alone was comparable to an Amazonian anaconda, or even larger.

Nick estimated its length to be 7 meters.

On the python's head were two strange fleshy buds. Just its mouth full of sharp teeth—one bite would be fatal or crippling.

If he didn't deal with it carefully, his fate might not be much better than that of the pangolin...

The appearance of the red giant python caused the pangolin, which had been digging downwards, to stop.

It turned to look at the red giant python. It no longer had a chance to escape. The pangolin's short forelimbs waved its sharp claws.

However, the python didn't act rashly. It flicked its forked tongue, using its limited brain capacity to analyze the situation. Prey...

And a large prey.

"This is the so-called... dungeon creature??"

Nick looked at the coiled red giant python in front of him. Although he didn't know its specific species, one thing was clear: this guy was dangerous.

The seriousness on his face couldn't be concealed. He had just been thinking about avoiding these unforeseen disasters, and then the red python chased the pangolin into his temporary camp.

Right now, apart from the hand crossbow, he had no other means of attack. Killing it would be extremely difficult.

With the red python's size, even if it captured the pangolin, it would only be an appetizer. He didn't think the python would let him go.

Although Nick didn't want to admit it, if he was careless... he would really be the red python's main course.

Right now, his digging count was completely used up. Waiting until tomorrow to dig and escape was unrealistic.

In this current stalemate, if Nick showed any intention of escaping, the python's primary target would definitely be him. After all, who would let a duck that's already in their mouth fly away?

If he didn't come up with a countermeasure...

Tomorrow, he would probably be mostly digested.

Nick finally glanced helplessly at the pangolin, then raised the crossbow in his hand. He could only place his hope in this weapon.

"Come on... I don't want to become dinner for a dungeon creature!!"