Huang Shengjie arrived at the New World on the first day. After understanding the basic situation here, he was worried about the upcoming Death Game, but this worry was relatively distant.

According to everyone, the first game should start in a week, and there’s still some preparation time before that.

Lu Bingjun also promised that he would arrange for experienced players to guide newcomers through the game to ensure safety.

The joyous atmosphere last night helped Huang Shengjie temporarily set aside his worries. On the first day in the New World, complex emotions like fear, curiosity, and tension clashed with each other. Under the influence of alcohol, he temporarily cast them aside, thinking that at least for the first night, all he needed was a good rest.

Unexpectedly, the sudden pain pulled him back to reality from his sleep.

Huang Shengjie wanted to tidy up his messy room a bit, but the previous pain had drained almost all his strength.

He lay back on the bed again, still clueless about what exactly was going on.

Before entering the New World, he was healthy and had never experienced anything like this.

And from other players’ descriptions, those experienced players seemed not to have encountered such things either; otherwise, they would have mentioned it earlier to warn Huang Shengjie.

Was it mentioned in some rules he missed?

Or did he contract some disease after entering the New World for various reasons?

Huang Shengjie wasn’t considered a very smart player. His brain had become even more dull due to the lingering pain, and alcohol and struggle had drained his strength. After the effects of adrenaline faded, Huang Shengjie finally drifted back to a deep sleep without reaching any conclusions.

...

...

The next morning.

Huang Shengjie woke up with a start, sitting up abruptly.

Seeing the struggle marks in the room confirmed to him that last night’s severe pain was not a nightmare but something that truly happened.

The pain occurred only once, and Huang Shengjie wasn’t sure how long it lasted; during the subsequent sleep, he did not experience it again.

But unlike nightmares that are quickly forgotten upon waking, this extremely real pain seemed deeply embedded in his subconscious, even reaching the genetic level, impossible to ignore.

Huang Shengjie checked the time; it was now past nine in the morning.

Of course, he hadn’t slept well, but at this point, trying to sleep again seemed unrealistic.

Huang Shengjie could only perform a simple wash-up, head downstairs towards the Community’s hall.

Unlike the harmonious atmosphere during last night’s banquet, the eight or nine players gathered in the hall showed a very low-pressure state.

Among them were probably players with a regular schedule who got up early, but there should also be players who experienced the same ordeal as Huang Shengjie.

At least, Huang Shengjie noticed that the fitness coach Deng Xiao seemed quite upset, with a dark expression, seemingly suppressing a bellyful of anger with no place to vent.

Qin Cheng was sipping a bowl of porridge slowly, but a slight tremor was still noticeable.

"Did you wake up from the pain too last night?" Qin Cheng lifted his head and asked when he saw Huang Shengjie enter the hall.

Huang Shengjie nodded: "The pain almost killed me! What, you too?"

He looked at everyone: "What on earth is going on?"

Lu Bingjun’s expression was somewhat grave as he sighed silently: "I think it’s related to that new rule appearing in the second stage.

"Currently, the three players suddenly tortured by pain last night were you, Qin Cheng, and Deng Xiao.

"It happens to be the players with relatively less visa time in the Community."

Clearly, before Huang Shengjie came downstairs, these players had already gathered to discuss the issue and reached a preliminary conclusion.

[This stage has a unique specified ’Negative State.’]

[Every three days, three players from those with relatively less visa time in the Community will be randomly selected to endure the ’Negative State.’]

[As the game progresses, the time intervals, number of players selected, and selection rules may change.]

Yesterday, everyone had seen this rule, but at that time, nobody knew what the ’Negative State’ entailed, hence no further discussion could follow.

But now it’s all clear: The so-called Negative State is unbearable pain.

Qin Cheng had finished his porridge: "I noted the approximate time.

"The pain began around 1:46 a.m. and ended at 2:07 a.m.

"That’s a total duration of 21 minutes."

Lu Bingjun nodded: "It seems not to be a fixed time. Deng Xiao’s pain ended a few minutes later than that.

"He didn’t remember when it started; otherwise, more specific comparisons could have been made."

Deng Xiao’s face looked unhappy: "Remember what starting time? I was wondering if I could survive until this morning!"

After a while, other players also gradually came downstairs.

Everyone sat around the long table, sharing last night’s information and drawing more definite conclusions.

...

Lu Bingjun didn’t directly require all players to check their remaining visa time at the vending machine. However, after comparing among players with less visa time, the list of ’7 players with less visa time’ was quickly confirmed.

Number 1, Qin Cheng.

Number 3, Deng Xiao.

Number 4, Wen Wan.

Number 6, Geng Yuxia.

Number 10, Zheng Chunhua.

Number 13, Lu Qi.

Number 14, Huang Shengjie.

No need to mention Qin Cheng, Lu Qi, and Huang Shengjie. They are new players who have just entered the New World and haven’t participated in any games, with only the most basic visa time.

Undoubtedly, they are at the bottom.

As for the original lineup from Community 2, fitness coach Deng Xiao, online seller Wen Wan, Auntie Geng Yuxia, and middle-aged teacher Zheng Chunhua are among those with relatively less visa time.

Of course, the reasons for having less time may vary. Some players might earn less, some might donate more.

Since they haven’t really gone through a game together, new players aren’t clear about the specific capabilities of these old members in the games.

According to the rules, Qin Cheng, Huang Shengjie, and Deng Xiao were randomly selected, becoming the ’unlucky ones’ of the first night.

The time of suffering from severe pain for the three players didn’t completely coincide, but generally occurred between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., lasting about 15 minutes.

As for the pain itself, the three players described it as four words: Worse than death.

Of course, this extreme pain only exists for those ten-odd minutes. Afterward, it fades, with no impact on daily life.

However, it leaves a permanent psychological shadow.

Compiling the information so far, everyone fell into silence.

Many lowered their heads, clearly having some thoughts, but no one spoke yet.

Lu Bingjun seriously considered for a moment and looked at Qin Cheng: "Doctor Qin, from a medical professional perspective, any thoughts?"

Qin Cheng was also one of the players tormented by pain, but his state seemed slightly better than the others.

Qin Cheng took out two small bottles and placed them on the table.

"I’ve looked at the medical box in the Community; the contents are fairly complete.

"There are painkillers, anti-allergy drugs, antibiotics, and other medications.

"The painkillers are these two kinds.

"I checked the main ingredients. They are essentially aspirin and ibuprofen.

"These are two commonly seen drugs in reality.

"If used solely for pain relief, my suggestion is to use only ibuprofen.

"It is more effective, lasts longer, and has fewer side effects.

"While theoretically, all painkillers should be avoided for long-term use, considering last night’s degree of pain, most people probably wouldn’t mind the side effects now.

"The biggest issue is that this ’pain’ is hard to determine the method of realization. Whether it’s some real physiological reaction in reality or some Supernatural Power directly applied to the mental level?

"So, I’m unsure of these painkillers’ effectiveness.

"However, everyone can make preventative preparations: Two days later, the seven players with less remaining visa time can each take a bottle of painkillers back to their room and take them around midnight. This should ensure the drug’s effect is at its peak when the pain strikes.

"It might provide some relief."