While Everyone Panicked, I Upgraded My Raft

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Trip to Glimmerstone Isle in Other Zones

District 2744.

Ben Shaw had begun exploring Glimmerstone Isle the moment he arrived. Once finished, he spoke up in the World Channel.

”Ben Shaw: I’ve arrived at Glimmerstone Isle, and the rank-one player isn’t here!

”Ben Shaw: I’m going to start exploring the isle. When you guys get here, come find me straight at the mountain peak!

”Ben Shaw: I see a massive airplane at the top.

”Ben Shaw: I’ve found the exact same resources as the top-ranked boss.

”...”

The entire World Channel was flooded with Ben Shaw broadcasting his progress. The players in this district were largely accustomed to his arrogance and weren’t surprised by his showboating. However, many couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the loot he had acquired. Driven by ambition, some calculating players hurried their pace.

Thanks to the presence of a blacksmith like Finn York, who had directly developed the Wooden Sled when scrap iron ran low, along with players possessing carpentry and Manufacturing Skills, many managed to catch up in their raft’s Speed. Of course, they all knew today was harvest day. They simply felt that the two activities didn’t conflict. As long as they finished exploring Glimmerstone Isle and mined their share of ore, they could easily resume salvaging resources from the sea.

By the time Finn York reached Glimmerstone Isle, numerous other players had already arrived. Without hesitation, Finn took out his Iron Pickaxe instead of opting for climbing gear like the rest. Seeing this, some of the surrounding players paid him no mind.

There was plenty of ore to go around! The most crucial resource was the abandoned airplane.

”That Ben Shaw is way too arrogant. How about we ambush him this time?”

”Sounds like a plan.”

”Should we head up right now, or wait until he’s done looting?”

”A lot of players are already climbing the mountain. If we’re late, who knows whose hands that loot will fall into!”

”Then let’s go together.”

”We’re definitely not the only ones plotting to rob Ben Shaw. Our teams can coordinate and work together.”

”What about his team?”

”His people have already abandoned him for greener pastures.”

”...”

The muted murmurs of discussion drifted through the surroundings. Though quiet, fragments of their plotting were still audible, highlighting their sheer audacity. No one had any intention of warning Ben Shaw up at the peak. Finn York included.

Listening to the whispers, Finn sighed inwardly. He thought, ”Retribution for his arrogance... has arrived!” The Sea Survival Game wasn’t just a game; it was a slaughterhouse. One careless misstep, and a person would be wiped from existence without a trace.

***

District 2888.

”It’s madness, absolute madness!”

”Players should really delay coming to Glimmerstone Isle! A whole crowd is slaughtering each other up at the peak!”

”They’re fighting over the resources from the abandoned airplane.”

”So many people have died!”

”I literally just stepped onto the island, waited until my explored islands count ticked up to three, and ran for my life. If I had stayed, who knows if I’d still be breathing!”

”There are still tons of players camping on the isle, just waiting to pick off anyone who looks weak!”

”Everyone, be careful out there!”

”We’re all fellow humans, is this really necessary?”

”With so many people, there are bound to be a few scumbags. Isn’t that perfectly normal?”

”...”

Jenna Holland felt a genuine knot of anxiety in her chest as she read the flurry of warnings across the World Channel. She knew very well that she was exactly the kind of easy prey those players were looking for. Her naturally soft-spoken demeanor made her an obvious target. She was terrified.

Her eyes darted over the chat interface. Realizing she was still a long distance away from Glimmerstone Isle, Jenna maintained a leisurely pace. She would rather be late than drag herself into that Maelstrom. If the situation was still dire by the time she arrived, she planned to simply stroll the perimeter and leave immediately. With that settled, she focused her efforts on diligently salvaging various resources from the ocean floor.

***

District 1002.

”Mining is so hard!”

”My stamina is dropping insanely fast.”

”I really wish we had some decent Equipment.”

”Yeah, like the kind the top bosses use.”

”Bullshit! Even if rapid-mining machines existed, it wouldn’t be your turn to use them!”

”Sigh, a person’s gotta dream.”

”That’s true. A lot of Equipment didn’t exist at first, but once people spot the business opportunity, someone will eventually invent it.”

”I think our district has a pretty skilled guy too. I hope he succeeds.”

”...”

Levi Vance watched the players clamoring for better mining tools, his mind racing. He deduced that anyone hauling in massive amounts of ore must be using specialized Equipment. He wondered if he could make a fortune by manufacturing it himself.

As a former researcher, his innate Skill was also ”Research.” This meant that upon entering the game, not only could he invent things from scratch, but he could also reverse-engineer Equipment just by looking at it. The moment he learned such a tool existed, he had started keeping a vigilant eye out. Unfortunately, he hadn’t managed to catch a glimpse of it yet. With no other choice, he would have to develop it on his own. Perhaps he wouldn’t just trade it for a mountain of resources within his own district; his invention might even get selected by the Sea Survival Shop!

As for the abandoned airplane and the ore on Glimmerstone Isle, he dismissed the former entirely. The latter, however, he intended to exploit to the fullest.

***

District 6538.

Audrey Aldridge was the very first to arrive at Glimmerstone Isle in her district. Naturally, the abandoned airplane caught her eye. Wasting no time, she boarded it immediately.

Instead of blindly gathering resources from the wreckage, she thoroughly searched the interior. Without the privilege of listing items on the Sea Survival Shop, she was limited to the finite inventory slots of her single backpack. It was only logical to prioritize the most valuable items. Furthermore, her physical stats were rather lackluster; she had survived this far entirely by her wits. Knowing her own weaknesses, she understood how to play to her strengths.

Therefore, her plan was to snatch a few choice resources and make a quick exit. Firstly, this ensured she wouldn’t leave empty-handed. Secondly, it prevented her from becoming a target. As for the ore, she would return to mine it later when the island was crowded with other players.

During the previous frozen wasteland event, she had confirmed a crucial mechanic: while rafts couldn’t move backward, they could remain stationary in place. She just needed to sail a safe distance away and turn around, keeping herself hidden from prying eyes. Her meticulous search did not betray her efforts—in the cockpit, she uncovered a stack of blueprints and... a Positioning Card. The moment she laid eyes on the Positioning Card, Audrey grew even more certain that her initial plan was correct. Keeping a low profile was paramount. Of course, this meant staying low-profile among the strong.

Stowing her treasures away, Audrey didn’t linger. She quickly retreated to her raft and steered it away from Glimmerstone Isle. Shortly after her departure, other players began trickling in. Only when the World Channel confirmed that a significant number of players had made landfall did Audrey finally pilot her raft back to the isle.

Just as she expected, the scene had already split into two distinct factions: those scrambling over the airplane, and those peacefully mining ore. Thanks to two ”bosses” maintaining order, the situation was relatively stable. After paying the mandatory protection fee, Audrey went straight to work. As she chipped away arduously at the stone, she kept casting glances at the Sea Survival Shop. She wondered when the ultimate mining artifact would finally hit the shelves.

***

It was safe to say that due to Rowan Rhodes’s previous stellar performance, countless players instinctively set their sights on his ultimate mining artifact the moment they experienced the grueling labor of mining for themselves. The only difference lay in the individual choices they made. Meanwhile, the turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath the surface of Glimmerstone Isle silently pulled back the curtain on a new crisis.

Someone had used a Positioning Card!