7.2 per cent for option I, 42.8 per cent for option II and 50 per cent for option III.

……

[Option 3]

[Maintain the status quo]

……

Encountering a snake is just a matter of chance. As far as the current situation is concerned, the exploration is progressing well, and the rescue can be arrived in time.

(Just keep it at the current frequency...... It should be fine. ）”

Rushing forward may lead to untimely rescue and other consequences. And so far, it's going well, and there's no particular need to slow down......

Zheng Zhuo looked at these opinions and made up his mind: to maintain the status quo.

……

After conveying their opinions to the three of them, except for Chu Huairen, who was still silent, classmate Shen and Xue Ying both nodded.

The two wanted to find the ruins related to the fish-like monsters as quickly as possible.

Zheng Zhuo realized this. He didn't know how the two would react if they only found a plane instead of some relic related to a mysterious maritime civilization.

(Take a step, look at a step.) ）”

Zheng Zhuo said to himself in his heart.

……

According to the previous plan, the four of them continued to move forward to a stage. Now, they've searched three-quarters of the jungle, but they still haven't found anything.

The sun has begun to set in the west. Continue the search, or will it continue tomorrow?

When Zheng Zhuo, Chu Huairen, and Xue Ying returned to the gathering point again, they found that there was only one answer left for them.

Shen, who was bitten by a snake, sat on the root of the arbor, his face turned blue.

The condition of his calf was much worse than expected. Zheng Zhuo cut open his trouser leg and saw that it had begun to swell and suppurate, and black liquid was still oozing from the wound.

Shen couldn't walk. He had trouble even standing.

"His injuries were severe. We have to leave. ”

With the help of Chu Huairen and Xue Ying, Zheng Zhuo picked up Shen on his back and began to retreat in the direction of the beach.

This was the route they had planned earlier: the jungle was long from east to west, but short from north to south. In case of an accident, you can retreat from the north to the beach in a relatively short distance.

However, Zheng Zhuo soon understood: he still thought too simply.

Walking in the jungle with a person on your back is simply impossible. Those obstacles that can be climbed and climbed by a single person, and people with limited mobility must be picked up by three people in turn, so that they can pass in several times or even ten times the time.

The short distance is like a moat.

During this period, Zheng Zhuo contacted the professors by radio. However, the only classmate Shen who is good at [climbing] has a leg injury. The crowd can no longer sign on the heights. As night fell, it was difficult for classmates and sailors outside the jungle to pinpoint the exact location of the four.

And that's not all.

Zheng Zhuo carried classmate Shen on his back, and he could feel that classmate Shen's body temperature was frighteningly low.

Every bump in the road made Shen's state worse and worse. Zheng Zhuo felt that the classmate Shen on his back was like a broken bellows, making a heavy and hoarse breathing sound. His eyes began to bulge and saliva flowed from his mouth. Zheng Zhuo grabbed his hand as he carried it, and found that the fine and dense moss spots on his neck had spread to his hands, and the cracked spots began to secrete slippery and smelly liquid.

“（…… Leave him behind...... He's just an illusion! Illusion...... Subconscious people...... It's all ...... Sure...... ）”

Zheng Zhuo gritted his teeth. He knew that he had to leave classmate Shen behind. But deciding when to do it is so difficult.

It was getting dark. Soon, most of the light of the flashlight was also engulfed in the night. I couldn't see the sea in the distance, and there were shadows of kudzu vines everywhere around me, and even if a snake approached, I am afraid it would be difficult to tell the difference.

“…… It won't go on like this. ”

After a failed climb that couldn't see ahead, Zheng Zhuo gasped and said.

"It was too difficult to leave at night. We're going to have to camp out here. ”

……

An hour later.

The fire flickered.

All of them were wrapped in coats and lay down by the fire that was rising.

It took them a staggering amount of time to build a fire. Now, they had no choice but to use it to get through the night.

Crackling, crackling.

Tongues of fire lick the darkness. The weary crowd fell into a deep sleep around the only warmth in this one.

Zheng Zhuo barely retained a little consciousness. Chu Huairen arranged for everyone - and Zheng Zhuo was on the first night shift.

He knew he couldn't sleep: he had to beware of terrible creatures, and even more beware of terrible ...... Own.

But fatigue still swept over drowsiness.

Time passed like this, minute by minute.

Just when Zheng Zhuo was half asleep and half awake, he heard a voice.

“…… Ooh...... Ahem......"

It came from the direction of Shen.

Zheng Zhuo barely held open his heavy eyelids. He saw Shen move.

At first, Zheng Zhuo thought he was going to get up at night, but soon, he saw the other party suddenly fall to the ground and vomit.

In the firelight, Zheng Zhuo saw that the other party spat out a pile of lumps mixed with blood, internal organ fragments, and bone residue. The vomit emitted a violent stench, like a pile of fermented dead fish.

“…… Karma ...... Ah......h

Shen's hands trembled. He lay on the ground, screaming little by little. Chu Huairen and Xue Ying were also awakened because of this.

Zheng Zhuo had already rolled over and got up, clenching the flashlight in his hand. He saw that the corners of Shen's eyes were cracking. His eyes bulged outward, and his hands and feet were covered with scales at some point.

At first, Zheng Zhuo was worried that something would happen to Shen, so when he went to bed, he tied all kinds of buckles and knots of his shirt tightly to restrict his movements. But now, like pieces of paper, those obstacles have been completely opened.

Whoa, whoa.

Shen's jacket was torn along the stitches. Long, sharp bone spurs pierced the solid cloth from within.

“…… Hiss...... Ha...... Boom......"

Student Shen ...... In other words, a certain "thing" that used to be a classmate of Shen slowly turned his head.

"—Run!"

Zheng Zhuo violently pushed the two people around him. Chu Huairen's mouth let out a mournful cry that could not be toned, and he got up from the spot with his hands and feet.

And Xue Ying's performance was strange. Her mouth was wide open, a look of horror on her face, and her hands kept shaking, but she didn't take a single step. Moments later......

"Hee-ha——!"

She burst into laughter and wept.

Worst! Xue Ying can't do it either!

Zheng Zhuo gritted his teeth, followed behind Chu Huairen, and ran towards the dark jungle.

Xue Ying was still standing by the fire. And the thing that had been a classmate of Shen slowly swung his slender limbs dripping liquid and chased after him.

……

“…… Ha, ha, ha...... Damn ......"

Zheng Zhuo ran forward lifelessly. He could hear Chu Huairen nearby, but he couldn't see him - the visibility in the jungle at night was too low. He felt that he had been moving closer in the direction of the other party, but after a while, Chu Huairen's voice was farther away.

"--should-uh!"

Zheng Zhuo failed to observe the terrain properly, and at this time, he tripped over an unknown object and fell to the ground violently!

"-sh-"

Zheng Zhuo turned around abruptly. Holding a flashlight in front of him.

What tripped him was a severe, propeller blade.

“——”

The light of the flashlight swayed, illuminating Zheng Zhuo's body.

Under the dense vegetation cover, the wreckage of an ancient propeller plane, lying quietly.

“…… Unexpectedly...... ...... so close."

Zheng Zhuo actually saw the plane he had been looking for at this time!

However, there was no time to wait for him to be pleased.

The fishy wind blows in the face.

With a terrible "gurgling" sound, the monster that was once a classmate Shen followed from the direction that Zheng Zhuo had just run.

(—Weapons!) What's—can be used as a weapon-"

Zheng Zhuo touched his coat! In the pocket of his coat was a multi-purpose wrench that had been piggyback from the ship. However, the wrench is small, half the weight of a regular wrench, and it is also very light.

Zheng Zhuo wasn't sure if this thing had attack power! He jerked around.

There are small objects scattered on the ground next to the plane. Zheng Zhuo vaguely saw some sharp protrusions leaning on the fuselage of the plane, like sharpened wooden stakes.

The stakes were wrapped together with nets, and they must have been made by hand—like some kind of protection against wild beasts.

At the same time, Zheng Zhuo also smelled the smell of gasoline.

On the inside of those stakes, leaning against some square red plastic buckets.

Zheng Zhuo could see at a glance that it was a portable oil drum.

(Now, I should ...... ）”

……

【Question】

[Companions have become monsters!] How can I defend myself? 】

[Option 1: Knock with a wrench]

Problems that can cause: the battle is too close, and you are wounded

[Option 2: Use anti-animal facilities]

The problem that may be caused: the other party can only be expelled, and the other party will turn to attack Chu Huairen

[Option 3: Ignite the oil]

Possible problem: It will be burned along with other clues next to the wreckage