Huh? Isn't This A Galgame?

Both my heads are about to freeze off...

The sound of the howling wind pierced through his ears, with biting cold continuously seeping into his collar, sleeves, and pant legs, the damp and chilly wind slicing painfully across his face like a knife.

Wen Nan's teeth chattered uncontrollably, his whole body shivering from the cold.

While rubbing his hands and stomping his feet, he squinted his eyes, trying hard to discern the scene before him.

Where have they brought me?

His vision gradually cleared, revealing an endless expanse of white as far as the eye could see.

He found himself standing in a world of ice and snow, under a ragged tent barely keeping the wind out.

Above the tent, a floating light screen glowed with two lines of text—

[Welcome to "Help! I'm Surrounded by Them!" Intermediate Instance.]

As expected, after clearing the highest level of the beginner instance, he smoothly entered the intermediate one.

It seems that this ramshackle little tent is the refresh point for this instance.

Is this refresh point... too random? Just a piece of cloth overhead? Did the game's production budget deplete in the early stages, leaving them unable to continue?

While internally mocking, Wen Nan quickly pulled up his equipment tab in the system to look for items that might provide warmth, intending to store them in his equipment slots for a permanent anti-cold effect.

If this freezing continues, not even his own resilience could withstand it, and his thousands of descendants might also give in.

However, just as he opened the equipment tab, Wen Nan was dumbfounded.

His equipment slots, all spare item slots, as well as the community and marketplace, were all locked (indicating they can't be used).

...What's happening?

9527: [Due to the restrictions of this map's rules, players are unable to use external equipment and items within the current instance. Please be aware.]

Wen Nan: ?

No items allowed? Equipment also unusable?

So his [Tear of the Flower], [Truth Serum], [Safety Bubble], [Sleeping Capsule] are all useless now?!

Just as he was pondering this, several figures "whooshed" down beside him, dropping into the snow like sandbags and making crunching sounds.

It seems that other players have also been gradually teleported in.

Wen Nan counted; including himself, there were eight players in total for this instance.

Just like Wen Nan, the other players shivered in the cold as they climbed out of the snow pits.

As Wen Nan glanced around, most of them turned out to be familiar faces—

The two "gatekeeper" members Luo Wei and Liang Yiming, who had joined following Shao Ling.

Also present were Han Feng and Li Zhenbei, the first two level 4 players who successfully passed the interview at the office joining the guild.

A level 2 player, Xu Dongsheng, who wasn't notable in level but joined with resources.

Plus two unfamiliar faces, possibly randomly matched players.

When everyone was in place, the prompt on the light screen above shifted—

[Congratulations on successfully clearing the beginner instance, and welcome to your arrival!]

[The new map "Moan and ** of Snow Mountain Villa" has been unlocked.]

[This map is an intermediate instance, difficulty level: LV.6.]

It's just a level 6 instance, so fortunately, the difficulty isn't too high.

Wen Nan had just cleared a LV.5 beginner instance, and that one even had a bug with high difficulty.

As long as no system bugs appear in this instance, Wen Nan believes that clearing it should be considerably easier than the previous one.

Though it might lack challenge, reducing some of the fun of strategy, but a change of pace in romance isn't bad once in a while.

This map, aptly named Snow Mountain Villa, although cold, sounds perfect for leisurely vacation, a good spot for entertainment and relaxation.

Thinking about it, Wen Nan smiled comfortably, rubbed his hands, and looked up at the light screen, waiting for one of his favorite segments—choosing a target to strategize.

However, the anticipated prompt did not appear. Instead, another line of text took its place—

[Please select your personal item.]

It's not about choosing a character but choosing items first?

As the prompt appeared, the snow in the center of the refresh point suddenly caved in, and then a round table slowly rose up.

On the round table, several items were scattered about—

A wood-handled alloy mountain axe, a fully black 92-type pistol, a multi-use military knife about the length of an arm, a set of vintage-style metal chest armor, a spiked whip, a nylon rope as thick as a finger, a Gothic-style candlestick with red candles, and a box of large-sized thin "little umbrellas."

Exactly eight items, no more, no less, for each player to pick one.

Just as Wen Nan's mind was about to drift into wicked thoughts while eyeing the items, a prompt on the light screen above promptly extinguished them.

[Each player can select only one personal item. Once selected, the personal item cannot be exchanged or transferred to another player. Please choose carefully!]

No multiple selections, and unlike the previous instance, no transferring soul dolls?

Meaning, no matter what, Wen Nan can't gather all the targets this time?

Dammit!

The fun of "having it all" is just gone.

While Wen Nan sighed in regret, the other players all stared intently at the items on the table, each deep in thought.

It was obvious that among these 8 items, there was a significant disparity—mountain axe, pistol, military knife, chest armor, clearly outmatched the whip, nylon rope, candlestick, and "little umbrellas."

And since this map doesn't allow the use of personal equipment, these personal items are most likely essential for survival at crucial moments.

In that case... gamble and grab that pistol first?

Upon this thought, the two unfamiliar players, itching in eagerness, simultaneously inched towards the pistol.

However, as soon as they moved, Luo Wei and Liang Yiming, the two gatekeepers, promptly stepped forward, each blocking one player tightly, stopping them two meters from the table.

"Apologies, this map is the home ground of our Wenna Guild. Choosing items should prioritize our guild leader."

The two remaining players looked around, finally realizing they were the only "solo runners," while the other 6 were a team?

Although dissatisfied with the bullies' actions, being outnumbered, the two ultimately backed off, conceding the priority to choose.

The other guild members all turned their attention to Wen Nan.

Wen Nan thanked them and unhesitatingly stepped forward to pick up the box of "little umbrellas."

The refresh point fell silent for a moment.

The seven remaining people were all stunned, staring at the small square paper box in Wen Nan's hand.

One of the intercepted players couldn't help but ask quietly, "Is your guild leader... having some issues with his head?"

The guild members were equally shocked—

Why would someone ignore weapons to choose a box of "little umbrellas"? And it's even the 0.01mm ultra-thin type!