Chapter 4: The Task of Forming a Team

Time slipped away like sand through fingers, silently and without a trace.

Su Hao chose not to return to the real world. Though there was warmth in family ties there, it was also filled with unspeakable pain.

He refused to see the worry and heartache in his parents’ eyes, and even more, he did not want them to fret over him.

Yet, the following day in the real world, a stranger shattered this fragile calm.

Su Hao’s teacher, Iris, appeared before his parents with a mysterious smile, claiming she could cure his illness.

“I can start treating your son first, and then we can discuss compensation,” Iris said with unwavering confidence.

“Is she a teacher or a doctor?” Wang Fang whispered.

“No matter what she is, we have to try for our son’s sake,” Su Ming nodded to his wife.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Fang agreed firmly, as if seeing a lifeline.

“With my skill, it should take about three to five days to show effect,” Iris said, rolling up her sleeves and channeling energy toward Su Hao’s head, neck, and torso.

Su Ming and Wang Fang watched as their son’s body trembled slightly with the flow of her power.

They exchanged glances, their faces lighting up with hope. They believed this teacher was no fraud but a savior.

This time, their son had a chance—they all thought so.

Unaware of these events in his new environment, Su Hao suddenly heard the voice of the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency again—like the tolling of fate—announcing his first trial had begun.

“Contractor, your mission has been assigned. You have four hours to prepare and select teammates. Your mission is—team survival test, difficulty level: highest.”

“Tip: The task difficulty is the core factor in calculating mission rewards. All rewards are based on the initial difficulty level.”

A flicker of excitement shone in Su Hao’s eyes. He knew this mission would be his turning point.

“Highest level! Indeed, my painstaking efforts have paid off; fate always favors those who dare to challenge,” he thought with a secret smile, already envisioning the enormous rewards awaiting him.

Yet, when he learned the mission’s details, a twinge of apprehension crept in.

Surviving forty-eight hours on a planet with a hostile cosmic environment was a grueling trial for anyone.

Especially given his current frail condition, it felt like walking on thin ice.

“Note: All timing is based on real-world time. Due to your physical state, the Cosmic Environmental Protection Agency will teleport you free of charge to the mission plaza, where you may freely form teams. Failure to team up will be considered mission failure, resulting in immediate annihilation.”

The voice carried an unchallengeable authority, sending a chill down Su Hao’s spine.

In a flash, Su Hao found himself in a bustling plaza.

This was the gathering place for contractors—a hub to find teammates and exchange information.

With only hours left before the mission started, the plaza was crowded, yet few held signs seeking teams.

Unable to move as he lacked legs, Su Hao patiently waited, using his powerful intellect to communicate telepathically with contractors holding signs.

“Brother, I see you’re forming a team. Want to come with me?” His voice echoed in the other’s mind, sincere and hopeful.

He knew that in this world full of unknown dangers, teamwork was key to survival.

Besides, the mission required at least two members per team; failure to do so meant certain death.

The penalty for failure was execution—terrifying indeed.

The contractor holding a sign was named Li Mingyu, a burly-looking man who glanced around but could not find the source of the telepathic voice.

“I’m right here, with a shield strapped to me,” Su Hao replied, rocking slightly as he continued to communicate mentally.

Li Mingyu approached the shield and was stunned by Su Hao’s appearance.

“How did you end up like this? Were your limbs chopped off? It’s unbelievable. Looks like you’ve never been on a mission before,” Li said, recalling his own first assignment and knowing newcomers had three free restoration chances upon returning.

“I have this shield—that’s my reliance for the mission,” Su Hao responded, manipulating the shield to envelop his limbless torso.

“That shield’s impressive. At our level, it's a luxury. Even fifth-level contractors can wield it. If you can afford such a shield, why not spend money fixing your body first?” Li Mingyu eyed the shield greedily, clearly coveting it.

“Brother, my body’s condition is congenital. I don’t know how to get gold coins,” Su Hao feigned ignorance.

“Hey, gold coins are cosmic currency. You should receive rewards after the test. The coins range from 100 to 1000; restoring two legs shouldn’t be a problem,” Li casually remarked.

“I didn’t know about that. In the reward options, I only saw a shield I could use, which seemed beneficial. I didn’t take any cosmic particles, just this shield,” Su Hao explained.

“Kid, you should have asked. One cosmic particle can be exchanged for ten thousand cosmic coins and can repair your body dozens of times. You don’t want them? Who believes that?” Li doubted harshly, unwilling to trust the “talking meatball.”

“Ah well, I chose the shield and won’t regret it,” Su Hao said awkwardly, sensing Li’s skepticism.

Li Mingyu turned away, saying, “But with you like this, who would want you on their survival team? Even with a shield, if you can’t move, what good are you?”

“Brother, you could tie the shield and me to yourself—I’m light,” Su Hao continued to plead telepathically.

“No, no! I’ll find someone else. You’d just be dead weight, a liability,” Li waved him off and walked away.

Su Hao sighed and tried others.

He spotted a beautiful woman holding a sign to find teammates and greeted her telepathically.

She looked around but saw no one.

Her name was Liu Weiwei, proud of her pretty face. She was puzzled, glancing repeatedly yet not spotting Su Hao.

When she finally saw him—a limbless figure with a large shield on his chest—she waved her hand.

“Are you the one talking to me?”

“Yes, I’m also here for the survival test. Can you take me on your team?” Su Hao asked.

“You? Impossible. If I bring you, not only will you die, but you’ll drag me down too. No way,” Liu Weiwei turned away and returned to her spot.

Su Hao wanted to explain his strengths and how together they might succeed.

His extraordinary intellect should ensure success, and if she led him, he could even guarantee her survival in desperate moments.

But she shook her head dismissively.

“Don’t waste my time,” Liu said, soon teaming up with Li Mingyu instead.

Su Hao tried telepathic calls to over twenty people, but none accepted him.

Just as despair was about to overwhelm him, he noticed a small, skinny, and dirty figure holding a sign: “Level One Survival Task Team-up.”

This tiny person had asked many but was repeatedly rejected. Only five minutes remained before annihilation.

Seizing the moment, Su Hao sent a telepathic message: “Are you forming a team for the survival task? I haven’t found anyone either.”

The little figure’s mind echoed with the sweet sound. Searching for the voice’s source, they spotted Su Hao.

Amid the sprawling plaza, Su Hao stood silently, supported by the invincible shield that bore his limbless body.

The small figure’s gaze swept through the crowd, seeking a partner to fight alongside.

Time trickled by, and few held signs for teaming. Amid the noise, Su Hao’s solitary figure stood out strikingly.

Then, the voice returned in the small figure’s mind, tinged with helplessness and self-deprecation:

“I’m just like you. Since no one else is teaming up, let’s do it together. I can’t promise I’ll get you through, but honestly, even if you just get me to the mission site, drop me off, and run with the shield, you’ve gained. Moreover, with my high intelligence, completing this survival task isn’t a problem.”

A faint smile curved Su Hao’s lips as he looked at the small but determined contractor before him.

He continued telepathically, “Once we finish this mission, you won’t want to team with anyone else. Little one, time’s almost up; let’s pair up.”

The small figure was moved, carefully studying the shield-bearer who had no limbs but whose eyes shone with sharp intellect.

They nodded and said, “Okay, we’re a team. How do you want me to carry you?”

“Tie me to your front or back—your choice.”

The little one hesitated, unable to decide.

Su Hao suggested, “You can strap the shield to your back and me to your front. That way, we’re one body: I protect you from the front and the shield guards you from behind. We’ll finish the mission for sure. How does that sound?”

As he spoke, he shaped and resized the invincible shield, demonstrating his capability to his prospective teammate.

The little one couldn’t help but admire Su Hao’s wit and courage, smiling softly.

Su Hao smiled back, sensing the resilience and optimism radiating from the small figure.

Reluctantly, the small one agreed, “Alright, it’s settled. Once we reach a spot, use your shield to hide our bodies. We’ll stay still for forty-eight hours, then return. When we come back, we’ll have earned money so you can repair your body. We’ll complete the mission and boost our attributes.”

Su Hao patted his teammate’s shoulder with the shield and said, “Hey, don’t worry. With me here, we’ll definitely succeed.”