Starting from Robinson Crusoe

Calculating the time based on the current beacon’s descent speed, Chen Zhou was startled to discover that when the glowing beacon was only 500m from the ground, it happened to be nighttime.

Nearly a month ago, when the beacon was first observed, its light was bright and could be seen from thousands of kilometers away.

By the time it reached the edge of the tundra, it had dimmed several times over, visible only to those near the tundra.

As of today, the beacon’s light has become even dimmer, unable to illuminate the Black Forest anymore.

Now, the beacon could barely provide some illumination to the woodland in the core area, and its brightness continued to diminish.

Chen Zhou estimated that by tonight, the beacon would no longer illuminate the forest, the night sky and coal-like trees forming an enormous visual trap, making it difficult for challengers to notice the dark spot below the beacon.

This meant that, besides him, others unaware of the dark spot would be under the illusion—

that the resource landing would still take a while and they had plenty of time.

Upon this thought, Chen Zhou quickly peeked out to observe the three groups of challengers, worried that they might look up at the beacon.

Though not everyone had the eyesight he did, challengers were no ordinary people, and there was no telling if they could spot the dark spot.

The six figures by the campfire gave him a sense of relief.

Food, opponents, the oppressive Black Forest, and the Indians of unknown whereabouts monopolized too much of their focus.

Now, with at least a dozen hours left before the beacon would hit the canopy layer, they would concentrate their attention on the other two groups of challengers instead of the beacon no one could reach.

...

Relieved for now, Chen Zhou dismissed the idea of circling around the core area again.

Before sunset, he had to stay here to monitor the three groups of challengers, until the starry curtain enveloped the dark spot, leaving only the beacon’s descent.

...

As time ticked away, the challengers had no desire to communicate; the atmosphere, though not on the brink of conflict, maintained a pre-battle tension.

Just as Chen Zhou predicted, the closer the beacon got to the Black Forest, the dimmer its light became.

Once like the sun, it now resembled only the morning star, and without the backdrop of night, it might not even be noticeable at noon.

After the sun completely set, the only sources of light in the forest were the three campfires.

The two groups of challengers aware of the Indians were restless—

With their competitors gone for so long, they felt uneasy, and if it weren’t for another unfamiliar group present, worried that their departure might trigger an unpredictable chain reaction, they would have already left their temporary base to search for the Indians.

Now, with possibly only six or seven hours left until the supplies touched down, they found it hard to remain calm and continue waiting.

With necessity, communication inevitably emerged; two groups of challengers, not far apart, each sent a representative to attempt exchanging information, which alerted the other group of challengers.

When that group of challengers brandished their weapons, this already barely possible "negotiation" instantly broke down.

The situation once again reached an impasse.

Unnoticed high in the trees, Chen Zhou quietly set out.

He cautiously walked out along a spiraling path, circling the core area, creating different trails to deceive other challengers, and checking whether anyone else had entered beneath the landing spot.

This method of movement would continue until he reached directly under the landing spot, until he found the best position to compete for the "little dark spot."