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A countdown sounded in his mind.
"Eh, I heard a strange countdown sound." Fujiwara Chika covered her ears, tilting her head and patting them, like a little rabbit hopping around. "Did you hear it?"
Unfortunately, no one paid attention.
This wasn't a countdown; it was a death knell!
Amamiya Natsuki silently looked at Shinomiya Kaguya, his eyelid twitching slightly.
This is a scam!
Team-up was forced? It didn't even need a confirmation click!
"…I'm sorry." As the young lady of Shinomiya, she naturally had to bravely admit her mistakes; only cowards would choose to escape. She bit her lower lip tightly with her pearly teeth. "I just received a notification that to enhance the player experience, the game has optimized the team-up method. As long as there is physical contact, team-up can be triggered."
This wasn't optimization; it was clearly a scheme to harm players!
"I didn't touch you, did I?"
Amamiya Natsuki couldn't help but ask.
It was one thing for Fujiwara Chika to become his teammate, but why was he chosen?
Did even eye contact count for the judgment?
Shinomiya Kaguya continued:
"Players within three meters will be automatically judged as teammates…"
It's too late to say this information now!
Amamiya Natsuki closed his eyes and sighed helplessly.
One more idiot teammate.
"What are you talking about?" Fujiwara Chika's eyes widened as she looked left and right. "Why don't I understand?"
"Don't ask. You'll know soon."
Countdown three, two…
Amamiya Natsuki felt a slight dizziness in his head. The next moment, he had appeared on the Campus, surrounded by a group of students in unfamiliar school uniforms… or, to be precise, ghosts.
Their faces were pale, devoid of any color, their eyes were just empty black holes, and their bodies were covered in shocking bloodstains. On the dilapidated Campus ground, blood had congealed into patches, and various messy marks of fingers clawing at the ground could still be seen.
Noticing Amamiya Natsuki's gaze, a 'classmate' beside him turned to look, baring sharp, jagged fangs.
Location: Haunted School.
game: Campus of Seven Mysteries.
Clearance conditions: Complete at least three challenges, or survive until 4:44.
Current challenge level: One, Two, Three, Red Light, Green Light. Please press the button on the back of the Daruma within the given time. Those who fail to complete it on time will be eliminated.
The game is about to begin. We wish all players a happy game.
As the chilling prompt ended, Amamiya Natsuki felt his throat loosen, and he regained the ability to speak and move.
"Eh? Eh? Eh?" Fujiwara Chika's incredulous voice suddenly rang out. "W-What exactly is this?!"
A loud shout quickly attracted the attention of all players and ghosts.
"Keep your voice down." Shinomiya Kaguya quickly covered her good friend's mouth, then leaned close to her ear and whispered an explanation. "Last night… I'm sorry, it's all my fault."
Although Fujiwara Secretary often did things that ordinary people couldn't understand, she was indeed Shinomiya Kaguya's only friend.
Having dragged her friend into such a dangerous game, Shinomiya Kaguya finally couldn't maintain her indifferent expression, as if a mountain collapsing before her wouldn't change her demeanor. Her eyes were filled with guilt and self-reproach.
"I see, this isn't Kaguya's fault." Fujiwara Chika clenched her pink fists, her expression serious, and a dazzling light emanated from her. "Kaguya actually participated in such a dangerous game. As a friend, how can I stand by and do nothing… From now on, I'll protect you!"
I don't want to interrupt your yuri moment, but hurry up and apologize to the innocent person you dragged into this!
Fujiwara Chika said, giving a thumbs-up: "I'm a game master, you know, I can definitely clear this easily."
Amamiya Natsuki smelled a strong flag.
In horror movies, the person who says this with a bright smile is often the first to get their bento.
"Heh."
A disdainful sneer came over.
"You're thinking of protecting others in a game like this? Are you a noob?"
Besides Amamiya Natsuki's trio who entered the game as a team, there were other players on the Campus. These people were clearly not 'rookie noobs' and weren't as shocked as Fujiwara Chika, though their faces were all very grim.
"Eh, how did you know?" Fujiwara Chika looked over in surprise. "It's indeed my first time playing this game. Please guide me."
"Impossible." The woman was shocked. "A rookie's first game wouldn't be this difficult."
Shinomiya Kaguya hung her head in shame.
Game Start—
As the cold, emotionless voice sounded, the giant Daruma doll standing at the Campus exit slowly moved its body, turning its back to everyone.
Amamiya Natsuki felt his body loosen, the invisible restraint disappearing, and he regained the ability to move.
Eerie music with a creepy, unsettling style began to play, and everyone on the Campus, from players to ghost students, began to move.
No one knew when the Daruma would turn its head, so every player moved cautiously. Most of the ghost students were also like this; their bodies were stiff, and some even showed clear expressions of terror and helplessness on their faces.
"The distance is about two hundred meters, very far…"
Amamiya Natsuki silently estimated the distance, his gaze falling on the Daruma, trying to figure out how to pass the level: "The Daruma is about three meters tall, and the button is below its head…"
"Hmm?!"
Amamiya Natsuki's gaze suddenly sharpened. In his vision, a line of text suddenly appeared on the Daruma.
La la la, I'm a happy Daruma. My sight cannot penetrate objects. Current turn countdown: three, two…
Amamiya Natsuki quietly stopped his steps.
As the countdown ended, the giant Daruma, swaying from side to side, suddenly turned around with unimaginable speed. A ghost student who reacted half a beat too late was caught off guard, only seeing a black shadow flash by in mid-air, followed by the ghost student's head suddenly exploding. Fortunately, no blood splattered; only black gas surged and flowed, and it fell to the ground with a thud.
Even so, it still made people's faces pale and their foreheads sweat.
The Campus was dead silent.
A moment later, the Daruma slowly turned its back, and the eerie song began again.
"So, so scary." Fujiwara Chika covered her chest, completely flustered. "Isn't the penalty for failure just being sent off the field?!"
You want to retreat off the field? Do you think this is playing house?!
Amamiya Natsuki continued to watch the Daruma.
After more than ten seconds, the same prompt appeared again.
"Stop."
Amamiya Natsuki timed it perfectly, stopping abruptly a second before.
The next moment, the Daruma turned on time. This time, it was even more unlucky; a game player accidentally moved their arm and received the exact same punishment as the ghost student.
A few seconds later, the Daruma turned its back, and the game continued.
A tall ghost student seemed to be preparing to throw caution to the wind, suddenly turned his head, and reached out blood-stained hands to grab Fujiwara Chika, probably wanting to warm someone's heart before dying.
"Smack."
Amamiya Natsuki stepped forward half a pace and grabbed the other's wrist.
"Th-Thank you, Amamiya-kun…"
Fujiwara Chika's face was pale, and she quickly thanked him.
The ghost student, however, turned its head and glared at Amamiya Natsuki, opening its mouth to reveal a mouthful of sharp fangs.
Turn countdown…
The prompt appeared again.
Amamiya Natsuki suddenly bent down a second before the turn, squatting behind the ghost student.
As the Daruma turned, two more unlucky individuals were eliminated, and the Campus fell into a deathly silence.
"Now!"
Amamiya Natsuki took a light breath, clasped his hands together, and looked at the ghost student's back.
"To the ghost, Ninja Art, A Thousand Years of Death—"
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