After Bai Jiang bandaged the young woman's wound, she quietly stepped back into the corner.
The atmosphere inside the elevator grew heavier with each passing minute.
The nineteen survivors fell into an uneasy silence, only the occasional sob or whisper breaking the oppressive air.
No one dared approach the doors again.
Bai Jiang glanced at the countdown floating faintly in her mind:
47 minutes remaining.
Still too long.
She held her small oxygen cylinder close, breathing steadily. The air inside the elevator was already turning thin. Many people were showing signs of dizziness and labored breathing.
In this sealed box, oxygen depletion was inevitable.
Bai Jiang weighed her options.
If she tried to share oxygen with others, it would only make her a target.
She had to last until the end.
Suddenly, a woman's voice trembled in the silence:
"I… I can't breathe… help…"
Bai Jiang looked over. It was a woman in her twenties, her face pale, drenched in sweat. She slid down to the floor, gasping.
The people around her instinctively backed away, afraid of getting involved.
Someone muttered, "She's running out of air."
Then another person whispered, "Less oxygen for her… means more for the rest of us."
A chilling silence fell.
Bai Jiang's gaze sharpened.
She understood.
In this death trap, the weakest would be the first to be abandoned.
The girl gasped painfully. Her lips turned purple. Her hands scratched helplessly at the air.
"Help… please… I don't want to die…"
No one moved.
Bai Jiang watched calmly.
She wanted to save her.
But logically, if she gave the girl oxygen, what would the others think?
That Bai Jiang had resources. That she had oxygen to spare.
She would become a target instantly.
Bai Jiang closed her eyes.
She couldn't save her.
The girl's breathing grew weaker. Then, finally… she stopped moving.
Dead.
Eighteen people left.
Someone whispered coldly, "One less."
Bai Jiang opened her eyes.
This was the rule of death.
The fewer people alive, the more oxygen for the survivors.
From this moment on, people wouldn't just stand by while others died naturally.
They'd start killing.
Bai Jiang sensed movement.
The man who had looked unstable earlier now stood up slowly.
He looked around, his gaze feral.
"More… there's still too many… too many people… not enough air… I… I'll help…"
He pulled a sharp metal fragment from his pocket—probably torn from his clothing—and grinned.
"I'll help… clear the air…"
The closest person shrieked.
Bai Jiang moved.
Fast.
Before the man could strike, she stepped behind him and swung her oxygen cylinder hard.
Bang!
The man's head jerked violently.
He slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Everyone stared.
Bai Jiang stood calmly, holding the oxygen cylinder like a weapon.
Her voice was cold:
"If you want to kill, come at me."
No one moved.
Bai Jiang dragged the unconscious man to the corner, securing his hands behind his back with rope pulled silently from her inventory.
She returned to her position.
Her gaze swept over the players.
"No more killing. Or none of us will survive."
Silence.
Someone swallowed nervously.
The girl Bai Jiang had bandaged earlier watched her silently, eyes full of awe.
No one dared challenge Bai Jiang again.
⸻
38 minutes remaining.
Bai Jiang gripped her oxygen cylinder.
She knew.
This instance wasn't over yet.
Not even close.