Ten minutes later.Jiang YunHan and Zhao Kui Jiang returned."Two doors," Jiang YunHan reported, his voice low and grim. "One leads to a fight against a New Human. The other… forces the two participants to fight each other. To the death. And if just one person chooses the PvP door, it overrides everything. The other person's choice becomes irrelevant."
This made everyone grasp the game's essence.It seemed one of the first two had chosen the PvP door, leading to a death.So the game wasn't hard—just a pity the first group's member died unclear and unhonored.
The third group was Liu Chang'an and the boy.The fourth group was Tianyi Warehouse's two—they'd been three, but only two entered, including Lin Ying.
They resolved their battles quickly, both choosing to duel New Humans.Things went smoothly.
The fifth group:Chen Xiao went with his teammate, a boy named Zhai Kuan—an A-rank talent holder, a top-tier apocalypse talent.But trying to intimidate Chen Xiao with his talent rank fell short.
Chen Xiao followed Horse-Face, scanning him freely with [Dragon's Breath].He could sense Horse-Face's immense power—yet it was fully hidden.
"Are you spying on me?"Horse-Face didn't turn, his voice icy and alien.Chen Xiao quickly averted his gaze, silent.
Horse-Face led them to the arena's center, separated by a wall.Two doors were on it—one with a crawling unknown creature,the other with a bipedal human (now a New Human).Chen Xiao didn't hesitate, choosing the New Human door.
Inside was an ordinary First-stage New Human, waiting long.He pounced at Chen Xiao—only to be kicked to death.Then Chen Xiao cleared the stage, returning to the room with Zhai Kuan as it descended.They were back to the start.
Everyone was overjoyed, thinking the "evolution opportunity" was near.But Chen Xiao wasn't happy—he felt things were too simple.Compared to the apocalypse's first day needing 5,000 evolution points, this test felt hasty.
Soon, New Humans brought exquisitely cooked meat."Congratulations, day one objective achieved.""Hehehehe."Horse-Face laughed as he entered, then left after announcing.
It felt like clocking in and out of a soulless job.Zhao Kui Jiang eagerly took cutlery, scooped beef, and spat it out immediately."Damn it, it's the same as outside—stinking acid."Jiang YunHan took a bite, forcing it down."Horse-Face said day one, so there will be day two, three… the food will only get smellier."Zhao Kui Jiang agreed, eating like Jiang YunHan.
Chen Xiao didn't mind—he'd eaten plenty of this in his past life.Late apocalypse meat was ten times smellier, yet people still craved it.Without a meat-creating talent, bases ate veggies or stinky meat.
Jiang YunHan was surprised Chen Xiao ate it like a delicacy."Chen Xiao, I can't figure you out."Chen Xiao put down cutlery, wiping his mouth:"Boss Jiang, instead of studying psychology, you should exercise more.""…"
Silenced, Jiang YunHan ate silently.His strength recovered gradually.
Chen Xiao checked his watch—its erratic movement was irritating.He pocketed it, counting time mentally.
The next day:Exhausted, everyone was sent back.Horse-Face stood on his pillar, laughing:"Same as yesterday.""Pair up for the game.""Unpaired in five minutes die."
This time was different—only nine people!The first group's survivor paled, staring at the formed teams.He struggled:"Officer Liu! Save me! I've sacrificed so much for the organization…""Brother, team with me! I know the Cangzhou Li family, I'll pay you well!""Dad, team with me! I don't want to die…"
"Grandpa, great-grandpa, ancestor!"But no one cared.
When Zhai Kuan near Chen Xiao moved,Chen Xiao grabbed him without hesitation—strength so great the table trembled.His grip broke Zhai Kuan's wrist, who cried out.Chen Xiao turned, his icy gaze making Zhai Kuan shiver."If I kill you…""Would Horse-Face let me team with him?"
Zhai Kuan looked at the sobbing military man and Chen Xiao,then sat silently.Offending this dangerous man early on was unwise—even if the outcast was his "loved one."
Five minutes later:Horse-Face approached the lone man.
He placed a hand on the first group survivor's head."You're unpaired."The survivor realized Horse-Face was the enforcer—no resistance meant death.He reached for his gun, but before drawing it,there was a sickening, wet crunch, like an overripe melon giving way. Horse-Face's hand closed, and the man's head simply ceased to exist, replaced by a burst of gore that painted the immediate vicinity.He left this absurd world.Bullets were useless against Horse-Face.His brains splattered on the boy,who remained eerily calm—wiping the liquid without a word.
"First group, follow me."The first group was wiped out.Now the second group became the first.As yesterday, Horse-Face took Jiang YunHan and Zhao Kui Jiang away.Ten minutes later, they returned, pale.
Chen Xiao wanted to ask, but Zhao Kui Jiang's face was ashen. He swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a horrified whisper that somehow cut through the room. "The New Human… it was stronger. Significantly stronger than yesterday."Everyone at the table jumped."What? Those monsters got stronger!""If so, when will it end? We can't wait for them to get stronger…""If they send stronger ones daily, then we…"Unfinished, but understood—if New Humans grew stronger daily, they'd die at their hands.This was the real dire news!The game's true malice was revealed!
So was choosing New Humans really best?Everyone fell silent.Clearly, after days, PvP was easier to survive—provided other groups had loners.This encouraged mutual slaughter!
Then everyone thought the same:A single, horrifying conclusion echoed in every mind: the only way to guarantee your own survival was to be the last one standing. This game, from the very beginning, was designed to produce a single victor.
In an instant, a visible shift occurred in the room. The air grew thick with tension. Sidelong glances were exchanged, postures stiffened, and the physical space between partners subtly increased. The bond of temporary alliance, forged just minutes ago, had evaporated into a fog of mutual suspicion.Once suspicion arose,the situation could spiral out of control!