Across the room.
Viper and HeavyTank stand still.
The duo who had reported Chen Shi earlier.
They exchanged a look.
Jackpot.
Viper's thin, snake-like face twisted into a grin.
He didn't dare laugh out loud—not with the Lady standing ten feet away—
but his shoulders shook violently with suppressed mirth.
HeavyTank clenched his massive fist, punching the air subtly near his hip.
Yes!
He's dead.
The corpse is probably being digested in the bedroom right now.
The wager is ours.
The points are ours.
Viper nudged HeavyTank, pointing his chin at Elena's pale, defeated form.
His eyes gleamed with the greed of a man who had just won the lottery.
He mouthed a single word to her across the room:
"Digestive. Fluid."
Then he gave a slow, mocking Thumbs Down.
[Foreign Live Stream Chat]
The floodgates broke.
Vindication washed over the screen.
[HAHAHAHA!]
[Where is your hero now, Dragon Country?!]
[Invisible? No. DIGESTED!]
[Cheater must die!]
[Elena, you dumb traitor! You bet your life on a corpse!]
Then, the golden ID popped up again, dominating the chat.
[User 'Golden_Eagle_Gambler' (VIP):]
[Pay up. Everyone.]
[I told you. A rookie is a rookie.]
[He provided a nice snack for the Lady, nothing more.]
[Dragon Country, your "miracle" is now fertilizer. Accept your mediocrity.]
[Dragon Country Live Stream Chat]
The chat moved slow.
The mood was heavy. Funereal.
[...No.]
[He really... didn't come out?]
[I don't believe it. He didn't cheat! He is special!]
[The door is still open... maybe...]
[Maybe...]
In the suffocating silence of the gym.
Lady Cecilia stopped in the center.
She smoothed her white dress.
Her movements were elegant. Calm.
But her voice cut through the air like a guillotine blade.
"Regarding the previous accusation against Player Chen Shi."
Viper's grin widened. He stepped forward, ready to accept his reward for exposing a cheater.
Cecilia's eyes narrowed.
"Verdict: Not Guilty."
Viper frozen mid-step.
"Huh?"
Cecilia raised her hand.
A flash of blue light illuminated the dim gym.
WHOOSH.
THUMP.
A figure was ejected from the void.
Landing heavily—but safely—at Elena's feet.
It was Chen Shi.
He was a mess.
His hair was wet and matted.
His face was flushed a deep red.
His eyes were glazed over, unfocused,.
And on his cheek...
A streak of fluid was slowly drying.
[System Notification]
[Player: Chen Shi (Level 0) - STATUS: ALIVE]
[Condition: Severe Physical Exhaustion]
The gym went dead silent.
A pin drop would have sounded like a cannon blast.
Viper's jaw unhinged.
HeavyTank took a step back, his face draining of color.
Elena stared at the man at her feet.
For a second, she couldn't breathe.
Then.
"Chen!"
She dropped to her knees.
Tears burst from her eyes.
She grabbed his shoulders, checking him frantically.
"You're alive! You're actually alive!"
"Amy! Look! He's back!"
Amy threw herself onto Chen Shi's chest, sobbing into his shirt.
"Big Brother! Don't leave us!"
Chen Shi patted them weakly. His hand trembling.
"I'm... fine..."
"Just... need water..."
[Dragon Country Live Stream Chat]
The chat was silent for one second.
Then it EXPLODED.
[HE'S ALIVE!!!!!!]
[HAHAHAHAHA! I TOLD YOU!]
[LOOK AT HIM! HE'S DRAINED BUT ALIVE!]
[THE MIRACLE IS REAL!]
[INNOCENT! OUR HERO IS INNOCENT!]
[LADY CECILIA IS JUST! LONG LIVE THE LADY!]
[SUCK IT, WESTERN ALLIANCE! SUCK IT!]
Viper stood there. Trembling.
His world was crumbling.
"No..."
"Impossible..."
He pointed a shaking finger at Chen Shi.
"Lady! You must be mistaken!"
"I saw it! Everyone saw it!"
"There was a hidden object under his shirt! It was massive! It was rigid!"
"It was clearly a cheating tool! A weapon!"
"How can I be wrong?! My 'Eye of Truth' skill never fails!"
Lady Cecilia turned slowly.
Her red eyes locked onto Viper.
The temperature in the room dropped to absolute zero.
"Are you questioning my judgment?"
She took a step forward. The floorboards cracked under her heel.
"I personally inspected the object."
"I measured it."
"And I tested its function."
She licked her lips, a smile flashed.
"It is Organic."
"It is attached to his body."
"Therefore, it is not a tool."
"It is simply... his natural talent."
Viper's face turned purple.
"Natural... talent?"
"THAT THING?!"
Cecilia's expression hardened.
"Enough."
"False accusation."
"Wasting my time."
"Slandering a guest with... exceptional potential."
She raised a finger.
"The punishment is..."
"One rib."
SNAP.
She didn't even touch him.
She just clenched her fist in the air.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHH!"
Viper screamed.
He collapsed to the floor, clutching his chest.
The sound of the bone snapping echoed wetly in the silent gym.
He writhed in agony, foaming at the mouth.
Cecilia looked down at him coldly.
"Be grateful I am in a good mood."
"Next time you question my inspection..."
"I will take your spine."
The gym was silent.
Except for the sound of Viper whimpering on the floor, clutching his broken chest.
HeavyTank stared at his partner, then at Chen Shi.
His face was a mask of pure disbelief.
"Natural... talent?"
He muttered, his voice shaking.
"That... massive thing under his shirt... was part of him?"
"And she... she tested it?"
He looked at Lady Cecilia's glowing, satisfied expression.
Then back at Chen Shi's exhausted, drained state.
Click.
The realization hit him like a truck.
Oh my god.
He didn't cheat with a tool.
He cheated with his BODY.
[Foreign Live Stream Chat]
The chat was in chaos. Denial was the only defense mechanism left.
[WHAT?!]
[IMPOSSIBLE!]
[How can a human have that size?! It was bulging through his shirt!]
[She's lying! The Ghost Queen is biased!]
[Wait... did she just admit to sleeping with him to 'test' it?!]
[NO! IMPOSSIBLE! S-Rank Ghosts don't lower themselves to humans!]
[He must have a Charm Skill! He brainwashed her!]
Then, the Golden Eagle Gambler returned.
[User 'Golden_Eagle_Gambler' (VIP):]
[Pure luck.]
[He got lucky with a hidden passive skill. That's all.]
[But look at him.]
[He can barely stand. His legs are trembling like noodles.]
[He survived the 'inspection', sure. But the Game isn't over.]
[The next round is Squats. Heavy Squats.]
[In his condition? He will collapse under the bar in ten seconds.]
[My wager stands. He dies in the workout.]
Back in the Gym.
Elena helped Chen Shi sit up against the wall.
She wiped the sweat from his forehead, her hands still trembling slightly.
"Chen..."
She whispered, leaning close so the others couldn't hear.
"Where were you hiding?"