"It seems now that the second Dark Gold Equipment has also been obtained by this lucky participant."

At this moment, Di Ting, who was hosting the competition, lowered his eyes to the split screen sent by the director's room. He couldn't help but let out a tainted smile, soon feeling pity for the other participants.

The most menacing of the seventeen Dark Gold Equipments had fallen into the hands of such a fierce beast, and there was bound to be a good show to come.

Without a doubt, the odds for Huai Shi on Darknet's betting sites must have started plummeting... Di Ting waved his hand, refusing the slip of paper with Huai Shi's identity passed over by the director's room.

Now wasn't the time. What's the rush?

He changed the topic and continued, "Let's see, the third piece and the only weapon among the seventeen pieces of Dark Gold Equipment that has a usage limit—whose hands will it fall into..."

On the screen, the disputes continued unabated, and the number of Sublimators who had been eliminated had soared to over fifteen hundred.

It had only been an hour since the start.

If this continued, there would be no need for seven days; the winner might be decided by tomorrow, right?

As if.

Di Ting hid the malice in his smile, his gaze filled with anticipation.

Until now, those participants who were killing so gleefully hadn't realized.

——From the beginning to the end, no one ever said this game was a battle royale.

The first test is about to arrive...

.

.

"Finally willing to leave?"

As Little Stone fled in leaps and bounds, Ye Xueya, the young woman on the distant building top, revealed a delightful smile.

But she merely watched from afar, as if she had no intention of giving chase.

Next to her, Luo Shen, holding a gun, hesitated and then turned to ask,

"Aren't we taking him down?"

"Taking down what?"

Ye Xueya turned her head. She looked as if she didn't understand what he meant, as if she had no intention of taking action. "Why take him down? We've already lost, eh? We've been toyed with three times in a row... If we rush over in a fit of anger crying for revenge, can we change the fact that he won a round from us?"

"Boss, just make sure you're not letting a tiger back into the mountains," Luo Shen said, glancing cautiously in the direction where Huai Shi had disappeared. "That guy always gives me the feeling he's going to stir up some major trouble."

"Wouldn't that be even better?"

Ye Xueya withdrew her gaze, nonchalantly waving her hand. "He has already proven his strength and worth. Instead of clashing with such a strong opponent and hurting both sides to the advantage of others in the early stage, it's better to see if we can meet again in the finals. Furthermore, as a good woman, you shouldn't cling to someone like a piece of sticky taffy, right?"

A good woman?

Smoking, tattoos, and changing boyfriends as frequently as clothes aside, where could you find such a 'good woman' who kills mercilessly at the Border, and beats up colleagues and opponents just for fun?

Luo Shen snorted inwardly but dared not express this in front of her.

Fearing his legs might get broken.

In the distance, a signal flare shot into the sky, making Ye Xueya's smile even more joyful.

The third piece of Dark Gold Equipment, secured.

"There are three pieces of Dark Gold Equipment in total in the Central District; we've already given up one. Now others can't complain that our Social Security Bureau is too domineering, right?"

She turned around. In the high-altitude howling wind, she looked down at the countless steel jungles below. At last, her gaze converged on the deepest part of the many buildings, the ominous edifice hidden in the darkness.

"From now on, let's not tangle with irrelevant ones. After tonight, focus entirely on the conquest of the Mitsukoshi Great Building—"

Ye Xueya gestured with her hand. "Spread the word. We don't care about the rest of the Central District, but the Ginza District is ours. Other participants can either die or get out!"

With her gesture, faint starlight emerged from the air. It turned into countless fox-like, fleeting shapes that slipped into the shadows with the wind, spreading the warning from the Social Security Bureau far and wide.

.

The sky gradually darkened.

It seemed like an illusion, growing darker and darker.

There wasn't supposed to be a difference between day and night in the hellish region beyond the Border, where the sun and stars do not shine. But now, everyone could clearly feel—night was about to fall.

With the approaching 'night,' an ominous atmosphere gradually rose from the silent city.

It was as if... awakening from a deep sleep.

The darkness and Ghosts hidden within Hell slowly opened their eyes, peering out from the cracks at these strangers who did not belong.

Grinding teeth, savoring blood.

Countless indistinct, phantom shadows emerged from every corner, resembling projections from another world, bustling about. Occasionally, from across the chasm of life and death, they cast chilling glances at this world.

Despite the encompassing darkness of Hell, a streak of sunset light inexplicably appeared, utterly oppressive.

It illuminated nothing, instead making one's heart grow ever more uneasy...

"Not bad, eh? I can even catch some sun here."

In the desolate park, Huai Shi, sitting on the grass, looked up at the distant sunset glow, tinged with a faint shade of blood.

Whether it was relief from his replenished life force or contentment from the sun's warmth, he felt increasingly comfortable and exhilarated.

It felt like coming home...

Having recently recovered from serious injuries, his vitality still weak, Huai Shi wandered through the dark green grass and thorny brambles, touching each one. Although desperately in need of life force, he didn't opt to drain them completely dry. A little from each tree was enough; there were plenty of trees around. By drawing a bit here and there, he managed to replenish his depleted life force.

And amidst the swaying of countless bushes, Huai Shi suddenly paused, looking around in confusion.

It seems... I'm lost?

Although the park seemed small and the trees sparse, I've somehow inadvertently wandered into what feels like a forest. Twisting and turning, I can't find the way I came in.

Suddenly, a shadow seemed to flit past in front of him.

When he focused intently, he couldn't make anything out. He only heard faint laughter coming from the darkness behind him, but when he turned around, there was no one there.

Not until he looked ahead again did he see a figure standing quietly in the deepest part of the forest, beneath the dimming sunset, beckoning to him.

It seemed to be calling out to him.

"Come quick, come quick," the shadow called warmly. "It's getting dark, hurry over..."

"Are you calling me?" Huai Shi paused, pointing at himself. The shadow kept beckoning, signaling him to come closer, exuding a heartwarming enthusiasm.

Although something felt off, Huai Shi decided to follow the figure, trailing behind it.

For some reason, the figure seemed to stand far away. No matter how much Huai Shi advanced, he couldn't narrow the distance; instead, as he walked, he lost all sense of where he was.

The surroundings grew increasingly gloomy and indistinct. The black shadows of the trees, speckled with the remnants of the sunset, dimly lit the shattered Maitreya Stone Sculpture in the underbrush.

Moss had drawn a chilling smile on Maitreya's lips.

But all of a sudden, the beckoning figure in front paused, as if realizing something was amiss. It walked briskly towards Huai Shi, scrutinizing his face.

"Hm?" The figure's face was indistinct in the darkness, a blur, yet it now undoubtedly exuded annoyance and irritability. "What's going on? Be careful, will you."

"Ah?" Huai Shi was taken aback.

"Seriously, I knew something was off!"

Though it hadn't spoken aloud, the voice unmistakably reached Huai Shi's ears.

It sounded thoroughly irritated, yet it still kindly warned, "Where did you come from, young man? Don't wander around. Make haste and find an inn."

The figure gestured with its hand towards a nearby path. "Hurry on. If it gets dark, it's very dangerous outside."

"Uh... thank you."

Huai Shi didn't comprehend what was happening. However, by now, he had clearly distinguished the figure's sinister aura—so different from the living—along with a faint resentfulness and hatred.

It seems, somewhat, somewhere... something isn't quite right.

Could this figure be one of the Alien Species or lost souls that survived in this Hell? But it doesn't seem to intend any harm towards me.

From the very beginning, I haven't felt any malice.

On the contrary, the figure was quite hospitable.

Not understanding what's happening, but since it showed me the way, I might as well follow it.

"This way, correct?"

"Just keep walking straight, and you'll be out in about three minutes," the figure said impatiently. "Remember, absolutely do not look back, or you'll never make it out."

"Okay."

Huai Shi nodded and strode along the small path amidst the weeds. He bypassed several clumps of brambles, and after passing through the thick tree shade, it didn't take long for him to find himself back on the street.

When he raised his head, his smile froze.

He was confronted with an unbelievable sight.

And then he stood rooted to the spot.

"What in the world... is this?"

.

.

At the same time, all contestants felt a jolt at their chests as the system panel from the Joyful Framework popped up simultaneously before their eyes.

Main quest update.

——[Encounter the Devil]

But the quest description was all a blur, cryptically stating: Seize this rare moment of encountering the devil to embark on an unforgettable night's journey, or... find a comforting light to shelter under before the restless long night arrives.

The countdown begins.

One hour.

"Fuck this mission!"

Inside a dark alley, a slender Sublimator, after jubilantly beheading the last enemy with one strike, opened the chest. Then he stood there frozen, his face turning ashen. "Fuck, it's all bullets! I don't even have a gun! What the fuck do I need bullets for?!"

Those two rows of golden magazines shone with a dazzling light.

Mocking his futile efforts for the past half-day.

After his powerless rage subsided, he bent down, picked up the magazines from the ground, and prepared to leave. And then... he saw a lean figure that had appeared at the entrance of the alley at some unknown time.

It was a woman.

On her white dress, her eerie long hair flowed down from her shoulders like black water.

She wore a large mask. Her eyes, obscured by her bangs, were vaguely visible; they seemed empty, as if smiling.

Gazing at the astonished Sublimator.

"Am I beautiful?" she suddenly asked.

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