Chapter 111: Which Side Will Hold the Way Out of This 'Survivor' Instance?
"Hey, hey, contestants, can you hear me—"
"The challenge is about to begin. The eight remaining contestants need to split into three teams, heading to the Torture Building, the Bone-Burial Forest, and the Mass Grave respectively. You'll complete some small challenges while searching for the red skull symbols we've hidden."
"Please note, each team must have at least 2 people, and at most 3. You can arrange your teams as you wish."
"The challenge contents have been placed in the three locations in the form of cards. We will not contact you during this period. If any contestant wishes to withdraw, please raise your arm and wave at a camera. Staff will come to escort you out."
"The challenge officially begins in ten minutes."
The voice from the broadcast, laced with the static of electric current, echoed through the empty front hall.
"These three names..." Winifred rubbed his forehead, "sound ominous just hearing them."
"Ominous is an understatement," Daisy said, the corner of her mouth twitching, "They practically have the word 'danger' carved on them."
She looked around. "Well then, let's start forming teams. Who wants to go where?"
"Choosing between the executioner's guillotine, the crematorium's chimney, and the drowning victim's water vat?" The man in the trench coat said with downcast eyes, his tone eerie. "The outcome is always returning the flesh to nothingness. The only difference lies in which farewell posture we prefer."
"I choose the Mass Grave. At least the corpses there... understand what true reunion is."
"..." An eerie silence fell over the front hall.
"Bro, you..." Winifred wanted to say something, but after his mouth hung open for a long moment, he ultimately just let out two awkward chuckles. "Okay, then I'll go to the Torture Building."
Polina glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then also said, "I'll also choose the Torture Building."
Daisy watched them with keen interest. "The Torture Building, huh? Count me in."
After discussion, Winifred, Polina, and Daisy chose to head to the Torture Building. The long-sleeved woman and the woman with a birthmark on her face chose to go to the Bone-Burial Forest. Saha, the man wearing a tie, and the man in the trench coat chose the Mass Grave.
Before parting ways, the group exchanged a few final words.
"Let's get the unpleasantries out of the way first," Daisy said, her gaze lingering briefly on each of the other five faces. "If any of you show up somewhere you shouldn't be, then please don't blame me."
Saha snorted coldly. "I'll give those words right back to you."
The long-sleeved woman nodded. "Of course."
With that, the three teams completely separated.
Everyone understood in their hearts that once separated now, cooperation might still be possible among teammates within a team, but trust between teams would likely be very difficult to achieve.
—
Buriman put down the mouse and silently sat back in his original seat.
He should have realized it sooner. A competition you could withdraw from so easily wouldn't come without other restrictions.
Staying in the camp certainly meant facing greater and more numerous dangers, but at least you could grasp first-hand information.
While this place was safe, the lack of information itself was the greatest danger.
He had been reckless.
"Excuse me, Director. Is there any possibility I could re-enter the competition?" Buriman raised his hand and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Impossible. You've already been eliminated. People must take responsibility for their choices. Not everything gets a second chance." The slovenly man, intently focused on the players on the screen, replied without turning his head.
"Okay." Buriman clapped his hands once. "You're right."
Looking on the bright side, this so-called withdrawal might just be participating in a different form.
Furthermore, the supernatural being's warning was still vivid in his mind.
But... his gaze involuntarily drifted back to that East Asian young man. The other's excessively calm profile, under the dim light, seemed out of place here.
A flicker of inquiry flashed in his eyes.
What could the other's words have meant?
Unwise?
He silently chewed on that evaluation.
What basis did this person, who withdrew first, have to judge his choice? And why did he think *he* was the wise one?
His thoughts gradually returned to the present. Buriman once again looked toward the surveillance screen.
The eight players on it had now split into three teams and were searching for their respective destinations.
Which side will hold the way out of this instance?
—
In the deep, dark corridor, the outer walls, saturated with time and some dark brown stains, were covered in dried moss and spiderwebs. The air here grew thick and icy, mixed with a heavy scent of blood that assaulted the nostrils of anyone approaching.
Winifred held up a flashlight, taking each step with care and caution.
Polina and Daisy followed beside him, their steps light yet laced with hidden vigilance.
Suddenly, Daisy spoke up. "You really don't know why you were attacked?"
Polina's steps faltered. "What are you trying to say?"
"Don't be tense. I'm not mocking you," Daisy chuckled lightly. "I'm sure you both saw it. That 'it' had no intention of killing, it was more about intimidation. Choosing you and that short-haired woman might just be because you're relatively weaker."
"Believe me, I'm really not mocking you," she repeated before continuing. "I'm just thinking, perhaps withdrawing from here might not be a bad option either?"
"Then why don't you apply to withdraw?" Polina asked, her tone cool.
Daisy spread her hands. "As I said, it's just a 'perhaps'."
"To be honest, I still have no real clue about this instance so far."
"If we want to cooperate, we should be a bit more honest, right?"
Winifred, walking at the front, chimed in with a laugh at this point. "Then you're not being honest enough, ma'am."
He abruptly stopped.
"The Torture Building. We're here."
