Starting the Game with Godlike Vision

Chapter 10 - Following One's Heart

On the other side of the corridor, Zheng Ren was engaged in a three-on-one fight against a Hunter. The pressure on him was far less than what Zuo Chengan faced.

In fact, he had enough spare energy to use Zhao Chengyuan's mirror tool as a makeshift toothbrush, scrubbing the Hunter's teeth clean.

A cascade of dislodged teeth clattered onto the floor, a sound that filled Zheng Ren with deep satisfaction.

The group's morale soared as the Hunters suddenly lost their will to fight.

At the same time, faint rays of sunlight began filtering through the windows.

[Daybreak has arrived! Hunters have retreated.]

Though both Hunters had been whittled down to barely 20% of their health, Zuo Chengan had deliberately held back, ensuring they retained some of their combat capability.

With the battle over, Zuo Chengan hefted his axe and turned toward the door to Room 207, where Liu Shuang had hidden.

His face darkened with resolve. Without a word, he brought the axe down hard on the lock.

Realizing Zuo Chengan's intent, Zhao Chengyuan quickly joined in and hacked at the flimsy door with all his might, ignoring Liu Shuang's panicked cries from within.

"Hey, hey, hey! What's going on?" Liu Shuang shouted, his voice cracking with fear.

Zhao Chengyuan didn't answer, pouring his frustration and fury into every blow.

The door, already fragile, soon crumbled into a pile of splinters.

Inside, Liu Shuang was cornered, clutching his precious dried lamb like a lifeline. His eyes darted wildly as he stammered, "W-What's going on? Let's talk this out, okay? Self-preservation is just human instinct..."

Zhao Chengyuan pointed his axe directly at Liu Shuang's face, his tone cold and resolute. "Apologize."

"I... I'll definitely do my part tonight!" Liu Shuang stammered, but his excuse was cut short by a solid punch from Zhao Chengyuan.

Though typically mild-mannered, Zhao Chengyuan was not one to let a betrayal slide.

His punch sent Liu Shuang reeling into the wall with a loud thud, before bouncing back from the impact. Without hesitation, Zhao Chengyuan raised his fist for another blow.

Liu Shuang cowered, shielding his face and wailing, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was wrong! I'm a coward and a weakling! Please, have mercy!"

Tears spilled down Liu Shuang's cheeks as his voice cracked into sobs.

Zhao Chengyuan's raised fist hesitated in midair.

Was it compassion? Exhaustion? No one could tell why the second blow never came.

For a moment, Liu Shuang thought he had succeeded in worming his way out.

It wouldn't be the first time his slick words had smoothed over a confrontation. People like Zhao Chengyuan, he believed, were easy to manipulate with a show of remorse.

But his relief was short-lived. Instead of striking him again, Zhao Chengyuan grabbed Liu Shuang by the collar and dragged him bodily out of Room 207.

The two remaining Hunters, weakened and battered, didn't bother with their usual theatrics of stalking the corridor or scratching every door to intimidate.

Instead, they went straight to 208, scratching perfunctorily at its door, as though completing a checklist.

In Room 207, Liu Shuang smirked.

Stupid NPCs, he thought. Bound by the rigid game rules.

Twirling the Room 208 key in his fingers, he shifted into a more comfortable position to await the game's end.

What Liu Shuang didn't know, however, was that had he witnessed the Hunters in battle the previous night, he would never have made such a naïve assumption.

These creatures were far from ordinary, rule-bound NPCs.

Within moments, the Hunters had broken down the door to Room 208. They didn't even glance inside, their focus locked on Liu Shuang's presence in the adjacent room.

Following their unnatural instincts, they stalked directly toward him.

Hearing the scratching outside stop, Liu Shuang relaxed.

The Hunters had breached Room 208—his earlier decision to relocate seemed vindicated. He breathed a sigh of relief, imagining the chaos he had avoided.

Then he noticed the silence.

It was too quiet.

A rancid stench filled his nostrils. It came from above.

Heart pounding, Liu Shuang glanced upward, only to see two Hunters looming through the jagged hole in Room 207's broken door.

Their long claws reached through, hovering over his neck, as though calculating the perfect place to strike.

"AAAHHH!!" Liu Shuang screamed, his first clear look at the Hunters' grotesque faces driving him into blind panic.

He scrambled backward, clawing for the axe he had left on the floor.

In his desperation, he hacked at anything and everything—walls, the already broken door—until the hole widened enough for the Hunters to wedge half their bodies through.

Upon realizing his mistake, Liu Shuang's terror surged anew.

He swung wildly with no technique, slashing at the claws, the walls, the air, all the while shrieking, "Die! Die! Stay away from me!"

Despite his hysteria, a flicker of rational thought remained. He knew the others were watching from their rooms, doing nothing to help.

Pride and shame no longer mattered as he cried out for aid, "Somebody! Anybody! Big Brother, Big Sister—please save me! Mom! Dad! I'm begging you, help!"

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