When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 493: Skydiving

Chapter 493: Skydiving

Ding!

A few minutes passed, and the officer’s voice echoed through the cabin once more, "We’re arriving at the destination. Please prepare yourself, dear children!" Almost at the same time, the window shades opened up, allowing the players to glimpse at the landscape below.

Jin Jiuchi let out a wolf whistle, while the other players sucked in a sharp nervous breath.

Spread out beneath them were a wide expanse of tree trops that resembled a sea of green mushrooms, veiled with a thin layer of mist. The towering peak of Mount Fuji pierced through the clouds, showcasing its might and grandeur. Perhaps because it was nearly dusk, but the entire forest seemed to exude an eerie and gloomy aura.

"A–Ah..." a female player stammered with tears in her eyes, her legs shaking. "I... I can’t do this. I can’t do this! I have a height phobia!!"

Gu Luoxin slapped a hand over his mouth, his face a little green. He didn’t even have a height phobia, but the thought of having to jump down from this height was enough to make his stomach churn from the nerves.

But the Cycle was not so benevolent as to wait for their nerves to settle. In the next second, the hatch opened up and a violent gale swept in, wildly ruffling their hair and clothes. At the top of the cabin, a fluorescent timer flickered to life, displaying the one hour countdown.

60.00

As they stared, the numbers began to tick down.

59.59...

59.58...

"Aha, it’s started!" The officer announced in sheer joy and delight. "A very courageous child has jumped down straight to the adventure!"

Foul curses erupted from the players inside the cabin. Who the fuck jumped right after the door was opened?!

Even Jin Jiuchi was not as lunatic as them!

"Fuck this!" A male player who appeared in his mid-twenties cursed and unbuckled his seatbelt, throwing all caution to the wind. Amidst the startled gazes of the others, he let out a hysterical laugh, "Might as well get a head start. See you again, everyonAHHHH—!" As he spoke, he jumped out of the door, his screams mingling with the rushing air and thunderous roar of motor blades. Through the window, everyone watched as his figure plummeted down the clouds before the parachute promptly opened up, sending him soaring.

"Nian’er!" Jin Jiuchi exclaimed impatiently, his entire body buzzing in excitement. He also wanted to jump out as soon as possible!

But Shen Nianzu stopped him with a stern tone, "Wait."

Following the first player’s lead, more and more people gritted their teeth and decided to jump out. Within moments, dozens of parachutes floated in the sky like vibrant umbrella decorations.

The countdown continued to tick away. 52.15... 48.33...

Eventually, only eight players remained inside the cabin, with the three of them being the SJG team. The others were: the terrified female player and her teammate, the duo with the long-haired woman who didn’t receive the bus officer’s gift, and another quiet male player with thin presence.

Soon after the helicopter soared past Mount Fuji, Shen Nianzu’s decisive command rang out, "Now!"

The trio unbuckled their seatbelts and jumped to their feet, with Jin Jiuchi stretching his shoulders leisurely. "Should I hold your hand, Nian’er?" he extended a hand toward the jade doll, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.

Shen Nianzu snorted and slapped his palm, "Don’t be stupid. Follow me!" No sooner than his last word settled did he take a decisive jump, his small body plunging into the sky below. Following close behind him was Jin Jiuchi, who somersaulted in the air while crying out exuberantly, "Woo-hoo~!!"

That left only Gu Luoxin, whose knees were trembling violently as he clutched onto the wall, peering at the endless sky before him. Don’t leave me behind ahhh!!! he cried out desperately inside his heart.

"Seriously?" The male player of the duo scoffed in derision, his disdainful words reaching Gu Luoxin’s ears. "Did they just let a child take charge? What a lame group. The only adult among them looks like an idiot as well," he snickered.

Gu Luoxin had not intended to say anything. After all, this had been Shen Nianzu’s plan all along – to make others underestimate them. This way, it would be easier to lull their opponents into a false sense of superiority and deceive them.

But alas, it seemed like his self-control was not all that remarkable, because when their eyes met, Gu Luoxin found himself raising his middle finger defiantly as he tipped backwards, allowing the sky to welcome his falling form.

"They’re still a thousand times better than you, dickface!!" He shouted, using his anger as a fuel to overcome his fear.

Yet unfortunately, his seething period was short-lived, for when he realized that he was free-falling straight to the forest below like a little human-shaped meteor, a hysterical scream tore out of his throat. "AHHHH, I DON’T WANNA PLAY THIS GAME ANYMOREEE—!!"

He flailed his limbs around in panic as the dense canopy of the forest rushed up to meet him, a vast sea of green stretching endlessly below. The wind pressure contorted the muscles on his face and his entire body, making it seem like he was going to be torn apart in all directions. His heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest, and even his tears were quickly whisked away by the rushing wind before they could fully form.

W–What should he do?! For a fleeting moment, panic consumed him as his mind drew a total blank. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of an open parachute, which jolted him back to his senses.

"XINXIN!!" Shen Nianzu shouted out loud. "OPEN YOUR PARACHUTE!"

"I– I KNOW!" Fingers trembling in nervousness, Gu Luoxin fumbled to grab onto the release string, and with a swift yank, the brightly colored canopy unfurled above him, catching the air and slowing his descent.

A choked sound escaped him as he felt like his insides were being rearranged, the world spinning around him in a dizzying blur. H–He had somehow prepared himself for this, but... oh God, the gaming experience and the last minute video cramming was totally nothing compared to real-life skydiving! Fortunately, his reaction time was quick as he hastily grabbed onto the steering toggles to stabilize himself, his heart pounding from the surge of adrenaline.

Not far from him, Jin Jiuchi had mastered the art of steering and was descending sharply. Somehow, he managed to free one hand and snatched an innocent bird flying mid-air, exclaiming, "I got our lunch– no, dinner!"

Meanwhile, Shen Nianzu’s descent was predictably stable as he slowly steered himself to the base of the mountain. "Get as close as possible to the stream!" he instructed loudly. "Remember our plan! Forget the food and medicine, we must secure a weapon first!"

As the forest floor loomed closer, Jin Jiuchi, who would be the first to touch down, suddenly shouted in excitement, "Nian’er, I saw it! I saw a supply box down there!!"

.

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A/N: can you guess who’s the first player who jumped as soon as the hatch is opened? hehehe