When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 499: Bad Children!

Chapter 499: Bad Children!

Noir had just casually opened a supply box he stumbled upon on the forest floor, and who could have guessed he would find a silver ticket inside?

Silver ticket – one of the main rewards that allowed players to skip a rank. It meant that if an Intermediate player received it, they would instantly level up into an Elite player. And likewise, for an Elite player, they would be promoted to Legendary rank.

What about Legendary players, then? What would happen if they won this ticket?

Just as that question crossed his mind, a burst of fireworks exploded above his head, followed by an upbeat celebratory song that caught him utterly off guard.

Under normal circumstances, he would have kept the ticket to himself; after all, who wouldn’t want an easy and effortless upgrade? But as soon as he heard this announcement which literally broadcasted his discovery to the entire Cycle, alarm bells rang in Noir’s mind and he promptly moved to shut the box again, returning it to its original state.

And as expected, the obnoxious song abruptly ceased, and even the fireworks fizzled out as though doused by an invisible bucket of icy water.

Silence descended upon the forest once more, confirming Noir’s suspicions.

He knew it – nothing good would ever come out of seizing the ticket at such an early stage of the game. The announcement not only served to rile up the other players, but also expose his whereabouts! He even suspected that the moment he pocketed the ticket, his location would instantly be visible to the other players, turning him into a public target!

Noir’s expression darkened as he briskly brushed the shimmering glitter from his hair and shoulders. A pair of bone wings then unfurled behind his back and he swiftly took flight, departing from the scene.

***

Noir’s instinct proved to be accurate, because as soon as the forest turned quiet, Gu Luoxin voiced in surprise, "I–It stopped? Don’t you think it’s a little too... abrupt?"

Shen Nianzu squinted his eyes against the direction of the fading fireworks. "They didn’t take it," he concluded thoughtfully. "They’re cautious enough not to take the risks."

"Who gives a shit about the risks?" Jin Jiuchi sprang up to his feet, brimming with excitement. "Nian’er, you want the ticket, don’t you? What are you waiting for? Let’s go, we have to be the first to get it!" Before his last word could even settle in the air, he scooped Shen Nianzu up into his arms and took off running!

"Wait— wait for me!" Taken aback, Gu Luoxin hurriedly stomped on the flame to extinguish it before running after his teammates.

"Ya–hoo!" With a powerful leap, Jin Jiuchi soared across the air and landed squarely on the opposite bank of the stream, not even pausing to catch his breath. In a flash, he disappeared into the dense woods like a mad horse who had just been released from confines.

Gu Luoxin wanted to mimic him too, but unfortunately his legs were not as long, and he fell just short of the land, splashing into the chilly water below.

"S–So cold!" He exclaimed in shock as the icy water seeped into the cuffs of his trousers, but thankfully his boots were securely tied, preventing any water from leaking in. With a shiver, he scrambled out of the stream and dashed after Jin Jiuchi into the forest.

Apparently, they were not the only ones targeting the ticket because as they ventured deeper into the woods, they detected a flurry of activities around them.

One player was seen leaping between trees effortlessly with their entire body covered in black cloth like a ninja; another player seemed to possess a skill card that could stretch their body like a rubber band, for the trio spotted a pair of legs half as tall as the tree, rapidly crossing the forest in giant strides.

Jin Jiuchi’s jaws dropped in sheer awe and astonishment. "What the hell? Is that a nightmare creature?!"

"Don’t get distracted, you damned husky!" Shen Nianzu yanked on his hair and forcibly redirected his gaze forward.

They even met an acquaintance, with whom they had experienced a Cycle together.

"Ying?!"

Compared to their last encounter, the aura around the woman seemed to have undergone a major change. Last time, despite the strength and tenacity she displayed, there had been moments when she had a lost and distant look in her eyes, like someone whose center of gravity was slightly off-kilter. Now, however, she appeared far more relaxed and measured as though she had finally shaken off a burden she had been carrying, her eyes sharp and alert like that of a seasoned predator.

The current her managed to make Shen Nianzu feel a faint sense of danger.

Upon seeing the trio, she appeared taken aback for a second before nodding in acknowledgement. "Sorry, but the ticket will be mine," she declared confidently.

Jin Jiuchi barked out a mocking laugh. "Don’t get cocky, woman!"

It was not certain yet who would obtain the reward in the end. Besides, Jin Jiuchi had a massive advantage – his extraordinarily sharp sense of smell. While other players still fumbled around blindly, he was heading straight toward the location of the supply box!

An almost manic grin spread across Jin Jiuchi’s face as he sensed the supply box getting closer and closer. "Nian’er, just watch!" He harrumphed proudly. "I will get it for you!"

"Yes, yes." Shen Nianzu patted the silly husky’s head, his lips twitching in the mixture of helplessness and amusement. "Thank you for your hard work."

But alas, as though the universe couldn’t bear to see him succeed, a blaring alarm akin to the wail of an ambulance siren pierced through the air, followed by an announcement from the bus officer. "Warning! Exceeded the maximum number of children allowed in one area! Bad children... must be punished!"

Everyone subconsciously halted in their tracks, a single thought echoing in their minds – what the fuck???

"You didn’t tell us beforehand that there’s a limit of players in one area!" a protesting voice echoed in the distance, though their words seemed to fall into deaf ears as the fake Santa Claus continued his announcement, his voice laced with a sinister delight,

"Elimination game will begin in three... two... one..."

"From now on, this area will be locked until the end of the game!"

"Number of bad children: 23. Everyone, please gather at the stage we’ve prepared for you!"

"What the hell is going on, Nian’er?" Jin Jiuchi asked in confusion. "Should we just keep searching for the ticket?"

"No..." Shen Nianzu shook his head solemnly. "Let’s not move around as we please now. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Xiao Shen, Da Shen, look!" Gu Luoxin pointed in a certain direction, where a brilliant light could be seen pulsating amidst the dark forest.

"That must be the stage he’s talking about," Shen Nianzu jumped down from Jin Jiuchi’s arms, held the man’s pinky finger and tugged him forward. "Let’s go."

The trio slowly and cautiously made their way to the blinding light, encountering many players along the way until they reached the source of the radiant glow – a massive, shimmering dome that loomed over them.

"What is this?" Jin Jiuchi wondered out loud, rapping his knuckles against the surface of the dome before shading his eyes with his hands to peer inside. "Hmm, I can’t see anything in there."

Shen Nianzu, on the other hand, subtly surveyed his surroundings and counted the number of players. Five... thirteen... eighteen... twenty two... there were twenty two players gathered around the dome.

Where was the last player?

Just as this question fleeted past his mind, he heard Gu Luoxin gasp beside him, and he turned to find the young man’s gaze locked in one direction, his eyes shaking in the mixture of nervousness and excitement. "S–Senior..."

Walking out from the depths of the dark woods was Noir, who looked extremely pissed for some unknown reason.

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A/N: everyone, we received a fanart from our godly Ying >< wanna see our beauty king Shen Nianzu being decked out in stunning and otherwordly outfit? Please go back to ch 399 - Match Made in Heaven, open the comment section and show your love there <3<3<3