When the Wild Beast is Trapped in the Nightmare Cycle (BL)
Chapter 509: The Real Elimination Game

Chapter 509: The Real Elimination Game

With Jin Jiuchi taking the lead, the players immediately reacted and scattered like headless flies while activating their skill cards and props to fend off the attack from the sentient trees, though most of them still bore a mildly confused look on their faces.

What was going on? Why did the skeletons suddenly look like they were high on drugs? Did the bigshot do something?!

Although Shen Nianzu was the one who had taken action, the players were still convinced that Jin Jiuchi was the mastermind behind it as though they had been brainwashed.

It definitely was not because Jin Jiuchi was charismatic or looked all that dependable. To be more precise, it was due to the influence of Shen Nianzu’s current prop. Not only did it work to alter his appearance into that of a child, it also came with a passive side effect where his presence would be reduced until he nearly merged with the background. After all, who would pay attention to the flower on the roadside or a blade of grass underfoot, especially in a Cycle where danger loomed in every corner?

This was why the players had never found it odd how a little boy had mingled among them, otherwise Shen Nianzu would have become the center of attention as soon as he showed up.

The prop compelled them to ignore Shen Nianzu’s presence on a subconscious level. Afterwards, if someone were to ask the players about Shen Nianzu, they would either claim that they had never met him before or they only had a faint impression of him. In their eyes, he was but an average, mediocre and unmemorable player.

This was a prop he had received in the one and only high-level Cycle he had ever challenged.

Its official rank was only ’Unique’, perhaps because this prop had no combat power and its passive effect did not apply to the nightmare creatures, thus couldn’t be considered a life-saving prop. But in the hands of right players like Shen Nianzu, its usefulness could rival that of an Epic – if not Divine – prop!

As Jin Jiuchi sprinted across the crimson forest, Shen Nianzu clung to him like a sticky little octopus, his arms wrapped tightly around Jin Jiuchi’s neck and his legs locked securely around Jin Jiuchi’s waist. He even tucked his face into the crook of Jin Jiuchi’s neck to block the rushing wind, only occasionally lifting his head to glance around and access their surroundings. If at first he would still feel some shame for being in such an undignified position, now he had become utterly thick-skinned and pampered. Why should he hurt his feet if there was someone willing to carry him? Besides, even if he grew out two more legs, he still wouldn’t be able to outrun Jin Jiuchi!

"Left, left!" He smacked Jin Jiuchi’s shoulder repeatedly to remind him. "Keep it up and we will be out of this area soon!"

He then craned his neck, shouting at Gu Luoxin who was seated on the striking cyan gorilla meters away, "Xinxin, hang in there! Follow us and don’t get lost!"

"Aye, aye, Boss!" came Gu Luoxin’s reply, mixing with the gorilla’s ferocious roar. "I’m fine, don’t worry about me!"

Feeling rest assured, Shen Nianzu decided to focus on the path before him.

Jin Jiuchi’s ragged breaths echoed above his head, sounding louder and more laborious than usual. But before Shen Nianzu could process this, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a bloody vine, nearly as thick as his own waist, lashing out at them with great momentum!

"Watch out!" Shen Nianzu reflexively grabbed a fistful of Jin Jiuchi’s hair with his left hand, and the man agilely leaped to the left, while the vine struck at the spot where the two of them had been standing one second ago!

"Great!" Shen Nianzu praised unabashedly, his eyes shining with the rush of adrenaline. "Don’t bother with it, keep going!"

In the next moment, Shen Nianzu continued to yank Jin Jiuchi’s hair left and right to guide his movements, avoiding the combined assault of the trees and its long vines along the way. Based on their previous experience, Shen Nianzu had come to a conclusion that the best method to deal with the Red Zone was to flee as quickly as possible. Attacking the trees was not an option because their number was endless and the battle would only drain their own energy instead. Not to count the injuries they would sustain. It was akin to killing a thousand enemy troops while sacrificing eight hundred of your own!

On the other hand, burning them down also came with a significant risk, for no one could predict where and how far the fire would reach. What if they ended up destroying the whole forest?

By then, the main rewards would be lost, and that was the last thing he wanted to see!

Shen Nianzu was certain that there must be a way – the right way – to explore the Red Zone, but he simply hadn’t discovered it yet. Until then, they had better avoid the troublesome battle as much as possible.

A breath of relief escaped him as the verdant, lush forest came into view before them. It was the boundary of the Green Zone. Just a little further, and they would be free of this godforsaken area!

He couldn’t help but urge, his tone tinged with a hint of urgency, "Come on, Da Shen! Just a little bit more!"

In response, Jin Jiuchi accelerated his pace, rushing straight towards the green zone... only to slam head-first into an invisible barrier with a resounding bang!

"Ugh!" the two of them bounced backwards and were sent rolling across the forest floor. Even then, Jin Jiuchi’s first instinct was to hold Shen Nianzu close to him while cushioning the jade doll’s head with his own hand. As a result, Shen Nianzu suffered no real damage aside from the shock which left him momentarily stunned.

Ignoring the mild dizziness, Shen Nianzu sprung up to his feet, his sharp gaze fixated on the area before him. He probed around with his hands, only to find a solid, nearly impenetrable barrier spanning far and wide, blocking their way to the Green Zone!

"Damn it!" a frustrated curse slipped out of his lips as the realization dawned on him. "The elimination game hasn’t ended yet! We still can’t leave this area unless... unless... more people die?" his little exquisite face sank in thought.

His line of thinking was simple and straightforward – the elimination game was meant to reduce the number of players segregated in one area. If they wished to end it soon, then the only method was to kill more players until the barrier disappeared!

The tea party was just a decoy— this was the real elimination game!

Shen Nianzu did not believe that he was the only one who had seen through the Cycle’s hidden malice. Sooner or later, more players would come to realize the same cruel fact, and then... a brutal bloodbath would begin!

This was the Nightmare’s usual style— survival of the fittest!

"We can’t stay here any longer! We need to find—" he whipped his head toward Jin Jiuchi, only to be shocked when he found the man still sprawled on the ground, his chest rising and falling faintly as though he had drifted off to a sweet slumber. In an instant, Shen Nianzu’s heart gave a lurch. Come to think of it, Jin Jiuchi had been oddly silent along the way!

"Da Shen! What’s wrong with you?!" Flustered, Shen Nianzu kneeled beside him and shook his shoulders hard.

Jin Jiuchi cracked open one eye, only to close it again the next second. "Nian’er..." his words came out in a slur as he chuckled lightly. "Nian’er, why do you look so green? Hehe, a green Nian’er... hehehe... look, Nian’er! There are two moons in the sky!" Though he said that, the direction he pointed toward was the depths of the dark woods where it was impossible for two moons to exist in the first place.

Shen Nianzu’s jaws dropped open in shock. "You—"

He abruptly recalled a similar symptom happening to the skeleton at the tea party, and his panic receded like a tide, replaced by mounting anger. "Did you eat something with the Mad Hatter’s concoction?!"

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A/N: just realized this is a Christmas-themed Cycle happening right on Christmas lol... anyway have a merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you’re well and happy wherever you are, and if you’re feeling down, I hope this artwork of beautiful and stunning Shen Nianzu can cheer you up a bit! You can download the HQ version in my discord server, but do read the rules of the gallery carefully ><