Chapter 2186: Survival Instance
The moment the two of them stepped into the room, the door behind them slammed shut.
Xu Huo didn't even have time to look around before a prompt appeared in front of him.
[Survival Instance: The Final Game]
[Number of Players: 2]
[Instance Objective: Survive until the end of the game]
[Game Rules: 1. Players must participate in the game according to the rules. 2. Players are not allowed to leave the game venue. 3. Players cannot use any props or abilities beyond the game's scope. 4. The game will end when only one player remains.]
[Game Start Countdown: 10, 9, 8...]
Xu Huo's expression changed slightly. This was a deathmatch instance.
He immediately looked at the other person. The young man was also staring at the countdown on his personal panel, his face pale.
"Wait, this isn't right!" the young man shouted, "I'm not a player! I'm just an ordinary person! How can I participate in a player's game?!"
But the countdown didn't stop because of his shout.
Xu Huo quickly scanned the room. It was an empty, enclosed space about a hundred square meters in size, with no windows, only a door that had already been sealed shut. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all made of pure white material, giving off a cold, clinical feel.
"What's your name?" Xu Huo asked.
"I... I'm Li Wei," the young man stammered, his voice trembling. "I was just passing by outside, and then suddenly I was pulled in here... What is this place?!"
"A survival instance," Xu Huo said calmly. "It seems we've been set up."
"Set up? By who?!" Li Wei's voice grew more panicked. "I don't want to die! I have a wife and kids at home!"
Xu Huo didn't answer. He was thinking about the person who had led them here. That middle-aged woman had clearly known there was a trap inside, yet she had deliberately guided them in.
The countdown ended.
[Game Start]
A mechanical voice echoed in the room.
[Round One: Truth or Dare]
[Rules: Players take turns choosing between truth or dare. If they choose truth, they must honestly answer the question posed by the other player. If they choose dare, they must complete the task assigned by the other player. Refusal to answer or complete the task will result in immediate elimination.]
[Player One: Xu Huo, please make your choice.]
Xu Huo looked at Li Wei. The young man was trembling all over, his face ashen.
"Truth," Xu Huo said.
[Player Two: Li Wei, please ask your question.]
Li Wei was stunned for a moment, then stammered, "I... I don't know what to ask..."
[If the question is not asked within the time limit, it will be considered a forfeit, and Player One will automatically win this round.]
"No, no!" Li Wei quickly said, "I'll ask! I... I want to ask, are you really a player?"
"Yes," Xu Huo replied.
[Player One answers truthfully. This round ends. Next round, Player Two chooses first.]
Li Wei took a deep breath, his mind racing. "I choose... truth."
[Player One: Xu Huo, please ask your question.]
Xu Huo thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know who brought us here?"
"I... I don't know," Li Wei said, shaking his head. "I was just walking on the street, and then suddenly everything went black, and when I came to, I was here."
[Player Two answers truthfully. This round ends.]
The game continued. Each round, they took turns asking questions or assigning tasks. Xu Huo noticed that the questions and tasks were becoming increasingly difficult.
In the fifth round, Li Wei chose dare.
[Player One: Xu Huo, please assign a task.]
Xu Huo looked at Li Wei and said, "Do ten push-ups."
Li Wei was momentarily stunned, then quickly got down and did ten push-ups.
[Task completed. This round ends.]
Li Wei stood up, panting, and looked at Xu Huo with a hint of gratitude in his eyes. He knew that Xu Huo had gone easy on him.
But the game didn't stay easy for long.
In the tenth round, the mechanical voice suddenly changed.
[Special Round: Double Dare]
[Rules: Both players must simultaneously complete the tasks assigned by the other. Failure to complete will result in elimination.]
[Player One: Xu Huo, please assign a task to Player Two.]
Xu Huo frowned. This was getting dangerous.
He looked at Li Wei and said, "Sing a song."
Li Wei was taken aback, then quickly nodded.
[Player Two: Li Wei, please assign a task to Player One.]
Li Wei hesitated for a moment, then said, "I... I want you to promise not to hurt me."
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. "That's not a task."
"But... but I don't know what to ask for!" Li Wei said anxiously.
[If the task is not assigned within the time limit, it will be considered a forfeit, and Player One will automatically win this round.]
"No, no!" Li Wei quickly said, "Then... then I want you to stand on one foot for a minute!"
Xu Huo complied, lifting one foot and standing steadily.
[Both players have completed their tasks. This round ends.]
The game continued. As the rounds progressed, the difficulty increased. In the fifteenth round, the venue suddenly changed.
The white room vanished, replaced by a vast desert. Scorching sunlight blazed down, and sand stretched as far as the eye could see.
[Round Fifteen: Desert Survival]
[Rules: Players must survive in the desert for three hours. No water or food is provided. Players may use any means to obtain resources, but cannot harm each other.]
"Damn it!" Li Wei collapsed to his knees in the sand. "This is impossible! We'll die of thirst!"
Xu Huo remained calm, surveying the surroundings. In the distance, he could see a few withered plants.
"Follow me," he said, heading toward the plants.
Li Wei struggled to his feet and followed.
They walked for about ten minutes before reaching the plants. Xu Huo crouched down to examine them.
"Cacti," he said. "They store water. We can cut them open to drink."
He took out a dagger from his pocket—a prop that was allowed within the game's scope—and carefully cut open a cactus. Clear liquid flowed out.
Li Wei eagerly cupped his hands to catch the water and drank greedily.
"Drink slowly," Xu Huo warned. "Don't choke."
They spent the next three hours in the desert, relying on the cacti for water and shade. When the time was up, the scene shifted again, returning to the white room.
[Desert Survival completed. Both players pass.]
Li Wei collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. "I... I can't take much more of this..."
Xu Huo looked at him sympathetically. He knew that this game was designed to force them to fight each other. But so far, they had managed to avoid direct conflict.
The game continued. In the twentieth round, the mechanical voice announced:
[Round Twenty: Final Confrontation]
[Rules: Both players must engage in a one-on-one duel. No weapons or props are allowed. The winner survives, the loser is eliminated.]
Li Wei's face turned deathly pale. "No... I don't want to fight..."
Xu Huo's expression grew serious. This was the moment he had been dreading.
"Li Wei," he said, "I don't want to hurt you. But if we don't fight, we'll both be eliminated."
"I know..." Li Wei said, tears streaming down his face. "But I really don't want to die. My wife is pregnant... I promised I'd go home and see the baby..."
Xu Huo was silent for a moment, then said, "Then let's make a deal."
Li Wei looked up, confused. "A deal?"
"If I win, I'll find a way to bring you back to life," Xu Huo said. "I have connections. I can pull some strings."
Li Wei's eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope. "Really?"
"Really," Xu Huo said firmly. "I swear on my honor as a player."
Li Wei took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay... I believe you."
The two of them faced each other. Xu Huo assumed a fighting stance, while Li Wei clumsily imitated him.
"Come on," Xu Huo said.
Li Wei charged forward, throwing a wild punch. Xu Huo easily dodged and swept his leg, sending Li Wei crashing to the ground.
Before Li Wei could get up, Xu Huo was on top of him, pinning him down.
"I'm sorry," Xu Huo whispered.
Then, with a swift motion, he snapped Li Wei's neck.
Li Wei's body went limp, his eyes still open, a look of disbelief frozen on his face.
[Game Over. Winner: Xu Huo.]
[Survival Instance completed. Rewards being calculated...]
Xu Huo stood up, looking down at Li Wei's body. He felt a pang of guilt, but he knew there was no other choice.
The white room began to dissolve, and Xu Huo found himself back in the corridor. The middle-aged woman was still standing there, a faint smile on her face.
"Congratulations on passing the test," she said.
Xu Huo's eyes narrowed. "Test?"
"Yes," the woman said. "This was a test arranged by the higher-ups. They wanted to see if you have what it takes to be a core member."
Xu Huo's expression darkened. "So Li Wei..."
"Was an actor," the woman said. "He's fine. He's already been sent out."
As if to confirm her words, Li Wei's voice came from behind Xu Huo. "Brother, that was intense!"
Xu Huo turned around and saw Li Wei standing there, alive and well, grinning at him.
"You..." Xu Huo was momentarily speechless.
"Sorry for the deception," Li Wei said, scratching his head. "But it was necessary. The higher-ups wanted to see your decision-making under pressure."
Xu Huo took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "So, did I pass?"
"With flying colors," the middle-aged woman said. "Please follow me. The higher-ups are waiting for you."