Ch. 11 - Savoring Every Bite

Starting the Game with Godlike Vision

At that moment, Liu Shuang finally grasped the despair Zheng Ren must have felt—battling alone without support—and the seething anger Zhao Chengyuan experienced when he was abandoned.

No, Liu Shuang's despair was even greater—he was up against not one but two Hunters.

A Hunter's claw tore through Liu Shuang's thigh, shredding his bespoke suit into tattered rags. Along with the fabric went ribbons of muscle, leaving his leg a grotesque display of raw flesh.

The creature savored its prize, gnawing methodically while Liu Shuang's agonized screams and spasms only seemed to heighten its appetite.

Faced with death, Liu Shuang's mind achieved an almost painful clarity. Grasping a piece of dried lamb from his pocket, he chewed desperately to restore a sliver of strength, using the fleeting burst of energy to fend off the Hunter's snapping jaws.

His hoarse voice echoed down the corridor. "Brother Zhao! Isn't your mother in need of surgery? I've got the money—50,000! No, 150,000! And a property too! Help me, and it's all yours when we get out of here!"

His desperate pleas struck a nerve with Zhao Chengyuan.

The mention of his mother's medical bills stung—a burden he'd carried since entering the game. His hand instinctively moved toward the doorknob.

But as he hesitated, a calm, measured voice sliced through his turmoil.

"Everyone in this game has probably been reported missing in the real world. Ever heard of anyone making it back? I haven't.

"But look at this place—it's practically miraculous. Who's to say there aren't items here that can cure diseases—or even bring the dead back to life? Just like the restorative candy that instantly heals grave injuries."

The speaker's slow drawl carried a sharp logic that pierced through Zhao Chengyuan's thoughts.

Reality began to settle in. Even with all the money in the world, saving his mother in the real world was a slim hope.

But here, within the game, a cure might exist—if he could find it. A treatment for cancer. A way home.

Zhao Chengyuan's resolve solidified. He let go of the doorknob and closed his eyes, exhaling the last remnants of doubt. When he reopened them, his gaze was steady, clear, and resolute.

Meanwhile, Liu Shuang's face twisted with fury as he realized Zuo Chengan's deliberate sabotage.

A torrent of curses erupted from his mouth but were abruptly silenced by the wet, snapping sound of bone and flesh tearing apart.

The hallway fell eerily quiet, broken only by the rhythmic crunching of the Hunters feasting on his remains.

No one came to his aid—just as he had chosen not to fight the night before.

The tension lifted as Zuo Chengan emerged from his room, gripping his axe. The two Hunters, weakened from their earlier fight, had health bars hovering at 28.7% and 30.1%.

Surveying the carnage, Zuo Chengan sneered at Liu Shuang's mangled corpse and kicked it contemptuously. "So much for having an item that boosts strength. Even the bespectacled guy was more useful than this."

The Hunters turned to face him, their predatory gazes sharpening with recognition.

They remembered him—the man who had cost them dearly the night before. Abandoning their meal, they prepared for combat.

"Brother Zuo, tonight's the last night, isn't it?" Zheng Ren called out from behind the safety of his door. "Why not let them finish eating? By then, the sun will rise, and we can clear the stage."

Zuo Chengan didn't respond. Instead, he darted forward, snatching up a pack of lamb jerky and a pair of glasses that had fallen amidst the carnage.

Without hesitation, he popped the jerky into his mouth and slipped on the bloodied glasses.

A surge of power coursed through him.

His vision sharpened—the Hunters, once indistinct, were now vividly clear.

He swung his axe with precision, targeting one Hunter's neck.

The blade wasn't long enough for a clean decapitation, but it tore through soft flesh, reducing the creature's health by another 5%.

Encouraged by the sight of the dwindling health bar, Zuo Chengan struck again, his enchanted axe gleaming ominously.

The serum enhancing his weapon was nearly depleted, but with the battle nearing its end, it didn't matter.

The others finally joined the fray, hesitant and cautious.

Lacking the ability to see health bars, they perceived the Hunters as unrelenting, their attacks as ferocious as ever.

Believing themselves outmatched, they focused on stalling, hoping to survive until dawn.

It wasn't until the potion's effects began to slow the Hunters' reflexes that the tide turned.

Seizing an opening, Zuo Chengan delivered a devastating blow to one creature, cleaving its chest wide open.

[You have defeated Hunter (E) x1.]

The system notification echoed in his mind, but no loot appeared.

Zuo Chengan wasn't surprised. The earlier item drop had likely been a reward for achieving the first kill in the instance.

The second Hunter fell to Zheng Ren, its health finally depleted.

Zheng Ren froze momentarily, stunned.

Knowing his personality, Zuo Chengan surmised that the game's notification had sounded—but, as before, no items had dropped.

Too few samples to calculate drop rates, Zuo Chengan thought, filing the observation away.

With all three Hunters dead, dawn was no longer necessary to clear the stage.

Just as Zuo Chengan realized this, the world shifted.

Darkness enveloped him. When he opened his eyes, he stood on a bustling, vibrant street.

The people around him wore strange clothes and moved with purpose, their mouths opening and closing in silent conversation.

No sound reached his ears. They seemed oblivious to his presence.

Scanning his surroundings, he noticed something else: the gruesome eyeballs that had been omnipresent in the dungeon were gone, as were the scrolling spectator comments in his vision.

It was as if this part of the game was hidden from view.

[Ding! Congratulations on completing the Beginner's Trial! Rewards being calculated...]

[Overall Rating: S]

[Awarded Attribute Points: 10 (Stage 1 dungeon base cap: 5. S-Rank bonus: x2)]

[Awarded Credits: 200 (Stage 1 dungeon base cap: 100. S-Rank bonus: x2)]

[Player's health detected at suboptimal levels. Would you like to spend 25 credits to heal? (Click for details.)]

Ch. 11 - Savoring Every Bite

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