Chapter 129: Death Q&A (Six)
Chapter 129: Death Q&A (Six)
Desert Tiger’s head had a chunk blown clean off by the Winchester shotgun, but the sniper rifle’s bullets hadn’t targeted his head. Bei Ling had aimed for the armored chest plate where Desert Tiger had been struck earlier by the hawk breaker. This shot pierced the armor and struck his Energy Core.
No explosion erupted, nor did the monster thrash around in its dying moments. He simply froze, like a home appliance losing power, his systems offline and unresponsive.
Before Xiao Tan and Bei Ling could relax, the unnaturally bright sunlight above suddenly began moving—visibly shifting across the sky. The light source’s rapid movement stretched shadows across the sand and sent temperatures plummeting. When they looked up, they saw the “sky” itself being peeled open. The blue heavens resembled a shoebox lid, the sun like a bulb lodged inside its closed cover. Now, the lid was being torn off…
Beyond the “sky,” high above, a black-and-white checkered ceiling came into view. The light, once natural, now felt like artificial illumination from an indoor source. Soon, a massive, amiable face loomed into view, blotting out the heavens as it peered down at the two figures on the sand.
The absurd scene finally explained everything.
To put it simply… the Colosseum was a rectangular box. The floor was flat, covered in sand, while the walls and ceiling were cleverly disguised as endless skies indistinguishable from the real thing. Xiao Tan and Bei Ling were like ants trapped inside, and Desert Tiger? Merely a miniature toy.
Now, the man outside the box—Mr. You—had lifted the lid. The ants inside could finally glimpse the artificial ceiling and lighting of the “room.”
The moment Desert Tiger fell, the arena’s giant screen cut off the live broadcast. Mr. You, of course, had remained onstage the entire time. As a “Demigod,” existing in two places at once posed no challenge.
Staring up at the surreal sight, Xiao Tan and Bei Ling stood speechless. Mr. You simply smiled and placed two Toy Phone Booths onto the “desert.” Speaking at a volume they could hear, he said, “Just step inside.” Then, with one pudgy hand, he pulled the “sky” shut like a lid.
Inside the box, the two exchanged glances. Xiao Tan broke the silence first: “No wonder Feng Bu Jue warned us not to act recklessly… These scenarios aren’t just filled with monsters—they’re outrageous!”
Bei Ling brushed sand off her weapons and replied, “This place has been weird from the start. We haven’t even received the main quest yet.”
“Huh? Right! I’d forgotten completely.” Xiao Tan nodded.
“Let’s just follow his instructions for now,” Bei Ling said, heading toward the nearest booth. “Stepping in should take us back to the studio… Ugh, it’s sweltering here.”
Xiao Tan holstered his weapon and entered the other booth.
This time, both were mentally prepared. When the ground vanished beneath them, they weren’t overwhelmed by panic. Instead, they surrendered to the invisible pull, sliding through darkness until the force guided them back to their seats. They rose with a spin, returning once more to the Death Q&A stage.
“Welcome back!” Mr. You boomed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
The audience erupted in cheers.
“Wait—was that giant-sized version of you earlier?” Xiao Tan asked.
“Of course. If I choose, I can exist in countless places at once—it’s no trouble at all. But the process of retrieving you won’t be broadcast,” Mr. You explained, gliding toward the camera. “Audiences, if you’d like to learn more about my behind-the-scenes work, send text messages to the number at the bottom of your screen or visit our website for live interaction. Once every sixty years, the program will randomly select six hundred lucky viewers to receive our limited-edition recordings—filled with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage you won’t see on air!”
After delivering the canned spiel, Mr. You turned back to the guest seats. “Now, guests, what are your thoughts on the performance of our second and fourth contestants in the Colosseum?”
The camera cut to Arrogant, who stated bluntly, “Men should all die.”
“Mm, well said,” Bei Ling mimicked Arrogant’s stance, arms crossed as she nodded solemnly.
“Hey! What did I even do?!” Xiao Tan protested.
“Their combat skills aren’t worth much discussion,” Wenyi interjected, ever methodical. “But two decisions by contestant two were disastrous. First, crushing the glass vial barehanded was reckless. Second, the final shot to Desert Tiger’s head was meaningless—blowing off his head merely damaged his sensory systems. The real killing blows were the two fired by contestant four: the first shattered the armor, the second pierced the core.”
Before Wenyi finished, He Hua Si Tuo Si cut in, deadpan: “Young man, crushing that vial was dangerous. Time dust has already seeped into your wounds. The ‘time’ of your left hand is drained. If untreated, it’ll crumble to dust soon.”
“Huh? So serious?!” Xiao Tan’s face paled, though he still looked confused.
“Not a problem.”
The entire audience, including Mr. You and the three guests, turned toward the speaker.
Feng Bu Jue continued matter-of-factly: “A single Consumption-500 will fix it.”
“Hohoho… Our first contestant strikes again, immediately finding a solution!” Mr. You chuckled. “Now, let’s proceed to Round Two of Death Q&A!”
A powerful Bgm track blasted from the speakers, stage lights refocused, and the audience stands erupted in chaotic cheers.
“Alright, calm down! Don’t blast flames at your neighbors or the air! You in D3stand—yes, you! Spit out that Cumin Monster beside you. Don’t think I didn’t notice! There we go,” Mr. You scolded, then turned to Feng Bu Jue. “First, contestant one, do you remember my promise—? The highest scorer in Round One gains a mysterious advantage…”
(End of Chapter)
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