As Lu Ce's words fell, everyone's expressions changed drastically as they watched him swaying in the middle, their faces shifting uncertainly.
In the real world, Blank, who had been observing Lu Ce's every move, slammed a fist onto the table and shouted excitedly.
"Fuck! I knew it!"
"Those earlier tests weren't just about maximizing profit. There were plenty of deeper intentions behind them."
"They included probing the rules of this game. What exactly controlled this suddenly appearing game? A machine, an omnipotent god, or an alien civilization?"
"Those tests were important to the entire world, yet the big shot managed to complete them without anyone noticing, and even gained benefits for himself..."
"And those ruthless methods from before could intimidate the other participants, making it easier to 'extort' them now."
Blank gritted his teeth as he sorted through his thoughts, growing more excited the more he considered it.
He did not think there was anything wrong with such extreme greed. The world had undergone such a drastic change; life and death were fated, wealth and honor left to heaven. Naturally, the strong had to use every means possible to grow stronger in the early stages of the game.
But just as he was typing on the screen of this "game livestream," he slowly lowered his hands.
Because he saw most people's comments, along with the mentality they were currently revealing.
: This is extortion. Honestly, shouldn't people help each other in a situation like this?
: Having to saw off a leg is already miserable enough. In such a terrifying atmosphere, kicking someone while they're down and threatening them feels unnecessary.
: He's strong, and he's crazy, but I wouldn't want to run into someone like that in the game.
Aside from such saintly remarks, the rest were just praise about how awesome it was, as though they were watching some American blockbuster.
Either they were inexplicably projecting strange emotions onto it, or they truly regarded themselves as spectators.
People seemed to have forgotten that these viewers were also Chosen Ones. They also had the chance to participate in the game. Everyone was involved.
The world had changed in an instant, yet people's mindsets had not changed with it.
Blank thought about it, gave up on sending a comment, stopped trying to communicate with these "babies," and began focusing on what was happening inside the game.
"What do you mean, negotiate the price?"
Beside him, the woman who had been shouting the loudest all along suddenly looked over with hatred in her eyes, glaring fixedly at Lu Ce.
"Exactly what it sounds like. No payment, no saw. What's the problem?"
Lu Ce turned his head toward her as if it were perfectly natural and replied.
"Do you even have a conscience?! You're making money off something like this! You heartless bastard!"
"I want out! I'm not playing this game anymore! What kind of game forces us to keep playing once we enter?!"
"Why does this game's organizer barely respond to us, but answer you? Why can you saw off your own leg so easily? I think you're in league with them! This is all a conspiracy!"
"Everyone, look! He's not some amazing player at all. He's working with whoever's controlling this game behind the scenes!"
Perhaps the pressure on her mind had become too great. The woman began venting madly, her fear and pain turning into rage that she poured onto Lu Ce.
Her body twisted violently, rattling the chains around her. Watching her lose her mind, Lu Ce found it utterly baffling.
The air fell silent for several seconds before Lu Ce slowly spoke.
"Yeah, you're right."
"I am in league with them. I'm actually an NPC in this game, not a player."
"I can't feel pain. I can saw myself however I want. I'm here specifically to torment normal players like you."
"What's wrong? So what are you planning to do about it?"
At that moment, streams of light formed a huge goofy smiley face (*^_^*) on the blue Greed Mask, as if mocking her.
Lu Ce knew very well that this vile woman before him was merely an exaggeration of human nature. He wore the Greed Mask; hers was probably the "mask" created by years of pampered living.
The weak drew their blades against those weaker than themselves. Before this bizarre world game, no matter how strong he appeared, he would still seem like the relatively weaker one.
So her collapsing emotions needed an outlet, and he became that outlet.
Though he looked terrifying and clearly possessed the strength to kill her, years of social conditioning had made her believe that provoking a "human" like him would come at no cost.
The methods were more or less the same as well: being louder, framing others, smearing them, manipulating public opinion, and isolating them.
But the world had changed, yet some people still had not understood that reality.
Lu Ce watched her with amusement. Even if he admitted it, even if he was slandered, even if he truly became the enemy of everyone here, so what?
Lu Ce's complete lack of rebuttal left the woman instantly speechless. Whimpering sounds came from her throat, and her face flushed bright red.
It was unclear whether she was overheated or on the verge of suffocating from her own emotions.
"The lava is still rising, everyone..."
Lu Ce swung one leg through the air as though on a swing, even dangling the saw in his hand as if he might throw it down at any moment.
"How much do you want?"
At last, someone spoke. Lu Ce thought, At least someone here still had a clear head, and turned to see who it was.
"I don't want money. I want..."
But before he could finish, the instant he turned his head, he saw a flash of red light before him!
Opposite him, a man used the momentum of his swaying chains to swing forcefully toward him, holding a foot-long dagger that glowed red.
That dagger was clearly no ordinary weapon. It had to be some kind of in-game item!
Then the man's eyes flashed viciously. In the blink of an eye, just as Lu Ce turned around, the blade was already before him.
A strike to the throat!
Amid a piercing scraping sound, blood sprayed. The strike that should have severed his throat was forcibly deflected by Lu Ce in a split second as he met it with his collarbone!
The knife was lodged firmly in his collarbone, unable to move.
The expression on the blue mask did not change at all. The smile on it even widened, stretching all the way to the corners of its mouth.
Chosen of Suffering! Pain +5!
He had not expected such an unexpected delight at a time like this.
"Kill him! Hurry! Kill him!"
The woman beside him began struggling violently, shouting with excitement.
The man's eyes were also filled with murderous intent. Seeing that his strike had landed, he intended to press the advantage.
But in an instant, the commotion ended, and the woman's excited cry caught in her throat.
A line of blood appeared across the man's neck. With a casual swing of the saw in his hand, Lu Ce moved at a terrifying speed too fast for the others to see clearly. Only the dreadful whistle of something slicing through the air remained.
"Ta-da~ What a pity. You only get one chance. o(*￣▽￣*)ブ"
"Also, thanks for the knife. ~"
Before you continue