The Timing of the Button

"Damn it..."

Wang Yongxin cursed subconsciously, but he didn't have the leeway to think at this moment. He could only rely on instinct to hoist the mechanism again and move forward.

Ding Wenqiang was even a step ahead of him.

It was clear that in situations like this, which required no thought and only mindless execution of rules, Ding Wenqiang had a distinct advantage.

Cai Zhiyuan was, of course, the most miserable.

The earlier one finished the first stage, the longer they could secure for rest time.

Ding Wenqiang could rest for the remaining 22 seconds, but Cai Zhiyuan had just arrived at the rest area before he had to set off again.

He could only gasp for air, unable to even let his heart rate calm down a little before he had to hoist the mechanism again.

The only good news was that the base of this mechanism had wide support legs, so it wouldn't tip over forward, backward, or sideways.

Otherwise, if they collapsed from exhaustion and were crushed by the mechanism, it would be a dead end.

The distance for the second stage was 15 meters, 5 meters shorter than the first stage, but the time limit was also reduced from 60 seconds to 38 seconds.

Adding in the physical exertion, the game became even more difficult for those with poorer stamina.

Just then, an emotionless electronic voice sounded clearly from the loudspeaker.

[Spectator No. 5 has rewarded Ding Wenqiang with 8000 minutes of visa time, with the accompanying message: Press it when the countdown is almost over.]

[Special Reminder: Players who receive rewards can freely decide whether to fulfill the request.]

The sudden notification left everyone a bit bewildered.

The five people on the field didn't have the luxury to think; under the immense pressure, almost no extra blood was supplied to their brains to function.

However, this broadcast at least revealed two basic pieces of information:

Those who signed up freely to participate in the game had become "spectators" within the game.

And spectators didn't seem to need to do this physical labor themselves; they could reward the five players on the field, granting them visa time and attaching a request.

Of course, the rewarded person could also choose not to comply.

It was somewhat like streamers being rewarded on a live-streaming platform.

Ding Wenqiang hesitated. Spectator No. 5's request wasn't difficult to fulfill; it was a simple matter for him.

After all, he could put down the mechanism on his shoulder and rest once he reached the rest area. As for when he pressed the button, it didn't seem to have any particular impact on the game.

Obtaining 8000 minutes of visa time so easily put Ding Wenqiang in a good mood and made him more motivated.

He continued to stride forward.

However, just as he was about to reach the rest area for the second stage, the broadcast sounded again.

[Spectator No. 1 has rewarded Ding Wenqiang with 8000 minutes of visa time, with the accompanying message: Press it for yourself immediately.]

"Huh?"

Ding Wenqiang was momentarily at a loss.

The two spectators who had rewarded him had made completely opposite requests. Fulfilling one meant inevitably violating the other.

Seeing that he was about to reach the rest area for the second stage, Ding Wenqiang couldn't make up his mind for a moment.

Just then, Wang Yongxin suddenly realized something and shouted, "Uncle Ding... don't... don't press it yet!

"I under... understand! The time you press... press it now, is the time for the next stage... the next stage!"

Because he was carrying the heavy object, Wang Yongxin's voice was intermittent.

And because he exhaled loudly while speaking, his core collapsed, and the mechanism temporarily landed.

Immediately after, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, hoisted the mechanism again, and continued forward.

Hearing Wang Yongxin's words, Ding Wenqiang instinctively froze.

The others on the field instantly understood what was going on.

The time limit for the second stage was 38 seconds, a number with decimals.

At first, they hadn't thought much of it, assuming it was a pre-set time by the game. But Spectator No. 5's message made Wang Yongxin realize that this 38 seconds was actually the time Ding Wenqiang had taken to complete the first stage.

In other words, if Ding Wenqiang pressed the button at 58 seconds, the standard time for the second stage would become 58 seconds.

If he pressed the button at 20 seconds, the standard time for the second stage would become 20 seconds.

The same logic applied to the third stage.

Through the glass window, Lin Sizhi looked towards Spectator No. 1's location.

According to the numbering, Lin Sizhi was Spectator No. 5, and he had sent the initial message.

But clearly, Player No. 1 had reacted quickly, almost instantly realizing the meaning behind his message and making a counter-move.

Ding Wenqiang hesitated for only about two or three seconds before decisively pressing the button.

The countdown for the path he was on froze at 9 seconds.

It took Ding Wenqiang 29 seconds to complete this 15-meter path. However, after deducting his thinking time, his average speed was actually slightly faster than his 38 seconds for the previous 20-meter path.

"Damn it."

The remaining four people cursed under their breath.

For Ding Wenqiang, waiting an extra 10 seconds had no significant downside, but it gave the four people falling behind a precious chance to catch their breath.

Especially Wang Yongxin and Cai Zhiyuan.

[Spectator No. 1 rewarded Ding Wenqiang with 3000 minutes of Visa Time, with the message: Well done.]

Hearing the new broadcast, Ding Wenqiang became even more convinced he was right.

Although pressing the button would clearly increase the difficulty for Wang Yongxin and Cai Zhiyuan, but...

In a game of life and death like this, who wouldn't prioritize themselves first?

After all, whoever reached the finish line first would become the "King," and the game rules stated that the player who became "King" would have a significant advantage.

What if he gave others a chance to catch their breath, only to be overtaken at the last moment?

Since this game was called the "King's Game," any price was worth paying to obtain the King's status.

[Beep.]

In the last second of the countdown, Wang Yongxin barely crossed the finish line of the second stage and entered the rest area.

As a sharp buzzing sound rang out, Cai Zhiyuan, the only one who hadn't completed the entire path, let out a pained cry.

The countdown on the path reset to 38 seconds, and at the same time, the mechanism on his shoulder extended several spikes and barbs, piercing deeply into his shoulder!

These spikes and barbs were not thick, nor would they cause severe damage to his body. Even if they left wounds, they would stop bleeding naturally soon.

But the intense pain made Cai Zhiyuan cry out uncontrollably.

The pain stimulated a surge of adrenaline, causing Cai Zhiyuan's body to erupt with renewed strength, forcing him to stagger across the finish line.

The spikes and barbs on the mechanism retracted, but blood instantly gushed out, dyeing the shoulder of Cai Zhiyuan's shirt red.

He had no time to rest at all, as the countdown lit up again.

This time, it was indeed 29 seconds, the time Ding Wenqiang had pressed when he completed the second stage.

Everyone seemed numb, without any extra thought, just picking up the mechanism again and walking towards the final finish line.

Cai Zhiyuan's condition was clearly the most worrying. He was, without a doubt, left behind again.

[Spectator No. 3 rewarded Cai Zhiyuan with 2000 minutes of Visa Time, with the message: Keep going.]

Spectators could influence the actions of the five people on the field to a certain extent, but only influence.

Now, the only variable in the game was in Ding Wenqiang's hands. If Ding Wenqiang was unwilling to extend the time, no one else could do anything.

[Beep.]

The countdown ended. This time, only Ding Wenqiang, Zhang Peng, and Gao Zhankui completed it within the time limit.

As the countdown reset to 29 seconds, the spikes and barbs on Wang Yongxin's and Cai Zhiyuan's shoulders extended simultaneously.

Wang Yongxin grunted. Although he had mentally prepared himself and tensed all his muscles, the piercing pain made his vision black out.

But he had no other choice. If he had put the mechanism down before the spikes extended and taken his shoulder away, he could have avoided the damage from the spikes. However, it would have been much more troublesome to pick up the mechanism again, causing him more suffering.

So, he could only grit his teeth and bear it.

As for Cai Zhiyuan, it was even worse. His unhealed wounds were torn open again, and the clothes around his shoulders were almost completely soaked in blood.

More than ten seconds after the second round of countdown passed, he barely managed to reach the finish line.

All the spikes retracted, and Cai Zhiyuan stumbled as he hit the final button.