"Save me—save me—"
Amid those desperate, mechanical cries for help, the D-Rank personnel taking part in the challenge were led by the jailers out of the caves that served as cells.
There were no checkpoints along the way, no guards, giving the impression that breaking out would be very easy.
But the D-Rank personnel present all knew that was only an illusion. The master of the Fungal Carpet would be thrilled if they took the initiative to put on the farcical performance of a prison break.
Sigismund followed in the group and keenly sensed something off. The other prisoners kept sneaking glances at them, intentionally or otherwise, malice hidden in their eyes.
And it probably was not because the two of them were Puji.
There was another Puji prisoner in the group, but he had not attracted nearly this much attention.
He just did not know whether it was because he was a new prisoner mushroom, or because of Orcas—
In the end, the group arrived at a huge cave with far more complicated terrain. Unlike some caves, which were enormous but open enough to see straight to the end, this cave had been filled with many strange, roofless structures, both on the ground and along the rock walls.
At that moment, Orcas privately said to Sigismund through the Mycelium Network, "Partner, I know what the first round's game is.
"What is it?"
"Hide-and-seek!"
"Huh?"
Before Sigismund could ask for details, the jailers had already turned and started back the way they came. Several enormous mushrooms moved over in the passage, sealing off the retreat.
The other challengers plunged straight into the maze-like complex of buildings, and Sigismund was dragged in by Orcas as well.
"Partner, hurry and search!"
"Use this free time to find the key that opens the