Round 2: Tire Drag Penalty and Epic Carry
Top Beast Survival
[We'll take a short ad break and jump right back into Round 2!]
Whoaaa—
"?"
The announcement from Crocochi signaling the break echoed with cheers from the waiting room. Wondering what was up, I saw the YouTuber teams all swarming toward me.
"Whoa... Min-ho, you're seriously amazing!"
"Have you trained in gymnastics or something?"
"We should collab on YouTube sometime... Oh, you don't have a channel yet?"
Seven big guys rushing at me created some serious intimidation, even though I knew they weren't out for blood. I flinched for a second anyway. True to form as YouTubers, they were scrambling to get in on the viral moment.
I barely managed to shoo them away by saying I needed a break, and then Chaeni, who'd been pushed to the back, approached.
"You okay?"
"Yeah? Saving Jang Seok-gi was just..."
"No, I mean the penalty. You could've skipped both the advantage and the penalty, but you turned it down."
"Oh, that?"
Just as Chaeni said, I'd picked the second option: taking both advantage and penalty at once. It was a calculated choice on my part.
"Where's the fun in that?"
"Fun? What if you get eliminated in the next round chasing fun?"
"I've got confidence I won't. Plus, I was curious about the advantage."
"Impressive."
Chaeni let out a small sigh of admiration. Looking back at Round 1, yeah, entering Round 2 with a penalty was risky for a normal person. But that was for average folks. No matter what game Round 2 threw at us, I knew I could clear it, so the penalty was just decoration to make my win shine brighter.
[Round 2 will begin shortly! All participants, please return to your positions!]
With the staff's voice booming, we all headed back outside the set. Somehow, they'd already set up six massive tires—each bigger than a person's torso—in the open field.
[Announcing the Round 2 game!]
The ads wrapped up, and with the broadcast resuming, Crocochi began explaining the game.
[Round 2 is tire pulling! Strap the tire to your waist and reach the top of the hill visible next to the set. Simple mission!]
Crocochi paused dramatically after that before continuing.
[But that'd be no fun on its own, right? This round is 2-person teams! Participants will be randomly paired, regardless of YouTuber or civilian teams!]
The participants' faces, which had stiffened briefly, relaxed again. They figured two people could manage it. The tires did look a bit big for one person. But were they relaxing too soon? You gotta listen to the end in Korean.
And sure enough, Crocochi dropped a bombshell.
[Before announcing teams, penalties for the civilian team losers from Round 1! Those affected, please equip the gear from staff!]
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"No way, you want us to do this with that on?"
"How long ago did COVID end..."
The gear from staff was masks. Not ordinary ones—something attached, and just looking at them screamed breathing nightmare.
[These are training resistance masks! Wearing them for Round 2 is the penalty.]
Curious how it'd feel, I slipped one on right away.
Sip—
Haaah—
Definitely annoying.
Every deep breath hit resistance—it was seriously irritating. For a normal person, this was a solid penalty. Hauling a heavy tire up a hill already winds you; add a mask? Brutal. I could manage, but it made going all-out tougher. Might tire a bit faster?
[Now for the advantage! Round 1 winner Lee Min-ho gets to pick his own teammate!]
I scanned the group. Non-mask folks averted their eyes—nobody wanted to team with a penalized player.
Sip—
Haaah—
My labored breaths made me feel like a movie villain picking victims. Then my eyes landed on one person slyly looking away: Chaeni.
"Chaeni it is."
"Me?!"
She jumped like she'd been struck by lightning. Guess she couldn't believe I'd carry her after all that "let's help each other" talk.
Viewers, meanwhile, couldn't fathom why I didn't pick a burly guy.
[...The remaining teams will be randomly assigned!]
As Crocochi paired the rest, Chaeni sidled up grumbling softly.
"Seriously... plenty of other people, why me?"
"Don't worry. I've got this. Better than randoming some mediocre partner, right?"
"...Fine. Let's do this!"
Aja—!
True to her YouTuber spirit, she bounced back to bubbly quick. We tied the ropes to our waists together.
[In this Round 2, the bottom 3 teams are eliminated! No ranking penalties or advantages, so run hard to avoid dropout!]
Muttered curses from around us. That'd all air on broadcast.
[Everyone to starting positions!]
At the start line, staff hooked our waist ropes to the tires from behind.
[Ready? 3! 2! 1! Go!]
Beep—
Thud thud thud. Participants surged forward with the start signal. Chaeni and I started moving too, her grunting beside me.
With all the strong folks gathered, starts looked smooth. But after a few steps, unlike the initial sprint, speeds slowed across the board.
Grunt—
Haa haa.
Everyone poured sweat like rain, stepping forward one foot at a time. Sweat beaded on me too—this was no joke.
Midway up, Chaeni beside me was half-dead. No mask, but she clearly lacked the muscle for this. Our arms kept brushing; her sweat-soaked skin touching and pulling away felt oddly intimate.
Three teams ahead of us. Summit in sight—we'd drop if we kept this pace. I'd gone slow at first so she wouldn't feel too indebted, but time to get serious.
Fwip!
"Kyaa!"
I scooped up the not-so-helpful Chaeni in both arms. Then powered my thighs and charged full throttle.
Whoosh whoosh.
Double the speed, our team shot forward, tire kicking up dust behind.
"Wha... what?!"
"Insane......!"
The 3rd-place team we'd overtaken gaped in shock. 1st was already at the top. I ramped up more.
"......! Just a bit more!"
"Raaah!"
2nd place glanced back and roared ahead. But we overtook razor-thin, hitting the summit in 2nd.
Whoosh whoosh.
I set Chaeni down and caught my breath quietly. 3rd arrived soon after, but stunned silent by my sudden runaway train mode.
I peeked at chat, removed my mask, grinned, and threw a V-sign.
Chat exploded.
Crocochi snapped back to announce the end.
Beep—
[Round 2 complete! 1st: Jang Seok-gi & Big Palm Uncle! 2nd: Lee Min-ho & Chaeni! 3rd: Kang Sang-won & Sanders!]
"...Min-ho, you're a monster?"
Chaeni asked once she'd caught her breath. Calling your carry a monster? Harsh.
. . . . . . .
'This guy... what is he?'
Chaeni recalled Lee Min-ho's rock-hard arms lifting her. Those pillar-like arms hoisting her and the tire while charging. Even bulkier guys hadn't stirred this—her heart raced oddly.
She glanced at him steadying his breath. Glossy sweat-slicked skin. A drop tracing his forehead, dripping off his brow. Never found a guy's sweat sexy before, but her cheeks flushed anyway.
"...Min-ho, you're a monster?"
Despite herself, her words slipped out, drawing a smirk from Lee Min-ho.