Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: Survival Survival Begins
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Crunch, crunch.
"Urk! Gurk!"
"Please stop, please!"
The staff member, unable to hold me back any longer, clung desperately to my arm.
"Eek!"
Whenever she tried to intervene, she'd lock eyes with me and start convulsing in fear.
"There was a guy just like you recently. I told them to lop off one of his limbs as a souvenir. Not sure if it was his arm or his leg that got chopped."
"Gurk..."
"Which one should I take from you?"
I loosened my grip just a fraction since the guy looked like he was about to croak. A bit of color returned to his ashen face.
"Shall we draw lots? Hey, guys, which part do you like best?"
💬 Comments — ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Whoa ⚔️Damn, that scared me
I held my phone up to the guy's face, and now the viewers were going nuts.
"Manager, set up a poll for me."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️We got 20k managers ⚔️lololololol ⚔️Wait, is this for real?
With no sense of reality, the viewers were probably second-guessing even after seeing it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [A poll has been created] As expected from a gathering of all sorts of crazies, a viewer actually created one.
Seizing the moment, everyone started voting like mad.
Democracy at its finest.
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Vote 1! ⚔️Vote 3!
───
[1] Arm: 38% [2] Leg: 41% [3] Neck: 19% [4] Balls: 2% Someone even voted for the balls.
Might as well die.
Thud thud thud!
"Uwaaa!!"
Suddenly, the deck rumbled.
Looking back, another bare-chested musclehead was charging over.
Anyone could see they looked like buddies.
No choice—I released the neck in my grasp, freeing up one hand.
"You crazy bitch, let go!"
"I already did."
Smack—!
Crash!
He went flying at full charge speed.
The slapped buddy nashti sprawled on the deck, scattering corn kernels everywhere.
He looked knocked out. His cheek was swelling up in real time.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Thanks to his friend, the near-dead guy was gasping raggedly, his airway clear.
"Let's see... leg it is."
Arms and legs tied, but leg won out.
I approached the guy sprawled and panting wildly, placed my foot on his ankle, and he looked up at me with eyes gone white as death.
"Here, look."
"Huff, huff... Wh-what..."
"Don't you know our language? They want your leg snapped."
"Pl-please...!"
Crunch!
"Gaaaaah—!!"
The guy called Paul—or whatever—had his ankle dangling limply.
His agonized scream stirred up the sea, silencing the chaotic deck.
"Aren't you grateful? You already got two competitors sent packing."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Did you really break it? Show us too! ⚔️Just look at the captain's face lol
"You know how in movies, there's always that one guy who starts shit without knowing anything."
Despite a ton of people on deck, no one answered.
"That's me."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️lolol Crazy bitch ⚔️She's really our captain but properly insane
The staff who'd been trying to stop me was frozen in terror beside me.
"Name?"
"...M-Maria."
"Nice to meet you, Maria. Pretty name."
"......"
"I'm number 999, Han Ga-eul."
I tapped the name tag on my chest, and Maria's eyes trembled.
"Th-that..."
"Yeah?"
After a long pause, Maria finally spoke.
"It's on upside down..."
Maria's words made me check the badge with my name and number—yep, totally upside down.
"Oops. Han Ga-eul, number 666."
"Eek!"
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Dang cute ⚔️Dang adorable lol
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📢 ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 『We've arrived at the destination. Participants, please disembark in order.』 "One at a time disembarking, please!"
"Don't push, you fucker!"
"Wanna fight?"
"It's hot! Back off!"
Stepping outside was like a warzone.
Everyone was itchy after days of just traveling.
"We're here!"
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Nice ⚔️Was fun watching captain's private date, kinda sad it's over
They'd given me a single room under the pretense I was a lady, but holing up all day left my whole body stiff.
"Weather's gone nuts."
The participants who'd been roaming the ship to shake off stuffiness were vanishing one by one—turns out it was the weather.
Breathing was a chore.
The salty stench pouring into my nose mixed with sky-high humidity to create a masterpiece.
Guess this was why the game organizers gritted their teeth and steered the ship into the Pacific.
"Crazy bastards."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️lolololol ⚔️That hot?
"It's not just hot—the humidity's insane. Feels like we plunged right into the equator."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Crazy lololol
Looking up, seagulls circled overhead.
From what I remembered from books, seagulls meant nearby islands or rich fishing grounds.
No island? Nah, had to be one—and hopefully teeming with fish.
"One at a time into the boats, please!"
Not enough with the escort boats shadowing the ship—they were pulling out rubber boats too.
"Guys, let's go."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Ku ku
Following the staff's gestures, I boarded the boat, and that's when the real ocean hit me.
"Whoa."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Whoa ⚔️Whoa
The boat sliced through the waves, revealing a massive island.
We were all on the same page.
Salty water droplets splashed my face, finally making it real.
"Hm?"
Then I felt Snowball shivering atop my head.
"Snowball, what's wrong?"
I pulled Snowball down, and it was flicking its tongue, writhing all over.
"Puhuhu. Don't drink seawater."
"Okay!"
Looks like it curiously lapped up some splashed seawater.
Even then, its response was top-tier rabbit.
"Not hot?"
"Nope!"
It flopped on my palm, belly up—seemed fine for real.
I'd planned to bail if Snowball struggled, but no signs of that.
Made me wonder again where this snow-white critter came from.
"We'll arrive shortly! No pier, so disembark carefully for safety!"
The staff onboard bellowed over the motor roar.
"Whoa."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Whoa insane ⚔️Scary
Majestic.
Pure nature.
The closer the rubber boat got, the more overwhelming it felt.
Splash, splash.
While I gawked at the island, we arrived—everyone started leaping into the water without hesitation.
Peering below, it was shallow enough for feet to touch.
Splash.
Submerging my feet brought a rush of coolness.
Stepping forward, I felt the water's resistance at my toes—different from usual.
"Whoaaa."
Not enough gasps to cover it.
Soon, my feet hit the sandy beach, turning coolness to sticky discomfort.
I shook off my feet, and thanks to the special sneakers—named Ria's Gale or whatever—they dried instantly, not a drop left.
Looking around, was I the only one pleased? Everyone else's faces were full of irritation.
I could see why they gathered so many participants.
"Just sitting here, everyone'll drop out on their own."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️That bad? ⚔️Middle of Pacific but low island means super high temps
As viewers said—no rocks, island so low you could just walk right in.
"Participants, line up by number! 1 to 100 here!"
Organizers must've rehearsed; the chaos sorted quickly.
I took my place in the sixth line as instructed, and soon it was my turn.
"Number 666, Han Ga-eul."
"Yes."
They tossed me a small bag, but unlike others, the staff stared at their terminal awhile.
"Trouble on the ship. Per pre-agreed terms, there's a penalty."
"Okay."
I hadn't even read the docs they'd sent.
Staff handled it routinely, like they saw types like me often.
Pulled a bread bag from the pack and handed it over.
"That's the penalty?"
"Yes. Next!"
Stepping out of line, I glanced around—everyone digging through bags, reading something.
"What's in here?"
Rummaging, a thin booklet stuck to my hand.
📜 GAME RULEBOOK 📜 Absolute Rules 1. Absolutely do not kill other participants. 2. Flare gun use triggers emergency rescue but immediate disqualification. *Violating any following rules results in disqualification. 3. Using enclosed portable battery for non-charging purposes. 4. Damaging surrounding cameras. 5. Damaging staff drones. 6. Leaving designated area. 7. When game progression becomes impossible. 8. Looting other participants' items. ... 27. Personal streaming participants: Staff joins each room for chat moderation. 28. Equipment provided for personal streaming if desired. ... This game is broadcast on TripleNet streaming platform. Reading the rulebook, I spotted some loopholes in certain clauses.
Wonder if intentional or oversight.
"More clauses than expected."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️What's got you saying that?
"Game staff's in our room now. Gonna drop chat managers for a bit."
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Nooo!!
Removing managers is simple.
Options, select all managers, tap the button—done.
— ⚔️ Viewer [Ah... my power...] [Futile, all futile]
"I gave manager based on sub order anyway, so I can reassign exactly. Don't worry, I'll put 'em back later."
Adding slight delay to chat covers streaming clauses.
Chats go to managers first for review before me.
"Asking you for survival tips would be unfair. Bear with it a sec."
Tinkering with phone, now even internet's cut.
Satellite net manipulated somehow.
— ⚔️ Viewer [Hing my power] [Hing you wanna die bitch?] [lolololol]
Game's promo by organizers anyway, so broadcast rules lenient.
More we stream, more promo—smart.
"And I applied for this."
Vrrr—!
— ⚔️ Viewer [What's this?] [View switch button appeared]
Drone swooped in right on cue.
"Apply for this, get personal drone shots. Try the new button."
— ⚔️ Viewer [Whoa captain from above] [Drone tech nuts]
5 mil USD prize? Production costs must be insane.
Just transport here was astronomical, plus hordes of staff.
Should've checked from the space whale talk—investment's bonkers.
Moving people costs money.
No clue how much they blew.
Crackle, crackle.
"Whew—if they banned smokes, I'd have quit early."
— ⚔️ Viewer [lolololol] [What if lighter?]
"Lighter? Instant DQ. Cameras everywhere, drones overhead—24/7 surveillance."
Rulebook detailed all that.
Unauthorized external items: DQ.
"Whew—"
Shoved clauses in pocket, opened bag wide—four more items inside.
Small nonwoven bag, but packed tight.
"Flare gun and watch."
Tiny device for pulse and info.
Powered on: time and "1047".
One sharp knife. Lifeline.
Checked issued items, looked around—staff vanishing without more words.
"Just starting like this?"
— ⚔️ Viewer [No intro or anything? Straight start?] [Total shitshow lol]
Ship at least stayed nearby, anchored at distance.
"Hmm."
Participants darting eyes everywhere.
True to word, all races from around the globe.
— ⚔️ Viewer ⚔️Real survival start [lol already ordered chicken]
Some already chowing bread.
No wonder no food since hours ago on ship—planned starvation.
"Whew—"
Shook out bag—last item dropped: 200ml water and empty canteen.
"Truly impressive."
— ⚔️ Viewer [lololololol] [Who'd take that]
200ml bottle—first time seeing one.
Haven't drunk seawater, but mouth tastes salty.
"Snowball, water time."
"Okay!"
Poured into palm; Snowball hopped down, lapped it up.
After it finished, 1/4 gone.
200ml barely more than a paper cup.
Blazing sun had others shaking empty canteens dry already.
Survival started the moment we set foot on the island.
"Hunt some food first?"
— ⚔️ Viewer [Ku ku!]