Chapter 40: Timing the Button

"Fuck..."

Wang Yongxin cursed instinctively, but he no longer had the luxury of thought. Driven by pure instinct, he hoisted the mechanism onto his shoulders once more and pressed forward.

Ding Wenqiang was even a step ahead of him.

Clearly, in a situation that required no brainpower—only mindless execution of rules—Ding Wenqiang held a distinct advantage.

The most miserable, of course, was Cai Zhiyuan.

Because the earlier one completed the first stage, the longer the rest period they could secure.

Ding Wenqiang could use his remaining 22 seconds to rest, but Cai Zhiyuan had barely reached the rest area before he had to set off again.

He could only gasp for breath in great gulps; he couldn't even wait for his heart rate to settle slightly before being forced to shoulder the mechanism again.

The only good news was that the base of this mechanism had very wide support feet, so it wouldn't tip forward or backward. Otherwise, if he collapsed from exhaustion and was pinned underneath, it would be a death sentence.

The distance for the second stage was 15 meters—5 meters shorter than the first—but the time limit had also been shortened from 60 seconds to 38 seconds.

When combined with the physical exhaustion, the game actually became more difficult for those with lower stamina.

Just then, a soulless electronic voice rang out clearly from the loudspeaker.

【Viewer No. 5 has tipped Ding Wenqiang 8,000 minutes of visa time, with the message: Press it when the countdown is almost over.】

【Special Reminder: The tipped player may freely decide whether or not to fulfill the request.】

The sudden prompt left everyone somewhat bewildered.

The five people in the arena had no mental capacity for deep thought; under the heavy pressure, there was almost no extra blood in their bodies to fuel brain function.

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

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

And it seemed Viewers did not need to personally engage in this physical labor; they could tip the five players in the arena, gifting them visa time along with a specific request.

Of course, the recipient could choose not to comply.

It was somewhat similar to a streamer receiving tips on a live-streaming platform.

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

Regardless, once he reached the rest area, he could set the mechanism down to rest. As for when he pressed the button, it didn't seem to have any special impact on the game.

Obtaining 8,000 minutes of visa time so easily put Ding Wenqiang in a good mood and gave him more drive.

He continued to step forward.

However, just as he was about to reach the rest area, the broadcast rang out again.

【Viewer No. 1 has tipped Ding Wenqiang 8,000 minutes of visa time, with the message: Press it for yourself immediately.】

"Huh?"

For a moment, Ding Wenqiang felt at a loss.

These two viewers had issued diametrically opposed requests. Fulfilling one meant inevitably defying the other.

Seeing that he was nearly at the rest area for the second stage, Ding Wenqiang hesitated, unable to make a decision.

At that moment, Wang Yongxin suddenly realized something and shouted, "Uncle Ding... don't... don't press it yet!

"I... I understand! The time... the time you press it now... will be the time for the next stage!"

Because he was carrying a heavy weight, Wang Yongxin's voice was broken.

Furthermore, because speaking loudly caused him to lose his breath, his core collapsed, and the mechanism momentarily hit the ground.

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

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

The others in the arena also instantly understood what was happening.

The time limit for the second stage was 38 seconds—a specific, non-rounded number.

At first, no one had thought much of it, assuming it was a pre-set time within the game, but the message from Viewer No. 5 made Wang Yongxin realize that this 38 seconds was actually the time Ding Wenqiang had spent completing 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 it 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 toward the position of Viewer No. 1.

According to the numbering, Lin Sizhi was Viewer No. 5; he was the one who had sent the initial message.

But clearly, Viewer No. 1 had reacted quickly, realizing the implication behind his message almost instantly and striking back.

...

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

The countdown for his path froze at 9 seconds.

For this 15-meter stretch, Ding Wenqiang took 29 seconds. But after deducting the time spent thinking, his average speed was actually slightly faster than his previous 38 seconds for the 20-meter stretch.

"Shit."

The remaining four people cursed under their breaths.

For Ding Wenqiang, waiting an extra 10 seconds had no obvious disadvantage, yet it provided a precious breathing window for the four trailing behind.

Especially for Wang Yongxin and Cai Zhiyuan.

【Viewer No. 1 has tipped Ding Wenqiang 3,000 minutes of visa time, with the message: Well done.】

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

Although the act of pressing the button significantly increased the difficulty for Wang Yongxin and Cai Zhiyuan, but...

In a life-and-death game like this, who wouldn't look out for themselves first?

One must remember that whoever reaches the finish line first becomes the "King," and the game rules stated that the player who becomes "King" will possess immense advantages.

If he gave the others a chance to breathe, what if he was overtaken at the very last moment?

Since the name of this game was "The King's Game," any price was worth paying to secure the title of King.

【Beep.】

In the final second of the countdown, Wang Yongxin managed to stumble across the finish line of the second stage to reach the rest area.

Accompanied by a sharp, high-pitched hum, Cai Zhiyuan—the only one who had not completed the path—let out a miserable scream.

The countdown on the path reset to 38 seconds. Simultaneously, several spikes and hooks extended from the mechanism on his shoulders, piercing deeply into his flesh!

These spikes and hooks were not large, and they wouldn't cause fatal damage to his body; even if they left wounds, they would soon stop bleeding naturally.

But the intense pain still caused Cai Zhiyuan to scream uncontrollably.

The surge of adrenaline triggered by the pain forced strength back into Cai Zhiyuan's body, allowing him to persist and cross the finish line.

The spikes and hooks on the mechanism retracted, but blood immediately gushed out, staining the shoulders of Cai Zhiyuan's shirt red.

He had no time to rest at all, because the countdown lit up once more.

This time, it was indeed 29 seconds—the exact time Ding Wenqiang had pressed the button when completing the second stage.

The group seemed to have become numb; they no longer had the capacity for extra thought, merely hoisting the mechanisms once more and walking toward the final finish line.

Cai Zhiyuan's condition was clearly the most concerning; without question, he was left in last place again.

【Viewer No. 3 has tipped Cai Zhiyuan 2,000 minutes of visa time, with the message: Keep going.】

Viewers could influence the actions of the five people in the arena to a certain extent, but it was only influence.

Currently, the only variable in the game was held in Ding Wenqiang's hands; as long as Ding Wenqiang was unwilling to extend the time, the others could do nothing.

【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 mechanisms on the shoulders of Wang Yongxin and Cai Zhiyuan simultaneously extended their spikes and hooks.

Wang Yongxin let out a muffled groan. Although he had mentally prepared himself and tensed every muscle in his body, the piercing pain still made his vision go dark.

But he had no other choice. If he had placed the mechanism on the ground and pulled his shoulders away before the spikes extended, he could have avoided the damage, but then re-hoisting the mechanism would have been a nightmare, causing even more suffering.

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

Cai Zhiyuan had it even worse; his unhealed wounds were torn open again, and the clothing around his shoulders was almost completely soaked in blood.

It took more than ten seconds into the second round of the countdown before he finally managed to reach the finish line.

As all the spikes retracted, Cai Zhiyuan stumbled forward and slammed the final button.

(End of Chapter)