Chapter 1701: Chapter 17: Death Rally

“Tang Zheng, quickly tell me, how’s Yixin doing?” Chu Baichuan, truly a good husband, saw Tang Zheng and his first concern was his wife, completely disregarding his own safety.

“Group Leader, I missed you! Quick, tell me, how do we leave this godforsaken place!” Yu Deye, his hands covered in blood, was pounding on a newbie furiously, venting his frustration. When the communication suddenly reconnected, he saw Tang Zheng and immediately exclaimed in joy.

“Brother Tang!” Bai Guo cried, “I knew you wouldn’t abandon me!”

“Everyone, silence. I’m going to share the clues to clear the Secret Room now.” The screen was divided into multiple sections, and Tang Zheng glanced over to confirm the remaining participants were still okay. He quickly began explaining.

“Are any of the Secret Rooms different? Quickly tell me, I’ll try to help you resolve it!” Tang Zheng called over Dantai and Gu Xueqi. When it came to IQ, those two were the smartest in the team.

All the Secret Rooms were identical, which made Tang Zheng let out a sigh of relief. Before the communication ended, Chu Baichuan’s shout could be heard.

“Found the RC Unit! Tang Zheng, you really are incredible!”

Click! The communication was suddenly cut off, and Tang Zheng could only help them to this extent.

“Bai Guo, your Group Leader’s really strong; we’re saved!” A red-haired woman excitedly patted the shoulder of the Natural Stupid, urging others, “Quick, open the door!”

Any Secret Room with members of the Warhammer team became a boon for the survivors. However, they quickly fell into anxiety—how could anyone possibly defeat such a strong team?

Minute by minute passed, more fortunate individuals reached the rendezvous point. But as time went on, the number of survivors diminished, and everyone understood—hope was rapidly dwindling.

Half an hour later, except for Shen Qingshuang, who had died, the Warhammer team was fully assembled. However, among the six returning unfamiliar Conquerors, only three men and one woman remained, with two dead. The number of newbies was down to less than ten.

“The first overtime match has ended. Due to the excessive number of participants inside the Secret Rooms, half will be randomly executed. The remaining participants retain the right to continue the game!”

The Trojan announcement echoed, dripping with bloodshed.

“This is so unfair! If we’re going to die, we should all die together! Otherwise, release everyone!” Complaints arose from teams with members still trapped in the Secret Rooms. “This is nothing but senseless massacre!”

“Luck is also a type of strength. Precisely because random elimination isn’t possible, this method is necessary!”

On the screens in the Lobby, the conditions inside each Secret Room were displayed. Everyone could clearly see the panic etched deeply onto the faces of the unlucky ones.

Without giving anyone a chance to prepare themselves mentally, some survivors’ heads suddenly exploded, splattering screens with blood. The horrifyingly graphic scene sent chills down the spines of many Conquerors.

Tang Zheng felt someone staring at him. Uncomfortably shifting his posture, he looked toward the source and spotted Zhuo Lie, with the young boy Zi Xin standing beside him.

“Tang Zheng, everything you’ve ever done to me—I will repay it in full!”

Zhuo Lie’s personality was still as aggressive as ever. He walked right up to Tang Zheng, towering over him with his nearly two-meter height, and even leaned his cheek closer.

If not for the Trojan rule prohibiting combat within the Lobby—otherwise punishable—Zhuo Lie likely wouldn’t have held back.

“Where’s Yi Ting? Did you kill her?” Tang Zheng remembered there was another woman still alive during the Mechanical Labyrinth game.

“That ungrateful traitor—what’s the point of keeping her around?” Zhuo Lie said bluntly. His Group Members didn’t share his brazen attitude.

“Group Leader Zhuo, he’s the Warhammer Group Leader!” Someone discreetly reminded him, as Tang Zheng’s performance was evident to all. No one foolish enough would want to provoke him.

Smack! Zhuo Lie swung his hand, slapping the face of the subordinate who had spoken.

“Shut up! Is it your turn to talk here?” Zhuo Lie barked furiously, catching everyone’s attention with their dispute.

The Vietnamese Big-breasted Sister stared at Tang Zheng, recalling the memory of being hunted down by him like a stray dog.

Asakura Sakura, dressed in a kimono, knelt elegantly on the floor, a samurai sword resting across her legs, graceful like a sakura blossom.

“Zhuo Lie, enough!” Zi Xin grabbed Zhuo Lie’s arm. “You’ll have plenty of chances for revenge.”

Zi Xin nodded towards Tang Zheng. Despite having been killed by this man once, Zi Xin showed no emotional reaction, except for his loyalty to Zhuo Lie—he had no other desires left.

“Just you wait!” Zhuo Lie harshly gestured a middle finger before leaving.

“That guy’s strength is roughly at the peak of Hero Level Stage Three. He might even have some trump cards hidden. Don’t underestimate him,” Dantai murmured, “Everyone, be careful.”

Apart from Tang Zheng’s side, hostile stares between rival teams were everywhere throughout the Lobby. Many held grudges against one another.

The Trojan seemed deliberately intent on fostering these emotions, deliberately delaying the announcement of the second game.

Teams quickly began using potions for healing. They also luxuriously injected stamina potions—players at this level had long abandoned the inefficiency of consuming food.

“Sleep, I’ll stand guard,” Dantai said as he sat cross-legged, practicing breathing. Though their bodies weren’t necessarily tired, surviving the Secret Room had taken a toll mentally—they needed to recover.

All the teams were doing the same, though some were too restless to sleep. The more anxious they felt, the harder it became to rest.

Such emotions were contagious, leading the entire Lobby to be enveloped in an uneasy atmosphere.

As time passed and everyone began settling down, sleep overcoming their exhaustion, the Trojan announcement suddenly resounded.

“The second game, Death Rally, officially begins!”

“This is such a screw-over!” Those who couldn’t sleep cursed out loud, voicing their frustrations to the Trojan.

“Shut up! This is merely an additional small test. I’ve given you enough time to rest; wasting it is your own fault for not having the mental fortitude to handle pressure,” the Trojan retorted, leaving everyone speechless.

“Enough chatter! Explain the specifics of the second game,” Yan Chiyang demanded, anxious to begin the slaughter.

“Around the World in Eighty Days: Timed Death Rally. The race will consist of six relay legs!”

“Performance will determine point rewards. However, the last team to arrive, or any team failing to complete the rally, will face execution as punishment!”

“For each leg, only one survivor may participate. Only upon reaching the designated location can the next teammate replace them. If someone dies mid-leg, the team will lose an entire day before being allowed to continue!”

“This game will restrict Seed Abilities and all Equipment. Not even a Coin will be provided—you’ll have to rely entirely on your own resourcefulness for each leg!”

As the Trojan detailed the game’s framework, some players’ expressions visibly changed, while others began strategizing their advantages.

“The game begins in ten minutes. Please prepare yourselves!”

“An additional note: I’m aware that some among you possess abilities immune to restriction. Should they be used during the rally, it will result in immediate failure!”

With this regulation, Tang Zheng’s advantage was effectively nullified. But he wasn’t surprised—the Trojan would never permit disruptors of balance to exist.

Teams huddled together, murmuring quietly, deliberating tactics.

“This round likely tests pure physical endurance and survival skills in unfamiliar environments. Let me handle the first leg,” Tang Zheng volunteered.

“No way, you’re our ace—you must deliver the critical blow at the right moment,” Yin Shangwu denied him. “The first leg needs someone capable of exceptional performance and attention to detail to gather intel.”

“The first leg will be dangerous. I’ll do it!” Qin Yan said, flipping her hair. “I’ve traveled to several countries and have experience.”

“Let me handle it instead,” Lin Weiguo interjected. “Don’t forget, I’m a trained Special Forces soldier—I can manage this kind of situation without issue. We should reserve Qin Yan and Nianqi for the later stages to provide support if earlier issues arise.”

“Why all the hassle? Just send one of the fodder in!” Yu Deye pointedly gestured toward Dong Zixuan and Fang Zhiwen. The fact those two women survived so far was practically a miracle.

“No way. If they die, it’ll waste time and prevent us from gathering intel. Falling too far behind early isn’t an option,” Dantai vetoed him. Truthfully, he understood that those below Hero Level were practically just placeholders, offering negligible utility.

“Bunch of lunatics!” Yu Deye muttered. While some teams consisted of participants shoving responsibilities onto one another, this group seemed to be fighting over who’d risk their lives first—surely their heads must be broken.

“Enough arguing. Physically speaking, after Tang Zheng, I should be the strongest!” Pang Meiqin said, her figure tall and elegant, arms folded, scanning the team with a detached gaze that ultimately landed on Tang Zheng. “I’ll take the first leg!”

“Alright!” Dantai nodded. In his mind, the Beautiful Leg Stewardess was actually the perfect choice—the only Conqueror without a Seed Ability, yet she had survived thus far.

Without an ability, Pang Meiqin had spent all her points on physical fitness and adapted well to combat without powers. This was her distinct advantage.

“Time’s up. First-leg participants, raise your hands!”

The Lobby’s layout shifted, with rows of seats appearing in front of the screens. Those not participating could freely select areas to watch.

One arm after another was raised high, though a few teams conspicuously didn’t follow suit, drawing collective attention.

“What are you doing? Raise your hand!” The Group Leader, embarrassed by the scrutiny, shouted at his team.

“Group Leader, I can’t do it. Let me take the next leg instead?” At the critical moment, fear overcame certain contestants—not fear of dying, but rather aiming for better odds of survival.

“You have thirty seconds to conduct a vote and choose a participant. Failure to do so will result in random execution of one team member as punishment!” The Trojan was uncompromising, promptly issuing corrective measures.

Its voice had barely faded before these team members pointed at the cowardly dissenters.

“Around the World in Eighty Days: Death Rally, officially begins. First-leg participants, teleport!”

Pang Meiqin suddenly hugged Tang Zheng, planting a kiss on his lips.

Blinding white light flashed, and participants vanished from the Lobby.

“Please take your seats, toys, and enjoy this century’s most thrilling Holy Land blockbuster!”

The room’s lights dimmed, mimicking a cinema-like atmosphere, coating the Trojan’s words with nothing but mockery. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com for reading.)