Jiang Yu returned to his room and immediately examined the card he had drawn this time.
[Grade B Item Card: Divine Eye]
[Description: Using this card, you can view the abilities of any two item cards possessed by another player.]
Jiang Yu pondered for a moment. Though his current luck seemed extraordinary, it wasn't enough to guarantee an S-grade or A-grade card every time. While this B-grade card wasn't particularly powerful, its value would increase as the game progressed. After all, knowing an opponent's card abilities was akin to seeing their hand in a poker game.
He organized his current collection of item cards:
[Grade S Item Card: Death Immunity Card][Grade S Item Card: Seize Card][Grade B Item Card: Divine Eye]
Afterward, he nibbled on some bread and sipped water, his brows furrowing in distaste. The bread was dry and hard, akin to stale steamed buns, with an unpleasant, moldy smell as though it had been left out for days. Yet, he had no choice but to eat. Each game demanded full physical and mental energy to ensure victory.
The unappetizing meal made him reminisce about the fragrant loaves of a bakery. He recalled the pig-faced man mentioning a sumptuous feast awaiting them after tomorrow night's game—a rare beacon of hope in this grim scenario.
He downed two bottles of water in quick succession and collapsed onto the soft bed. Despite the desolation of the room, the bed's comfort brought him a moment of solace, lulling him into a deep sleep.
In the middle of the night, Jiang Yu awoke groggily, stirred by an urgent need to relieve himself. After using the restroom and flushing, a faint noise outside caught his attention. Pressing his ear to the door, he discerned soft footsteps echoing in the hallway.
His heart tightened. Wasn't this person afraid of that monstrous steel beast? Or was it something even more sinister?
Curiosity piqued, Jiang Yu cracked the door open slightly. Through the narrow gap, he glimpsed a shadow disappearing down the staircase.
Alarmed, he quickly shut and locked the door. Retreating to his bed, he buried himself under the covers, cocooning himself in an illusion of security before drifting back into an uneasy slumber.
8:00 PM the following evening.
All players gathered once more in the central hall.
The scene had changed yet again. A large round table now dominated the center of the room, surrounded by six chairs. Standing beside it was a bull-headed man, acting as the game's referee.
The setup bore an uncanny resemblance to the deadly Zodiac Roulette game. Many players speculated nervously—was this another card-drawing challenge?
Their thoughts soon shifted as they noticed six revolvers resting on the table, accompanied by a pile of bullets and a set of translucent red dice.
The sight of real guns left many wide-eyed, their chatter filled with unease and curiosity.
As the murmurs grew louder, the pig-faced man appeared on the high platform, as punctual as ever. With his arms spread wide, he gazed down at the crowd and addressed them in a voice that echoed throughout the hall.
"Good evening, everyone! Tonight's game is called 'One Bullet for Your Life.' Six players will participate."
He paused briefly before continuing, his tone deliberately measured.
"As always, I value courage. Any volunteer brave enough to step forward will receive a unique item card exclusive to this game. If no one volunteers, the screen will randomly select the participants."
The pig-faced man's usual theatrics failed to stir the crowd. Most players, calculating their odds, opted for safety. The prevailing strategy was simple: the later the rounds, the higher the chance of survival. Why risk everything in the early games?
But then, a voice broke the silence.
"I'll join!"
All eyes turned toward the speaker. Jiang Yu looked over, momentarily stunned—it was the boy from before, Player 34.
"I'll join too!" another voice called. This time, it was Player 20, a tanned man with rugged, calloused hands that hinted at years of manual labor. Jiang Yu didn't recognize him.
Without hesitation, Jiang Yu stepped forward.
"I'll participate!"
The crowd buzzed with surprise. Within moments, three of the six required participants had already volunteered.
"Excellent," the pig-faced man remarked with visible satisfaction, scanning the room. "Any other volunteers?"
Half a minute passed in silence. None stepped forward.
The pig-faced man gestured, and three item cards were delivered to the volunteers by bull-headed men.
"Well then," he said, turning to the digital screen. "Let's select the remaining players."
The avatars on the screen began to spin rapidly. Soon, three more faces were displayed:
Player 2: A striking young woman with a delicate face and long legs, standing at about 1.78 meters. Jiang Yu squinted at her, a flicker of recognition sparking in his memory. Suddenly, he realized—this was a once-famous internet model with millions of followers before she vanished from the public eye.
Player 8: A middle-aged man with a balding head, sunken eyes, and an air of exhaustion. His presence was so unremarkable that Jiang Yu barely remembered him.
Player 26: The blonde-haired youth.
Jiang Yu froze momentarily. What a small world.
This was the same Player 26 who had ambushed him in the last game, nearly knocking him off the bar. Though the fall would've ultimately been beneficial, the malice in the act had left Jiang Yu cold.
He smirked inwardly. Payback time.
Noticing Jiang Yu's gaze, the blonde sneered, spitting on the floor and flipping him off.
"Wonderful," the pig-faced man declared. "Our six participants are ready. This is a game of intellect and courage. Each of you will point a gun at your head and pull the trigger. May fortune favor you!"
The pig-faced man's sinister smile widened as he looked over the six contestants.
"Now," he continued, his voice chilling. "Let me explain the rules of 'One Bullet for Your Life.'"