Wang Yanfei lay on the cold operating table, the chilling touch of the metal surface seeping into his remaining sense of touch, leaving behind only a numbing sensation. His lower body, now empty, was filled with various tubes. Thick infusion lines connected his body to some unknown device, pumping an icy liquid into his veins, making him tremble uncontrollably.
Dr. Lin stood beside him, peering down at him. "Kid, the next step is your transformation surgery," he said, pausing briefly. "But before we begin, do you have any last words? Speak now, while you still can."
Wang Yanfei did not respond. Instead, with the last bit of strength he could muster, he activated his status interface. Instantly, the data appeared in his mind—
[Name]: Wang Yanfei
[Race]: Human?
[Attributes]:
Body: 0.3
Spirit: 2.6
[Ability]: Gift of Destiny (12)
Refresh time: 22:12:34
[Skill]: Evil Body? ? ?
[Symbiosis]: Liquid Metal (Spine) (Residual)
[Status]: Near Death
Wang Yanfei's eyes stayed on the number behind "Gift of Fate" - 12. He was stunned for a moment, and then realized that he had accumulated the full amount of cards in the more than ten days he was trapped in the jar.
Clenching his teeth, he ignited the last sliver of hope in his heart. Without hesitation, he activated "Gift of Fate." The next moment, twelve cards appeared before him, floating face down within his consciousness.
"Interesting. " Dr. Lin smirked as he watched Wang Yanfei struggling to reach out as if grasping at something invisible. However, the doctor merely shook his head and murmured, "Kid, you'll thank me later."
He turned away, walking toward the anesthetic dispenser. A wave of cold fluid surged through the tubes into Wang Yanfei's body. A heavy dizziness overtook him, his vision growing blurry. Yet, just before he lost consciousness, he saw something strange.
The flipped-over cards all bore the same image—a deep crimson background with a swirling, distorted black symbol spinning endlessly.
The cards seemed drawn toward each other, merging into a single mass of energy radiating with a blood-red glow. The light grew stronger, searing into his consciousness, and finally, his vision plunged into darkness.
-------------------
A dull pain throbbed at the back of his neck. Wang Yanfei's eyes snapped open as if something had forcibly yanked his mind back into reality.
Total darkness. The air was damp and reeked of decay, like the stench of an abandoned underground chamber. He tried to move, but his body felt unbearably heavy, his limbs numb—like they had been injected with anesthetics, making even lifting a finger a struggle.
"Shit…" He cursed under his breath, his throat dry and hoarse. He reached up instinctively to check his status, but his fingers brushed against something cold and rigid around his neck. A faint humming vibration followed.
A collar?
His heart sank. Tracing the metal edges with his fingers, he quickly realized that it was some kind of control device.
Then, from the darkness, there was a faint shuffling sound—a movement, followed by a low, raspy voice filled with irritation. "Shut up. You're giving me a headache."
Wang Yanfei tensed, sharply raising his head. Through the faint outlines in the dim light, he barely made out a figure sitting in the corner. The man leaned against the wall, almost blending into the shadows, except for a pair of faintly glowing eyes that stood out clearly.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Yanfei suppressed the dizziness in his head and asked in a low voice, "Where is this place?"
The man was silent for a moment before letting out a short chuckle, laced with mockery. "Do you really not know, or are you just playing dumb?"
"Less bullshit." Wang Yanfei gritted his teeth, his tone unfriendly.
The man snorted, looking at him as if he were an idiot. Then, in a lazy voice, he said, "Some shitty company's shitty hunting game."
The words dropped like a hammer in Wang Yanfei's chest, sending a chill through his veins.
Hunting game?
Several images flashed through his mind quickly. He had previously argued with Wang Qiu and was knocked unconscious by his bodyguard...
Wang Yanfei wanted to ask something else, but before he could say anything, his eyes suddenly lit up, and a beam of dazzling light fell from the ceiling without warning, making the whole room pale and dazzling in an instant. He subconsciously squinted his eyes and raised his hand to block the light. Before he could recover, a slightly frivolous voice came from the radio above his head.
"Oh, congratulations, Yak, the opponent in this game is a newcomer. It seems that you can live another day. It's really enviable."
Wang Yanfei turned his head and looked at the middle-aged man who had been silent. The other party leaned against the wall, his posture was loose, and he didn't react even when he heard his name.
The radio continued to sound, with a brisk tone, as if joking with an old friend: "Don't be nervous, Yak, you know, the group of people above really appreciate you."
The tone changed in an instant, with a pleasant smile: "Okay, no more nonsense, it's time to talk about business."
Wang Yanfei almost guessed what he would hear next, but still held his breath.
"There is a micro bomb hidden in the collar around your neck. Don't worry, the power is not exaggerated, but it is more than enough to blow off a head."
The radio chuckled, and the tone became more casual: "There is a number from 1 to 9 engraved on the back of each of your collars. Want to know how to get out alive? It's very simple..."
Wang Yanfei immediately reached out to touch the back of his neck, and sure enough, he touched a raised metal plate. It was very smooth and the number could not be distinguished by touch.
"If you want to get out alive, you have to say the number on your collar in the room."
"If you say it right, congratulations, the collar will be untied and you will be free."
"If you say it wrong, tsk... you should be able to guess what will happen, right?"
The broadcast continued: "Remember, only one of you can walk out of this room, so I wish you good luck."
Wang Yanfei felt the collar on his neck vibrate slightly and began to beep.
"The broadcast paused slightly, and then as if he thought of something, he lazily added: "Oh, by the way, there is another small detail."
The tone suddenly became playful: "If the other party says the number right-then the other one... will explode directly. "
Dead silence.
Wang Yanfei slowly raised his head and his eyes fell on the man opposite.
Yak lowered his head and tapped the ground slowly with his fingers, making a dull "tap, tap" sound. His expression was hidden in the shadows, and his expression could not be seen clearly, but it made Wang Yanfei's back slightly cold.
He suddenly raised his head, a vague smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and his voice was hoarse: "Boy, do you understand the rules?"