#138 - Countdown to escape!
Chapter 138 Escape Countdown!
This was an unknown space.
The three hundred members of Zhenwu University appeared here simultaneously.
Everyone discovered that this place was filled with mist, and apart from the flat ground beneath their feet, everything else was a blank slate.
The freshmen were all curious, looking around.
The teachers, leaders, and social figures, however, were not surprised and remained calm.
"Everyone, please stay put and wait patiently!"
Teacher Shen said.
It should be said, countless people.
One school group after another.
However, most groups were not at full strength, unlike Zhenwu University, where there were not enough slots.
Coincidentally, next door was Jing University!
The elderly man at the head should be the president of Jing University. Noticing Zhenwu University next door, he smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
However, some teachers and students looked at Zhenwu University with eyes full of fighting spirit.
The next moment.
A prompt popped up in the left eye of every freshman:
【Each team, please select ten participating members within 60 seconds to stand in the red zone.】
The participating members had already been determined.
Seeing the prompt, Song Haitang, Zhao Zheng, and others stood out and came to the front, standing in the red zone as required.
Zhao Zheng noticed that among the participating team from Jing University, there was a pair of eyes constantly looking this way.
He turned his head and saw a crew-cut youth.
To be precise, the other party was looking at Song Haitang, and his eyes were full of fighting spirit.
Zhao Zheng was not the only one who noticed the other party; other members also noticed him.
"That's Ma Jun from Jing University, a Lava Fruit ability user. He's very strong and is being cultivated by Jing University as a seed of power!"
Jiang Hebin said in a low voice, "I also heard that he has always regarded Sister Haitang as a rival and wants to surpass her."
Everyone understood.
Zhao Zheng finally remembered that this Ma Jun seemed to be the student who was specially recruited by Jing University back then.
Speaking of which, they were considered fellow villagers, both from Lu'an City.
The 60 seconds passed quickly.
A holographic screen suddenly appeared in front of all participating members.
The teachers had told everyone in school that these things would appear, so everyone was not surprised, just curiously looking at the holographic screen.
Soon.
The holographic screen recorded the information of the participating members and then displayed a prompt:
【Please decide on your team captain!】
The teachers had said that in the fifth level of the Spirit Realm, the captain would receive the most rewards and must be a capable person.
In everyone's mind, the captain should be Song Haitang.
However, they had already discussed it before, so there was no dispute now.
Everyone clicked on Zhao Zheng's avatar to confirm the captain.
Behind them.
Those leaders and social figures who came to watch the battle were surprised to find that Zhenwu University's team had not chosen Song Haitang as the captain.
Especially President Song, who looked very surprised.
He didn't expect that Zhao family's kid would become the captain?
Could it be that this kid had something extraordinary?
【Captain identity confirmed: Zhao Zheng!】
【This Spirit Realm is a challenge Spirit Realm, with three modes: Survival Mode, Hunting Mode, Escape Mode...】
【Please, all participating members, draw the challenge mode...】
Drawing lots is all about luck.
Zhao Zheng, as the captain, naturally took the lead and started drawing lots.
The method was very simple. There were a hundred red balloons on the screen. Click one, and the balloon would burst, revealing the contents inside.
Zhao Zheng randomly clicked one in the middle.
The balloon burst, revealing four words: Hunting Mode!
Everyone was very happy.
Hunting Mode was the simplest of the three modes.
As long as you were strong enough, you could just kill everything!
And their team had Song Haitang, the "Number One Freshman," so their strength was naturally sufficient.
Next.
As long as everyone drew more than four votes for "Hunting Mode," the Spirit Realm would start the hunting platform for everyone.
The second to draw lots was Song Haitang.
The girl didn't click in the middle but clicked on the edge. The result that popped up was "Survival Mode!"
Survival Mode was also okay, there was room for strength to be displayed.
As long as it wasn't Escape Mode.
Escape Mode was the worst and most dangerous.
Entering Escape Mode would seal everyone's strength, turning them into ordinary people!
In this way, Song Haitang's advantage as the "Number One Freshman" would be gone.
In addition, Escape Mode had all kinds of terrible traps, which were very dangerous.
After Song Haitang finished drawing, the muscle girl stepped forward and drew one of the red balloons.
"Poof!"
The balloon burst, revealing four big words: Escape Mode!
What you fear most is what comes.
Seeing these four words, the muscle queen, Wang Yuqing, turned pale with fright.
"It's just one, it's okay," a classmate next to her comforted.
However, no one dared to draw lots again at this moment.
Zhao Zheng then said, "The drawing time is only 60 seconds, how long are you planning to dawdle?"
"I'll do it!"
It was Jiang Hebin who spoke.
This kid had good luck and drew the same sign as Zhao Zheng, Hunting Mode.
However, the next few people were not so lucky.
Escape Mode, which rarely appeared, kept appearing...
When all ten people had finished drawing lots, everyone's faces turned ugly.
Because, out of ten votes, five were "Escape Mode!"
This result was definitely the worst!
Behind everyone, those big shots who came to watch the battle also changed their expressions when they saw this result.
Surprise, disappointment, solemnity, worry... all kinds of emotions.
"How could it be Escape Mode?"
"This is too unlucky, right?"
"Yeah! The probability of Escape Mode appearing is the smallest, but they drew it."
"It's troublesome. Escape Mode will seal the strength. President Song's daughter has no advantage at all."
"I'm afraid it's more than that. Among the three modes, Escape Mode is the most dangerous. People die every time it appears!"
"So, the quota we managed to get this time is a waste?"
"Are you still worried about these things? It would be good if Song Haitang doesn't have any accidents. This child is being taken care of by the higher-ups and is related to an important plan..."
Everyone discussed.
The school's teachers and leaders all frowned.
Especially Teacher Shen and Teacher Chu, their faces were very ugly.
The atmosphere on Zhenwu University's side was not good.
In comparison, Jing University next door was beaming with joy because they drew four votes for Hunting Mode and four votes for Survival Mode. Escape Mode only had two votes.
This meant that they could choose between Hunting Mode and Survival Mode at will!
"We are bound to win!"
This was the mainstream voice from Jing University.
...
"What... what do we do?" Wang Yuqing asked with a mournful face.
"It's all my fault. My luck is so bad that I drew Escape Mode," Zhou Junjie said with a look of self-blame.
"Me too."
"And me..."
"Brother Zhao, Sister Haitang, we're the ones holding you back this time."
Song Haitang didn't speak, her gaze turning towards Zhao Zheng.
Zhao Zheng still wore a face full of smiles, appearing very confident: "It's okay, the escape mode also has its advantages. Although it's a bit more dangerous, ten people can participate together, so the speed of earning points will also be faster."
As his voice fell.
A voice suddenly rang out from behind: "Zhao Zheng, you're the captain. Once you pass the first stage, voluntarily choose to give up the competition, understand?"
The one who suddenly spoke was the president of Zhenwu University.
His suggestion was clearly for Song Haitang's sake.
The president was very clear about Song Haitang's importance!
As long as Song Haitang doesn't die, a single failure in the spirit realm isn't a serious accident.
"Right! Zhao Zheng, you listen up, once you pass the first stage, quit immediately!"
Chairman Song followed suit.
The old geezer's words were naturally for his daughter's sake.
In the spirit realm challenge, regardless of the mode, as long as you pass the first stage, you can choose to quit and give up continuing the competition.
As for how to pass the first stage in escape mode?
It's very simple.
If you really can't find a way to escape, then sacrificing three teammates counts as passing...
"I understand."
Zhao Zheng didn't say much, simply responding, but he didn't take it to heart.
He still had a lot of confidence in the escape mode.
It wasn't because he was confident in his own brain.
But because, from Old Chu's previous explanations, he realized that he was very familiar with the mechanisms in the escape mode...
In fact, before coming to the spirit realm, Zhao Zheng hoped that he would draw the escape mode this time.
Only in this way could he better hide his strength.
...
[According to the lottery ticket statistics, your challenge mode is "Escape Mode." Please, all participating members, be prepared...]
After the prompt appeared.
The holographic screen disappeared.
The next moment.
A door appeared in front of everyone.
Behind the door was a giant building, similar to a movie theater's screening room, with many seats inside. At the very front was a very large screen.
This was the viewing area for the escape mode.
Next.
Everyone sat in the hall, and through the giant screen, they could see Zhao Zheng, Song Haitang, and others' performance in the escape mode.
Each mode had a different viewing area.
For example, the viewing area for the hunting mode was an arena.
Time was limited.
Everyone entered the hall one after another.
Those spectators consciously found seats and sat down.
Zhao Zheng and the others followed the prompts and came to the entrance of a secret room next door, waiting for the secret room to open.
That's right.
Escape mode.
Is actually a escape room!
In the secret room, there would be various mechanisms. If they didn't escape the secret room within the limited time, they would be killed by the mechanisms.
According to historical records, many of the teams that had previously selected the escape mode were completely wiped out in the first stage.
Thinking of this.
Jiang Hebin, Wang Yuqing, and others all had pale faces.
Suddenly, Zhou Junjie said: "If we really can't get past the first stage... count me as a sacrifice! I just drew the escape mode, so consider it atonement for my luck."
"Sister Haitang is very important, we can't implicate her here."
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at Zhou Junjie.
No one expected that this guy could have such awareness?
Jiang Hebin couldn't help but ask: "Junjie, aren't you afraid of death?"
"Afraid! Who isn't afraid of death?" Zhou Junjie said: "I just don't want to implicate others."
"Count me in too!"
The one who spoke again was actually Wang Fei: "I also drew the escape mode just now. I don't want to implicate Sister Haitang and Brother Zhao either."
This kid was a Rubber Fruit user. His brain was likely affected by the Rubber Fruit, and he was a very simple-minded person.
As soon as he said this, he put the other people who drew the escape mode on the fire to roast.
Not everyone was unafraid of death.
Who would be willing to sacrifice their own life?
What's more, they were all the pride of Zhenwu University. As long as they passed this stage, they would have a good future. Who would be willing to actively die?
Just as everyone was in an awkward situation.
Zhao Zheng smiled and patted Wang Fei and Zhou Junjie on the shoulders, and then said: "Don't be so pessimistic! I'm still here!"
Hearing this, Jiang Hebin quickly said: "Yes, yes, yes, Sister Haitang said before that Brother Zhao has keen observation skills in the spirit realm and can see opportunities..."
"With Brother Zhao here, we will definitely be able to pass this stage smoothly."
The others echoed.
Now, their only hope was probably Zhao Zheng.
Just then.
The door to the secret room opened.
Everyone's expression changed, some afraid to go forward.
Zhao Zheng noticed that even Song Haitang was a little nervous.
He grabbed Song Haitang's small hand and gave her an encouraging look.
Seeing this, Song Haitang felt the warmth of Zhao Zheng's palm and felt much more at ease.
The next moment.
Zhao Zheng took the lead and stepped into the secret room.
Seeing this, the others could only follow.
They had no choice but to follow.
At this point, the spirit realm wouldn't allow them to quit.
...
Almost the instant Zhao Zheng and the others stepped into the secret room.
In the hall.
The giant screen lit up and showed video footage.
In the video, the first stage that Zhao Zheng and his group had to face was a sauna.
Almost as soon as they entered the sauna, the mechanisms in the sauna started up, the heat was boiling, and the temperature was rising rapidly.
Seeing this, everyone in the hall broke out in a cold sweat for Zhao Zheng and the others.
Especially Chairman Song and the others, were even more nervous, fearing that something might happen to Song Haitang...
In the video, in addition to seeing Zhao Zheng and his group and the layout of the secret room, they could also hear their voices.
At this moment.
Everyone in the hall heard panicked voices:
"I, I feel like all my abilities have disappeared, and even my strength has returned to the level of an ordinary person."
"My claws are gone, and my palms have completely returned to normal..."
"This feeling is too bad."
"Don't think about that, quickly find a way out. In a while, we'll be roasted."
"What's the temperature inside now?"
"There's a thermometer here, it shows... 47 degrees! It's still rising rapidly."
"There's a glass door over there, it should be the exit... but it seems to be locked from the outside, we can't open it!"
"Quickly find clues. The teacher said that the mechanisms in the escape mode will give a clue..."
"It's so hot, I can hardly breathe."
Watching these people's panicked performance, the big shots in the hall frowned.
