Apocalyptic Extraordinary Convoy, I'm really not weird!

Chapter 76 "The Performer"

The moment you step into darkness is not like passing through a doorway, but like falling into the void.

But the feeling of weightlessness lasted only a moment, as if I had only missed a step.

The next second, the soft touch of a thick carpet came from underfoot, and at the same time, the senses were flooded with bright, almost blinding light, a noisy, bustling crowd, and an intense aroma that mixed perfume, cigars, alcohol, and the warmth of the crowd.

The dizziness from weightlessness quickly subsided, and Su Ye steadied himself, his sharp gaze sweeping around him immediately.

They were standing in the center of a huge, extravagant hall.

Beneath your feet is a gleaming dark marble floor, adorned with intricate gold patterns;

Above them hung a giant chandelier made of countless crystal pieces, emitting a dazzling but unnatural light;

The surrounding walls are inlaid with magnificent reliefs and huge oil paintings, depicting scenes of revelry, games, and various mythological events.

The air was warm and comfortable, a stark contrast to the cold and desolate atmosphere of the amusement park outside.

The hall was packed with people; at a glance, there were hundreds or even thousands!

They were dressed in various ways, some smart and some ragged, but their faces all bore genuine, undisguised fear, bewilderment, greed, or despair.

They eyed each other warily, whispered among themselves, and were clearly "participants" who had been "transported" here in some way.

The hall is circular, with an open space in the center and a two-story structure surrounding it. The ornately decorated private rooms are arranged like a honeycomb, and the balconies facing the hall are covered by thick curtains or one-way glass, making it impossible to see inside.

Directly in front, a particularly prominent platform extends from the second floor, resembling a stage or a judge's bench.

Just as Su Ye and his seven companions were fully revealed in the hall, looking around in bewilderment, it seemed as if a pre-set node had been triggered.

On the platform, a figure slowly walked out and stood in front of the railing.

He was a middle-aged man dressed in a well-tailored, retro-style dark red velvet suit. His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a white mask with gold patterns that covered the upper half of his face, revealing only the corner of his mouth with a standard smile.

He was toying with a thin black cane in his hand, his posture so elegant that he seemed about to host a high-society salon.

His appearance seems to be a signal.

The noise in the hall subsided somewhat, and many people's attention was drawn to him.

"clang--"

The man picked up a small gold bell from the small table next to him and tapped it lightly with a mallet.

The clear, resonant chime, carrying a strange penetrating power, instantly drowned out all other noises, echoing throughout the hall and sending a chill down everyone's spine.

"Welcome, performers from all over the world."

The man's voice came through some unknown amplification device, clear, steady, and with a cold, magnetic quality.

"A game carefully prepared for you is about to begin."

This grand game, meticulously crafted by deception, greed, fear... is about to begin.

He slightly opened his arms, as if to show off this luxurious yet eerie hall.

"Please look at what's at hand."

Su Ye subconsciously looked down and discovered that she had noticed a thin, black device resembling a fitness tracker on her left wrist.

With a thought, the device's surface lit up slightly, projecting a semi-transparent light screen that hovered above his palm.

On the left side of the light screen, several lines of information were clearly displayed:

Life: ★ (1/1)

Health: ★ (1/1)

[Sequence Power (Tier 2): ★★ (2/2)]

These then transformed into four stars that floated above the palm of the hand.

Meanwhile, on the right side, fifteen virtual cards are neatly arranged, each with a simple rock, paper, scissors pattern printed on it.

At the same time, more gasps and exclamations rang out in the hall, clearly indicating that everyone had noticed the device on their wrist and the content it displayed.

The man on the platform seemed quite satisfied with the reaction below, and continued in his flat tone:

"As you can see, each of you has fifteen 'game cards', representing the simplest 'rock, paper, scissors'."

And your betting stakes are your most precious possessions—”

His voice rose slightly, carrying a cruel allure:

"Life is worth one star."

"Health is worth one star."

"And... the 'Power of Sequence' that sets you apart from ordinary beings!"

"A first-order sequence is worth one star."

"A second-order sequence, worth two stars."

"A third-order sequence, worth four stars!"

"And so on..."

The hall fell silent instantly, save for the man's cold voice echoing and countless heavy, terrified breaths.

Your task is simple:

Over the next ten hours, play all fifteen cards in your hand.

In each round of the game, the winner will receive one star from the loser!

You may use any means necessary: schemes, deception, alliances, betrayal...

As long as you can successfully get your opponent to duel you and play the cards you want!

Win the star, and you win all possibilities!

His words, like the whispers of the devil, ignited fear and quietly fostered greed.

"When the game time ends, you can use the remaining 'stars' to exchange for anything you want!"

His gaze swept over the survivors—their faces sallow and emaciated, their limbs mutilated, their eyes vacant—and his voice carried a seductive gentleness:

Do older people want to regain their youth?

Someone in the crowd shuddered.

"All you need to pay is... one star. Just one."

He turned to the other side, where there were amputees, lame men, and people wrapped in blood-stained bandages:

"Do people with disabilities want healthy limbs?"

"Similarly, with just one star, you will regain your flawless bodies."

His gaze finally settled on the densely packed group of survivors, each with a different expression, and his smile deepened:

"Do mortals without a hierarchy yearn for extraordinary power?"

"One star. Just one star—you will have your own sequence and begin a new life."

"Do lower-level Awakened beings yearn for higher realms?"

He spread his hands out, as if showing a smooth road paved with stars:

"As long as you have enough stars, you can exchange them for anything."