Satan’s Game

Cillian is surprised. It's only been a day since the first clue was uncovered, and someone has already solved the riddle for the second clue. 

Meanwhile, they are still on the path to finding the second one themselves.

Whoever opened that chest is already halfway to clearing the first stage.

Cillian hopes the person doesn't share the clue with anyone else; otherwise, the situation could become much more challenging for them.

"Do you think the one who opened the chest is the same person who found the first clue first?"

"Probability suggests it's them," Carlos replies. "We should keep moving."

There's no point in overanalyzing now. 

With one chest already opened, only two clues remain. Their priority is to secure those as quickly as possible.

But a thought occurs to Carlos.

What if the answer isn't the cliff?

They had used the drone to locate the cliff, but Carlos had noticed there were no signs of anyone else on the way.

They've been traveling almost nonstop and are still hours away from the cliff. 

How could someone have reached it faster?

The items provided by the system didn't include tools like planes, teleportation devices, or anything else that could drastically reduce travel time.

Still, without a better alternative, Carlos decides they should stick to their current plan and check out the cliff.

With one clue already gone, there's a quiet pressure on them to pick up the pace.

When they finally reach the cliff's edge, the sheer drop beneath them reveals steep, towering cliffs stretching hundreds of meters down. The sides are thick with dense greenery, but shadows obscure the base, creating the illusion of a black forest shrouded in mystery and menace.

Everything about the scene seems unfriendly.

As Cillian examines the terrain, he glances to his side and sees Carlos lying flat on his stomach, cautiously peering over the edge.

He remembers something: Carlos has a fear of heights.

What a—

Weakling.

Carlos's single-handedly dragging down the average skill level of their team.

"Did you see anything?"Cillian asks.

Carlos steadies his glasses on the bridge of his nose. "It's climbable. The cliff isn't brittle."

"Brittle?"

Carlos explains, "Cliffs are usually made of igneous rock like basalt, granite, or andesite. Granite has a hardness of 6-7 on the Mohs scale, basalt is around 5-7, and andesite is the most brittle at 5-6. Higher hardness means better durability."

"So, what kind of rock is this?"

"Good news—it's granite."

"Oh—" Cillian pauses, realization dawning. "By 'good news,' you mean I'm the one going down again, right?"

Carlos nods earnestly. "I'm very self-aware."

[Live Comments] LMAO at his "self-awareness."

[Live Comments] Carlos, you're a certified weakling!

[Live Comments] This partnership is doomed!!!

"Am I supposed to compliment you for that?"

But Cillian had expected this outcome anyway.

"You still have the rope from before, right?"

"How did you know?"

"Just a hunch," Cillian says.

This hoarding freak never discards anything. 

A stray blade of grass could probably end up in his inventory if Carlos walked past it. No way he'd throw away something as useful as a handwoven rope.

Sure enough, Carlos produces the rope, carefully checking and tying it.

"Do you know how to climb?"

"Do you?" Cillian counters.

"I don't, but I've read about it," Carlos says.

"And what do the books say?"

"Use your legs for most of the effort, not just your arms. Keep your arms as straight as possible when gripping the rocks. That distributes the pressure along your bones and helps conserve energy. Otherwise, you'll tire out quickly, and you might even strain your muscles."

"Okay."

Cillian listens to him rambling about climbing techniques but notices the sudden silence. 

Carlos stops tying the rope and frowns. "This seems too dangerous."

"…" The delayed reaction almost makes Cillian laugh. 

He finishes knotting the rope himself and gestures toward a nearby tree. "Go tie the other end to that tree."

"The answer might not even be at the bottom of this cliff."

"Carlos, hesitation leads to defeat."

After a moment's hesitation, Carlos decides not to argue further. He knows well enough by now that Cillian wouldn't take unnecessary risks.

Understanding that didn't stop him from worrying, though.

Once the rope is secure, Cillian stands at the edge of the cliff, hopping lightly to test the rope's stability. 

Each bounce feels like it's bouncing on Carlos's heart, sending his anxiety through the roof.

"Stop that. It's dangerous," Carlos says, his throat suddenly dry.

Cillian glances at him. "Do you think I wouldn't jump off a ten-story building without blinking?"

Carlos freezes for a moment, tempted to say "no." But—there's a small part of him, about 0.1%, that believes Cillian actually might.

Before he can respond, Cillian grabs the rope and disappears over the cliff's edge.

Carlos cautiously peeks over, only to see Cillian descending with a precision and poise that speak of years of experience.

An expert.

So all that climbing advice he gave earlier was completely unnecessary.

Though slightly embarrassed, Carlos feels a little more at ease watching the steady, confident movements.

[Live Comments] That form is perfect. Balanced use of all limbs and core strength!

[Live Comments] Look at that grip, hold, pull, push. That fluidity takes at least five years of training!

[Live Comments] Okay, but who is Cillian IRL?

[Live Comments] Considering the lockpicking skills, I vote master thief.

[Live Comments] Legendary. Absolutely legendary.

Suddenly, the sound of rustling leaves and startled birds draws Carlos's attention.

It's not just a few birds. Something much bigger is moving through the forest.

He turns to see a massive figure emerging from the trees. It's like a green giant looming closer.

Carlos freezes.

Ali.

The moment Ali sees Carlos, surprise flashes across his face, then his gaze shifts downward to the rope near Carlos's feet.

Instinctively, Carlos steps forward, trying to block Ali's view.

But the rope shifts.

The movement makes it impossible to hide anything.

A wide grin spreads across Ali's face. "That shit is down there, isn't he?"

Carlos doesn't deny it — it would be pointless. He tries to steady his voice. 

"Take back the drone and flashlight if you want."

But Ali's grin twists into something feral. Without warning, he lunges forward like a beast.

His target: the rope.

Carlos throws himself in front of it, but Ali's sheer strength sends him sprawling to the ground. The power disparity is overwhelming—Carlos can't even slow him down.

[Live Comments] God, brains are useless in the face of brute force.

[Live Comments] He's not going to kill Carlos, is he?!

[Live Comments] Don't you dare! If Carlos dies, I'm done watching this.

Ali grabs the rope with both hands, yanking with all his might as if to tear it apart.

Carlos scrambles back to his feet and latches onto Ali's arm.

Ali's biceps are as thick as Carlos's head.

With a single punch, Ali sends Carlos flying. He crashes to the ground, his vision swimming with gold and green stars.

Carlos struggles to shake off the dizziness, blood pooling in his mouth. He can't tell if it's from his nose or lips.

"Since you're here, you must also believe the clue has something to do with the cliff, right? But can you even climb?" Carlos gasps.

Ali stops pulling the rope and sneers, "What, trying to make a deal again?"

Carlos steadies himself, wobbling as he stands, his vision still hazy. 

"Cillian can climb. And he's already close to the clue. Once he comes up, we can share the clue. That's a much safer bet than you going down there yourself, isn't it?"

Ali hesitates. 

He knows his physical strength is unmatched, but the cliff is steep, almost a sheer vertical drop. Without proper equipment, one misstep could send him plunging to his death. 

He's not eager to take that risk.

Carlos presses on. "This is the last clue in the first round. Once we get it, we can unlock the gate to the next level. You won't lose anything."

"But how can I trust he'll hand over the clue?" Ali growls.

"The rope is in your hands. The moment he climbs back up, you can threaten him. You have all the leverage," Carlos says firmly.

Ali looks down at the rope in his hands. 

If he pulls it hard enough, the rope will snap, and the climber below will plummet to his death. 

— Bang!

One less competitor.

But that would also mean he'd have to go down there himself.

Ali's expression hardens with indecision.

Suddenly, a cold voice cuts through the tense air. "Cut the rope."

Carlos freezes. He whirls around to see a tall, slender woman step out of the shadows.

"If you're too weak to finish the job, I can go down," the woman, Sue, says with a twisted smile.

"The bottom is dangerous," Carlos warns gravely, his vision fully recovered now. "There's no need for you to take this risk."

Sue's lips curl further, her tone laced with derision. 

"But that man is a bigger threat to us all. Ali, he is cunning and ruthless. You're no match for him. Letting him climb back up is like releasing a tiger into the wild."

Ali's hand trembles slightly on the rope. Her words seem to confirm his worst fears.

Then, her piercing gaze lands on Carlos. "You need to die too."

Carlos doesn't hesitate. He bolts to the cliff's edge and summons his system. 

"If you let go, so will I. And then you'll get nothing."

"You're threatening me?"

Carlos's voice is calm, but his words cut deep. 

"Doesn't feel good to be the one threatened, does it? You're used to being the one in control. Isn't that right, Sniper?"

Sue's sharp eyes narrow.

Ali's confusion deepens. "Wait—aren't you the Assassin?"

"She lied," Carlos says, his voice steady. "She's the Sniper."

[Live Comments] Whoa, how the hell does Carlos know that?!

[Live Comments] He's gotta be hacking. No way.

[Live Comments] This man is terrifying. And brilliant.

"She's a liar," Carlos continues, his tone unwavering. "Are you really going to trust the word of someone who's been deceiving you all along?"

Each word lands like a punch, hammering away at Ali's already fragile trust. His suspicious gaze shifts to Sue.

Her expression turns glacial, but she doesn't miss the way Ali's eyes flicker with doubt.