191 Stun

"Damn… There will be a lot of suffering in this challenge…"

Wuxing couldn't help but pity everyone else. For Ability Holders, this will be an easy challenge but for others, almost fifty percent will suffer just for the sake of not losing their points.

"I don't think many will do it…" Dongmei whispered to him. "They cannot continue taking part in the selection with the hole in their hand. It's too risky."

"Well, many don't have a choice," Xuefeng replied with a shrug. "Those at the top and bottom will for sure agree but I doubt those at the middle would care. It's all about figuring out what others will choose."

Gazing at everyone's faces, he could already see the mental warfare as they glanced at others, trying to come up with a plan. If the cut off for today was five thousand points, anyone under ten thousand should definitely try their luck else they can say goodbye to everyone gathered and move to the jungle.

Naturally, many will try to scheme their way to victory.

Just as he thought, a moment later someone jumped on the bench and called out to everyone, "Hey! Listen up! This challenge is too risky! I have an idea to solve it! If everyone rejects the challenge, we will be able to continue the selection without betting on our luck!"

He was of course met with an instant critique.

"Bullshit! What about those under the red line in the rankings?! If I don't take part in this challenge, I'm out! Fuck you, I don't care. I am accepting this challenge!"

With him, many others joined as well, making others in the middle quite desperate as well.

"This is exactly what they wanted…" Wuxing muttered as he looked at both Ash and General Clark, watching them smile. "They want to see chaos and fear to check how everyone will react. Those who can't keep composure with such an easy challenge will not be good agents. Those who are fearless and confident, jumping into the fire to finish their mission, those are the people they want."

"Wait… What if…" Dongmei suddenly paused and looked around, staring at the metal poles all around the place filled with multiple cameras that were watching the place.

"Babe…" Dongmei muttered, pulling on Wuxing's sleeve.

They exchanged glances and she gave him a signal, pointing at the cameras with her eyes.

"You think they—?" He asked with a frown, having a certain idea in his mind and Dongmei nodded, confirming it before he even voiced it out.

She patted his shoulder and then gazed at the big metal container at the corner of the plaza.

"Alright, got it." Wuxing immediately realized what they were doing.

Scarlet was the only one who didn't know what's going on as she looked at the two in silence, showing ultimate confusion.

"Big bro, what do I choose? I don't want to be shot…" Scarlet muttered scared as she displayed the card to him and Wuxing smiled, pinching her on the cheek. "Don't worry. It's always good to have additional credits for the future. Go ahead and accept."

"But what if I choose wrong?" Scarlet questioned worriedly but Wuxing only pointed at the color of her team and the instructor assigned to them. "Do you think Ash would actually shoot you?"

Ash was the instructor taking care of the Team Red and all three of them were assigned to her.

Coincidence? Press "F" to doubt.

"Okay~ I will accept then," Scarlet nodded, her hesitation gone when she realized that. There was no way her sweet instructor would hurt her.

Wuxing and Dongmei did the same but they didn't hurry to stay in the line. It was best to watch the show from the back and be last instead.

"To think I didn't notice it right away," Wuxing commented, mysteriously, staring at the guns next to Ash.

Scarlet blinked, not realizing what he talked about once again so Dongmei explained, whispering into her ear, "Ash didn't show which gun is number one and which is number two… She was the one who chooses if she wants to shoot or not."

Oh!

Scarlet exclaimed with realization when Ash's megaphone activated once again and she called out to everyone, "Time is up! Those who didn't choose anything or rejected the challenge, please move outside of the challenge area and wait for the final rankings."

It was to be expected that only some who already secured their spot in the ranking decided to step out. All others who had something to lose or something to gain decided to try their luck. All top ten members were naturally included in that group. They couldn't let anyone take their top spot.

"Stand in line in front of your instructors. I give you ten seconds to organize yourself!" Ash called out sternly and no one hesitated.

Who would argue with her when she held a gun in her hand?

Both Katherine and Anna had their own groups as well with both having almost a hundred people lined up to them.

"All of them have an ear-piece," Wuxing pointed out as they stood on the last spot, planning to be tested last. "This is going to be interesting."

"The Challenge starts!" Ash announced when everyone lined up and began settling her group.

Naturally, they were too far from them to hear her but they could still see her.

The first candidate walked forward and she presented two guns to him. He picked one and extended his hand to the side. Ash didn't hesitate and pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

The man took it calmly and walked to the side to claim his points from the assistant.

The same situation repeated multiple times. Candidates walked up one by one and the gun didn't fire off. After ten people from each group passed the challenge, many began to relax, not really scared anymore.

'Just you wait…' Wuxing thought and the next second, he heard gunshots.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three pistols fired, piercing three palms with ease.

Aaargh!

They heard horrific screams of the wounded as they dropped to their knees, grasping onto their bloody wrists.

Bang!

Another person got shot, this time in Ash's group. The paramedic approached the man and performed first aid, but some were still intimidated.

Bang! Bang!

Two more, making it five in total who suffered and the number kept increasing. When it reached ten with each group having one wounded, Ash suddenly picked the megaphone and announced.

"Just so you don't say I'm cruel or something, I want to give you a chance. I will give you one and only chance to resign from the challenge right now. A new notification will be sent to those in line. As you already decided to take part in the Challenge, you won't get any penalty for leaving right now but if you stay, the stakes will get higher for you.

Anyone who gets shot will lose ten thousand points and the reward for winning will stay the same. This is your last chance to leave. If you confirm the notification, you won't be able to leave anymore. Even if you try to run away you will be shot by our snipers. You have one minute to consider."

_____________________

Would you like to proceed with the Advance Challenge?

No penalty for resigning.

Yes | No

_____________________

"Big Bro?" Scarlet asked confused but Wuxing only smiled and tapped 'Yes' on her card.

He already figured it all out.

It was one big stunt.

"Time's up! Anyone who resigned, please step from the line and join others at the back," Ash said and to Wuxing's surprise, more than half dropped, leaving.

When everyone left, Ash smiled at the rest and announced, "Those who are left, please come forward to your corresponding instructors and collect your reward. You all successfully completed the Challenge."