Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The Bet and the Incredibly Difficult Test
Dong Wushuang maintained his posture with arms crossed as he slowly turned to face the speaker.
"Zhong Jing, even as the Vice President, you still like to bet, huh?"
The two were no strangers to each other; they had been friends for years, despite their age.
"So, what kind of bet do you have in mind?" Dong Wushuang asked.
"Let's bet on whether that kid can live up to his bold claim. I bet he can't," Zhong Jing replied.
"It's indeed challenging. Historically, the top scorer in these tests has never been the strongest. Strategy, luck, they all play a crucial role," another judge chimed in.
Dong Wushuang listened to the proposed bet and furrowed his brow slightly before eventually shaking his head.
"This bet is inherently unfair to both of us. I won't take it."
"Tch, how stingy!" Zhong Jing shrugged, dropping the matter.
But just then, a light, clear voice interjected, adding a twist to the wager that had seemed to be fizzling out.
"Vice President Zhong, I'll take that bet."
Sophia, who had been sitting quietly, turned her head slightly to look at Zhong Jing.
"Oh? Are you serious? The Ice War God willing to place a bet?"
"Yes, I bet he can take first place in this test," Sophia said firmly.
"Huh... really?" Zhong Jing stood up, leaning on the table with his hands as he stared at Sophia with great interest.
"Why do you have so much confidence in him? What's the stake?" Zhong Jing asked.
"You decide the stake. As long as it's within my means and doesn't violate my principles, I'm in."
Zhong Jing widened his eyes in surprise, staring at Sophia for a long time before finally saying,
"Out of 126 participants... no, now it's 125... Why are you so sure he can take first place?"
"Because he said he would, and he promised he'd succeed."
Zhong Jing gazed at Sophia's profile, intrigued. He had initially thought that Sophia's support for Liam was simply out of responsibility, a desire to see a promising talent not go to waste.
But now it seemed that their relationship was far from simple. Would she really take such a bet?
"Fine, then! Everyone here can witness this. We won't bet money or resources—we're not here to gamble away our fortunes. Let's bet on a favor, or a promise."
"Whoever loses must agree to help the winner with one task, as long as it doesn't go against their principles. No loopholes, no cheating—just a straightforward bet."
Sophia's response was brief, in line with her usual demeanor.
"Deal."
Their bet drew the attention of many of the judges. They watched with amused smiles, but no one jeered or made a fuss. It was clear to everyone that Sophia's support and belief in Liam went beyond what was typical.
Cain chuckled softly, raising his hand to bring up another participant's display, projecting it before the group.
"We're here to judge talent, not place bets," he said, redirecting the focus. "Let's keep an eye on the other kids as well. I think this one shows good leadership potential..."
With that, the judges' attention shifted back to the unfolding events within the secret realm.
...
The secret realm was mysterious, offering no clear path for exploration. The participants had no idea what they were supposed to be looking for. Thirty-six hours might seem like a long time, but there was no time to waste.
Everyone was on the move, frantically trying to sense their surroundings, searching for potential "prey."
Finally, the first group to encounter a target—a trio—appeared.
The three had teamed up temporarily and now faced a towering, three-meter-high sea star. The sea star emitted a dazzling blue light, almost blinding in its intensity, exuding an aura of ancient power and divinity.
The three exchanged excited glances, seeing the same anticipation in each other's eyes.
"This must be one of the things we're supposed to hunt, right?"
"Not bad, finding one so quickly."
"Let's take it down fast! We'll discuss how to divide the spoils later—don't want anyone else coming to steal our kill!"
After a quick exchange, the trio unleashed their abilities without hesitation.
The leader, a burly man, flexed his right arm, causing his combat suit to tear as his arm expanded to several times its original size, massive enough to lift a mountain.
"Hurry up! I can't maintain this form for long!" he shouted, using his gigantic hand to grip the sea star tightly.
His two companions wasted no time. Having trained together, they moved in sync, one conjuring a spear and the other a large sword. They leaped into the air, attacking the sea star from both sides.
The sea star seemed immobilized by the massive hand, helpless and at their mercy.
Their weapons pierced its body without resistance, as if it were made of tofu.
"Heh," Cain, watching from outside the realm, let out a soft chuckle and shook his head slightly. "It's not that easy..."
The next moment, the sea star flared with blinding light. The two attackers were blasted away, their weapons slipping from their grasp, which the sea star then slowly absorbed, making them part of its energy.
The weapons, tied to their life force, left the two spitting blood as they were thrown to the ground.
But they were not the worst off. The giant-handed student screamed in agony as his right arm was reduced to a bloody mess, the bone visible through the shredded flesh.
The sea star's harmless appearance had deceived them, and Cain's gentle demeanor had lulled them into a false sense of security.
"Operation Hunt," the name of this test, had led them to believe it was just a safe hunting game, a competition to see who could gather the most.
But in reality, each "prey" they were tasked to hunt was potentially far more powerful than they were!
These creatures were Cain and the others' simulated "gods."
"To find a target so quickly... I don't know if their luck is good or bad," Dong Wushuang remarked.
"Things aren't looking good for them," another judge added, shaking his head slightly.
Zhong Jing turned to Cain and said,
"To be honest, I see scenes like this every time we run this test. Sometimes, I wonder if you're just a sadist who enjoys crushing these students' hopes."
Cain chuckled softly, but his usually kind and harmless face now seemed sinister and dangerous to those who knew him well.
"I'm not trying to crush their hopes. I just want them to learn quickly what reality truly is."
"And what is reality? After passing through countless tests, basking in the adoration of others, standing out from the crowd, and hearing endless praise, only to realize you're still nothing but an ant. That's reality!"
"They're ants, and so are we. Everyone is an ant!"
"What the superhumans face are things far more powerful than they are!"
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