Ma Jun was living a carefree and comfortable life.
Meanwhile, Mu Chen, Jiang Han, and the others were having a miserable time.
"Hurry up and clean! If you fail to finish your tasks, tonight you'll be turned into blood pudding!"
A gloomy-faced castle servant glared viciously at these slow-moving outsiders.
After Ma Jun was taken away, the remaining players were all herded off by the servants as well.
Each of them was assigned a different task.
Some were ordered to feed the strange animals inside the castle.
Some were told to clean the courtyard.
Others were forced to make accessories for the ladies of the castle.
None of these jobs were easy.
The animals in the castle were grotesque and bizarre—many of them would bite people.
Cleaning the courtyard carried the risk of being attacked by werewolves.
As for making accessories, although it sounded safe, it was actually the most dangerous job of all.
Because the materials for those accessories…
Were human bones.
If the finished product didn't meet the standard, they would have to make up for the missing materials with their own bones.
After only a short while, the players were already covered in injuries.
Juanmao, who had been injured earlier, was in even worse shape. He had been kicked into a corner, completely ignored.
One of his legs was broken—an injury that could never recover.
Mu Chen was slightly better off.
His calf had been shattered. Jiang Yan helped him treat it and found something in the castle to stop the bleeding. Only then did Mu Chen barely survive.
After working for half a day, the players dragged their battered bodies back to the castle's dining hall.
Hungry, exhausted, and facing constant threats of death, many people couldn't help but start crying.
The food the servants gave them was nothing more than boiled beans.
There was no flavor at all—almost impossible to swallow.
Before entering the game, none of them had ever suffered like this.
Many people had no appetite whatsoever.
Only Jiang Yan—the clearly well-born young lady—ate large mouthfuls without hesitation, as if the food were delicious.
Mu Chen's face was pale as he tried to comfort everyone.
"Eat quickly. If you can hold on one more day, that's one more day alive."
"This elite dungeon is far too dangerous…"
"You have to eat to have any hope of surviving."
"At least we're still alive… right?"
"…Some people are already dead."
Mu Chen thought of Ma Jun—the boy who had followed the giant girl back to her room.
A deep, sorrowful feeling rose in his heart.
Jiang Yan slowed her movements and turned to look at him.
"He chose death to save you all," she said quietly.
"You have to remember that."
Shame crept across Mu Chen's face.
He had always been the favored one, the chosen prodigy. He had never felt emotions like this before.
He admitted that when Ma Jun chose not to stick with the group, a small part of him had felt a hint of mockery.
But he never imagined—
That boy would choose to sacrifice himself to save their lives.
"Eat!"
Mu Chen grabbed his spoon and forced down large mouthfuls of the tasteless beans.
Silently, he made a vow.
He had to preserve his strength. He had to survive.
If he ever got the chance, he would come back here—
And avenge that boy.
A heavy, tragic mood spread among the players.
Suddenly, a lazy, casual voice shattered the atmosphere.
"Oh? Everyone's eating?"
All movement stopped.
Ma Jun walked in from outside, rubbing his hands, looking completely relaxed.
He had waited for Daniela for a while, then suddenly realized—
If she really brought back the fish, it would be useless unless it was cooked.
So he came to the dining hall to find some tools.
He didn't like eating raw fish.
This castle was extremely familiar to him.
Back then, he had run through it countless times just to complete achievements.
Perhaps even Lady Eight-Foot herself didn't know this place as well as he did.
Ma Jun strolled into the dining hall and immediately saw the players desperately shoveling food into their mouths.
"What are you eating? Smells pretty good?"
He leaned over, saw the sticky lump of boiled beans, and frowned slightly.
"You guys… aren't very picky, huh."
The players were completely stunned.
What was going on?
A ghost?
Wasn't he dead?!
He went back to the room with that murderous female monster—and came out unharmed?!
What kind of divine being was this?!
Mu Chen stared at Ma Jun with his mouth wide open.
Even Jiang Han—usually calm and composed—was frozen, her red lips slightly parted.
Everyone stood there in a daze.
After a long moment, they finally reacted.
Jiang Han cried out, her voice filled with shock—and joy she hadn't even realized herself.
"Y-you… you're not dead?!"
"Dead from what?"
Ma Jun frowned. "I'm fine."
"No, no—" Jiang Han waved her hands quickly.
"You went back with that female monster—she didn't do anything to you?"
"Oh, you mean Daniela?"
Ma Jun smiled faintly.
"She's actually very nice. Just a bit lonely. Really, she's just a kid."
Mu Chen glanced at his broken arm and really wanted to ask Ma Jun something.
A kid?
You call that a kid?
Meanwhile—
Beside a hidden pond deep in the woods—
Daniela stood by the water, her face glowing with excitement.
In the crystal-clear water, among the silver-thread-like fish swimming below—
A golden-yellow fish suddenly appeared.
Daniela shouted in delight.
"What Master said was true!"
"He really is a seer!"