And yet! Even though she’s just as sharp-tongued, the neighbor’s "I’ll cut you down, old lady" is a hundred times more endearing than this Fortune God's Only Daughter! Not only does she never swear, but she also never plays mind games or tricks people. The worst is still this "Fortune Dog"!
Dongfang Yuan had just made her choice when suddenly, a golden supply crate dropped right in front of her... She froze. What had she just done again? Slowly tilting her head in confusion, she thought, "A reward for cursing? Damn, this survival game really loves being insulted—a golden supply crate just popped up!" Dongfang Yuan immediately stashed it in her backpack, planning to have Bian open it later after they got out...
Meanwhile, apart from Dongfang Yuan and the "Fortune Girl," the three prisoners also received individual notifications.
"If you are willing to choose Reward One, upon exiting the dungeon, your three core attributes will permanently increase by 20 points each. Being trapped in a fish tank, powerless to resist, must feel awful, right? Relying on others for life and death—in a survival game, true strength lies within yourself. One dungeon’s win or loss is trivial; a smart person knows what truly matters.
Moreover, I assure you, your choice will remain known only to you. You can easily pretend ignorance. Though the other two prisoners might grow suspicious, you can always take the initiative—accuse them first. Boss Whirlwind trusts you completely; he won’t doubt you."
After reading this, the Retired Magical Boy was so furious his heart raced and steam practically shot from his nostrils. "Yaaah! You’re such a bad ball! You’re just deliberately sowing discord, making us all distrust each other! I hate you so much! I’m picking Reward Three!"
Muzi Li: "Thank you for the suggestion. I choose Reward Three."
Blessed by Luck: "Holy moly, +20 to all three attributes! Would that put me on par with A-Die? That’d be so cool! Wait, no—they’ve got a solid foundation. Even with +20, I’d still just be a big, dumb meathead with simple thoughts and strong limbs, hahaha! Tsk tsk, of course I wouldn’t pick that. My moral compass is rock-solid. Hey, can you DM? You’re that ‘Ball Ball’ everyone talks about, right? Can we keep chatting? I’m kinda bored tied up here, and this fish tank’s soundproofing is top-notch. Shouting to talk to Muzi Li and Magic Sis is exhausting—a few yells and I’m already lightheaded. Let’s chat! I’ll even pay in survival coins. Just need some emotional support."
Ball Ball: "........."
Overwhelmed by the endless chatter in her ear, Ball Ball didn’t know how to express her exasperation. What kind of weirdos had all ended up in the same group?!
But... she was offering survival coins, so...
Ball Ball: "Fine."
Once everyone had made their choices, communication between them was finally restored. Before anyone could start questioning each other, the system broadcast arrived.
〖Congratulations! All members have unanimously chosen the same reward. Except for the Strategist and the prisoners, everyone’s three core attributes have increased by 10 points.〗
Everyone except the Strategist and the three prisoners instantly felt a wave of relief wash over their bodies. Meanwhile, the water level in the prisoners’ tank rose to knee height.
Not that the prisoners cared much—their pants were already soaked and clinging to their skin. Being fully submerged wasn’t that much worse.
"YeS! La-La knew we’d all pick the third reward!"
Qi Xu smiled as he glanced around the group. Though he’d expected this outcome, seeing everyone united in their choice still moved him deeply—this was the power of teamwork.
The feeling was so intoxicating that everyone was momentarily lost in it.
Qi Xu suddenly spoke up, "Want to push our luck one more time?"
The kid was the first to raise his hand. "Yes!"
"Let’s go for it, Boss."
"I feel like I can still fight! With my stats this good, leaving now would be a waste."
Qi Xu nodded. "Alright. Once Bian finishes the chess game, we’ll tackle one more level!"
Bian felt like Ball Ball had already given up, making the match utterly pointless—a pure waste of time.
But soon, Bian realized Ball Ball’s plan: it wanted to lose, and lose fast, to deny the team any proper rest.
Hah. Now that was a challenge.
Bian immediately switched tactics. "You want to lose? Too bad—I won’t let you." The chess match suddenly became interesting again. What better test of intellect than this?
"If you keep throwing the game, I’ll report you, Ball Ball."
Ball Ball: "Ugh, I’m so done! Ball Ball is being toyed with!"
And with its weak spot exposed, Ball Ball had no choice but to grudgingly drag out the match, buying the team more rest time.
Only when the delay couldn’t stretch any further did Bian "barely" clinch victory.
Ball Ball wasted no time clearing the chessboard, immediately scrapping the next planned dungeon.
〖Chess Victory Rewards:
1. Choose any player to permanently gain +5 to all three attributes.
2. Dungeon intel: This dungeon has 10 levels total.〗
Bian’s eyes lit up. "Not weapons this time? I was worried we’d already gotten all the gear and this reward would go to waste. This is perfect! And only 10 levels—we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!"
The first choice was a no-brainer.
"Alright, Ball Ball. I pick Invincible Black Whirlwind."
For the team to go far, the leader’s strength must surpass the rest. The answer was obvious.
Qi Xu felt something inexplicable. Since entering this dungeon, his body had absorbed so many attribute boosts in such a short time. This overwhelming power didn’t feel foreign—it felt... natural.
The realization fueled his determination even further.
〖Leader Player Invincible Black Whirlwind, do you wish to proceed to the next level?〗
"Continue."
The moment he spoke, Qi Xu’s control panel updated.
〖Level 9: Advanced Chimera | Quantity: 1〗
Seeing "Quantity: 1," Qi Xu nearly laughed out loud. Who cared if it was "advanced"? Finally—a chance to show off!
Ever since obtaining the 〖Janitor〗 badge, he’d only tested the skill once. Normally, he preferred honing his combat skills, but without an audience, it felt pointless.
Now, though... Heh.
So when planning the battle, Qi Xu positioned everyone on the ruins, leaving himself alone at the center.
He had a hunch—Level 10 would mirror the final stage of 〖Unity is Strength〗, judging from Baby Milk’s earlier techno remix. That’s why details couldn’t be shared.
After an hour’s rest, they were still drained from the earlier battles. Now was the perfect time to use 〖Janitor〗.
Bian's eyes instantly widened as he stared. "Boss, this high-level stitched abomination doesn't seem weak at all. You should at least bring Dongfang Yuan along..."
"Relax. They're all trash."
..........
