A mage's journey begins with a battle mage.

Chapter 167 I Want to Play a Game with You

Katniss followed the lamplight, and there was nothing along the way—no monster attacks, no traps.

At the end of the road, Jiang Shuzhou stands tall.

The light shone on him, making him appear both mysterious and dangerous.

"Navis?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Why are you here!"

Jiang Shuzhou shook his head and remained silent.

How could that be? He just came here to create excitement because these people were about to pass the level.

"I have a way to deal with that monster, but it will hurt a little bit. Other than that, you won't have to pay any price."

"How about it? Do you want it?"

As he spoke, Jiang Shuzhou took out a bottle of golden-yellow potion from his pocket, which looked like liquid gold coins.

"Who are you?!"

Katniss pointed a pistol at Jiang Shuzhou, trying to interrogate him.

"Calm down, if you hit the target, the game is over."

"Is that your voice?"

"Yes, that's the voice."

"But contrary to what you think, I am also one of them. I am a researcher in this laboratory."

"Due to an accident, what should have been a normal experiment turned out like this. There's nothing I can do but guide you. After all, there's strength in numbers."

"If you don't leave, it's difficult for me to leave as well. I have no choice but to try to find a way to get you out."

Something seems off?

Katniss tried hard to think, but her head was getting throbbing more and more.

"Relax, don't overthink it. You'll understand once you get out of here."

"Get out? Are we even allowed to get out?"

"Of course, and very soon."

Jiang Shuzhou answered Katniss's question without lying.

"I have another piece of information for you: there are no undercover agents among you now."

"Then why should I believe you? How do I know if you're an undercover agent?"

"No, I'm a researcher."

Sigh, these days nobody believes you when you tell the truth.

It's not easy to be honest.

"Alright, stop wasting time. Just tell me if you're willing to drink it or not."

"So what is the price?"

Katniss asked.

You must win.

"Otherwise, death awaits you, death here."

Katniss gritted her teeth and drank it down in one gulp.

"Ahhh."

Accompanied by intense pain, Katniss's physical abilities were rapidly increasing.

"Very good, you didn't faint from the pain. Child, I acknowledge your perseverance."

"Now you can go and fight that monster one-on-one. Good luck."

Immediately afterwards, Katniss saw Jiang Shuzhou disappear again.

"Katnis?!"

Where did you just go?

People were everywhere, all looking at Katniss with concern.

"It's nothing, I've found a way to defeat the monster!"

Then, Katniss recounted what had just happened to everyone present.

"I don't think this person is trustworthy. He claims to be a lab technician, but if he can't control the lab, then his words have some credibility."

"But he can even control the light switch, so maybe he can control those monsters too."

"Game over, why would shooting at him cause the game to end?"

As the crowd began to discuss the matter, it was hard for anyone to believe this person who only existed in Katniss and Gale's descriptions, and who was full of lies and looked very suspicious.

"I'll give it a try."

"What?"

Katniss didn't hesitate at all; she was determined to give it a try, no matter what.

Jiang Shuzhou remained seated in the monitoring room.

"What do you mean by 'a mouth full of lies'?"

"Lying is too low-level. I'm telling the truth, it just requires a little bit of my own interpretation."

Katniss went straight to the entrance by herself.

She spotted the sleeping monster from afar.

It was a huge, skinless hunting dog with three heads.

The monster seemed to sense that someone was watching it and slowly opened its eyes.

"roar!"

The monster saw her too.

Then, the monster pounced on her.

Then, Katniss used only one hand to pierce through the monster's chest and crush its heart.

Even Katniss herself couldn't believe it.

She hadn't made any move at all, yet she killed the monster instantly.

Soon, Katniss returned and brought good news to her companions.

There wasn't much for anyone to say, so they simply followed Katniss to the entrance.

"It's actually true?"

Gail was somewhat incredulous.

"Could it be that there really isn't a mole among us?"

"Perhaps the undercover agent is already dead."

"The door is open, you can leave now."

Jiang Shuzhou's voice rang out, and at the same time, his figure came into view.

Why should I believe you?

It's still a questioning.

This time, however, Jiang Shuzhou didn't waste any words. Instead, he walked out with a smile on his face.

Outside the door is the ground, and all around is a flat and open space.

"Whether you believe it or not, I'm leaving now."

Seeing that Jiang Shuzhou was alright, everyone looked at Katniss, who was now the leader of the team and should make the decision.

"I'll go first."

Then Katniss went outside, and everyone else followed suit.

"Katnis, congratulations, you've won the game."

"Unfortunately, you were the only one who won."

What does that mean?

Katniss suddenly found herself unable to control her body.

"I never lie, so why would I say there's a mole among you?"

The others seemed unable to hear Jiang Shuzhou's voice, still grateful that they had successfully escaped from hell.

"And why did I later tell you there were no undercover agents left?"

That bottle of medicine!

"Because you will eventually need an undercover agent, and if you want to get out, the only way is to drink the drug."

Everyone was relaxed, some even sitting on the grass.

"Once you drink the drug, you'll be an undercover agent."

"An undercover agent is invincible. The only thing that can defeat him is emotion, or as I told you from the beginning, everyone has half the votes."

"Katnis?"

"Katniss!"

Gale noticed something was wrong; Katniss hadn't moved an inch since she came out and hadn't said a word.

"It's just a pity that no one believed me except you."

"What did you do to her?!"

Gail pointed his pistol at Jiang Shuzhou, but Jiang Shuzhou didn't care at all.

Katniss moved, grabbing Gale's hand that was holding the gun and snapping it off.

"bump!"

Gale fired with his other hand; he had two guns, and he remained on guard the entire time.

The bullet hit Katniss.

However, it was no use; Katniss simply tore Gale in half.

Seeing this, the others understood what was happening, but it was too late.

"So I'm giving you a victory, have fun."

"Katniss".

Jiang Shuzhou left, and only in his last moments did he say one sentence.

"game over."

What followed was Katniss, who was killing while shedding tears.