Chapter 34: The Brave One's Challenge

“Discovered?”

The serpent-eyed figure watched Cassius’s back, narrowing his eyes slightly. The shadow around his pupils formed a pair of vertical slits.

“So, it’s not as easy as I thought…”

Moments later, three staff members emerged from the cabin, carrying nine boxes—each a silver-white weapon case. They lined them up from left to right in order.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Hunter’s Game.”

An elderly man, dressed as a gentleman, stepped out of the cabin, bowing to everyone with impeccable manners. After he spoke, he planted his black cane firmly on the ground.

A pair of sharp hawk-like eyes swept over all the participants, carrying an inexplicable sense of pressure. Despite his silver hair, he showed no sign of frailty.

Notably, he wore a black tailcoat, and on his left chest was an insignia—a stylized hourglass symbol, likely representing the Tianheng Group or one of its departments.

“You are already familiar with the rules of the Hunter’s Game, so I’ll skip the unnecessary explanations. Let’s proceed directly to the Brave Challenge. The high-definition camera beside the table will record every move you make, ensuring fairness and transparency.”

His tone was calm and brisk.

[Brave Challenge]

[Description: Over a hundred years ago in the northwest of the continent, the vast Gobi desert was home to many cowboys. Some were more wicked than bandits, others held fast to justice. Among them, a game called the Brave Challenge was widely played, testing a person’s true courage.]

[Rule 1: The organizers provide the dagger. The hunter must press one open hand on the table and, with the dagger, quickly stab between the fingers in order.]

[Rule 2: The time limit is one minute. The high-definition camera records the effective number of stabs within that minute, and rankings among the nine participants are determined accordingly.]

[Rule 3: If the sequence is broken—such as skipping or misplacing the stab—the final tally will only count up to the moment before the error.]

[Rule 4: If the dagger accidentally stabs a finger, the calculation is the same as above. Excessive force may cost you a finger.]

[Reward: Hunters can only use firearms provided by the organizers, each differing in performance and type. The higher you rank in the Brave Challenge, the greater your right to choose a firearm. Only the top three may select, others receive their weapon according to their rank.]

Click. Xiu Nan took a photo.

“Now, please proceed to the Brave Challenge in the order of your chest nameplates. Thank you for your cooperation…”

The elder lifted his cane and stepped back.

The Brave Challenge began, with Number One stepping forward.

He was a bald man, his forehead adorned with strange symbols—perhaps a local tradition.

Number One quickly took his seat, spreading his hand open.

The computer screen’s perspective shifted away from Cassius, slowly rising until it focused on the table before Number One.

“Three! Two! One! Start!”

“Tap tap tap tap tap tap…”

Like the ticking of a timer, Number One’s right hand blurred in an instant. Holding the dagger, he stabbed furiously at the table, deftly moving between the fingers in sequence.

In the top right corner of the screen, the high-definition camera displayed slow-motion footage, capturing a fragment of the action.

Below, the numbers jumped relentlessly.

“150…215…278…301!”

The count finally stopped. Number One had stabbed the table three hundred and one times in a minute, without a single mistake.

That’s roughly five times per second.

[Record (Number One): 301 times]

His challenge completed, Number One stood and shook his slightly sore arm, quietly returning to the group.

Xiu Nan watched him closely, noticing the strange symbols on his forehead had changed color.

“Looks like he’s got some kind of cheat…”

For a human’s eyes and reflexes, five times per second was beyond the normal limit.

Next was Number Two, a mercenary with a cold demeanor, his arm wrapped in bandages.

Muscles bulged beneath his skin—a true expert by appearance. Yet his Brave Challenge score was unimpressive, far below Number One’s.

[Record (Number Two): 193 times]

Number Two managed just over three stabs per second, apparently an ordinary person. Or perhaps his special abilities did not give him any advantage in this challenge. Many hunters were likely in the same boat.

Then came Number Three and Number Four.

[Record (Number Three): 172 times]

[Record (Number Four): 188 times]

Their scores were similar to Number Two’s—nearly equal.

Next was Number Five, a gaunt, one-eyed old man, his face yellowed and emaciated, but his movements were sharp, his right hand a blur.

A veteran of sixty years, his speed was exceptional.

[Record (Number Five): 342 times]

He even outperformed Number One.

Clearly, another “cheater”…

Next was Number Six, a woman with a prosthetic eye. Xiu Nan watched her closely, as she represented the Black Crocodile Group—an enemy of the Seven Letters Group.

J had warned Cassius: if you encounter someone from the Black Crocodile Group in Area C of the Hunter’s Game, either evade quickly or strike before they react.

Don’t expect peaceful coexistence—the Black Crocodile Group and Seven Letters Group are mortal enemies. Their agents were probably given the same warning.

Put simply: when you meet someone from the Black Crocodile Group—fight! Kill them!

Soon, Number Six’s score appeared.

[Record (Number Six): 53 times]

The lowest among all hunters, as Number Six messed up the sequence, skipping one.

The rest of her attempts were invalidated.

Only the first fifty-three counted.

Number Six stepped down, and Number Seven—Cassius—took the stage.

Xiu Nan controlled the character forward, seated in the chair, left hand pressed open on the table.

Right hand gripping the dagger.

Xiu Nan was utterly calm, steady as ever.

“Three! Two! One! Start!”

Cassius’s right hand began stabbing—not too fast, not too slow, about four times per second. In his fifteen-day self-discipline simulation, he had honed his body to the limits of human ability, with exceptional reflexes, focus, and eyesight.

If everyone played fairly, he would likely take first place.

Of course…

Even if everyone cheated, he’d still be first.

“200…213…225…236…”

In the last second, Cassius’s right hand vanished in the sunlight, as if his arm had been severed.

A heavy thud followed—the dagger slammed into the table, punching a hole, blade sunk deep, more than halfway in.

The final tally skyrocketed: +152!

[Record (Number Seven): 388 times]