Chapter 377: Chapter 377
Beer, peanuts, and sunflower seeds might have been unavailable, but freshly squeezed human blood juice and popcorn were the hottest snacks on the Black Market. That day, nearly everyone who could make it to the Underground black market had turned out to watch the spectacle. A large-scale, thrilling event hadn’t been seen in a long time. Latest content publıshed on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩
The selection of the sole S-rank Mercenary Team from numerous groups also attracted many C and B-level mercenary teams to observe. As a result, the Duel Arena was packed to capacity. Of course, everyone came prepared this time, donning shields and bulletproof vests to prevent a repeat of the last incident.
All participants were initially stripped of their weapons and gear before being thrown into a new ’map’ that occupied more than half the Duel Arena. This time, there were more objects to take cover behind, intensifying the gunfights, with even Hand Grenades among the supplied weapons.
The competition officially began. Jing Shu and her group were placed on the outskirts of the map. Jing Shu had already scanned the area with her insects. Forget guns to assemble, there wasn’t even a single bulletproof vest. The organizers definitely did this on purpose!
Jing Shu and her group had no choice but to start searching for gun parts and bulletproof vests.
"To ensure a stimulating experience this time, we’ve also implemented real traps. There will be explosions, quicksand, and more. This isn’t just a killing match; it’s a game of survival," the host announced. Just as he spoke, the ground began to tremble violently. Cracks appeared on the Duel Arena floor. Moreover, a thunderous rumbling filled the sky outside, its sound immense even deep underground.
"Oh, look at these realistic effects and exciting gameplay! It’s designed to instill panic and pressure in the mercenaries. After all, the match has been underway for a minute, and these people are far too composed—we need to spice things up!"
The host had barely finished speaking when the ground shook even more violently. The Duel Arena itself began to sway, and screams erupted from the crowd.
"Stay calm, gentlemen. Damn, here comes another earthquake, but let’s not panic. We’re used to having a few of these every day, although this one seems a bit severe. But it’s just a four or five magnitude quake, not enough to run yet. Just wait a few minutes and it’ll be over. Now, let’s turn our attention back to the competition—these A-rank mercenaries haven’t been affected at all..."
Before he could finish, the cracks widened and then burst open. The very center of the Duel Arena suddenly collapsed, swallowing numerous heavily armed mercenaries into darkness, leaving not even a trace behind. Meanwhile, Jing Shu and her group, positioned at the edge, had a narrow escape.
"HOLY SHIT!" Jing Shu yelled, "Retreat, now!" She had known trouble was brewing the moment the rumbling started and had alerted the others to prepare for evacuation. But she hadn’t expected the earthquake’s epicenter to be directly beneath the Duel Arena’s center in the Black Market!
The Duel Arena was caving in rapidly, the collapse spreading outwards uncontrollably. At first, the audience thought it was merely an effect orchestrated by the organizers, but the genuine disaster unfolding before them was beyond anything they could have imagined.
"My God! Stop the match! Everyone, run! This is a real earthquake!" the host shrieked in panic before bolting. In the face of disaster, one’s own life was paramount.
"Help, somebody help!"
"Damn it, don’t push me!"
"You’re trampling my father, move, move!"
"Oh my god, run, the center of the Duel Arena has been devoured, it’s terrifying!"
The crowded Duel Arena instantly descended into chaos. As the earthquake intensified, people inside desperately tried to escape. Inevitably, a stampede occurred, leading to a deadlock at the exits—nobody could get out.
The mercenary teams participating in the competition fared even worse, with over half of them mercilessly swallowed up by the disaster. The panic-stricken survivors tried to escape, but alas, all three exits were blocked, and the crush of people made it impossible to leave.
Jing Shu quickly donned her thick, padded cotton coat and bulletproof vest, and shouldered all her inseparable belongings. By now, the Duel Arena had completely caved in, the destruction spreading from the center outwards. The spectators, who had come for the spectacle, would eventually be consumed as well!
Originally, Jing Shu had planned to throw a rope up to the Noble District, but at that moment, the Nobles had activated bulletproof glass, completely isolating the Noble District from the Duel Arena and sealing off all escape routes.
The scene was utter chaos—gunshots, screams, ghastly wails, and the continuous rumbling of the earthquake all blended into a horrifying cacophony.
Many mercenaries, in a desperate bid to escape, began to shoot at the people blocking their way. However, this only resulted in countless bodies being trampled underfoot, creating further obstacles.
At this time, Snake Spirit hissed, grabbing the host who had failed to escape. "I caught this guy trying to run through another exit. Little Black, tell him to get us out of here safely."
Little Black fiercely translated Snake Spirit’s words, though he himself was panicking badly.
The host, terrified, nearly burst into tears. "Oh my God, there really are no other ways out! Only the garbage chute of the Noble District remains. We could climb up it to reach the surface, but it’s also at risk of collapsing. If we’re going to run, we must do it now!"
Everyone silently followed the host to the Duel Arena’s garbage chute. Any waste from the upper-tier Nobles was thrown down this chute. It was then sorted, reprocessed into food, or sold cheaply to the slum residents.
Unlike Jing Shu, who carried all her belongings with her everywhere every day, the others only took valuable equipment and essential supplies. Things like bedding and clothes were usually left behind, and this time, they had to abandon them in the Underground black market.
"All my food is in the house! I can’t get it out, damn it!" Monkey lamented, extremely frustrated.
"Luckily, I’m strong and always carry my luggage," Tan Ke said, still shaken by the close call.
"We won’t have anything to cover ourselves with or anything to eat from now on," Lingling said sadly as she climbed the garbage chute.
Jing Shu had roped together a long train of her numerous bags. Without her considerable strength, she couldn’t have moved these hundreds of kilograms of baggage. Most infuriatingly, fat chicken was sitting leisurely on top of the luggage, incubating eggs, completely oblivious to the danger at hand.
The garbage chute was slick with grease, teeming with insects, and reeked of decay, but everyone could only endure it and climb quickly. Even from this distance, the screams and chaotic din from the Duel Arena were audible. The chute shook violently from time to time, threatening to collapse at any moment and forcing them to quicken their pace.
Fortunately, everyone managed to escape before the Underground black market completely collapsed.
However, before they could even catch their breath, cold muzzles of guns were pressed against their heads. They were surrounded by a ring of people who had clearly been lying in wait.
"It seems some A-rank mercenaries finally made it out. If worst comes to worst, we can just have them fight in the competition for us," someone commented.