Chapter 201 - Russian Roulette (2/2)

”Of course...” Keya muttered and put the revolver to her temple. She was about to pull the trigger, but she didn't have the courage. Her hand was shaking, and her back was drenched with cold sweat.

”Come on, go ahead.” Wain said coldly. ”Don't spoil everyone's fun.”

Click.

Keya pulled the trigger and luckily managed to survive. She was breathing heavily and trembling from the shock she had gone through.

She realized that whether or not she would live depended solely on luck. It was a terrible feeling.

”Keya, pass the revolver.” Said Ayla.

”Of course...” Whispered the girl.

Ayla was more daring and immediately pulled the trigger. She understood that they had no other choice.

Their powers were blocked, and the mask could kill either of them at any moment. What's more, her chances of survival were 75%, and that was no small thing.

Snap.

Ayla also survived, but now the situation has become more serious.

There were only three rounds left, and every time someone fired a shot, the others felt death coming closer to them. They sensed the chill of the phantom scythe against their necks.

Next in line was Elmar. He tried to look brave and confident, but really he was afraid.

Elmar looked at Wain and realized he wasn't as easy as they thought. He immediately took the revolver because his chances of survival were 83%.

Elmar only had 66%, and the next contestant would have 50%. The last one would have 0%. It was simple math, and given the rules, the path to victory was simple, speed.

Of course, Wain could also die and get shot in the temple, but that was the most unlikely outcome of all.

”Come on, did you chicken out?” Finch said with a smile.

He also accepted the game's rules and was ready to pull the trigger at any moment. His heart was pounding wildly, and his blood was bubbling like lava in the mouth of a volcano.

It was an unforgettable feeling, unlike the mortal danger he had experienced so many times. It was exciting.

”Of course not!” Elmar said in a trembling voice and pulled the trigger the next moment.

”No!!!” At the same time, Keya screamed, looking at the exploded head of her mate and friend.

The flesh and brain were scattered to the sides, and blood poured all around. It was a terrible fate waiting for one of them.

”AHAHAHAHAHA, wasn't that wonderful? It was a great aperitif.” Said the mask, and dark energy burst out of it.

It consumed the bodies of the dead and the tea set, removing them from the room. The blood and chains restraining Wain and the others also disappeared.

Finch immediately tried to attack the mask but failed. The dark energy protected it and prevented any attack from getting through.

”Easy, that was only the beginning. There are many more interesting things to come. Please come forward.” Said the mask looking at the painting at the end of the room.

The next moment the picture moved, and a secret passage opened behind it.

'This area of Purgatory seems to be more interesting than all the others. This is beginning to please me.' Thought Wain and stepped forward.

He realized that they had no other option. They could only go forward and not stop. Every area of Purgatory had similar challenges, and Wain already thought it was a feature of these places.

Finch smiled and followed Wain. He, like the elves, had lost a mate, but he couldn't stop because of it. When they accidentally found their way into the Purgatory area, they knew what they were walking into.

The same seemed to Ayla. She looked sadly at where Elmar had been sitting a moment ago and nodded towards the painting. Keya and Dia had no choice but to join their leaders.

Ayla stared intently at Wain. She sensed that something was wrong with him, but she could not understand the reason for her concern.

'Is he strange... Is it the secret of the Inerians, or is the situation much more complicated?' Ayla wondered.

Behind the painting was a long tunnel that led them to a spacious room. It was a huge warehouse the size of a soccer field. It was empty except for a square, wooden table in the center.

On the table were five sets of three gold coins each. Wain and the others approached the table, and then a mask appeared in the air.

”Welcome to the next game. The rules are elementary. Each of you has three coins. Your task is to have the most coins by the end of the challenge. Whoever has the least coins will die.” Said the mask.

”What happens if two or more participants have the same number of coins and it is impossible to determine the loser?” Asked Ayla.

”In that case, no one will die, but a monster will be summoned that you will need to deal with. The more coins you have, the stronger the monster will be.” The mask responded.

”How do we increase the number of our coins?” Said Finch.

”It's simple. Each coin has a number on it. Initially, it is a '1'. You can combine all the coins into one to get a coin with a higher value. To increase the number, you have to flip the coin up to touch the ceiling. At that moment, the number on the coin is multiplied. Then you just have to catch the coin.”

”Can we fight each other?” Finch asked.

”You can take the coins from the other contestant, but only when the coins are in flight. Otherwise, you will be disqualified. The test time is ten minutes. I give you three minutes to prepare.” Said the mask and disappeared, disintegrating into dark particles.

Ayla wanted to say something, but suddenly the mask reappeared.

”Oh yes, I forgot to tell you something. Unlike the last challenge, there will be a loser here and a winner. Whoever collects the most coins will receive a reward whose quality will depend on the number of coins.”

The mask disappeared again.

But, now the situation was very different. Everyone had a reason to fight and plunder others.

Ayla was the most upset. She didn't want to fight and put someone in mortal danger, she had another idea, and she wasn't going to give it up.

Finch headed to the table and wanted to take the coins, but Ayla stopped him.

”Wait a minute! There's no point in us participating in this ordeal!”

”What the hell are you talking about?” Finch said grudgingly.

”We'll just follow the rules. If we each have three coins left by the end of the trial, no one will die, and the monster will be weak..” Ayla said confidently, trying to change the others' minds.