Qi Xia advanced through the pitch-black tunnel for a while before realizing it was a downward staircase, though its construction was remarkably simple.
The air here carried a peculiar scent, and the edges of the steps were unnervingly precise, as if no one had ever set foot here since its creation.
“What a shame…” Qi Xia murmured, running his fingers along the wall with a tinge of regret. “You ingeniously wove the principles of the Five Elements into your own game, yet no one could grasp it—not even you, who had to wear a collar just to play.”
After a left turn, the staircase began ascending. Qi Xia traced the wall to orient himself and soon spotted a faintly glowing green button in the distance.
Without hesitation, he pressed it. The wall before him trembled slightly before slowly rising.
Standing on the other side was Qiu Shiliu.
“The Rat’s Room…?” Qi Xia’s lips curled into a smirk. “That makes the game far too easy.”
Qiu Shiliu turned in shock, staring at Qi Xia as he stepped out of the wall carrying four fruits, utterly speechless.
“You… How did you…?”
Qi Xia ignored the question, placing all four fruits on the table before turning to leave.
Time was of the essence. Though Qi Xia had already found a guaranteed path to victory, each night lasted only ten minutes.
“Gotta hurry…”
—
The Rat sat silently in the **Cat’s Room** for a while before reaching into his suit pocket and pulling out a faded photograph.
The picture showed a man and a woman. The girl was puckering her lips and crossing her eyes, radiating playfulness, while the man gazed at her with a helpless yet adoring smile.
The Rat gently stroked the photo before carefully placing it on the ground, far from himself—as if fearing the collar’s explosion might destroy it.
Losing his head wasn’t a big deal, but this photo couldn’t be lost.
“I’m sorry. I tried everything, but none of it led to survival,” the Rat muttered hoarsely, his voice breaking within seconds. “I exhausted every possibility… but there’s no way out… Not even a sliver of hope…”
With his monstrous eyes, he took one last look at the lively, lovely girl in the photo. His clawed fingers brushed her face before touching his own furry, rodent-like head. A bitter smile twisted his features.
Yes, there was no going back.
Why had he ever naively believed that turning into a giant, brown-furred rat would bring him closer to escape?
The old version of himself had always been ten days away from breaking free—but now, he wasn’t even human anymore.
The cruelest joke of humanity was its refusal to surrender hope.
*Click.*
The door to the **Cat’s Room** opened. The Rat slowly stood, smoothed the fur on his head, and forced a smile of resignation as he stepped into the hallway.
All five doors ahead were locked.
One by one, he unlocked them from the outside—but inside, there were no rats, no fruits.
Just five empty rooms.
The leader had deciphered the game too quickly. In just six rounds, he had used the first to test his theories, the second to fully grasp the rules, and by the third, he had already moved all the fruits back to the **Rat’s Room**. From now on, the **Cat** would find neither food nor prey.
The **Cat** would starve.
“Why is it always like this…?” The Rat’s lips twisted into a pained grin. “No one wants me to live… yet I keep desperately clinging to survival. Am I just being selfish?”
He trudged forward, mechanically opening and closing each door.
“This damned game should’ve ended long ago…” he whispered. “A place where you have to kill others to escape… shouldn’t let *anyone* leave alive…”
Crossing the hallway, he felt the collar around his neck tighten once more—this time to the point of suffocation.
Finally, he stopped before the **Rat’s Room**.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
A voice soon responded from within.
“Speak.”
The Rat lifted his head slightly. “It’s over. I’m leaving.”
“Oh?” Qi Xia’s voice was light. “Not staying to play a little longer?”
“No need.” The Rat shook his head. “This is the best ending I could hope for.”
“Anything you want to say?” Qi Xia asked.
“Though it might be inappropriate… there’s one thing I’d like to ask of you.”
Qi Xia glanced back at his four teammates, neatly arranged behind him, before replying, “You’re asking for a favor, yet you can’t even call me *‘Leader’* now?”
“No need.” The Rat’s voice was hollow. “Once this round ends, the collar will kill me. There’s a photo in my **Cat’s Room**—I left it there because I didn’t want it destroyed in the blast. Could you… place it back in my pocket after I die?”
When Qi Xia didn’t respond, the Rat continued, “I just want to die with it. That way… if anyone ever finds my remains… at least they’ll know who I was.”
“I refuse.” Qi Xia’s tone was flat. “That’s your business. No need to trouble us.”
The Rat sighed faintly. “You strike me as an expert liar. Yet now, you can’t even bother to deceive me?”
“I’ve no reason to sweet-talk you here,” Qi Xia replied. “I don’t know you, nor do I care how important that photo is. Maybe after you die, I’ll tear it up—out of sight, out of mind.”
“You…” The Rat let out another bitter chuckle. “Is that necessary? If we’re strangers, why must you annihilate me so thoroughly…?”
Only then did Qi Xia’s expression harden slightly. Through the door, he said, “Let’s be honest. If this game continued, you’d die sooner or later. You were *never* going to become **‘Heaven’**.”
“Is that so…?” The Rat turned away, leaning against the door. “And joining your group would’ve changed that?”
“You know,” Qi Xia said, “when you realize every path leads to death, the first thing you should do is *break the wall*.”
“I disagree,” the Rat countered. “Even if I don’t break it, someone else will. The smartest move is to follow the one who does—saves effort, spares the worry, and keeps you safe.”
“Yet you’re already on the brink.” Qi Xia’s laugh was icy. “If I held a gun to your head, would you *still* refuse to break the wall?”
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