Lu Ce stared at the descending saw, with only one thought in his mind.

  —Ha! Isn't this how you get Pain Value?

  The real world and the game world are interconnected, but in the real world, injuries require a hospital visit, and severe ones might even lead to disability.

  But in the game, he knew very well that if he met the conditions for a perfect clearance, he could have all his injuries treated for free. This was why he was determined to join the game.

  The risks were high, but the rewards for him were absolutely maximized.

  "What do you mean? What does this mean? You call this a game?!"

  "No one told me this before! This is outright deception! I'm going to report you!"

  Listening to the cries and complaints around him, Lu Ce felt numb, turning to look at the woman beside him who was crying and making a scene.

  Report? Where would you even report?

  Didn't they know what kind of situation this was? Although Lu Ce had long expected that there would be some clueless participants at the start of the game, such extreme reactions were beyond his expectations.

  Lu Ce opened his Portable Live Screen to see if the "audience" had any information on the other nine players.

  But upon looking, he found that an unusually large number of people were watching him.

  [Is this the perspective of a player with a perfect clearance? I specifically wanted to see what level a high-level player is at.]

  [This scene is a bit terrifying, I've never seen it before...]

  [I'm glad I decided to watch first to see what games there are. I'm better off as an audience member.]

  [I checked the other nine people, only three are clearers, the rest are first-time participants. It seems this one is the perfect clearer.]

  Only then did Lu Ce realize that their live streams, although randomly assigned, could be searched and categorized.

  If that's the case, those with perfect clearances would soon live under the spotlight.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  This might not necessarily be a good thing... The world would never casually allow an individual to possess superhuman Strength. Fortunately, he chose the Mask of Sin.

  However, his personality and habitual actions might still be noticed by those with intentions...

  "I quit! I quit! I don't want to saw off my own leg! Let me out, I'm not playing anymore!"

  During Lu Ce's observation, the woman beside him continued to cry and complain, clearly unable to face reality.

  To Lu Ce's surprise, there was actually a response from the air.

  A mechanical voice replied:

  [The Shop System will open shortly. During the preparation phase of the game, you can purchase Exit Tokens to forcibly exit mid-game.]

  [Once an Exit Token is used, you will permanently lose your game qualification.]

  [During the game, you cannot enter the shop.]

  Exit Tokens...

  Such a thing exists... Lu Ce thought to himself but didn't show any reaction. At this point, he had already figured out how to exploit the Pain Value.

  "What do you mean we can't exit?! The lava is rising, I'm feeling dizzy! Let me down!"

  Amid the woman's continuous sharp cries, a metallic scraping sound suddenly came from the air, interrupting the chaos and despair, instantly drawing the attention of the other nine people.

  Above the lava, a chain suddenly began to shake violently, the creaking sound instantly silencing all the noise.

  The chain locking Lu Ce's right leg was shaking violently in the air, and Lu Ce, like a nimble monkey, swung back and forth in the air.

  With a snap, Lu Ce grabbed the rusty saw in the air with force.

  "Heh, the quality of the chain isn't bad, swinging back and forth without any sign of loosening."

  After pulling down the saw, Lu Ce's relaxed voice echoed in the cramped space, causing the surrounding nine people to widen their eyes in shock, watching him as he took the first action.

  —Is he crazy?! Really going to saw his leg with that rusty saw?!

  "To be honest, you guys are really giving me face, this unique tool, and no one fought for it, letting me have it?

  Sawing off your own leg to escape, such a cliché method. By the way, did you really pay the copyright fee for Saw?"

  Holding the saw, Lu Ce wasn't in a hurry to act, swinging back and forth in the air while chatting under the gaze of everyone around him.

  That inexplicable sense of ease made those around him seriously doubt whether he realized that the current predicament required sawing off his own leg to survive.

  But Lu Ce himself, from the first sentence he spoke, actually realized one thing—this wasn't entirely his personality.

  His mental state at this moment was like someone half-drunk, still able to control his mind, but subconsciously wanting to say things that didn't match his usual character.

  This might be... the effect of the Mask of Sin on his face—amplifying the corresponding traits of his humanity, but also granting corresponding benefits!

  Lu Ce didn't want to overly control himself. Greed, verbosity, cunning, in the face of such a brutal game challenge, these traits were exactly what he needed!

  Moreover, in the future, he could use these traits to prevent those prying "audiences" from easily linking his in-game self with his real-world self.

  And he was very curious to see what bonuses "Greed" Mode would give him.

  [It seems someone has taken the first step.]

  In the scorching air, that mechanical voice reappeared, but this time, it surprisingly carried a hint of humanization.

  [However, merely obtaining the saw doesn't count as a successful survival.]

  "Got it, got it, just sawing a leg, no big deal, it's not the first time..."

  "I just think this game lacks some fun and exploration, really boring." Lu Ce continued, his voice almost breaking into a sinister laugh.

  "After all, I'm the first to get the saw, shouldn't there be some kind of reward?"

  Lu Ce finally revealed his fangs, beneath the blue mask, exuding a chilling ambition and greed.

  The other nine participants around him were silent, quietly watching this figure hanging there, bargaining, as if he was the only one maintaining a gaming mindset in this terrifying scene.

  [The game naturally has many Hidden Achievements and Special Rewards waiting to be explored, but players need to explore them on their own.]

  "Alright, alright, so stingy, not giving anything."

  "I'm just asking, what if I saw off my leg and still don't get rescued? I don't really believe it, swinging back and forth like this, what if I accidentally fall into the lava after sawing off my leg?"

  [No, this is not part of the game content. The platform beneath you is extendable, as long as you escape before the lava covers it, there will be no problem.]

  "So, as long as I saw off my leg, I can escape, right?"

  [Correct!]

  The blue mask shimmered, forming a smile, as if a cunning plan had succeeded.

  A cold gleam flashed, and the rusty saw pressed against his leg, ready to cut!

  However, the chain was shackling his right ankle.

  He was sawing his left leg!