Chapter 100 - Escape by Talent (3)

Lee Kyung-bok entered the competition mode and pressed the start button.

[Looking for other escapees...]

As the system message appeared before his eyes, the chat window immediately reacted.

-He did it! He really did it!

-He's really doing this lololol

-Right after the tutorial, straight to competition lol

-He's really got guts lol

-But will he get matched?

The viewers expressed their surprise and confusion. Lee Kyung-bok, however, widened his eyes for a different reason.

"Huh? You can't choose the theme here?"

His question made the chat window burst into laughter.

-Is he trying to be naughty here?

-Newbies are newbies

-Newbie (5-minute tutorial)

-You don't choose in competition mode lolol

-It's random matching, laugh!

-If you choose, it'll be obvious you've already cleared it

Fortunately, there were viewers who enjoyed The Escapers. They explained that unlike solo escape or cooperative modes, the competition mode randomly assigns themes.

-It's kind of PVP, so there's also an MMR system

-Yeah, there's a clear time record for each theme

-You can see all the information about the escapees

-Yeah, they try to match you with similar levels

-He's a complete newbie, so he'll probably be matched with someone who has cleared 0 times

While Lee Kyung-bok was reading the information provided by the viewers, a thud sound effect indicated that the match had been made.

"Ah, thank you for the information. The match was pretty quick."

Soon, dark silhouettes appeared around him. There were three of them, making a total of four people competing to escape.

"Hello!"

"Nice to meet you."

"Oh, it's a rematch with Indiana Kings."

The three of them greeted each other immediately. Lee Kyung-bok also greeted them brightly.

"Hello! This is my first time in competition mode, so please be kind."

His greeting made the silhouettes turn their heads.

"Wait, you're a newbie?"

"What? Really a newbie?"

"Wow, really. Cleared 0 times!"

The three of them couldn't hide their surprise. The viewers laughed at their reactions.

-Wow lol, they're all veterans!

-What? What's going on? Why are they matched with veterans?

-The least experienced escapee has cleared 5 times lol

-5, 17, 30 clears lolol

-Oh lol, that means there are no newbies

-Does it smell bad on the screen?

-eh

-The fishy smell is crazy lololol

-They even see each other often lolol

Contrary to expectations, the match was made with users who had considerable experience.

"Wait, this person has no play history at all?"

"PerfectPlay? You only cleared the tutorial?"

"Um... no, why competition..."

Meanwhile, the other users seemed to have checked Lee Kyung-bok's information. The viewers burst into laughter again at their reactions.

-5252, they're surprised by the pure water!

-Not just pure water, it's first-class water

-But do they know about PerfectPlay?

-Do you know PerfectPlay is here?

-The Escapers is a niche genre lol

-Yeah lol, even among hipsters, he's a hipster

-He's pro, but not well-known locally

-Local lol

-Even if he's a god, he needs to try harder lol

Lee Kyung-bok frowned slightly at the viewers' reactions. He might inadvertently say something that would offend The Escapers users.

To divert attention, he spoke up.

"Yes, it's my first time. I heard competition mode is difficult, so I decided to give it a try."

His words made the other three sigh.

"No, it's not that... but it's better to start with solo or cooperative modes."

"Yeah, you might not enjoy it if you start with competition."

"Also, there aren't many users, so if you like it, it can be really fun, but competition is a different story."

-They're worried the newbie will leave!

-Not lol, it's funnier because they're genuinely worried lolol

-Do they know almost 10,000 people are watching?

-There are probably more PerfectPlay viewers than competition mode players lolol

-Who would have thought 10,000 people would watch if it weren't for PerfectPlay lolol

Lee Kyung-bok smiled at their reactions. Both the developers and users seemed to have a deep love for the game.

However, there was a risk that the match wouldn't be made if things continued like this. Fortunately, Lee Kyung-bok had a weapon to persuade them.

"Don't worry about me quitting the game. I have the season pass, too."

It was the season pass given to him by the developers. The other users flinched and then sighed in relief.

"Really?"

"Wow...! You bought the ultimate version."

"No, not many people buy it in the community."

After checking Lee Kyung-bok's information again, they were reassured. With an investment of 300,000 won, he wouldn't quit the game easily.

"Okay, let's start without worrying."

"Alright."

"Yeah, once you try competition, you'll want to do solo or cooperative."

"We won't go easy on you just because you're a newbie."

As the four of them finished their preparations, the doors in the background began to shake.

-Oh lol, they won't go easy on KingBe

-Another good veteran is about to be sacrificed sobs

-The Escapers is crazy lol

-Even if his physical skills are unmatched, his mental skills are different

-What a mess!

-We're having a great time watching

Soon, one of the shaking doors opened with a creak. A flash of light appeared, and the background changed.

[The Pharaoh's Curse]

Hieroglyphs on the stone tablet turned into Korean, revealing a desert. A massive pyramid stood on it.

<You and your companions have excavated the pyramid. Everything was filled with hope. The feeling of fame and fortune was within reach.>

With the narration by a professional voice actor, the screen changed to show a giant stone statue of a pharaoh in a large stone chamber.

<But the hope disappeared. The owner of the pyramid did not forgive the uninvited guests. His anger enveloped you.>

A loud boom echoed, and the surroundings instantly darkened. Gradually, the torches began to burn, and the view returned.

<To quell the pharaoh's anger, you had to offer a soul. Someone else's soul, not yours.>

The narration ended, and control returned to the players.

-Oh lol, there's a story

-Where have I heard this voice before?

-It sounds like a documentary

-Wow lol, they invested a lot

-For a K-game, it's pretty good

-Just the lack of gacha is a huge plus lol

While the viewers were enjoying themselves, Lee Kyung-bok quickly scanned his surroundings.

"Since it's a competition, I'll start exploring."

The stone chamber he was trapped in had quite a few items.

Piles of sand, broken stone tablets, and dirty bandages were scattered around. Precious treasures were piled in a corner, and torches flickered on the walls.

Strangely, there was also a structure that looked like an altar in the center.

-Wow lol, this is on a different scale from the tutorial

-Not lol, how does he know what's important here?

-If I were here, I'd be stunned for 10 minutes

-mcsmc

-Even with highlights, it would take a while to find

-Oh right! The others are using highlights, aren't they?

-Yeah, they're probably already collecting items

-Isn't this too disadvantageous? lol

The chat window quickly turned dark. However, Lee Kyung-bok was different.

Having already identified the necessary items, he moved quickly.

"I'll try to match these stone tablets and pieces first."

He quickly collected the broken stone tablets and pieces around them. It felt like solving a jigsaw puzzle, but the difference was that he didn't know the completed form.

-Is this right? Is this what you're supposed to do?

-Not lol, do you need to learn hieroglyphs beforehand?

-mc, where would you learn that lolol

-The sand piled up is suspicious!

-Is something hidden in it?

-I'm already brain-dead lolol

-Let's check the treasure first!

-Wow lol, the competition mode map is insane

Lee Kyung-bok ignored the viewers' reactions and continued to match the pieces. There was no hesitation in his movements.

A short while later, he held a completed stone tablet in his hand.

Looking at the completed stone tablet, the hieroglyphs turned into Korean, forming the theme's logo.

[The flickering darkness will swallow the sinner]

The translation was done, but interpretation was needed.

The viewers started thinking again.

-He already solved it?

-Wow lol, his mental skills are insane

-This is all possible because of PerfectPlay's keen eye lolol

-What is this? A hint? What does it imply?

-The sinner probably refers to the escapees

-Darkness? Do we need to extinguish the torches?

-Oh, he has potential lol, maybe there's something visible in the dark?

-Oh lol, I can't resist glow-in-the-dark mummies

-Glow-in-the-dark mummies lol

-Not lol, the darkness swallows the sinner! This is a death flag!

-Just type lol

The opinions on interpreting the clue were varied. However, Lee Kyung-bok didn't pay attention to the chat window.

Thanks to his god's ability to read residual thoughts and gather information, he had a sudden realization.

'So that's what it is...!'

With this realization, he turned his gaze. To the viewers, the process took less than 10 seconds, so the chat window was filled with question marks.

-What? What is it?

-What did he figure out?

-Not lol, does he just know by looking at this?

-Really, his brain works differently lol

-His processing power is 5 times faster lolol

-I just trust PerfectPlay!

-(PerfectPlay is a god)(PerfectPlay is a god)

Lee Kyung-bok rummaged through the piled-up treasures. The mountain of gold coins collapsed, and he held a decorative item in his hand.

It was a decorative item shaped like a long snake.

-Oh, this is Apophis?

-Apophis? What's that?

-It's an evil deity in Egyptian mythology lol

-Oh? Are you Egyptian?

-What lol, knowing foreign mythology doesn't make you foreign

-Is this related to the hint?

While the viewers expressed their doubts, Lee Kyung-bok placed the decorative item on the altar and gathered the surrounding torches in front of the altar.

The shadow of a snake appeared behind the altar in the light of the torches. After completing the series of actions, Lee Kyung-bok spoke.

"The flickering darkness, this means shadow. So I thought I needed to use the torches."

-Perfect solution ON!

-Oh lol, that's right

-Oh, I should have focused more on the word 'flickering'!

-How did he figure that out so quickly?

-(Game master)(Game master)(Game master)

With the viewers' agreement, Lee Kyung-bok continued his explanation.

"The pharaoh is like a king or a god here, probably closer to the latter. Since the narration said to offer a soul, the altar is the right place."

-Wow, he remembered all that?

-Oh lol, I just kind of listened

-I also lol, I thought it was just a concept explanation

-But there was a hidden hint?

Lee Kyung-bok nodded.

Without doing anything, the shadow on the wall grew larger.

"Yes, I needed to create a shadow, but I wasn't sure what to use. Sand or bandages wouldn't work, so I passed on those. I looked at the treasures to see if there was something suitable for the altar. As soon as I saw this, the phrase 'swallow the sinner' came to mind."

-The sinner? Why?

-Oh! That's right!

-Wow lol, it makes sense now

-Snakes swallow their prey whole!

-Oh lol, I'm getting chills

-He's insane lolol

-Everything connects, man

-He figured it all out from one phrase?

-Really, PerfectPlay is a legend lol

-Oh lol, this is what makes him perfect!

The viewers were amazed by his flawless explanation. Soon, the shadow glowed with red eyes.

['PerfectPlay' has completed the ritual!]

['The Curse of Apophis' has enveloped one escapee!]

The system message appeared, and the view changed.

"What, what? Already completed?"

The man who had just completed the stone tablet puzzle looked up from his crouched position. However, his face turned pale.

Because he heard a hissing sound.

"Y-You... me?"

He jumped up in disbelief. Looking around, he saw snakes wriggling out from the cracks in the stone walls.

-What?

-Oh lol, he's the one!

-Pharaoh: Rocket delivery of curses is really good^^

-Wow lol, the veteran just completed the puzzle, but what's the difference?

-Bye!

-Oh lol, is this The Escapers' kill cam?

-The developers know what they're doing lolol

The viewers didn't hide their enjoyment. Lee Kyung-bok didn't laugh out loud, but a smile appeared on his face.

Victory is a pleasant thing.

"But, you were clearly a newbie? How...!"

He was confused but quickly ran towards the torches. Unfortunately, his steps didn't last long.

"Ah!"

A venomous snake lunged and bit him. He fell forward, stiff as a board. Snakes slithered over him as the screen darkened.

['StayAtHome's soul has become an offering']

The system message that appeared clearly indicated his elimination.

-He was confused until the end lol

-But he must feel so wronged lol

-Being eliminated by a newbie, of all people lol

-Oh lol, he is a newbie

-I thought he was pure water, but he turned out to be poison

-Do you know that clear water can't support fish?

The viewers were satisfied.

The screen returned to Lee Kyung-bok's stone chamber, and control was returned to him.

"Oh, the room is a bit different now?"

It seemed to mean he should find the next curse, as the arrangement and composition of the items had changed. Just as Lee Kyung-bok was about to take action again, he felt a sudden, chilling sensation.

'What is this?'

An unexpected threat he hadn't anticipated in The Escapers.

'They're not just one, but hundreds...!'

He quickly turned his gaze. At the same time, a system message appeared.

['IndianaKings' has completed the ritual!]

['The Curse of Scarab' has enveloped one escapee!]

Another escapee had completed the ritual after Lee Kyung-bok.

-Wow?

-Wow lol, 30 clears is different

-This one's mental skills are also impressive lolol

-What's this?

-I'm more surprised that PerfectPlay is faster than this person lolol

-Really lol, this person is using highlights

The viewers laughed at the message, then realized a hissing sound was coming from the walls, just like the previous user.

-Still, PerfectPlay is amazing sobs

-In competition mode, finding the answer quickly isn't everything

-You also need to time your completion well

-Yeah lol, PerfectPlay had a one in three chance