Whether that woman would regret it in the final stage, whether she would be heartbroken, was no longer something Lu Ce needed to consider.


    Now, Lu Ce was feeling a bit of regret.


    Perhaps it was greed at play, seeing the game nearing its end, he felt his gains were somewhat lacking.


    Was this leg-sawing punishment the only one arranged? Shouldn''t there be more tortures to repeatedly torment, roasting from both sides?


    What kind of Hell difficulty was this? It was truly lacking in imagination, not twisted enough at all.


    As he was thinking this, the familiar data stream sensation did not appear. It seemed that after disappearing from the platform, the game did not immediately settle.


    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an extremely bright space.


    The four people he had saved earlier were also sitting in chairs with terrified expressions, anxiously looking around.


    The game wasn''t over yet!


    This hellish torment seemed to be far from over! Just when they were overjoyed to think it was finally over, reality hit them hard.


    After Lu Ce appeared, four pairs of eyes turned towards him simultaneously, indicating that the game was waiting for all participants to arrive.


    Everyone was fixed in a chair, forming a perfect pentagon, with a massive pentagonal column in the center, empty and seemingly purposeless.


    Unlike the others, Lu Ce was rather happy to see the game wasn''t over. After all, as long as the game continued, he could still profit.


    His mindset was clearly different. After the previous game, he was even a bit addicted to playing.


    Patting the mask that kept showing a smile, Lu Ce muttered to himself:


    "I knew it couldn''t be so unimaginative, the game had to be more twisted."


    "Control, control..."


    Although he enjoyed the feeling of gain, Lu Ce was mindful of the limits, not allowing himself to be completely immersed in the rhythm of the mask.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    The mask only amplified his emotions; it couldn''t completely control him.


    [All participants are present, welcome, conquerors of the Hell Game.]


    After Lu Ce appeared, the mechanical voice that had disappeared for a while reemerged in the space.


    When the voice appeared, the other four even shivered, unsure if it was from pain.


    [You seem quite happy? That''s not normal.]


    Suddenly, the voice shifted its focus, and everyone was stunned to realize it was addressing Lu Ce!


    The game''s controller was actively speaking to a player!


    Lu Ce looked around and asked:


    "Really? That''s quite good."


    "So, is there any reward?"


    [...]


    Fing Hell, are you addicted to milking rewards?


    This is a Hell difficulty game, not a charity!


    Lu Ce''s simple question left the game''s control voice speechless for a while.


    Then, the lights around the five people suddenly dimmed, the dim lighting accentuating the loneliness and terror of the atmosphere.


    Creak... Creak...


    A sharp, strange sound echoed, and under the curious gazes of the group, the massive barrel-shaped space in the center began to fill with black water.


    Upon closer inspection, someone exclaimed in shock.


    It wasn''t black water at all, but an enormous swarm of insects, too numerous to count!


    Layer upon layer, swarm upon swarm, emerging from who knows where, surging upwards!


    And these insects were unlike any seen before, each one exceptionally disgusting.


    Some were scorpion-like but half a meter long.


    Some were covered in barbs, with long tongues constantly curling and twisting.


    Some soft-bodied worms wriggled incessantly, even bursting under pressure, oozing thick fluid.


    The entire massive barrel-shaped space was filling with insects, their screeching filling the space, making one nauseous just looking at them.


    In no time, the columnar space before them was completely filled!


    A column with a five-meter diameter and at least a dozen meters high!


    Stuffed with insects, a rough estimate suggested there were at least a billion of them in this interdimensional space.


    The four seated around the column were pale as paper, and even Lu Ce couldn''t help but click his tongue.


    Perhaps some people in the world aren''t afraid of beasts, but faced with such a swarm of insects, apart from those Gu Masters in Miaojiang, few could remain unfazed.


    This was a physiological and psychological double extreme, not something normal people could face.


    Especially since these seemed to be alien insects.


    [: Fing Hell, buddy, seriously, don''t, it''s too disgusting.]


    [: Can''t watch this, I''m out, going to check another stream.]


    [: Honestly, this is a bit too heavy.]


    [: Not doing this, being a spectator is fine, never want to be a player!]


    The audience in the live stream was also complaining bitterly, the number of insects breaking the limits of curiosity.


    Then, they noticed that separating the space from their room was a special glass window, 50 centimeters by 50 centimeters.


    Looking at this window, people were almost fainting from fear, realizing these insects would soon come in!


    "When will this end, just let me die!"


    Beside him, a man, unable to bear the pressure, punched the glass hard, making a dull thud.


    But his anger could do nothing at this moment.


    Looking at the insects, Lu Ce thought—this seems like another chance for Pain Value.


    [Players, shouldn''t you feel honored? The game should have ended.]


    [But due to the excessive number of surviving players, which doesn''t align with the Hell difficulty concept, there''s a small additional test.]


    [Originally, the game''s lifeline was in this player''s hands. He could have made himself the sole survivor, and this additional test wouldn''t exist, making him a perfect game conqueror once again.]


    [Yes, he is the only one among you who achieved a perfect clear in the novice level.]


    [And due to his soft-heartedness, the current situation has arisen. Let''s all give him a round of applause for his performance~]


    The organizer''s voice resounded again, accompanied by the lights in Lu Ce''s room turning on, indicating who they were talking about.


    But this time, the tone and voice carried a very clear mocking intent, leaving one to ponder if Lu Ce had offended them.


    Clap, clap, clap~


    The crisp sound of applause echoed in the space, mingling with the insects'' screeches.


    And the only one applauding at this moment was Lu Ce himself!


    "Mm, not bad, not bad, according to you, I''m quite impressive, I think I should applaud myself."


    "So, back to the question, with my excellent performance, is there no extra reward?"