At the moment, because this was the number one challenge in the world, there were several million Chosen Players currently watching Lu Ce’s game footage!

It was an incredibly terrifying number, made up of audiences from over a hundred countries, of different races and different beliefs.

And now, something was happening—something that had never occurred in any previous game before: a global phenomenon.

When that golden vertical eye appeared, everyone watching Lu Ce’s footage fell into a daze, as if mesmerized and unable to look away.

A few seconds later, those in the real world who upheld science and rationality and had no religious belief began to snap out of it, looking at the screen in confusion.

【: What just happened?】

【: Why did they all kneel down? Is this some kind of ritual?】

【: Then why is “Sin” totally fine?】

The barrage of comments was very sparse. Most of the surprised messages came from Huaguo folks, since their cultural foundation wasn’t rooted in religion.

Some drew a cross on their chest. Some muttered “Allahu Akbar.” Some ascetics even knelt down in front of their screens in real life and began praying.

Even though they couldn’t feel that oppressive aura, just looking at it made them sense that something was very wrong.

But after those devout prayers, an even bigger question arose.

—Why is that guy in the green mask totally fine?!

Lu Ce, wearing the Wrath Mask, looked a little confused (＠_＠;), not knowing what that eye was or what the light it emitted was supposed to do.

He checked his status—nothing seemed abnormal. No Pain Points triggered. That meant this thing didn’t seem to be attacking.

So what about the others around him?......

Lu Ce’s screen looked kind of strange now. He was the only one standing on the stairs, golden light shining down from above—that weird eye. Everyone else was kneeling and trembling.

But he, right then, stood upright, one foot on a higher step like a climber.

He didn’t know what was going on, but seeing his Godslayer Badge activate, he had a rough idea.

He climbed two more steps and stopped beside a griffin-headed guy, who was trembling all over with zero resistance left in him.

Lu Ce paused, then slowly lifted his foot. The guy still didn’t move, only trembled harder.

Lu Ce: ?

He stomped down with force. With a loud crack—like smashing a watermelon with a sledgehammer—it was another scene that made many viewers feel queasy.

Lu Ce thought, is this thing here to help me? Feels like this just got a whole lot easier!

So, stepping on the stairs, he kept killing with one stomp per ghost, not even looking down, calmly muttering, “Thanks.”

Park Bu Seong: ?

Golden Vertical Eye: ?

Park Bu Seong was cursing up a storm inside, angrily swearing at the game, wondering why his final trump card ended up just giving his enemy a boost.

Why can he still stand?! Aren’t you an Old God?!

Even the golden vertical eye looked confused, its pupil dilating as it saw Lu Ce ignore its presence.

Suddenly, an incredibly powerful aura burst forth. The golden light intensified, and black smoke began pouring off of everyone kneeling on the ground.

Screams of agony rang out. Park Bu Seong felt like his soul was being roasted—far worse than when “Sin” tore his arm off.

With a twisted expression, he glanced at “Sin,” only to find the guy still completely unaffected—like nothing was happening.

Is this a f***ing joke?!

He was about to die. There was no time to think anymore. Without hesitation, he screamed “Run!” in his heart and vanished from the spot.

This Horror Mystery was completely out of his control. First “Sin,” now an Old God’s Gaze—none of them could be messed with.

He had to retreat and regroup. Time to check on Ye Ah.

Seriously, is “Blank” that hard to deal with too?

Lu Ce saw the dog-headed man vanish and knew it was time to wrap this up. It had been way too long, and his earpiece hadn’t received any sound at all...

He had no idea what the eye was or cared whether it was divine or not—but his gut told him this thing was pissed.

Oh, you’re mad now?

Wrath Mask: #!

Totally ignoring the thing in front of him, he walked up to the remaining “ghosts” and stomped them all to death one by one.

Finally, he stood before the golden vertical eye and raised his gun at it!

Suddenly, Lu Ce’s game screen went black. Millions of viewers lost visual—like the screen had crossed some forbidden line.

......

“What the hell are you still doing?! Why haven’t you solved it yet?!”

Park Bu Seong came out already shouting, chugging a potion as he held his severed arm, drenched in sweat.

He had never experienced pain like this. The agony and fear had wiped out his ability to think rationally. He didn’t have the energy to suck up to this little starlet anymore.

“The Horror Mystery’s effect won’t trigger... No matter what I do, she just won’t open her eyes. I can’t activate it....” Ye Ah’s voice was a little timid. She knew the situation wasn’t looking good.

At that moment, the Women’s Restroom scene had become a full-on monster room. The bloody mirror scenes kept changing, and shadowy heads were piled up on the ceiling.

The ground was soaked in crimson blood, flooding up to Xie Antong’s ankles. Just above her ankles, her skin had already started bleeding from corrosion.

Hair had spread across the walls, wrapping around Xie Antong’s neck, with strands probing around her ears and nostrils.

But they couldn’t go any further!

The hair around her neck couldn’t tighten fully, nor could it pierce her ears and nostrils to enter her body.

Xie Antong stood like she was in a meditative trance, unmoving in the terrifying restroom like a statue.

Suddenly, the door opened. A beam of light shone in, and Xie Antong’s heart sank.

Because the presence approaching wasn’t filled with that terrifying wrath.

Which meant......

Then, an in-game announcement made her lips curl into a smile again.

【Seven Mysteries of the Campus, “Thirteen Steps at Night,” Black Side Challenge Successful!】

【Challenge Progress: 6/7, Remaining Time: 21:04:13.】