Apocalypse: I Have One More Keyword Than Others

MMO!

This bastard isn't even from the Elite Academy. Sure enough, you can't trust a word he says.

Well, it's a good thing that he didn't trust...

Duge cursed under his breath, and asked, "Brother Jiu, are you not from the elite school? You even said you wanted to find a way to transfer me from the civilian school to the elite school..."

"Brother Qi." Feng Jiu looked helplessly at Duge, and said, "I admit that deceiving you before was wrong of me, but this time I'm laying all my cards on the table. You're a good person, and I was even planning on clinging to your coattails to break into the top ten in the simulation!"

"But I really am from the civilian school," Duge said.

"Brother Qi, come on, stop pretending at this point!" Feng Jiu shook his head and laughed. He lifted the roast chicken in his hand and said, "What is this?"

"Roast chicken!" Duge replied.

"Do you want to eat it?" Feng Jiu asked.

Duge shook his head.

"Caught red-handed!" Feng Jiu took a big bite of the roast chicken, speaking as he ate, "Students from civilian schools eat synthetic meals every day that lack oil and salt. How could they possibly remain expressionless at the sight of a delicious roast chicken like this? Only you elite kids, who eat lavish meals every day, can be disinterested in the simulated feast.

The eyes don't lie. No matter how well a student from a civilian school plays the part, they can't be as nonchalant about food as you are! Which student from a civilian school wouldn't binge eat as soon as they entered the simulation? When you fed me pastries yesterday, I realized then that you truly don't consider food as food!"

Shit!

Even roast chicken is considered a delicacy, and everyone eats synthetic meals...

What exactly is the outside world like?

Before, Duge had some longing for the real world, after all, he had always fantasized about a world with super advanced technology capable of creating such realistic simulations.

But in that moment, he suddenly didn't yearn for it as much. The real world didn't seem as wonderful as he had imagined, it seemed rather harsh...

He wondered whether the person he transmigrated into was a civilian or an elite?

"Why do you elite kids have to compete with us when your lives are already so good? It's not like it's some imperative exam. What's so bad about letting us have the top ten spots? In the end, it's you who will enjoy it..."

Perhaps this touched a sore spot. Feng Jiu's tone suddenly changed, and he complained bitterly. Seeing that Duge had been silent the whole time, he suddenly realized he was grumbling at the wrong person, laughed dryly, and awkwardly explained, "Brother Qi, I wasn't talking about you. You're a good person who's willing to sincerely teach me some things. I'm referring to those elite brats who don't treat us civilian students as humans. You're different from them..."

Is the conflict between civilians and elites really that serious?!

Duge's brows furrowed slightly as he thought, the top ten in the simulation isn't just about honor, it can also determine one's fate.

"Brother Qi, don't get angry. This is what I wanted to tell you. When you're out and about, you need to disguise your identity well and not be as high-profile as in Feng family's Mansion," Feng Jiu said, "In the simulation, many civilian students resent the elite ones, and are willing to risk elimination just to bring you down. With your elite mannerisms, once you step out, you'll be a shiny live target, very prone to sneak attacks."

"I get it. Thanks." Duge nodded. If before he was just playing the game, he had now grasped the truth of the simulation and decided to take it seriously.

He was uncertain about his real identity outside. Was he an elite or a civilian?

If he was an elite, it didn't really matter, but if he was a civilian, ranking in the top ten of the simulation could potentially change his fate.

He didn't want to go out and be stuck eating synthetic meals...

"Why thank me? Without your guidance, I wouldn't have grasped the meaning of Gluttony. Consider this me repaying your kindness," Feng Jiu shrugged and smiled, "I'm not ungrateful. If possible, I still want to contend for a top ten spot. I just hope Brother Qi won't be too ruthless to me when the time comes."

"Of course not, my keyword is 'upholding,' isn't it?" Duge laughed, "The ultimate form of upholding is to be unwavering."

"Just in case the Feng Family really captures simulation contestants, what do you plan to do with them?" Feng Jiu looked at Duge and said, "You're not going to 'uphold' them as well, are you?"

"If I can uphold everyone, naturally I will," Duge smiled and said, "There's strength in numbers. Since students from civilian schools can't enjoy good food outside, why not stay in the simulation for a while longer and savor it? Why resort to fighting and killing? We could unite some and eliminate others. In the end, we'll settle the top ten spots amongst ourselves..."

Feng Jiu swallowed the food in his mouth and looked at Duge, asking, "Brother Qi, is this your true thought?"

"Right!" Duge agreed, "You just said it, students from elite schools have everything, why bother competing with you guys for the top ten! I'm very generous, I'd love to have fun together."

Feng Jiu shook her head with a smile, "Good, I'll stay at the Feng Family's Mansion to take care of things for you, and I'll convey your kindness to others. If they accept it, we'll all have fun together. If they don't accept, or if they harm me in any way, when I strike back at them, you won't blame me…"

"Yeah. I won't blame you." Duge said indifferently, but inside he was already facing a tumultuous storm. His conversation with Feng Jiu revealed so much information that it completely changed his understanding of the simulation arena.

It turns out, this so-called simulation arena is simply a cruel selection machine.

It's not a competition between elite students and commoners, but a competition among everyone, all for the top ten spots in the simulation arena...

Three thousand people competing for ten spots, no wonder those who are eliminated can't come back.

Fuck!

This is insane!

Like ants on a log bridge in a race.

This is like Earth's exam-based system for securing official positions!

No wonder the teachers would say "don't reveal your keywords," no wonder Feng Jiu initially tried to set me up, no wonder Feng Jiu is so desperate?

Everything adds up now.

Duge felt a sense of relief, grateful that he had shown goodwill to Feng Jiu, which in turn gleaned truly useful information.

Otherwise.

With his attitude of treating the simulation arena like a game, if he went out into the world, he would probably suffer a big loss...

"Brother Qi, do you have any other instructions?" Feng Jiu asked.

"No more, just handle affairs at the Feng family's Mansion as you see fit." Before he came, Duge indeed had plans for the future of the Heavenly Demon, but after understanding the truth of the simulation arena, he knew all those plans were bound to fail. The lure of the top ten spots was a glaring bait, compelling everyone to viciously fight amongst themselves.

Instead of spending energy on those lofty and illusory arrangements, it's better to focus on managing one's own keywords and win the top spot in this brutal survival game...

Alright then!

He had already won the top spot.

Now he had to guard what he'd gained to the end.

...

As Feng Jiu turned to leave, Duge watched her gobble down food as she went. He stood still for a long time, digesting the new information he had received.

The real purpose of the simulation arena had shocked him deeply.

And Feng Jiu was still the same Feng Jiu from the beginning, not dulled in the slightest.

Watching carefully, showing restraint, using a piece of chicken leg in the end to test his own identity, concealing her advanced skills...

It could even be that making herself stink in the morning was deliberate, to make himself disdain her, allowing a valid reason for her to stay at the Feng family's Mansion instead of adventuring out with him. She couldn't have been ignorant of the knowledge that attributes improve and the senses enhance.

Even the later show of goodwill might just be another layer of disguise, to make him lower his guard.

After all, she didn't know about his transmigrator status, and the information and goodwill she provided, stuff that everyone should know, she used it to show goodwill!

Every move, every step, calculated!

With a Feng Jiu so astute, and with hundreds more like Feng Jiu out there, they were like a pack of wolves. A slight misstep and he could be devoured completely, bones and all.

Duge sighed silently and reminded himself of his new status in his heart. He had transmigrated and was no longer the carefree Earthling he used to be.