They had to keep their eyes on Medusa.

Every single moment, they had to keep their eyes on her—only then could they avoid being caught unaware when she turned.

…Was this the game’s difficulty?

—Because their gaze had to remain on Medusa at all times, they couldn’t pay close enough attention to their footing, making accidental falls more likely?

Or perhaps… there were other traps as well?

Shen Mo kept his eyes on Medusa, showing nothing on his face, until that hideous, frightening face turned back.

“Person in front, do you have a question for me?” The demoness spoke pleasantly, her voice gentle. “Any question is fine—except predicting the future, I know everything.”

The person standing at the front was still in shock from seeing their companions petrified.

Both people on his left and right had turned to stone.

He blurted out instinctively: “How… how do we win? With all these snakes on the ground, there’s no way we can stand completely still! How are we supposed to win this game?!”

“Ah… that’s a good question.” Medusa’s soft voice echoed through the cave. “You needn’t be afraid—those snakes are just juveniles, with weak venom. They won’t harm you…”

Snakes slithered and writhed across the ground. Some coiled around stalactites, some were submerged in puddles, some brushed past feet—as though at any moment they might crawl up through a pant leg…

Even with the demoness claiming the snakes’ venom was weak, the sensation of dancing among a mass of serpents was truly unbearable.

Medusa continued: “As for how to win… didn’t I already tell you? It’s simple—just use the sword in your hand to kill me, and you win.”

The man continued pressing. “Can you actually be killed? What if I stab you and you still don’t die?”

“I’m sorry, but that counts as a second question—try again next round.” The demoness smiled. “Everyone, you may begin. As long as you’re not seen by those eyes, you may do anything.”

With snakes covering the ground, even simply moving forward was difficult. What else could they do?

Shen Mo skirted around a stalactite ahead and the snakes on the ground, quickly stepping forward two paces.

He glanced left and right from the corner of his eye. He was currently at the rear. Including himself, only 15 people remained alive in the cave.

The early elimination rate in this game was extremely high. What the middle and later stages would bring, he didn’t know…

If they were only using small snakes to frighten people, the snakes would likely become ineffective later, since the terror they caused would diminish as everyone adapted.

Shen Mo decided to hold back for now and observe further.

Everyone moved with great caution—worried about falling, fearful of snake bites, and needing to glance periodically at the demoness, dreading that she might turn without warning again.

Advancing this way for six or seven meters, Medusa moved once more.

That hideous, fierce face turned toward them; vertical pupils surveyed everyone.

Because they were prepared this time, no one moved—not even when black snakes slowly coiled up their calves. They stood absolutely still, gritting their teeth, enduring the terror of potential death at any moment…

Shen Mo silently counted in his head.

At sixty, Medusa’s head slowly turned back.

“Person in front, do you have a question for me?” The demoness, reverting to her beautiful face, smiled and asked.

This time, the person standing at the front was a small, slight young man.

He asked a question that no one expected—

“My mother lives in Minnesota. After the doll game appeared, I rushed home but couldn’t find her. I want to know what happened to my mother. Where is she?”

The demoness smiled softly. “That is a very easy question to answer. I can let you see for yourself.”

As the words fell, an image appeared out of thin air in the cave—like a mirage. Inside was a middle-aged woman of somewhat stout build, standing nervously on a narrow wooden footbridge, jostled off by strangers pushing from behind, drowned in the river.

“It appears to be a game of crossing the bridge,” the demoness said with a smile. “It seems your mother didn’t perform very well in the game.”

—