Once the wooden ball finished introducing the game, everyone had a general impression of “Wildlife Park.”

It was a little like a live-action version of Jungle Chess — just with slightly different animals.

In Jungle Chess, the animals are: Mouse, Cat, Dog, Wolf, Leopard, Tiger, Lion, Elephant.

In the Wildlife Park, the animals are: Mouse, Cat, Fox, Wolf, Leopard, Lion, Bear, Elephant.

“What counts as being eaten?” Shen Mo spoke up to ask.

The wooden ball rolled in circles on the ground. The green leaves on its body were crushed, only for new shoots to immediately sprout up. It shook itself, sending a few clusters of new buds growing out, resembling a young deer’s antlers.

“Being eaten means being eliminated.”

It shook its little “antlers,” and in a light-hearted tone said —

“This game recognizes only three forms of elimination. Listen carefully, everyone~

The first form: when an animal higher in the food chain encounters an animal below it, a Predation Key will appear on the wristband. As long as you use the key to touch the opponent’s body, it counts as eating that opponent — meaning they are eliminated.”

Everyone immediately looked down, checking their wristbands.

The wristbands displayed a simple flat map of the terrain, with 8 glowing dots clustered in the central area.

The Ball explained: “The wristband lets you see your own position and your teammates’ positions. The blue dot is yourself, and white dots are your teammates — but you cannot see the enemy’s positions~ Also, clicking on a glowing dot on the map lets you contact the corresponding teammate.”

A member of the white-gloved man’s team said: “I don’t see a Predation Key.”

“Of course you don’t~” The wooden ball rolled right up to him. “The Predation Key only appears after the King has assigned animal roles! Now then — has everyone understood the first rule?

I’ll give you some time to try out the map and communication functions in a bit, but I need to start explaining the second rule!”

Everyone lowered their wrists and turned their attention to the wooden ball chattering away on the ground.

“Elimination Rule Number Two! —

Although this is a Wildlife Park, it is just as dangerous as a primordial forest. There are a total of 8 traps set within the game area. Falling into a trap means instant elimination!”

Shen Mo asked: “What form do the traps take? Can they be lethal?”

“They can’t cause death~ Although they won’t kill anyone, traps will immobilize animals and render them incapable of movement.”

At this point, the ball paused, then began snickering in a way that was somewhat unsettling — and then continued: “Animals trapped inside a trap are completely defenseless. If someone happens to pass by and wants to ‘eat’ them, well… that’s not out of the question either…”

Shen Mo grasped the implication and remarked mildly: “So a trapped animal becomes the lowest link in the food chain — any animal can attack it. But it won’t change the elimination outcome; whether it ‘dies’ or not, the trapped state is already an elimination.”

“Correct, exactly so~” The ball grinned cheerfully.

Ashalina stood to the side, listening with a furrowed brow, and couldn’t help asking: “Why would there be a setting like this? If falling into a trap already counts as being eliminated, what’s the point of being able to eat an eliminated player? Isn’t that redundant?”

The ball let out a haughty sniff. “There’s a reason this design exists, of course — you’ll figure it out for yourselves during the game. Now I’ll announce Elimination Rule Number Three.

The third rule is the simplest: if a player dies, they are eliminated.

Is that clear? Even without using the Predation Key to touch an opponent’s body, as long as you can cause their death, they are eliminated the same way. But take note of one thing —

If your food chain rank is lower than your opponent’s, yet that opponent dies by your hand, then you will be eliminated along with them.”

As if to set the mood, all the green leaves on the ball wilted at once, falling sparsely to the ground.

It dropped its voice and emphasized with grave seriousness:

“I am not joking~ Unless the target is inside a trap, you must attack targets strictly according to the food chain order!

Do not try to be clever! And do not think that as long as you don’t act with your own hands, the system won’t find out!

Setting up mechanisms, using items, or employing some means to force someone to take their own life — none of that is permitted! Every blade of grass and every tree in this forest will be monitoring you all! Whoever violates the rules will be eliminated!”

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