With the sun half-blinding him, he fired with his eyes nearly shut.

The slingshot, as a tool, had a limited number of uses per day. The first strike delivered pain like a gunshot — agonizing — yet left no wound. The second hit was half as painful. The third halved again, and the fourth, fifth, sixth… kept halving until the pain vanished completely, rendering the slingshot useless.

Pan Xiaoxin, high up the steps with nowhere to dodge, took hit after hit until Daniel finally had his way.

The small body dropped from above, crashing hard onto the stone steps, then kept tumbling end over end in freefall.

Pan Xiaoxin’s vision swam. He flailed his arms trying to catch the edge of a step — but before he could stabilize, his hands gave out and he plunged again.

He’d already spent every ounce of energy racing up the stairs, refusing to rest for even a moment to avoid being caught. Both arms ached to the bone, completely drained. To save himself while in rapid freefall was almost impossible.

“AHHHH!!!”

Below him, Miutte let out a shriek. He had fallen to last place due to exhaustion, and when he saw Pan Xiaoxin careening toward him, he lurched sideways trying to avoid a collision — but in his panic he lost his own balance and was swept along, tumbling down with him.

Bruce spun around, furious, and shot a livid look at Daniel. “What have you done?!”

“What have I done? I did what needed to be done for us to win!” Daniel answered without apology. “Did you not see what was happening?! A few seconds more and he would’ve answered first!”

“You killed Miutte!” Bruce roared.

Daniel showed no remorse. “He fell because he’s too weak. Even if I hadn’t acted, he would’ve died here sooner or later!”

Bruce: “You’re a monster!”

Daniel: “Thank your monster! If not for me, we’d already have lost! Keep climbing, you fool!”

Bruce shot him a withering look, knowing further words were useless, and pressed on upward.

Daniel looked down and found Pan Xiaoxin hadn’t died — he’d fallen squarely into the canopy of trees at the pyramid’s midpoint.

Daniel couldn’t help but smirk. “Hmph. Lucky little brat managed not to die… but that’s as far as he goes. Once we answer the riddle, we should be able to claim the sword.”

No obstacles ahead now. Their only competitor was stranded far below. Victory was within reach.

Bruce was the first to reach the summit.

Stone swords were thrust into the ground everywhere, scattered like makeshift fencing encircling the flat top — and in the center stood the enormous Sphinx statue.

Bruce noticed writing carved into the top step:

【Choose one stone sword. Answer the question correctly and you will receive what you seek.】

Bruce furrowed his brow, scanned the area, and selected a sword.

The moment he pulled it free, the massive stone statue stirred. The imposing Sphinx rose to its feet, walked to face him, and spoke in a voice solemn and ancient as an elder’s:

“An animal walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening.”

Daniel had not yet crested the final step, but he heard the Sphinx’s voice and broke into a grin. “This riddle is too easy! The King’s sword is ours!”

Bruce had his doubts. For a trial of this magnitude, could the riddle really be this simple?

Even a child would know it: four legs in the morning, two at noon, three in the evening — the answer was obviously a human.

“What are you standing there for?!” Daniel climbed another two steps and urged Bruce on. “Answer it already! We’re about to win!”

Bruce hesitated for a moment, then looked up at the Sphinx and answered: “The answer is a human. Mankind.”

The Sphinx was still for several seconds — then slowly raised one paw and held it above Bruce —

It came crashing down.

Before Bruce could even cry out, he was crushed into a smear of blood and pulp.

—