Chapter 28: No Solution

They arrived at the railing next to the circular open space on the third floor. From here, they could still see the balloons floating below, their strings tied to a heavy object on the first floor by Danny.

However, after the broadcast announced the completion of the second level, the pleasant music ceased, replaced by a more terrifying sound.

At the location indicated by the red dot, there was a game console. As they reached it, the console lit up on its own, displaying a 36-grid pattern in the center of the screen. Above it, a countdown of ten minutes appeared.

Next to the countdown, several lines of text were displayed: Players who failed to solve this puzzle within ten minutes would immediately face death and be confined in the super terrifying dark room for half an hour.

By now, two and a half hours had passed since the start of the game. If they didn't solve the puzzle within ten minutes, they would face another half-hour in the super terrifying dark room, surpassing the three-hour escape room by ten minutes.

Additionally, unlocking the level served to acquire equipment, not to achieve victory. If they died, as long as the last surviving player, they would be the winner, ending the game. The others would be released, but they would face thirty minutes of confinement.

Of course, if all players died within these ten minutes, it would result in total failure, and everyone would be confined in the dark room until three hours passed.

Now, the countdown of ten minutes had begun.

Tan Yinyin had a background in mathematical Olympiads, and she quickly entered a focused state, earnestly deciphering the numerical grid.

This level was a genuine test of intellect because the numerical grid was challenging.

Just then, from all directions, they heard the sounds of doors opening or heavy objects moving, accompanied by the low moans of numerous zombies.

It was as if a tide of zombies had suddenly surged in, and these zombies were slowly moving towards Tan Yinyin and Danny.

All the hidden zombies, including newly added ones, were in motion. Soon, screams of a few still surviving players echoed.

Before long, the broadcast reported, "Player 6 has died, confined in the terrifying dark room."

These disturbances were intentionally designed to distract players from solving the puzzle. Although Tan Yinyin had a strong mental fortitude, she couldn't help but feel a subtle nervousness.

The broadcast continued, "Player 4 has died, confined in the terrifying dark room."

Worried that he might be disturbing Tan Yinyin, Danny reassured her, "Little one, it's okay. You focus on solving the puzzle, and we have four guns. I'll protect you."

Upon hearing these words, Tan Yinyin suddenly felt a sense of security in her heart. She nodded obediently, "Mm-hmm."

"Player 3 has died, confined in the terrifying dark room."

The countdown on the game console now showed only three minutes left. Tan Yinyin continued solving the puzzle at the fastest pace.

The footsteps all around and the continuous low moans of zombies grew closer.

"Player 12 has died, confined in the terrifying dark room."

Now, only three players were still alive: Tan Yinyin (Player 11), Danny (Player 18), and Lin Churan (Player 14).

Several zombies had already entered the area within ten meters of the game console. Danny immediately raised his submachine gun, firing several shots with a series of bangs, causing those zombies to collapse.

Other zombies mimicked their movements, moving slowly, with twisted expressions, convulsing limbs, and some dragging their legs, limping along.

Blood splatters adorned their white clothes, and combined with the eerie music, it sent shivers down one's spine.

The final minute.

Tan Yinyin still had several blanks left to fill.

She realized she had made a mistake earlier and needed to redo it.

The gunshots became faster, but Tan Yinyin was oblivious, deeply focused on solving the puzzle.

In the corridors, on the stairs, zombies were converging toward them. Any that came within ten meters were immediately shot down by Danny without wasting a single bullet.

But where had Lin Churan gone?

The last ten seconds.

If they hadn't completely solved the problem, they would face death and half an hour in the super terrifying dark room.

The only surviving Lin Churan would claim victory, receiving a substantial prize, and rescue the others from the small dark room.

The last second.

The last button pressed.

Both Danny and Tan Yinyin's hearts were in their throats.

"Ding!" The game console made a sound, freezing the scene. Below it, the sound of a drawer being pulled out could be heard.

The broadcast announced, "Congratulations, players 11 and 18, you have passed the third level. Now onto the fourth level—No Solution."

Finally successful, Tan Yinyin and Danny simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.

Tan Yinyin turned on her phone's flashlight, illuminating the drawer beneath the game console, while Danny took out everything inside – three submachine guns.

Then, they noticed the game console screen switching to a page of text:

"You are a perfect combination, one possessing outstanding courage and physical prowess, the other possessing exceptional intelligence. However, in this level, if you cannot solve the following problem within ten minutes, one of you must die.

If you cannot solve this problem, within ten minutes, you must kill each other, and the one who dies will be confined in the ultimate terrifying dark room for one hour.

Once ten minutes pass, if you haven't killed each other, you will be separately confined in different ultimate terrifying dark rooms until one hour is complete."