TDU Chapter 101: Disrupted Calamity

Chapter 101 Disrupted Calamity

Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiajin immediately withdrew his hand. However, the slightest force he had just applied to the rope was enough to disrupt the precarious balance. Suddenly, a resounding clanking echoed from one of the holes, causing the rope to tremble violently.

Qi Xia swiftly picked up a piece of table shield and shouted, "Han Yimo, get behind me!"

Responding promptly, Han Yimo hurried to hide behind Qi Xia, gripping his shirt tightly, his anxiety palpable.

‘Murphy's Law huh...’ With the table shield in hand, Qi Xia steadily maneuvered away from the hole, and Han Yimo followed suit, shifting nervously behind him.

Logically speaking, Qi Xia and the hole were no longer aligned, meaning any harpoon fired from within shouldn't have been aimed at them, nor could it possibly harm Han Yimo behind him. Yet, an inexplicable sense of unease gripped Qi Xia.

Standing beside the opening, Qiao Jiajin observed Qi Xia's behavior with confusion. He glanced at the rope, then back at Qi Xia, and asked, "What’s going on, Swindler Lad?"

"Qiao Jiajin, stay away from there! There’s another harpoon; be careful!" Qi Xia responded, his tone grave.

No sooner had his words left his lips than a deafening roar erupted from the hole, and two harpoons shot forth simultaneously. The first was the intruder that had inadvertently slipped into the hole earlier, while the second was unmistakably the original harpoon, poised and ready after a prolonged wait.

{Whoosh}!!

Everything unfolded in the span of a single second.

The first harpoon shot out of the opening and fell weakly to the side, embedding itself in the ground. In contrast, the second harpoon surged forward with tremendous force, darting toward the opposite side, away from Qi Xia. For a brief moment, he felt a sense of relief upon realizing that the harpoon's trajectory did not lead in his direction. However, Qi Xia's heart plummeted as he watched it collide directly with the clock at the center of the room.

This clock had long served as an essential tool for everyone to keep track of time, but now it had become a launching pad for the harbinger of doom. A deafening crash of metal on metal erupted, sending countless sparks flying.

It was unclear what material the clock was made of, but even after being struck violently by the harpoon, it remained steadfast. However, the impact caused the harpoon to veer off course. It resembled a venomous snake that had suddenly spotted its prey, whipping around and racing toward Qi Xia and Han Yimo. The harpoon flew low, almost skimming the ground. 

Realizing the danger, Qi Xia swiftly pushed Han Yimo back and stepped forward with the table shield raised. Given the harpoon’s trajectory, it would undoubtedly strike the shield before reaching Han Yimo.

Just as the harpoon closed in on his shield, it collided with the ground, the force of the impact causing it to spring upward. This astonishing trajectory allowed it to vault over Qi Xia, only to crash into the ceiling a moment later. Without hesitation, it altered its course once more, now hurtling directly toward Han Yimo, who stood behind Qi Xia.

To everyone watching, the harpoon resembled a zigzagging bolt of lightning, deftly maneuvering around all obstacles before homing in on its target. 

As Han Yimo said, he was bound to be struck by the harpoon. Its erratic movements were perplexing; it seemed as though its target was always him.

Qi Xia felt the weight of despair settle on his features, realizing he could not move the table in time to shield Han Yimo. There was no one left to save him—if there existed even the slimmest chance, it rested solely on Han Yimo’s ability to evade the impending disaster. Yet, given his trembling state, it appeared unlikely he could summon the strength to take a single step; once more, he was seemingly condemned.

In that critical moment, as the harpoon hurtled toward Han Yimo, mere centimeters from impact, Qiao Jiajin, poised beside the opening, lunged forward to seize the rope spilling from the hole. With a swift, decisive motion, he yanked it backward, altering the harpoon's course and igniting a remarkable chain reaction. Moving with astonishing speed, Qiao Jiajin caused the harpoon, which had been racing forward, to suddenly lose its balance, as if caught in a violent tempest, veering sharply off its intended path.

The harpoon finally halted in mid-air, swaying stubbornly for a moment before plummeting to the ground.

In that heart-stopping instant, the room held its collective breath, the tension thick and electric.

After a long pause, Han Yimo collapsed onto the floor, his clothes drenched in sweat.

Qiao Jiajin glanced at the rope in his hand, grumbling, "Did this harpoon come here to disco dance? It just couldn’t stop fucking bouncing around the room huh?" 

Setting the table down, Qi Xia approached Han Yimo, who remained visibly shaken. He assisted him to his feet and asked, "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine… truly… you all saved my life. Thank you so much…"

As Qi Xia steadied Han Yimo, he observed that the tremors had faded; he was no longer trembling. ‘Ah, I see now…’ he thought, nodding inwardly, his thoughts racing as he began to grasp the significance of {Beckoned Calamity}.

"Are you still scared about what comes next?" Qi Xia asked. 

"A bit… but not overwhelmingly so," Han Yimo said, forcing a faint smile. "Knowing you’ll be there for the next games makes me feel much more at ease…"

Hearing this, Qi Xia felt reassured; saving Han Yimo was undoubtedly the right decision. 

While the full extent of {Beckoned Calamity} remained unclear, it seemed that Han Yimo could foresee the dangers ahead. If he brought Han Yimo along during confrontations with those Earthly Branches, Qi Xia could gauge their threat level based on Han Yimo’s fear response. Should circumstances unfold favorably, he might even determine whether he could stake his life against those adversaries.

Of course, all of this was just a hopeful theory; the immediate priority was to ensure Han Yimo's survival.

From this moment on, he felt no compulsion to save those insignificant individuals. As for the impending {Collapse of Heaven} and {Yes or No}, it scarcely mattered if only a handful managed to survive.

"Officer Li," Qi Xia called out, "you had mentioned something about the harpoons?"

"Oh…" Officer Li snapped back to reality and quickly added, "There are words on this harpoon; you all should take a look!"

After feigning interest in the harpoon, Qi Xia remarked, "I see. Listen closely, everyone— the host of this game has once again become {Mortal Goat}, but {Mortal Goat} is known to lie…"

He meticulously laid out his deductions for everyone, then moved directly beneath the holes at the center of the room. He was aware that the floor would give way in a few minutes, at which point ropes would descend from this section of the ceiling to rescue them.

Though Qi Xia had intended to save only a select few with his insights, he was taken aback when everyone wholeheartedly accepted his words. As he positioned himself beneath the holes, the first to stand beside him was Xiao Ran. Her expression radiated admiration, a near-blind trust in Qi Xia’s words. Perhaps it was his flawless performances in past games that had endeared her to him.

"Qi ge, I don’t know why, but I trust you completely!" Xiao Ran said, her tone laced with flattery.

"Hah," Qi Xia scoffed, "In that case, I must express my gratitude."