The last Rat King will be left behind forever, clearly in exchange for one person’s freedom for everyone’s freedom.
Lucas Jennings was almost the first to jump out, angrily saying,
"You think you can leave my sister behind! Don’t even think about it!"
As he spoke, he turned his head and shouted to the crowd around,
"Don’t listen to its scare tactics! Since we’re playing the game together, we must leave together! No one will be left behind!"
Lucas had a knack for stirring up emotions.
They were all young people who grew up under the red flag; none would casually disregard others’ lives.
This shout of his immediately incited a few fired-up young people to join in,
"Yeah! We’re not listening to you! We’re leaving together!"
"Right! Not a single one can be left behind! There must be another way to get out of this ghostly place!"
Scarlett Jennings didn’t expect Lucas to be the first to stand up, and looked at the young man with increased approval.
It seems the Jade Token was not given in vain.
While Lucas was reveling in the effect he created, the voice in the void spoke again, eerily,
As its haunting voice fell, several screams erupted from within the crowd.
"My hand! What’s happening to my hand?!"
Everyone looked towards the source of the screams and saw changes suddenly occurring to a few people in the crowd.
Whether it was their hands or feet, they started to become ethereal bit by bit, resembling the earlier Living Souls.
The voice, unhurriedly, continued,
"In the game of cats and rats, the losing side must be punished. If the Rat King is alive, it means the Cat Group has failed; every cat present must face the punishment, which is... to become Cat Specters, like them, forever left behind."
When the voice fell silent, everyone saw the partially ethereal people’s body parts visibly becoming transparent and ethereal.
Truly turning into ghosts.
In an instant, chaos engulfed the Cat Group players present, with many shrieking,
"I don’t want to become a ghost left behind here!"
"I want to go home! I don’t want to play anymore!"
"Let me go home, boohoo..."
One person closest to Scarlett suddenly shouted and charged towards her.
If they could capture the last Rat King, they could win the game and go home.
The fear of turning into a ghost made them forget their previous fervent stance that no one should be left behind.
At that moment, everyone was focused on one thing.
They didn’t want to become Cat Specters!
Scarlett coldly watched the person rush towards her but did not intend to dodge.
Daniel Wright, in the moment the person approached, neatly seized them with a restraining move, "Calm down!"
"How can you tell me to calm down?! I don’t want to stay in this ghostly place for one more second! Let me go! You’re a cat too! Do you want to become a ghost?!"
The person, firmly pinned down by Daniel, continued to shout,
"Do you want to stay and become ghosts?! We have so many people, just capture her alone!"
Seeing that the surrounding people were indeed swayed and began to surround Scarlett’s direction.
Lucas hurriedly pulled a few friends, turning their backs to Scarlett, forming a protective circle around her.
"Stay back! It’s just trying to scare you! Don’t be fooled!"
Alicia Sharp similarly shouted,
"No one knows the true nature of the voice behind! Who knows if it’s a lie? You all know Scarlett, know how capable she is. With Scarlett, there’s definitely a way to lead us out!"
Those who were itching to move forward hesitated upon hearing Scarlett’s name. Those present were young and had all watched variety shows, knowing Scarlett genuinely had skills.
If it weren’t for this situation, no one would think of sacrificing her.
Or perhaps, it’s not really considered a sacrifice?
"But... you said Scarlett is so capable, even if she is left behind, nothing would happen to her."
One person spoke weakly, sounding as if they’d convinced themselves.
Not just him, those around were also convinced.
"Right, Scarlett is from the Mystical Sect, even if left behind, she would find a way to leave."
But ordinary people like them couldn’t be sure.
"If she has a way, why hasn’t she stood up directly? Make her stand up!"
As if in response to that person, Scarlett, who was always protected in the center, finally moved.
The crowd saw a Yellow Talisman rise from her location, accompanied by spiritual light.
The next moment, three other directions nearby simultaneously lit up with three pillars of Talisman Light.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to these suddenly appearing light pillars, and then they saw the four pillars quickly connecting in the air.
In an instant, they formed a giant square Barrier.
"Everyone, enter the Barrier!"
Scarlett commanded, and as the crowd hadn’t reacted yet, their bodies instinctively responded.
Those already inside the Barrier didn’t move; some players not in the square Barrier quickly ran inside.
Soon, they realized that as players who entered the Barrier touched it, it was like being burned, forcing out a sharp cry, and they were instantly ejected two meters away.
Everyone looked at those ejected from the Barrier in disbelief, seeing their instantly ashen and sinister appearances, and suddenly realized something.
"Ghost! They’re all ghosts!"
Someone exclaimed again, and after Lucas’s initial shock, he snorted with annoyance,
"Of course! You haven’t looked at the number of people in the group! There aren’t that many players; they are all ghosts mixed in!"
For a moment, players not in the Barrier quickly rushed in.
The "ghosts" left outside started revealing their ghostly appearances, eerily staring at the players inside the Barrier.
Only now did everyone feel a chill down their spine.
They had just been playing games with so many ghosts?
What were these ghosts mixed in intending to do?
"No, there are ghosts inside!"
Someone exclaimed again, pointing at those within the Barrier showing ghost-like shadows.
Some quickly moved away in terror from these shadows.
Suddenly, a male voice explained loudly from the crowd,
"These aren’t ghosts, they are Living Souls."
Another voice followed from the other side,
"As long as their bodies are found in time and returned, they can still live."
Everyone looked towards the voices and saw three people slowly walking out of the crowd.
It was Gregory Xander, Evander Simpson, and Victor Quintero, who had been separated from Scarlett and the group from the beginning.