Chapter 27: The Final Ten Minutes

“Esteemed guests of Frog Paradise, please find your seats on the carousel. The ride is about to begin.”

“We will now start the ten-second countdown. In ten seconds, anyone not seated on the carousel will face the consequences.”

The announcement was delivered in the voice of an exceedingly sweet young woman.

Ye Luo and Lin An had not yet reacted.

The other players around them were already scrambling impatiently onto the carousel horses.

The number of seats was calculated precisely, ensuring that each person had a place.

Ye Luo felt no urgency to compete for a seat.

She observed the other players.

Their faces were adorned with blissful smiles, and they exchanged information with one another now and then.

All their chatter centered on how delightful the amusement park was, how the esteemed Frog Master had created such a wonderful place, and they even declared fervently that they wished to stay in this copy forever.

“Sister Ye, I’ll take a seat first,” Lin An whispered. “You can observe what happens to me. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be able to protect yourself.”

Before Ye Luo could answer, Lin An had already swung himself onto a carousel horse.

Ye Luo pressed her lips together, watching.

Lin An’s expression was wary as he first sat down, but it quickly softened. He enthusiastically beckoned to Ye Luo: “Sister Ye, come up! This is amazing. We’ll have the most delightful time.”

Seeing the intoxicated smile on Lin An’s face, Ye Luo felt a chill run through her.

Even someone as vigilant as Lin An could be instantly affected?

This ride!

Was there really a way to clear it?

“Three…”

“Two…”

The countdown was nearing its end.

Ye Luo took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever fate might bring.

“Happy pond, where dreams are planted and turn into an ocean
Eyes like drums, wide mouths singing together strong
Give me a pair of little wings, I’ll fly toward the sun
I believe miracles live within me”

The cheerful song echoed over the park.

Ye Luo found herself smiling unconsciously.

The music was beautiful.

The carousel was so much fun.

If only she could play here forever.

“In the happy pond lives a little frog,
When it dances, it’s as if a prince possesses it.
With its cool gaze, no other frog can match its beauty,
Someday, a princess will awaken it.
La... leap frog
La... leap frog”

Ye Luo opened her mouth and even began to sing along.

This, surely, was the happiest place in the world.

Master Frog truly was a genius, to have designed such a wonderful place.

Joyful feelings filled Ye Luo’s mind completely.

At the peak of her euphoria, Ye Luo unconsciously stretched out her hand and bit down hard on her arm.

The pain snapped Ye Luo back to clarity in an instant.

Her gaze turned cold.

Before boarding the carousel, she had given herself a psychological trigger.

The suggestion was simple: Joy is shameful, joy must be punished. If you feel joy, use pain to punish yourself.

Just now, as the euphoria reached its zenith, the psychological suggestion activated, and Ye Luo instinctively used self-harm to bring herself pain.

Now, she was awake.

But as she turned and looked at the carousel, at the faces blissfully smiling, a chill crept over her.

These people…

How long had they been playing here?

Did they still possess selves?

The song ended, and the carousel came to a halt.

Lin An bounded over to Ye Luo: “Sister Ye, let’s ride the carousel again!”

Ye Luo found Lin An’s dazzling smile almost painful to look at.

She replied softly, “No more.”

“No more? That won’t do!” Lin An protested, “Sister Ye, do you have something against Master Frog’s amusement park?”

Ye Luo narrowed her eyes and suddenly seized Lin An’s hand, pressing hard.

Her strength was considerable, and though she didn’t use full force, Lin An ought to have felt pain.

Yet even as she squeezed his hand red, Lin An showed no reaction, only gazing at her with that dissatisfied look.

It seemed pain didn’t affect everyone. Perhaps it depended on the strength of one’s will.

The thought flickered by. Ye Luo simply looked at Lin An and said quietly, “I meant, why don’t we try another ride?”

Lin An’s smile grew even brighter: “Sister Ye, you’re right! Next, let’s go on the little planes?”

“Alright,” Ye Luo nodded.

Lin An happily strode toward the area with the little planes.

Ye Luo’s gaze sharpened, and her palm struck Lin An’s neck.

Lin An collapsed, unconscious.

Ye Luo dragged him to a secluded spot.

Once that was done, Ye Luo felt a wave of dizziness.

She instinctively curled her lips into a smile.

“In such a happy place, she must have a good time.”

The thought flashed by, and Ye Luo bit herself again.

Her mind, once muddled, regained some clarity.

Ye Luo took a deep breath.

She could not linger here.

The bright zone was too dangerous; she had to leave immediately.

Lin An’s condition made it impossible to take him with her. Leaving him unconscious here might be safest.

Ye Luo found some items to partially conceal Lin An’s location.

Then, without hesitation, she turned and left.

She had to get out.

Now!

In her mind, the sweet voice kept repeating.

“Stay! Once you leave, you’ll never find such fun again.”

“Can you bear to abandon such a joyful world? Stay, and you’ll enjoy eternal happiness.”

In the end, Ye Luo’s mind was filled with: “Stay. Stay. Stay.”

Ye Luo gritted her teeth and, step by step, walked out of the bright zone.

Her arm was mottled from her own bites.

Just as Ye Luo exited the bright zone, an announcement echoed over the amusement park.

“There are ten minutes left before the copy closes. For every guest to experience the thrill and excitement, please enjoy yourselves in these final ten minutes.”

Ye Luo’s pupils contracted sharply.

Ten minutes left.

Thrilling and exciting experiences!

Who would want such enjoyment?

But clearly, she had no choice.

The announcement had barely ended when, under the blood-red moonlight, something monstrous began to form not far from Ye Luo.

Whatever it was, Ye Luo dared not look twice, sprinting toward the plaza.

The monster slowly took shape, and Ye Luo heard a roar behind her.

She glanced back, and her pupils constricted.

She finally understood the price of using the flashlight!

Those creatures she had marked had all come back to life.

And now,

Their primary target was herself!