Chapter 53

Although in Xu Yuan's eyes, both Ken and Momo appeared to be the kind of players who couldn't quite find their footing, the players still regarded them as formidable opponents. 

Neither Ken nor Momo initially sought supplies or food. Instead, Ken immediately crafted a crafting table from nearby trees, then crafted a wooden shovel. He dug over ten patches of grass around him and began building a makeshift elevated platform. His plan was to jump off at the last second during the exchange. 

Similarly, Momo shared Ken's idea but went a different route—he dug a deep pit rather than stacking high, intending to trap anyone who dared to challenge him. 

The players watching this scene felt their hearts race. Both players were designing traps and strategies, knowing they would switch places in just five minutes. It seemed both were risking their lives intentionally, trying to outsmart each other—an unpredictable and dangerous game of survival. 

Who would die first? Who would escape? That was the thrill. 

"Jump! Jump! A pit… hahaha, this is so intense!" 

"Both are risking everything in these last moments—so cruel!" 

"This is all about luck—who dies first, who survives… it's so unpredictable!" 

As the countdown appeared on the screen—**[Countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!]**—Ken held his nerve, waiting until the final second. He jumped only when the clock hit 1. 

Meanwhile, Momo, nervous and impatient, jumped at 2 seconds. 

Suddenly, the perspective switched to the live feed. 

On Ken's side, he plummeted into a deep pit, blood splattering as he fell. His health dropped sharply, almost to zero. 

On Momo's side, he was instantly eliminated, his avatar collapsing from the attack. 

Since Momo acted faster, he reduced the height of Ken's fall, preventing Ken's death. Yet, Ken managed to narrowly avoid a complete wipeout—calling it a *narrow victory.* 

The spectators erupted with excitement, thrilled by the dramatic scene. 

But from Xu Yuan's perspective, it was just a reckless game—rookie players pecking at each other. 

In his eyes, the real key to winning this game was the iron bucket—a simple yet crucial tool. 

A scene like earlier, with a bucket of water falling harmlessly—safe and sound—highlighted the importance of proper equipment. 

Therefore, as soon as the game started, the priority was clear: find a mine, dig iron, and craft essential tools. Without that, relying solely on luck or traps was futile. 

Ken's narrow victory boosted their guild's rank. The real-time system ranking showed [Cube Man] at the top, while Dragon Teng had fallen to 100th place. 

The guild members cheered wildly upon Ken's return. 

"KEN! Boss triumph!!" 

"Boss Ken is amazing!!" 

"And that silent guy jumped at the last second—so cool!" 

Everyone admired Ken's quick reflexes and strategic thinking—his perfect timing was impressive, especially for such a tense moment. 

Ken, satisfied with his performance, approached Xu Yuan and asked, "Should I go on for the next match, or switch out?" 

Having just won, Ken felt confident and wanted to keep the momentum going. 

Xu Yuan considered it and replied, "If you continue, your health will be almost depleted. You only have half health a bar left." 

Ken thought for a moment, then nodded. "Half a health bar won't cut it. Let's rotate someone else in." 

"Alright, put me on," Xu Yuan said with a smile. 

The guild members, hearing their leader wanted to step in, grew excited—some thought he'd fight to the end, risking everything. 

Meanwhile, the defeat had dropped Dragon Teng's team to 100th place. The mood within their guild was grim. 

"Isn't Momo supposed to be really strong?" 

"This mode is tricky; no one's fully explored it yet. We still have a chance." 

"Don't worry—let's give them a look first." 

They immediately sent out another challenge invitation. Xu Yuan quickly accepted, stepping toward the teleportation zone. 

"Come on, Boss Steve!!!" 

"We're waiting for you to wipe the floor with them!!" 

"Boss, show them what you've got!!" 

The guild members cheered wildly. Xu Yuan turned with a confident smile and said, "Watch closely—Learn something from this fight." 

As the teleportation lights flickered, Xu Yuan disappeared from view. 

The players didn't yet understand what lessons he intended to teach. But soon, on the new map, a live survival instruction and death-defying demonstration would unfold—an exhibition of skill, strategy, and daring.