Standing alongside countless ghosts at the base of the drop tower, watching the massive machine rise and fall, smashing ferocious spirits into pulp, the three participants had calmed from their initial shock but still couldn't think of any way to complete the attraction.
Because this drop tower required absolutely no operation—it seemed there was no possible trick to exploit. Completing it meant certain death. Yet failing to finish the required attraction would also result in death once the time limit expired.
As time ticked by, Li Yan's hands gradually clenched into fists. The experiences from three horror stories were vivid in his mind—each time, he had struggled on the edge of life and death, facing situations even more bizarre than this amusement park. But none of them left him as utterly helpless as this moment. It was too simple, so simple that it didn't even involve dealing with ghosts, yet there was simply no way out to be found.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo was deeply troubled. In that horror story group, the veterans had repeatedly told them that no matter how perilous the story, it would never completely deny participants a glimmer of hope. Clues to survival might be obscure, even fleeting, but they would absolutely exist within the story—as certain as the rules themselves. Was the hint for completing this attraction not given, or had they already missed it?
That was the question occupying Chen Mo's mind right now. Since entering this theme park, all the participants had been on high alert, making it unlikely they'd overlook a clue. But if they truly had missed it, then there was truly no recourse.
Refusing to consider the second possibility, Chen Mo still focused all his energy on pondering every potential way to complete the attraction. Yet progress remained elusive...
Rubbing his aching temples, Chen Mo looked up and scanned his surroundings. This supernatural world, this park of the dead—if he weren't trapped in a horror story as a participant, he would never believe such things could happen. As he gazed around with a dazed, troubled expression, he suddenly noticed that the ghosts encircling them didn't wear the same ferocious or vengeful faces as other spirits. Instead, they looked utterly fanatical. It seemed they genuinely enjoyed being crushed into pulp by this terrifying machine.
For these ghosts trapped in the park, could this be a form of release?
Suddenly, a spark of insight flashed through Chen Mo's mind. Looking at it from another angle... could it be... like this... Would doing so trigger an instant death? But right now, it seemed they had no other choice.
Having made up his mind, Chen Mo swept his gaze across the area again, then slowly walked toward the ghost closest to him. It was a ferocious spirit with its belly torn open and intestines spilling out, blocked by a railing, now tilting its head back with its mouth half-open, staring at the massive drop tower with a dazed, intoxicated expression. It was eerie.
Noticing Chen Mo's move, the fat man's eyes went wide. Although the ticket's protection meant these ghosts wouldn't actively harm them, who knew what consequences might come from actively approaching one? Was Chen Mo looking for death?
Li Yan also noticed Chen Mo's unusual action but made no move to stop him. Though unclear what the other man intended, Chen Mo choosing to take a risk meant he was likely testing some idea.
When Chen Mo reached the ghost, the spirit with its guts hanging out still paid him no attention.
"You... want to play?"
The moment Chen Mo spoke, the ghost immediately turned its head, its rotting face glaring viciously at him. The surrounding temperature plummeted sharply.
Just as I thought. The story's protection for participants only prevented ghosts from attacking them unprovoked. But if a participant triggered a killing intent, these spirits wouldn't show mercy. This ghost before him had clearly been provoked—the chilling aura was a precursor to its attack.
Chen Mo dared not test further. He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out the ticket.
"It's like this—I bought a ticket for this attraction, but I found it's not really suitable for me. You seem eager to play, so how about you take my place and ride it?"
Having a ghost substitute for the participant, using the ticket to ride this deadly drop tower—that was the only way Chen Mo could think of to complete the attraction! The state of the surrounding ghosts also encouraged him to try, as they clearly showed a strong liking for this ride. Moreover, his ticket was a special one, which seemed to offer more leeway with the park's monsters compared to ordinary tickets. This was also why Chen Mo chose to take the risk himself rather than trick the fat man into testing the waters. If even this special ticket couldn't convince a ghost to complete the attraction in their stead, then he truly had no other ideas.
Sure enough, after staring at the participant coldly for a moment, the terrifying ghost with its guts spilling out took the ticket and drifted toward the long line!
This scene caught Li Yan's eye, his slightly open mouth revealing his astonishment. Even he hadn't thought of this radical solution. He had been racking his brain trying to figure out how to participate in the attraction while avoiding death, but he forgot that the story's definition of completing an attraction was simply having the ticket stamped for each ride. So the key wasn't whether they personally completed it, but how to get the ticket marked.
"Then why didn't we..."
The fat man quickly grasped the logic, but immediately thought of the previous attractions. If they could use ghosts to get the ticket stamped, why had they all been risking their lives before?
"This is different. Look around you."
"What about around?" The fat man was still confused.
"These ghosts here—their state is different from the ones we encountered before. First, they show a strong interest in the drop tower. Perhaps this is also the story's subtle hint—it's implying that these ghosts want to ride this attraction but lack the credentials, which are our tickets."
And because he realized this, Chen Mo dared to take the risk, using these ghosts as literal substitutes to complete the task for the participants. Because they themselves longed for release under this mad machine!