Ten Day Ultimatum

"How peculiar," Qi Xia remarked quietly. "I had anticipated a more elaborate setup for a {physical strength-based elimination game}, something designed for continuous elimination."
"Yeah," Qiao Jiajin agreed, eyeing the straightforward layout with a look of confusion. "How are we supposed to be eliminated here?"

As if in response, the massive iron door in front of them began to tremble before slowly rising.
"Huh?" The portly middle-aged man peered at the now-open door, bewildered. "What’s happening? Do we still need to move forward?"
As the door finished opening, the countdown timer on the wall activated, signaling the start of the game.

"What’s going on?"
Confusion rippled through the group as they exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of the next step.
Then, a guttural, menacing roar echoed from beyond the doorway.

That sound… was distinctly non-human.
"F*ck..." Qiao Jiajin's hair stood on end. "You've got to be kidding me..."
From the gate emerged a colossal beast, its fur a deep, impenetrable black. It reared up on its hind legs, mouth agape and drooling incessantly, as though ravenously hungry for days.

Once the beast had fully emerged, the iron gate clanged shut behind it.
"Is that... a bear?!" Qiao Jiajin instinctively stepped back. While he would’ve been confident against a human opponent, the idea of confronting a bear—especially one larger than any average man—was terrifying.
Qi Xia's expression darkened as he assessed the creature. It was an Asiatic black bear, identifiable by the distinctive white crescent on its neck. But the sheer size of this specimen was truly alarming.

Typically, Asiatic black bears stand about 1.6 to 1.8 meters tall, but this one loomed at least 2 meters, its presence utterly intimidating.
"AHHHH!!"
A woman’s piercing scream shattered the tension, startling not only the participants but also the bear, which flinched at the sudden noise.

After a brief pause, the bear released a deeper, more menacing roar, its rage now fully awakened.
"What in the world is this cursed game?!" the middle-aged man howled, panic rising in his voice. He turned and sprinted—only to halt abruptly after a few steps.
The staircase they had descended was gone, replaced by an imposing high wall. There was no escape.

The man, seemingly overwhelmed by despair, sank to the ground. "It’s over... we’re done for..."
"Damn it... what do we do now?" Qiao Jiajin turned to Qi Xia, his face etched with concern. "This isn’t a challenge we can overcome with brute force."
"This is bad..." Qi Xia's expression grew grim.
Why did it have to be a bear?

A bear’s close-quarters killing power surpasses even that of tigers and lions, and this confined space was the perfect hunting ground.
As the massive black bear lumbered forward, the two young women closest to it froze in terror, unable to move.
"Quick—play dead!" the middle-aged man on the ground shouted in desperation. "If you encounter a bear, pretending to be dead might save you!"

The shout jolted the two women back to their senses. They immediately lay on the ground, trembling as they shut their eyes.
"No!" Qi Xia shouted urgently. "Get up and run now!"
But the two women remained motionless, lying flat on the ground.

Seeing this, the others began to follow suit, sprawling on their backs in an attempt to play dead. Soon, only Qi Xia, Qiao Jiajin, and a slightly plump young woman were left standing in the field.
"Swindler Lad, why not play dead?" Qiao Jiajin asked, tense. "Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do with a bear?"
"If you encounter a brown bear, that might work," Qi Xia replied firmly. "Brown bears usually attack humans to defend their territory and may stop once the threat is gone. But this doesn’t apply to Asiatic black bears. These ones will attack—and even eat—humans when they’re starving."

As soon as Qi Xia finished, the black bear approached one of the young women lying motionless and sniffed her face.
‘Fools…’ Qi Xia thought grimly. Against an Asiatic black bear, even a full sprint was barely a gamble. Playing dead? That was suicide.
Sure enough, the bear sniffed for a moment before suddenly clamping its jaws around the woman’s neck.

Her scream died in her throat, reduced to a guttural gurgle.
She flailed, her arms striking the bear with panic—but it was like punching a solid wall.
The bear didn’t flinch. It simply raised a paw and struck her midsection with terrifying force.

The blow caved in her abdomen, likely shattering her ribs.
A gush of blood erupted from her mouth. Moments later, she lay still.
Qi Xia’s stomach turned. He’d seen similar scenes on the news, but witnessing it firsthand was different. It was a slaughter.

"AHHH!!!!" Another woman screamed.
Realizing the futility of playing dead, the group erupted in panic. They scattered in all directions, desperate to escape the monster in their midst.
Despite humankind’s place at the top of the food chain, they were defenseless in the face of this raw, primal force. Without tools or weapons, they were no match.

Wait… tools or weapons?
Qi Xia’s mind raced as he remembered the large iron plate in the middle of the venue. It had to be more than just a decorative fixture.
"Qiao Jiajin, we need to get to that iron plate!" Qi Xia shouted, urgency in his voice. "We don't know what it is, but it might be our only shot at surviving!"

"Damn... you really know how to pick them," Qiao Jiajin muttered, eyeing the plate precariously positioned beneath the bear’s feet. "That item is temporarily unavailable, esteemed guest. Would you like to choose something else?"
"Cut the crap!" Qi Xia snapped. "If we don’t use that plate for cover, we’re dead."
"Alright then..." Qiao Jiajin nodded, steel in his eyes. "I’ll draw its attention. You go for the plate."

“Distract it?” Qi Xia ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) hesitated, but knew this was their best bet. "An Asiatic black bear can run up to 48 kilometers per hour. You can’t outrun it—try confronting it head-on instead."
"Got it." Qiao Jiajin nodded again.
With the plan decided, they split up.

Qiao Jiajin cautiously moved toward the bear and then suddenly yelled, "Hey! Dumbass!"
The black bear halted, its gaze snapping to him, eyes glinting with murderous intent.
It took a slow, deliberate step forward, testing its opponent. Unfazed, Qiao Jiajin matched it with a step of his own.

That mirrored advance made the bear hesitate, unsure how to interpret this human's confidence.
"Dumbass, you want to trade blows?" Qiao Jiajin forced a grin and gestured provocatively. "Come take me on."
Though the bear didn’t understand words, the tone and gestures were enough to rile it.

It reared up on its hind legs, broadening its already massive frame to appear even more terrifying.
"ROAR——"
A thunderous roar burst from its maw, and the foul stench of its breath filled the air.

The sound echoed through the room, sending chills down everyone’s spine.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Qiao Jiajin’s cheek. He had just provoked something truly fearsome.