2020. U City. X Group.
"Ah, it hurts so much!~~"
Lin Tian curled up on the hospital bed, writhing in pain. Five young nurses couldn't hold him down.
Dark red blood flowed backward into the IV tube.
"Step aside!"
Thud! A needle stabbed into him, and the world fell silent.
Lin Tian collapsed like a limp shrimp, drenched in sweat, too weak to move another muscle.
While others celebrated parenthood in old age, Lin Tian faced cancer in middle age.
For cancer patients, death might be a release. What's truly terrifying is the endless treatments and pain.
...
"Welcome to X Werewolf Kill World. Winners reign; losers die. Hahaha~"
Lin Tian was thrown into a VR virtual world—skyscrapers, daylight, green trees, meadows, and children. Only the eerie welcome message reminded him of reality.
The life-or-death contract he'd signed was real.
[Lin Tian, hello!~ I am the guide of X Werewolf Kill World. I will oversee all your matches.]
Facing terminal cancer, Lin Tian had signed a pact with X Group, joining an experimental treatment program. In this program, participants compete in Werewolf Kill matches within the virtual world.
Twenty matches in total. Winners receive X Group's painless treatment. Losers face immediate death.
In his prime, Lin Tian had been a top-tier Werewolf Kill player. No game mode stumped him.
In skill, he once rivaled JY, the "Wolf King" of the Beijing Masters Tournament.
At 23, he debuted through a rookie competition, amassing millions of fans in a year.
But one phone call shattered his fate.
"Lin Tian! Lin Tian! Your mom—she was in a car accident! The surgery costs at least 500,000 yuan!"
On one side: his father's desperate face.
"Wolf King~ Come to my hotel to 'discuss life ideals.' Heard you need money? I'll give it to you!~"
On the other: a director's tempting offer. Between a room key and a script, Lin Tian chose the latter.
"Are you stupid? Wrong side again?"
"Can you even play Werewolf Kill?"
"He's wrong again. Unbelievable."
"Lin Tian's trash! This game's over."
"Trash! Trash!!"
The car crash five years ago felt like fate's cruel joke.
With no way out, Lin Tian took the scripted role in a Werewolf Kill reality show.
A Witch poisoning the Hunter, a Seer accidentally exposing the Guardian, a Hunter shooting the Seer—
The show needed a "Wolf King" persona, so Lin Tian became a stepping stone for rising "rookie wolves."
Every show saw him bombarded with hate, drawing millions of viewers.
He despised his past self.
Under pressure, he even livestreamed arguments with fans. In Werewolf Kill, Lin Tian had lost all pride.
Despite his efforts, his mother eventually passed away.
The system's voice snapped him back to reality.
[Rules of Werewolf Kill World:
Game duration: 20 weeks. Each week, players may join one match at any time.
Losing teams are eliminated (instant brain death). Winning teams advance and earn 6 points.
Special rule: Players who correctly guess the identities of 3 system-designated players after the first round of speeches may also advance, earning 2 points.
The top three players by points become final victors.]
The rules weren't as brutal as expected—there was still a slim chance besides total victory.
Lin Tian adjusted his virtual hairstyle, awaiting the next prompt.
[Please enter your nickname.]
[Confirmed, Lin Tian. Beginning matchmaking.]
Huh? Matchmaking? I didn't agree to this! System, how rude—I'm not ready!
As if denying players preparation time, announcements echoed across X Werewolf Kill World.
[Confirmed... Beginning matchmaking.]
Simultaneously, X Group launched a global livestream.
Lin Tian was teleported to a dim room with a large wooden round table.
Twelve black-and-red wolf masks flickered on the table.
The atmosphere turned eerie. VR scenes flickered around the room.
A Seer holding a crystal ball emerged from the light.
A bullet pierced the sky, followed by a floating shotgun.
A witch in black robes clutched two potions.
A young man with clear yet foolish eyes.
Villagers pointed accusingly in a circle...
The room plunged into total darkness.
After five years away from Werewolf Kill, the middle-aged man panicked.
Livestream audio and the game's broadcast suddenly blared:
[This match follows the 12-player Seer-Witch-Hunter-Idiot format. Global livestream active—300 million viewers online.]
In this setup, the Good faction includes:
Seer: Alive at night, may check one player's alignment (Good/Evil).
Witch: One antidote (revive a night-killed player, cannot self-use). One poison (kill a player at night).
Hunter: Upon death, reveal identity and shoot a player. Poisoned deaths nullify this ability.
Idiot: If voted out during daytime, reveal identity and survive (no nighttime wolf pursuit).
Villagers (x4): No night actions; may speak and vote during daytime.
The Evil faction (Wolves x4) wins by eliminating all Good roles ("Kill All Gods") or all villagers ("Kill All Civilians").
[All wolves eliminated = Good victory.]
The rules mirrored classic Beijing Masters tournaments. Lin Tian was relieved—this was his most familiar format.
If he drew a Wolf role, victory was within reach. He began strategizing.
Twelve beams of light lit the room, revealing players' nicknames and genders.
[Player 1] A pure-looking girl: long black hair, white dress.
[Player 2] A balding, overweight middle-aged man.
[Player 3] A curly-haired seductress in a red gown.
[Player 4] A frail, delicate man.
[Player 5] A bearded man with thick eyebrows.
[Player 6] Lin Tian's avatar: a slightly overweight middle-aged man.
[Player 7] A K-pop-style heartthrob.
[Player 8] A roguishly handsome "Wolf King" archetype.
[Player 9] A muscular man grinning at the camera.
[Player 10] A gullible-looking high schooler.
[Player 11] A motherly woman in an apron.
[Player 12] A pigtailed girl in overalls, smiling sweetly.
Livestream comments flooded in:
"These 12 look like easy prey."
"Is Player 6 that washed-up 'Wolf King'?"
"Ugly and a Wolf King? Lmao."
"The noob who always picks the wrong side. Zero improvement."
"Remember that show where he fought the Seer every round? Hilarious."
"Can't wait to watch him lose."
Luckily, players couldn't see the comments—otherwise, Lin Tian might've lost focus. After all, he'd once spent nights clashing with trolls, earning titles like "Uncancelable Wolf King" and "Debuted in Ruins."
[Special Rule: Defeated MVP advances to next round with 1 point. MVP chosen by anonymous player vote.]
The weight of deciding others' fates pressed on Lin Tian.
[Players, click to reveal your roles.]
Sitting at the table again, Lin Tian felt fate had returned his chips.
Five years ago, he'd betrayed his dreams and fans for survival.
Five years later, he had a chance to chase that dream again.
For his lonely father. For his own health.
To prove to his supporters: the Lin Tian they believed in was still here.
Heart racing, he clicked the screen.
His role flashed into view!