FLME Ch30: Battle Royale Recording

The livestream lasted only one hour. Even though the netizens were shrieking and hollering, begging the Melon King to chat a little longer, Yu Wen knew full well they were just running their mouths.

“You guys are really just hyping me up out of habit. It’s not like you actually like me that much,” Yu Wen said with a touch of pride. “Xiao Yu understands the entertainment industry very well now.”

After being exposed that day, he had spent several grueling days doing his homework!

“If you put it that way, I’m definitely not leaving.”

“A hundred pounds of body weight, two hundred pounds of sheer defiance—you think you can read me like a book?”

“This position of Empress at the Imperial Court is mine to keep! (Cyber wooden fish: tap, tap, tap)”

“Heh (smirks villainously), you little rascal, you’ve successfully ignited my competitive streak.”

“Fine, just you wait. I’m sticking with you all the way until you blow up, take over the world, and shatter the entire universe!”

After the stream ended, Yu Wen rested at home for a few days. On the Sunday evening right before Monday, he picked up his small suitcase and set out on this tense, thrilling journey.

Battle Royale was officially rolling!

Having gone through one variety show already, Yu Wen coordinated smoothly with the production crew, recording part of his pre-show interview inside the car.

The destination for this first recording was on the outskirts of a neighboring city. The exact location had not been announced beforehand. After the crew settled him into a hotel, the styling team came knocking early the next morning.

Battle Royale had always carried an aura of mystery, never bothering to introduce or familiarize guests with each other beforehand like typical shows. Never mind meeting them—Yu Wen had only learned the names of the other permanent cast members from the PD’s official Weibo announcement; he didn’t even have their contact information.

Taking the production team’s car up to the mountainside, Yu Wen was greeted by an unexpected face.

Jian Heng waved at him with burning enthusiasm.

Yu Wen: “?”

The guests present had already completed their styling. On the open ground before them stood only him and Jian Heng. Jian Heng wore a rather scruffy-looking medieval outfit, deliberately distressed at the seams to appear dusty and weathered, and cradled a lute in his arms.

Walking closer, Yu Wen asked, “Weren’t you supposed to film a dating show?”

Jian Heng beamed cheerfully. “It went belly-up.”

Yu Wen: “…” Is that something to be happy about?

“Even though the dating show fell through, I managed to snag a guest spot on Battle Royale! I won’t say who just leveled up their tier, but Xiao Yu, you’re the true hero here!” Jian Heng thumped his chest in deep gratitude, his eyes shining as he paid him a compliment: “Besides, Xiao Yu, you look insanely handsome today!”

Yu Wen looked down at his outfit.

In Battle Royale, a guest’s costume was usually tied to their assigned role. The role cards had been drawn online by the staff two weeks in advance, giving the styling team ample time to adjust and craft additions so the costume fit each artist perfectly.

A fitted vest and tall boots accentuated his tall, upright posture. Wrapped around his waist was an intricate harness of leather belts, a gleaming badge was pinned to his chest, and slung across his left hip was a sword. Because it hindered his movement, he had just unbuckled it; grazing his fingers over the hilt, he could feel the ruby embedded in the crossguard.

A cloak draped over his shoulders, its tassels cascading along the folds.

Yu Wen figured his identity today was either a prince or a valiant warrior.

And the medieval-style classical castle standing behind him left no doubt as to the world-building he had guessed.

It truly lived up to its reputation as a lavish, money-burning variety show.

Jian Heng sized him up, stroking his chin. “Looks like you’re the visual center of this episode. My buddy is truly something else… But with one of us wielding a sword and the other clutching a guitar, what do we do if we can’t run today?”

Both of them had done their research: NPCs would pop up constantly throughout Battle Royale. A single touch would shave off a massive chunk of their health bar, and once the bar hit zero, it meant instant “death.”

“Guitar?” Yu Wen’s focus drifted as he glanced in astonishment at the lute in Jian Heng’s arms. “A guitar only has six strings.”

The one in your hands has far too many to count at a glance.

“Huh? I thought it was just a variation of a guitar. What’s a lute?”

Yu Wen choked for a moment.

Jian Heng had sounded so certain that for a split second, Yu Wen had almost doubted his own eyes. Turns out this gege was simply spouting nonsense…

“A lute—a solo instrument that took Europe by storm during the Renaissance.” Yu Wen weighed his words before summing it up briefly: “…In short, it’s a difficult plucked string instrument, favored as a companion piece by medieval wandering bards.”

Jian Heng carefully counted the strings. “Whoa, eleven.” He said, “You know so much! Can you play it?”

Yu Wen hesitated. “A little bit.”

Back in college, he had picked it up casually from a musically talented classmate, but never mastered it. Having not touched one in years, he had forgotten most of it.

Jian Heng’s eyes lit up, just about to ask him for a tune, when the car carrying the third guest pulled up.

Another familiar face.

Dressed in an elaborate bell-shaped hoop skirt, Tong Li stepped out of the car and offered them a bright smile. “Hello, hello! Hey there, guys.”

Tong Li was also a newly signed regular for this season. On Mountain Courtyard, Fenghua, Legend of the Immortal Sect. Rise! Best Actor, her role as the resident brainiac bargaining with the production team had netted her plenty of resources. Among the other four regulars, she was the only one who had previously worked with Yu Wen; the presence of an acquaintance made him relax instinctively.

Soon after, the remaining three guests arrived one by one.

Two of the regulars this season were familiar faces from the first two seasons: veteran national MC Fan Xiangyang, and top-tier young actor Daniel Lee. The latter was a quarter Scottish, beloved by viewers for his sharp, handsome features and his deep commitment to his character cards each episode—he would even intentionally alter his speech patterns to fit his assigned persona.

The other was Yi Ming, a rising young starlet who had surged in popularity over the past few years, bringing her own massive traffic.

The production team did not leave much time for socializing. After exchanging brief nods and greetings, the crew blindfolded them with black cloths and escorted them into the castle behind them.

This ancient castle stood halfway up a mountain deep in the forest, enveloped by towering trees that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Upon arriving, Yu Wen had quietly taken in its exterior—desolate, dilapidated. The clock tower had long stopped ticking, its hour hand missing; the stone walls were weathered and peeling, and even the outer perimeter fences were choked with cobwebs and mottled with rust.

It looked like an abandoned ruin uninhabited for ages.

The staff led them to their designated spots, settled them in, and slipped away quietly.

Bzzzt… Bzzzt…

A crackling broadcast echoed inside the room. Yu Wen pulled off his blindfold and surveyed his surroundings. To his surprise, unlike the bleak chill of the outside, the castle interior was bright and splendid. This was likely a study; well-stocked bookshelves stood in the corner, and he found himself seated at a desk. To his left sat a brass bird ornament, strikingly lifelike, with rubies for eyes that glinted with an eerie sheen.

The broadcast emanated from a corner where a small loudspeaker hung.

“Bzzzt… Welcome to the Dragon’s Castle, dear guests… Welcome…”

The voice was low and raspy, flat as a machine, yet beneath it lurked a faint, indiscernible malice.

“In the twelfth year of William I’s reign, a band of brave heroes ventured into the castle deep within the dense forest, searching for traces of the Princess. Great champions, you are heroes hand-picked by the King. The hero’s blade is unmatched in sharpness; the Grand Archmage can stand alone against ten thousand soldiers; the resilient dwarf will never bend before iron hooves; and the wise elf has mastered the most profound healing magic…

The Dragon’s Castle is rife with peril, and ghosts are watching you. Brave heroes, the path to recovering the Princess is fraught with danger…”

Yu Wen tilted his head slightly—he could hear echoes drifting down the corridor outside. That meant the announcement wasn’t played solely for him, but for all the “guests” across the castle.

“The road ahead is uncharted; everything is your enemy.”

—That was the final line of the broadcast. Unlike the narrative exposition before it, this felt much more like a warning.

As the broadcast cut off, Yu Wen locked eyes with the brass bird on the desk. Tapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair, he reviewed the rules of Battle Royale in his mind.

In each episode, every guest assumed a distinct role. At the start, only bare-bones clues were given: their costume, the decor around them upon waking, personal items… all gave general hints about their persona in that episode’s script. But knowing who you were was far from enough. As the recording progressed and more clues were unlocked, guests would piece together their characters’ backstories. In the end, victory came down to who held the most information.

Escaping required meeting two prerequisites: first, unlocking one’s complete storyline; second, keeping one’s health above twenty percent.

While completing tasks and unraveling their story, guests would face continuous NPC attacks. The health bar representing their life would drop steadily; falling to twenty percent meant they could no longer escape, and dropping to zero meant outright death.

There was only one way to restore health: hunt down your designated “prey.”

Tucked inside their storylines lay a hidden “hunting chain.” Your identity profile would reveal who served as the prey capable of providing you “nourishment” once your health sank below twenty percent.

Typically, the hunting chains of all guests linked together to form a closed loop.

Under such high-stakes conditions, knowing your storyline was paramount.

Yu Wen glanced at the back of his hand. Across his black fingerless glove, three blue gauge bars pulsed with fluorescent light. The bar closest to his thumb had already depleted by nearly half.

Why is my health dropping so fast this time? He furrowed his brows in confusion.

Beyond NPC attacks, basic survival drained health as well—meaning the bar ticked down even if you simply sat still.

Under such rules, “time is life” was made brutally literal.

Yu Wen stood up and surveyed the space. The room where they woke up generally represented “home,” harboring a wealth of identity clues.

To avoid being chased out by an NPC and unable to return, he resolved to turn the entire room upside down before stepping out the door.

[Day -7]

We journeyed across mountains and rivers, following the clues left by the Princess until we found this castle.

Its words are terrifying; whether they are true or false remains unknown. Just in case, I have decided to document my discoveries.

…

[Day -6]

Ghosts are everywhere. The Grand Archmage has been injured. Time stands still here; his wounds refuse to heal.

Blood is gushing out. I must find a way to counter this immediately, or he will bleed to death!

…

[Day -5]

We found traces of the Princess! She is inside this castle, without a doubt!

…

[Day -4]

We rescued the Princess.

But the Grand Archmage is dead.

…

[Day -3]

Despairing news… The magic laid upon this castle is as colossal as an unending mountain range… Without the Grand Archmage, we are powerless to break through.

…

[Day -2]

To save the dwarf, the elf sacrificed their life.

I must lead them out! Only then will I honor my fallen companions!

O invincible hero! Draw your sword once more, countless times over, and shatter the veil before you!

…

[Day -1]

We cannot get out.

It was a journal resting on the desk, spanning only a few brief pages. The handwriting was neat, edged with a hurried scrawl. Flipping through, one could see several analytical notes regarding the castle.

The broadcast had mentioned that the entire castle belonged to the “Dragon,” and all of them were merely “guests.” Thus, Yu Wen could not possibly be the true master of this study. Yet for some unknown reason, “he” had lingered here, leaving behind numerous traces.

A quill and an ink bottle lay haphazardly to his right, a dozen opened books sat stacked on the desk, and a tall bookcase stood slightly ajar, its contents hastily shoved in rather than neatly restored.

—”He” had stayed in this study, scouring the library’s collection to find a way to break the magical barrier.

Yu Wen paused briefly, then started from the desk, briskly searching through every drawer in the room to get a general sense of what was inside before stepping over to the bookcase.

Before skimming the books, he instinctively glanced at the health bar on the back of his hand—the first segment had nearly hit rock bottom.

Wait. That’s way too fast. Something’s wrong.

In theory, their health bars were designed to sustain twenty-four hours of basic survival.

Yu Wen turned back around, his eyes sweeping across the entire room once more.

Nothing looked different from when he first laid eyes on it: low cabinet, desk, cluttered surface, brass ornament…

His gaze suddenly froze, locking squarely onto the brass bird.

When he had been sitting at the desk, the bird was staring directly into his eyes. Why was it still staring straight at him now that he had moved over to the bookcase?

“Ghosts are watching you.”

Is the ghost… a bird?

Yu Wen shelved the thought for a moment, snatched a dust cloth from the tall cabinet, and tossed it right over the bird’s head.

The crimson stare vanished, leaving only a small mound on the desk showing where it sat.

There were about sixty books on the shelves, plus a dozen or so sprawled across the desk, totaling over seventy volumes. Yu Wen decided to speed-read through them.

There was a knack to scanning books quickly: title first, table of contents second, preface third, and then picking potentially critical chapters from the contents to skim. Following this routine allowed him to file away all clues in his mind without making later retrieval difficult, while also patching up his somewhat lacking grasp of Western fantasy tropes.

Twenty minutes later, he checked his health bar.

A sliver of health remained in the first segment.

The drain was dramatically slower than before. It was practically certain that the bird was the culprit.

With that realization, Yu Wen cradled the books and glanced over his shoulder.

…The dust cloth lay on the floor. The brass ornament on the desk was gone.

Holding the books in one arm, Yu Wen slung the cumbersome cross-hilted sword over his shoulder and scanned everything in sight. There was no trace of the bird.

Where did it go?

A faint chill brushed the back of his neck. Guided by pure instinct, Yu Wen whipped around.

Clang—crack—!

The blade clipped the brass bird with a dull thud. The mechanical creature slammed into the wall, its brass wings flapping stiffly in a futile struggle against fate—

Clatter. It crashed to the floor.

Silence.

Yu Wen: “…”

Do I have to pay for broken props?

He stole a discreet glance toward the camera in the corner of the room, behind which the executive PD and a whole team of crew members were definitely seated right now. Feeling slightly guilty, Yu Wen shifted the sword off his shoulder and held it properly in his hands like a well-behaved student.

Looking down at the half-dead brass bird on the floor, he hesitated, then decided to attempt a rescue.

He extended the tip of the scabbard, gingerly poking the little yellow bird.

The very next second—snap!

The little bird and the scabbard tip clamped tightly together with a magnetic pull.

Yu Wen: “?”

The bird could fly on its own, so it wasn’t surprising that it was an electronic device, nor was it surprising that electronics had magnetic components… but what did that have to do with the tip of a leather scabbard?

Did the production team install some kind of special device in the scabbard?

Yu Wen pried the little yellow bird off and squeezed the tip of the scabbard… It was solid.

He extended the scabbard again. From about ten centimeters away, the little bird snapped right back onto it with a click.

He pried it off, tried again… Repeating this four or five times, Yu Wen finally confirmed that there was indeed a special device inside the scabbard tip that created a magnetic attraction with the little bird.

He suddenly realized: this was an exploit.

Assuming this brass bird was today’s NPC—the “ghost” mentioned in the broadcast—then he didn’t need to fear being hunted by it at all. As long as he stayed out of wide-open spaces, the ghost would have to draw close to scan him, and he could use this sword… to arrest it on the spot.

Realizing this, Yu Wen slowly raised his eyes and looked straight into the camera in the corner.

He flashed an awkward yet polite smile.

Behind the lens, the executive director and the crew members realized the exact same thing.

A dead silence fell over the entire control room.