Genius’s Godlike Game Broadcast-Chapter 100 : Escape Depends on Talent (3)

Escape Depends on Talent (3)
Lee Gyeongbok entered Competitive Mode and pressed Start Game.
[Searching for other escapees......]
As the system message appeared before his eyes, the chat window instantly lit up.
― He did it! He really did it!"
― He actually's doing this lolol"
― Straight into competitive right after the tutorial haha"
― I gotta admit, he's got real Purple-confidence lol"
― But does this even find a queue?"
The viewers expressed surprise and curiosity. Lee Gyeongbok's eyes, however, widened for a different reason.
"Huh? I can't choose a theme for this?"
Laughter spread through the chat window at his question.
― Why do I smell something naughty here?"
― A noob recognizes a noob when he sees one lol"
― Noob (tutorial in 5 minutes flat)"
― Competitive mode isn't something you pick and play, haha"
― It's random matching!"
― If you could choose, people'd just stomp with cleared themes, obviously"
Fortunately, there were Escapers fans among the viewers too. They explained how, unlike solo escape or co-op, competitive Mode assigns themes at random.
― It's pretty much PVP, so it even has an MMR-like thing"
― Yeah, your clear history and timings per theme get recorded"
― Just check the escapee's info and it's all there, I'm telling you"
― For real lmao, it tries to match with similar skill levels"
― Godple's a total newbie, so probably will only get matched with people with 0 clears too"
While Lee Gyeongbok was reading up on these viewer explanations, a 'thump' sound indicated that a match had been found.
"Ah, thank you for the info. The queue popped pretty fast."
Soon, three dark silhouettes appeared around him. Counting Gyeongbok, there were four people competing to escape.
"Hello!"
"Nice to meet you."
"Oh, it's a rematch with Indiana Kings-nim."
The three immediately greeted each other. Gyeongbok greeted them back brightly.
"Hello! This is my first time trying competitive, so please go easy on me."
At his greeting, the silhouettes immediately turned their heads.
"Huh? A newbie?"
"What? Seriously a newbie?"
"Whoa, it's true. Zero clears!"
They couldn't hide their surprised reactions. The viewers laughed at their expressions.
― Wow lol, they're all hardcore gamers!"
― What's up with this? Why is he matched with hardcore gamers?"
― The person with the fewest clears has five lol"
― 5, 17, 30 clears hahaha"
― Ahh, just means there aren't any true newbies left"
― Is it normal for the screen to reek like this?"
― eh"
― That fresh water scent is wild lolol"
― And looks like they even see each other often here haha"
Contrary to expectations, those matched turned out to have a lot of experience.
"Wait a minute. This person really has no play history at all?"
"PerfectPlay-nim? You only finished the tutorial?"
"Uh... but, why jump into competitive......"
Meanwhile, the other users must have checked Gyeongbok's info. The chat window burst into laughter again.
― 5252, are they that surprised by someone so pure!"
― Not just pure, he's practically class 1 spring water"
― But don't they know Purple?"
― Do you know Purple is here?"
― Escapers is a pretty niche genre after all"
― For real lol, isn't this ultra-hipster stuff?"
― World-class, but doesn't work locally?"
― Local logic haha"
― Even if it's Godple, he's gotta try hard lmao"
Gyeongbok frowned slightly as he observed the chat. He worried he might accidentally make a remark that would offend these Escapers fans.
To redirect attention, he decided to speak up.
"Yes, it's my first time. I heard competitive mode was tough, so I wanted to try it for the challenge."
At his words, all three sighed.
"No offense, but honestly, you should play solo or co-op before jumping in."
"Yeah, we just don't want you to burn out before you start having fun."
"There just aren't that many people playing our game as it is. It's super fun if it fits your taste, but competitive is another level."
― Hardcore gamers worried the newbie might leave—panic mode!"
― Haha, it's funnier because they're genuinely worried haha"
― Do these guys know almost ten thousand people are watching right now?"
― Honestly, there's probably more Purple viewers than there are competitive mode players lol"
― Would there even be ten thousand viewers if it weren't for Godple's broadcast lol"
Gyeongbok also smiled at their concern. The developers and playerbase clearly loved the game.
Still, he knew the match might dissolve if this kept up. Luckily, he had a card to play.
"No need to worry about me quitting. I even have the season pass."
It was the season pass the developers had gifted him. The other users recoiled, then let out exclamations.
"Oh, it's true?"
"Wow...! You bought the Ultimate too."
"What, not even many in the communities buy that."
After double-checking Gyeongbok's info, they finally relaxed. A 300,000-won investment meant he probably wouldn't quit that easily.
"Alright, then, let's start."
"Okay, sounds good."
"Sure, whatever. After trying competitive you'll probably want to solo anyway."
"Not gonna go easy on you just because you're a newbie, alright?"
With all four ready, the doors in the background began to shake.
― Lol, just because you're Kingbee doesn't mean you get a free win"
― There goes another innocent hardcore gamer, sacrificed once more T. T"
― Nobody ever knows with Escapers lol"
― Seriously, no matter how god-tier your physical is, brain-play's another story"
― Who knows what'll happen!"
― It's pure entertainment for us though!"
Eventually, as if the theme had been set, one of the shaking doors flew open. A flash of light, and the surroundings shifted.
[Pharaoh's Curse]
The hieroglyphs chiseled into the stone tablet translated into Korean, and a desert came into view. Towering above it was a colossal pyramid.
〈You and your colleagues have discovered and excavated a pyramid. Everything was overflowing with hope. Honor and wealth — it felt like all of it was within your grasp.〉
As a professional voice actor narrated, the scene shifted and the enormous stone chamber and the statue of a Pharaoh inside came into view.
〈But hope faded. The pyramid's owner would not forgive trespassers. That wrath descended upon you.〉
A thunderous crash sounded, and the surroundings went pitch black. Soon, flickering torches returned light to his vision.
〈To calm the Pharaoh's fury, a soul must be sacrificed. Not necessarily yours... but someone's.〉
Once the narration ended, control returned to the players.
― Ooh haha, it actually has a setting"
― This narrator's voice sounds really familiar?"
― Feels like something from a documentary haha"
― Wow lol, they actually put effort and budget into this"
― Pretty good for a K-game!"
― Even the lack of a gacha is a blessing, honestly lol"
While the viewers enjoyed the setting, Lee Gyeongbok quickly rolled his eyes around the room.
"I'll start exploring right away since it's competitive."
The stone chamber he was locked in contained quite a bit of stuff.
There were piles of sand, broken stone tablets, dirty bandages scattered about. It looked like gold and treasures had been buried here with him, and torches flickered on the walls.
There was even a structure in the center that looked distinctly altar-like.
― Wow lol, this is nothing like the tutorial—just the scale's totally different"
― Like how're you supposed to know what's important here?"
― I'd easily waste 10 minutes just spacing out in here"
― lmfao"
― If you turn on highlights though you can find things quicker"
― Oh yeah! Don't other people just use the highlight function?"
― Yeah, they're probably already grabbing stuff"
― Isn't this way too much of a disadvantage for him?"
The chat window grew gloomy. But Gyeongbok was different.
He had already figured out the items where spiritual energy was required, so he got moving immediately.
"I'll try piecing together the stone tablet fragments first."
He quickly gathered the broken stone tablet and its scattered pieces. It was like solving a jigsaw puzzle. The difference was that he had no idea what the completed image was supposed to look like.
― Is that the right call? Should he really be doing that now?"
― Did he learn hieroglyphics in advance or something?"
― lmfao where would you even learn that?"
― Even the sand piles look suspicious!"
― There's gotta be something hidden in there, right?"
― Already my brain's lagging out lolol"
― Forget that, check the treasure first!"
― Wow, the competitive maps here really are something else"
Lee Gyeongbok ignored the chat and just focused on the puzzle. He made his moves with no hesitation at all.
Soon, he held the assembled stone tablet in his hands.
And as he looked at the completed tablet, the hieroglyphs transformed into Hangul just like the theme's logo.
[The wavering darkness will swallow the sinner]
The translation was there, but it still needed to be interpreted.
The viewers' minds began whirring again.
― He already finished it?"
― Wow lol, that brain-work is crazy"
― That's all thanks to Perfect observation skills haha"
― Is this a hint? What's that supposed to mean?"
― The 'sinner' probably refers to an escapee, right?"
― Darkness? Don't you have to extinguish the torches or something?"
― Oh, could be. You might only see something when it's dark?"
― Haha, glow-in-the-dark mummy incoming!"
― Glow mummy logic lolol"
― No way! It says darkness swallows the sinner! That's a death flag!"
― Just spam lol for now"
The interpretations varied wildly. But Lee Gyeongbok paid no attention to the chat.
His spiritual energy was reading lingering thoughts, bringing him information.
"So that's what it is...!"
He realized immediately and turned his eyes. To the viewers, the entire process didn't even take ten seconds, so the chat filled with question marks.
― What? What did he figure out?"
― Did he get something?"
― Huh? He just sees it and knows instantly?"
― His brain works different from ours, seriously lol"
― His processing power is 5 times ours lolol"
― I'll just trust Godple!"
― (PerStamp icon)(PerStamp icon)"
Gyeongbok suddenly rummaged through the pile of treasure. The gold coins tumbled down and he picked up a decorative item.
It was an ornament shaped like a long snake.
― Oh, that's Apep?"
― Apep? What's that?"
― An evil god in Egyptian mythology, lol"
― Oh? Are you Egyptian?"
― What, just because you know foreign myths you're a foreigner lol"
― Is this related to the hint?"
While viewers speculated, Gyeongbok set the ornament on the altar. He took torches from around the room and placed them in front of the altar.
As the torches' light flickered, the altar cast a shadow shaped like a snake. Only after completing these actions did Gyeongbok finally speak.
"The swaying darkness refers to shadows. So I figured I'd need to use the torches."
― Perfect deduction ON!"
― Ooh lol, he's right"
― Oh, I needed to focus on the word 'sway'!"
― How does he just come up with that instantly?"
― (Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)"
The viewers nodded in realization, and Gyeongbok continued his explanation.
"The pharaoh is either a king or a god here, right? Most likely the latter — the narration said a soul has to be sacrificed, so the altar's probably the right place."
― Wow, he remembered that much?"
― Haha, I just zoned out during the intro"
― Me too, I thought it was just flavor text"
― So the hint was hidden all along?"
Gyeongbok nodded.
Even before he did anything, the shadow cast on the wall began to expand.
"Yeah, you have to create the shadow, but you have to figure out what to use for it. It clearly wasn't going to be the sand or bandages, so I skipped those and checked the treasures for something altar-worthy. As soon as I saw the snake, I remembered the line about 'swallowing the sinner.'"
― Swallowing the sinner? How does that connect?"
― Ah! I get it!"
― Wow lol, it all clicks once you hear the explanation"
― Snakes swallow their prey whole, just like that!"
― Whoa lol, that gave me actual chills"
― That's insane lolol"
― It all connects, damn"
― He saw a single line of text and that all flashed through his head?"
― Seriously, his brain-physical is legendary lol"
― Ah lol, this is what perfect's all about!"
With such a flawless and clear explanation, the chat filled with admiration. The shadow's eyes glowed red.
['PerfectPlay' has completed the ritual!]
['Apep's Curse' descends upon one escapee!]
The system message popped up. At the same time, the perspective shifted.
"What, already finished?"
A man who had only just finished piecing together his stone tablet looked up from a crouch. And his expression instantly turned pale.
It was the sound of a snake hissing.
"N-no way... Is it me? Is it?"
He sprang to his feet in disbelief and looked around. From cracks in the stone wall, snakes began to slither out.
― ng?"
― Lololol congrats, you're the winner!"
― Pharaoh: Rocket-curse express delivery, delightful^^"
― Wow haha, the hardcore gamer only just finished his tablet, what a difference"
― Bye!"
― Is this Escapers' style kill-cam?"
― The devs really know their stuff lol"
The viewers were thoroughly amused. Gyeongbok, though he didn't laugh outright, couldn't help but smile.
Victory always feels sweet.
"Wait, but he's a newbie! How did he...?"
Frantically, the bitten man rushed toward a torch. But those steps didn't last long.
"Argh!"
With a whoosh, a viper bit him. He fell forward like a stiff board. Snakes slithered over, and the screen darkened.
['NotLeavingHome' 's soul has become a sacrifice.]
The system message confirmed his elimination.
― Died utterly bewildered until the end lol"
― But I'd be so salty if that happened to me haha"
― KOed by a newbie, not even another hardcore gamer lol"
― He's still a newbie, yeah"
― Thought it was fresh water, turned out to be toxic waste huh?"
― Did you know fish can't live in water that's too clean?"
The viewers were satisfied.
The scene returned to Gyeongbok's stone chamber, and control returned.
"Oh, the room's a little different now?"
It seemed to be a prompt to find the next curse, as the object placements and composition had changed. Just as Gyeongbok was about to act again—
'... What is this?'
Sudden, chilling instinct. A threat he hadn't expected in Escapers.
'It's not just one... there are hundreds!'
He quickly looked around. Simultaneously, a system message appeared.
['Indiana Kings' has completed the ritual!]
['Scarab's Curse' descends upon one escapee!]
Another escapee after Gyeongbok had completed their ritual.
― Whoa?"
― Wow;;; this is what 30 clears does for you"
― This guy's brain skills aren't lacking either haha"
― That's the power of years of experience!"
― I'm more shocked Godple was faster than that guy lol"
― Seriously haha, that guy even used highlights!"
The viewers, seeing the message, realized they too could hear the sound of scuttling, just like the previous player had heard hissing.
― I mean, godple still is a newbie T_T"
― Finding the answer quickly isn't always best in competitive"
― You gotta time your completion just right"
― For real haha, it was a one-in-three chance, but Godple knocked one out, so now it's a fifty-fifty"
― Too bad, so close"
― Still, getting first kill on your first try is amazing!"
An experienced Escapers viewer consoled Gyeongbok in the chat.
From the walls crawled a swarm of black beetles. Gyeongbok's face hardened.
― Ah T_T he played well, just unlucky"
― Can't complain about a 50% chance"
― You can hear Qdari guy's sigh of relief!"
― That full bow was a godly move haha"
― This is genuinely unfair lol"
― Seriously, he played flawlessly"
― Even Godple can't beat pure luck..."
― Thought there wasn't gacha, but here's the gacha lol"
― Lol, k-game quality inescapable?"
― What a crap game lmao"
The viewers could sense defeat. Since it wasn't a matter of skill, it felt even more unfair.
But Gyeongbok felt differently.
"No, I think this game's well made."
He grabbed the torches on the floor with both hands and stepped up onto the altar. Beetles spilled from the walls and swarmed the floor.
They targeted Gyeongbok, crawling up the altar, some even spreading wings to fly at him.
Just when it seemed that this was the end—
"You know, looks like you don't have to just die."
Gyeongbok smiled and batted away the flying beetles. With a loud smack, they burst and fell.
But that was only the beginning. There were simply too many beetles to count as they swarmed from all sides.
Yet, as his threat-sensing heightened, Gyeongbok's focused instincts found the answer.
With dull, rhythmic thuds, beetles burst like firecrackers.
The chaos filled the chat window with question marks. Who could even survive in a situation like this?
But the viewers knew the answer.
― ???"
― What? He can actually kill them?"
― Whoa haha, for real?"
― No way;; is this actually possible?"
Defeating the beetles, Gyeongbok grinned calmly. So many, but compared to EldenSoul, this was child's play.
"If I take care of all of these, I think I can survive."
If the threat could be detected, it could be overcome. He tried, and it worked.
― More brain-physical on display?"
― Haha, if it's Godple, of course it works"
― That's a perfect Q-tube highlight right there!"
― Newbie? (Elden-only sword)"
― Why is this a rhythm game all of a sudden?"
― Is he some kind of drum master?"
― Man, escapers really is a god-tier game"
― For real, even has hidden mini-games"
― Mini-game only Godple can find lol"
― Playing a whole different game, as usual!"
― Insane hahaha, so much fun lol"
― Ha! Pharaoh guys, you didn't see this coming, did you!?"
― Escape (physical)"
Others couldn't, but for Lee Gyeongbok—he could.
After all, he's Purple.
***
**Glossary of New Names, locations, skills, and Techniques**