Pain Immunity: Worried the Villains Aren’t Twisted Enough-Chapter 10: Fear Clouds Judgment—Let’s Talk Business!

【Blank: So, from the very beginning of the game, this guy had no fear in his mind.】
【Blank: A rusted saw, boiling lava—none of it ever mattered to him. From the start, all he cared about was how to maximize his benefits in this game!】
【Blank: To act like this… an extreme level of greed, absolute confidence, and a ruthlessness toward himself...】
The player known as Blank typed his analysis bit by bit, his thoughts disjointed as if he was figuring things out as he spoke.
Since his messages appeared in the chat, the barrage of comments on Lu Ce’s screen had noticeably decreased. It seemed that everyone had paused to digest his breakdown.
Before, they had just been watching for entertainment.
But after hearing Blank’s words, they suddenly felt like they had been watching blind.
Bro, why are you like this? Everyone else is being dumb together, why can’t you just go with the flow?
Of course, some weren’t happy with his conclusions. After all, not everyone likes being called an idiot.
Immediately, a few dissenting voices popped up in the chat:
【: How are you so sure that’s what’s happening? What if he’s just a lunatic?】
【: Yeah! And isn’t the game host’s voice supposed to be like an automated system? How could it make a mistake in wording? Wouldn’t that mean someone is actually controlling it?】
Blank didn’t even bother responding to their stubborn denial.
In the real world, Blank sat in front of his screen, shocked as he analyzed the livestream in real time.
He was recording everything—every action, every decision Lu Ce made.
Because this wasn’t just a game.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—a chance to change fate and gain superhuman abilities.
He would become a player one day.
But he wasn’t going in blind.
He had chosen to gather intelligence first, to study the game’s mechanics, and most importantly—to observe the top players.
He never expected to stumble upon something this insane on his first deep dive.
"A player of this caliber… I need to find a way to connect with him. I need to build a relationship…"
Thinking this, Blank casually replied in chat:
【Blank: Believe what you want. I’m not saying I’ve figured out everything, but let’s just watch and see how this plays out.】
The debate continued in the chat, but Lu Ce didn’t bother reading any of it.
He had glanced once at the messages—
And then ignored them completely.
Right now…
He was still sawing his leg.
Like someone performing a satisfying task, or engaging in some fun hobby—
He wasn’t even in a rush.
Because he was farming Pain Points.
From the start until now, he had already racked up over twenty points.
For the first time, Lu Ce truly appreciated how useful his own leg was.
As long as he achieved Perfect Completion, nothing else mattered.
With Pain Points rising, what did a leg even mean?
Where else would he ever find an opportunity like this?
He himself didn’t feel pain or mental pressure, but the others?
They were breaking down.
The woman who had fainted earlier had woken up—
Only to immediately start vomiting uncontrollably.
The other players weren’t any better.
Most were drenched in sweat, faces pale, heads turned away, refusing to look at Lu Ce.
The sweltering heat, the life-or-death stakes, the sickening scene before them, and the deranged man calmly butchering himself—
It really felt like they had descended into hell.
【Chosen of Agony! Pain Points +1!】
【……】
After a while, Lu Ce realized that the Pain Points gain had slowed.
He was barely getting anything now.
That’s when he knew—
He had milked this as much as he could.
So, reluctantly, he "removed" his left leg.
Holding the blood-soaked severed foot in his hands, he examined it for a few seconds—
Then muttered, "Honestly, with this kind of performance, there should be some extra rewards, right…?"
"Regrowing a limb should require a better, higher-grade potion than just reattaching one… don’t you think?"
With that, he casually tossed the severed foot into the lava below.
"Haha! I cut it off!"
"Oi! You still there?! Didn’t you say cutting off my leg would let me escape?!"
His provocative voice echoed through the space, challenging the unseen game host.
But—
No response.
【……】
Just as Lu Ce thought he might have lost the bet, a voice finally spoke—
But this time, the mechanical tone was ice-cold.
The subtle human-like warmth it had carried before—
Was completely gone.
【Rule entry has been corrected.】
【Player "Lu Ce" has successfully exploited a system loophole.】
【Achievement Unlocked: System Exploiter (Epic).】
【Rewards will be distributed upon game completion.】
The name “Lu Ce” was distorted in the announcement.
Only he could hear his actual name—
To the others, it was just garbled audio.
And after issuing the reward, the system fell completely silent, as if it was afraid of getting tricked again.
Lu Ce didn’t care.
Beneath his mask, a satisfied grin formed.
Hanging upside down, he stretched leisurely.
"Ah… not bad, not bad. At least you’re not too stingy."
The only sound in the magma chamber was the bubbling lava.
Everyone else was stunned into silence.
No one had expected that this wasn’t some brainless masochist—
But a ruthless lunatic who would do anything for profit.
Their first-ever game, and they ended up in a scenario like this.
Against a player like this.
Meanwhile, the livestream chat had completely exploded.
Recalling Blank’s earlier analysis, everyone was struck by a rare, collective moment of speechlessness.
And then—
A chorus of sheer awe flooded the screen.
【: Absolute legend.】
【: The craziest f**king player I’ve ever seen.】
【: Bro just played 4D chess with the game itself.】
But as they gazed at the gruesome, jagged wound where his leg once was—
Very few felt admiration.
What they felt—
Was pure, undiluted fear.
Lu Ce, unfazed by their stares, took a deep breath.
And then—
He didn’t escape.
Instead—
He spoke again.
"Honestly, I don’t understand why you guys still don’t get it."
The remaining nine players flinched, confused.
"You’re all acting like this is life and death."
"Are you even paying attention? The lava is still rising."
"And tell me—what is this?"
Lu Ce shook the saw in his hand.
"You don’t think of this as a tool of pain and suffering, do you?"
"If this is a game, then this is a key item."
"And right now—"
"The only key item is in my hands."
"And none of you even tried to take it."
"Because of fear, you all avoided this saw."
"But fear clouds judgment."
"This ‘Hell Mode’ was almost too easy. I hope I get another chance like this in the future…"
With that, Lu Ce casually twirled the saw in his hand.
"Alright, enough talking."
"Who wants to cut their leg next?"
"Come on… let’s talk price."