Chapter 469: Chapter 469: I’ll Tie You Up Tight
"Huff…"
Xiaoxiao took a deep, nervous breath.
He was currently sitting in the front row of the Ice Demon Serpent roller coaster, with a few people accompanying him on his left, right, and behind him. Across from him, the remaining play-along staff were seated on the Blazing Serpent, staring wide-eyed at each other, all visibly tense.
The most awkward part was that the play-along staff in the Flame Knight City were all dressed in knight attire. Sitting together, Xiaoxiao's wizard robe stood out like a sore thumb, as if a traitor had infiltrated the knights!
Since the "Shield of Courage" was a dual-track roller coaster, unlike the single-track coasters in other areas, it required both the left and right cars to launch simultaneously to operate properly.
The amusement park staff carefully checked everyone's seatbelts and safety equipment. When they reached the row behind Xiaoxiao, he overheard someone whispering, "Tighten my seatbelt a bit more."
The amusement park employee replied, "Don't worry, bro. I'll tie it tight. You won't fall."
Xiaoxiao almost burst out laughing.
The previously tense atmosphere was instantly lightened.
"Ding ding ding!!!" The warning bell rang.
The track began to move slowly, gradually climbing higher. The serpent scales on either side slid backward, giving the illusion of climbing up the body of a snake.
"This roller coaster is climbing pretty slowly!"
Xiaoxiao looked at the scenery on either side. Since the track was designed to replicate the shape of a serpent's body, the initial ascent was gentle, not the kind of steep climb you'd expect. It felt more like winding up a mountain road.
It wasn't particularly scary, but it was definitely making him dizzy…
He could even hear the play-along staff chatting softly.
Even so, Xiaoxiao, the survivalist, didn't dare let his guard down!
He took a deep breath, gripped the handrails tightly, and let out a piercing scream!
"Ahhh…!!!!!!!"
The person next to him shuddered, looking at Xiaoxiao in horror.
Bro, it's just the beginning. Do you really need to scream like that?
"Sir, you shouldn't keep screaming. It'll make you lightheaded."
Xiaoxiao's heart sank: You're too naive…!
If I don't scream now, you'll be the ones screaming later!
As Xiaoxiao's screams grew louder, the roller coaster picked up speed, climbing at a terrifying pace.
After navigating the last large loop, the roller coaster suddenly surged forward!
The opposing wind slammed into Xiaoxiao's face, choking his scream and forcing it back down his throat.
Damn… isn't this speed a bit too fast?!
Xiaoxiao's mind went blank, his hands and feet icy as he sat in his seat, gripping the handrails for dear life. He felt like a firework launched into the sky, spinning 1080 degrees along the serpent's body track, soaring toward the serpent's head. If it weren't for the heavy seatbelts and safety measures, the sharp turns would have flung him out.
"Holy crap, this is terrifying."
"Why did it speed up so suddenly? No warning at all!"
"Damn, damn, damn! Do we really need this much excitement? It was just winding along, and now it's shooting straight up at a vertical angle!"
"Just watching the video makes me want to throw up."
The live stream viewers were experiencing the roller coaster from a first-person perspective. Though they weren't physically on the ride, the sensation was just as intense.
As the roller coaster climbed higher, Xiaoxiao's heart raced faster.
"It's coming!! The most intense part is about to begin!"
Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
Since the gap between the two serpents was nearly 50 meters, the roller coaster track was one-way. It couldn't slide all the way down; it had to reach the peak before plunging back down. That's when the weightlessness and spinning would be at their strongest.
But before he could mentally prepare for the drop, the roller coaster shot out of the track, flying toward the "Shield of Courage" suspended in mid-air.
"Ahhhhhhh…!"
"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!"
The piercing screams erupted instinctively from his throat.
At this moment, not only Xiaoxiao but even the play-along staff turned pale, letting out pig-like squeals.
"Did we derail???"
Xiaoxiao's mind went blank, feeling like his heart was about to stop.
Even worse, the roller coaster on the opposite track also shot out of the serpent's mouth at the same time.
"Holy crap! What's going on with this roller coaster?"
"I'm scared stiff just watching through the screen."
"Final Destination!?!"
"Did the machine break?"
"If these two cars collide, everyone's done for!!"
"Damn, someone call the police!"
The live stream viewers were utterly terrified by the scene before them, with some even suggesting calling the police.
Just as Xiaoxiao thought they were about to collide and meet their doom,
The roller coaster soared through the air, passing through the silver ring of the "Shield of Courage."
The opposing air currents created a powerful repulsion as the two roller coasters crossed paths. Xiaoxiao felt like he was about to flip over mid-air. Before he could react, they plunged into the opposite serpent's track, descending at an almost vertical angle.
The icy-blue track whizzed past his eyes. Xiaoxiao felt like he was bungee jumping, his butt almost lifting off the seat, with only the shoulder harness holding him down, providing a last sense of security.
"Damn, this design is genius!"
"I thought the roller coaster had derailed, but I didn't expect the high-altitude track around the Shield of Courage to be transparent."
"Yeah!! I never thought we'd get the shield this way!"
"But don't you think passing through the Shield of Courage felt like a lion jumping through a hoop in a circus?"
"…You're toxic!"
While the live stream viewers excitedly discussed the roller coaster's design,
Xiaoxiao clung to the seatbelt, screaming until his throat felt like it would tear.
The roller coaster now felt like a spinning top that had been whipped, spinning faster and faster while continuously climbing and descending. The twisting, tilting turns made it feel like you could be flung out at any moment.
"This serpentine roller coaster track is going to be the death of me."
"Mom, I want to live."
"Damn, my heart's stopped beating."
After what felt like the longest 2 minutes and 40 seconds of his life,
"Brothers, I survived…!"
Xiaoxiao stepped off the roller coaster, weakly giving a victory sign before collapsing onto a nearby bench.
"Listen to me, brothers. Don't scream on roller coasters like this."
"The wind at high altitudes is strong. If you scream, your mouth will get dry and sore. It's really uncomfortable."
Xiaoxiao's voice was hoarse, clearly strained.
"Huff… In summary, it was a blast!"
"And I'm very, very, very satisfied with the safety measures at Lion Lake Castle Amusement Park!"
"I don't know if you've ever ridden a roller coaster that only secures your lower body."
"Once, Huashao and I rode one in Yin'er City that only secured our legs. It was genuinely terrifying. The whole time, it felt like my upper body was going to fly out."
"Especially when it flipped upside down and plunged. I tried to grab the safety bar, but it was fixed to my legs, so I couldn't reach it."
"Imagine plunging down with nothing to hold onto… I couldn't even scream!"
As Xiaoxiao spoke, he still looked visibly shaken.
"Host, I get you!! I've been on that kind of roller coaster too. It scared me so much my legs went weak."
"I've ridden one like that too! I remember desperately grabbing the seatbelt on my legs. My hands were red when I got off."
"I rode one that only secured the lower body during the New Year. It was super unsettling, and I almost twisted my neck."
The live stream comments flooded in, each sharing their own harrowing experiences.
"Wizard, congratulations on successfully seizing the Shield of Courage. We wish you a pleasant journey ahead."
The amusement park employee enthusiastically handed over a red knight card.
The card had a matte texture, adorned with an ornate sword and shield. In the center was a silver shield.
"Alright, I've got the Shield of Courage. Now, what's next?"
Xiaoxiao took a moment to recover, then stood up, his gaze landing on the giant silver sword at the center of Flame Knight City.
As the most central and dazzling structure in the city, that silver sword looked intimidating.
"But this hotel boss doesn't play by the rules…"
Xiaoxiao stared at the distant sword, deep in thought.
In Crazy Wizard City, the more you screamed, the safer you were.
But in Flame Knight City, the attractions seemed to attack indiscriminately.
Whether you screamed or not, they tortured you.
It was hard to find the right balance.
After some thought, Xiaoxiao decided to head to the restroom first.
Whether to scream or not, he'd figure it out later!
…
There wasn't much to see when a guy went to the bathroom.
Taking advantage of this brief moment, a bunch of viewers rushed back to Huadu's main stream.
As soon as they entered the Magic Century Theme Park side stream, they were overwhelmed by the sea of people.
"Wow, so many people!"
"The other amusement park lets you play as soon as you arrive. The lines here are insane."
"Damn… Xiaoxiao has already cleared Crazy Wizard City, and Huadu is still waiting in line?"
"Don't talk nonsense, commenter."
"Huadu was about to get on the ride, but the park suddenly announced it needed maintenance and temporarily closed. Huadu had to find another ride and start waiting again."
"Huashao should just go to Lion Lake Castle Amusement Park with Xiaoxiao."
"Yeah, the attractions there are super fun, story-driven, and there's no waiting. You can play as soon as you arrive."
Huadu looked at the comments on his phone, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
The live stream viewers had forgotten that the original purpose was to virtually tour the Magic Century Theme Park. Instead, their attention was entirely focused on Lion Lake Castle Hotel.
"I'd like to leave, but I can't get out…" Huadu said helplessly, holding up his phone.
"Damn, you're truly stuck between a rock and a hard place."
"Honestly, unless you can perform some kung fu and leap over people's heads, it's really hard to get out."
"Even if you could step on people's heads to get out, they wouldn't be able to chase you…"
"Xiaoxiao's back! Everyone, come back to the stream!!"
Though many were still interested in the Magic Century Theme Park, Huadu's stream showed nothing but endless lines of people.
So, when someone mentioned Xiaoxiao was back from the bathroom, everyone quickly switched back to Lion Lake Castle Hotel.
Even so, many viewers left a wave of virtual gifts as encouragement and support for Huadu before leaving.
"Damn… they left so quickly. Couldn't they stay a bit longer?"
Watching tens of thousands of viewers flood in and out,
Huadu leaned against the queue railing, sighed helplessly, and continued waiting.
…
"Ah, that's better! I just came back from the Magic Century Theme Park. It's packed with people, way too noisy."
"This place feels much more comfortable."
"Exactly!"
"Here, you can leisurely admire the buildings along the streets. At the Magic Century Theme Park, it's all about queuing. Everyone's running, and if you're slow, you'll end up at the back of the line."
Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao was now standing in front of the giant silver sword.
**"The Sword of Fearlessness:"**
**"A sacred one-handed sword forged by the elves, sealed in the Sea of Flames by the dark wizard Vikam,"**
**"Only the bravest and most fearless warrior can leap into the Sea of Flames and pull out the holy sword."**
…
Damn!
Do you really need to make a drop tower ride this realistic?!
Xiaoxiao sat nervously on the drop tower, anxiously looking down at the ground, almost cursing out loud.
Beneath him, a deep red sea of flames burned fiercely in the depths of the earth. The hilt of the sealed silver sword was embedded in the molten rock, as if waiting for someone to leap into the flames and retrieve it.
Xiaoxiao had seen this kind of 3D ground effect before.
Many artists create 3D paintings on flat surfaces, creating illusions of abysses, staircases, or holes.
But those paintings were usually limited in scope.
Though startling at first glance, they were static.
The scene beneath his feet, however, was alive!!
And whatever effect the hotel had used, sitting on the Sword of Fearlessness drop tower, Xiaoxiao could even feel waves of heat rising from below. In no time, sweat was dripping from his forehead.
"Damn, this 3D effect is way too real!"
"It feels like there's actual hellfire below, and it's even flowing."
"Vikam clearly doesn't want to give anyone a chance!"
"In the past, seals would have the sword hilt sticking out of the rock, at least giving people a chance to pull it out."
"But Vikam sealed the hilt in the molten lava, leaving only the tip exposed. You'd have to jump in to get the sword."
"This old schemer…"
"After all these years, I've finally met a villain with brains!"
"…Damn, I think I'm starting to like this villainous wizard!!!"
Xiaoxiao: ????
What's the point of liking an old geezer?!!!
Isn't the real schemer the hotel boss who created this amusement park's world view?!!!