[Would you like to review your broadcast summary?]
— —
The translucent screen flickered back into existence.
I took my time to calm down, then said, "Yes."
The moment I spoke, the interface expanded.
— —
[Broadcast Summary]
Duration: 00:01:12
Peak Viewers: 1
Total Gifts Received: 1
Performance Evaluation: Poor
— —
"…Poor?"
My eyelids twitched.
I almost died earlier, but my performance was still considered poor?
— —
[Viewer Engagement: Low]
[Entertainment Value: Minimal]
[Survivability: Barely Acceptable]
— —
"You've got to be kidding me."
I let out a dry laugh.
"So nearly getting eaten alive isn't entertaining enough for you?"
For a second, I wondered if the system would respond.
It didn't.
Of course it didn't.
I exhaled slowly and focused.
Complaining wouldn't help.
Understanding would.
Also, now that I think about it, my performance really wasn't good. I was too panicked, too out of my wits.
'I must have looked like a loser.' I shook my head, not thinking much about it. I couldn't have acted otherwise when faced with such horror for the first time, that too completely unprepared.
"Show me the gift." I commanded.
— —
[Gift Log]
Minor Strength Boost (10 seconds) – Provided by Viewer '???:001'
— —
"Only ten seconds…"
I muttered. I would be lying if I wasn't a little disappointed, but seeing those ten seconds had saved my life, I erased the disappointment.
If the viewer hadn't gifted me this, or had done it even a moment later…
I glanced at the monster's claws that were sharp enough to tear through bone.
"…I'd be dead."
I shuddered as a chill ran down my spine.
Despite what it felt like, this wasn't a game.
There were no second chances.
But…
A slow smile formed on my lips.
"There are rewards."
Real ones.
Tangible ones.
Powerful enough to turn the tide of life and death.
My heartbeat quickened.
"If one viewer can do that…"
I once again asked myself this question.
Then what about ten?
A hundred?
A thousand?
Suddenly, the screen flickered again.
— —
[New Function Unlocked: Viewer Interaction]
[Viewer Interaction allows hosts to communicate with their audience in real-time.]
[Unlock more features by increasing your popularity.]
— —
"Popularity, huh."
So it really was like streaming. More viewers were the key.
Except instead of money or fame…
They granted me power.
I let out a low chuckle.
"Then I just have to entertain them."
The thought felt strange. Absurd, even.
I had to risk my life…
For the entertainment of an audience I couldn't even see.
"This is pathetic, but if it's what I have to do to survive whatever situation I'm in and grow powerful enough to control my fate, it's what I will do." I breathed out, determination flickering in my eyes.
— —
Drip!
A faint sound echoed through the cave.
Drip… drip…
Water?
No.
My expression froze.
It was not just water.
I slowly turned my head toward the deeper part of the cave, the exit.
There, the darkness seemed to deepen and stretch endlessly.
And from within it… something moved.
Ba-Dum!
'There are more.' My heart skipped a beat.
Growl!
As if to confirm my fear, a low growl echoed.
Then another. And another.
Gulp!
I unconsciously gulped down some saliva, my grip tightened around the blood-stained stone.
As I stared, shapes began to emerge from the darkness.
One.
Two.
Three.
Red eyes flickered open, one after another.
Watching.
Waiting.
Ba-Dum! Ba-Dum!
My heartbeats thundered in my ears.
'That last one wasn't the end, but just the beginning?' My expression hardened.
My body was already exhausted. The temporary boost was gone.
And now—I was facing, not one, but three monsters.
'Just perfect.' I licked my lips, a hint of madness appearing in my eyes.
Then… I thought of something and my eyes flashed.
This was a danger, but also an opportunity.
If I wanted power…
If I wanted to survive…
If I wanted to rise…
Then I couldn't just hide and hope to not face any dangers.
I had to perform, perform my best.
…
"Alright."
I straightened my back. Adjusted my grip. And looked straight into those gleaming eyes.
'Let's give 'em a show.'
— —
[Stream Starting…]
[Connecting to Audience…]
— —
The screen flickered.
— —
[Viewers: 3]
— —
'Yess.' My eyes gleamed and my heart pounded in excitement and anticipation when I saw the number of viewers.
— —
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer 'SilentWatcher' has entered the stream.]
[Viewer '???:001' has re-entered the stream.]
— —
'Good. 001 came back.' I sighed in relief. This was a good sign.
The monsters walked out and began to circle me.
Growl!
Low growls reverberated through the cave.
Step! Step! Step!
The monsters' emotionless, savagery-filled eyes occasionally flicked to their brethren's corpse as they began to move closer to me.
Closer, and closer.
— —
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator': Hm, interesting.]
[Viewer 'SilentWatcher': Let's see how long he can last.]
— —
As I had unlocked the function [Viewer Interaction], we could communicate now.
"This is better." I muttered.
"You guys want a good show?" My lips curled into a grin.
"I'll give you one."
— —
[Viewer 'BloodSpectator' is watching with interest.]
— —
'Then watch closely.' I shifted my stance. Lowered my center of gravity.
And waited.
A moment later, the first monster lunged.