Chapter 93: Let the Games Begin!

  The group sat in the cable car, arriving at the top of the Hyper Velocity Coaster in under ten minutes.

  The area had been cleared into a platform, paved with smooth cement, and surrounded by tall wire fences to prevent accidents.

  The rafts waited patiently in the calm part of the river, each tied to a post on the shore with thick iron chains.

  Ethan stood at the edge of the platform, peering down.

  The winding river channel was laid out before him.

  The last weight lifted off Ethan's shoulders; Cindy hadn't lied to him.

  Hyper Velocity Coaster was pretty average, apart from a slightly twisty river; nothing special.

  Yep, not too hard!

  I'm definitely going to ace this!

  "Let's get this show on the road!"

  Liam jumped onto a raft.

  The raft rocked, nearly throwing Liam face-first into it.

  Henry and Ryan landed lightly on the raft, showcasing their impressive footwork. They stood there like mountains, unmoving against the water's current.

  Cindy was the last to hop on.

  "Hold your horses, everyone! Put on your life jackets and safety gear!" Jake shouted.

  They donned their life jackets and clipped their safety belts to the raft.

  As long as the raft didn't capsize, they'd be safe from falling into the water, even in the strongest currents. At worst, they would just be a little disoriented.

  After ensuring everyone was secure, Jake went to the edge of the platform and released the chains holding the raft.

  "Have a nice ride!"

  "See you later!"

  Mike and Liam waved goodbye.

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  Free from the chains, the raft slowly floated downstream under the force of the water.

  The people on the raft started to feel the rocking beneath their feet, their bodies swaying irregularly.

  Liam struggled for a while before losing his balance and landing hard, yelling in pain.

  Cindy tried a few times and gave up.

  Henry and Ryan remained as steady as a rock.

  "Ryan, this is boring! I wish we'd stayed in the Death House," Henry complained.

  Ryan nodded, "This level of shaking isn't challenging us at all."

  They had been walking the cliffs carrying buckets of water since they were ten. This was a piece of cake for them.

  "Tell me about it! It's way too easy," Ethan chimed in, chuckling.

  Cindy didn't say anything, but everyone could see she was unenthusiastic.

  The raft sped up with the current, shaking even harder.

  Still nothing for Henry and Ryan.

  As for the other two, they were tossed back and forth, but the safety belts kept them secure.

  "It's kind of dull,"

  "Did the boss screw up this time?"

  Liam and Mike were chatting amongst themselves, each looking at the scene through binoculars on the platform's edge.

  "Dull?" Jake smiled faintly. "You just haven't noticed what's there. Maybe you should donate your eyes to someone who needs them!"

  Hearing that, they frantically peered through their binoculars, closely observing the river.

  The river twisted and turned, with weeds and jagged rocks lining the banks. Small creatures were scattered around: some drinking, some staring ahead.

  "No problem on either bank."

  "Is there something in the river?"

  Mike frowned, focusing his attention on the water.

  It was clear and sparkling in the sunlight.

  "Huh?" Liam said, "Mike, look at that section of the river downstream. There are black spots... are those rocks?"

  Mike stared intently. Sure enough, this part of the river was different.

  Black spots were visible in the rushing water.

  "It should be rock..."

  "Wait!"

  Just as Mike was about to agree, his pupils shrank.

  He saw some of the spots move.

  "They're moving!" Liam pointed out.

  They adjusted the magnification on their binoculars, zooming in.

  The next second, both of them gasped.

  "Croc... Crocodiles?!"

  "Holy crap, are you serious?"

  They were dumbfounded!

  Although they had seen these ferocious water beasts plenty of times online, this was their first time seeing them in real life.

  Each of these alligators could easily be called a giant.

  They were over ten feet long and one-story tall. The ground rumbled as they shifted their massive bodies, kicking up dust.

  Their open jaws were terrifying.

  Mike had no doubt that they could swallow an adult whole.

  "Holy moly!" Even Liam was trembling!

  He felt like a baby next to these crocs.

  Mike swallowed hard, scanning further downstream. Then he saw something that scared him even more.

  He saw a path cut through the jungle.

  The path was new, indicating recent passage.

  Following the trail, Mike found the culprit.

  It was a massive snake. Dozens of feet long and as thick as a barrel, crushing anything under its body.

  Mike thought he was ignorant for having that idea, if he saw a snake in front of them he would change his mind.

  After all, the snake only needed to pass through once to make a road.

  "Is this even legal?" Liam nearly pissed his pants. "I'd rather jump off than sit on that raft!"

  "This is insane!" Mike said, "Hope they don't scream too loud!"

  Jake grinned.

  This was just the beginning.

  There was more excitement to come!

  The people on the raft had no idea what they were about to face, as they remained immersed in the idea that they would 'school' the owner.