Well, most didn’t think it would go down this route. They weren’t complaining, though. Faze’s question just turned the heat up!
However, Zeno answered without any hesitation or even a sliver of doubt.
“I’ve never dated an actress,” he said flatly.
People looked at one another, unsure whether to gasp, laugh, or clap.
“Oh, damn,” someone muttered under their breath.
Faze tilted his head with narrowed eyes, not expecting his answer. “How do we even know if you’re telling the truth?” he challenged.
“If I had his face, he would have dated ten actresses by now,” another player whispered into their mic.
– No way he said that so casually.
– ZENO IS COLD AS FUCK
– I believe him tbh. He looks unbothered.
– RISA, U GOOD??
– Faze is a sniper both in-game and out of it.
Risa let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She didn’t realize how tense she’d been since she stood next to Zeno. Somehow, just hearing his answer gave her comfort.
“Since you were asked, it’s your turn now,” MC Tiny said with a grin, enjoying the tension.
Zeno’s gaze scanned the circle. His eyes landed on a popular streamer in his mid-twenties who had once been involved in a controversy for chatting with a minor. It had been cleared, but Zeno still found it very, very strange.
Zeno tilted his head.
“How young do you like them?” he asked, calm as ever.
The circle exploded in noise.
– Oh.
– Wait…
– Did he just?
– OH MY GOODNESS!!!
The streamer’s mouth dropped open. “That’s not—!” The timer beeped.
Eliminated.
The production team didn’t even cut it. They leaned in, eating it up. The comments were already going haywire.
MC Tiny was practically dancing. “What a shot! Man, oh man, it’s Zeno’s turn again!”
Zeno scanned again. He spotted someone across the ring—a newer face. Not someone famous, but Jace had mentioned this guy once, saying he’d screamed at his manager backstage when he went to the restroom.
Zeno raised his chin slightly.
“You,” he said. “Why don’t you like your manager?”
The man blinked rapidly. “What?”
Eliminated.
Another one out.
“Ruthless!” MC Tiny crowed. “Somebody stop this man!”
“Let’s pass it along, shall we?” MC Tiny added quickly. “Maybe… Risa? What do you have for us?”
Risa smiled sweetly. “Faze,” she said, eyes sharp. She wanted to eliminate him because of his blunt question to Zeno.
“What if you lose this game when you’re already known as the ranked god?”
Faze scoffed, cocky as ever. “I’ll still beat your team.”
The crowd let out a collective “Oooooooh!”
– Risa is flushed!
– Faze got no filter!
– THIS IS SO ENJOYABLE.
– I just love it when people roast each other.
Risa’s cheeks colored slightly, but she didn’t back down.
Faze turned to the next participant like it was nothing. He looked at a young idol near the edge—one of the members from the group VNTY, who had gone viral for a shaky live performance recently.
“You,” he said smoothly. “Your performance at the festival… can you really not sing?”
Gasps filled the room.
The girl’s eyes widened. “I—”
Eliminated.
She didn’t even argue. She simply bowed and walked off, cheeks burning red. The room had turned icy.
“That was low,” someone muttered.
Faze, however, didn’t seem fazed at all.
Another round passed. Another elimination.
Until only four were left.
Zeno.
Risa.
Faze.
And Ian, who had quietly avoided being targeted until now. He was just enjoying watching everything!
MC Tiny raised his mic. “Final four, folks! And now, the knives will come out.”
Faze didn’t waste time.
He looked at Zeno.
“Did you pay your way to the top?” he asked, straight-faced.
Zeno merely smirked.
“I didn’t,” Zeno said. “I would need to have money if that were the case.”
– Well, that’s true.
– Zeno isn’t afraid to answer, too. I can’t wait for this battle to go down.
– This might even be better than the game itself!
– Yeah, Zeno was living on nothing but a dream and pennies when he started as an actor.
Faze’s next question wasn’t any tamer.
“Perhaps, you have a sponsor?” he asked with a sly grin. “Those are pretty common these days, right?”
Zeno didn’t waste a second.
“My parents wouldn’t allow me to do that,” he answered. “My mom’s pretty strict, you see.”
The crowd stirred.
– NOT THE STRICT MOM CARD
– He’s still polite even when he’s savage?
– MOMMY HAN SAID NO SPONSORS ALLOWED
Faze mirrored his smirk.
It was Zeno’s turn.
“So,” he started off, “you must be excited. You’ve played for so long.”
Faze tilted his head, confused by the mild question. “Uh. Yeah. Obviously.”
A wasted question?
But Zeno’s expression was unreadable.
Faze didn’t get it. He leaned in a bit, smirking. “I’ve been here since day one. Since the old mobile version. I’ve watched this game grow. And I’ve grown with it.”
Zeno just nodded and shrugged.
It was Faze’s turn again.
He smiled wider this time, looking at Zeno. “You think you’re not that good of an actor, right?”
A few gasps were heard. That was a pointed question. A hit to the ego, if anything.
Zeno answered without blinking.
“Yes. I have lots to improve.”
The room turned silent once more.
He said it so plainly.
– Protect Zeno at all costs
– He’s such a good actor, though!
– Why would he even say that?
– At least, he’s self-aware.
– What? Zeno’s a good actor.
– Yeah, tell that to his single lead drama.
– You probably didn’t even watch it.
Faze’s smirk faltered slightly. He expected at least a little pride to break.
But Zeno… had none.
“Your turn,” MC Tiny said, and now the whole crowd leaned forward.
Zeno looked at Faze.
His expression gave nothing as he tilted his head the slightest bit. He asked such an easy question in the beginning because he wanted to let Faze put his guard down.
Now, it was time to take this man out.
“How does it feel to play for so long but not be part of the pros?”