The sun climbed higher in the sky as the third bell tolled, marking the official start of the wedding ceremony. Under the gaze of countless spectators, the leading man and woman of this world slowly embraced each other on the elevated platform.
The scene appeared breathtakingly beautiful. When their lips finally met, thunderous cheers erupted from the foot of the mountain!
This was the will of the people, the culmination of everyone's hopes.
Through the scanning of the All-Seeing Eye, Xie Antong even spotted someone who had fainted from overwhelming emotion.
Huh??
She found this difficult to comprehend...
Yet an inexplicable sorrow welled up in her heart. She knew people wouldn't faint from happiness at seeing the princess's joy.
They must believe this marks the beginning of some auspicious sign... hence their intense excitement.
Remembering Sin's words from yesterday left a bitter taste in her mouth.
This wedding had no officiant - perhaps the invisible deities served as their witnesses, with heaven and earth bearing testimony.
Xie Antong's All-Seeing Eye frantically analyzed the pair, employing every psychological technique, micro-expression reading, and interrogation skill at her disposal, all leading to one conclusion:
—Neither of them was pretending!
These two seemed genuinely deeply in love.
But then, what explained the thick, almost suffocating sorrow radiating from the princess?!
Her heart suddenly began pounding violently. Xie Antong sensed the situation might differ significantly from her expectations.
She whirled around abruptly to look toward where Sin should be.
Only to freeze in shock.
Where was he?!
"Huh?"
Her heart skipped a beat. At this most critical juncture, where had that guy disappeared to?
She currently had no way to contact him. Moreover, none of the other players present seemed aware of how extreme the situation had become.
Was she really the only one left to improvise? Improvisation had never been her strong suit!
Hesitantly turning back, the abrupt change occurred precisely then.
As the couple kissed, the princess raised her hand behind the prince's back.
Had Sun been present, he would have detected the sudden violent fluctuation of magical energy as a transparent energy dagger materialized out of thin air.
No one could react in time - the ones who might have noticed weren't present!
In the next instant, the princess squeezed her eyes shut tightly, her trembling hand driving the dagger downward with desperate force!
The next moment, as their lips still touched, both trembled simultaneously as a warm, metallic tang instantly flooded the princess's mouth.
This action seemed to flip a switch - tears cascaded from the princess's tightly closed eyes like a bursting dam.
The world appeared to hold its breath.
The dagger's gleam reflected the sunlight with painful intensity, far more conspicuous than Xie Antong had anticipated, making her pupils contract violently.
Below the mountain, the densely packed crowd fell into stunned silence as if collectively muted.
The shamanistic priests who had been dancing wildly froze completely, their movements and chants abruptly cut off!
The entire scene became absurdly comical.
"Cough..."
As the prince attempted to speak, blood gushed from his mouth, yet he still managed to weakly encourage:
"Your Highness... seems slightly off target... might need better... aim..."
The princess's hand shook uncontrollably. Her utterly chaotic emotions made continuing impossible - the blade had pierced his chest but missed his heart.
Xie Antong stood dumbfounded. The current scenario had exceeded her analytical capabilities.
Though judging by appearances, this prince didn't resemble any "divine child," nor did he seem possessed.
Wait...
Compared to this perpetually warm, radiant figure she'd never truly understood...
Wasn't the mentally unstable princess the more suspicious one?!
Suddenly, lightning flashed through Xie Antong's mind, recalling an oft-repeated phrase people had stopped taking seriously:
—The princess is this game's supreme will!!!
"Don't be afraid."
"Come."
The whispered words held no trace of pain, yet the princess completely broke down. Ultimately, one's greatest adversary is always oneself.
She yanked the dagger from his body. As the prince collapsed weakly, the princess suddenly reversed the blade toward her own throat!
"Keh... keh keh keh keh..."
Instantly, the earth trembled. The princess's signature mad laughter returned, her tear-streaked face now half-terror, half-smile.
The dagger froze mid-air, her right hand gripping the hilt while her left hand clutched her right wrist.
As if engaged in some internal struggle!
"Tsk tsk tsk... such a lovely wedding ceremony, why ruin it now?"
"Two people so deeply in love, why turn to violence? How unpleasant."
As the words fell, the left hand forcibly lowered the dagger-wielding right hand.
Simultaneously, another hand touched the prince's chest, golden light emerging as his pierced body began miraculously healing itself.
Xie Antong immediately rummaged through her backpack for emergency equipment - random teleportation scrolls and even the Soulburn Incense that had once stalled Chiyo Eine. But the moment she moved, the "princess" locked eyes with her.
"What are you doing?"
"Have you forgotten your duty? Is this how you ensure the wedding proceeds smoothly?"
Without hesitation, Xie Antong lit the Soulburn Incense while preparing to use her Exit Coin.
"AAAAHHH!"
The princess suddenly screamed in agony, her gaze clearing momentarily as she stared at Xie Antong.
"Go! Get out now!"
The castle's tremors intensified violently. Then everyone realized terrifying rumblings were rising from beneath their feet!
As if explosive demolition was occurring in the castle's lower chambers!
BOOM! BOOM!
The next instant, Xie Antong leaped backward as the ground before her exploded upward, the pristine white wedding platform shattering as an enormous object erupted from below!
—The giant stone now covered in fissures.
Simultaneously, a golden figure shot up from below with an enraged roar!
Every cell in his body had strained to haul this thing up from the depths.
The princess blinked in stunned confusion when—BAM!—the massive stone slammed down, the tremors ceasing abruptly.
The arrogant golden figure descended upon it, single-handedly gripping the weapon's handle.
"Leaving so soon?!"
"The game's just getting started—who said you could leave?!"