"Say something?"
"To these people?"
As the last remnants of energy dissipated, the game's ceremony concluded, leaving the two with no further excuse to remain embraced.
The emotions seemed to fade along with the divine power, receding like the tide, as if nothing had ever happened between them...
Yet neither of them logged out immediately.
Following Xie Antong's gaze, Lu Ce looked down at the crowd below the mountain.
Meanwhile, Sun and Shui Zhongmeng displayed more humorous reactions—the moment the ceremony ended, they sprang apart like identical poles of a magnet.
Shui Zhongmeng's face turned ashen. Without a word to his faction leader, his figure flickered and vanished from the game instantly.
Though the hell-difficulty quest had been completed successfully and he'd gained considerable power, he couldn't shake this uncomfortable feeling.
Moreover, given Sun's overwhelming presence, he'd somehow ended up playing the "bride" role in that ceremony.
Damn it! Leaving! No words.
Sun had no comment for such weakness. In his view, why refuse free power that cost nothing?
It's not like they actually had to do anything—why the mental block?
Pathetic teammate. Look at those two—they cooperated perfectly.
Hearing Xie Antong's words, Sun glanced downward and shook his head disdainfully:
"Why bother with these trash? Just a bunch of kowtowing insects who entrust their fates to others, begging for protection."
Then his gaze shifted to Lu Ce, eyes narrowing slightly.
Noticing his attention, Lu Ce tilted his mask slightly in that direction, hefting his axe.
His question was simple:
"Fight?"
"Tch." Sun cracked his neck with soft pops, but made no move to charge.
"Would you do something with no benefits, only risks?"
"Oh?" The golden greataxe rested lightly on the ground, splitting stone like tofu.
"No benefits indeed. But... where's the risk?"
Sun: ###!
Honestly, this guy inexplicably pissed him off—just talking made him want to throw hands.
Perhaps "Sin" was the only top-ranked player who'd achieved his position through pure combat prowess.
But fighting him would require going all-out, and there was no reason to go that far now...
Sun's body was riddled with fine cracks leaking pinkish light, his aura still highly unstable.
In this game, he'd absorbed the most power from the God of Lust's chosen.
Currently, he was clearly struggling to digest it—his condition suggested he might drop dead any moment.
He urgently needed the game's healing. Whether a perfect clear was possible didn't matter—he could exchange massive points if needed.
"Hah! That was a good fight."
"Looking forward to meeting next game."
Lu Ce didn't respond, simply hurling his axe to create an explosive crater—but Sun had already vanished, having logged out hastily.
Lu Ce strolled over to retrieve his weapon, fingers lightly tracing the stone-cleaving edge.
This was Arrogance's exclusive armament—other masks couldn't unleash the so-called "Broken Divine Weapon's" full might.
Strangely, he actually felt unsatisfied with the fight.
Was Arrogance... actually a battle junkie?
After brief consideration, he turned to survey the ruins behind him—specifically the tallest remaining monolith amidst the wreckage.
With a light step, he ascended to the pinnacle.
Holding his Extreme Path Battle-Axe aloft, he channeled Arrogance's power through the weapon. Sunlight glinted off the golden blade with dazzling intensity.
Even under the blazing sun, the axe's radiance dominated.
Every remaining confused soul below wearing large masks now looked upward toward the summit.
Chaos spreads like plague, but sudden silence can be equally contagious.
Within breaths, tens of thousands below froze mid-action, standing motionless as if awaiting revelation, gazing devoutly mountainward.
Observing this abruptly reverent crowd, the Arrogance mask's expression flickered with disappointment and disdain.
Yet ultimately, he spoke:
"Ceremony concluded!"
"Complete... success!"
Two brief sentences. The golden axe's glow faded as Lu Ce lowered it.
Instantly, thunderous cheers erupted below as priests and shamans resumed their dancing.
Those who'd worn expressions of despair moments ago now beamed as if relieved of tremendous burdens.
Ignoring the roaring crowd, he neither understood nor cared about their jubilation.
Axe in hand, he turned his back and leapt down from the monolith.
"I thought you'd share Sun's perspective—that bothering with unnecessary matters is beneath you." Xie Antong's voice came from nearby.
Lu Ce: ......
Truthfully, he did think so.
But instead of elaborating, he observed Xie Antong's current activity and remarked:
"What you're doing now is truly meaningless."
Xie Antong had gathered and arranged the princess's horrifically mutilated remains, now setting them aflame.
She'd placed the pyre near where the prince had died.
Her eyes held sorrow—whether for their tragedy or her post-medication melancholy was unclear.
"Emotional attachment to game NPCs is a strategist's fatal flaw," Lu Ce stated calmly.
"Are they really just NPCs?" she countered.
Her gaze turned contemplative, sweeping across sky, mountains, and people.
"Do you truly believe everything here is just a 'game'?"
"Merely data? A divine illusion created for players?"
"I don't care," Lu Ce said after a pause.
Xie Antong shook her head. "What happened to them... might happen to us too."
"What, are you also going to marry a god you don't like?"