After Perfect Life finished speaking, he sat down and suddenly felt a sense of relief welling up in his heart.
Even the expression on his face relaxed considerably.
Indeed, had he been too fixated?
What he sought to surpass were his own limits, the world's limits, constantly striving to be the strongest. Since when had he started treating others as his benchmarks?
It seemed that ever since realizing he was second place, his mental state had changed. Even entering this game, he kept thinking about how the world's number one would act.
No more.
He would simply join the game and experience it firsthand to find out.
Whoever deserves the perfect clearance will get it!
"Oh? You want to take a nap too?" Lu Ce slightly tilted his head to glance at Perfect Life.
"No need. I don't have your superb sleep quality—I can't sleep," Perfect Life chuckled and shook his head. "However, I'm forfeiting my capture turn!"
"I'll play along with you this time."
"Is that so." Lu Ce shook his head listlessly. "But let me remind you, everyone should have their own rhythm. Following someone else's tempo means you'll never find the right beat."
"Don't misunderstand," Perfect Life said with a carefree smile.
"Right now, I'm not challenging you, nor am I imitating you. You're just a means to an end."
"I'm challenging myself."
If this were a deathmatch-style game requiring players to fight each other,
he wouldn't hesitate or hold back in the slightest. Showing mercy against "Sin" in battle would be pure suicide.
But now was different—this was hide-and-seek.
Since Lu Ce could casually forfeit his capture turn, he would try doing the same!
As for the final outcome, he'd adapt as needed.
"Oh." Lu Ce remained seated cross-legged, showing no intention of standing, swaying slightly as he spoke.
Meanwhile, Perfect Life pulled out a bottle of low-alcohol fruit wine. Watching his remaining time dip below five minutes, he sat amidst the ruins.
Through the gap Lu Ce had crashed open, he gazed at the streets outside, took a swig, and smiled.
That gaming mindset he'd lost long ago had unexpectedly returned at this moment.
That feeling of challenge, of finding confidence and joy in battles rather than obsessing over the final clearance.
I am Perfect Life.
If I'm truly perfect,
then the perfect clearance will come naturally, won't it?
The two sat there, looking at the city before them—a strangely harmonious scene.
Despite being hunter and prey, they coexisted peacefully!
Occasionally, they even exchanged dryly humorous remarks.
"Sorry about poking a few holes in you earlier."
"Oh... no big deal. Just don't disturb my sleep."
"Got it."
Time flew by as they conversed.
While all other players cautiously concealed their presence in this space,
the original two hunters—the world's first and second place—
chose collective surrender!
The players in-game didn't know, but the audience had already exploded.
The interaction and state between these two were utterly abnormal!
This wasn't normal human behavior, and historical records showed no prior connection between them!
What did this mean?
Even the Council of Elders fell silent watching this scene.
The Grand Elder stared wordlessly at the screen, observing their peaceful coexistence.
"What... are they doing?"
Was slacking off even allowed?
This certainly broadened their horizons.
And while "Sin" being insane was one thing—his earlier act of killing his own lover had already shocked Dragon Group—
now even Perfect Life, the embodiment of everyone's ideals, was acting this way?
What did "playing along" mean? What exactly were these two planning to do?!
With no alternative, they could only keep watching.
At this rate, the world's top two might both fail to achieve perfect clearance this round...
[Perfect Life's hunting time has ended!]
When the twenty minutes elapsed, Perfect Life's turn ended, transforming him into a hider.
[Next hunter... Creator!]
[Please select the next game scenario.]
This time, even the game's announcement voice carried a hint of displeasure.
After the world's first and second place, now came the third!
Atop an observatory, an astronomical telescope wobbled slightly, transforming into Creator's form.
A blue lens floated in his hand as he gazed distantly toward a certain part of the city—
directly where Lu Ce and Perfect Life were!
"Heh. Young people these days... interesting."
With that, he vanished in a flash,
teleported back to his room to select the scenario.
Facing the game screen, Creator chuckled, conjuring various bizarre objects in his hands.
Yet his expression grew increasingly amused.
"No need for changes. Keep the previous scenario. Didn't Perfect Life leave it unchanged too?"
"Besides, as a returning veteran who's been away so long, I've no particular concerns about rankings."
"...HAHAHAHAHA! If the youngsters are having fun, why shouldn't I join in?"
Creator laughed uproariously, then sat cross-legged in his room, motionless—entering meditation!
World's third place, surrendering the hunt!
Thus far, humanity's top three combatants—the ranking's top three players—
had all chosen to forfeit their hunting turns!
None knew why, but these three had made this choice.
Dozens of All-Seeing Eyes drifted above the city.
As the third twenty-minute period neared its end, one eye floated before the sports car that Chiyo Eine had transformed into.
The eye began carving words into the dirt before it:
"If it's your turn next round..."
"Surrender! Don't hunt!"