"This snow... it's unusual. Definitely the work of an expert!" Perfect Life's hands moved in slow, deliberate motions, yet they whipped through the air like wind, forming layer upon layer of Tai Chi patterns that guided the blizzard's movements. Before him, he had already gathered a massive tornado of snow that continued to expand.
"I sense no hostility. This doesn't feel like a hunter's work." Perfect Life frowned as he analyzed the situation.
"Then why are you blocking it?" Lu Ce's voice came from behind, clearly having just woken up, sounding genuinely puzzled.
"Because these snowflakes clearly have a 'scouting' function. Anyone capable of this can't be weak. If they're using this method for hunting, they might become the fastest among all players. I want to see what else I can discern from this."
As Perfect Life moved, he carried vast amounts of accumulated snow with him. Without his guidance, the entire space would likely be buried under the snowdrifts.
"Oh?" The Creator in the sky noticed the anomaly below and chuckled. "Indeed, the world's second-ranked player has some skills. But don't let this distract you from the main event!"
Suddenly, the snow surrounding Perfect Life transformed into a violent storm, breaking through his defenses and bypassing him entirely to rush toward Lu Ce.
The blizzard instantly swallowed the emerald-green figure, but within the snowstorm, Lu Ce seemed to perceive another person's thoughts: "I am the Creator. Shall we cooperate?"
Seeing the snowstorm pass him by, Perfect Life lowered his hands and turned to look curiously at "Sin." To his surprise, the perpetually lazy man who had been lying down the entire time actually stood up and walked straight into the blizzard.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk."
"Did those snowflakes contain a message for you?!" Perfect Life called after him. Lu Ce didn't turn back or answer. His mental state couldn't afford unnecessary explanations—those would only waste energy.
The blizzard grew increasingly ferocious, forcibly altering the game's urban landscape. The once-bustling streets became eerily deserted as pedestrians vanished into buildings and vehicles retreated from the roads. This wasn't natural weather—it bordered on a supernatural disaster.
Within minutes, the entire city lay silent and empty, buried under thick snow with visibility reduced to near-zero.
*Crunch.*
A single footstep broke the snow's surface with a crisp sound. The sole remaining figure on the streets stood out starkly. The emerald-green mask tilted downward as its wearer moved forward with slow, deliberate steps—aimless, like the city's last wandering corpse.
Yet, those with heightened spiritual senses would detect an immense energy radiating from him, like a lighthouse in the storm, drawing others toward him.
On the opposite side of the city, Xie Antong and Chiyo Eine stood together. Since the game's new rules were announced, the two allies had chosen to reunite.
Xie Antong caught a snowflake in her palm, murmuring in astonishment, "This snow... Is it the Creator? His ability to learn and mimic is terrifying."
"What? How can you tell?" Chiyo Eine asked curiously. Information about the world's third-ranked player was scarce globally.
"The last time we met, I used an item that created a similar snowstorm." Xie Antong's eyes glazed over with recollection—back in the prison, during Lu Ce's confrontation with the Life's Chosen, she had directed everyone using a snowstorm from the ground. She never imagined the Creator could replicate something like this!
"This thing's main functions are guidance and communication. Who is he trying to contact...?" Though speaking to herself, Lu Ce's masked figure already surfaced in her mind. Given her understanding, she had pieced together most of the situation.
"Shouldn't we hide? The seventh hunter's pursuit began minutes ago," Chiyo Eine interjected, breaking her train of thought. Unconsciously, since following Blank, she had relinquished decision-making entirely to her.
"No need. Our game... is already over." Xie Antong shook her head. She had deduced what the Creator and Lu Ce were planning.
"This blizzard doesn't just conceal—it guides. In this game, all hunters rely on either visual analysis or spiritual detection. This snowstorm obstructs both! Moreover, it provides spiritual guidance, leading hunters toward someone with high spiritual resonance—someone who can cooperate with this storm."
Chiyo Eine didn't understand the snow's purpose, but as someone with heightened spiritual awareness, she closed her eyes amidst the blizzard. Gradually, she sensed a direction—like a beacon drawing her in.
"This...!" Her eyes flew open in shock. "A citywide snowstorm... What kind of spiritual strength must this person have? The name 'Creator' isn't an exaggeration."
Xie Antong nodded. "Honestly, I'm surprised Perfect Life ranks above him."
(Implying you're not at all surprised "Sin" ranks first, huh...?)
"Wait, that doesn't make sense. Why guide the hunters? Wouldn't it be better to just disrupt them? Does the world's third-ranked player have a grudge against that hunter?"
"No," Xie Antong refuted. "It's to prevent blind luck from succeeding! This grand scheme isn't about fearing discovery—it's ensuring no hunter can find any hider afterward! So, amidst the interference, he must provide clear guidance toward one specific target—someone whose capture wouldn't trigger a game victory!"
Above them, the Creator showed mild surprise as he glanced toward Blank's location.
"Not bad. You figured it all out in just a few minutes? I underestimated you last time, little girl."
But Chiyo Eine was more concerned about another matter. "Capture without triggering victory? How? Wouldn't that invalidate the game's rules?"
"Exactly!" Xie Antong stated decisively. "If I'm right, at the end of this blizzard... stands him."