"......Who?"
"Who do you think?!" Xie Antong's gaze suddenly turned sharp as she whirled around to face Chiyo Eine, her voice even carrying a hint of ferocity. Her acting skills were back in full swing—truth be told, after so much practice, Xie Antong found this feeling rather exhilarating.
"Who do you think could possibly have this kind of capability?"
Chiyo Eine was visibly startled, taking a step back as she swallowed hard before cautiously replying,
"'Sin'...? But why? How could he remain unaffected even after being captured?"
"I don't know," Xie Antong shook her head and turned back to face the blizzard ahead.
Chiyo Eine: ?
Wait, so you actually don't know? That's some terrifying level of blind faith!
"I only know that if there's anyone who could do it, it's him."
"Any impossibility you can imagine, just pin it on him. He is the embodiment of plausibility."
Xie Antong's expression was cold, as though she were describing an utterly terrifying enemy.
But in reality, she'd just finished praising him through both overt and covert means.
Chiyo Eine's expression turned slightly awkward as she said with some displeasure,
"I think there's no need to boost the enemy's morale while dampening our own."
"He's just one person, after all."
"You're wrong!" Xie Antong immediately corrected her. "When it comes to expectations for him, no amount of overestimation is too much."
As she spoke, she locked eyes with Chiyo Eine.
"Do you think I'd establish Divine Punishment if he weren't strong?"
Chiyo Eine: ......
Facing those piercing eyes that somehow felt more oppressive despite belonging to someone younger, she actually felt relieved.
Hmm...how to put it? Even though she was acknowledging his strength, hating him this much was...kind of reassuring.
Finally seeing through that scumbag's true nature!
"In the future, Divine Punishment will become his greatest enemy. We weren't formed solely to oppose him, but that was indeed our original purpose," Xie Antong continued.
"So don't act like some experience booster that shatters upon contact. You'd better not underestimate him."
"We're dealing with a demon, not some minor nuisance."
"Don't belittle him in front of me again. I won't tolerate it."
"Oh," Chiyo Eine nodded half-understandingly. "Then what do we do next?"
"Wait," Xie Antong replied curtly.
......
Crunch.
Crunch~......
Amidst the endless blizzard, Lu Ce continued walking aimlessly.
He knew he currently stood out like a beacon—no doubt countless eyes were "watching" him right now.
This was extremely irrational behavior for a game of hide-and-seek.
But he didn't care.
Neither did Sloth.
Suddenly, he halted and looked up into the snowstorm.
"It's time......"
With that, his head drooped as he instantly entered deep sleep while remaining standing, his body rooted in place like a statue awaiting those who would come seeking.
......
"This isn't right...what's with this blizzard?"
A man with blond hair and earrings trudged anxiously through the snow—he was the seventh player.
This was his capture round.
The earring on his ear emitted unusual vibrations as his psychic energy spread outward like sonar before returning with information.
But this snowstorm was strange—it exerted terrifying suppression on his mental powers. He'd originally thought his psychic abilities would give him an advantage in this game.
Even if he couldn't catch the top players, shouldn't he at least be able to capture the three below him?
Yet reality proved brutally otherwise. This blizzard was likely the game's doing, and facing it felt like a mayfly beholding the vast sky—completely helpless.
The interference was chaotic and nearly impossible to penetrate, though he did notice what seemed like a loophole in the storm.
From one particular direction came unusual vibrations that gave him a glimmer of hope.
After roughly gauging it, the target wasn't moving—probably another hiding player he'd detected.
"Perfect opportunity!"
Excitement surged through him as the earring-wearing man quickened his pace through the snow before breaking into a full sprint!
He moved swiftly—he had no choice but to hurry with the limited time available. The more captures he made, the better his chances at a perfect clear.
The snowstorm obscured his vision, making the path ahead nearly invisible. The seventh player's world had turned into a white haze, forcing him to rely entirely on his psychic guidance.
The sensation grew increasingly distinct—it was unmistakable now.
"Got you......"
As he drew near, he faintly discerned a human silhouette standing within the blizzard.
Something standing right in the middle of the path was clearly unnatural. His steps gradually slowed as an inexplicable sense of foreboding arose within him.
For some reason, an overwhelming urge screamed at him to turn around and flee immediately.
But how could he? Suppressing his trepidation, he stepped forward for a closer look.
When he saw that dark green mask, he felt his blood run cold.
He stumbled backward several steps, nearly collapsing onto the snow!
Sin?!
How could it be him?! How had he managed to find this guy?!
He wasn't so delusional as to think he could capture any of the top-ranked players.
He wasn't weak—no one who dared participate in the East Sea Tournament could be.
But he'd also personally witnessed the overwhelming power of Overloaded Wrath, and it had genuinely shaken him.
After that, he'd abandoned any thought of opposing this god of slaughter.
Yet now......
Seeing that the figure remained motionless, he steeled himself and approached, reaching out with trembling hands to grasp Sin's shoulder.
"I've caught him!"
"Game?!"
Several seconds passed with no response. Checking his remaining time, his anxiety mounted as he tried shaking the figure violently.
But Sin remained rooted like welded steel, utterly immobile!
As realization dawned, the seventh player understood—he'd clearly failed to break through the other's disguise.
With one hand, he instantly drew his Exit Coin while the other suddenly gleamed with golden light. His eyes hardened as he slammed the glowing palm directly toward Sin's chest!
The sound of cracking bones echoed the very next second.