Lu Ce: ......
Listening to the voice beside him, the dark green mask slowly lifted as their eyes met mid-air.
A heavy silence suddenly enveloped the area, making everyone feel somewhat oppressed. Perfect Life and Creator kept their eyes lowered, showing no intention of speaking.
What was most intriguing—and somewhat eerie—was that even the game system remained unusually silent!
It showed no intention of intervening, almost as if it was watching the spectacle unfold.
After a prolonged silence, Lu Ce finally spoke:
"Who are you?"
Beneath her helmet, Xie Antong's eyes widened in shock before she let out a cold laugh.
"How forgetful of you, mighty one."
As she spoke, she pulled out a syringe and injected it directly into her head.
This was her first time using this drug in the game. Realistically speaking, she hadn't yet reached the point where she needed to push herself this hard.
"Hah, well, I do have some vague recollection." Lu Ce nodded.
"Though many have died by my hand—you're nothing special among them. I'm just surprised you're alive again."
"But really, do you think some useless drug will make any difference against me?"
For someone wearing the Laziness mask, this much talking was already pushing his limits.
"No, you misunderstand. I just thought this injection might help me say something properly vicious."
Her pupils began contracting sharply as the hair gathered behind her helmet started floating.
With a casual flip of her wrist, a gun materialized in her hand, its barrel pointed directly at "Sin."
Metallic components from the grip flowed upward, encasing her wrist completely—the perfect stance of a combat-ready gunslinger.
Chiyo Eine's heart skipped a beat. Was she really going to attack here and now?
Wasn't this too impulsive? If they fought directly, she stood no chance against him yet.
But then again, having survived that previous incident, she must have some cards up her sleeve... right?
What happened next, however, stunned everyone.
Blank fired!
Drawing, aiming, shooting—all in one fluid motion!
This was no feint or empty threat.
But how could a mere gunshot harm "Sin" within the game?
Bang!
Energy exploded against his forehead, snapping the dark green mask backward violently.
Yet everyone knew—that mask was a sealing artifact. No bullet could penetrate it!
Xie Antong knew this.
The entire world knew this.
And the entire world also knew Blank couldn't possibly be ignorant of this fact!
Which made this gunshot utterly irrational—like deliberately provoking Sin with zero tactical benefit.
This... didn't match Blank's usual persona at all.
Before anyone could react, all surrounding players sprang into action!
Chiyo Eine lunged forward, grabbing Xie Antong's shoulder as her Dark Water domain expanded, yanking them backward while summoning a massive shield.
Creator flicked his wrist, erecting a transparent barrier between the two.
Perfect Life's Yin-Yang Hands stretched outward, partitioning the space between them.
Then, almost in unison, everyone's wary gazes locked onto "Sin."
They feared this unstable entity might suddenly snap.
Whatever grudge existed between those two didn't matter—the game wasn't over yet. They were still negotiating unprecedented rule changes with the system itself.
Now of all times, "Sin" couldn't be allowed to lose control.
Despite having no stake in this conflict, every player's attention now focused intensely on Lu Ce.
This collective shift made even Xie Antong's heart skip a beat.
She'd only been acting—yet inadvertently revealed this unsettling dynamic.
Had people's wariness toward Lu Ce really reached such extremes?......
"Tch." Laziness showed no anger after taking the bullet, merely cracking his neck.
"Still weak. Relying on such powerless external tools at such a primitive level."
"Without real strength, even your rage seems like kitten scratches to others. Pathetic."
"You didn't actually think that toy could hurt me, did you?"
Creator's expression turned complicated, but before he could speak, Xie Antong pushed Chiyo Eine's supporting hand away and holstered her gun.
Her gaze remained ice-calm, devoid of any emotional instability.
"Don't misunderstand. I never expected any effect."
"I simply returned that shot. Now we're even."
"No need for guilt on your part."
"Hah?" Lu Ce actually laughed aloud at this. "Guilt? What nonsense. You're seriously overestimating your importance."
Blank's lips curled slightly.
"Doesn't matter. I said that for myself."
"Besides, I'll defeat you—in the field you're proudest of."
Lu Ce shook his head, still not bothering to stand, and lazily pointed at the girl.
Though barely ten minutes had passed, he was already exhausted.
His finger wobbled mid-air before his head suddenly drooped—he'd fallen asleep again.
Lu Ce: zZZ
Perfect Life actually sighed in relief at his abrupt unconsciousness.
At least this incident passed without major consequences.
Unaware of the unspoken understanding between Lu Ce and Xie Antong, the others had genuinely feared the game might collapse entirely during that confrontation.
"Don't act rashly. To beat him, you'll need complete clarity." Creator advised Xie Antong with an approving nod.
After all, she'd been quite polite during that previous game...
Xie Antong nodded, gave the sleeping Lu Ce one last glance, then looked skyward.
"Enjoying the show?"
"Does our conversation interfere with your precious game rules?"