"Tell me, is this acceptable..." Xie Antong casually mentioned "Sin" as if it were of no particular importance before directly addressing the game system.
But Perfect Life, standing nearby, shifted his gaze over with a hint of surprise. He couldn't shake the feeling that everything Blank had said earlier was actually laying groundwork. While presenting two options on the surface, the game rules would almost certainly choose to set its own regulations rather than delegate too much authority to players. All that elaborate setup seemed designed for one purpose - to introduce the requirement that "each player proposes one condition." That was her true objective all along!
This realization made Perfect Life feel that same dissonance again, reminiscent of when "Sin" had acted earlier. "Sin" had decisively abandoned his capture turn without knowing how others would choose. Similarly, why was this "Blank" fighting to secure this condition-proposing opportunity for all players without any apparent preparation? If she wanted something, couldn't she just propose her own condition? Wasn't she worried others' conditions might backfire on her plans?
...A very strange feeling indeed.
Perfect Life's fingers twitched in the air as if manipulating invisible threads. There were essentially two possibilities: First, she had already calculated all players' potential decisions and choices. Through this free condition format, she was actually exerting group influence to control everyone. But that seemed impossibly difficult - someone with such ability wouldn't rank so low. Second, she was using this method to conceal some hidden purpose. Everyone proposes one condition...
"Can you stop hesitating pointlessly? What are you thinking about that's making you so indecisive?" His thoughts were abruptly cut off by Blank's voice. After a momentary pause, he realized she was addressing the game system, not him.
[...Fine!] The game's voice sounded almost gritted with teeth, as if suffering tremendous humiliation. As the game's rule-maker, after being forced to modify bugs and provide compensation, now it had to agree to participants' conditions too?? But due to certain reasons and its own limitations, it didn't want endless haggling. Seeing the current requests were manageable, it decided to agree.
[Each player may propose only one condition!] [Let me be clear - think carefully about your conditions. You only get one chance.] [If clearly incompatible with the game's requirements, it will be rejected with no opportunity to propose again!] The game wasn't stupid - through their exchanges, it recognized this woman kept probing boundaries. So it imposed this restriction to prevent endless outrageous demands followed by gradual concessions.
But Xie Antong seemed to have no such intention. Hearing the game agree, she simply nodded without further discussion.
[Alright, start making your requests. Hurry up!] The game's voice grew noticeably impatient.
Player Seven spoke first tentatively: "I request the game cannot have death as a possibility."
[Ha! Of course not! This is Hell Mode! No deaths? Impossible! Request void!] The game actually laughed, amused someone immediately provided a perfect example of what not to do.
"Then... no game conditions can require 'someone must die,'" Player Eight quickly followed up.
[Approved!] For these lower-ranked players, they wouldn't use Exit Coins, but competing against top players made survival their primary concern.
"Let me propose something," Jiu Tian said. "I request the game cannot be purely combat-based - it must include intellectual competition."
[Approved!] After speaking, Jiu Tian nodded slightly toward Xie Antong. His superiors had instructed him to assist "Blank" where possible. Proposing intellectual competition could slightly improve her chances, though Xie Antong seemed oblivious to his gesture, preoccupied with other thoughts.
"I request players have some autonomy in choosing whether to collaborate," Chiyo Eine stated.
[Approved!]
"I request we can choose our opponents," Perfect Life said casually while glancing at the sleeping Lu "Sin." Truthfully, he cared little about this condition.
[Approved!]
"Heh." The Creator chuckled, continuously morphing an object in his right palm between different forms. "I've no specific request - just that this game might make you uncomfortable."
[...] [Meaningless drivel. Too vague and subjective. Request wasted.] The game mocked.
Finally, it was Xie Antong's turn. She lifted her head slowly and declared: [I request divided battlefields!] [Though a team competition, all participating players must be separated.]
An utterly baffling request. Most couldn't comprehend her meaning - even the game system froze for several seconds.
[Odd choice...but fine! Approved!] [Heh...with requests submitted, I've some ideas about the game format now.] [Well then! We shall...]
"Hold on...sorry." A lazy voice suddenly interrupted the game's enthusiastic announcement. Just as the game was about to continue, it fell silent again. The voice belonged to Lu Ce, who had just awoken.
"Um, I was wondering...is there any chance I could also propose a condition?" Xie Antong lowered her head slightly, a faint smile curling beneath her helmet.
Good. The true "variable" had arrived!