"Not 'bro'... wait, sis."
"Why are you suddenly talking like some chuunibyou character mid-conversation?"
"What? Is chuunibyou some hidden trait every Japanese girl has? Even someone ranked sixth worldwide can't escape it?"
"Just drink the potion already. It's a gift."
"What if it's poison?"
"If I wanted you dead, I'd have done it already. So fussy..." Chiyo Eine sounded exasperated.
She carried the arrogance of a superior, but wasn't particularly bloodthirsty.
Besides, Blank didn't seem like that type of person - she should maintain some decorum.
"If you perform well, I might recommend you to join Divine Punishment."
Xue Yue: ???
Wait, is this woman insane?
And more importantly... what the hell is "Divine Punishment"? Some famous thing?
But with no other options, the decisive Xue Yue downed the potion to restore his condition.
"Let's go. I'll accompany you."
Chiyo Eine casually summoned a tentacle to carry him, paused in thought, then vanished from the spot.
......
"Murder?" In Room Three, The Creator voiced his displeasure. "This is your so-called 'blade'?"
"Just intimidation. Applying some pressure," Xie Antong explained.
"We need to eliminate weaker players before the game targets them."
"You mean... the game's rules will go after them first?" The Creator looked shocked. "That's... surprisingly petty."
"Shouldn't it target people like us? Or go straight for Sin?"
Xie Antong shook her head gravely.
"No. It's cautious. And Jue Ge..."
"What's 'Jue Ge'? What words starting with 'Jue' can you think of?"
"There are plenty! Don't tell me you think this old man's going senile," The Creator laughed.
Xie Antong remained silent.
"Jue..."
"Despair."
"Despair's Chosen."
The Creator: ?
"Pure speculation. Doesn't matter right now."
Xie Antong shook her head, refocusing on the floor where she'd recorded room assignments.
"It won't be long now. The blade has moved. Certain parties likely already know who's in each room."
"At minimum, Perfect Life and the game itself probably have a rough idea."
"From their perspective, the truly obscured rooms are mine and those two that remained silent earlier."
"These three contain me, Sin, and one back-row player."
"That silent player... might no longer be present."
No longer present?
The Creator almost asked for clarification, then realized it was unnecessary. He knew the answer.
What else could it mean?
Either they used an Exit Coin, or they died. Either way...
It likely means the game has already scored a point!
Currently, the only player who might have points is... Chiyo Eine!
Her points sync with the game's, keeping pace while she hunts other back-row players.
The "murder" objective is disappearance!
Chiyo Eine will force players like Xue Yue to "flee" using whatever means necessary.
Preventing "Jue Ge" from easily finding and harvesting them - his three-attempt limit applies to everyone.
Is this the blade's true meaning?
Threats. Coercion.
Chiyo Eine, the weakest among frontline players, has somehow backed "Jue Ge" into a corner!
......
Outside, it was Jiu Tian's turn to speak.
He didn't know what to say. Instinctively, he felt everything was already too late.
He could only ramble pointlessly, with no one likely listening.
Now his heart pounded inexplicably fast.
Because somehow...
His room was gradually darkening.
......
"So according to your theory, once back-row players dwindle from the game's perspective..."
"The real unknowns become your room and Sin's?"
"You two never spoke or revealed information, remaining hidden from each other too?"
"Correct!" Xie Antong nodded.
"And it's not just the game who knows."
"Perfect Life will know too!"
"And he'll be even more restless than the game's Jue Ge..."
The Creator's expression froze momentarily before gradually relaxing. Only now did he fully understand!
So that's it!
"I see! You mean Perfect Life will attempt room entry first, likely coming here?"
"That's why you need him... to suffer crushing defeat here!"
"But..."
"Prepare yourself!" Xie Antong slowly closed her eyes, interrupting him.
"It's... coming!"
Three seconds later, light flickered across the room.
An elegant, slender figure materialized out of thin air.
—Perfect Life!
His yin-yang hands moved through Tai Chi motions as his gaze immediately fell upon Xie Antong seated center-floor.
"Hmm?" His expression shifted to surprise. "You?"
"...Strange. I thought this would be Sin's room."
"Tch. My luck's not great today."
His face contorted briefly before he spoke:
"My apologies, I didn't come seeking conflict."
"But per game rules, leaving without challenging you would waste an attempt."
"So perhaps?..."
Xie Antong impassively pointed at the "Martial" character on the floor.
"Defeat me, and the points are yours."
Perfect Life: ...
His lip twitched. After two seconds' consideration, he actually seemed ready to leave!
Then he froze mid-step!
Suddenly the entire space convulsed violently. Countless fragmented mirrors coated the room like a kaleidoscope.
From one shard emerged The Creator's form.
"Well well, what a coincidence, World's Second."
Perfect Life clearly hadn't expected to encounter The Creator here.
"You came to challenge her? Don't mind me."
Perfect Life cupped his hands respectfully.
"I mean no offense, but why do I sense... killing intent surrounding us?"
"Simple really~" The Creator chuckled. "Because I'm looking to cause you trouble, of course."