Death took one last deep look at Sin, that gloomy face that seemed already dead revealing an exceptionally stiff smile.

Lu Ce: ...

His earlier proactive statement had been a kind of test in itself, but he hadn't expected it to actually yield a result.

Seeing the game's form wasn't right before, coupled with Death saying He had prepared for failure, he had felt the time left for humanity might not be much. The idea of challenging opponents slightly stronger than himself each time and growing slowly like before probably wasn't possible anymore.

But he still hadn't expected this moment to come so quickly!

He didn't know what form the gods would change the game into, what internal strife they had, or what unknown restrictions existed.

But no matter what, the demeanor Death displayed today was something he was unwilling to see.

Those formal, determined gods, fully intent on battling their opponents with all their might, were truly somewhat terrifying. He didn't even know if he was prepared himself.

But...

Thinking of this, that blue face suddenly twisted violently, becoming ferocious, the corners of the mouth curling upward wildly.

As if he himself was about to lose control at this moment.

[It seems you've already thought of something. Then there's no need for me to say more.]

"Fortune... is found in danger!"

The ferocious Greed spoke without a shred of respect, his voice hoarse.

Death smiled, showing no intention of further reminiscing. He turned and patted War on the shoulder.

[Alright, the final opportunity is yours, just as we discussed.]

War wasn't very appreciative, his body shimmering with the light of stars and gold. He used the long spear in his hand to push away the other's arm.

[What we discussed before... was this!? This is completely different from what I imagined.]

[...Heh...]

His voice received no real response. Death's figure shot straight up into the sky, transforming into a purplish-black light and vanishing from the spot. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

To Lu Ce's own surprise, he had thought War would stay behind to deal with him, but He did not.

That being whose aura was filled with slaughter glanced at him, extended his long spear, and pointed it towards him.

Then, He too directly exploded, shattering into countless points of starlight that merged back into the sky full of stars.

Watching both gods leave, the Arbitrator frowned deeply, lost in thought, and looked towards Pleasure.

He didn't speak, but the meaning was clear. He was urging, urging the other to produce the promised chips.

Pleasure didn't even give Him a proper glance, only staring at Xie Antong on the other side with a complex gaze.

The two were staring at each other now.

In Pleasure's eyes, there was disdain, surprise, and also a trace of admiration.

But Xie Antong was completely different from her usual state, as if she had frantically injected herself with some drug.

Her eyes burned with a mad craving, desire, and ambition for power.

It felt as if she couldn't wait to charge forward and devour the Pleasure before her.

[So?] Finally, the corners of Pleasure's mouth curled up slightly.

[The feeling of power, isn't it wonderful? Don't you feel like your former self was a frog at the bottom of a well?]

Xie Antong stared at Him with blazing eyes, not answering the question, but instead speaking off-topic:

"Earlier, Death said, 'Going back on one's word is the privilege of those in power.'"

"He was right. But privilege doesn't mean there's no cost!"

"And... those in power won't necessarily always remain in power..."

Hearing her words, Pleasure was stunned for a moment, then suddenly erupted into uproarious laughter. The laughter shook this space, causing the endless spectator stands to tremble with excitement.

[HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Good, good!]

[I really... haven't misjudged you, haven't chosen the wrong person!]

[Little girl, between us, there are still unresolved matters. Remember that.]

"Naturally!" Xie Antong yielded not an inch.

Pleasure finally snorted coldly, threw a mass of something towards the Arbitrator, and his entire body dissipated from this space.

He had just realized something.

—"Blank" could no longer be considered his Apostle.

Because during the previous game, he had only thought about winning, transmitting energy regardless of cost, and even helped her absorb it. She had now grown to a certain stature.

Judging by this attitude... it seemed she wanted to compete with him over who was the real "Pleasure"!

For both sides, this was a kind of... "Ascension Ceremony."

......

Watching as all the gods on the field disappeared, the people in the spectator stands swayed while also feeling utterly confused.

They had been holding their breath earlier, watching three gods arrive. Counting the one on Sin, that made four gods present, with a tense, confrontational atmosphere.

They thought they were about to witness a God War live, but it turned out that wasn't the case. How did they all just vanish!?

"Is it over?"

Lu Ce asked the Arbitrator, trying to put an arm around His shoulder.

But the other shifted sideways, directly dodging him as if avoiding the plague.

"It can be considered so. However, you might not be able to leave just yet..."

"Let's settle the accounts first."

Saying this, the Arbitrator officiously threw two spheres of light towards the two present.

"This one for you is the power Death lost to you. Nothing special about that."

"As for yours... it's not power, but a portion of spiritual energy to help you control and digest this power!"

"Even to let you know how to obtain further power, to become... a god!"

As the Arbitrator said this, His eyes also flickered slightly. This was equivalent to losing out on a path to godhood.

Suddenly, the entire world began to flicker between light and dark, like a broken lightbulb, and started shaking violently.

"It seems the rules are being changed. The game world is about to collapse too."

The Arbitrator frowned. The spectator stands on both sides began to collapse continuously, as if the world was ending.

The earth began to crack, the ground becoming aged and dilapidated, the gambling table disappearing.

Above and on both sides was the endless, invisible Void, while underfoot, it was like the mottled ground of an Ancient Roman Colosseum, even with traces of bloodstains visible.

"How strong is Pleasure?" Xie Antong asked the Arbitrator.

The Arbitrator also spoke without holding back: "I don't know!"

Then, He pointed a finger towards Xie Antong in the distance, and both His and Xie Antong's figures simultaneously vanished from this space.

In this shaking space, seemingly about to collapse at any moment, only one person remained... Lu Ce!