Lu Ce: ......

As the words fell, the aura on the opposing Sun began to climb frantically. Yet, this climb did not signify strength, but rather a certain degree of weakness.

It was like burning coal. When it rapidly burns to its peak and turns incandescent, that is also the moment it is about to turn completely to ash.

Having absorbed a portion of the energy belonging to [Death], Lu Ce clearly sensed that the other's life force had now reached the "ash" level.

Taking out the long-unused Hourglass of Life from his backpack and dripping a drop of the other's blood onto it, he discovered that the sand was flowing away, nearly reaching complete depletion.

—This was a desperate, final strike.

......

High above the endless Void, [War] instantly felt a surge of pleasant surprise, watching the sudden change below.

Excellent!

To think there could still be such an unexpected delight. This "Sun" was actually truly going all out!

He was burning his own life, discarding his physical body, to fuse with the power War had previously given him. After this strike, regardless of the outcome, he would only have death awaiting him.

That is to say, in the best-case scenario, there was actually a possibility that the two fellows below might perish together!

[See that! Death, wasn't it a good thing that I gave him my wager in advance?]

[Death]: ......

The other gods also turned their attention, somewhat surprised. They too hadn't expected that within humanity itself, there could truly be such a completely reckless, life-and-death struggle.

This had completely become internal self-consumption, something they viewed with utter disdain.

What was somewhat unclear, however, was that Sun's act of directly using [War]'s wager should, in principle, be considered cheating.

Yet the Arbitrator had shown no reaction from start to finish, as if he had vanished.

He had become clever now, completely ignoring these matters. After all, "Sin" always had a way, and stepping out would only invite trouble.

Only [Death] still felt that something wasn't quite right about this situation.

......

Countless spectators watching the battle were also finding it very difficult to understand, beginning to feel Sun's actions were somewhat incomprehensible.

[: Seriously, do they have such a deep, bloody grudge? Even if he's definitely going to die, he still wants to go all out against "Sin"?]

[: Right, there's clearly no benefit at all anymore. The Game pairing them together is probably some kind of scheme too.]

[: Back then, "Blank" even forgave the betrayal and the murder attempt. Sun is just too stubborn.]

[: Actually, it's somewhat understandable, since he already knows he's going to die anyway.]

For a moment, whether human or god, they were all remarkably unified in believing that this mutually destructive, desperate method was pure internal consumption and merely preparing a dowry for the gods.

But the two men currently in confrontation felt no issue with it, especially Lu Ce!

At this moment, an exceptionally rare smile, carrying a hint of appreciation, appeared on his golden face.

If one is to pursue the highest peak, then of course one must burn with utter disregard, to see how far one can reach.

Moreover, in a life-and-death battle, the person fighting him should possess precisely this kind of unwavering determination to charge forward and settle things with him using their greatest power.

He truly did not want to kill, but if Sun actively sought death just to deny the gods their pleasure, that would be too boring and not in line with Pride's character.

Sun had remained consistent in his pursuit, unwavering due to so-called grand schemes, morality, or the terror between life and death. That was... recognition!

"Are you ready?"

Sun abruptly raised his head. Amidst this burning, his massive, monstrous body was continuously shrinking, condensing.

Finally, it transformed into a brawny man over two meters tall. His face, full of cracks, now bore a pair of exceptionally bright, youthful eyes.

The corner of Lu Ce's mouth lifted along with his battle axe as he retorted:

"Are *you* ready?"

...

The moment condensed. Their tacit understanding simultaneously reached its peak, and in the blink of an eye, they collided directly. Amidst the explosive impact, a golden battle axe actually flew straight out.

Witnessing this scene startled everyone—if the axe could fly out like that, did that mean "Sin" had lost?

The light quickly dissipated. The two stood facing each other. The light in Sun's eyes had completely extinguished. The final burning had turned him into that piece of coal burned to its peak, transformed into ash.

His body swayed slightly. One large hand gripped Lu Ce's right ribcage, five fingers like long spears already firmly embedded between Lu Ce's ribs. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

They had pierced through his chest from the lung. Blood transformed into burning mist, rising alongside thick smoke. With this final strike, he had finally inflicted upon Lu Ce what could be called a severe injury.

However, a large hole had been torn open in his own chest. The Extreme Path Battle Axe had flown out precisely from that location on his chest.

And at this moment, Lu Ce's right hand—the one that had been severed before, the one held in Xie Antong's hand—was now piercing through Sun's chest, gripping something that shimmered with a dazzling crimson light.

It resembled a brilliant star, emitting a dense energy—it was Sun's heart.

What terrifying vitality this was. Even with his heart held in another's grasp, Sun's body had not yet perished.

The hand gripping Lu Ce's right lung was still unconsciously tightening, like a warrior's final instinct—even in death, to tear at his opponent.

Until Lu Ce spoke by his ear.

"You deserved a more magnificent finale."

With that one sentence, Sun's final movements ceased. His entire body instantly withered and deformed, reverting to his original human form.

It was a brawny man nearly two meters tall, his brows and eyes carrying a touch of vicissitude, a middle-aged man with a domineering countenance.

His other hand laboriously rose, coming to rest on Lu Ce's head.

"I... am not resigned!"

Yet, in the end, he did not launch any forceful attack. He only gently patted Lu Ce's head.

"Still... this is magnificent enough......"

"You, keep fighting!"

Lu Ce slowly shook his head. A dark golden light flickered in his eyes as he spoke to Sun in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"No, it's not enough yet..."

After saying this, before Sun could even begin to feel puzzled or think, Lu Ce's right hand, which was gripping his heart, clenched forcefully!

The heart burst!

Lu Ce escorted Sun on the final journey of his life.

And from within his right hand, a dark golden light quietly emerged.