Pain Immunity: Worried the Villains Aren’t Twisted Enough

Chapter 364: Recognition! Hatred Lasts Longer Than Love

"So guess what my plan is?"

After speaking, Lu Ce silently adjusted Hell's Roar to third gear - maximum power.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he turned his head to look at the final Godslayer Spike nearby.

"Ah, this thing is in the way here. It won't affect my firing power, will it?"

As he spoke, he casually picked up the Godslayer Spike and hurled it forcefully into the distance.

The golden needle instantly flew through the sky like a javelin, disappearing beyond the horizon so fast it became difficult to track with the naked eye.

As the last spike vanished, Lu Ce felt a weight lift from his heart - the final pressure suppressing his heart had disappeared.

This thing also affected the "Gate of Death."

While doing all this, the barrel of Hell's Roar in his hand never wavered in the slightest, remaining perfectly steady as it pressed against Xie Antong's head, emanating the aura of death from hell.

Truthfully, this action was completely unnecessary - given the speed difference, Xie Antong couldn't possibly dodge his shot anyway.Yet he still maintained the position.

And Xie Antong made no move to evade, not even changing her expression, as if resigned to her fate, slowly closing her eyes.

She was calm. Her mind replayed their frantic chase, the black motorcycle, and the words spoken to her.

......

"Not bad, girl. Even I can't handle this thing, yet you're holding on tight."

"But I'm reaching my limit now, and soon this play won't involve me anymore."

"Let me ask you one thing."

"With how chatty you are, you don't seem anywhere near your limit," Xie Antong retorted.

"Ha, talking helps keep me from crashing outright. Distracts me."

"Here's the thing - what if I wasn't joking earlier? What if he really came to kill you?"

Xie Antong:......

She remained silent for several minutes before finally responding:

"Why?"

"Who knows? Who can guess what's in his mind? Maybe he'll tell you himself."

"Anyway, if he really came to kill you, would you still believe in him?"

This made no logical sense - how could you still believe someone who's about to kill you? Believe in what?

But Xie Antong felt dazed. At the time, she didn't answer, only telling Black Knight to drive faster.

"Forget it, I can't explain it clearly right now. You'll have to judge for yourself."

"Also, do you have any life-saving measures? Even ones from the game you haven't brought out yet?"

"If he really wants me dead, then no," Xie Antong replied.

"Good, then I can rest easy."

.......

This conversation happened over ten minutes ago, during their lonely voyage before reaching the island. These were Black Knight's final words to Xie Antong.

Nothing more was said.

Both parties spoke frankly, even when discussing life and death.

Now, feeling the cold metal against her temple, she recalled these things.

The upcoming play no longer involved Black Knight.

That meant it concerned her, right?

If she was still willing to believe, she should play along and see this performance through.

Right?

Xie Antong slowly opened her eyes - no distracting thoughts, no complex emotions, as pure as the bottom of a clear lake.

At that moment, a metal sphere slowly rose from the sandpit and came to rest on Lu Ce's shoulder.

Xie Antong spoke:

"So this is the reason you wanted to explain, isn't it?"

"To personally eliminate your own weakness."

Lu Ce adjusted his stance, placing his other hand on her shoulder as he smiled and snapped his fingers.

"Bingo! Excellent deduction. Much quicker than these dullards."

"To avoid future troubles, it's better if you just die. Don't you think?"

"Consider this your reward - I'll make it painless~."

The corners of Xie Antong's mouth slowly curled up as she responded:

"Oh? So you admit I'm your weakness?"

Lu Ce:......

His blue face still wore that roguish expression, but clearly, Greed lacked the ability to answer this question.

All the other players present began scratching their heads, shocked yet confused.

What kind of act were these two putting on?

What did it mean?

Earlier they seemed so deeply affectionate, yet now he's pointing a gun at her head?

Young people these days play too dangerously.

And while this was between the two of them, the outsiders seemed more emotionally invested than the calm principals themselves.

"'Sin,' this isn't necessary. What you fear isn't so absolute."

Finally, Long Jiu spoke up.

He hadn't anticipated this sudden turn of events either.

"All I can say is - being heartless doesn't make one a true hero!"

"We can talk this through. After all, you didn't risk coming all this way just to kill your... lover, right?"

Sin's blue face glanced over - essentially rolling his eyes.

"Seems many still don't understand the situation."

"Can you let me go first?" Xie Antong said calmly. "Let me face you while we talk."

"You don't actually think I could escape, do you? Surely 'Sin' has that much confidence."

Lu Ce hesitated, then slowly released her, watching as Xie Antong took two steps forward before turning to face him.

For the first time, she looked directly into his eyes with complete seriousness.

The mask had fused with his face during overload - there was no barrier anymore. These were his real eyes!

She seemed to pour all her strength into trying to see through to his soul.

"Looks like today will be the biggest gamble of my life." Xie Antong took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

Only she knew this statement had two meanings.

To outsiders, the gamble was her fleeing the wedding, desperately racing across the sea with the golden spike.

But to her, she was gambling on her judgment of the person before her.

That day under the glow of the Love God's selection, when she took that step forward, she'd decided never to retreat.

Facing this completely guileless version of Xie Antong, Lu Ce found himself momentarily at a loss for expressions.

Greed's face ultimately twisted into a ferocious smile.

"Looks like you bet wrong!"

As he spoke, he slowly sidestepped, aligning their hearts in a straight line.

Watching his movements, Xie Antong sensed the final moment had arrived.

Suddenly she smiled brightly - whether acting or genuine - and said:

"Then I bet... you won't pull the trigger!"

"I said your gamble failed!"

In an instant, all expression vanished from the blue face. Without giving anyone time to react, before all witnesses, he pulled the trigger!

Hell's Roar.

Third gear. Maximum power.

A fireball that seemed capable of devouring everything instantly erupted on the island, engulfing Xie Antong's slight frame. Given her nearly nonexistent combat abilities, survival was impossible.

The intense explosion seemed to channel Sin's pent-up emotions, unleashing the most terrifying roar in Hell's Roar's history!

The devastating flames even enveloped Lu Ce himself!

A mushroom cloud rose from the island's center.

The instant Lu Ce's finger twitched, Chiyo Eine's eyes turned completely black as a pool of water appeared beneath Xie Antong's feet.

Long Jiu violently clenched both hands in the air, making everyone gasp as if he sought to compress all air to stop Sin's attack.

Sun's pink glow flickered, but he took no action.

Perfect Life instantly assumed a stance, feet rooted to the ground, hands forming a black-and-white eight trigrams in the air.

He channeled all his power in an attempt to slow spacetime.

Even the usually inactive Creator frowned in confusion and subtly intervened.

Without any coordination, these individuals - who likely had no particular ties to [Blank] - instinctively united to rescue her!

Because this felt wrong!

How could Sin possibly turn so ruthless at this moment?

It resembled those wuxia stories where a cultivator on the verge of demonic possession severs all mortal attachments to walk the dark path alone.

But none were fast enough.

Lu Ce's movements were too quick, too decisive.

He left no room for doubt - this was no performance. He truly meant to kill.

Time and space seemed to freeze. When the terrifying mushroom cloud dissipated, only a massive crater remained on the island.

And within that crater stood a single figure.

The front half of Sin's body appeared charred, large patches blackened, dried blood caking the wounds.

He'd deliberately not avoided the blast's backlash, as if punishing himself.

No defense, no evasion - he'd let the flames and impact ravage him.

Before him stood nothingness. The girl who'd been there moments ago had vanished without a trace, as if vaporized.

Perfect Life's mouth fell open. For the first time, his flawlessly handsome face showed utter shock.

His hands grasped at empty air as if searching for something.

But he found nothing.

That presence... was truly gone...

Really gone!

Everyone struggled to process the surreal scene before them.

Their earlier conversation had been so calm, so matter-of-fact, devoid of visible emotion.

They couldn't comprehend how someone who'd publicly displayed affection could truly kill the person he'd risked everything to save, all over some "no weaknesses" philosophy.

Yet he'd done it!

Long Jiu stood statue-still, fists clenched, facial muscles alternately tensing and relaxing, expression numb.

He didn't know how to process this, how to define the person before him.

As everyone remained stunned, a chilling realization crept into each heart:

—Is he even human?

The world's most ruthless pursuer of power stood before them - the Number One Player!

No attachments, no burdens, personally severing all weaknesses - even one who'd willingly die for him.

The Illuminati members' faces resembled salted fish left drying for too long.

"Heh... heh..."

"HAHAHAHA!!"

Sin's mad laughter suddenly echoed across the field. Everyone watched as he staggered forward before collapsing to sit on the ground.

He sat precisely where Xie Antong had stood.

Sin slowly lowered his head, scooping up a handful of sand, watching it trickle through his fingers.

No one could see his expression, only hear his suppressed, almost-sobbing laughter.

—Damn it, the act must continue.

At the gambling table, Greed always wins biggest.

This gunshot represented Lu Ce's ultimate purpose in coming here today.

From now on, he'd be completely unshackled. No one would dare try restraining him with emotions or attachments.

Being feared wasn't bad. Henceforth, only one path lay before him - the road to ultimate strength.

As for Xie Antong...

Consider this his parting gift.

If the Gate of Death functioned properly, she could still return.

Upon her return, all who hated him, all his enemies, could in some sense become her assets!

Of course, the act would have to continue - they could only be bitter enemies now.

Whether it might become real... well, he didn't particularly care.

Except right now, as he sat playing with sand, his unease wasn't entirely feigned.

Because moments earlier, under Perfect Life's spacetime distortion, though the explosion couldn't be delayed, he and Xie Antong had time for final words.

He said:

"From now on, you'll probably hate me. Don't waste the opportunity - power comes first."

She replied:

"It's alright, Lu Ce."

Those two words nearly made him stumble—she'd recognized him after all!

"Hatred lasts longer than love."