novelraw Chapter 382: Relentless Pressure, Blank's Unusually Sharp Edge
Chapter 382: Relentless Pressure, Blank's Unusually Sharp Edge
Normally, it should have been Lu Ce confronting the game at this moment.
But now, he was already fast asleep.
The sudden awakening and fatal injury recovery had completely drained all his mental energy.
Looking at the unconscious "Sin" lying on the ground, this time it was Perfect Life who initiated the questioning.
His thoughts aligned somewhat with the Dragon Group's Grand Elder after witnessing the top players voluntarily giving up their captures.
With a glance of admiration toward "Sin" on the floor, he still couldn't comprehend how Lu Ce had dared to play this way during the first game session.
Each of the subsequent nine participants had their own agendas and selfish motives—how could Lu Ce have been so certain his plan would succeed?
Yet now with this opportunity before him, Perfect Life wasn't one to hesitate. He immediately began pressing the game with questions.
[...]
The game's notification tone paused briefly, as if caught off guard.This wasn't good—the deception had failed.
[Perfect clearance for everyone is impossible. That reward can only be granted to one individual at a time.]
"Oh?" Perfect Life smiled. "But you previously stated that whoever ranked first among us could achieve perfect clearance."
[However, from another perspective, all of you are simultaneously in last place.]
[Additionally, I've already explained this game cannot allow universal clearance—I warned you beforehand.]
"You did say that," Perfect Life acknowledged. "But 'cannot allow universal clearance' doesn't necessarily mean it's impossible, does it?"
"To spare you further difficulty, why not grant all of us perfect clearance together?"
[...]
Listening to this back-and-forth, Xie Antong slowly shifted her gaze from Lu Ce to Perfect Life.
Something about the man's current approach struck her as oddly familiar.
It reminded her of how Lu Ce often negotiated with game rules during their past sessions.
This person...
[Enough of this nonsense.]
As the debate between Perfect Life and the game's voice grew protracted, the system's tone turned icy with impatience.
[Did I ever specify how many rounds this game would have?]
[With no decisive outcome and your collective lack of engagement, my forbearance in withholding punishment is already merciful.]
[Are you testing the limits of my patience?]
A divine-selected pressure descended upon Perfect Life.
His expression remained unchanged as he adjusted his stance, black and white energies intertwining to stabilize his posture.
Yet he found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
His genetic coding endowed him with wisdom, eloquence, and defiance toward authority—but not the art of sophistry, obstinacy, or outright nonsense.
Those were Lu Ce's specialties, and the man currently showed no signs of waking.
"Merciful? Am I hearing correctly?" A new voice abruptly interjected, causing Perfect Life to start.
Blank's sudden intervention made everyone turn.
"Pardon the interruption—though I doubt you actually mind." Xie Antong's flat delivery contradicted her apology.
"But claiming mercy is frankly laughable."
"Any unused measures likely indicate you currently lack the authority or capacity to implement them."
"Since we've violated no rules, spare us the empty threats of punishment. Stop inflating your own importance."
Chiyo Eine's eyes widened nearby. Since when had Xie Antong developed such a bold side?
This was new!
[...]
The game fell silent as surrounding players stared in shock at the girl's unexpectedly sharp confrontation.
She’s never shown such sharpness before, has she?
Suddenly, terrifying pressure shifted from Perfect Life to engulf Xie Antong.
Chiyo Eine moved before thinking, black waters spreading across the floor to shield both their shadows as she positioned herself behind Xie Antong.
A massive serpent's phantom emerged from rising dark energy, bearing the full brunt of the divine pressure.
Unaffected, Xie Antong glanced back at Chiyo Eine before turning with renewed mockery:
"Fascinating. Is this your limit? Having to withdraw pressure from one person before targeting another? Seems rather... energy-constrained."
[Silence!]
The game's roar multiplied the pressure tenfold, forcing a grunt from Chiyo Eine—who immediately added:
"I'm fine! That was voluntary."
Meanwhile, Perfect Life smiled as his own pressure lifted. Circling his hands, he augmented the black water's power, further lightening Chiyo Eine's burden.
"Why the urgency to silence her? I quite enjoy her commentary."
"Exactly!" Chiyo Eine chimed in.
Other players exchanged bewildered looks—since when did anyone openly challenge game rules like this?
What was happening?
[You truly believe I cannot punish you?]
The voice now carried dangerous amusement.
"Absolutely." Xie Antong nodded earnestly before pointing at Lu Ce's prone form.
"Regarding punishment—care to demonstrate?"
"If you're citing lack of engagement, he orchestrated everything."
"As for rule-breaking, he never even transformed into an item's appearance—just wandered around as himself."
"Shouldn't he be the one punished? Go ahead—kill him now if you can. Show me what you've got."
Holy—
Even Perfect Life stared in shock while Chiyo Eine's jaw dropped.
Was this some modern-day femme fatale strategy?
Such extreme romantic spite? This was outright assassination-by-proxy!
Perfect Life awkwardly rubbed his nose, feeling like he'd stumbled into some relationship drama.
[...]
As the game remained silent, Xie Antong pressed: "Cat got your tongue?"
"Or are you only tough on weaker targets? He's just a player—are you scared?"
"Alternatively, wake him up and say it to his face?"