"What?!"

Xie Antong instinctively gasped in shock, forgetting all about the opponent's hand that had slapped back the nail of the Death's Door.

"You're already prepared? That [Agony] is really capable of..."

"Hmm?"

However, when she looked up, her words unfinished, the person before her had already vanished.

Since it was possible to enter the game at any time, and Lu Ce had nothing better to do, he simply ran off, choosing to enter the game early.

Perhaps he was already completely immersed in that life-and-death confrontation, long since addicted, and had begun to lose a tangible sense of reality in the real world.

During these past two days in the real world, he had felt utterly bored, only occasionally chatting with that unserious fellow, the Black Knight.

He even felt that the game world was his true home world.

[Four, three, two, one...]

Xie Antong sighed, gently stroking her chest, feeling the Death's Door there, listening to the game's countdown in her ear.

She automatically entered the game.

When she opened her eyes again, Xie Antong found herself in a vast, pure white space, just like the last time.

Now, everyone had arrived. All the survivors from the previous game were present.

This time, the aura emanating from everyone was very strange; they had clearly been tainted, to varying degrees, by a divine presence.

Their momentum was also remarkably strong. Each stood ramrod straight, like green pines in a snowy field, their faces cold as iron, all prepared for a desperate, life-or-death struggle.

Just as Xie Antong had said before, this was truly a journey to the Yellow Springs together.

Those willing to come despite knowing the disparity in strength could already be called true warriors.

Xie Antong's gaze swept over each person's face, exchanging nods of acknowledgment with those she was more familiar with.

Then, she saw someone who had disappeared from the real world.

—Sun!

Currently, he stood alone in the empty space around him, burning with black-red flames.

The color of those flames resembled dried, desiccated blood.

What was different was that he wasn't here in his true form. Instead, he was carrying his flame armor, his entire body over three meters tall.

Moreover, his physique seemed to have undergone a secondary development. His arms were long, his frame thick and robust, like a wild beast.

His aura was the least human-like among all the players present, so everyone kept their distance. Currently, only one person was walking towards him.

—"Sin".

Xie Antong was immediately stunned, then grew somewhat tense. She didn't quite understand what it meant for Lu Ce to actively seek trouble with Sun at a time like this.

The others also looked on, their attention drawn.

By now, Lu Ce had already stood before Sun. Due to the height difference, he could only look up at the other, a smiling face revealed on his mask.

The other party also raised a hand, using a finger to melt and carve an opening in the armor before him, drawing out a smiling face directed at Lu Ce.

"Hmm, you've grown," Lu Ce laughed. "How's your condition?"

"Excellent!" A muffled, low voice emanated from within the flame giant. "Unprecedentedly good!"

"That's good. If I make a move now, it wouldn't count as bullying you, right?"

Faced with Lu Ce's sudden invitation to fight, Sun didn't hesitate for a second. A murderous intent erupted instantly, and he raised his fist.

He's really going to fight?!

Everyone was dumbfounded. This was really too much. What was the point of fighting at a time like this?

However, although Lu Ce spoke of fighting, he made no move at all. Sure enough, a figure flashed before him, and the Arbitrator had already appeared in front of him.

A mere ripple of formidable divine power sent Sun crashing backwards several meters.

"This is not the place for a fight. Everyone, calm down."

The Arbitrator crossed his arms over his chest, adopting an aloof posture. Lu Ce immediately started applauding right in front of him.

"Bravo! Worthy of my good brother. You dealt with that guy but didn't lay a hand on me."

"... That's because you showed no signs of attacking just now." The Arbitrator instinctively explained, but quickly realized the words were superfluous.

"Tsk, look at you, a referee who insists on putting on airs, acting all high and mighty by not showing up, and now you've become a security guard breaking up fights."

Arbitrator: ...

He didn't want to talk to "Sin". He simply walked around him and addressed everyone.

"Welcome, everyone, to... CHOSEN'S PARADISE!"

"You have now become the Spokespersons for the God. Congratulations."

"So let's keep it brief. This round of the game is about to begin."

As he said this, the expression on his face didn't change at all, like a corpse. His mouth said "congratulations," but the sentiment felt like he was merely looking at a group of dead people.

Xie Antong looked with some worry at Lu Ce, who was now standing right beside the Arbitrator.

From the end of the last game until now, Lu Ce had nearly come to blows with Sun twice. Logically, there shouldn't be such enmity between them.

It felt like it might be foreshadowing something.

The others also had various thoughts, but the next second, their vision blurred as they discovered the Arbitrator had appeared right in front of them!

In fact, at this moment, twenty-two Arbitrators appeared in this space! One stood before each person.

A one-on-one service?

"Please come with me."

All the Arbitrators made the same uniform gesture, inviting the player before them, though it was unclear where they were going.

But when a player took a step in the direction indicated by His hand, they were astonished to find that every other person in the entire world had vanished!

Only they and the Arbitrator beside them remained, walking in this boundless white space. Soon, a glowing door appeared before them.

And Lu Ce at this moment was no different.

"Oh? The door is already prepared? Not a random selection this time?"

Hearing Lu Ce's question, the Arbitrator immediately grew tense, because he knew "Sin" might have already figured out he hadn't accomplished what was discussed last time.

All the gods and the players from the previous gamble were still paired one-to-one, with no changes.

"We're brothers, right, brother? Shouldn't you help me out?"

You can't say such things here!

Words spoken here can be heard by the gods!

The Arbitrator inwardly panicked, but quickly realized the other hadn't referred to anything specific. It seemed he had always called him brother before.

"Please enter the game. Also, I am not your brother," the Arbitrator said somewhat stiffly.

"Eh~, no rush to enter the game. I'm such a key player. What's wrong with making Him wait a bit?"

"Let me ask you something. Do you want to play something a little more... stimulating?"

Arbitrator: ?

This guy isn't really going to speak without restraint, is he...