This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 1156: Divine Game Quiet Mountain 39

Deceitful Bloom continually used various skills in an attempt to break free from the abnormal state she was trapped in.

The troubling reality was that her combat power had been suppressed to the state she was in when she first arrived at Quiet Mountain, right after the first bell sounded. Back then, her talent was still tied to the divine gift, and she was still an SSS-level "Flower Does Not Respond."

However, the Quiet Mountain-level demon talents, which had transcended divine gifts, were fundamentally different. They had become "rules" and "concepts."

QM Rita, Quiet Mountain Maple Syrup, and QM Mistblade had all started to break free from their divine gifts and player identities, walking the path toward godhood.

Although their demon talents were still semi-sealed before they activated their divine names, their power was limited, and many restrictions remained, they were already far removed from regular players. Even a half-step to godhood meant they were no longer comparable to ordinary players.

Deceitful Bloom’s current skills couldn’t escape the negative effects inflicted by Quiet Mountain Maple Syrup and QM Mistblade, though she could easily dispel Kessa’s abilities. Star Sea players were always a step behind Quiet Mountain players—just as it had been before, it was the same now.

As long as SS Game maintained the current mode, Quiet Mountain would continue to win, and the pendulum would keep swinging toward Star Sea.

But unfortunately, Captain Drummer and the others couldn’t see this.

It was clear that if they adjusted the game rules and sacrificed some players’ happiness, Star Sea could have a chance to escape the nightmare. But they refused to make that sacrifice.

The ruby-red dragon horn on the white flower dragon in the sky slowly dissipated, as Deceitful Bloom pulled back some of her vines and power.

To avoid triggering the arrival of Quiet Mountain’s gods, Deceitful Bloom focused on defense, dodging, and fleeing. She couldn’t use her most effective attacks in place of defense.

Despite her vast combat experience, facing the combined strength of three powerful foes, Deceitful Bloom found herself in a precarious situation. However, despite her momentary vulnerability, Quiet Mountain Maple Syrup and the others couldn’t break through her defenses. After all these years, she had a multitude of survival tactics at her disposal.

She narrowly avoided a barrage of blades, smoke, and sharp strikes, and her vine suddenly scattered to form a flower shield, blocking a powerful slash.

As the flower shield shattered, the petals scattered like a storm, and Deceitful Bloom found herself at a distance from QM Rita, allowing her to glimpse the slight curve of the latter’s lips through the mask.

Most Vineborne weapons were long whips—Vineborne naturally excelled at this weapon, which was flexible, versatile, had a wide range, and included a variety of tricky moves. And vines themselves made the perfect long whips—except for certain vines that were more carefree and freedom-loving in nature.

The sound of the whip slicing through the air rang out as Deceitful Bloom swung the vine to block QM Rita’s long sword, as well as the attacks from Mistblade, Maple Syrup, and Kessa, ensuring they didn’t hit the unconscious person on her back.

But this also meant that some unavoidable attacks landed directly on Deceitful Bloom herself.

It had been many years since the Vineborne had been so disheveled—her cheek was cut, her silver hair was in disarray, her cloak was torn, and her bracers were broken.

Another Rita was being carefully protected, but unlike before when she had been questioned with "You dare control me?", QM Rita showed no emotion. She wasn’t angry, nor was she jealous.

Instead, QM Kessa, who had been quietly observing, curiously asked, "Why don’t you take her and escape?"

There was a long story behind this question. When Deceitful Bloom first saw QM Rita, she hadn’t ruled out fleeing immediately. She had been decisive in her intention to leave, but once the battle began, things changed.

First, she knew escape wasn’t an option. Instead of retreating in a frantic, embarrassing rush, she preferred to stay and hold out until SS Rita woke up.

Second, SS Rita was almost there. This was not just about her combo skill with Kessa but also about the elemental magic companion she would inherit when she unlocked her divine name...

It was only then that QM Rita finally spoke, "What do you want from her?"

Though it was phrased as a question, her tone left no room for doubt.

Deceitful Bloom teleported to the ruby dragon horn of the white flower dragon in the air. Her hands naturally dropped to her sides as she let the person on her back lean against her. From her vantage point, she looked down at "Midsummer," and from above, she locked eyes with QM Rita.

She didn’t like QM Rita. Deceitful Bloom was certain of that.

QM Rita and SS Rita were two completely different people—not just in terms of personality but also in the very essence of their soul.

Getting SS Rita to like her was easy. While SS Rita was greedy, wary, and difficult to approach, her defenses were a hundred times higher than her bottom line, she was easily satisfied. A small kindness was enough to keep her content for a long time.

But QM Rita? This person wouldn’t be moved by any being, any friendship, or any genuine affection.

QM Rita would not hesitate to start a fight if it meant achieving her goal. To her, Quiet Mountain players, useful items, strange objects, and equipment were all the same—just tools that had some inconvenient conditions and costs attached.

The thunder above grew louder, and the golden storm seemed as though it would drown the entire city. Yet, the rain illuminated the night sky completely.

As the flower dragon soared, it whipped up strong winds, sending the long ponytail of the person on Deceitful Bloom’s back into the air. Through the mask, the person’s eyes appeared even darker amid the thunder.

The battlefield fell into an eerie silence.

The three Quiet Mountain players—QM Mistblade, who was sickly and almost frail, Quiet Mountain Maple Syrup, who exuded an aura of constant decline, and QM Kessa, whose delicate braid added a touch of melancholy and calm to her presence—all stopped and casually played with their weapons, watching the scene unfold.

In the quiet waiting, a voice, full of murderous intent and sharpness, rang out as if narrating the scene:

—"New setting: SS Deceitful Bloom has betrayed SS Rita."

Deceitful Bloom furrowed her brows. Is this the power of "Extra"? The ability to rewrite the setting.

With this kind of concept, what would she become to SS Rita?

But, as the group stood there, looking foolishly at her, nothing happened.

Deceitful Bloom’s realization hit her. This setting had already been written—her betrayal was not something that could be rewritten. It was already part of the "main story."

Anything that had already happened couldn’t be rewritten. If a setting already existed, it couldn’t be added to, so it wouldn’t cause any change.

QM Rita squinted slightly. This was her power, and now that it had failed, she knew exactly why it didn’t work.

Her voice was so soft that it almost seemed to be lost to the midnight wind, "Not only did you control her, but you also betrayed her?"

At that moment, Deceitful Bloom, affected by Mistblade’s "Descent," felt her reason, thoughts, and even willpower drain away. It was as if a sharp blade was slicing through her soul. The battle had already exhausted most of her mental energy.

She didn’t have the strength to address QM Rita’s question. Instead, she raised her hand to press against her forehead in an effort to suppress the pain.

A cold laugh hit her like the wind and rain, as QM Rita issued a new setting: "Setting rewrite: When SS Deceitful Bloom is in Quiet Mountain ’Midsummer,’ she cannot use any skills."

A two-minute countdown appeared above Deceitful Bloom’s head.

But that wasn’t all!

With another strand of QM Rita’s hair turning white, she spoke again: "New setting: Players who die in ’Midsummer’ today cannot be resurrected!"

Deceitful Bloom’s eyes widened for the first time, and in them, the rapidly approaching tip of a sword and the cold, masked face of QM Rita reflected.

Clang!

A golden sword, formed from lightning, blocked the long blade, and through the storm of lightning, Deceitful Bloom could just make out QM Rita’s black pupils.

The thunderstorm had somehow stopped. Following the golden sword’s hilt, she could see a pale, strong hand resting on her right shoulder.

The person on her back remained slumped, seemingly still asleep, her chin resting on Deceitful Bloom’s left shoulder. In a cold, raspy voice, she spoke, so close that it sounded like a sigh:

—"Deceitful Bloom, you betrayed me?"