Xie Antong fell silent for a moment.

Sometimes, memories felt like a kind of curse. Since she had seen it, forgetting was impossible.

It's just that what she remembered was the game she had once participated in with Lu Ce.

What Chiyo Eine remembered was that first meeting, that confrontation.

"Alright, I still remember," Xie Antong forced a smile. "Good, saves you from having to run so far."

As she spoke, she stepped forward and grabbed Chiyo Eine's wrist.

To be honest, facing Chiyo Eine now always gave her an awkward feeling. They hadn't been in frequent contact lately.

She asked herself, since joining the Game, she had never truly owed anyone anything. But Chiyo Eine was probably the first person she had genuinely deceived and used.

Back then, she thought that since Chiyo was always hostile towards Lu Ce and was essentially on Japan's side... But ever since establishing Divine Punishment, the other party had been sincerely helping her.

It seemed like she was the only one who had never been honest with the other. The feigned hostility with Lu Ce... it felt like the person she had deceived the most was Chiyo...

With a flash, she and Chiyo Eine vanished from the basement.

When they reappeared, they were already in Tokyo, the city where Lu Ce had first used his Overload form a long time ago.

It was still daytime, lacking the neon light pollution atmosphere, but the large, vibrant characters lining the shops on the street, arranged like fish scales, still highlighted the city's distinctive character.

Belonging to the same East Asian cultural sphere, with politics relatively focused on stability, this place had not yet descended into the pre-apocalyptic chaos and was barely maintaining order.

Or perhaps, the people might not yet realize the apocalypse had arrived.

"Wow, that fast? Truly a powerful ability. I always knew you'd reach world first-tier strength someday," Chiyo Eine remarked, feeling the sensation of teleporting thousands of miles in an instant. She then raised a hand and pointed.

"Look there."

Xie Antong looked over. It was a television tower, currently reflecting the sunlight, looking quite new.

"After you guys left last time, the original TV tower got melted by that idiot Sun, right? So they built a new one."

"My family funded its construction. Actually, at the very top of the tower, there's the Divine Punishment emblem. Heh, I had it engraved in both Chinese and Japanese."

Xie Antong silently looked at the television tower, unsure what to say.

"Want to eat something? My family has a lot of businesses here."

Chiyo Eine didn't seem to have the tension of someone about to face a god. It was as if she had brought Xie Antong to Tokyo for tourism, wanting to show her around.

Without waiting for Xie Antong's agreement, she pulled her into a ramen shop.

"I used to eat here often as a child. Later, I bought the place. If you don't try the takoyaki here, it would be a real shame."

Xie Antong smiled and nodded. It was indeed time to eat. Strangely enough, the two of them just started eating.

Xie Antong ate, responding to Chiyo Eine's topics like a listener.

They chatted like friends, but Xie Antong felt inexplicably heavy.

One must understand, Chiyo Eine's abilities and strength were largely invested in intellect and strategy. She wasn't a fool.

Xie Antong didn't believe she hadn't yet noticed the issues between herself and Lu Ce.

She thought the other would ask her, even interrogate her about the founding of Divine Punishment, her deception.

But none of that happened. Her topics reverted to a girlish feel, revolving around recent interesting events in Tokyo, everything that had happened in Divine Punishment in the past.

They kept talking until the meal was finished. Only then did Chiyo Eine say with a smile:

"Sorry, I know you're busy, yet I dragged you to accompany me for so long. The world is about to end, and we're still chatting about useless things."

"No, the takoyaki was delicious," Xie Antong said. "If anyone should apologize, it should be me."

Chiyo Eine tilted her head to the side, saying nothing.

"Forget it. Let it be. You should go back now."

"Has he repaid everything he owed you?"

At the very end, she seemed to bring up this sentence very casually.

"He doesn't owe me anything. In fact, he helped me a lot, saved me many times."

"That's good then."

"..."

"Don't let him betray you."

It seemed there was really nothing left to say. The two bid farewell in a strange atmosphere.

"Good luck. Don't think They are too difficult to deal with. I believe you can win this time!"

After saying this last, Xie Antong vanished from the spot.

Chiyo Eine remained seated, looking at the opposite seat in silence for a long time.

Would there be another chance to meet alive?

Actually, she had known for a long time that she and the other were not on the same path.

...

For players participating in the god-player wager, these two days were, for many, like Chiyo Eine's, spent fulfilling their yet-unfinished "last wishes."

After all, this was likely the final opportunity. However, they didn't feel much fear either. Even if they fell before the world's destruction, at least they had tried.

Except for Sun and Lu Ce. The mindset of these two was probably truly geared towards deicide.

Time flew by. Amidst the world's watchful discussions, the day of the Game had arrived once more.

20 minutes before the Game began.

Xie Antong and Lu Ce sat together, about to enter the Game. They had still met up and were chatting.

...

"This means she likes you! Hahahaha, the world is more open now. Being gay is no big deal," Lu Ce teased.

"So, you plan to turn your back and deny everything?" Xie Antong's expression turned somewhat unfriendly.

The two were now basically in a state of tacitly acknowledged romance. It's just that the pressure from the world was too heavy, leaving little mental space to make it explicit.

"Of course I acknowledge it," Lu Ce said calmly. "So you have to survive, leave the person for me."

Xie Antong frowned slightly. Speaking of life and death reminded her of the look in Chiyo Eine's eyes. Back then, she clearly also had a death wish.

And also...

"Right, I'm giving the Gate of Death back to you! You're way too good at seeking death."

As she spoke, Xie Antong forced a long needle out from her chest, only to have it forcefully pushed back in.

"No need. This isn't about seeking death. This time, going in is all about risking our lives."

"I'm stronger. You keep it. Besides, it was originally supposed to be yours anyway."

Xie Antong immediately grew anxious. She was worried Lu Ce wouldn't take it.

For humanity, Lu Ce's life was now the most crucial.

[The Game is about to begin. Please prepare, all players! Players participating in the god-player wager will enter the Game ten seconds early!]

It's here!

"Hah, even setting up a countdown. The Arbitrator sure knows how to have fun," Lu Ce joked.

Then, he firmly pressed the Gate of Death back into Xie Antong's chest, turned to look at her, and said. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"For this Game... I might actually need to die once myself..."