The two couldn't see each other clearly. Even [Death] could only sense that the energy of those black flames had appeared before him.

Those black flames were originally his ability, so he was very familiar with them. They were the karmic fires of hell.

It wasn't the power of burning, but the power of annihilation, incinerating flesh, incinerating souls, bringing endless suffering.

But hearing "Sin's" incredibly relaxed voice, still carrying that flippant attitude, [Death] was also somewhat surprised.

The other party's state seemed quite relaxed.

[For us? It's not really appropriate to say 'us' at this moment, young man. I don't have any.]

Hearing [Death]'s voice, Lu Ce seemed to grow even more excited.

"Oh? Really? Well, it seems this is my exclusive benefit then. Does that mean my teammate is stronger than yours?"

[Death]: ......

[Heh, if you want to comfort yourself like that, fine. Good mentality.]

[However, merely having no innate sense of pain doesn't mean you won't be tormented under my black flames.]

[Are you truly not feeling any pain right now?]

"Not feeling it?"

Lu Ce repeated the words, his tone laced with a cold sneer.

As he spoke, he also paid attention to the voice that was now continuously ringing in his mind.

[Agony's Chosen, Agony Value +1!]

This sound was incessant. When Lu Ce said these black flames were a benefit for him, it wasn't just empty talk.

"How could I not feel it? I am acutely aware of the state I'm in. It hurts so much~."

Clearly able to discern the ease in Lu Ce's tone of voice, [Death] said nothing more.

If even this doesn't cause pain... it seems the connection between that guy [Agony] and him is deeper than imagined...

The black box became quiet again, leaving only the sound of black flames scorching flesh.

Lu Ce slightly turned his head, roughly facing the direction of Xie Antong outside the black box, the corners of his mouth curling up into a maniacal grin.

......

Outside, Xie Antong held the 15 cards in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly.

[Ah, it's fine, this is quite reasonable, isn't it?]

[As I said, these chips are a quantification of their lives. When you consume them, the other side must also consume some life. That should be reasonable, right?]

[Pleasure] looked at Xie Antong, still chatting and laughing.

He hadn't bothered to deduce how this game was specifically played, because if he did, wouldn't that mean he'd stooped to a lower level?

To win against this "Blank," did he really need to play the game? He only needed to shatter the other's psychological defenses.

[Look, he's still smiling, completely fine.]

[Can't figure out the game's logic? No problem, many hands make light work.]

[There are so many people here, all guessing about the game. Your All-Seeing Eye should be quite adept, right? See if you get any inspiration?]

Xie Antong kept her head down. The voice in her ear was like a devil's whisper, scattering her concentration.

She forced herself not to look in the direction where Lu Ce was, admonishing herself that Lu Ce had never felt pain anyway, so it didn't matter.

This form of black flames was just another method to disturb her spirit.

But even as she told herself this, the feeling was still extremely uncomfortable. Moreover, she only now realized why such a vast spectator area had appeared here.

As mentioned before, the spectators were also part of the game!

Their voices were not blocked at all. For this gamble with unknown rules, they could also participate in deciphering the puzzle.

However, a hundred million people might have a hundred million different ideas. Collecting and dissecting their thoughts was in itself an exceptionally brain-draining task!

This was very likely a trap!

But it was a trap she had to step into. If she completely ignored their voices, she wouldn't know the intelligence from [Pleasure]'s side.

Yet [Pleasure] could listen freely. No matter how much his own mind was taxed, it wouldn't reach the point of reducing [Death]'s life value.

Thinking this, Xie Antong had already placed the fifteen cards in her hand face down on the table. At the very least, she shouldn't let the other side know too much of her information.

As for how this game was specifically played... if she couldn't figure it out, she'd leave it to the opponent. Let [Pleasure] decipher it, and she would just judge [Pleasure]'s thoughts!

Watching the sand constantly falling in the hourglass, Xie Antong closed her eyes in agony once more, supporting her head with her hand, trying to clear her mind.

[Oh dear, why so serious? Didn't I say we're just playing around?]

Seeing the sand in the opponent's hourglass falling slower, [Pleasure] intended to provoke her further.

At that very moment, hearing his words, Xie Antong shuddered violently, her face contorting slightly, with even a faint trace of Divine Power flickering around her.

The hourglass stopped falling at that instant.

[Hahahahaha!]

The [Pleasure] opposite her watched this scene and laughed sarcastically, clapping his hands in great satisfaction.

He was very pleased with Xie Antong's performance.

—She had actually resorted to using Divine Power to forcibly suppress her own mental state, turning herself into an empty-headed fool.

Although it had indeed stopped falling, this obvious sign of desperation made him feel he had already won.

[Hahahaha, little girl. After your brilliant performance last time, you seem to have weakened a bit this time.]

[Is not being able to use your brain such a huge debuff for you? Last time you made me lose a portion of my Divine Power, and I'm still quite resentful about that, you know.]

Xie Antong ignored him, maintaining her previous state: one hand gripping the hourglass, the other supporting her head, appearing to be painfully suppressing her thoughts.

After a long while, she finally recovered. The hourglass before her eyes had completely stopped falling. She looked somewhat coldly at the [Pleasure] across from her.

[Oh ho? Managed to keep consciousness but stop thinking? Not bad.]

[But what's the use? If you don't think, you still won't understand how to play this game.]

[You're not thinking of letting me decipher the game rules while you reap the benefits, are you?]

[Pleasure]'s expression was utterly sinister, hitting exactly what Xie Antong had been thinking moments before.

[I can't be bothered to figure out how this game is supposed to be played. However, I think there's a better way.]

[After all, we've been together for so long, and I quite like you~. So, I can go easy on you again.]

As he spoke, he leaned forward, gathered the twenty-five hourglasses in front of him, and looked at Xie Antong with a wicked smile, like a cold, venomous serpent.

[Let's both ignore what the rules are and go all-in right away! How about it?]