They had barely escaped Lightchaser's barrier when Rita immediately ran into another "familiar face"—Lania Kaia Wither Monarch.

The undead queen's health and energy were both nearly empty.

Rita didn't even glance at her and kept running, wanting to get away before that headmaster finished her current fight.

But unexpectedly, Wither Monarch began moving toward her and shouted in Owlet Tongue, "BS-Rita! Now! I'm giving you a chance to kill me.

"If you agree, I can use a skill to immobilize Loriden for twenty seconds. I know you definitely brought a movement skill. Kill me and you can leave right after.

"I swear I won't fight back. Just don't let me die by a hunter's hand. Don't let Dawn's invasion of Lania Kaia go up by two percent. I'm begging you—kill me."

Rita replied, "There's a deal like that?"

Even as she said it, she ran even faster and urged Y128 to speed up too.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Wither Monarch. On the contrary, she didn't need any skill to know Wither Monarch was absolutely telling the truth.

Leaders were chosen by their world because they lived and died with it.

No matter their temperament—cruel, noble, impulsive, or calm—even if they had grown complacent with time, once they stepped onto the battlefield they fought for their world. As long as it benefited their world, they let go of personal grudges.

If she died to a hunter, Dawn's invasion of Lania Kaia increased by two percent. If she died to BS-Rita, only BS- gained a slight level cap increase. The choice was obvious.

If it kept Dawn's invasion progress a little lower, why wouldn't she kneel and beg an enemy player who wasn't even stronger than her to kill her?

But Rita didn't believe Wither Monarch was without backup.

The undead—especially one closest to death, one who had studied death her whole life—were never without tricks. Rita feared hidden risks.

Besides, with Lightchaser's little fairy working outside nonstop, there was no need to take such a risk just for a minor level-cap bonus. Wither Monarch also wasn't in the painting, and Loriden was right there watching. Killing Wither Monarch here was high risk, low reward.

Rita avoided all hunters who used unpredictable methods whenever she could.

While running, she shouted back, "Handle your own problems! How old are you?!"

Wither Monarch blocked Loriden's pickaxe, disappointment flashing in her eyes.

Y21351 said, "Told you so. Your trick was never going to convince her. Word is she's very cunning."

Wither Monarch said, "I'm sorry."

Y21351 said, "It's fine. Just a failed resignation."

Then Wither Monarch stopped resisting completely. She had no strength left, and the skill she intended to save for BS-Rita would instead go to the hunter before her.

That was fine too. If she couldn't give Lania Kaia to BS-Rita's hands, then she could at least use this moment to cut Dawn out of the equation.

The pickaxe struck. With the sound of metal landing repeatedly, Wither Monarch fell.

[ Hunter Loriden has slain player Lania Kaia Wither Monarch. Detecting current invasion sequence "Dawn — Lania Kaia — BS-." Dawn's invasion of Lania Kaia +2%. ]

That was the message everyone else heard.

But what Loriden heard was something else.

[ Remaining Mechanoid count on this map: 2001. ]

Still too many… far too many…

Before Loriden could resume hunting, he felt his health drop rapidly.

[ You have been struck by Undead Curse: Die With Me. ]

He calculated. One minute left to live. Good. Enough time for a few more kills. That passing Mechanoid shouldn't be too far—

A second later, a white light fell on him and the curse vanished.

Loriden didn't turn around. He laughed. "You said you'd never dispel my curses again."

Behind him, Chord Answer's voice drifted away. "Get out of here before Ash Cinders kills you."

…

When the death notice for Wither Monarch sounded, Rita had just used Romantic Tourist to jump out of Lightchaser's range.

After landing, she waited for Loriden's death message—but nothing came.

She had overthought it?

Well, she didn't exactly regret leaving.

Another notification popped up.

When Rita spotted a player in her peripheral vision, her eyes lit up instantly. She shouted to Y128 with excitement, "That one! Go! Kill him!"

Winter Sea Frenzied Shark.

Not far away, struggling against a hunter, Winter Sea Frenzied Shark fell silent.

His small robot, Y28011, said, "You two have a feud?"

"Yes, but it's complicated," Winter Sea Frenzied Shark said with deep misery. "All I know is I suffered massive losses. She was only level two when she exploded over dragon blood, she stole four of my innate skills and I can't ever get them back…

"She even turned my pet against me. My Thorn of Resentment cried nonstop…

"In short, she already avenged herself on the spot and even followed up remotely, but I still haven't avenged myself!"

His world had collapsed the day his own species betrayed him. The other half collapsed when Midnight Exile robbed him of four skills.

Rita was already charging, dagger in her left hand and a broad blade in her right.

Barely controlling half his body, Winter Sea Frenzied Shark dodged his Mechanoid partner's magic attack and asked wearily, "You know BS-Rita's Mechanoid? Who's stronger, you or him?"

Y28011 answered in an even older, more jaded tone, "That's Y128. It covers the rear during transport caravans. I always walk in the middle. You tell me."

Winter Sea Frenzied Shark said, "I think it's you. Give me hope. Tell me loudly you walk in the middle because you have connections."

Y28011: "…"

Rita had never tested whether shared kills counted toward awakening her Player Relic, but since she was already here, she stabbed as fast as she could.

Y128 cooperated, matching her tempo and angles.

The two Mechanoids had similar stats. With her background in two legendary assassin lineages, Rita stayed behind her target every second.

The magic-user couldn't land a hit, even with a skill that could dispel Rita's special state.

Winter Sea Frenzied Shark lasted barely two seconds. Realizing he had zero chance, he began retreating while blocking magic and also leaning into Rita's attacks.

He made the same choice Wither Monarch had made.

Better to die to a player than a hunter.

Rita saw his intention. She didn't need his help to kill him but she did need to ensure the last hit was hers—and she still had to use him to stall the magic-user.

She ordered, "Find a way to immobilize that mage. Otherwise I'll let him take the kill."

A test cost nothing anyway.

Winter Sea Frenzied Shark: …

Yes. He had to beg Rita to kill him.

At one sliver of health, he drove his greatsword into the ground. Sword-light raced forward through cracked earth, forcing the mage into a three-second stasis.

[ Player BS-Rita has slain player Winter Sea Frenzied Shark. Detecting "BS" abnormal state. Reward converted to "BS" player level cap +0.1. ]

At the same moment, Rita had already unfolded her painting.

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