Beyond its Sun and Moon forms, the Player Relic had one more ability, a skill shared across both modes.

[Flower of Deceit]: Select any existence and turn it into a temporary Golden Apple that belongs to you. Consume the Golden Apple to destroy or kill that existence. The apple lasts for one minute. After using this skill, you must choose one mode of the Player Relic; that mode will shut down for ten Starsea days.

When Rita tried to put away the relic, the painting no longer turned back into a ring.

Instead, it dissolved into a black choker and reappeared around her throat.

She touched it lightly.

The texture was the same as the painting, and at the front, a small metal plate was engraved with a crescent moon.

Tracing her fingers along the back, she found another plate—this one etched with a sun.

Sun and Moon forms.

But was this a piece of jewelry, or a shackle?

If this were in the past, she would have seen it as nothing more than an accessory.

When she still worked as a star, she had worn plenty of chokers; this was nothing new.

But now… now it felt more like a collar.

She grit her teeth and yanked it off.

She tried slipping it around her wrist instead, but the moment she released it, it reappeared around her neck.

She tore it off again.

Pain bloomed sharp across her skin as a thin line of blood slid down her neck.

Her lips parted, baring her teeth faintly—she wasn't sure whether the reaction came from pain or anger.

A few eyes landed on her.

Her fingers tightened on the choker until they turned pale.

After a brief standoff, her expression chilled, and she casually flung the choker away—letting it snap right back to its place against her throat.

Someday, she would fasten this chain around Deceitful Bloom's neck instead.

Her gaze, still edged with cold fury, swept across the other players. Their relics had changed as well.

Dawn-Cicada's relic, once a towering black cello, had transformed into a silver-white scepter.

Vines spiraled along its shaft, winding all the way to a black rose-shaped gem at the top.

Maple Syrup's relic was a maple leaf; when she stored it away, the wings at her back shifted—each owl feather turning into a layered maple leaf.

Pine Bloom's black dragon-scale gauntlet, Mistblade's gemstone pendant at the end of their hair…

Before Rita could finish examining them, all players were expelled from the temple.

...

The rowdy temple fell silent.

A thick, intoxicating floral scent—previously sealed away by divine skill—spread across the hall.

Most of the gods left one after another.

Only Deceitful Bloom remained.

She lounged back on her divine seat, right hand buried in her hair as she leaned her head lazily.

The Vine winding around her was in full bloom—deceptive blossoms glistening like rubies.

Foolishness exited the group chat and noticed that only she and Deceitful Bloom were left.

She shot Deceitful Bloom a sidelong glance and said casually, "Feeling satisfied now? Dawn-Cicada's relic changed from 'Decayed Faith' to 'Crown Me.'"

But her remark received no reply.

When she looked over again, she found Deceitful Bloom staring blankly ahead.

Following her gaze, Foolishness spotted several drops of blood on the temple's enchanted floor.

Before she could comment, Deceitful Bloom spoke first.

Her question, however, was almost childishly pointless.

"So… do you think she cried just now?"

Foolishness sat back down.

She didn't answer.

Instead, she cut straight to the core.

"So you were angry at her, weren't you?"

"No."

"You were angry that despite being a god, she sees you as no different from some ordinary undead mentor. You gave her favor, yet she believed it was nothing more than your boredom. She didn't worship you blindly, and that upset you, didn't it?"

"You really should stop doing that thing where you analyze people and narrate it to their faces. It's dreadfully dull. And regardless of whether I'm angry or not, my plan won't change."

Foolishness' crossed leg swung happily.

"I suddenly remembered something. You—who loves giving divine tokens more than anyone—have never given one to her. You know, that deliberate avoidance and selective neglect? That itself is a kind of special treatment."

Deceitful Bloom finally responded.

"You can sit here enjoying the show because your own species and world have no future this era. But Vineborne still has a real chance. In the next era, Vineborne may thrive like the children of Isolated Isle. They might even birth another god."

Foolishness laughed softly.

She couldn't help herself—this was even more entertaining than Rita's existence itself.

Because Deceitful Bloom… was dodging the questions.

Not only dodging—she was overexplaining in order to cover it.

Foolishness' tone grew whimsical, almost singsong.

"She hates you.

"Hates you so much that even a choker makes her think of a controlling chain.

"You could have stopped her from seeing you. Could have stopped her from learning the truth.

None of it would have affected your plan.

"But you walked out of the shadows anyway.

"You don't care whether Dawn-Cicada loves or hates you.

But you care about her.

"That's what you wanted, isn't it?

From now on, she'll hold you as someone even more special than Lightchaser.

"You Vineborne really can't stand losing.

"I wonder… letting her see your true appearance—was that part of your plan, or was that the one thing you didn't plan?"

A dragon of countless petals burst forth, its floral roar engulfing Foolishness.

When the petals dispersed, she was gone—

Only her faint laughter remained echoing through the temple.

...

Y128 kept glancing at Rita from time to time.

Rita finally asked, "What is it?"

Y128 decided to be diplomatic.

"Your Player Relic suddenly became extremely powerful."

Rita replied casually, "That's just the pace I grow at. You'll get used to it."

Y128: "..."

Being able to joke like this—

regardless of mood—

might genuinely be another form of emotional stability.

Lightchaser's miniature avatar was still alive outside, stronger than most players.

So Rita and Y128 continued prioritizing survival.

Some players were still trying to form teams to take down the hunters.

But this was already the third phase.

Only three maps remained, each one receiving ten more hunters.

The maps were too large, and the hunters were too organized—calling for backup whenever they howled.

If not for the massive power spike granted by awakened Player Relics, the game would already be hopelessly one-sided.

But none of that stopped Rita.

Just when Y128 thought the survival plan was going smoothly, Rita abruptly changed direction and commanded:

"Come on. We're going to kill a player."

"Who?" Y128 asked.

Rita's response was cold and absolute.

"Dawn-Cicada. Vineborne. Kill her."

Y128: ???

Wait—

Wasn't the rumor that Dawn-Cicada was the one chasing Rita?

How did this suddenly reverse?

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