The moment the countdown in the sky hit zero, a new series of notifications echoed across the map.

[Hunter World "Isolated Isle" is now officially online]

[Final Battle Special Game Rules:

Killing hunters will no longer allow players to change invasion worlds;

"Isolated Isle" players will no longer die permanently;

Players will separate from their Mechanoids and fight in teams;

When Mechanoids kill each other, they earn 20% of the opponent's severance rewards;

Map restrictions lifted; players may now use skills, gear, and items unlocked in this Divine Game;

During this phase, when a player is killed, they will be transferred to the killer's server. "Isolated Isle" players are excluded from this mechanism.]

A golden rain curtain fell once more, shimmering like scattered gold beneath the sun.

Rita's heart pounded wildly.

Was it fear?

No—excitement.

Heaven-sent opportunity. What game mechanic could ever be more favorable for BS-?

How had she risen so quickly?

Because [Wrathful Moon] allowed her to ignore almost all restrictions inside the Divine Game.

The remaining forty-nine players were unquestionably strong—

out in the real worlds, she wouldn't win against a single one of them.

But inside the Divine Game?

They were not unbeatable.

She opened her status panel.

Just as she suspected—step 13.

When she gained Elemental Bond from Card Swap, and later received the Divine Game's lessons on how to manipulate elements, she had felt her power double. Yet for some reason, that final threshold to step 13 never came—

as if an invisible progress bar sat just shy of complete.

Now, with her Player Relic awakened and her stats skyrocketing after devouring the Vine apple, she had finally crossed that barrier.

Her mind flew through a dozen names, a dozen possibilities.

Which of them best suited BS-?

If she recruited them, how would she maintain balance afterward?

Should they become BS-'s companions in life and death, or leaders sharing its glory and disgrace?

What were their ambitions? Would they fight for BS- if she demanded it?

Y128 rematerialized beside her and ran alongside her. When it saw Rita abruptly change direction upon hearing the notifications, it hurried after her.

"Where are we going?" it asked.

Rita turned her head and smiled, eyes gleaming with a brilliance Y128 struggled to describe with any word in its database.

"To welcome BS-'s new leader."

Another new smile—Y128 thought—yet another expression that made it feel like it was meeting BS-Rita for the first time all over again.

Like a long-dormant predator finally seeing the prey it had been waiting for.

In that instant, her thirst for battle overwhelmed everything else.

She reached into the gacha machine, retrieved the cat-head charm, and clipped it to her collar.

Ahead, she saw the silhouette of her chosen target—

Pine Bloom.

If Lania Kaia could recruit someone, why couldn't BS-?

Pine Bloom—it would be you.

Hearing the crackle of lightning behind her, Pine Bloom glanced back. She instantly turned and rushed toward Rita with a laugh.

"Been looking for you."

Nivalis burst from the pet space, activating [For Her Perfection]. Her stats surged to match Rita's, and she charged at Pine Bloom from the right.

Golden lightning gathered in Rita's hand until it formed a dagger composed entirely of crackling radiance.

Y128 sprinted toward Pine Bloom's cooperating Mechanoid partner from the left.

Right as the battle converged, Rita cast a skill on Pine Bloom:

[The Owl Has Been Kidnapped]: Select a target and transfer the remaining cooldown time of one of your own skills to them.

Naturally, Rita transferred the cooldown of [Flower of Deceit].

The moon sigil on the black collar lit up once more.

Pine Bloom's wings shifted back into dragon wings.

Her pupils morphed into those of a dragon.

Rita felt her own [Mystic Force] state vanish instantly.

She used [No Escape], entering a full invisibility state—undetectable, untargetable.

Then—

[Moment of Reversal]!

Rita's HP shot back to full, while Pine Bloom's dropped to below one percent.

Thunder fell from the golden rain curtain, striking down at Pine Bloom—

but it didn't finish her.

A pair of enormous nearly transparent dragon wings folded around Pine Bloom, shielding her.

[Gratitude for Nature's Gift]!

Rita sacrificed one permanent point of attribute and stole all of Pine Bloom's current states—

including this one called [Mistaken Encounter].

Immediately afterward, while still in [Midnight Exile], Rita's lightning dagger descended.

A blast of dragon breath froze Pine Bloom, and within that icy field, her casting time doubled.

A massive pure-white warhammer veined with emerald patterns flew toward Nivalis, smashing her deep into the sand.

At the same time, Pine Bloom exploded into a storm of emerald leaves.

Soft green leaves fluttered in the air.

Every time lightning approached, the leaves drifted aside with uncanny precision.

When Rita struck, the leaves shifted away from her dagger before the blade even landed.

Her Mechanoid tried to rush in for support, but Y128 locked it down.

Rita chuckled. "Amazing, aren't you? BS-Pine Bloom."

Pine Bloom: "…"

If she'd had a mouth, she would've snapped back.

Rita unleashed [Aria of the Setting Sun]!

A flaming ring erupted outward from her, blasting players and hunters away—

and also striking the swirling leaves.

Pine Bloom's hidden ability must have had healing attached; the fire ring didn't finish her. It even reflected damage.

The more Rita attacked, the more her own HP dropped.

But under [Midnight Exile], how long could even a sealed Owl Emperor endure?

Reality answered:

not easily.

As leaves were blasted aside, Nivalis clawed her way out of the sand and cast [Crimson Dandelion] on Rita—90 percent damage reduction, continuous healing.

Rita stepped lightly, Flash Step into the core of the leafy storm—

[Freeze Again] + [Falling Starry Sky]!

Frozen leaves shattered under the falling stars.

A dragon's roar tore through the air.

The leaves vaporized into smoke, revealing Pine Bloom behind Rita, gripping her pure-white warhammer with that dragonscale-covered right hand.

Dozens of arm-thick gold lightning bolts fell.

Vines shot upward like emerald spears, one intercepting each bolt and every angle of attack.

Rita spun, blocking the hammer with her lightning dagger.

Even as pain from [Absurd Story] tore through her soul, Pine Bloom didn't flinch.

Rita reacted instantly, triggering three arts at once:

Ultimate Art [Phoenix Seat]—

Ultimate Art [School Rule No. 801]—

Ultimate Art [Unchanged Fate].

Tenfold attributes.

One minute of free cooldown manipulation.

Ten minutes of forcibly locked states.

The hunters and players blasted away earlier by the fire ring had arrived again—

closing in fast.

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