Chapter 20: 3v3 Arena (Conclusion)

"Huh? Is it really that absurd?"

Cynthia muttered to herself, feeling equally bewildered. The skill provided by that unreliable system was truly overpowered—so much so that she struggled to believe it was a product of such a glitchy source.

"My King, are you alright?" Rhea hurried to her side, shield raised. Cynthia collected herself, her face setting into a stoic mask. "I'm fine."

No sooner had she spoken than a sudden, sharp cracking sound echoed through the air. Everyone turned toward the source. Countless fractures were spiderwebbing across the surface of the ice that encased Lin Yan.

*Boom!*

The ice block shattered, fragments scattering in every direction. Amidst a shroud of emerald light, Lin Yan reappeared. His face was as pale as paper, his aura significantly diminished, and his eyes were filled with lingering terror and a deeper, more profound sense of shock and rage.

At the center of his forehead, a verdant, leaf-shaped rune shimmered for a moment before gradually fading away.

"Thank you, Goddess, for your protection," Lin Yan prayed, then turned his gaze toward Cynthia.

Cynthia stared back, refusing to back down.

"The Abyss race is truly cunning, sending a monster to participate in the Trial of the Path to Godhood."

Lin Yan’s voice trembled with a fear he couldn't hide. As he looked at Cynthia’s delicate, innocent face, a chill ran down his spine. It was, he realized, the most terrifying disguise in the world.

Seeing Lin Yan resurrected, Gerald and Herder each breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, in the livestream chat:

"Did Boss Lin Yan just come back from the dead? Does this mean that as long as you believe in the Goddess of Life, you have two lives in the Trial of the Path to Godhood?"

"Eternal life through the Goddess of Life?"

"Is it too late to start believing in the Goddess of Life now?"

"Between the Goddess of Life and Cynthia, who should we choose?"

"Team Cynthia, obviously! Our little one can be adorable, and she can beat up Star-level candidates. She's terrifyingly strong!"

"Only an idiot would choose that cub instead of the Goddess of Life."

"What’s wrong with a cub? She just beat a follower of the Goddess of Life until they couldn't even stand!"

A massive argument erupted in the stream. In the arena, the tension between Cynthia and Lin Yan remained at a breaking point.

"Gerald, let's retreat."

Lin Yan turned and walked away alone. Gerald shot Cynthia a glare, then flapped his wings to fly over to Herder. He kicked Herder’s leg. "Stop playing dead. We're pulling out."

Herder grunted in annoyance, transformed into his human form, and hurried after Lin Yan.

As Lin Yan’s team left the central hub of Starfall City, the mechanical voice of the Oracle rang out:

"Attention! The final victor of the arena is: Cynthia the—"

Mid-announcement, the Oracle suddenly glitched. Immediately, a different announcement followed:

"Attention! Mars, the God of Destruction, has descended into the arena!"

With the mechanical voice, a rift tore open in the sky. Countless purple lightning bolts flashed around the fissure, and an immense pressure began to spread rapidly.

Azathoth and Rhea encircled Cynthia, keeping a wary eye on the rift in the sky.

"Little one, I've come to collect you."

Mars’s voice arrived before he did.

Cynthia swallowed hard. Why did this god of misfortune have to show up so quickly?

"Heh... what an impolite little thing."

With a soft chuckle, a massive throne descended from the sky, landing right in front of Cynthia.

"Rhea, Azathoth..." Cynthia was just about to signal her subordinates to retreat when the Oracle’s announcement suddenly cut in.

"Attention! Candidates, the legendary item 'Blade of Time' has appeared in the Sea of Clarity. The entrance to the Sea of Clarity is now open: Starfall City."

The second the announcement ended, pillars of transport light ignited, enveloping every candidate in Starfall City.

When the light faded, Cynthia was gone from Mars’s sight.

"The Twins of Light and Dark."

Sensing the familiar fluctuations of divine power, Mars rose abruptly. The throne behind him rapidly disassembled into a ring of countless spikes, which floated behind him like a halo.

"As expected of the great Lord Mars, nothing escapes your notice."

A flippant male voice drifted from behind a half-broken decorative pillar to Mars’s right.

"A mere lackey, daring to provoke me? You seek death!"

Mars raised his hand, and the ring of spikes split into individual shards, flying toward the speaker.

The man had fox-like eyes, half-closed, with a mocking, half-smile playing on his lips. He snapped his fingers.

Mars's spikes froze in mid-air, as if solidified by invisible amber; even the destructive divine power coiled around them dimmed significantly.

The fox-eyed youth ignored the god-slaying spikes, leaped onto the collapsed ruins, and bowed to Mars with an exaggerated flourish.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Loka. By the order of my masters, I have come to offer the most sincere greetings to Lord Mars." The curve of his mouth carried undisguised mockery.

"And, by the way, to ensure that this interesting trial is not crudely interfered with by certain gods who don't follow the rules."

Mars looked at Loka, a flicker of displeasure passing through his crimson eyes.

He recognized the aura of divine power on the man—a blend of pure light and ultimate darkness. Though faint, its essence was supreme; this was indeed a direct herald of those annoying twins.

"Interfere?" Mars’s voice was low and dangerous; the surrounding air began to warp and burn from his fury.

"That Abyss cub! I claimed her first! You dare to challenge me?"

"Challenge? No, no, no," Loka waved his hands repeatedly, his smile unchanging.

"You misunderstand, Lord. The Twins are merely curious as to why that Abyss cub possesses such strange skills. We hope to test her limits through this trial."

As Loka spoke, he snapped his fingers again. The frozen spikes quietly dissolved into the finest particles, vanishing without a trace.

"So, please, keep your composure." A strange glint flashed in Loka’s eyes.

"For the sake of the Twins, could you please refrain from interfering in this trial? Lord Mars."

Mars stroked his chin, appearing to have heard something of interest. He leaned back, and the ring of spikes behind him reformed into a throne, catching him securely.

"Sounds interesting, but..." Mars’s voice turned icy.

"Tell those insufferable twins that I’ll keep this account for now. I will abide by their game rules, but that little one... she is destined to be my property. No one will take her from me!"

With that, Mars’s figure vanished from the arena with a thunderous crack of space.

Loka watched the spot where Mars had disappeared, his smile slowly fading. A look of solemnity flickered in his half-closed fox eyes.

"What a... volatile old fossil."

Loka muttered to himself before his playboy tone returned.

"But the show has only just begun... My King, I truly look forward to our next meeting."

His figure faded away, as if dissolving into the shadows.