Bai Youwei arrived at the rest hall alone.

There were still 19 hours until the decisive battle.

The rabbit-headed inspector saw her and was mildly surprised. “You seem to have arrived early.”

“Arriving early means more time to prepare.” Bai Youwei smiled faintly, tilting her head to glance at the glowing square behind it. “Is that it? The entrance to the decisive battle.”

“Yes, everything is ready.” Tu Shenshi said. “The King will lead their subjects into the battlefield. Once inside, no one may leave until it ends.”

Bai Youwei shook her head gently. “No need… I’ll go in alone.”

Tu Shenshi looked at her. “The decisive battle is the final combat game. If you lose, everything you’ve worked for will be in vain.”

“Even without bringing subjects, that doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily lose, does it?” Bai Youwei stroked the rabbit nestled against her chest, her expression unchanged. “I’ve heard my opponent is already on death’s door. There’s a chance I might win quite easily.”

“The inspector will not interfere with any decision made by a player…” Tu Shenshi said slowly, “but out of caution, I must ask you once more — are you certain you want to go in alone?”

Bai Youwei fell silent.

Was she certain?

…In truth, she was not.

She simply felt that going in alone was the best choice.

Shen Mo had already walked this road with her for far too long. If Villard truly possessed a lethal item capable of controlling players, she should not drag Shen Mo back into danger — and she certainly could not involve her other companions either.

If Villard no longer had it — as Yan Qingwen had said, Fu Miaoxue’s final desperate strike had destroyed the item — then she might not be without a chance of winning.

She had many items, and she had the rabbit… Right now, her greatest obstacle was her legs.

Bai Youwei turned it over in her mind again and again, and ultimately decided to go in alone.

“I’m not going in to die.” She chose her words carefully, speaking slowly, as if trying to convince herself. “Not bringing subjects into battle means that, at least psychologically, I’ll feel lighter.”

If she won, all would be well. If she lost, she could at least die in peace.

“Understood.” Tu Shenshi stepped slightly to the side, clearing the path. “Please, enter — contending King.”

Bai Youwei exhaled slowly and wheeled herself into the glowing square. The last glowing square.

……

“Welcome to the Decisive Battle Arena——”

The cold voice of the system rang out, instantly familiar to Bai Youwei.

She recognized that voice. Every time she had emerged from the maze, it was this voice that told her how many puzzle pieces she had earned.

Everything around her was still blank. Was it because the decisive battle had not yet begun, which was why there was nothing here?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when the scene before her shifted. In the center of the space, two chairs appeared — red velvet trimmed with gold, like the thrones of kings.

The two magnificent chairs faced each other, positioned very close together, barely a meter apart.

Between the chairs, a sword had been thrust into the floor.

Or more precisely — a scabbard. The sword itself was not inside it.

Since the game had not yet begun, no one had explained the rules. But just from looking at the arrangement before her, Bai Youwei could roughly deduce that the decisive battle probably required no movement.

Two chairs, evidently fixed seats for two Kings. The scabbard was planted between them, within arm’s reach. The rest of the arena had no other furniture or layout whatsoever. It seemed this “battlefield” was far smaller than she had expected.

She had assumed that as the final battle, it would be something vast and spectacular.

She wheeled herself over to the chairs. The backs were inlaid with gemstones — one chair set with rubies, the other with sapphires.

Bai Youwei chose the ruby chair.

The moment she sat down, the voice in the air rang out again: “The rules of this battle game will now be explained to you——

One: after the game begins, a sword will appear in the scabbard. The King must draw the sword and attack their opponent.

Two: the only valid attack targets are the chest, abdomen, right arm, left arm, right leg, and left leg.

Three: each King will receive one invisible shield. Choose carefully which body part you wish to protect.

Four: if an attack strikes the shield, the shield count will automatically increase by one…”

—