Pelican Bay State Prison — the most infamous penitentiary, said to house the world’s most dangerous and depraved criminals.

…

Villard smiled, seemingly unbothered by the pain of his burns. He leaned forward slightly, looking at Bai Youwei. “I survived. And I will continue to live. If you have any last wishes, you might as well say them — perhaps I can help you fulfill them.”

Knowing this was provocation, Bai Youwei still found herself genuinely thinking it over… If she truly was going to die this time, were there any unfulfilled wishes left?

Had she not lived long enough?

Had she not seen enough of the world?

One face after another flashed through her mind. Her heart was, surprisingly, calm.

She had once thought she would spend her entire life confined to a wheelchair in quiet monotony. But everything she had lived through on this journey — she had already gained far more than she had ever expected.

If there was one regret, it was that before she had entered the battle, Shen Mo had not yet returned. She had not been able to look at him one last time, had not been able to share one last embrace, one last kiss…

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke through her thoughts.

Bai Youwei’s thoughts were cut short. She turned her head and couldn’t help but widen her eyes. “…You… you all, how did you…”

Shen Mo walked toward her with a grave expression, long strides closing the distance in moments, with Tan Xiao, Cheng Weicai, and Pan Xiaoxin behind him.

Tan Xiao took one look at the crowd on the opposite side and let out an exaggerated whistle. “Holy — Weiwei, you ditched us just to take them all on by yourself?”

“I…” Bai Youwei had barely opened her mouth when Shen Mo cut her off.

“What are the game rules?” Shen Mo asked.

Bai Youwei: “…”

Had she just been given the cold shoulder?

Across the arena, Villard let out a quiet laugh. “What a touching scene… To make it here before the decisive battle began, the bond between you all must be something truly special. If I can let you all die together, I suppose that would count as doing a good deed.”

The subjects behind him burst into laughter, eyeing Bai Youwei and Shen Mo’s group with open contempt.

Five people against forty-five. It was obviously like throwing an egg against a stone.

Bai Youwei’s eyes darkened as she stared coldly at Villard. “Your sense of superiority is utterly baffling. Instead of worrying about whether we’ll die, you’d better worry about yourself. If you lose, won’t the people standing behind you tear you apart?”

Villard seemed to find this amusing. “Do you think I’ll lose to you twice?”

Bai Youwei: “If not for sheer luck, you wouldn’t even have survived to face me at the decisive battle.”

Something shifted in Villard’s half-burned face — something more savage, and also colder.

After a few seconds of silence, his bandaged body seemed to sag with exhaustion. He leaned back slightly and said in an unhurried rasp:

“This time is different… This time, I will transfer the reward I earn from winning to the subjects who stand behind me. And of course, if the reward fails to satisfy them, I will demote them from subject to commoner and fulfill their request to withdraw from the game.”

The expressions among the forty-five subjects varied — but the one thing they all shared was the burning hunger in their eyes.

Forty-five people against a mere five. Who would be willing to give up an advantage that vast?

Bai Youwei glanced at Shen Mo with concern.

But Shen Mo was not looking at her.

Bai Youwei: “…”

“My apologies for the wait, everyone.” Tu Shenshi entered the decisive battle arena and gave a courteous bow. “I am the inspector for this decisive battle. Now that everyone has arrived, allow me to explain the specific details of this battle once more.”

Bai Youwei and Villard both stopped talking.

Everyone turned to face the inspector.

“First…” Tu Shenshi walked between the two thrones and smiled. “I must inform both parties — the prize for ultimate victory is…”

A brief pause.

It said softly: “This world.”

—