The sunrise over Twilight Library always came earlier than in other cities. The white structure was washed in pale gold, its sharp silhouette like a beacon in the desert.
The waiting felt endless. Even Maple Syrup, usually composed, strolled over to Moonlight Marsh’s zone just to chat. That only made Mistblade’s two teammates more nervous, so after a short exchange Rita followed Maple Syrup to the cluster where the solo entrants had gathered. She needed to get to know her other teammates anyway. If the first match was a team battle, awkward introductions could kill them.
Most of the players here had blinked in with teleportation or movement skills. Each of them wore a recommendation badge on their chest—special entries purchased from past Divine Game champions.
Mojie, with his ridiculous crab-shroom perched on his head, greeted her with the worst possible line: "Why do you look like you haven’t changed much?"
Pomango made a hand gesture measuring Rita’s height. "She did get a little taller."
Rita smiled without smiling. "Charmed, I’m sure."
A year on the River of Time had left her taller, closer to one-seventy, and the sleek black Moonlight Marsh uniform suited her much better than it had before—sharp, tailored, dignified. Too bad everyone here was taller still.
Neither Mojie nor Pomango wore their Deep Sea Mine uniforms anymore. Their clothes screamed high-end—fabric in the same class as Lightchaser’s casual gear, easily worth five figures. And those boots... Rita recognized the brand instantly. Lightchaser owned a pair that cost eighty thousand gold.
Rich bastards. Should’ve gone mining herself.
Pine Bloom gave Rita a nod, then asked, "So I heard your mentor is Lightchaser. She taking more students?"
Every nerve in Rita went on alert. "Nope!"
"Shame." Pine Bloom shrugged. "Guess I’ll keep looking."
Rita twitched. "Are you really that oblivious about your reputation? Even I’ve heard the stories."
"Even if Pomango and I handed you every last one of our seventeen-point-two-one million gold, you wouldn’t find one." Mojie’s voice was matter-of-fact.
The number hit Rita like a hammer. "You... burned through it that fast?"
Pomango pressed her temple like she had a migraine. "Do you have to announce our savings to the world?"
"Yes. Absolutely." Mojie’s tone was resolute. "I’ve kept it in for years. If I don’t say it out loud, I’ll go insane. I didn’t even mention the small change."
"That’s only because you’re worried the number would be too long for anyone to remember," Rita muttered.
Pomango pointed a finger. "See? Even the new kid gets why you leave off the decimals!"
Pine Bloom cut in, her tone flat. "I swear, Mojie, if you drop another savings figure in the middle of a conversation, I’ll kill you both before the match starts."
"Me too?!" Pomango protested. "Are you sure about that?"
Rita turned to Maple Syrup, pointing at the bickering trio. "This is the team you put together?"
"What?" Maple Syrup looked genuinely baffled. "You’re fitting right in."
Rita was about to fire back when she noticed the two little charms dangling from Maple Syrup’s collar—Q-version owlbear cookies. She pointed. "And those are...?"
Maple Syrup’s face lit up with pride. "Cookies I baked myself. Owlbear cookies!"
From behind, Pine Bloom tilted her head toward Rita and deadpanned, "Left one’s her dad. Right one’s her mom. You should probably say hi. They’re still alive."
Rita’s voice came out dry. "...Hello, Uncle. Hello, Auntie."
Maple Syrup pointed to an empty spot beside her. "That’s reserved for Mountfuse."
"...That’s thoughtful," Rita managed. "I’m sure he’ll appreciate it."
Mojie broke in. "I heard Mountfuse’s bounty is eight million. With our seventeen-point-two-one mil, we could buy him twice over. Maybe get a bonus target thrown in."
"Eight mil’s just the down payment." Pomango groaned. "Look, can we compromise? Just... announce your own share next time?"
"Nope." Mojie folded his arms. "I can’t dodge assassins alone."
Pomango went silent, resignation written all over her face.
The tension was thick enough to suffocate. Rita was sure fists—or spells—were about to fly. That was when Crab strolled into view. NightFury was already moving in from the other side, Frenzied Shark charging hard from the waiting zone. Before any blows landed, a pale blue curtain unfurled across the sky like a scroll, and the game’s announcement rang out.
[Allowed Magic Items: 3]
[Mid-Game Forfeit Mechanic: Player may choose one Godgift skill. Its effect will be permanently reduced by 20%.]
[Team Battle Champion Reward: Each member may select 3 SSS-tier skills from the library and gain 200 free attribute points.]
[Individual Champion Reward: Select any skill that appeared in this match. You will permanently acquire it.]
[Fun Match Champion Reward: Select any participating student. You will permanently copy their most frequently used skill from this match.]
[GodDraw77 Unlock Reward: Raises the baseline potential of your race. All members of your race gain a minimum Godgift rank of C and 20 free attribute points.]
[GodDraw77 Champion Reward: Choose one magic element to fuse into your core, permanently binding it to your being. Gain the title "GodDraw77." Gain 500 free attribute points. Select 5 SSS-tier skills from the library. Every SSS skill you cast will trigger a celestial phenomenon. The baseline potential of your race will be raised significantly, with Godgift minimum rank increased to B.]
This time the mid-game forfeit rule was harsher than ever.
And the GodDraw77 rewards had shifted. Gone was the automatic Godgift upgrade, gone the free artifact evolution. In their place, the first prize was stranger, more mysterious—choosing an element to rewrite the foundation of one’s power. Whatever it meant, it was no weaker than what it had replaced.
The curtain dissolved. Three cards drifted down, settling into the sky above.
Rita had already returned to Moonlight Marsh’s zone. She knew exactly what GodDraw77 wanted.
Silence fell as every student watched the azure card flip open.
The card spun forward and speared into the corner of the white sail like a battle-axe.
Every student moved at once.
Crab sprinted ahead, NightFury already snapping at his heels, Frenzied Shark snarling as he lunged forward. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
Because really, what was worse than grinding out a perfect drop—only to have your so-called teammate snatch it first?