Chapter 337: Chapter 337: The "Darkened" Black Knight, Go Pay Your "Price"

"...Huh?"

Lu Ce looked up in confusion, his previously impatient gaze instantly transforming into bewilderment as he stared at the floating metal sphere.

Why was Black Knight acting so unusually erratic today?

It kept darting up and down, always interrupting his thoughts at precisely the wrong moment, almost like some kind of inner demon taunting him.

"What's your stance anyway? You don't seem to have any consistent viewpoint."

"Viewpoint? I'm your weapon. My viewpoint simply voices what you won't say aloud," Black Knight replied with a sinister chuckle.

"It's actually quite simple—'Sin' is omnipotent, fearless, bound by nothing and without any so-called weaknesses. He's the nightmare of every player in the game."

"The moment you put on that mask, all human emotions become irrelevant. You've long since made your resolution—to devote everything to the relentless pursuit of absolute power with no turning back."

"Besides, you never had any bonds to begin with. No family or friends from the start. No need to find some irrelevant person to drag you down now."

Lu Ce frowned at the metallic sphere, disturbed by its seemingly "darkened" rhetoric. His own eyes grew contemplative.

Black Knight continued hovering midair:

"After all, being hated and feared... that's always easier, isn't it?"

"So, are you ready? Ready to pursue power at all costs?"

"Ready to become the world's greatest villain and discard all possible weaknesses?"

Lu Ce couldn't shake the feeling that Black Knight was acting particularly strange today.

"I was careless. I never should have considered teaming up with anyone from the beginning," Lu Ce said heavily.

Looking back honestly at his gameplay journey, frequently teaming with the same person had indeed made others perceive them as allies.

Any connection could be exploited as a weakness—especially when so many in the world saw him as their imaginary enemy.

Tch. The moment she sent that team invite, it was like jumping into a pit of fire. His playstyle was never meant to be friendly to begin with.

Even if it was a misunderstanding, some might think—"If we capture her, can we use her against the top player?"

"Hahahaha! Exactly!" Black Knight suddenly burst into laughter.

"Which means there's a perfect solution right before you! The choice is yours!"

"Kill her!"

"Kill her before the world's eyes! Show them how mercurial 'Sin' truly is! How ruthless!"

"Even a teammate, even someone the outside world might call your lover—slaughter them without hesitation!"

"After this, 'Sin' will become the pure embodiment of power! You'll attain true freedom beneath the gaze of everyone's fear and rejection!"

"From then on, no shackles! No one will believe you have any weakness! You'll become truly invincible!"

Black Knight spoke faster and louder, not allowing any interruptions, as if consumed by madness.

Hovering midair, it stared intently at Lu Ce:

"And the price? Just killing one somewhat friendly acquaintance. A trivial matter on the path to supremacy."

"On the road to becoming the strongest, there's always a price to pay~"

"This is already such a small cost. Go pay your 'price'!"

Black Knight emphasized those last two words heavily.

The weight of "price" rang painfully loud in Lu Ce's ears, making him grimace.

"Heh, everything has its price~" Black Knight reiterated.

For some reason, Lu Ce's gaze turned icy upon hearing those words.

"What kind of price is that? She was never important to me. Doesn't count as a price."

"Ah~ right right! That works too," Black Knight replied. "If you don't consider it a price, then nothing is! Excellent! Perfect!"

Lu Ce: "......"

Suddenly finding Black Knight unbearably annoying, he waved it off:

"Enough. No point discussing this further."

"It's just intel. You're overthinking it."

With that, Lu Ce turned off the game screen before him and lay down on the bed.

Black Knight gradually stilled in the air, its earlier frenzy subsiding as it quietly settled on a corner of the desk.

The metal sphere rotated slightly, watching Lu Ce on the bed before chuckling once more.

......

East Sea, Penglai Island.

Completely unbeknownst to Lu Ce, numerous vessels had already gathered around the modestly sized island.

The East Sea Debate had become reality. Though initiated by just one statement from "Sin" with no follow-up, top players had decided to respond regardless.

Chiyo Eine would undoubtedly come.

Top players like Sun were still en route as well.

With only one day remaining until the appointed time, this would likely become the largest, most complex gathering of players yet.

These individuals who'd gained superhuman abilities through the game—entities long since transcending ordinary humanity—would converge here.

An unprecedented spectacle. Or crisis. This was the most direct transformation the "game" had brought to their world.

At Dragon Group's insistence, the East Sea Debate proceeded tacitly approved—on the condition that no large military vessels approached.

Even so, Penglai Island's surroundings already hosted numerous small yachts, fishing boats, and even distant cruise ships with international media aboard.

Everyone waited eagerly. The time hadn't arrived yet, and no true elites had appeared.

Suddenly—the calm sea erupted violently.

Beneath the sunlight's glittering surface, an enormous shadow emerged from the crystalline waters.

A deep-sea leviathan had arrived uninvited.

Ships scattered in panic. Such creatures shouldn't appear in these waters!

BOOM!

With thunderous splashing, a mountainous form breached the surface.

A humpback whale so massive it seemed to blot out the sky at close range.

To the crowd's astonishment, the whale opened its maw and—spat out three human figures.