After killing that one player, I saw the remaining three abandon the monster truck and sprint toward a nearby house.
They still hadn't located us. I took aim and fire from the roof.
One more down—clean headshot.
The last two slipped inside the building, vanishing from sight.
I turned to Ruyi.
"Go quietly through the corners. Use the shotgun to clear them. I'll support from behind and keep watch on them."
Ruyi nodded, gripping her weapon tighter. She moved low and silent toward the house entrance.
I stayed on the roof, crossbow trained on the windows and doors.
But just as Ruyi reached the gate—
Boom.
A landmine exploded beneath her feet.
The blast threw her backward. Her vitality bar dropped to 1/10 in an instant.
I felt the danger spike.
Without hesitation, I leaped onto my flying sword and shot toward her.
Bullets ripped through the air—two players had already repositioned. One was sniping from a window, the other rushing to finish Ruyi.
A barrage hit me. My flying sword shattered mid-flight.
I fell.
Bullets struck my armor—high-level armor absorbed most of the damage, but uncovered parts took hits. Vitality dropped sharply.
As I plummeted, I twisted my body, reached out, and grabbed a second-floor window frame. I shattered the glass and I pulled myself inside the house.
The snipers saw me survive. They rushed toward my position.
The one who had killed Ruyi followed close behind.
The white ball of Ruyi drifted out from her skeleton. She sighed, half in frustration, half in quiet joy. She had died again—but this time, she had taken an incredible number of kills. More than ever before.
She wanted to go watch how Roxa would fare next.
But before she could move, dozens of white balls rushed toward her—swarming, voices overlapping in a chaotic barrage.
"Hehe, you also got killed because you play with cheaters."
"You deserve it."
"Hey, tell me—how do you know her?"
"Yes, yes! Tell us. Do you know her in real life too?"
"We're recording you right now, so don't lie. You're in front of everybody…"
"Do you use cheats too?"
"How did she even cheat this game? Who is she?"
"Tell us!"
The questions came endlessly—one after another, relentless.
Ruyi muted them all in one swift motion.
Silence returned.
She glanced toward the house. The two remaining players were rushing inside, weapons raised.
She followed quietly.
Just as they reached the door and pushed it open—
Two shots rang out.
Both necks pierced.
Both dropped instantly.
Dead.
The door now had two clean holes. Through them, Ruyi could see Roxa standing inside—two guns in her hands, barrels still smoking, aimed precisely at the doorway.
Roxa lowered her arms slowly.
She took healing pills from her pouch, swallowed them one by one.
Her vitality bar filled back to full.
Then she noticed a white ball approaching—different from the others.
It had a green arrow on top. That meant it was Ruyi.
I said softly, "Sorry, Ruyi. I couldn't save you."
But Ruyi didn't reply right away. I thought she was angry. I braced myself to apologize more.
Then her voice came—suspicion thick in every word.
"Roxa… are you really cheating right now?"
The question hit me. My mind clicked. I understood exactly what she was asking.
On the other side, the group of white balls had gathered inside the house. They floated in a loose circle, recording Roxa from every angle—silent, focused, waiting for her answer.
I spoke confidently.
"No, I'm not a cheater."
Ruyi pressed immediately.
"So how did you shoot those two players at the same time—through a door, right in their vital spots? And it's not the first time. You've done this over and over. If you're not cheating, then what are you saying? Are you really human… or a robot?"
Ruyi and the swarm of white balls waited.
I just laughed a little—light, genuine.
"Well… I'm really human. Not a robot. As for how I killed them… let's just say I predicted their positions and listened to their footsteps. And if you want, go complain to the game company. I'm not cheating."
With that, I looted the skeletons of those four players first—quick, efficient. Then I looted Ruyi's skeleton too.
I climbed into the monster truck they had left behind and began roaming the continent.
I killed every player I saw.
Sometimes I crushed them under the truck's wheels.
Sometimes I shot them while driving.
Sometimes I threw a rope, caught them mid-stride, dragged them behind the vehicle. They rubbed against earth and rocks, vitality draining fast until they died.
One of the dragged players turned into a white ball. Just as I was about to mute her, I heard her crying voice—female. I realized then she was a girl. Well, it not completely my fault, She had worn heavy armor and kept her hair short—I had mistaken her for a boy.
I regretted it instantly. That wasn't just slow way to kill; it was humiliating as well. Even for a male player, it was cruel.
I moved closer to her white ball.
"Sorry, sister. It was my mistake. I know just saying sorry doesn't make up for it. But I really am sorry. I've sent you a friend request—check it. I have to finish the game now, can't talk more. We'll talk later. If you ever need help, reach out. I'll definitely help you. I'm really sorry."
I continued the game.
This was the last shrinking zone.
The most dangerous one.
All remaining players were strong.
They had good loot.
Some had top-level items.
Even I had two top-level items now.
This fight would decide the winner.
The continent narrowed.
The zone closed in.
And the final battle waited.
Ruyi followed behind me in silence. She hadn't spoken since our last talk. I didn't know what she was thinking, and I didn't ask.
Surprisingly, the short-haired girl—the one I had dragged earlier—was also trailing after Ruyi. They seemed to be talking quietly between themselves, their white balls drifting close together. I couldn't hear them, and I didn't try to listen. I kept my focus on the game.
In the distance, an intense fight raged between two teams—six players each. Gunfire cracked continuously, explosions lit up the ruins, smoke thickened. Chaos.
I began thinking how to take advantage.
Then I spotted an opportunity.