No matter how far Erica went, she was still within this small world.
Lilith, who had never witnessed such a battle of this magnitude, wasn’t certain whether it would affect the entire realm. This uncertainty was why she had been so eager to eliminate the participants; their presence would only complicate matters.
She hadn’t anticipated the situation escalating so quickly—only the second day of the match, far sooner than she had expected. Her initial plan had been to clear the participants swiftly in the first few days, allowing at least five days for preparation.
However, the enemy had given her no time to prepare. As always, they appeared suddenly and without warning, catching her off guard.
“Hurry up and go,” Lilith said to Erica, her eyes never leaving Three, who was smiling and making no immediate moves for now.
“Go to Princess Luna and tell her that I’ve ordered her to retreat to the borders of the small world. She is not to return until I personally contact her,” she said.
“Okay.” Erica, sensing that she was not to be involved in this situation, nodded and, though still confused, departed quickly. Thanks to her identity as Mr. Card, Erica knew Princess Luna was currently in the western forest.
Lilith watched Erica until she disappeared from view. “What a surprise. You let her go so easily,” Lilith said, relaxing her tensed posture and directing a curious gaze at Three.
“Not only that but you also prevented me from killing her earlier... I don’t recall you guys being this merciful,” she added.
Three, feigning a pained expression, replied, “You wouldn’t think we’re some great evil, would you, Princess? We don’t indiscriminately kill innocents.”
“Can you even convince yourself?” Lilith asked, laughing coldly. “Whether it’s the Ninth, Seventh, or you, don’t even try telling me that you’ve respectfully borrowed that body of yours from its owner. I’m sure you know how much blood you guys have on your hands.”
“Those were necessary sacrifices,” Three stated matter-of-factly. “I don’t kill innocents without cause. If I had acted a few minutes earlier, those hit by your magic would have surely died. I waited until you had eliminated the participants before sealing this small world.”
“But if these sacrifices were necessary, I wouldn’t hesitate either. If I had determined that threatening that girl could force you into submission, I would have had no qualms about taking her hostage. Unfortunately, you don’t strike me as someone who’s easily swayed by compassion,” Three remarked nonchalantly with a shrug.
Lilith remained on high alert, ready to summon Cornelia at a moment’s notice.
“Oh, right,” Three said as if suddenly remembering something. “About that deity-level trump card of yours—I didn’t come all the way here to face you without you being prepared.”
“Deity... trump card?” Lilith’s pupils shrank slightly, her cheeks twitching before quickly settling into a forced smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Putting aside trump cards, the strongest being I’ve encountered is a demigod. What’s a deity? Care to explain?”
Three appeared to have not heard her and continued mumbling as if talking with herself. “Speaking of which, Four should be almost ready by now.”
Four...?
An unsettling premonition surged through Lilith’s heart.
In a distant land at the edge of the small world, Four, currently inhabiting Moore’s body, worked diligently to assemble a black altar. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as he hummed softly, focused on the task at hand.
“Hmph, damn Three, making me handle such laborious work. She knows full well that I despise working with half-finished altars,” he grumbled.
The black altar, originally crafted by a deity, had been simplified for use by those who had yet to attain the Divine realm.
Though it was less effective, it was easier to set up and use.
However, its heavy weight was a major drawback. Even when broken into pieces, the altar was as heavy as a meteorite. Considering Four’s current slender body, it was indeed an ordeal for him to put the altar together.
After what felt like a backbreaking process, Four finally completed the altar.
Adopting a serious and solemn expression, he kneeled in reverence before it and took out three sticks of incense.