When the young woman and the high school student died, the Exorcism Talisman ended up in the Solo Fan’s hands again. But just like last time, he couldn’t hold on to it, and it was gone in no time.

“Ding! Congratulations, you’ve obtained an item: Exorcism Talisman.”

“Item description: A peachwood plaque blessed by the gods. Rather than protecting you, it’s repelled by cold, sinister energy and will prioritize attacking anything it finds repulsive.”

Yimo had discovered that you could store this item in the system or take it out. There was no point hiding it from the Solo Fan now, so he simply took it out.

“It’s in my hands now.”

“What do we do next?”

Yimo had noticed a while ago that the nicknames above their heads had disappeared once the game began.

He hadn’t talked much with the dead high school student or the young woman, but he still remembered their names: “My Baby Is the Handsomest” and “Strolling Afar.”

At that, the Solo Fan suddenly laughed.

“We don’t know who the Killer is, but it definitely isn’t the young woman or the high school student. There’s no point waiting here and letting her choose between the two of them.”

“Let’s take the initiative!”

“Oh, and give me the Exorcism Talisman.”

“Don’t get me wrong. The talisman’s effect probably only works for you. It belongs to you—I just need it to fool the Killer.”

Yimo had read the game rules who knew how many times already. He said nothing, just handed the Exorcism Talisman to the Solo Fan with a blank expression.

The Solo Fan carefully untied the red cord holding the jade pendant around his neck, threaded the Exorcism Talisman onto it, then hung it around his neck and tucked it beneath his short-sleeved shirt.

To be honest, he was so fat that the shirt bulged noticeably over his chest.

If you looked closely.

The Solo Fan thought for a moment, held the Guanyin jade pendant in his palm, and silently repented for a while. Then he gave it to Yimo.

Yimo asked, “You’re not keeping it?”

The Solo Fan said, “I’m the kind of guy who feels bad if I take something from someone without giving them something in return.”

“I’ve taken off this pendant I’ve worn for over ten years. I doubt she can protect me anymore, so I might as well pass that blessing on to you.”

“Keep it. It only cost a few hundred yuan. Nothing pricey.”

Since the Solo Fan had put it that way, Yimo didn’t insist. He took the Guanyin pendant and tucked it into the small pocket over his chest. “If you feel bad about it, why not give me that T-shirt of yours?”

The Solo Fan’s eyes lit up. He patted Yimo on the shoulder and said, “You’ve got a good eye, kid!”

“Sorry. We get along great, but this is my faith and my waifu. I can’t give them to you!”

Yimo made a gagging face and looked at him. “Bro, you’re beyond saving!”

“Hahahaha!” Instead of taking offense, the Solo Fan gave Yimo a thumbs-up, looking downright proud of himself. “Come on. Let’s go meet that Killer.”

“Oh, and if you’re the one who makes it out, remember to follow Shui Chixing.”

“Watch their stuff when you’re tired. It’s pretty relaxing.”

The Solo Fan had already stood up. With his back to Yimo, he spoke with a hint of wistfulness.

“Yeah, don’t worry… You’ve got a better chance of making it out than I do.” Yimo used a clear plastic cord he’d found in the room earlier to tie his slippers tightly to his feet, making it easier to run. Then he looked up at the Solo Fan’s broad back. “By the way, was that SR card of yours any good?”

The Solo Fan paused. Then, without turning around, he shook his head with a sigh. “Heh. Just like my claim that I’d been in over a dozen games, it was a lie I made up to lure people over.”

“As if I’d be lucky enough to draw an SR card.”

“It was just a useless N card. One fancy burger combo, and that’s it. Completely useless in this game…”

“Ready?”

Yimo looked down at his tied-on slippers without lifting his head, his eyes hidden beneath his choppy bangs.

A moment later, he looked up with a smile. “Let’s go!”

.

.

In the pitch-black mine tunnel, Dusk carried a hatchet and watched the Solo Fan and Yimo chatting in a crouch around the bend, apparently waiting for her. She said nothing, just walked toward them one step at a time.

“Clunk… clunk…”

The sound came from the hatchet’s blade striking the rocks as she walked.

The hatchet was nearly a meter long—heavy and solid.

When the Solo Fan saw that Dusk was the one who’d survived, he suddenly taunted her. “Ohoho! To die beneath the peonies, then haunt them as a ghost—what a romantic way to go!”

“But hey, I’m still into anime girls. Even if you showed up with pink hair or red eyes, you wouldn’t do it for me!”

He was being unbearably smug. He even patted Yimo on the shoulder and said, “Kirito, bro, I called it from the start, didn’t I?”

“This woman’s more vicious with a blade than anyone!”

Yimo was watching Dusk. He hadn’t seen how the other players were killed, so it still didn’t feel real to him. He wanted to try talking her out of it.

But he had a feeling it wouldn’t work. And with the way Dusk was looking at him, like she had something in mind, he really didn’t dare act as cocky as the Solo Fan.

“Hey, now it’s just the three of us. Guess who’s carrying the Exorcism Talisman?”

“It’s a fifty-fifty chance. Guess wrong and you die!”

The Solo Fan looked cocky, but he was actually pretty nervous. The sweat on his forehead gave him away.

His plan was simple: act especially smug to draw the Killer’s hatred and make her think he had the Exorcism Talisman, so she’d go after the quiet Yimo instead.

…

Besides, Dusk had made it this far. She definitely wasn’t simple. Maybe she could see through his plan.

But… even if she saw through it, wouldn’t she wonder whether he was acting cocky on purpose to make her think he didn’t have the talisman?

That probably wouldn’t work on someone who wasn’t very sharp.

But this simple trick of a trick was especially deadly against clever, suspicious people!

Once they lost their composure and started hesitating, death was just around the corner!

That was what the Solo Fan thought.

But Dusk didn’t even bother with him. Her eyes stayed fixed on Yimo as she walked toward them, one step at a time.

The closer she got, the more nervous the Solo Fan became.

The other side had all the initiative. He really didn’t want to gamble on a fifty-fifty choice!

Her silent, unhurried approach put far too much pressure on him!

Finally, when Dusk was five meters away from them, he suddenly said to Yimo, “My… heh… the Exorcism Talisman is with you, isn’t it?”

At Dusk’s words, both Yimo and the Solo Fan froze.

How… did she know?

Dusk had no idea. But the moment she saw their instinctive reactions, she made her judgment. She lunged forward, raised her hatchet, and swung it at the Solo Fan.

“Shit!” The Solo Fan reacted fast. He swore, then suddenly shoved Yimo from behind.

Yimo hadn’t expected the Solo Fan to shove him at a moment like this. He stumbled toward Dusk, and the gleaming hatchet came swinging straight at him!

The Solo Fan was stronger than he’d expected!

Dusk had no choice but to dodge Yimo as he fell toward her. She turned, pulled back her hatchet, and chased after the Solo Fan, who’d already run several meters.

She was incredibly fast. There was no way the Solo Fan could shake her off!

What about the Solo Fan?

He knew he couldn’t get away, either. He suddenly turned, yanked the Exorcism Talisman from around his neck, and shouted, “SR card activation: Copy!”

“I choose the only item in this game: the Exorcism Talisman!!!”

Laughing wildly as he shouted, he now held another wooden plaque identical to the Exorcism Talisman. Dusk was less than two meters away. He yelled at her, “I’m lucky as hell! No matter who you hit today, you’re dead!!!”

“I didn’t want to waste my card on you, but you’re too damn strong!!!”

“Hehehe… I’ll survive and become the only one to beat this game!!!!”

Dusk looked at him and gave a cold snort. Without the slightest hesitation, she brought her hatchet down on his neck.

“You… Aah!!!!”

The Solo Fan had just started to say, “You’re finished,” when a cold, sharp pain hit him. Then something began pouring out of his body. His vision suddenly tilted sideways, and his body went limp, collapsing to the ground.

Clatter…

One of the two Exorcism Talismans fell to the ground. The other remained clenched tightly in his hand. Even as the light faded from his eyes, confusion lingered in them.

He couldn’t… speak anymore.

“The Exorcism Talisman never did anything. The only thing that mattered was being chosen by the system as a survivor.”

“Heh… A blessing from the gods… What a ridiculous joke…”

“They’re demons, yet they call themselves gods…”

Dusk didn’t even look back at Yimo. With a mocking laugh, she raised her hatchet again and brought it down on the Solo Fan, who was already unconscious…