On the other side, on a rooftop overlooking everything, was a group of four Gars.
Two tall, burly guys, identical twins, absurd muscles, heavy armor, hamrs on their backs.
A hooded Elf dressed in white sat on a floating broomstick, the wind blew and she covered her face, her hood fluttering.
And in front, Blandina, a vampire, a woman with pale skin, pointed ears, bright red eyes, visible canines when she smiled. She stuck out her tongue, licking her lips. From her expression and pose, it was clear: she was in charge there. And she was very bold.
"Blandina..." the elf called, "...this is a trap. It’s clear."
"Calm down, Seline..." Blandina replied, relaxed.
A notification appeared for everyone:
```
[SAFE ZONE INVITATION]
◊ Squad Viper Eyes invited to accept Cathedral as a Safe Zone
◊ Creator: Anonymous coalition (50 Gars)
◊ Accept? [YES] [NO]
```
"Safe Zone!?" One of the twins exclaid.
Seline began to explain:
"An area where killing each other is prohibited. Created when Gars have a common goal that doesn’t involve killing each other imdiately. Using symbols or signals, the ga understands this will and forms the Safe Zone."
"What are the rules for this Safe Zone, Seline?" Blandina asked, drawing a kind of curved dagger, its black blade glowing red.
She saw several Gars entering the Cathedral, alarms already sounding, fights beginning, Custodians responding.
Seline checked the request and the criteria:
"1. Do not kill another Gar. The HUD will tell you who is a Gar.
2. Only kill the Saints who get in the way.
3. Minimal destruction. The Cathedral has artifacts for general evolution. And this won’t be the last ti we co here.
4. Annihilate the Custodians without rcy."
"What the hell makes the rules?" the other twin asked.
"Willpower. The desire of those who agree. The system filters everyone’s will, takes the most heartfelt or best, and imposes it."
"And if we break the rules?" Blandina asked, wearing a hood.
"Our Squad pays. The system will give rewards, our things, heads, until the Safe Zone ends."
Blandina smiled, showing her canines.
"It would be idiotic to let so much loot down there escape because of a trap..."
It was clear that, for Blandina, the other Gars down there were nothing more than re loot (resources). She looked at her companions.
"Let’s kill the Gars and take the loot."
Seline hesitated out of fear. "Blandina..."
"Today Viper Eyes will leave here laden with loot!" Blandina shouted excitedly. "Activate the loot restriction tokens!"
```
[LOOT RESTRICTION TOKENS: ACTIVATED]
◊ All your items and skills will be restricted after death
```
Blandina looked at the sky.
"By Kaelthar... I hope you’re watching from up there!" And she jumped.
Blandina fell like a red beam, absurd speed, dagger gleaming.
**SLASH.**
Cut off the head of Gar who was invading through the east door, blood splattering, body falling.
```
[SAFE ZONE VIOLATION]
◊ Viper Eyes killed Gar
◊ Marking Squad as HOSTILE
◊ Bounty activated: 500 gold, 5000Xp, 5 skill slots, 5 Inventory slots, per mber
```
**SLASH.**
Cut down Custódio imdiately afterward, indiscriminately killing everything.
Seline, with her broom, caught it and threw it, flying spinning to a random location where it exploded in white light.
**BOOM.**
She appeared there by teleportation.
The broom returned to her hand, taking the form of a magic spear, its tip glowing blue.
**THRUST THRUST THRUST.**
She went on a killing spree, killing everything in front of her: Custódios, Paladins, Gars who crossed her path. The twins fell from the air like teors, a seismic impact.
**CRASH.**
Ground cracking, shockwave expanding, crushing everything around.
They got up with hamrs in hand.
**SMASH.**
They crushed Custódio entirely, armor, bones, everything turned to mush.
The system alerted all Gars:
```
[WARNING: SAFE ZONE VIOLATED]
◊ Squad Viper Eyes is killing other Gars
◊ They are now marked as HOSTILE (red on map)
◊ Kill them for bounty rewards
◊ Avoid or eliminate at your discretion
```
On the map and in the view of all Gars, four red dots appeared, Viper Eyes clearly marked, moving quickly massacring everything.
...
On the other side, Haru and Genius ran into the won’s ward.
"Dude, let’s just grab that artifact and get out of here!" Genius yelled after Haru.
"Shut up! I need to make sure Lilithine is okay!"
"Why this obsession!? I don’t understand!"
"I’ll explain later! I have a plan to follow!"
Explosions began to echo, distant but getting closer.
"It’s getting out of control..." Genius comnted, "...it’s only a matter of ti before the Black Imperial Guards arrive!"
"The Emperor’s elite... if they co, everyone dies..." Haru thought.
Finally, they reached Lilithine’s room window.
Haru burst in, jumped inside, rolled around, stood up, looking around.
Empty.
Made bed. Crucifix on the wall. Books on the table. But nobody.
"Shit..." Haru muttered.
System notified:
```
[SAFE ZONE ALERT]
◊ Squad Viper Eyes REFUSED Safe Zone agreent
◊ Viper Eyes are VIOLATING criteria
◊ Marking clear on HUD for all participants
```
Genius saw four bright red dots moving and crushing each other on his HUD.
"Now we’re really screwed..." he said.
"We’re even more screwed..." Haru replied frustrated, "...I don’t even have a proper HUD! I only saw the ssage!"
Unlike all the other Gars who could see the red dots moving on the ntal map, knowing exactly where Viper Eyes was, Haru saw nothing. If he encountered them, he wouldn’t know until it was too late.
He only received the text ssage.
Genius looked at him. "So you’re blind to this?"
"Basically."
"Damn..."
...
"So, Mizuki... you impress ."
Chronia sat on her throne, surrounded by empty neon lights, observing Haru and Genius through a floating divine interface.
She twirled her hair with her fingers, a clear sign of interest.
She smiled, watching Haru desperately search for Lilithine.
"He really cares about people now... interesting..."
She tilted her head.
"And he still hasn’t realized that Lilithine has a dual nature... and that supposedly she’s his sister... when he finds out..."
She smiled more.
"It’ll be fun."
...
On the other side, in Haru’s room.
Isabela and Kira were dressing Yukihi in cute pajamas with fox ears.
"Go on, tell us, tell us!" Isabela insisted.
"What’s this Lilithine like?" Kira asked.
"She’s a nun..." Yukihi replied innocently.
"Phew!" Isabela sighed in relief.
"Why did you sigh?" Kira asked.
"Because Lilithine is a nun! Whatever Haru went there to do, it wasn’t with that intention, right? Nuns don’t do that!"
"Oooh, I understand!" Kira smiled, also relieved.
Yukihi continued:
"Lilithine has an angel’s face..."
The two listened attentively.
"...and huge breasts!"
She pointed to Isabela’s breasts, comparing them.
"Bigger than Mom’s!"
Isabela and Kira froze.
"We’re screwed..." they thought together.
"But is she fifty years old or more, Goddess-daughter?" Kira asked hopefully, desperate for the answer to be yes.
"No... I’m sure she’s younger than the two of you combined!"
"DAMN!" They both shouted.
"And she has angel hair..." Yukihi continued innocently, "...and she sparkles when she uses magic!"
"DAMN!"
"And even Dad stared at her for a while without blinking... just like you guys did when you looked at him!"
Heavy silence.
Isabela and Kira exchanged a look of absolute panic.
"And Dad already knows you sent to spy..." Yukihi added.
"DAMN!"
"And what did he say?" Isabela asked nervously.
"He didn’t say anything."
"DAMN!" Kira groaned. "We’re dood..."
Isabela started pacing in circles.
"Nun... young... beautiful... big breasts... sparkles... Haru was staring..."
She stopped.
"We lost."
"We haven’t lost yet!" Kira protested. "She’s a nun! A vow of chastity! She can’t!"
"Do you really think this will stop Haru?" Isabela looked at her.
Kira thought.
"...No."
"Exactly."
They sat on the bed defeated.
Yukihi jumped into Kira’s lap. "Moms so sad?"
"Very..." they both answered together.
"Why?"
"Because daddy’s going to have another mommy for you..."
Yukihi thought. "More mommies are good! More cookies!"
Isabela and Kira looked at each other.
Then they laughed, not a happy laugh, but one of absolute despair.
"We’re screwed..." Isabela repeated.
"Completely..." Kira agreed.
...
Haru left Lilithine’s room frustrated.
"She’s not here... where did she go!?"
Genius checked the map. "A Viper Eyes mber is approaching our side. Three blocks."
"How long?"
"Two minutes."
"And Veritas?"
"Basent four still. But... by now there should be fifty Custodians down there."
Haru punched the wall.
"So we give up?"
Pause.
"No." Haru turned. "We get Lilithine, then Veritas."
"In that order?"
"In that order."
Genius sighed. "You’re impossible, Tokyo."
"That’s why you like , Baguette."
"I hate you... I don’t even know if your plan with Lilithine will work."
"I love you too."
They ran into the hallway. An explosion echoed nearby, Viper Eyes slaughtering sothing.
"Run! They’re almost there..." Genius shouted.
"We’ll have to get out of this wing..." Haru said.
They ran down the corridor, entering another room. The window was open, making it easy to escape.
Genius jumped first...
"One of them is here!" Genius thought imdiately.
In the air, they both felt sothing.
Pressure. Concentrated mana. Danger.
A white beam cut through the air, coming straight at them.
Haru used Ignition on his feet, a controlled explosion spinning his body, dodging by centiters.
Genius had to defend, his spectral sword appearing, blocking the beam.
But the beam was so strong that it violently threw him to the ground.
Genius broke the water fountain in the middle of the won’s wing courtyard, water spraying, stones cracking.
Haru landed beside him, Vorath already in hand.
"Are you alright?" he asked, looking at the approaching target.
Genius stood up, his hands trembling slightly. "Damn, that’s strong... if the sword were normal, I think the attack would have broken..."
"I’m fine..." he said loudly.
Genius’s HUD highlighted that figure in bright red.
"It’s Viper Eyes..." he murmured to Haru.
The beam flew back to her hand, transforming into a magic spear, its tip glowing blue-white.
It was Seline, hooded, her clothes billowing, her cold eyes visible beneath the hood, her posture too relaxed for soone about to fight.
"I think we’re going to have to fight, Haru..." Genius said.
She stopped in a fighting stance, letting the spear glow, mana leaking, pressure increasing.
Haru pulled Vorath and positioned himself.
"We have the advantage..." he said, "...we even got lucky! We’ll get the loot!"
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