This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 1229 Divine Game: Divine Instruction 43

A faint outline of soulfire flared between Maple Syrup’s brows.

Her divine talent word: "Four Seasons."

She hadn’t fully grasped it yet. The soulfire’s outline glowed only faintly, like a progress bar stuck at two percent. She had compared notes with other players who had unlocked their divine talent words—everyone started the same way.

This progress-bar-like glow didn’t just reflect the energy she could wield; it also showed the current strength of her divine talent.

Beneath her feet, a magical circle ignited, large enough to cover the entire clock arena.

"Four Seasons—Winter."

Maple Syrup’s spear shifted in her hands. Flames along its tip transformed into icy fire. Any part of Mistblade struck—or even grazed—by the icy flames lost all sensation.

It lasted only two seconds.

Clang! Mistblade’s blood-mist blade slammed down. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Her right wrist froze in ice. She continued fighting with her left hand and the third blade clenched between her teeth, desperately trying to free her right hand—but to no avail. A divine talent word was more than a skill; it was a concept. Unless her attributes overwhelmingly surpassed her opponent, resisting such an effect was impossible. Only another divine talent word could counter it.

Mistblade didn’t hesitate. Blue flames ignited around her. Light glimmered between her brows as she activated her own divine talent word: "Prisoner."

Like Maple Syrup, her usable energy was limited.

Her "Prisoner" could only be used once per day and could trap an opponent’s thoughts for five seconds. She hadn’t expected to use it again after Wither. Yet after the duel reset, Divine Game not only replenished her health but also restored the energy consumed by her divine talent.

A wisp of blue flame surged from Maple Syrup’s feet, rapidly wrapping her entire body.

Maple Syrup, already familiar with Mistblade’s skill, instantly deployed every defensive shield she had, though she could only manage three before succumbing. Her eyes closed, head bowed. Her thoughts were imprisoned.

Mistblade wasted no time. Already beside her, she slashed with the blood-mist blade. She had five seconds!

But Maple Syrup had 1000 agility, wielded a long spear, and still had shield effects active. Breaking through all that in five seconds was no small feat.

When Maple Syrup awakened, her HP had only dropped to 107. Both divine talent words had been used, and yet, in raw HP, Mistblade still held the advantage: 275:93.

But her right hand remained sealed.

Maple Syrup thrived under pressure. Her fighting spirit surged; she always did this. Perhaps, to her opponent, the real battle was only beginning.

Unlike previous duels, the raised HP ceiling stretched the fight. At a 100 HP limit, Maple Syrup would have already fallen—but now, hope lingered.

Rita frowned, watching the clock arena, thinking how she would handle such divine talent words herself. She recalled Quiet Mountain’s elite—QM Maple Syrup and QM Mistblade’s demonic talents were likely only just unlocked. Only QM Rita herself had slightly more experience.

Kessa suddenly leaned in, whispering: "If Mistblade goes to Lania Kaia... what will you do?"

"Impossible," Rita said firmly.

Without execution penalties, she might worry Mistblade would use the opportunity to relocate the Moon Foxes. But no one dared bet Maple Syrup would hesitate at the last moment to spare them. Mistblade wouldn’t hold back.

If Mistblade didn’t hold back, Rita couldn’t lose.

Just as she said this, Maple Syrup, with only 72 HP left, erupted.

A single wing exploded outward. Even a warrior as battle-hardened as Maple Syrup couldn’t help but roar in pain. Thousands of crimson feathers shot toward Mistblade.

Mistblade fell back, layering defenses while swinging her blood-mist blade in near-blinding flurries. Yet the feathers pressed on, almost swallowing the Moon Fox entirely.

In a system where every attack dealt only one point of damage, this was a near-death scenario.

The feathers vanished in an instant. The Moon Fox dispersed into a massive mist, which then reformed midair into a colossal bow and arrow, aiming at Maple Syrup.

No aiming. No hesitation. A rapid volley—draw, release, continuous. The arrows scattered in a thousand misty streaks toward her.

The battle moved at blinding speed. Players barely remembered to breathe.

But Maple Syrup, having just unleashed her wings, was already primed for a combo. Mist-shrouded feathers transformed into golden lightning.

She had invented "Cheers," created "Drunkard"—why would she stop there?

SSS-class skill: "Golden Forest Sea."

Each feather detonated like a bolt of lightning, connecting to nearby bursts.

The mist lit up with golden thunder. Thousands of Mistblades cut through Maple Syrup’s form.

Feathers became lightning. Mist arrows became rain. It all happened almost simultaneously.

Another magic circle appeared in the clock arena: "Four Seasons—Spring."

Lock HP skill: upon activation, the user’s HP is frozen at one. This state lasts one minute if no skills are used.

Thud! Maple Syrup’s knee slammed into the arena floor. She braced her spear and knelt. Not far away, Mistblade mirrored her, also on one knee, unconscious.

[Player Forest Sea Maple Syrup wins]

[Player Forest Sea Maple Syrup, do you want to execute 20% of the Moon Foxes?]

Under this extraordinary combat system, Maple Syrup had won.

"Maple Syrup... Maple Syrup... Maple Syrup..." Rita stepped forward, whispering the name. She repeated it over and over.

"Maple Syrup..."

Yet she couldn’t speak any requests. How could she stop this revenge? How could she prevent Maple Syrup from taking vengeance? She was the last person qualified to do so—no, she had no right to stop any creature in the Uncharted Star Sea from seeking revenge.

Maple Syrup seemed to hear her. Kneeling, she slowly raised her head. Her blood-red eyes, alight with the fire of battle, scanned the spectator stands, locking onto her nemesis.

Her expression was cold yet proud. Though she gazed upward, she seemed to look down.

Suddenly, Maple Syrup’s laughter rang out. She lifted her spear, the motion jostling her but she quickly regained poise, standing tall.

"BS Adjudicator!!" Despite blood still dripping down her spine, joy lit her face. She shouted, "How much are you willing to pay for me to spare the Moon Foxes?"