Pride Game

"You set me up!"

Countless blades turned into a near-impenetrable barrage, shooting toward Pride.

In that instant, the noble youth's composure vanished, replaced by anger and a savage look.

He didn't dodge, nor could he. The blades pierced straight through him!

"You despicable bastard..."

Pride stared fixedly at Rover, his eyes full of hatred and unwillingness to accept defeat!

"Those who resort to trickery reap what they sow. You have nothing to complain about."

Rover's expression was cold as he replied indifferently.

But the moment he finished speaking, a sneer appeared on Pride's face.

"Just messing with you!"

The countless blades suddenly twisted, and Pride swallowed them straight into his body.

He mocked, "Reality is nothing more than a tool Father casually created. How could it ever turn its blades against me, his eldest son?"

"You didn't really think you could set me up, did you?"

"How could this happen!"

Rover's expression changed drastically, his eyes widening as though he had suffered a tremendous shock.

"Hahaha... that's the look! So horrified and helpless, as if everything you knew had been turned upside down. An exquisite delicacy!"

"Next, you'll show me more of those expressions to satisfy my appetite as Pride!"

Pride's face was full of amusement as he looked down from above, like he was toying with his prey.

But the next moment, his body suddenly swelled, and his smile vanished.

"You didn't really think something like that would surprise me, did you?"

Rover's expression returned to normal, and he pointed a finger at him.

"Just messing with you!"

"You!!"

"Hadō #31, Shakkahō!"

As the words fell, an explosive force surged violently through Pride's body.

Pride's eyes bulged, their whites laced with blood. Only now did he realize that when the blades had pierced him, Rover had already attached a special spiritual pressure to them.

That was his killing move!

So he really had been set up!

"Unforgivable!"

He roared. As Pride, he looked down on everything, believing he could control all things and rule over all living beings.

Yet despite having the home advantage, he had been played in the palm of his opponent's hand. That hurt him far more than any weapon or killing blow!

"Boom!!"

With a thunderous blast, crimson flames tore through his body and engulfed the space for several yards around him.

Even Scar, if he took that implosion head-on, would be left on the brink of death, or even killed outright.

"Still alive?"

Rover raised an eyebrow and extended his spiritual pressure, precisely detecting his opponent's presence.

As the dust cleared, Pride could be seen floating in pieces in the air. Within the remnants of his upper body, something like a core seemed to flicker, giving off a dazzling red glow.

It wasn't a presence unique to the Fractsidus, but a strange, grand, pure frequency without a trace of impurity, like the most precious ruby.

Clearly, this was a genuine treasure!

With it as the core, Pride's shattered body rapidly recovered, coming back together without a trace of injury.

Not only that, even his clothes were restored, spotless and without a single crease.

What exactly is that red thing? Could it be the treasure Clown Emperor left unmentioned?

Rover pondered in secret. How could he dig that thing out?

"A petty trick. It couldn't hurt me at all, so you went to all that trouble for nothing!"

Pride brushed nonexistent dust from his clothes, seemingly unconcerned by the setback he had just suffered.

"If saying that makes you feel better, then I'll pretend you didn't fall for it. Don't worry, only you and I know how you looked when you got scared like a clown just now."

At those words, Pride's eyes nearly split with rage!

He had been pitied!

He was Pride, yet he had been looked down on to such an extent!

Only tearing his opponent to pieces could ease such humiliation.

"I've changed my mind. I originally wanted you to become one of us, but now, even if you kneel and beg for mercy, death is your only fate!"

He stopped hovering and landed heavily. A domain spread out in an instant with his feet at its center, rolling red light enveloping the entire space.

"Shorty!"

Rover held a hand over Pride's head to measure him. Pride only came up to his chest.

"You're even a little shorter than Carlotta. Whose kid are you? Go back and suck your mother's milk!"

At those words, Pride nearly exploded!

"Keep jumping around. The more you anger me, the worse your death will be!"

"Don't bluff. It makes you look weak. What I said before still stands: tell me all your secrets, and I'll spare your life. I'll spare your father's life too!"

"Shut up! Have a taste of my Pride Game!"

As the words fell, countless crimson chains spread through the void.

They wrapped densely around Rover's entire body in an instant, and Pride was not spared, receiving the same treatment.

In the blink of an eye, the chains vanished as though they had never existed.

A restriction? Or a rule?

It was rather interesting. Could it be an ability like Christopher's?

"Judging by that expression, you still have no idea what situation you're in. Let me tell you, since that's part of the rules of the game."

Pride strolled over at his leisure, a look of pity on his face.

"From here on, we'll fight in turns. Simply put, one person stays still while the other attacks. If the one being attacked survives, we switch turns and attack again, until one side falls for good!"

Rover couldn't help laughing when he heard that.

Was this what they called pride? Trading blows head-on, without dodging or running away—just how confident was he in his own strength?

"What if I don't want to play this game?"

"Then you'll immediately suffer the loser's punishment and turn into a pile of stones. Isn't that wonderful?"

Pride was completely relaxed and eager to get started.

"Here's another secret. So far, Pride Game has been played seven hundred and twenty-one times, and I've never lost!"

"Isn't that normal? I've never lost a fight against an ant either."

Rover shrugged, ignoring the ugly look on Pride's face.

"Too bad for you. Now that you've run into me, your winning streak is over!"

Those words made Pride laugh in anger.

"Hmph... I told you we were alike, didn't I? You could say we're equally arrogant!"

Rover didn't argue.

There was no need.

Heaven and earth were indifferent, treating all things as straw dogs; the sages were indifferent, treating the people as straw dogs.

Treating all living beings alike, rewarding good and punishing evil, was arrogance in some people's eyes.

Pride didn't understand, nor did he need to.

"Is there no way to end this game early?"

"Are you scared?"

"I just don't want to hit a child. Why don't you go first?"

"According to the rules, whoever starts the game goes second, so you should go—"

Before he could finish, Pride felt the world turn upside down.

He saw his own lower body.

What had just happened? Had he been cut in half at the waist?

Rover held the Blood Oath Covenant and gave it a light flick, shaking the blood from its blade.

"Why didn't you say so sooner? You wasted my time!"