Who would come out on top, crystal or amber?
It was almost the same old test of willpower. How much fun could that be?
Betting on whom Akasha would help did raise the stakes, but it still wasn't entirely free of the same old trappings.
As the grand finale of a reunion between old friends, it still fell a little flat.
But add a contest where each side relied on their own abilities, using a cheat to pierce straight through the ordinary dimensions of gambling, and it suddenly felt complete.
Though he seemed to be at a disadvantage, Fu Qian didn't feel that anything about this was unfair.
Why should he bet with you?
In so many stories, the final boss—an utterly invincible tyrant—would insist on some inexplicable contest with the protagonist, placing himself under the rules. To Fu Qian, it was practically like getting hit with a causality-control skill.
It also showed a lack of taste. Even if he wanted to play a game, he had enough resources at hand to put together something far more entertaining.
The clown was clearly doing just that.
You can choose first. I'll be forced to take the other side.
But no matter how much effort you put into figuring out the outcome, I can change it to whatever I want.
As the Dark Prophet, the hand behind the hand pulling the strings, Fu Qian believed the clown was entirely capable of doing so.
The safe zone in the eyes of Akasha and the others couldn't protect them in the slightest, even though they still seemed to be struggling for control.
"Then you should keep hiding."
After a moment of silence, Akasha bluntly responded to Amber's suggestion, indicating that she could go on hiding.
"That's impossible."
Unfortunately, the answer came at once.
Amber,