"I bet... I can become a god." Qi Si's eyes brimmed with blood-red color, while the words in his heart remained silent.
A chess piece without desire was not worth the gods staking more chips on. The Beast Arena Instance also seemed to be Li's domain, filled with deadly danger.
With the god withdrawing behind the scenes, the god on the other side of the board had every reason to favor his own agent and elevate his piece to godhood.
It was fair. If their identities and circumstances were reversed, the god would do the same—only the degree of obviousness would differ.
But why should he be a chess piece at the mercy of others? Why... could he not take the chess player's seat?
Qi Si could sense that, beyond the Gods' Gamble and beneath the Beast Arena Instance's own mechanics, he too had been moved to the edge of the board.
Not only had Chang Xu made him an openly designated target for elimination in the main quest, but the chain reaction triggered by his initial passive position had also left him at a disadvantage in terms of points.
It was only the second day of the Instance, yet he had already suffered severe injuries as an [Undying One]. Though he would not die immediately, neither could he heal...
If he made no plans now, all that awaited him was a slow death.
Qi Si knew he had to gamble.
If he won, there was still a sliver of hope; if he lost, it was nothing more than death.
He raised his head and met the gaze of the religious mural on the dome. The painting, too, seemed to lower its eyes at him as he lay dying.
Weathered into ruin by the passage of time, the painting retained