Chapter 1016: 1016 Divine Game: Player Relic 19

All nine of Mistblade’s tails drooped in pure, helpless frustration.

She really had no way to deal with BS-Rita anymore.

Yet mixed with that helplessness was a strange and indescribable relief. If BS-Rita could willingly turn herself stupid just to win, then maybe it wasn’t so surprising that she and Maple Syrup had also been turned into idiots before.

Rita stood there quietly. She wasn’t throwing a tantrum, nor was she confused about her surroundings. Losing her memories of herself didn’t mean she lost her basic survival instincts or common sense, and she certainly hadn’t forgotten the Divine Game.

She still retained many memories, but they felt distant, like a book or a film playing in her mind. She remembered everything except herself. She simply couldn’t find her own place in those memories, as if she had been erased from every story.

When confusion threatened to overwhelm her, an electronic voice rose in her mind, patiently explaining everything and answering every question. With its help, she quickly understood her current condition.

Rita didn’t rush to cancel the skill. She continued playing the game, quietly listening to the little robot sitting on her shoulder.

Following Rita’s instructions, B8017913 methodically relayed her own words back to her in her mind.

Surprise flickered across her expression. But not long after, she looked up at the nine-tailed moon fox with a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.

Mistblade immediately assumed a battle-ready stance. The round wasn’t over. This challenge was incredibly hard to win. The rule required recounting something that happened between them—something only the speaker knew and the partner did not.

Under that rule, Mistblade was confident they had no such event. Even the times BS-Rita had stolen from the World Graveyard, she had already guessed. So what could BS-Rita possibly say that Mistblade didn’t already know?

A faint thrill of expectation rose in her chest.

Show me. Surprise me.

Rita said, "Back in the Chaotic Restaurant game, when I translated the rules for you, I actually understood six lines. But I only told you three."

Mistblade froze.

Of course BS-Rita would find a way to piss her off, even like this.

She took a very slow breath. Seeing Rita about to say more, Mistblade raised her hand sharply.

"I don’t want to hear it."

The moment she spoke, she dissolved into mist, but she was too late. A small robot appeared exactly where she had been standing, holding a scrap of red cloth between its metal fingers. It shouted in moon-fox language toward the dissipating mist.

"I caught you!"

Rita had no idea what that meant, but she still finished the sentence she’d been cut off from saying.

"There’s a little robot behind you."

The mist above condensed again. Mistblade landed on her feet but looked more surprised than annoyed. She stared at the small robot.

"What skill did you use?"

Without waiting for an answer, she waved at Rita and walked off with the robot. This game couldn’t knock BS-Rita out. Next time, maybe.

The countdown ended. Mistblade turned just once, watching BS-Rita still standing exactly where she had been—but her entire aura had changed. Her eyes, her posture, her breath... all different.

The brief illusion of the girl at the Kaladom Bridge Lake was gone.

Mistblade turned away and left.

The tenth round couldn’t change anything. The reward for this district was as good as in Rita’s hands. She stayed alert, guarding against a sudden Mechanoid attack.

When the countdown hit zero, a small hourglass filled with liquid blue currents appeared in Rita’s palm.

Players who avoided the Mechanoids and kept their qualification would receive five minutes of unrestricted adjustments to their Player Relic, and any change made during these five minutes could be undone.

Rita returned immediately to the starting chamber.

She knew her painting still had flaws. A true divine relic would usually have a skill sharing its name, and why hadn’t it accepted the title Falling Starry Sky that she gave it?

She had barely set the painting back onto its stand when a new prompt appeared.

A friend has knocked. Please open the door.

Rita sighed. B8017913 definitely planted this idea.

She selected "Allow."

A cube-sized mechanoid emerged out of thin air and landed on her shoulder. L12185511 had even shrunk itself down to match B80’s size so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.

Nivalis, just released from the pet space, stared at Rita’s shoulders—each occupied by a tiny robot—and froze.

So where was she supposed to sit?

Rita lifted her right foot helplessly. Nivalis ran over and plopped down on it.

Only then did peace return.

Still inspecting her painting, Rita finally asked, "Do you need something?"

L12185511 studied her expression carefully.

"I already fixed the programs of all the Mechanoids in the other districts. They won’t avoid you anymore. That was something I set earlier."

Rita let out a long breath. Good. At least it wasn’t a case of acting calm on the surface while secretly tripling its hostility.

"What about L175246?"

L12185511 sounded resentful.

"It won’t listen to me. I altered its program, but whenever it saw you, it repaired itself again."

Rita paused, her hand stilling over the palette.

"How strong is L175246 in combat?"

Both robots instantly understood her intention.

She wanted to consider L175246 as her battle royale agent.

B8017913 answered objectively, "Aside from differences in personality and specialization, all models leave the factory with similar combat parameters. Combat ability is divided into dozens of branches. If a unit is weaker with weapons, it compensates with predictive combat processing. If assassination aptitude is low, it gets stronger in frontal combat."

L12185511 added, "So instead of asking about a specific unit, it’s better to ask which model excels in combat overall."

B8017913 took the cue seamlessly.

"The Y-series is the strongest. They spend years transporting cargo through open space and frequently face cosmic marauders. Their combat algorithms are the top among all models."

L12185511 hesitated before whispering, "I can modify its program for you. I can make it fight for you with absolute zeal."

"No."

Rita rejected it instantly.

She spoke with absolute seriousness.

"Don’t change Y128. Don’t alter what it likes or hates. I don’t want false devotion."