Chapter 415 - 414: Envy

Chapter 415: Chapter 414: Envy

Cloudmute didn’t need to answer.

She lowered her head, looking at her open palm. The lines were a mess, her lifeline broken into several segments.

"I had my fortune told when I was little. The fortune teller said I would die young. Everyone thought he was a fraud. My parents doted on me, my friends loved me so much... how could I possibly—"

She trailed off.

Seraphina Sinclair remained silent.

Cloudmute turned her hand over, resting it on her knee.

"Then I came to this world, and death became the most ordinary of things."

There was no wind in the arena space, no sound. Even breathing seemed too loud.

Cloudmute gave a small laugh, looking at Seraphina Sinclair with tear-filled eyes. "You know, Blacktiger Ford, I’ve actually always been envious of you."

Seraphina Sinclair finally spoke. "Envious of what?"

"I’m envious that you don’t have to trust anyone," Cloudmute said.

"I’m envious that you can live just fine all by yourself."

"I’m envious that you don’t have to put your life in someone else’s hands, only to pray over and over again that they won’t crush it."

She pushed herself up from the floor and drew her weapon from her waist—a short sword.

"Only Artemis has the authority to access the Expansion Crystals. Once I’m dead, the team will disband, so the items will definitely end up with her."

"You’re going to kill Artemis too, right?"

A smile touched her lips.

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t answer, but they both knew what the answer was.

Cloudmute gripped the short sword, her hand trembling, but she stood tall. She slowly placed the blade against her own neck and gave Seraphina Sinclair one last look.

"You live on. See what the finish line looks like for me."

She had said so much that her voice had grown hoarse.

Seraphina Sinclair hadn’t actually heard her that clearly.

But Cloudmute’s words had left such a deep impression that as she mulled them over, the indistinct parts slowly came into focus. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

This was the first time Seraphina Sinclair had dealt with an enemy without feeling a shred of satisfaction.

If she had met Cloudmute four weeks ago, they might have become good friends. Or perhaps they would have been mere strangers, passing each other on the street.

They would have both been living ordinary lives, each with their own kind of happiness.

But now...

Seraphina Sinclair looked at the pile of supplies inside the mobile cabin and lowered her eyes. Her spirits sank for only a moment before she rallied, pulling out another arena certificate.

’Time to find Artemis.’

’If I’m late, those Expansion Crystals might really be gone.’

Artemis was still a bit dazed when she was pulled into the arena space. The team certificate had just popped up with a notification: her last teammate had died, the team was disbanded, and everything from the warehouse had been scattered inside her mobile cabin.

Artemis hadn’t had time to sort through the items, much less ponder the cause of Cloudmute’s death, when she saw the arena’s alert.

[Player "Blacktiger Ford" has used an arena certificate on you!]

[Generating completely sealed arena space... Teleportation countdown: 10, 9, 8...]

The moment she saw the ID, Artemis sighed.

She knew it. Ever since her attempt to recruit Blacktiger Ford had failed, she’d known this day would come.

Artemis had gone to such great lengths, done so much, yet in the end, it was all for nothing.

’Blacktiger Ford is so strange.’

Just as she was thinking this, the surrounding scenery changed. A figure appeared across from her, slowly materializing amidst the play of light and shadow.

The moment she got a clear look at the person’s face, Artemis’s pupils contracted sharply.

"Serafelle Sinclair?"

’Only my teammates from that instance knew that name. If Artemis is one of them...’

Seraphina Sinclair looked up. Standing across from her was, indeed, Fayestar.

"Well, well, Blacktiger Ford. So you used a fake name to trick me!"

Seraphina Sinclair retorted, "Wasn’t the name you used fake as well?"

’And that’s not all.’

’This woman acted all innocent and helpless when she first entered the instance. I, on the other hand, never feigned weakness.’

"Hmph." Artemis sneered. "I knew you were Blacktiger Ford!"

Although Artemis said as much, she hadn’t actually been certain at the time. After all, Serafelle Sinclair hadn’t used any Advanced runes.

The few runes she’d casually used were sold not only by Blacktiger Ford but also by the Traveling Merchant.

Plenty of people could pull out a few of those. Even Artemis had some herself, so of course, no suspicion was aroused.

Saying it now... was merely to save face.

They were both top players, so why should she be the only one who was shocked, while Serafelle Sinclair remained completely unfazed?

Seraphina Sinclair was indeed expressionless. She just stared at Artemis, as if contemplating how she should attack once the fight began.

That gaze made Artemis very uncomfortable.

"Don’t you have anything you want to ask?" Artemis said.

"I do," Seraphina Sinclair replied with surprising honesty. "Exactly how many crystals are there?"

Artemis chuckled, then her lips twisted into an incredibly sarcastic smile. "You really are pragmatic. We’re old friends, you and I. It’s been so long. No other plans?"

"Is a week considered long?"

"You and I are comrades in arms, Miss Sinclair, the kind of bond forged by taking down a C-level monster together." Artemis put her hands behind her back, her voice rising theatrically. "Isn’t there a saying? ’A day apart feels like three autumns.’ By that logic, we’ve been separated for several years! This godforsaken place—"

Artemis abruptly shut her mouth, a vicious glint in her eyes, and her figure vanished from the spot in an instant.

The next second, a cold, gleaming dagger appeared before Seraphina Sinclair, barely an inch from her neck.

Artemis’s attack was swift and fierce, but it was a pity... Seraphina Sinclair already knew her weapon and fighting style, so even while they were making small talk, she had remained on guard.

The instant the dagger appeared, Seraphina Sinclair’s body floated backward several steps, light as a feather. Planting her foot firmly, she then surged forward, long blade in hand, attacking Artemis!

The dagger cut through the air with a sharp hiss.

Seraphina Sinclair’s long blade clashed with the dagger, sending sparks flying.

Her first strike having missed, Artemis immediately retreated. Her movements were as nimble as a swallow’s, and she landed without making a sound.

"Quick reflexes," Artemis said, shaking her wrist. Her tone held a note of genuine admiration. "Back in the instance, I knew you were something special. I just never imagined you were Blacktiger Ford in the flesh."

Seraphina Sinclair said nothing, merely holding her blade horizontally before her, her gaze locked on Artemis’s shoulder—the first part of the body to move before an attack.

Artemis, in no hurry herself, began to slowly pace along the edge of the arena.

"Let me guess." She tilted her head, a smile playing on her lips. "You killed Cloudmute? She told you I had the Expansion Crystals, and that’s why you came rushing here to kill me?"

"Blacktiger Ford," Artemis said, suddenly stopping. Her dagger was finally out in the open as she frowned and asked, "how exactly did you stop an announcement from appearing on the bulletin? Did you cheat?"