The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 884: Seen Through

In prime condition, Gao Yang's movement speed outpaced all others. The pattern beneath his feet turned green, signaling his turn.

His five opponents held their breath, minds screaming in unison: Use Absolute Defense! Give yourself a barrier!

Their hope shattered.

Gao Yang vanished—Teleportation once more.

It can't be!

Liao Liao, still clutching her wound, froze. The others stood equally stunned.

In the instant before Gao Yang disappeared, the pattern under 0618's feet had flashed yellow, marking them as his target. But the others, fixated on Gao Yang himself, missed this crucial detail.

0618 had no time to react before cold steel pierced their back. Searing pain exploded through their chest as muscle and tissue tore. Breathing became impossible.

The dagger had found their heart.

"..."

0618 couldn't speak, couldn't even summon the strength to look back at their killer. By the time they crumpled to the ground, Gao Yang had already returned to his position.

Cold crept through 0618's body as blood pooled beneath their face. In their final moments, they activated Golden Ratio, desperate to find Gao Yang's weak points so that their teammates might avenge them.

A second later, their eyes widened with shock so profound it overwhelmed even their fear of death. In their vision, Gao Yang's entire being blazed with light.

His whole body—no, his entire existence—embodied the perfect golden ratio.

That... couldn't be.

"0618! Hold on! I'll save you next turn..."

Void's desperate cry grew distant as 0618's hearing faded. Darkness crept into their vision. They tried to speak, to share this impossible discovery, but death claimed them first.

The rules of the turn-based match had theoretically prevented such analysis, but some minor loophole had allowed this final insight.

I’ve never seen such a thing. A being who embodies the golden ratio itself... He seems more Divine Scion than Malediction. Did you... get it wrong, Madam Li?

0618 died with that secret and their lingering doubts.

The red and golden bars above their head vanished. The pattern beneath their feet dulled to gray as the space around them grew heavy and lifeless.

Gao Yang, bloody dagger in hand, fixed Liao Liao with a cool, mocking stare. "Liao Liao, you don't really think you've seen through me, do you?"

Liao Liao's face drained of color. Fear seized her heart, making it stutter before pounding frantically.

Thump!

Thump, thump, thump!

Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, one drop breaking free to trace down her face.

He let me predict his first move! It was all setup for this turn!

But how would he dare to do this?!

Does he not fear death? No one would make such a gamble!

He has no allies. He's walking a highwire above an abyss—one wrong step means death!

If Sir Jiang had attacked again, he would have lost, yet he didn't choose defense!

This madman!

While shock paralyzed Liao Liao, Sir Jiang completed his turn, choosing to rest and recover energy.

Now came Qin You's turn.

Qin You quietly examined Gao Yang, activating Mindreading. Seconds later, his eyes trembled with disbelief.

"What is he thinking?" Sir Jiang asked quietly, noting his reaction.

Qin You's voice wavered as he repeated Gao Yang's thoughts: "I'll continue to kill next turn. Guess who's going to die?" His eyes twitched with mingled anger and fear. "That's what he's been thinking nonstop."

The revelation shook Liao Liao to her core. The boy before her seemed like a black hole, impossible to comprehend.

"Don't fall for it, Liao Liao!" Sir Jiang's experience allowed him to maintain composure. "This is psychological warfare. You and he have each won once. He's no better at strategy than you. He's bluffing."

Liao Liao caught herself. That's right. Gao Yang must be guessing too. He can't have predicted all my predictions. It's clearly impossible when you think about it.

Calm down, calm down. I almost fell for the trick.

Void took his turn, rushing to inject Medicine C into Liao Liao's collar wound.

She grunted as the injury sealed itself, torn flesh knitting together as pain transformed into a burning warmth. With renewed focus, she began to see past the surface situation.

Gao Yang's trying to present himself as a death-defying madman to shake my judgment. But looking back, he's never been unhinged. He's incredibly calm, having survived more brushes with death than all of us combined. This second-turn gamble came from careful calculation.

Why? Because it was his only option!

I was too nervous to see his perspective. In his position, an Absolute Barrier might keep me alive for two or three turns, but how long could I last without eliminating enemies?

Absolute Barrier costs as much energy as Sir Jiang's Spatial Blender. Gao Yang can't endure if we rotate between resting and attacking. He had to risk everything—he had no choice!

Even then, he chose 0618 as his first target. That shows caution. His initial attack proved he'd struggle to kill Sir Jiang, me, or Qin You with just Teleportation and a regular strike. We're too quick and resilient.

Between Void and 0618, Void's Detonation might seem more threatening, but 0618's Golden Ratio combined with my God of Firearms posed the greater danger. That's why 0618 had to die first.

And Gao Yang must have anticipated I'd order Qin You to read his mind. He used that against me. Without Sir Jiang's warning, I'd have fallen for it.

Next turn, my charged God of Firearms plus Sir Jiang's rested Spatial Blender will cover Gao Yang's entire movement range. We'll kill or critically wound him, and the others will finish him.

Gao Yang knows this. He has two options: Use Absolute Barrier to survive our third-turn barrage, then plan for turn four. Or expend massive energy on an unreserved Fire Punch—thank goodness the turn-based rules prevent group attacks, or he could've killed us all with one strike.

At best, he could kill Sir Jiang or me before we act. The other three would still get their attacks, and his depleted energy would leave him vulnerable in turn four. He'd lose.

Therefore, he'll likely use Absolute Barrier next turn. He let Qin You read those thoughts deliberately.

Unless... has Gao Yang predicted this too? Is this reverse psychology? Will he actually kill another one of us instead of using Absolute Barrier?

Liao Liao's thoughts spiraled into a maze of possibilities, her racing mind threatening to short-circuit.

The parrot made its move.