I don't want to conquer witches anymore.

At this moment, she was in a very bad state. Her face was flushed red like an apple, and she was panting heavily. Her fingers were clenched into fists, and her long legs were tightly pressed together, as if she was desperately enduring something.

Clearly, in this world where Murphy's Law prevails, her talent has truly gone off the rails.

Natasha in this state is terrifying. No creature can stay within five meters of her for more than three seconds without going into heat. Even Geyue, who is only a hair's breadth away from becoming a legend, is no exception. She obediently keeps her distance from Natasha to avoid being affected by her innate abilities and entering a troublesome state.

For Kazuki, if it were just a state of heat, that would be fine. The real problem is that when she enters this state, she doesn't seek out a partner for intercourse, but instead loses her mind and kills the closest creature to her.

She didn't want to kill Natasha again, no matter what.

“I’m back,” Kazuki said calmly. “Natasha, you must continue to be patient. We need you.”

"Ah."

Natasha bit her lip so hard that it bled.

"Duke needs you too."

"Why mention Duke?" Natasha gave a bitter smile. "Honestly, why was I put in this strategy team? I've caused everyone so much trouble again."

“They must have their reasons for choosing you. Don’t forget that there are fortune-telling witches among the higher-ups of the floating city. It’s very likely that the strategy team needs you to truly complete the game.” Geyue calmly comforted her. Although she was just repeating what Duke had told her during her last playthrough, these words were truly helpful. “Natasha, Duke really needs you.”

"Mm." Natasha let out a slow breath. "Okay."

Neither of them noticed that the fairy head that Ge Yue had casually tossed on the ground revealed an interested expression, its eyes darting around as it began to think about how to escape.

Since Duke isn't here, and these two guys don't seem to be very bright, they should be able to handle it after a few easy pranks, right?

First of all... let's make Natasha "unable to bear it any longer".

"whee."

……

Duke ultimately did not implement his bold idea.

The main reason is that he can't beat Cecil. Even if she ambushes the unsuspecting Lightbringer, he can't knock her unconscious. Putting everything else aside, the Holy Light Protection she's normally enchanted with is something he can't break through—if Duke were to actually attack Cecil, the scene would probably be quite comical.

Duke punched Cecil, and before she could even react to what he had done, an automatic protective spell instantly killed him.

I fired, one shot and it was done for. What's there to say?

Of course, he wasn't the kind of person who would actually ambush his partner.

Therefore, this quite feasible idea was still in its early stages and was unfortunately shelved.

While Duke was pondering and the others were having a lively tea party, Bane, who had been unconscious for a long time, finally woke up.

"Well……"

Bain sat up, looking around blankly for a long time before realizing he had lost an arm. He didn't panic, but instead gave a bitter smile and looked back at the withered vine woman: "In the end, I still couldn't succeed."

"Bane!" Upon seeing Bane awake, Amber immediately grabbed him by the collar and shouted angrily, "What are you thinking?"

“Amber…” Bain looked away, seemingly unable to meet his angry sister’s gaze. “I am, after all, a prince of the Elven royal family. I think I… never mind, these are all excuses.”

"Yeah, those are all excuses. You'd be better off believing the witches in the floating city can save the Tree of Life than the witches in the witch games. Instead of making a wish to a fairy, you might as well wish to Eve the Wish Witch; at least she can prescribe you a medicine." Duke scoffed, interrupting Bane and Amber's heartfelt conversation. "This fairy who looks like she's involved in a pyramid scheme, you actually believed her? It's a good thing you retained some basic caution in the end and didn't completely rely on her."

The headless fairy, unable to speak, grew anxious and raised her writing board:

"Fairy wish granted, honest business, not a pyramid scheme!"

Under Duke's leadership, everyone present subjected the headless fairy to passive-aggressive bullying, and no one believed her nonsense.

"Alas, I really have no other choice. Miss Eve and the others only said they would do their best to help."

Did Bain not know the fairy was up to something? But the unexpected turn of events with the Mother Tree made him disregard the deception and he was willing to try anything, no matter how desperate the situation seemed—and this wishing fairy really did have some skill; she actually created a human form that was indistinguishable from the real Tree of Life.

"I have a magical item that can bring any wooden object to life. If it's still intact after you finish this game, you can take it and try it out."

Pinocchio's heart has been with him for a long time, but he hasn't had a chance to use it. If he can't use it in this witch's game, giving it to his brother-in-law as a gift wouldn't be a bad idea.

But his brother-in-law clearly didn't appreciate it; he was very suspicious of him, and upon hearing this, he immediately looked at Duke warily.

"Even if you try so hard to please me, I won't easily hand over the amber to you, you scumbag!"

“I have no improper thoughts about amber, brother-in-law.”

"Before you spout such nonsense, change how you address me!"

Duke shrugged and turned to look at the "Wishing Tree" before the sister-obsessed man in front of him could explode.

"However, 'Pinocchio's Heart' will work wonders in this game... for example, by giving the Wishing Tree precious life."

The headless fairy felt she couldn't wait any longer.

Chapter 73 This Light Treasure is clearly extremely cautious, yet it's excessively toxic.

The headless fairy felt she couldn't wait any longer.

If Duke truly granted the Wishing Tree precious life, then she would really not gain any advantage. The Wishing Tree's power was already stronger than hers. She could only twist other people's words, while the Wishing Tree could realize what others thought. It was clear from the scope of its abilities that which was stronger.

The only advantage the Wishing Fairy currently holds is that she has gained a body that allows her to move freely thanks to Duke's power, while the even more powerful Wishing Tree has not yet fully awakened—if the situation were reversed, she would have no way to contend with it.

"I'd rather kill them than let them keep making wishes than let Duke give the Wishing Tree life!"

The wishing fairy made up her mind.

"Are you sure you want to bring the Wishing Tree back to life?" Bain frowned upon hearing Duke's question. Duke had just relayed to him what they had heard from the Wishing Fairy, and the top player on the leaderboard immediately realized the risks involved. "To be honest, based on my own experience, I don't recommend doing something so dangerous. Their goal is very likely to get us out of this other world."

He pointed to the wishing fairy who was ignored by everyone, and then looked up at the wishing tree that reached the sky.

"I know."

Duke didn't tell Bane and the others about the time loop, and it seems that they have experienced far more time loops than Joan knows about. The witch's game is definitely much more dangerous than what they are experiencing now, because he still has no memory of the previous time loop—which means that no matter how many time loops there are, he dies before the last moment.

"Thankfully, no memory remains, otherwise my PTSD would have flared up again."

Duke muttered a few words to himself. His death in his previous life was so tragic that it directly led to his laziness and lack of critical thinking when he first transmigrated. Although he had improved a lot after the social death incident, he still dared not look back on that real death.

But in that instant, some fragments of memories he had deliberately forgotten resurfaced. The terrifying feeling of his body temperature and consciousness gradually fading away, yet being unable to move even a finger, was vividly recreated. His pupils contracted slightly, he bent over deeply, covered his mouth, and a strong urge to vomit surged up.

"Duke?" Amber noticed his lapse in composure, and the witch looked surprised, for she had never seen Duke look like that before. "Duke, what's wrong?"

In her anxiety, she suddenly turned around and looked at the wishing fairy.

Amber wasn't foolish enough to speak up directly. She clearly remembered how Joseph's careless words had led to a mental attack, but in Amber's mind, she was already convinced that the Wishing Fairy had done something.

However, besides Amber, Joseph, and Joan, there were others present who did not fully understand the nature of this world.

Cecil noticed Duke's condition and cast a ball of holy light at him, trying to soothe him. At the same time, she muttered to herself with some confusion, "Duke, you... Oh no, he wasn't attacked, was he?!"

Amber failed to stop Cecil. In fact, they had not yet encountered the true horror of this world. Apart from Joan, who had already experienced it once, and Duke, who understood the nature of the world, everyone else was not vigilant enough.

Soon, they will come to a profound understanding of how terrifying the Crown-level Witch Game is.

"Boom—"

An explosion suddenly erupted beside Duke, triggering the Holy Light defense that Cecil had previously set up for everyone.

Cecil narrowed his eyes and shouted in the direction the attack came from, "Who goes there?"

As she called out, the being finally materialized under the power of the "wish"—a dark figure standing atop a tall tree, extending his right hand towards Cecil and the others. Immediately afterward, small explosions began to occur around them.

"Everyone hide, don't come out." Cecil raised her hand, and holy light transformed into a complete shield, instantly enveloping all her companions. She then clasped her hands together in front of the figure: "If I can't beat Geyue, I can at least beat you?!"

"Holy Cross".

"boom--"

A massive cross of holy light exploded in the distance, and as this scene unfolded, comparable to an apostle launching an attack, Cecil blasted a huge crater into the location where the dark figure stood.

Once in battle, Cecil always maintains the utmost vigilance. She has a good habit of strategically despising her opponent while tactically taking them seriously. She always fights with the worst-case scenario in mind. She once encountered a hero-level lich on the battlefield who could be resurrected after being blown to smithereens and almost fell victim to its trick.

After that, like a certain cautious warrior, she would always use Holy Light Cannon to cleanse the ground after a battle, making sure to scatter the enemy's ashes before stopping. So, after she killed the enemy with her first Holy Light Cross, she fired two more on the spot, doubling the size of the meteorite crater.

But this habit isn't considered a good one in this world, because the things she worries about will definitely happen in this world.

A man staggered out of the crater. Despite Cecil's all-out attack, he had not died and his strength had clearly increased.

"What the hell?" Cecil exclaimed in astonishment. "They're still alive? Are they immortal?"

"Idiot, stop talking nonsense!" Amber, hiding in the holy light shield, exclaimed anxiously. "Even if he wasn't originally immortal, he'll become immortal after you say that!"

"Huh?" Cecil was slightly taken aback, then remembered the rules of this ghost world. Her lips twitched slightly. "It's alright, even if he's immortal, I can seal him away!"

As she spoke, she took out her staff for the first time and began chanting.

"Sevenfold Sacred Core Seal—"

Holy light formed a giant coffin, enveloping the being who had gained immortality, and then, under Cecil's control, closed the coffin door.

"Is everything alright now?"

Experience has shown that you should never, ever speak during a fight, because if you do, you'll be making a fatal mistake.

As Cecil spoke, the Sevenfold Sacred Seal shattered, and the undying enemy immediately broke free, charging towards Duke and the others.

Seeing this, everyone protected by the holy light roared in unison:

"Cecil!"

"I'm sorry." Cecil, holding his staff, shrank back, saying with a slightly aggrieved expression, "At least the holy light shield I cast was very sturdy, wasn't it..."

Before she could finish speaking, the holy light shield she had erected shattered on its own.

"?" Guangbao: "Are you targeting me?"

Chapter 74 Chekhov's Shot

After the holy light seemed to shatter, everyone scattered and fled, each relying on their own abilities. Amber grabbed Duke, who was in extremely poor condition, and teleported with him. Joseph carried Joan on his back and ran wildly, while Bane used his Forest Ranger ability to traverse the forest alone.

For a moment, only the headless fairy and Guangbao remained in place.

After Cecil's vivid demonstration, everyone understood the importance of being careful with their words. Whether complaining directly or mentioning it indirectly, uttering any related words would only make things worse. Everyone shut their mouths, not daring to utter a single careless word. Even Cecil, who was still standing still, learned his lesson.

Having been cursed three times in a row, she dared not speak again.

But she didn't run away like the others. In the eyes of the Radiant Witch, running away wouldn't solve anything.

So what if she's immortal? She's killed more than just one or two immortals.

Cecil narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips, holy light condensing into a knight's sword in his hand.

She strode towards the dark figure, choosing to approach the enemy rather than flee. She kept her mouth tightly shut and remained silent, the brilliant knight's sword in her hand transforming into a streak of light as she moved.