The sky gradually darkened.
When there were only three players left on the isolated island, the sky seemed to declare the impending endgame, becoming dim and cold.
The temperature on the island dropped suddenly by an unknown amount, and cold winds began to sweep through. Especially in the desert, the temperature plunged so much that even wearing thick camouflage uniforms couldn't keep out the chill.
The abandoned city connected directly to the desert naturally fared no better. The crumbling streets were swept by icy winds, adding an eerie atmosphere to the place. It resembled a ghost town, and for the faint-hearted, just walking down the streets would evoke fear and trepidation.
However, Rozen drove his off-road bike back into this abandoned city, the sound of its wheels and engine accompanying him all the way to the central plaza.
This was the plaza located at the heart of the abandoned city. Not only was it vast, but it also had a fountain. However, like the rest of the city, the plaza was extremely dilapidated, and the fountain was partially destroyed, looking like it had been abandoned for ages.
"Rumble..."
The sound of the off-road bike's wheels and engine gradually lessened and finally ceased.
Rozen came to a halt, parking the bike at the edge of the plaza before getting off.
"At last, I don't have to ride that thing anymore. My backside is almost deformed," he remarked.
Entering the plaza as if it were an amusement park rather than a battlefield, Rozen stretched lazily, exhaling a breath of relief, before glancing around with a faint smile.
"Since I've arrived, you might as well come out, don't you think?"
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the plaza shifted.
It became cold and tense, much like the confrontation between Rozen and Death Gun the previous day—a chilling, murderous air filled the surroundings.
The area was silent, with no sound or movement, let alone a response to Rozen's words.
Rozen, however, spoke with mocking confidence.
"Alright, cut the theatrics. I'm not some rookie unfamiliar with dealings with Laughing Coffin. I know full well that with your twisted personalities, you'd undoubtedly want to pick a grand stage to hunt your prey, especially when the prey is me. You'd certainly prepare a battlefield where everyone can witness my demise, and this place fits the bill perfectly, doesn't it?"
Rozen slowly drew the revolver from his waist.
"I'm guessing you were thinking of luring me here, not expecting me to come voluntarily. But now that I'm here, you might as well come out and greet me. Don't bother setting any traps; there's no time for that."
"Now, in your own words, isn't this the perfect moment to say: 'It's Showtime'?"
As he spoke, Rozen raised the revolver and aimed it at the fountain.
"Bang—!"
A deafening gunshot rang out, and the revolver, known for being the most powerful in the world, spewed a fiery flash from its muzzle as the bullet shot through the air, striking the fountain.
"Boom—!"
The corner of the fountain exploded under the impact of the high-caliber bullet, scattering countless fragments of rock.
Before the debris settled, a figure wavered like a mirage, tumbling out from the spot and rolling on the ground before getting up.
"Click..."
Amid the sound of a weapon being adjusted, the figure raised a sniper rifle.
It was a sniper rifle almost as long as Sinon's Hecate. Though its barrel was thinner, the sleek ventilation holes near the firing mechanism, the ergonomic stock with a thumbhole grip, and its dull gray finish created a chilling aura.
A long silencer was attached to the front of the barrel.
Rozen recognized the rifle instantly.
"Silent Assassin..."
Silent Assassin.
The official name was Accuracy International L115A3.
It wasn't a weapon designed for anti-material use like Sinon's Hecate, but a sniper rifle explicitly crafted to kill humans.
Its maximum range exceeded 2000 meters, and its bullets struck their targets without revealing the shooter's location. Even the sound of gunfire was muffled, ensuring that those targeted wouldn't hear a thing before they died. This earned the rifle its chilling moniker—Silent Assassin.
In terms of price, it was on par with Rozen's RT-20 and Sinon's Hecate.
In terms of rarity, it surpassed Sinon's Hecate and was nearly as valuable as Rozen's RT-20.
Now, someone stood holding this weapon, aiming it directly at Rozen from a distance of less than 200 meters.
"Bang!"
The next moment, a muffled gunshot, softened by the silencer, resounded as the sniper fired at Rozen without hesitation.
At a range of less than 200 meters, combined with the sniper's skill level, stat bonuses, and the weapon's performance, this was a shot guaranteed to hit according to the system.
At this distance, even a highly agile player like Darkwind would have no chance of dodging, let alone if there were no trajectory prediction lines.
But Rozen wasn't a typical player.
The moment the opponent pulled the trigger, Rozen did the same.
"Bang—!"
The thunderous roar of Rozen's revolver echoed across the plaza.
The bullet fired from the most powerful revolver flew straight toward the sniper's bullet, colliding with it in midair.
"Clang!"
The distinct sound of the two bullets colliding rang out.
This scene mirrored Rozen's first duel with Sinon in the Canyon.
But the result was different this time.
Unlike Sinon's anti-material sniper rifle, the L115A3 was a weapon designed to kill people stealthily. Its bullets lacked the destructive power of Rozen's revolver, and the collision caused the sniper's bullet to veer off course.
As a result, Rozen's bullet continued on its trajectory toward the sniper.
"Boom!"
A sharp sound broke the tension.
"Ugh...!"
The sniper grunted as he staggered backward, clutching his face.
The massive bullet from Rozen's revolver had grazed the sniper's mask, shattering half of the skull-like design.
The sniper's optical camouflage failed, the shimmering lights fading to reveal his form.
A black cloak billowed in the wind.
"Finally, you show yourself," Rozen remarked, maintaining his firing stance and narrowing his eyes with a smirk.
The sniper raised his head, his expression hidden behind the remaining half of his shattered mask.
"Magus..."
The low, raspy voice was laced with hatred and malice.
At the same time, the sniper's HP bar and username appeared.
—Sterben.
As Rozen had predicted, this was the true identity of Death Gun.