Going back to Nathan and his party, they contemplated their next move after receiving the developer's rewards.

"So, what now?" Zack asked the developer.

"Ah, glad you're so eager to continue playing the murder game, Zack." The developer responded. "But you don't have to worry, for the game will be on a slight pause."

"Huh?"

"Before I explain, I gotta say something to Nathan," The developer said as he approached Nathan.

"What the hell do you want with me...?" Nathan asked. "What? Are you offended that I declared I was going to kill you?"

"Nah, not that," The developer replied. "It's about something else...You spared the super soldier, Rebecca, right?"

"Spare someone?" Jack interjected. "Why would you do that?"

"He did it because he knew she would be a good fight in the future!" Charles said. In response, Jack rubbed his chin and raised one eyebrow in confusion.

"Tch...why the hell are you bringing that up?" Nathan asked.

Suddenly, the developer's charismatic smile became slightly twisted.

"You want to protect your love, but you spared the enemy?" The developer asked. "Plus, you failed to kill Ada. You do realize that's going to come back to bite you?"

"Tch! You're the one that called her stupid group, which stopped me from killing that woman!" Nathan retorted.

"You have a lot to say about Ada but not much to say about Rebecca, huh?" The developer responded with a smug smirk. This truth significantly frustrated Nathan, as he knew he made a poor decision of sparing the super soldier.

Suddenly, Lilith came in the way of Nathan and the developer, much to their surprise.

"I have made a promise to be by Nathan's side from long ago, to protect him," Lilith interjected as she gripped her sheathed katana. "I was powerless to take away his misery, but it's different now. I have the strength to help him. No one will come back to bite him...as his...knight will protect him!"

"So...wholesome..." Zack noted as he fell on his knees, much to Jack's surprise.

Hehe...that reminds me of Jack...my knight... Olivia thought as she shyly held her cheek.

"Sounds like she's going to get stronger in the future!" Charles added. "That makes me excited!"

Bloody hell, It's hard keeping myself intact, especially after hearing that declaration... Jack thought.

Hearing Lilith's declaration, Nathan's cheeks immediately flushed red. He proceeded to shyly cover his face to go unnoticed.

"Yeah, I knew it!" The developer said. "With that type of mindset, your blessing will become immensely strong! Maybe on the level of enlightenment!"

"Enlightenment?" Lilith asked.

"Don't worry about it. But Nathan, you've got the talent and skills to survive my game." The developer said. "But, you gotta make sure to kill all your enemies...and confirm them."

What a strange way to say that... Nathan thought.

"Anyways, you asked what's next, Zack?" The developer asked. "Well, now the 'higher beings' gotta act."

"Higher beings?" Zack asked.

"Yes," The developer replied. "Now that the entire country has been plunged into destruction, there's no way it'll go unnoticed by those individuals."

"What are the 'higher beings?" Jack asked. "Are they gods or something, mate?"

"Yeah, pretty much," The developer answered. "There's no way they'll want their precious humans to be exterminated. They will act, and that's when the second phase starts."

What...the hell...? A-Are we messing with gods now!? Nathan internally questioned.

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"Second phase...?" Charles asked.

"Yes, the second phase will usher into a new calamity." The developer said with outstretched arms as he looked up to the sky. "The calamity will be retribution...for a sin committed a thousand years ago...So until then, the murder game will be on pause."

"Oh, I see...well, bye guys, it was fun," Charles said as he walked off. "Guess we'll meet up sometime later."

"Oh, I also made a house for you guys," The developer continued, which pleased everyone. "The themes of your houses are all tailored to your tastes. The address got sent to your phones via GPS, so don't worry."

"Oh, nice!" Charles happily commented.

"An actual house!? Let's go!" Zack exclaimed as he clenched his fist and shook it excitedly.

As usual...these criminals never seem to care about anything...not even about the fact that we're waging war on freaking gods!!! Nathan thought. Similar to Nathan, Lilith seemed concerned about that revelation, but they refrained from complaining since it would be futile against the developer.

"Well, I should be going too," Jack stated, which surprised Zack and Olivia, with the latter also looking distraught.

"What? Where are you going?" Zack asked. "What about movies?"

"Oh, don't worry, mate. I'll stop by regularly to watch movies," Jack assured. "I just want to...play around a little...maybe visit my home country, England too."

"...Make sure to...visit your friends...regularly..." Olivia softly spoke, however, just loud enough for Jack to hear. In response, he scratched his head.

"Uhm, sure, I guess," Jack said. "Well, later." He bid his dues before suddenly disappearing.

...Good, that psychopath is gone from here... Nathan said to himself. I don't need to worry about him trying to harm Lilith...

"Lilith, do you...want to live...with me...?" Nathan asked, surprising everyone in the process. Lilith was even more surprised as her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

"Wh-- wha...what?" Lilith stuttered.

"Jeez, that was fast!" Zack uttered, much to Nathan's annoyance.

"I...I just meant that with the immense danger...it would be best if we stay together..." Nathan awkwardly explained. Hearing his desperate explanation, Lilith couldn't help but smile.

"Haha...that's the type of expression I like to see from you..." Lilith said.

"Huh--"

"Yeah, I'd love it if we could live together..." Lilith accepted.

"I knew you two would say something like that, so I decorated your house to match your tastes beforehand." The developer admitted.

Tsk...If only he could use his magic freaking powers and go the hell away... Nathan thought.

"Also, the NPC will be coming over to help you two get stronger," The developer added. "You two will need it."

"...That's good. I was planning on asking to train with the NPC anyways..." Nathan said. Suddenly, he began staggering as if his legs were losing the energy they once had. "Anyways, I'm...tired...I just want to...rest...now..."

Before he fell, Lilith quickly reached out and grabbed him, causing his head to fall onto her chest.

"...Ahem," Zack uttered as he pretended to cough.

"Nathan!" Lilith called out, but he did not respond. The overexerting of his body had caught up, and he fell asleep.

"Well, that settles it!" The developer said. Meanwhile, Lilith was very much concerned about Nathan's state. "Good job again, everyone, for completing the first murder game mission!"

* * *

The scene shifted back to Ada after she had enforced the suicide of Garfield and solidified her position as the 'next' President of the United States. She still sat in the office seat, with Nolan and the rest seated in couches and Garfield's ex-bodyguards cleaning his blood from the mats, when suddenly, the developer entered.

"Hello again! Miss Ada!" The developer enthusiastically announced his presence, immediately causing Ada's heads and bodyguards to become alarmed.

"Calm down," Ada said to her allies. Like loyal dogs, they immediately obeyed her words and relaxed once again. "What do you want?"

"Congratulations on becoming president!" The developer congratulated her as he clapped. "This will make your reward even better!"

"My reward...oh yeah," Ada said.

"So, what do you want?" He asked.

There was silence in the room as she began to think.

What would I want? What would the person who became the most powerful in the country could want? What would the person who has control over almost everything want?

Suddenly, a twisted smile formed on her face.

"Haha...it's obvious," Ada said. "I want control over the uncontrollable..."

"Oh? Now that's a pretty good wish!"

* * *

"--an!"

"-than!"

"Nathan!"

The calls of Lilith roused Nathan out of the state of unconsciousness he was temporarily in. When he awoke, he immediately noticed they were in a car, being chauffeured by the NPC.

He also noticed his head resting on a soft, plump sensation. He was lying on Lilith's lap, much to his extreme surprise. He immediately tried to sit up, but Lilith grabbed his head and pushed it back on her lap.

"No! Don't move!" Lilith instructed. "You're tired, aren't you!? Then, just relax!"

"Uh...but..."

"No buts!" Lilith interrupted. "Just listen!"

There was silence as Nathan relented to Lilith's orders.

"Hey, Lilith...I'm sorry," Nathan suddenly said.

"Sorry? For what?"

"I forced you...into all this..." Nathan explained. "Because of me...you...killed someone...and nearly died--"

Before he could finish, Lilith placed her right index finger on his mouth.

"...No, no. No more of this guilty feeling, Nathan." Lilith said. "I told you already, I'll be by your side. You may feel guilty for what happened, but I have never regretted my choice... Because...you have always saved me..."

"..."

"Let's just...enjoy the ride to our new home..." Lilith said.

Yeah...you're right, enough of feeling guilty. Nathan thought. Feeling guilty won't change the past...nothing will, so I have to keep moving...keep getting stronger.

"We're almost there," The NPC stated. "Be ready for a tough training soon."

"Yeah!" Lilith responded.

I'll keep getting stronger. Not only the developer but anyone that poses even the slightest threat to Lilith, the only one I have...I promise I'll kill all of them!!!