Chapter 60: Brand-New S-Tier Sealed Artifact!

Lu Ce closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side. His mind was currently flooded with negative emotions, and he was forcing himself to calm down.

This was only because Lu Ce was completely exhausted. If it had been during those two days when he raided the whole prison’s food supply, with his level of mental chaos back then, he probably wouldn’t have cared about any of this.

But right now, this stupid diary actually had some real kick to it.

“What?”

Hearing the game voice in his ear, Lu Ce asked with a puzzled tone in his heart.

【Detected: You possess a Sealed Artifact that can be upgraded.】

【Detected: Relevant item found in your inventory.】

【Would you like to proceed with the upgrade?】

Lu Ce took a closer look and finally realized—the so-called “relevant item” was a lottery ticket in his backpack.

“If I upgrade, what tier does it go to?”

【It will be a higher tier than it is now.】

Lu Ce: ?

Did I just hear you fart real loud?

I asked what tier it upgrades to, and you say “higher than now”?!

Like what, you thought it’d downgrade instead? What kind of braindead game prompt is that?

Just then, the voice popped up again.

【Current item {Tom’s Diary} is a peak-tier B-rank Sealed Artifact.】

Oh?

Now that’s a useful reminder! (●'◡'●)

Sealed Artifacts and weapons were both special items produced in the game, with the key difference being that weapons didn’t have clearly defined side effects.

Sealed Artifacts were a double-edged sword—especially those ranked high in the Sequence. Their side effects were often unbearable.

Lu Ce figured this stuff was probably modeled after the SCP format, meaning nothing particularly original—just a bit of that Lovecraftian flavor.

But if used properly, the special abilities of Sealed Artifacts could be *abnormally deranged*.

Take his own mask, for example—he hadn’t even tapped into its true power yet, and it had already brought him a ton of benefits.

He’d only used two of the seven modes, and hadn’t even tried the Overload Mode for each one.

“If I upgrade, it’s gotta be at least A, maybe even S...”

Lu Ce thought it through—it seemed like this upgrade would be more valuable than just a random draw.

Jiu Tian had also noticed Lu Ce holding the book and, curious, walked over.

Just as he approached, he saw Lu Ce suddenly slam the book shut and turn his head away.

Jiu Tian: ?

Seriously, bro? You’re guarding against me like that?

To break the awkward silence, Jiu Tian gave a light cough and fidgeted with his hands before glancing around and saying,

“So this... probably means the game’s over, right? I think it’s over?”

As if responding to Jiu Tian’s attempt at conversation, the game’s background voice finally chimed in again.

【Game over. Players may choose immediate settlement, or auto-settle in 30 minutes.】

At the same time, the screen went completely black for all spectators.

Two lines of text appeared before everyone:

【The game has ended. Please visit other ongoing games or look forward to the next one.】

【Chosen’s Paradise welcomes you to become a Player.】

Every time a game ended, the same lines were shown to all viewers.

But those who were truly aware had already entered the game. Most people, however, still preferred to remain mere *Spectators*.

They stood high above, stayed out of the fray, kept themselves far from danger... and ended up with *nothing*.

【: It’s over? That was nearly two days of gameplay!】

【: Every time this guy performs, it kills my urge to ever join. Too damn scary.】

【: Wait, wasn’t this instance supposed to be unbeatable? That thing earlier looked like freaking Megatron—how could any current Player beat that?!】

【: Rankings! Didn’t they say there’d be a World Ranking? I want to see him at the top!】

Even though the screen had gone dark, no one left.

The Ranking Preview announced before the game still had everyone’s—and the world’s—attention.

Meanwhile, inside the game, Jiu Tian realized that because spectator access had been cut, he could no longer contact the external staff.

It felt awful. He now had to face this lunatic alone.

He had been alone before, sure, but there was a big difference between having someone watching and no one watching.

Thinking of how the guy had eaten earlier, Jiu Tian couldn’t help but worry the man might suddenly snap and eat him alive.

“Here.”

Jiu Tian suddenly remembered and handed over Lu Ce’s severed right hand.

Lu Ce didn’t rush to take it. He turned to look at him and, holding up *Tom’s Diary*, said:

“This thing’s mine. You got no problem with that, right?”

Jiu Tian paused, then nodded like crazy.

“Totally, totally—yours. I mean, you did basically all the work. We just kinda tagged along for the Completion.”

Jiu Tian had worked at the Department at the Edge of the Universe after all—his EQ was maxed out.

Though honestly, he did feel a little guilty. In the end, only two of them cleared the instance, and he was the only real beneficiary.

“That wasn’t the legit way to clear it, was it?” Jiu Tian asked cautiously after thinking about it.

“Of course not. Charging in fists blazing isn’t exactly smart strategy.” Lu Ce was mentally stable now and could speak like a normal person.

“It’s just... finding the loophole, earning trust, analyzing slowly—that all takes too long. And in the end, you’d still have to fight. Maybe just not his full-strength form.”

Lu Ce explained a bit as he reattached his right hand.

Of course, only he knew the real reason for the brute-force approach: it was to unleash Gluttony’s power, and to rack up some Pain Points.

Everyone else was too weak—their attacks barely gave him any pain at all.

Jiu Tian looked at Lu Ce, whose body was battered beyond belief but somehow still seemed fine, and was left speechless.

He didn’t know if any other Player in the world could ever replicate Lu Ce’s performance—but just remembering the scene gave him lingering fear.

Way too violent...

“You’re really not planning to...”

Just as he was about to try and get closer or confirm Lu Ce’s identity, he turned around and saw—Lu Ce had disappeared.

Without saying a word, Lu Ce had entered the final *Game Settlement* screen and left the Demon Asylum.

Jiu Tian: ......

【Game Over!】

“Upgrade!”

Once in the Recovery Space, Lu Ce’s whole body floated in a warm, gentle light.

The first thing he did was initiate the upgrade on the diary in his hand.

The Random Sealed Artifact Draw Ticket in his backpack burned away slowly into ashes, and then *Tom’s Diary*, tattered and worn, was wrapped in light.

【Sequence B-tier Sealed Artifact, Tom’s Diary, is now undergoing Illusory Upgrade!】

【You have obtained a completely undocumented, brand-new S-tier Sealed Artifact.】

【Designation: S-147 – Confessions of the Disillusioned!】