This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

The 18th dish was about to involve TingoJE's brain.

As TingoJE appeared, Rita brought up the issue—whether removing half of its brain and skull would affect it.

When the serious matter came up, TingoJE wasn't as volatile as usual. Using its whale bone, it struck the mechanical arm and said seriously, "It will affect my combat awareness."

Rita couldn't help but regret that TingoJE wasn't dead at her hands. If it were, she could've easily controlled it with her Immortal talent.

Octopus Bucket, already covered in several wounds, spoke up: "If you lose control, I'll temporarily possess you. Marmang-Crab, how many minutes can you hold out?"

Marmang-Crab confidently replied, "30 seconds."

Sea Pony crossed its hands over its stomach, bowed in the air to Octopus Bucket and said, "My waste of a pet has embarrassed you."

Rita, Marmang-Crab, and TingoJE all stared blankly.

Even the skills from the nearby plate slowed down by half a second.

B80234615: "Next time if I or Nivalis upset you, think of Sea Pony, okay?"

Rita: "Okay…"

Octopus Bucket silently glanced at Marmang-Crab, who was taking deep breaths, speaking with a tone of pity, "Hmm, it's okay... 30 seconds. We can only try our best."

Soon, TingoJE repelled the mechanical arm, and Octopus Bucket's tentacle was already in the air, catching the dish released by the arm.

As the time ticked into the last half hour, Rita's 18th dish was finally ready.

She first tasted the Flame Sea Hungry Whale, which she had set aside for herself. The indescribable deliciousness melted in her mouth. Without hesitation, she used this buff for her new skill: "Top Chef? Top Chef!"

Then, she scooped out a spoonful of her 18th dish, Ethereal Sea, checked the recipe and confirmed it was a buff, and swallowed it down.

This was the first time since obtaining her Food God skill that she had successfully used "Who is Hannibal?"

In an instant, fragments of combat scenes flashed through her mind.

There were no hidden scenes about TingoJE; only battles, endless battles.

From the moment TingoJE awakened its divine talent, leveling up, dominating, entering the world battlefield, and then countless battles in Divine Game.

Fool — Gamer — Pain — Nightmare Mode — Abyss...

Step by step, reaching the 18th-tier Demon King!!

Lying on the cooking station, having its meat and bones cut by BS Rita was nothing. Being mocked and provoked by a Sea Pony didn't count for much either.

TingoJE, from the Wind Whale tribe, from the Tingo where 99% of the terrain is desert, where oceans make up only 0.004% of Tingo, it was one of the last 32 Wind Whales left. Deep in its heart, it carried hatred and rage higher than the heavens.

It had walked step by step, killing powerful enemies again and again, and being killed by them in return.

Rita heard TingoJE's fierce roars in battle, and also its cries of anger and pain in defeat.

In cooperation, strong players are respected, but in opposition, the elite players here only see killing strong opponents as an honor.

Weak, timid, faint-hearted players who fear death or struggle with power won't last long here.

Rita not only saw Miyaas but also witnessed the fight between TingoJE and Maple Syrup.

In the scene, Maple Syrup was in terrible condition, missing half her wings and a leg, her eyes blind, blood tears falling. But she held a thunder lance with three fingers, steadying her hand and the weapon, pointing it at the "me" in the picture.

Her tone was calm: "Continue."

No yelling, no rage, no arrogant declarations. But Rita heard the sigh of TingoJE.

In the scene, whenever TingoJE couldn't kill a player quickly, that player would commit suicide once they realized they couldn't win.

It was the right choice.

But Maple Syrup wouldn't. Rita didn't know if Maple Syrup ever considered suicide upon entering the world battlefield, but facing TingoJE, she never did.

The scenes kept switching. TingoJE and Maple Syrup fought seven times. Maple Syrup never backed down.

No matter how miserable, no matter how embarrassing, she wanted to die in battle, not escape by suicide.

TingoJE gave Maple Syrup the respect she deserved.

— "Congratulations, player has learned TingoJE's self-created SSS skill — Fourfold Spring"

Fourfold Spring (SSS): "I only have 0.0004% of spring." Upon using this skill, every critical hit the player lands will drain 4% of the opponent's health to heal the player. Once the player's health is full, the skill's effect remains in effect, and the drained health can be stored. The effect lasts for 40 minutes. Each use consumes 20% mana. Cooldown time: 2 hours.

The skill's effect was terrifying, and the duration even more so!

Rita opened her eyes, only to find Sea Pony slapping her face. "Wake up! It's not time to clock out yet!"

Rita, in a good mood, wasn't upset and instead gave Sea Pony three bites of the Ethereal Sea before plating.

Before plating, she asked, "Ready?"

Octopus Bucket, without changing its expression, grabbed its severed tentacle and swallowed it. "Ready."

Marmang-Crab, waving its half crab claw, shouted, "Let's go!"

Rita plated the final dish.

The sound of waves echoed, and the ethereal cry of the Wind Whale rang out.

The skull was half gone, the whale bone was also halved, but the ghostly figure rushed toward the mechanical hand.

Rita quickly packed up the remaining ingredients and potions into her bag and, along with Sea Pony, made her way to the food station. Their task now was to protect these dishes until the results of TingoJE's battle came through.

Rita noticed that her buff shields had already disappeared by two-thirds.

Some had expired, while others had been used up by absorbing attacks.

The same likely applied to the other players.

She kept a close watch on the battle above.

Just as TingoJE had said, its combat awareness had been severely diminished due to the loss of its brain and skull, and this was a completely uncontrollable situation.

In less than a minute, TingoJE's ghostly figure was clearly out of sorts. It stopped attacking, swimming aimlessly through the air like a newborn whale, curious about everything and unsure of what to do.

Octopus Bucket clicked a few times, added several shields to the food station, then flew into the air, transforming into a red light and merging into TingoJE's ghostly form to continue its unfinished battle.

Marmang-Crab and Rita breathed a sigh of relief. This method really worked, and its attacks were effective against the mechanical arm.

But after only Marmang-Crab and Rita remained on the plate, the players observing the battle nearby silently reached an unspoken agreement. Without needing any communication, they all attacked them together.

They needed to take down the team that was closest to victory before Octopus Bucket could return!