CHAPTER 794: 794: DIVINE GAME: CARD SWAP 43

"You’re not curious about Moonlight Marsh’s resurrection rules?"

The students exchanged glances. Finally, Mistblade spoke up. "Isn’t it just whoever dies first gets revived first?"

"Not quite. There’s a hidden rule," Lightchaser said calmly, looking directly at her student. "Once you’ve been revived during the Divine Game, you’re never allowed to enter it again. Moonlight Marsh doesn’t give second chances. You can look it up—any student who died once never returned to the Divine Game."

Rita stared at her half-eaten bowl of rice, her appetite vanishing instantly.

She was doing it on purpose!

"No wonder Moonlight Marsh’s Divine Game results have been garbage for the last ten years," she muttered bitterly.

Lightchaser gave her a fake smile. "That’s because Moonlight Marsh doesn’t waste revives on trash. Moonlight Marsh favors the gifted."

Maybe it was her good mood, but Lightchaser’s relaxed expression gave Fat Goose the courage to grumble, "If dying once makes you trash, what do you call the people who enter every year and still never win? Are there even students who manage to win every year while still in school?"

Rita sat up straighter, pride flashing in her eyes as she looked at Lightchaser.

She didn’t pity her teacher for not obtaining the GodDraw77 title.

Lightchaser’s era—the Lightchaser Moment—was already more than what most people could dream of.

Lightchaser gave Fat Goose a gentle smile. "You’ve grown some guts since last time. Feeling ready to die, are you?"

Fat Goose flinched so hard the meat from his spoon fell back into his bowl. He suddenly remembered just how terrifying Lightchaser could be.

Rita asked, "What about the non-academy students who get personally recommended to the Divine Game?"

"Same rule," Lightchaser replied. "One resurrection. After that, you’re done."

On the final day of the Flame Festival, Lightchaser called Rita into her room and handed her a scroll.

"This is the last skill I’m teaching you until you get [Debone·Lightchaser], [Backstab·Lightchaser], and [Throat Slash·Lightchaser] to SSS rank."

Rita unrolled the scroll and blinked in surprise—it was an SSS-tier skill, just like [Rule 801].

Its name: [Boomerang].

[Boomerang] (Passive): When someone tries to steal, strip, or suppress your items, attributes, or talents, there is a 90% chance the effect will be reflected back at them.

It was clearly intended to prepare her for the Divine Game.

After reading the description, the first question that popped into Rita’s head was: "So I can use that skill on students from other schools during the Divine Game?"

"Of course," Lightchaser said. "As long as no one catches you. There are so many cursed and underhanded abilities in the Game that no one investigates unless there’s proof. But if they find out you can steal attributes, items, or gold, you’ll be expelled from Moonlight Marsh the same day you return."

Rita gave a solemn nod. "I won’t let you down."

Lightchaser wasn’t moved. She turned to the window. "This is your life. Just don’t let yourself down."

The first day back, Rita went straight to the library and signed up for the Divine Game using the machine in the main hall.

She had no idea how other schools handled it, but Moonlight Marsh was brutal—registration required 500 academic credits.

That was all she’d earned in the past year and a half.

With that much credit, she could have exchanged it for an SSS-tier skill, or enough XP crystals to go from level 1 to level 15. But here? It only got her a participation slot.

Even now, when Moonlight Marsh had already fallen to the bottom of the Nine Arcane Academies, they were still this arrogant.

Back when Lightchaser told her only three schools refused to accept students with Divine Gifts below grade A, Rita thought Moonlight Marsh must be powerful.

Turns out, all they had were strict rules.

There were three champions every year in the Divine Game. Moonlight Marsh hadn’t produced one in seventeen years.

Rita double-checked the records. Lightchaser hadn’t lied—once a student died, they were never allowed back in.

And even with results that bad, the school still hadn’t changed the rule.

Moonlight Marsh was like an old fossil who didn’t believe in second chances.

Rita’s registration didn’t cause any stir. Every year, a few third-years signed up.

The school never publicized its resurrection policy, but if you were determined enough, you could uncover it.

No teacher would try to talk you out of it.

You signed up, you played the game.

So Rita kept training like usual.

Classes gave her experience, and being in SSS-level classes gave even more.

In this world, "experience" had returned to its original meaning—learning, training, and surviving.

She could also gain XP by reflecting in the Burrowbug Tavern or studying on Junk Street.

She was now level 16.

Her four main attributes averaged over 300—matching the fifth-year top student, and already hitting sixth-year averages.

She was a little bummed she couldn’t leave school to level faster, but there was still plenty to learn inside.

One thing had changed—after learning she’d signed up, Rehana came to see her.

She handed over a dark blue hair accessory shaped like a pendant. When worn, it shimmered faintly among her black hair.

After adjusting it on Rita’s head, Rehana nodded in satisfaction. "A little accessorizing makes you prettier."

"I knew the ’show-your-forehead’ thing was just an adult scam!" Rita huffed.

Rehana tapped her forehead. "Then give it back."

Rita clutched the accessory and dashed off.

Only after running a good distance did she spin around, waving. "Thanks, teacher!"

The accessory was called [Stop Waiting]—an A-grade item that reduced cooldowns of all skills by 20%.

GodDraw77 also extended the lessons on the 10th and 20th of each month.

What used to be half-day sessions now ran until 10 PM.

She would attack Rita in different forms, forcing her to block or dodge.

Sometimes she’d even switch forms mid-assault.

GodDraw77 never taught specific skills, and Rita never asked.

Not anymore.

After learning what happened all those years ago, Rita felt a strange pride when facing GodDraw77.

She wouldn’t beg for techniques, not even during personal training.

Yes, it was childish. She knew that.

But outside of class, she wasn’t just a student—she was Lightchaser’s apprentice.

Asking GodDraw77 for skills would feel like asking on behalf of Lightchaser. That, she couldn’t accept.

Maybe GodDraw77 noticed. She’d occasionally tease her—"Want to learn that cool move from earlier?"

Rita always refused coldly. "No need. Lightchaser taught me plenty."

Then she’d turn away quickly, afraid she’d tear up if she stayed a second longer.

After each rejection, she would write a letter to Lightchaser explaining just how amazing her teacher was.

Lightchaser’s responses were simple:

If she was in a good mood, she’d send Rita’s favorite fizzy fruit candy.

If not... she’d send the terrible ones.

Recently, the Rock Locust candy shop owner must’ve awakened a prankster talent.

The wrappers were now single-use magic items.

Whoever opened the candy and didn’t finish it would get marked.

The wrapper would turn into a ghostly tag-along, singing off-key songs right into their ear—for one to two hours.

The worst part?

Rita couldn’t tell if the candies were the tasty kind or the awful kind until it was too late.

That evil elf always mixed the same wrappers together.