[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist":3,"chapter-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-852":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1532509,1991,"Chapter 852: Divine Game-Card Swap101","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-852",852,"\u003Cp>When only three cue-ball ships remained on the sea, everyone noticed that the cue’s behavior had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fat Goose stood on the deck, staring in wonder at the dark cloud cue that gently nudged a ship forward. \"What’s going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maple Syrup swept her eyes across the water. \"That was the last even-numbered cue-ball ship.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Ships 1, 7, and 16 were left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as all the apprentices thought the white cloud cue would target an odd-numbered cue-ball ship next, the dark cloud cue didn’t vanish. The cloud silhouette behind the waterfall watched a plain ship slide helplessly toward the hole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That ordinary vessel had no skills that could change its fate. It was struck and pocketed without resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cloud figure raised its right hand in a casual wave, then once again leveled the dark cloud cue at the last odd-numbered cue-ball ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fat Goose muttered dryly, \"So... the white cloud cue really is on our side?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks that way. But the condition is that only when there’s one cue-ball left does it trigger this unlimited strike mode, where every hit just needs to sink a ship,\" Motor explained, already digging out tools to push their ship’s durability back up from 80 percent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this was the mode now, 80 percent might not be nearly enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fat Goose still frowned. \"Didn’t look like he cared much about breaking that ship, though.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentices on the last odd-numbered cue-ball ship barely had time to patch it before preparing for a second hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the striker wasn’t interested in giving them breathing room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita glanced at the nearby ordinary ships. \"If there’s only one cue-ball ship left... maybe the others can inherit its pets?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Highly possible,\" Mistblade replied patiently while lining up tools beside Motor. \"They won’t let the game stall out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita turned her attention to the maps. They had gathered nine fragments, still three short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The incomplete set showed nothing. Just as Motor had guessed, maybe it required the full twelve to reveal the treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment’s thought, she split the nine maps, giving each teammate two and keeping one herself. \"Mojie is still out there,\" she reminded them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade stared at her piece, then asked suddenly, \"What if I copy it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maps were uniform in size—three rows by four columns, twelve in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the four corners were unique, each marked with a hole. The rest were nearly indistinguishable: ocean fragments or border tiles with waterfalls, nearly interchangeable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The missing three were two waterfall-border pieces and one central ocean fragment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others leaned in close, eyes bright with possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worth a try. There are no numbers on them,\" Rita said. She glanced toward Ship 16, battered and bouncing closer to their Ship 7 with every hit. \"But do you still have enough copies left? Didn’t you already use two on gems?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Motor confirmed, \"Two.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade smiled sheepishly. \"Actually, I can copy seven times a day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Motor gawked. \"Seven?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita groaned. \"...If Lightchaser hears that, she’ll pin your tail on the wall. That hook has been waiting years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mistblade froze, realizing too late the match was being broadcast. With their record, there was no avoiding the top 100.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She blurted out, fast as lightning, \"I really could only copy three before, but I got so fired up thinking about our future that I broke through!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita deadpanned, \"Sure. Totally believe you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as she spoke, Mistblade’s hands never stopped. By the time she finished explaining, the three missing maps were already copied and placed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When their banter ended, a complete map lay across the console.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under their gaze, the twelve fragments merged seamlessly. A black 7 on white appeared at one point on the map—their location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the 8 o’clock direction, two tiles away, a flashing red dot pulsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They cursed under their breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because as the dot lit up, a massive red pillar of light shot skyward from the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every remaining apprentice cried out in unison. \"Treasure!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nearest ship dove straight into the beam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fat Goose swore in Candlebeast tongue, then snapped, \"So tell me again, what was the point of collecting the map?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Motor echoed him, \"Yeah, what was the point?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fat Goose glared. \"For the love of—stop parroting me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Motor shrugged. \"Alright, don’t get worked up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But despair shifted to confusion. No victory announcement. No champion declared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ship inside the red beam was still circling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every apprentice turned their eyes to Ship 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did it require the complete map?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fat Goose was already rushing to the helm, ready to steer into the beam, when Rita—who had been frowning in thought—ran over to stop him. \"Wait!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fat Goose hesitated. \"We’re not going?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me think. Let me think.\" Rita repeated the words, calming her team and herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every ship on the sea was racing toward the beam. One second’s hesitation could cost them the championship. But her mind wouldn’t stop racing. No pressure could shut down a thinker’s instinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She said firmly, \"We have the map. We’re not the ones who need to panic. Let me figure this out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rita]: There’s something under the sea\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rita]: From the designer’s perspective, they wouldn’t put pointless content in\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rita]: Otherwise the surface map would’ve been enough. More battles, more strategy, it works fine\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rita]: If they didn’t want us going deeper, they could’ve hard-locked it like they did with the 10-meter ship distance rule\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Maple Syrup]: The seabed!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mistblade]: You think the treasure’s under the sea?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Rita]: Yes. Of course, maybe running in with the map works too. But what if it’s below?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Fat Goose]: You think we might need to dive? Hm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Motor]: Using free drive time on the surface really is a waste\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Maple Syrup]: Exactly. Once the orb’s free drive runs out, that’s it. No time left for fishing. We need another way to approach the beam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talking with people who got it was a relief. Rita’s tense expression softened as her teammates caught her idea instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>",1000,"2026-06-06T06:15:18.151Z",1,"novelbin.me","c3853751f1bc904f66d450ef4d4fcc65bfebe0ae75d645af5d7c168090f68f11","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-853","this-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-chapter-851",1404,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthis-life-i-will-be-the-protagonist-cover.jpg"]