A faint glint appeared in Sun Xiaoxiao’s eyes.
As expected, two hidden weapons tied to the young girl’s upper thighs were launched. If Duan Chen had been enchanted by her, even for a second, he would be the one lying there now.
However, Duan Chen was not so easily seduced by a mere girl.
He dodged, simultaneously firing a tranquilizer dart at Sun Xiaoxiao, who had nowhere to escape.
*Poof*. The dart struck Sun Xiaoxiao in the abdomen. She gently covered the spot with her hands, her body gradually becoming unable to move.
Sun Xiaoxiao said with great regret, "Oh dear, I thought I could enchant you for at least a moment. Brother Duan Chen, you are truly too perfect. I really, really want to have you~~ But it seems it won’t happen this time. I need to become even stronger~~"
As she spoke, she leaned back without hesitation and leaped off the building.
"Hey!!"
Duan Chen hadn’t expected the drugged girl to choose such a method. He reached out to grab her, but at this moment—
*Crash!*
Glass shattered, and a monster suddenly burst from the building. It gently wrapped its arms around the falling Xiaoxiao and then leaped into the distance.
"Brother Duan Chen, we'll play again next time~~"
The young girl smiled at Duan Chen and quickly disappeared from sight.
"Tsk! She got away again."
Duan Chen’s face was grim. Just then, Hong Ying stumbled out of the building, looking very disheveled.
Duan Chen quickly stepped forward to support Hong Ying. At only LV3, she was no match for Sun Xiaoxiao’s summoned beast. It was already impressive that she could hold it off for so long.
"I’m sorry, husband. I was too weak and held you back," Hong Ying lowered her head in self-reproach, her lips pursed tightly.
"No, you’ve already helped me immensely." Duan Chen’s strong arm supported Hong Ying, exuding a comforting scent.
Hong Ying was momentarily entranced.
This was the chest she could rely on from her lover.
This was the forgiveness that didn’t question her faults!
The hairpin suddenly emitted a warm current. Duan Chen noticed that the hairpin’s affection level had upgraded again.
[LV3/10 — LV4/10.]
The bride in red flickered with a soft glow, new power flowing into her, breaking through certain invisible barriers once more.
Duan Chen: ??? I don’t think I did anything, and it upgraded again?
"I feel like more power has returned," Hong Ying gently clenched her fist. Her injuries had also healed significantly due to the upgrade.
"I will become a greater help to my husband. At least next time, I definitely won’t be weaker than that monster."
"Yes, I believe you can," Duan Chen nodded.
Hong Ying’s small face immediately turned as red as a ripe tomato.
"I, I, I..."
The hairpin grew hot, and a surge of power erupted again, pushing the power to its climax!
Hong Ying suddenly trembled and let out a soft,娇喘 (jiao chuan - delicate gasp/moan).
[LV4/10 — LV5/10.]
Duan Chen: ?????? You can upgrade just by speaking? Is it that easy to level up?
"It's, your belief in me..." Hong Ying lowered her head shyly.
The more she upgraded, the more similar she became to humans, her 'living' aura growing more pronounced.
Duan Chen couldn't help but wonder if, by level 10, Hong Ying could transcend the hairpin and become a 'person' in the truest sense.
"Let's go quickly. I don't know how Michelle is doing now."
Hong Ying nodded and followed Duan Chen, flying behind him.
He scanned the cafeteria hall, finding no living people.
Duan Chen continued to rush towards the private rooms, although the hope was slim, he wouldn't give up on any possibility.
Finally, in the innermost private room, a young girl covered in blood, curled into a ball, came into view.
"Xue'er?" Duan Chen called out softly.
The girl trembled and slowly looked up in disbelief. The moment she saw Duan Chen, she was overjoyed and tears streamed down her face.
"Brother Duan Chen!!"
Duan Chen quickly rushed over to rescue Xue'er but still harbored doubts: could she, an ordinary person, really survive in such a terrifying environment?
What if she had already been replaced by a sea monster...
While pondering this, a distorted, strangely drawn little figure entered his vision.
This little figure was about Duan Chen's height, roughly the same build, with a similar hairstyle and wearing oversized sunglasses.
It looked like a 'similar Duan Chen'.
The little figure also noticed Duan Chen. It twisted its line-drawn limbs, like a moving stick figure.
The little figure showed great curiosity towards Duan Chen, neither attacking nor approaching. Instead, it circled Duan Chen, appearing to be scrutinizing him, but it couldn't speak, not even having a mouth, just a black line.
Hong Ying tried to shoot fire at it, which startled the little figure and made it retreat.
It reached for its waist, making a very standard drawing-a-gun motion—
Unfortunately, its hand found nothing.
There was no gun at its waist, only two slanted black lines.
Disappointed, it shook its head, comically mimed shooting with its hand, and then its body dissolved into several pieces of falling paper.
"What is this? A new monster in the airspace?"
Duan Chen looked at Hong Ying, but she shook her head, indicating she didn’t recognize this creature.
"I think it bears some resemblance to you, husband."
"Brother Duan Chen, this is my ability. I've awakened!" Mi Xue’er exclaimed, wiping away her tears.
A faint surprise flickered in Duan Chen's eyes. This was the only good news.
"Oh? Congratulations, child."
But he didn't dare to be careless. He secretly examined her wounds closely. Seeing that it was indeed red blood flowing, he finally felt somewhat relieved.
On the way back, Mi Xue'er briefly recounted her experience to Duan Chen.
During the escape, the chef and several bodyguards had all died.
When she realized the figure among the monsters was her classmate Sun Xiaoxiao, Mi Xue’er was both shocked and terrified. She desperately fled to the innermost private room, thankfully not being discovered by Sun Xiaoxiao.
However, the ghost-faced monster inside wouldn't show mercy. In a life-or-death moment, the pendant on the sword hilt suddenly flashed with dazzling light. Mi Xue’er felt a power break through some seal. The sword hilt was infused with spiritual energy, suddenly breaking free from the red threads.
Using spirit as its blade, it danced in the air, instantly severing the neck of a ghost-faced monster!
Mi Xue’er didn't have time to marvel; the energy rapidly receded, and she realized a new energy was surging within her!
She had awakened her superpower—
A two-dimensional paper figure.