ALL NOVEL Chapter 3: Chapter 3: A Strange Encounter
The situation grew stranger by the second. Silver Wolf used her keyboard to attack the Stellaron, but although the golden energy had become quite thin, it still protected the beast from being teleported away. She could only freeze it, preventing its movement for an extended period.
She examined Kafka's injuries - her back revealed horrifying burn marks. Silver Wolf lifted her into her arms. Aelio hadn't mentioned this would happen, leaving them completely unprepared for treating wounds.
Looking at Kafka's face contorted in pain, Silver Wolf felt an odd sense of satisfaction rise within her. It was like seeing a usually perfect superior finally showing signs of distress.
"What are you smiling about, little Silver Wolf?" Kafka furrowed her brow, forcing a casual tone. Elegance was a major theme in Kafka's life.
Silver Wolf shook her head without explanation.
Kafka was a Stellaron Hunter, one of the universe's most formidable beings. Even such severe injuries couldn't easily kill her.
Silver Wolf held the potion bottle that Dan Heng had thrown. "This is the medicine that man threw over. I checked its composition - it's similar to what those who worship the Abundance Deity use in the galaxy. If you trust him, drink it."
"That man was injured too. If it's healing medicine, why didn't he drink it himself?" Kafka asked.
"Who knows?"
The Stellaron howled, its golden energy flaring bright again.
"How is it recovering so quickly?" Silver Wolf exclaimed, then urged Kafka, "Make your decision fast."
Kafka thought of the pure kindness in that man's eyes - though mixed with a hint of desire. She looked at the antiquated medicine bottle, unscrewed the cork stopper, and drank the potion. A bitter taste filled her mouth as a drop of milky liquid rolled down her lip.
Silver Wolf watched as if seeing Kafka's HP bar rapidly increase, the horrific burns on her back quickly replaced by newly formed delicate skin. In moments, Kafka miraculously stood up.
Was this potion imbued with the power of the Path of Abundance? Silver Wolf couldn't help but wonder.
"Quick, cut yourself and check if you've turned into an Abundance person," Silver Wolf teased.
Kafka shook her head. She knew her own body - the potion had only healed her injuries without altering her fundamental composition.
Before Silver Wolf could urge her on, Kafka drew her slender blade.
But before either could act, a deep male voice resonated:
"I shall—ignite the sea of stars!"
A figure completely encased in silver-white armor, their gender indiscernible, streaked across the starlit night like a comet.
With a flying kick carrying the might of burning flames, they knocked down the Stellaron, pinning its head under foot.
Crimson flames enveloped their entire body, creating a brilliant interplay with the silver-white armor—Sam stood triumphant upon the earth!
That kick had shattered the newly formed golden energy layer protecting the Stellaron.
"About time you showed up, Sam," Silver Wolf sighed in relief.
The Stellaron broke free from Sam's pin, its golden energy layer slowly regenerating.
The three stood ready, battle spirit surging—three Stellaron Hunters. They were confident they could face even a Divine Envoy.
"Let's end this quickly," Kafka said, pointing her blade at the Stellaron.
...
Stelle floated in space, surrounded by scattered meteorite debris. A nebula hung in the distant void, seemingly forever unreachable.
Around her, lights and shadows flickered as fragmented scenes appeared and vanished in dazzling succession.
Stelle remained dazed, experiencing an inexplicable feeling toward Kafka that left her stunned. Her memory was blank, but if Dan Heng wasn't mistaken, she had once fought alongside the Stellaron Hunters. Perhaps some remnants of those emotions lingered.
Dan Heng struggled to ignore the pain in his back, repeatedly telling Stelle that if Silver Wolf understood his intention and gave that healing potion to Kafka, she wouldn't die.
Besides, that woman's vitality was incredibly stubborn—even if Dan Heng had used the healing potion himself, Kafka wouldn't have died.
But Stelle remained deaf to his words.
Dan Heng sighed helplessly. His wound hurt terribly, and he drew in a sharp breath as he sat down. He temporarily abandoned the idea of waking Stelle.
This place resembled the space Stelle and Cocolia had entered during their battle in the game—it must be another Path Resonance.
Path Resonance was meant for audience with the Aeons. But he didn't understand why he had been pulled in here.
Dan Heng winced again. System, can you heal me?
[I already gave you healing potion, didn't I?]
I gave it away.
[Then figure something out yourself]
Dan Heng fell silent for a few seconds.
[Host can heal completely by consuming 500 Emotion Points]
You know my limits. I definitely don't have 500, but if you don't heal me, I might bleed to death.
[Host can use all available points for complete recovery. Cooldown: one month]
No, I need those for draws. You can only use 20 points.
[Fine, playful host. I can provide emergency treatment that will allow normal movement for one system hour, but afterward, the wound's damage will return doubled]
Dan Heng nodded in agreement. A flash of light swept across his body, and he immediately felt much better, able to move freely.
[By the way, 10 minutes remain on the mission timer. If the mission fails after 10 minutes, the system will automatically send host home]
What? How did it go so fast? Did you secretly cut my time?
The System remained silent.
Dan Heng looked at the game's protagonist and the system's mission target—Stelle.
Her lifeless, dispirited eyes made Dan Heng's blood boil.
"Little Gray Hair, snap out of it!"
But Stelle remained motionless, showing no signs of awakening her Path power.
He had no idea how to exit this space either. Troublesome. Dan Heng covered his face and sat back down, opening the system—time to draw!
He'd just earned 120 Emotion Points, paid 20 to the system, leaving 100 points—enough for a single draw!
Last time he got healing potion which was perfect for his wound, this time he better get an EX Diverging Blade! He could just destroy this Path Resonance space!
The system's draw results came quickly this time—a teleporter, instantly sending the user to Belobog's lower district.
Damn.
Belobog meant Seele, Bronya, Cocolia, Clara. But...
Images of Miss Herta, March 7th, Himeko, and Jing Yuan flashed through his mind. They were all at the space station—at least he should meet them first.
The system giving him this draw, was it hinting his next target character was in Belobog?
[Reminding host: 3 minutes remaining]
You definitely stole my time!
[2:50]
"Little Gray Hair!" Dan Heng shouted desperately in Stelle's ear.
But Stelle remained unresponsive, sitting on the ground with dull eyes and a blank expression.
Dan Heng grabbed Stelle's shoulders, making her stand, shaking her shoulders like in a domestic TV drama. Stelle's body was completely limp, as if soulless, showing no reaction.
He steeled himself to verbally abuse Stelle, even raising his right hand high, ready to deliver a personality-correcting slap. He bit his lip, but in the end couldn't bring himself to hurt the fair-skinned, delicate Stelle before him.
He carefully pinched her cheek, receiving no response as expected.
Dan Heng gazed at Stelle's supermodel-worthy face, her skin pristine and untouched, having just been printed. Her crystalline thin lips, red as strawberries, were impossible to resist tasting.
[1:00]
To hell with it! Dan Heng threw caution to the wind and kissed Stelle's lips.
In that moment, Dan Heng thought of many things. Little Gray Hair was awakened by him, her gender was his choice, he and countless players had experienced so many adventures through Stelle.
So who exactly was he kissing?
Himself? The players? A daughter? Or just a simple emotionless beautiful girl?
Besides, technically speaking, Stelle wasn't even one year old... damn, this is getting stranger by the second.
[Emotion Points +30]
[Emotion Points +60]
[Emotion Points +80]
[Host has completed mission objective. Next target character location: Central Herta Space Station]
[Please arrive within three days. Host will be sent home immediately if deadline is exceeded]
[Emotion Points +...]
[Target character emotion points have reached maximum]
Chapter End