Swoosh!!!
Across the originally azure and calm horizon, a fireball pierced the sky like a meteor, trailing a long tail of flame as if it were about to set the entire heavens ablaze.
Rumble!!!
After flying for an unknown amount of time and crossing an unknown distance, that "meteor" finally crashed into the ground. The massive impact left a bottomless, scorching ravine in the earth, instantly turning the surrounding flowers, grass, and trees into scorched earth.
"Pfft... cough cough cough... Wh-where is this?"
Flame Heart's mature and full-figured body emerged from the crater, though her clothing at this moment looked as if it had just undergone a devastating ordeal. Flame Heart subconsciously lowered her head to scan herself.
'So much pale skin... and...'
Remembering everything, she couldn't help but feel her cheeks flush red.
"Hiss... alright, I got a bit carried away."
She had been so busy admiring the "defeat CG" in her mind that she almost neglected herself and her surroundings. She felt her condition briefly; it wasn't too serious. If her recovery went well, she'd only need to lie in bed for a week. As for the surroundings... at a glance, all that remained was a blackened mess and a distant mountain peak with a corner missing.
Flame Heart: ┭┮﹏┭┮
'Sigh, even I... Is this Yunli's true strength?'
Flame Heart didn't pay much mind to the sharp pain radiating from her entire body. Because compared to the physical pain, Flame Heart felt a sense of dejection in her heart. At the thought, Flame Heart's eyes instantly turned red, and tears welled up, looking as if they would overflow at any second. The corners of her mouth trembled slightly, yet she forced herself to keep the tears from falling.
If Yunli were here, she would never imagine that a glamorous, well-endowed beauty would make such an expression. After a moment of heartbreaking sorrow, the sadness on Flame Heart's face suddenly vanished. She felt as if she had suddenly realized something!
"Although I don't know where Yunli got that weapon, it's just an external object after all. This time, I just happened to be at a disadvantage due to the environment."
Yes, Flame Heart's spirits lifted, and she instantly figured everything out. 'That's right! Even though I lost this time, I didn't walk away empty-handed.'
That weapon just now must be Yunli's trump card. Because her own skills were almost entirely high-damage, large-area attacks, she hadn't even displayed fifty percent of her true strength. And even with a weapon, Yunli couldn't reverse her own disadvantage.
So, I am still the strongest!
The more she analyzed, the more confident Flame Heart became. She looked at the sky, a confident smile spreading across her face. ✪ω✪
"Hmph, Yunli, is it? It's been a long time since anyone could wound me, but mark my words! Next time, I~ will win!"
After delivering her impassioned speech, Flame Heart suddenly realized something else. 'Oh no! My old habit acted up again, and it was even more exaggerated than usual. I bet quite a few people saw it.'
The high-spirited flames in her eyes instantly cooled down. At this moment, Flame Heart completely lost her composure, incessantly scratching her long red hair with a face full of melancholy. After thinking for a long time, Flame Heart slammed her right fist into her left palm. Her red eyes flashed with the light of wisdom, and she said excitedly:
"That's it! It's not like this is my territory anyway. I can just leave it to the local Ability Bureau! Hehe, I really am a genius!"
With that thought, the smile on Flame Heart's pretty face grew even wider. Now that the problem was solved, even her injuries felt much better.
In the Muyun City Ability Bureau office, Yan Xi felt a sudden itch in her nose.
Achoo!
"That's strange. Why did I sneeze again today? Could little Sparkle be secretly badmouthing me?"
Far away on the other side, Yunli didn't care at all whether Flame Heart lived or died. The move she used was at most an enhanced basic attack; it shouldn't be enough to make the other party kick the bucket. And compared to Flame Heart's fate, Yunli had a much more serious problem right now.
Grumble grumble... "I'm so hungry~"
Yunli: Ծ‸Ծ
Yunli sat dejectedly on a bench, her eyebrows twisted like caterpillars and her eyelids drooping. She kept mumbling to herself in an incredibly soft and sweet voice.
'I have no strength left... If I'd known, I should have used an ultimate move right from the start and just flattened that annoying woman. I really am too kind.'
From the moment Yunli was born yesterday until now, she hadn't eaten a single bite of food. Not to mention she had spent the whole night outside in the cold wind. And then just now, some annoying big-chested woman, who knows what was wrong with her, had inexplicably attacked her. Now, Yunli felt completely limp and powerless.
'Maybe... I should ask someone else for help?'
Ask Sparkle? ("Heehee, such a cute little fish is stranded? Come, come, let Lord Sparkle take good care of you!")
'No, that's no different from being picked up as a corpse. I can even imagine her expression of pure delight; I would definitely end up broken.'
Ask Acheron? ("Okay, I'll be there soon... Hmm? Not here?")
'Forget it. By the time Acheron actually finds the right way, I'll probably be pushin' up daisies. Instead of waiting for Acheron to save me, I'd better find a way to save myself.'
Yunli: (눈_눈)
At this thought, Yunli's eyes twitched, and for a moment, she felt like she was about to lose it. They were all technically her, but why hadn't she noticed before that they were all so unreliable? It was as if there wasn't a single normal person besides "herself."
Yunli gave a soft sigh. "Sigh..."
That simple sigh seemed to contain all the helplessness and grievances in her heart. Sensing the people passing by on the street, Yunli was at a loss for what to do. She couldn't exactly steal, could she? No, she wasn't that kind of person!
Just as Yunli was pondering how to save herself...
"Um... little girl?"
Yunli ＞︿＜: !!!
The sudden voice startled Yunli, and she immediately leaped up like a frightened cat. The newcomer, a girl with a pure and cute appearance, was also taken aback by the reaction.
This girl was Mo Xin, who was passing by with a stick of candied hawthorn she hadn't had time to eat yet. As she passed by, she happened to see a pitiful little girl in cosplay sitting on the bench. The kind-hearted Mo Xin decided to come over and check, but she hadn't expected to scare her.
'Come to think of it, though the styles are different, I feel like there's something similar between her outfit and the one Acheron wore.' Mo Xin could not help but carefully observe the girl's outfit and concluded: at least the art style was consistent. Besides, she was just too cute! Mo Xin really wanted to give her a squeeze!
Meanwhile, Yunli crouched on the bench, carefully watching the person who had approached. She wasn't curious; she had just been startled. Because almost every passing NPC turned their head to look at her. If the Dragon Kingdom didn't have a proper penal code, there would probably be plenty of people trying to hit on her. Though that would likely result in them ending up with comminuted fractures all over their bodies.
"You..." She looked at the girl whose appearance was only slightly inferior to her own. Just as she was about to ask something, her entire gaze was drawn to the shiny thing in the other's hand. She couldn't help but murmur softly, "A skewer!"
Yunli's entire attention was now captivated by it. (๑òᆺó๑) Her two large, watery golden eyes sparkled like stars, and a sweet, cute smile appeared on her pretty face.
Mo Xin ಠಿ_ಠ: ...She looked down at the little girl crouched on the bench with her hands and feet together, like a little cat waiting to be fed. Her figure looked exceptionally small in the sunlight, carrying a bit of innocence and a bit of expectation. Those bright golden pupils were staring unblinkingly at the candied hawthorn in her hand.
Watching this magical scene, an inspiration flashed through Mo Xin's mind like a bolt of lightning. An extremely bold idea was born! Mo Xin tried waving the candied hawthorn left and right, and the little one's gaze followed it, her head turning back and forth.
Mo Xin immediately noticed this phenomenon. Naturally maintaining a nonchalant expression, she began to experiment further. When the stick of candied hawthorn, carrying a hint of sweetness, came near Yunli, the little girl's eyes sparkled with joy. She impatiently reached out a slender hand, eager to grab the sweet temptation.
Seeing this, Mo Xin smiled faintly. With a flick of her wrist, she held the candied hawthorn high, causing Yunli's small hand to grab thin air. Yunli's little mouth immediately pouted slightly, looking like a flower bud about to bloom. After Mo Xin tried this a few more times, the smile at the corner of her mouth could no longer be suppressed.
Yunli (╯＞皿＜)╯: "Hmph!"
Finally realizing she was being teased, Yunli turned her head away in a huff, looking exactly like a little squirrel whose pinecone had been stolen, her expression both aggrieved and adorable.
Mo Xin (☆▽☆): Where did this little kitten come from? This is way too moe! I feel like my heart is melting!