Where's the cute girl we were promised? She's completely wiped out S-rank dungeons!

Xu Tai'an, his eyes bloodshot, ran up the stairwell carrying a heavy-looking, platinum-plated sniper rifle. Just like last time, the puppeteer's shattered brain tissue rapidly reassembled and recovered; in just a few seconds, he had even regained one eye and the ability to speak.

He lay in a pool of blood, his recovered eye watching Xu Tai'an rush towards him. Even with the extraordinary ability of "resurrection," it didn't mean he wasn't in pain. Even in such agony, seeing her angry yet beautiful face, he still smiled:

"Hey~ honey, it's been so long!"

Xu Tai'an held the gun, its dark muzzle pointed at him. His teeth chattered with rage, making a "crackling" sound. Veins bulged on his forehead and the back of his hands. He let out a roar that could shake the entire building:

"Duan—Feng—Ye—!"

Song Yuan, already weakened from blood loss, was astonished by Xu Tai'an's roar—could it be?! Wasn't Xu Tai'an aphasic?!

Before Song Yuan could speak, Xu Tai'an pulled the trigger and fired another shot at the puppeteer.

[Ding~ Player "Xu Tai'an" has five minutes left on the cooldown of the skill [Shooting]. S-rank players can overdraft their stamina to use the skill again. Do you want to use it?]

Player "Xu Tai'an" confirms use, confirms consumption of stamina, and loads ten bullets into the weapon [Platinum Rifle].

"Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang -"

"Go to hell, you demon—!"

Ten bullets rang out in quick succession, and the puppeteer was reduced to a mangled mess of flesh after this barrage. Blood trickled from Xu Tai'an's mouth—perhaps from injuring his vocal cords by screaming too hard, or perhaps from the backlash of using a skill without regard for cooldown.

She cursed the demon as she fired, her eyes bloodshot, her only thought being to kill this damned man completely. But even after ten bullets, the puppeteer's shattered body continued to heal itself, albeit at a much slower pace.

"Xu Tai'an, stop hitting him!"

It wasn't until Song Yuan emphasized her voice and called her name seriously that Xu Tai'an stopped in her tracks, stunned. She belatedly looked at Song Yuan, meeting her calm and indifferent gaze, and as if finally realizing what was happening, she holstered her gun and ran to the two of them.

[Ding~ Player "Xu Tai'an" used the talent "Healing" on player "Song Yuan". Checking player "Xu Tai'an's" physical condition. Your stamina is low. Player "Song Yuan's" health has increased by 15. Current health: 17]

After Xu Tai'an used his talent, Song Yuan felt much better. At least her wounds had stopped bleeding, and she had the strength to stand up again. She took Qiao Ran's hand, who looked like a porcelain doll with an expressionless face, and looked at Xu Tai'an, speaking calmly:

"So you can talk."

"I......"

Xu Tai'an bit his lower lip, unsure of what to say.

"Thank you, I'm much better now. We can talk after the danger has passed."

Song Yuan thanked her sincerely and, holding Qiao Ran's hand, prepared to go upstairs:

"An Xiaomei's situation isn't good, we're heading over to support her now. What about the item you mentioned that can alleviate mental attacks? Qiao Ran hasn't broken free of control yet, we need to borrow it from him."

"Go now? Cough cough cough..."

Perhaps because she had just regained her speech, Xu Tai'an now coughs easily when speaking long sentences. Looking at Song Yuan's blood-soaked school uniform, she ultimately chose to use the communicator.

"Although I restored your health, your physical condition is too poor. Why don't you find a place to rest first?"

Song Yuan shook her head and said firmly, "There's no time to rest. If we don't get there now, An Xiaomei will die."

Xu Tai'an opened his mouth, then hesitated. Just then, all three of their communicators rang simultaneously. It was An Xiaoyou's voice; it sounded a little weak, but still quite energetic.

[Feed? Song Yuan, you two shouldn't be dead yet, right?]

Yes, still alive.

Hearing that she was in this condition, Song Yuan felt much more relieved.

Where are you now? Are you safe? What about Liu Gaosheng?

The place I'm in now... tsk! It's a bit complicated, but anyway, I'm pretty safe here. Liu Gaosheng should be chasing after you guys now; you'd better find somewhere to hide!

【Yeah?】

It seemed that, for some unknown reason, An Xiaoyou's situation was much better than she had expected. So Song Yuan turned to Xu Tai'an and said:

"In that case, let's do as you said and find a place to rest first."