Sparkle's Kiss, Strength Increased!

Moonlight filtered like a thin veil through cracks in the dilapidated theater's dome, spilling over the dusty stage and mottled seats.

The smell of rotting wood hung in the air, and dust drifted through the faint light.

Sparkle's smooth shoulders drew Lin Hai's gaze.

He had to admit that Sparkle was extraordinarily beautiful, and her distinctive personality gave her an irresistible allure.

Lin Hai took a deep breath and composed himself, but he did not move.

He answered calmly, "I want to kiss you, but I won't trade the Lucky Star for it."

Sparkle raised an eyebrow and leaned forward. "You don't dare, or you don't want to?"

"I dare, and I want to very much." Lin Hai looked her straight in the eyes. "But in your hands, the Lucky Star can only activate the ability to travel between two worlds... Only I can awaken its true power."

Before he had finished speaking, Sparkle chuckled, a flash of crimson light passing through her eyes.

She gave a casual wave, and several battered wooden tables and chairs beside the stage suddenly rose into the air. As if controlled by an invisible force, they flew lightly toward the depths of the theater, landing without a sound.

Displaying her power, she asked lazily, "Then tell me, what other powers does it have that I don't know about?"

Lin Hai's gaze was steady. "Traveling through space and time isn't its only ability. As for its other functions... I'm still figuring them out."

Sparkle studied him for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

She reached out and placed the faintly glowing Lucky Star in his palm.

"All right, then. You can have it. After all..." Her tone was light. "Truths and mysteries are both interesting, aren't they?"

The moment the Lucky Star landed in Lin Hai's hand, its light gently ebbed and flowed, as though it had been infused with life.

He took a step toward Sparkle, leaned down and gave her bare shoulder a light kiss.

Her skin felt warm against his lips, the touch fleeting.

Sparkle shivered slightly, surprise flashing through her eyes. But rather than anger, excitement and amusement spread across her face.

Before she could react, Lin Hai had slipped an arm around her waist and bent down again to kiss her lips.

The kiss was brief.

Then he gripped the Lucky Star, and his figure vanished in a flash of dim light, leaving Sparkle alone on the empty theater stage.

The smile on her face deepened. This game seemed to be getting more and more interesting.

Lin Hai sat alone on the sofa, the Lucky Star resting in his palm.

As he focused his mind, a panel that only he could see quietly appeared:

[Contracted Lucky Star]

[Contracted party] Sparkle

[Congratulations, you have completed a full trip and fully activated the connection between the two of you]

[Current affection] 87

[Hidden quest "Kiss" completed. Quest reward obtained]

[Ability] Unreliable Narrator

Looking at the unexpectedly high number, Lin Hai recalled the bold, lingering kiss and the amused yet bashful look in Sparkle's eyes at the end.

He couldn't help laughing, feeling that the two of them were alike in some respects.

They both seemed entirely at ease, but in truth, they were lingering on the edge of testing the waters and taking risks.

What concerned Lin Hai even more was the ability he had obtained.

Unreliable Narrator.

He was no stranger to this ability. It was one of Sparkle's skills.

The transparent panel in Lin Hai's mind provided more information.

He could use [Unreliable Narrator] to turn invisible for ten seconds.

It didn't last long, but if used well, it could achieve all sorts of unexpected effects.

Lin Hai opened his phone's camera to record a video. He propped the phone up, stepped back a few paces, and activated [Unreliable Narrator] for the first time in front of the camera.

He silently counted ten seconds.

He hurried over to grab his phone and played the video he had just recorded. The moment he activated the ability, he vanished from the video.

Completely vanished, without a trace!

A smile curved Lin Hai's lips, and he was overcome with wild delight. He had gained access to an extraordinary ability.

It was so exciting!

Now that he had obtained this ability of Sparkle's, he had every reason to believe he might obtain other abilities in the future!

Lin Hai had always dreamed of becoming a transcendent being.

Soaring through the heavens, diving into the earth, capable of anything.

Becoming Superman?

No!

He knew his own character and temper. There was no way he could become a righteous Superman; he'd be lucky not to turn into Homelander.

Lin Hai lightly patted the back of his head and put the matter aside. Then he carefully put away the Lucky Stars that had connected him with Firefly and Sparkle, and turned his gaze back to the mysterious box.

Eight remained inside.

After taking a deep breath, he took out the third.

Once again, he closed his hand around it.

This time, the Lucky Star burst with an exceptionally intense light, instantly illuminating the entire living room as brightly as day and even briefly overpowering the light from the television screen.

As the light gradually faded, the figure of a young woman quietly appeared.

She had short, gradient-colored hair, clear, piercing eyes, and a lithe, agile figure.

Almost the instant she appeared, she swiftly lowered her center of gravity, her hands instinctively poised before her as if gripping an invisible weapon. Her sharp gaze swept her surroundings.

She was Seele, a warrior of Wildfire from the Underworld.

Years of living in an environment fraught with danger had made her highly vigilant in any unfamiliar space.

But the danger she anticipated did not come.

What she saw was an entirely different world.

There was a soft, clean sofa, bright, warm lighting, and no smell of rust or decay in the air. There was only a seemingly harmless young man looking at her with mild surprise.

Seele's attention was soon drawn to the martial arts movie playing in the room. Figures darted across the screen and sword qi swept through the air. The simplicity of the story left her momentarily entranced.

Then her gaze drifted involuntarily toward the window.

In that instant, Seele held her breath.

It was a sight she had never imagined.

The enormous glass window framed a dazzling galaxy of lights outside.

Countless towering buildings rose from the ground, studded with innumerable twinkling lights that painted the night sky in dreamlike colors.

On the streets, streams of cars trailed red taillights, forming flowing ribbons of light.

"Light..." she murmured unconsciously.

The Underworld had only dim mining lamps and the occasional flicker of faulty lighting. When had it ever seen such a magnificent, brilliant display of lights?

Everything was bright, prosperous, and full of life, completely overturning Seele's understanding of the world.

Her initial vigilance melted away like ice and snow, replaced by excitement and curiosity she could scarcely contain.

She looked at Lin Hai, at this incredible room, and at the shimmering world beyond the window.

Where on earth was she?

Who was this man?

And how had she gotten here?

Every question filled her with anticipation for everything to come.

"Hello, my name is Seele. I'm from Belobog. May I ask who you are?"

"Lin Hai. The place you're in now is my home. Outside is the city where I live." Lin Hai's answer was equally polite.

Seele pressed on. "Do you know how I got here?"

"I do. I summoned you here."

"Summoned?"

Lin Hai nodded. "That's right. Summoned."

"Then you should know how to send me back, right?" Seele thought of the conditions in the Underworld. "I have to go back. Then you need me to—oh, right..."

She suddenly remembered something and asked, "Do you have anything to eat here?"

"Yes."

"Can I buy some?"

"You don't have to pay. Consider it a gift."

Lin Hai knew very well what kind of environment Seele lived in. The people of the Underworld lived from one day to the next, never knowing what tomorrow would bring.

They struggled just to get enough food and clothing, let alone anything else.

Lin Hai took some food out of the refrigerator and piled it on the glass coffee table. "Take all of this back with you."

At the same time, he had already thought of a solution—a way to save the Underworld from its plight!

Seele carefully put the food away. Only after she was ready did she ask, "How do I get back?"

"Through this, the Lucky Star."

Lin Hai opened his palm.

Seele looked at the Lucky Star, scarcely able to believe that it possessed such a miraculous ability.

Traveling between two worlds?

"What should I call you?" Seele asked.

"Lin Hai."

"Mr. Lin, do you have more food? The more the better. This food has already been saved one person's life."