Fireworks of Romance, Rescue, Criminal Suspect Outfit

In a sense, the Head Crouching Defense Skill is indeed very strong, but it also has a significant weakness.

--You cannot move while activating this Skill.

Although you won't suffer any harm in this state, you're completely immobilized, like a sitting duck; anyone could easily move you...

However, in certain specific situations, this Skill can be surprisingly useful.

The guards who rushed forward suddenly found themselves at a loss when faced with this "within reach" prey.

Because any action deemed harmful will have no effect on Fireworks of Romance. Even if lava flows back, she is struck by lightning, or she is crushed at the bottom of a multi-story building, she will not suffer any harm.

Of course, this only applies if you assume the Head Crouching Defense and activate the Skill. If the action is canceled and the Skill becomes ineffective, there's not much you can do if you're in a desperate situation, such as being thrown into lava.

The most crucial point here lies in the action that is judged as harmful. Fireworks of Romance had previously conducted extensive testing on this Skill and had a general understanding of how such Skill are judged.

First, the other party must not harbor any ill intentions; second, the other party's actions must not cause her any harm. As long as the other party meets both of these conditions, she becomes a target that can be moved at will... Yes, a target.

In the past, she was an optimistic, kind-hearted, and beautiful Young Girl with all kinds of fine traditional virtues. However, during a Mandatory Quest issued by the system, she was betrayed and sold out by the Teammate she had saved.

She still remembers the terrible consequences of her misplaced kindness back then. The Mandatory Quest she experienced required them to survive for three days in a remote and backward ancient mountain village. An ancient ritual was taking place in the village, and Player entry disrupted the ritual. The Player had Two Choices: one was to disrupt the ritual so that the crisis would naturally be resolved, Another Choice was to hide and survive for three days.

At that time, she was the highest- Level and strongest player among all the Player participating in the mission. It can be said that if it weren't for her enthusiastic help, at least half of the team would have died in the first two days.

However, she never expected that her selfless dedication would be met with complete betrayal from her Teammate.

That's right, in a gloomy and eerie graveyard, where centipedes and insects crawled everywhere, she Head Crouching Defense for almost a whole day, attracting more than 90% of the firepower from that ancient mountain village all by herself... She almost died there.

She wouldn't have been able to endure it if she hadn't thought that if she relaxed, those insects would crawl all over her body, and even in death she would look quite unsightly.

She wasn't afraid of death, but the thought of how gruesome it would be... instantly robbed her of all courage to die.

Besides, she hadn't taken revenge yet. She had memorized the IDs of those Player who had been saved by her but then almost killed her here.

How can we rest in peace when our great revenge remains unavenged?

Supported by these two beliefs, she ultimately survived the Mandatory Quest, but from this unforgettable experience of narrowly escaping death... she gained an understanding.

Good people don't live long, Teammate are all trash, Trust Teammate is equivalent to handing your life over to them, so going solo is best, a true Big Shot should be able to clear the game alone!!!

As long as I don't Trust my Teammate, there's absolutely no possibility of them betraying Teammate; as long as I don't contact my Teammate, there's absolutely no possibility of Teammate selling me out!

Therefore, she showed considerable impatience and annoyance towards Bai Zhi's assistance on those occasions. Looking at him, she felt as if she were seeing her former self.

Compassion is the cheapest thing. Why be a fool and offer help to others? In the end, you won't get anything good out of it, and you'll only end up being betrayed. What's the point?

I've already reminded them, but they still insist on doing things their own way and never change their ways. That kind of person is the most annoying; they're simply unreasonable!!

... Although she didn't know why she ended up in this awful place as well, almost as if possessed.

"Hmph, it's just that I don't want to become the person I used to hate the most... Anyway, if I die here, I'll just turn into Doll, so my death won't be too gruesome..."

With eyes fixed on the ground, thoughts of Fireworks of Romance swirled in my mind.

If she were in another Dungeon or an outer castle, this survival Skill would be enough to save her life. The Skill of Head Crouching Defense is truly invincible, because Curse that turn people into Doll are also considered damage.

However Skill, inside this castle, there exists a boss that completely counters her Skill. Once it knows the Special Effect of your Skill, it can temporarily seal it... No wonder the quest prompt indicates that killing Anna is extremely dangerous.

Anna is immortal inside the castle. The only way to kill Anna is to enter the castle, but there is a being inside that poses the greatest threat to the Player...

Soon, once the opponent realizes the Special Effect and form of my Skill, Head Crouching Defense won't protect me anymore. They only said not to kill me; crippling me is no problem. Maybe my final fate will be hanging from a chandelier like the Colorful Black. Luckily, it's Doll, so my death won't be too gruesome... So why did I even have to be so stupid as to get involved here!?

Just as she was lost in thought, a dazzling burst of flames and the sound of Explosion rang out beside her, along with a somewhat familiar roar.

"Black&White, take her with you and get out of here. I'll hold them off here!!"

Slightly surprised, Fireworks of Romance looked up and saw a Big Guy in a somewhat comical Little Black Man Uniform appear beside her. He was now wielding his flaming fists, knocking away the guards who approached her one by one.

In the flash of firelight, the resolute face of Steel Bones, a Soldier, became clearly visible.

"Then I understand what you mean..."

Staggering to his feet from the corner, stretching his aching arms, Bai Zhi looked at Steelbone Criminal Suspect Outfit's outfit, wielding burning flame Steel Bones as he attacked the mutated guards. Gripping the small Hourglass that Fireworks of Romance had shoved into his hand earlier, Bai Zhi made the right decision in the shortest amount of time.

Taking advantage of the moment when the buff from giving Anna Balloon hadn't dissipated yet, and with all the mutated guards around him drawn to Steel Bones, Bai Zhi rushed over to Fireworks of Romance, who hadn't reacted yet, and grabbed her hand.

At the same time, the funnel in his hand also quickly reversed.

[Item Name: Shrinking Hourglass]

[Type: Item]

[Quality: Rare]

[Special Effect: Shrink. Inverts the Hourglass, shrinks the user's size, and the shrinking lasts until the Hourglass runs out. The effect can be ended earlier.]

[Consumption:: 50 Spiritual Energy]

[Note:: The Hourglass takes three minutes to complete, and multiple instances can be reduced simultaneously.]

In the blink of an eye, Bai Zhi and Fireworks of Romance shrank to the size of a thumb. At the same time, a Black Shadow emerged from the ground, grabbed Bai Zhi and Fireworks of Romance, and then instantly disappeared back into the Shadow, speeding away from the Basement like lightning.