The instant that glimmer of golden light slipped into the space between her brows, Jiang Mian felt her consciousness flooded with blinding light.
Although she could devour Calamities, in theory, she could also feed on the flesh and blood of Awakeners.
But Ye Chenyang's ability seemed to be of an especially high tier. The Calamity Core inside her thought its territory had been invaded and instinctively tried to fight back.
Alarm bells rang in Jiang Mian's mind. She used nearly all her willpower to suppress her body's instinctive impulse.
No, that kid's still holding me...
Though she was somewhat resistant, as someone pretending to be unconscious, she couldn't fight back.
If she showed any unusual reaction and he noticed, all her efforts would go to waste.
Yet suppressing it only caused the light to spread gradually.
Jiang Mian sensed no hostility from the light. Instead, it carried a soothing force. But because her body was naturally incompatible with it, her already pale face turned even paler.
At this rate, she was really going to start panting...
Only after Ye Chenyang withdrew his finger did Jiang Mian release her hold on the Calamity Core's power, swallowing the "invader" in an instant.
What exactly is this Chili Fried Pork's ability?
Jiang Mian still didn't know his name, so for now, she could only call him that.
When he came in, he had displayed an ability like a golden aura protecting his body. What he'd just used on her wasn't a physical barrier, but a skill that soothed the mind.
But... she could clearly feel that he was only First Order...
Could he be an Apex Sequence too...? Was her luck really this bad?
Among nearly two hundred Base Cities, there were only five human Apex Sequences. How could she run into one as soon as she arrived?
She was surely overthinking it...
After Ye Chenyang withdrew his [Heart Lamp], Jiang Mian in his arms seemed to curl up ever so slightly.
"Hmm?"
Before he could think much of it, two sets of hurried footsteps rapidly approached.
"Jiang Mian!"
"Ye Chenyang! How's it in there? Jiang Mian, she..."
Ye Chenyang's gaze sharpened. He carefully lifted Jiang Mian into his arms and turned to face the two as they rushed in, letting a trace of exhaustion show on his face.
The First Order ability of [Shining Blade] was to condense blades of light, and it also provided a degree of physical resistance.
But to cross an Elemental Storm of this magnitude, it would be absurd for him, a First Order [Shining Blade] Awakener, not to be worn out at all.
Lin Yun spotted the "unconscious" Jiang Mian in Ye Chenyang's arms at once. Seeing her poor complexion, she hurried over, worry etched across her face.
"How is she?"
Chen Qing followed close behind, her expression grave. Her brow furrowed especially when her gaze swept over Li Hao's corpse.
The tall figure lay sprawled in a pool of blood, his body twisted into an unnatural posture and covered in cuts of varying depths. Numerous tiny bits of debris were embedded in his wounds.
The Gale had carried off most of the stench, but the smell of blood still hung thick in the air.
After examining Jiang Mian, Lin Yun concluded that she had fallen into a self-protective deep sleep because she had exhausted herself.
As for whether her internal organs were injured, she would need to be examined.
In Lin Yun's view, Jiang Mian had probably awakened in the midst of danger. Though her body bore no obvious external injuries, the psychological trauma was all too real.
An oddly tense silence fell over the scene.
Lin Yun glanced outside. The rescue personnel she'd contacted earlier still hadn't arrived.
She was about to turn and ask Chen Qing about it when she followed her gaze to Li Hao's body.
As a support-type Awakener, Lin Yun had served in City Defense in her earlier years, though she had always been stationed Inside the Wall, helping other Awakeners with their treatment.
Her Second-tier ability could temporarily Dispel pain. Paired with some rather "hardcore" treatment methods, it worked quite well.
During those years, Lin Yun had seen plenty of badly injured people. But a death like Li Hao's... just looking at it hurt.
Retribution...
It went against her professional ethics, but from Jiang Mian's perspective, he'd gotten what he deserved.
Chen Qing stepped forward and crouched down, carefully examining Li Hao's body.
"Multiple fatal wounds, along with secondary injuries from all this debris. Ye Chenyang, was this what the scene looked like when you came in?"
"Yes."
Ye Chenyang nodded and explained,
"When I broke through the Wind Field and came in, Li Hao had already lost all signs of life.
"And Jiang Mian was curled up in that corner. Her mental state was extremely unstable, and she soon passed out from overexertion."
"An Elemental Storm triggered by [Eye of the Storm]? No wonder my ability failed."
Chen Qing murmured, "To trigger an Elemental Burst on this scale right after awakening... Sequence 48 really is formidable..."
She sighed and said no more.
Just then, sirens sounded outside.
Several sets of footsteps drew closer. The Security Officers from the North District Public Security Bureau and the emergency medical staff from North City Hospital arrived in succession.
Chen Qing went over and gave her colleagues a brief rundown of the situation, then had them carry the "unconscious" Jiang Mian onto the ambulance first.
The next day.
"Mm... an unfamiliar ceiling..."
Jiang Mian slowly opened her eyes, her awareness gradually returning.
She'd been incredibly nervous while the doctors examined her last night, afraid she'd give herself away at the slightest slip.
Luckily, after the Calamity Core inside her had stabilized over the past while,
it couldn't be detected by machines unless someone cut open her chest to look.
The results were, naturally, all "normal," apart from the irregular heartbeat and malnutrition she'd always had.
Only then did Jiang Mian's taut nerves relax a little.
Despite all the commotion yesterday, she hadn't actually used up much strength. She was mostly just mentally tired.
The way [Gale] activated was rather unusual.
It was as if her consciousness reached out into the surrounding environment, then naturally began to command the 'elements.'
Being able to control it to that extent yesterday had definitely taken a toll on her.
For now, it seemed nobody suspected her.
Once this was all over, she was going to reward herself with a proper feast.
As soon as the thought arose, Jiang Mian's mind began to wander.
In this world shrouded in Mist, ingredients that had once been commonplace had become rare delicacies.
The land beyond the city was engulfed in Mist, confining humanity behind towering walls.
With the population so small, crop yields could still keep up, but meat was considered a luxury.
Even milk tea was an extraordinarily rare treat.
That was why Jiang Mian had been in such a good mood when she'd gotten an extra meal last time.
But come to think of it...
Jiang Mian tugged at the blanket and stared blankly at the ceiling.
If I can successfully pass myself off as an [Eye of the Storm] Awakener, things should get a lot better from now on.
She rolled over, casting those stray thoughts aside.
Her top priority was keeping up the act. If Li Hao's Awakener father came after her for revenge...
Teacher Lin and those two Security Officers should all know she was the "genuine" Sequence 48, far beyond someone like Li Hao.
When that happened... perhaps it would attract the attention of the higher-ups.
Just as her thoughts were running wild, the corner of her eye seemed to catch sight of a line of... Little Bear Cookies dancing on the floor?
Before you continue