Night.
Outside the window, the cold wind howled like ghosts and wolves, making the newspaper pasted over the window slap loudly. It seemed ready to tear loose at any moment.
Months of lockdown, compounded by the power outage, had left supplies in such short supply that even window glass was unavailable.
Chen Shouyi sat on the edge of the bed, quietly lost in thought.
The flame of a dim, yellow oil lamp flickered beside him, making the light in the room waver between brightness and darkness.
The longer he stayed here, the more he sensed a frenzied, evil force lurking in the place. It was faint, yet everywhere.
He opened the Status Panel.
Strength: 19.0
Agility: 19.0
Constitution: 19.0
Intelligence: 18.7
Perception: 16.9
Will: 17.7
Energy Accumulation: 4.54
Faith Value: 1048.1
Looking at the 1048.1 Faith Value he had accumulated,
Chen Shouyi stirred his thoughts.
The 1048.1 Faith Value dropped to 148.1.
The next moment,
BOOM!
A powerful wave of heat flooded his limbs and bones. Scalding steam billowed from his entire body.
Half a minute later, the heat faded.
His Giant Battle Body (Advanced), which had originally been at 12.05%,
had now become:
Giant Battle Body (Advanced): 21.05%.
He exhaled a puff of white breath.
"Whether you're a Savage God or something else, I don't care."
Chen Shouyi clenched his fist, the joints cracking.
"Good giant..."
Shell Girl climbed onto his thigh and nestled between his legs, seeming intent on making a nest there.
Chen Shouyi could tell she was uneasy, as if she had caught the scent of some danger.
"Don't be afraid!"
Shell Girl nodded hard. "With good giant here, Little Dot... isn't afraid."
The night grew darker.
Now and then, a piercing scream rose outside, only to be swallowed by the howling wind.
Rrrip!
The sound