Otherkin

Raging flames spread through the entire orphanage.

This was no ordinary Explosive Shot, but an intense burn, like gasoline poured across the floor—extremely difficult to put out.

And in just a few breaths, the flames had raced from the ground to the ceiling, setting the entire building ablaze.

Xu Jiang stared at the sea of fire, momentarily dumbfounded.

What had just happened? He had only tossed away a cigarette butt. It shouldn't have caused such a huge fire, right?

Xu Jiang hurriedly checked his status.

He hadn't noticed earlier, but upon closer inspection, an additional buff had appeared in his status bar.

Caramel Cigarette: Even if you stand in a bonfire, the scent you smell will still be the cloying sweetness of caramel. Fire resistance increased by 30% for 30 minutes.

"Smoking? Fire resistance? What kind of connection is that? Little Cigarette, get out here and explain what's going on!" Xu Jiang shouted at the cigarette pack.

"I'm here, General. Are you asking about Fire's Delight? That was used so brilliantly! Look at those monsters—they're all trapped inside the building, burned to death with nowhere to run. The General's strategy is truly wise!"

Little Cigarette was still shamelessly flattering him, but the results really were quite good. Xu Jiang's experience bar was steadily shooting upward.

It was obvious that cigarettes functioned much like Molotov cocktails.

Their explosive power was average, but their ignition effect was excellent. Even in places thick with foul miasma, they could burn fiercely, with outstanding results.

And judging from the description, there should be more than one kind of cigarette. He could research more recipes and make even stronger cigarettes.

Of course, that was a matter for later. What Xu Jiang needed to consider now was how to escape.

"General, the fire here is fierce. Should we retreat?"

"Retreat. Of course we're retreating!"

The downside of Molotov cocktails was that once they set a building on fire, the damage did not count as that of a subordinate. In other words, Xu Jiang still had to endure seventy percent of the burning damage.

His energy shield was rapidly dropping. If he didn't run now, he would be burned to death.

At the critical moment, Old Tie returned, shouting, "Quick, follow me and charge out!"

With that, he hugged the totem in his right arm and turned into a human battering ram. The thick iron pillar smashed through the wall, carrying Xu Jiang out of the inferno.

"Roar~~"

Behind them, monsters engulfed in flames gave chase, charging over with teeth bared and claws outstretched, determined to kill the culprits who had burned down their home.

Xu Jiang did not hesitate. He spun around, drew his gun, and fired.

Explosive Shots burst one after another, collapsing the already fire-weakened building in an instant and trapping every monster inside.

Congratulations, you have reached Level 7 and gained 1 skill point.

Very good. He had gained another level in just a few minutes. That was pretty fast.

Just as the satisfied Xu Jiang turned around, he met a resentful gaze.

"Didn't you say you wouldn't make a move?" Lan Tie's pitiful eyes were filled with grievance.

"This could only be considered an accident. I just casually lit a cigarette. Who knew that monster house would burn so easily?" Xu Jiang shrugged helplessly.

Lan Tie had rushed out at the first opportunity because he was afraid of being burned to death by Xu Jiang. That would not count as a heroic sacrifice. Who could understand the resentment of someone who had failed to die...

"Alright, alright! Don't lose heart. How about this? Come with me to find the exit. A key location like that will definitely be guarded by powerful monsters, and then you can sacrifice yourself."

Xu Jiang patted his shoulder in consolation.

Of course, what he really wanted was a free thug. He had discovered that Old Tie was genuinely useful.

He wasn't afraid of dying in a fight, and he was sturdy too. Minor scrapes and burns like those from before would heal quickly thanks to a Paladin's constitution.

"Alright. I'll help you find the exit first, then I'll stay behind and die in battle." After thinking it over, Lan Tie could only agree.

After all, the Void Rifts were so vast that there had to be countless monster gathering grounds. Helping his new friend find an exit first was not a bad thing.

Outside the Void Rifts, the waiting crowd was as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

"Four Guides have already gone in. I just hope they can save more lives."

"It's almost been twelve hours! Why haven't you found the exit yet?"

"Soon, soon. It'll be ready right away." The researcher was drenched in sweat as he continuously fiddled with the instrument in his hands.

This Void Rifts incident had appeared in an exceptionally strange manner. Not only had it erupted without warning, but it had also involved several important figures. Every faction was putting pressure on them.

The shifts within the Void Rifts were unpredictable. Even if two people jumped in from the exact same spot one after the other, their landing points could be separated by thousands of miles.

A rescue carried out too rashly would only cause the rescuers themselves to become lost within the Void Rifts.

The only option was to send the Guides in first, equipped with supplies, and have them save as many people as possible.

Once the exit's location had been analyzed and a two-way passage established, the main force could set out together and conduct a dispersed search.

In a corner, Old Mo stood beside Grandpa Lei and gazed toward the Void Rifts. He said quietly, "I just received word that the appearance of these Void Rifts may very well be the work of the Faceless Ones."

Grandpa Lei's eyes turned cold. "That group has already figured out how to open Void Rifts?"

"The specifics are unknown, but I heard this time they're targeting an important figure. The mayor has already arrived, so the impact is considerable."

Grandpa Lei snorted coldly, never loosening his grip on the silver revolver in his hand.

"I don't care about their schemes and intrigues. I only want to save Xu Jiang."

"Don't blame yourself too much. Good people are blessed by fate."

Hearing the consolation beside him, Grandpa Lei gave a bitter smile.

Everyone understood that the longer this dragged on, the greater the chance of death.

The first twelve-hour golden rescue window had already passed. That meant the people in the Void Rifts would gradually begin to feel hunger, exhaustion, anxiety, and other emotions.

And all those negative emotions would be endlessly amplified by the Calamity, until they went mad and turned into monsters.

Could Xu Jiang hold on?

"He can, of course he can. General, please believe me—these roots are definitely edible."

Inside the Void Rifts, Xu Jiang was having a discussion about herbs with his newly acquired cigarette pack.

When he was hungry, he needed to eat. Yet in this abandoned land, almost all the food had already rotted away. If he wanted something to eat, he could only dig it out of the ground.

Fortunately, the cigarette pack volunteered, saying that through years of making tobacco, he had gained considerable knowledge of herbs.

Though the area nearby was filled with gloomy energy, there were still quite a few good things beneath the soil.

Thus, Little Cigarette directed Xu Jiang, Xu Jiang directed Old Tie, and Old Tie used a broken shovel to dig up several plump roots the size of fists.

After peeling them, he took a bite. They were fragrant, sweet, and crisp, tasting much like jicama. After eating two, his thirst was eased and his stomach felt full.

"I never would have guessed it! Xu Jiang, your wilderness survival skills are so impressive. This is great—now that we're full and have strength, we can get right back to work!" Lan Tie praised Xu Jiang's abilities without restraint.

However, Xu Jiang did not respond. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on the distance as his right hand slowly moved to the pistol at his waist.

"Be careful. Someone's coming?"

"Someone? Is it a monster? Don't worry, I'll hold it off."

Old Tie shouldered his totem and prepared to fight, but Xu Jiang reached out and stopped him.

"Don't get worked up. This person is a little unusual. Watch carefully and wait for my instructions." Xu Jiang did not attack. He merely stood as well and waited for the other party to approach.

Unusual was the only word Xu Jiang could use to describe him.

A black hood accompanied unsteady footsteps. The person seemed deeply afraid of them, hesitating slightly as he approached, yet having no choice but to keep walking forward.

"I mean no harm. Could you two help me?"

As the pleading words fell, the newcomer stepped into the range of the firelight.

Beneath the cloak was a pair of cross-shaped pupils and strangely blue skin.