Doll Girl

Because he often stayed at home reading, Fan En actually didn't have much contact with women, except for his own sister.

Sometimes, some women he knows would tease him for fun, leaving him at a loss for what to do.

At this moment, a beautiful woman dressed in Western clothes stood in front of him. Normally, he should have blushed and been stunned by now.

He was indeed stunned, but Fan En wasn't embarrassed at all. On the contrary, his face turned pale.

At this moment, what he is thinking is:

This is a bit scary, sis!

Why did you stand up?

He felt so terrified because he knew that the graceful white-haired woman in front of him was the Doll that had once sat among the flowers.

He used to find the doll pleasing to the eye, but that was from the perspective of appreciating a work of art. If he knew who the craftsman who made the Doll was, he would be tempted to order one himself.

But now the artwork has suddenly come alive, it has stood up!

Moreover, the figure standing up is Doll looks extremely similar to a human, although the craftsmanship is so exquisite that it basically does not give viewers any feeling such as "pseudo-human" or "uncanny valley".

But that only makes it more terrifying, doesn't it?

This was quite a test for Fan En's heart.

The Doll looked at him, thinking he hadn't heard her clearly, and said again:

"Welcome back, kind hunter."

"Stop, stop, stop, I heard you clearly, there's no need to repeat it a second time."

Fan En quickly waved his hand. He didn't know what kind of expression he had, but it probably wasn't normal. So he looked down and rubbed his face vigorously to regain his composure before asking in surprise:

"How... how did you survive?"

He didn't immediately slash at it because the sense of security the Hunter's Dream had given him made him believe that the Doll was unlikely to be harmful.

The Doll didn't answer the question; it simply placed its hands in front of it and looked at him. Although it had a blank expression, it didn't give off a cold feeling. Instead, it had a strange sense of friendliness that made people unconsciously want to lower their guard.

Even Fan En himself felt that the question he had just asked was a bit strange, so after thinking for a moment, he asked again:

What are you doing here, beautiful lady?

The Doll finally responded to this.

"I am a Doll, here to take care of you in this dream."

Take care of me?

In that instant, a multitude of thoughts flashed through Fan En's mind. He suddenly took a step forward and asked in surprise:

"Can you repair weapons for free?"

Although the Messengers could help him repair weapons and seemed to be quite skilled, talking about money was a bit of a sore point.

Doll: "."

"Hunter, go and seek the Blood Echoes, that which are hidden deep within the blood." After a moment, she continued, "I will incorporate them into your power."

His tone was flat, and his words sounded like those of a pre-programmed Doll, perfectly fitting the character's image.

"You will go to hunt monsters, and I will stay here to embolden your frail soul."

This sentence conveys a sense of tenderness, as if even if Fan En died outside, she would still sweep his grave in this Hunter's Dream.

However, at this moment, Fan En revealed an extraordinary level of insensitivity. He was naturally interested in the topic of strength and kept thinking about it, completely ignoring the emotions implied in his subsequent words.

However, just before he could ask how to integrate the Blood Echoes into his power, he suddenly remembered something important and quickly asked:

"Do you know how to leave this underground city?"

This Doll gave him a different feeling than Gilbert; perhaps it knew more about him?

"Of course, the door has always been there."

Following the Doll's gaze, Fan En turned around to look.

Amidst the white flowers, a portal suddenly appeared, its swirling magical energy echoing within the portal frame. Passing through it would allow them to return to the outside world!

Fan En felt like he had used up all the blank stares he had ever experienced in his life today.

The Doll came to life, and a portal suddenly appeared. How could this happen so suddenly?

"Call"

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. The opportunity to get out was so close, but at this crucial moment he regained his composure.

It's not about backing down, but about staying calm. There's an issue we need to consider while we're calm:

If he goes out now, will he run into a group of parasites outside?

His strength has indeed increased due to the blood therapy, but can he fight his way out and escape from the almost endless number of parasites?

So, Fan En turned to the Doll and asked:

"Madam, what do you mean by Blood Echoes into your power? Could you please explain in detail?"

Seeing that the Doll seemed to be harmless or even beneficial, his attitude softened, and there was even some respect in his tone.

"Come closer to me, and then close your eyes."

Fan En did as he was told, his heart filled with anticipation, but he obediently closed his eyes.

He felt his hand being held, and felt the touch of Doll, cool and icy, completely unlike a human's.

Is the Doll holding his hand?

It was as if something inside him had been awakened. He closed his eyes and carefully sensed it, finally seeing what Leon and the others had long been tired of seeing: rows and rows of attributes and levels.

My overall level is nineteen? What level does that mean? Am I strong or weak?

However, judging from the battle against the Cleric Beast, I'm probably incredibly weak.

What he didn't know was that without the initial blood healing enhancement, his level would only be in the single digits, and he would have to exert all his strength even to fight a Beastification Citizen.

Although the current level 19 is also very weak, it would take three times to catch up with Leon when he first appeared.

Because his level was so low, the Blood Echoes needed to level up was naturally very small. After spending all the Blood Echoes he had, he actually managed to accumulate 25, and he carefully allocated the points evenly.

He then used the items he had, such as [Icy Blood Pellet] and [Thick Icy Blood], which could grant a certain amount of Blood Echoes, and sold the extra items and the Messengers. He successfully reached level 30!

This level is still a bit short of Silver Rank, but it can already be considered one of the best among Bronze Rank adventurers.

Feeling the surging power within him, Fan En was excited and looked around, wondering if there was anything else he could sell for Blood Echoes. He was only a few hundred points away from leveling up again, and he was unwilling to leave like this.

Unfortunately, there was nothing left for him to sell; if he wanted to sell anything more, he would have to pawn his clothes.

"This power, this power!"

Fan En took out his Saw Cleaver and swung it up and down, away from the Doll lady Saw Cleaver, which used to be difficult to swing a few times, was now able to dance like a butterfly on his fingertips. He could now perform some of the movements that he had thought of doing but his physical condition did not allow.

He now felt that his attacks could do more than just leave a small wound on the Cleric Beast.

It can even pull off a piece of hair along with it!

Isn't that a bit too low-class?

Fan En was using this thought to suppress his excitement and keep himself calm, understanding that simply leveling up a few times wouldn't be enough to defeat such a terrifying monster.

What if we challenge those parasitized individuals outside?

There should be no need to fear ordinary parasites anymore. As long as the protection is in place, there is no need to be afraid of being parasitized in battle. But what about when facing that mutated species?

He didn't know; he didn't know the strength of the mutated species, so he could only imagine that it was extremely strong.

"Not enough, I'm still not enough."

He stared intently at the Doll; if looks had warmth, the Doll would have been sent to the Initial Flame Furnace to kindle the flame by now.

This beautiful Doll in front of me is truly priceless!

"A dungeon that can directly make people stronger—I've truly stumbled upon a huge treasure! This is an unprecedented discovery. I, no, the entire Red could potentially become stronger because of this dungeon!"

Excitement filled his mind, but Fan En vaguely felt that he had heard of something similar somewhere—a dungeon that could also enhance an adventurer's strength. He probably heard it mentioned by a foreign merchant caravan when they were negotiating a deal.

"His name is Saine, right?"

Reed is very isolated, and the fighting outside doesn't affect their fishing and seafood harvesting, so news from the outside world really can't get in anytime soon. Their current clothing style is still the popular style from many years ago.

"No matter what magical functions that dungeon called Sien may have, I believe the one I encountered is the best dungeon ever!"

He clenched his fist, took one last look at the portal leading to the outside world, and resolutely strode towards it.

A tombstone used for teleportation!

I really need to make up for the few hundred Blood Echoes needed for the upgrade. Even just one level up can help in the battle, right?

What if I go out to fight and am just one level short of winning?

That's what he thought.

In the city lord's room, Gong Qiying opened the [Kindred Panel] and flipped through it, only to see that Fan En's portrait had already appeared on it.

The character's portrait is divided in two by a diagonal line. In the lower left corner is Fan En, wearing tattered clothes and running timidly through an alley, his eyes wary of his surroundings, revealing his unconcealed fear.

The person in the upper right corner is also him, but he has changed into a hunter's outfit. He is pulling off his mask and wiping the blood of his prey splattered on his face, while the werewolf at his feet is hacked to pieces.

This shows that the other party has already submitted to Saine and become the first Rhett to become a sympathizer.

"Good."

Reed, Savis.

An inconspicuous street, an inconspicuous collapsed house, and the basement beneath the ruins became the refuge for the survivors.

This place used to be a famous fish market, but now it's filled with rotting, stinking fish carcasses. The stench is so strong that even the parasites don't want to come here, making it a paradise for survivors.

However, although it is called heaven, there are only about twenty angels living here. After Fan En and the others left, only twelve or thirteen old, weak, sick and disabled people were left, and at most three men were left to guard the house.

Once attacked by the parasites, they will be powerless to fight back.

"Miss Yi Sha, please have some hot water."

In the basement, a girl who looked to be underage was observing the situation outside the ruins with the help of a crude homemade mirror, while drawing something on a notebook in front of her with her other hand.

Her name is Abraham Van Yi Sha, and she is Fan En's sister.

An elderly woman brought over a pot of hot water at just the right temperature and said gently, "You're sick now, so just rest well. Fan En and the others will definitely be back before dawn."

Yi Sha nodded hopefully, politely thanked her, took the hot water, took a small sip, put it down, and said:

"There's only a little Heat Stone left, don't waste your precious heat on me. Pregnant women and the elderly need to keep warm more than I do."

The old woman sighed helplessly and said:

"That won't do, you're a patient."

"We're all patients too." Yi Sha's hands never stopped drawing in her notebook.

"But the traps around the shelter all depend on you, Miss Yi Sha. This is everyone's wish, and you absolutely cannot fall down."

Yi Sha stopped drawing; her notebook was filled with all sorts of simple mechanisms.

If you look closely at the area around the shelter, you'll find that various ingenious mechanisms are set up all around, which can both lure away the parasites who are nearby and protect themselves when necessary.

"Okay." She smiled and took another sip of hot water.

As the child of a hunter, Yi Sha also received training from her father; however, she was more interested in traps and mechanisms than in actual combat, and was more talented in them.

In contrast, her Fan En was practically illiterate when it came to traps; as a child, he often failed when trying to catch birds by propping up a basin with a twig.

Yi Sha's work at the shelter has successfully diverted the parasites from the survivors on numerous occasions, and she deserves much credit for the shelter's continued existence.

Although her father taught them to be humble, she was still a child after all.

So when she heard the old woman's praise, she didn't show any emotion on her face, but her legs, which were dangling in the air while sitting on the chair, swung even more, and she hummed a lullaby.

When your brother comes back, try praising him too; it's already very brave of him to go out.

However, as she casually glanced at the mirror, the song she was singing suddenly stopped.

"Ms. Bell." Yi Sha's face suddenly turned ashen. She called out the old woman's name and finally shook the bell that symbolized warning.

This bell has never rung before!

People panicked immediately, but didn't know what had happened. Facing their questioning gazes, Yi Sha forced herself to suppress her trembling body and said:

"They're here!"

In the reflection of the mirror, countless swaying figures were crowded on the street.

Among that group of zombies, several familiar figures were prominently featured!

These are the people who went out to search for supplies earlier!