Warrior's Breathing Technique: First Tier

"Phew..."

Molly leaned against the kitchen doorframe, rubbed her half-full stomach, and let out a long breath.

The strength her advancement had brought still flowed through every limb. When she raised a hand, she could clearly feel the force in her contracting muscles. It was nothing like the hollow strength she had before.

She clenched a fist experimentally. Her knuckles cracked softly, and she couldn't suppress the thrill rising inside her.

Molly checked her phone. It was four in the afternoon, and the sun was shining.

"I ate everything in the fridge. I'd better go to the supermarket, or I won't have anything to cook tonight—or the energy to keep practicing my swordsmanship."

She changed into comfortable sportswear and headed out.

Two streets from home, she reached the supermarket.

It was bustling with shoppers.

Molly went straight to the fresh food section and filled two large bags with beef, pork, and chicken breast. She picked up a carton of milk, then raided the snack aisle for chips, chocolate, energy bars, and more.

At the checkout, the cashier stared at her cart, wide-eyed.

"Planning to stock up, young lady?"

Molly smiled without explaining. She paid, picked up four large bags, and walked out.

Before, that much weight would have made her arms ache. Now the bags felt as light as a few pounds of cotton.

"This strength boost is incredible."

Molly couldn't help muttering it as she headed home with a spring in her step.

Just outside the supermarket, a graceful figure with a cool air approached her.

The girl wore a spotless white dress. Her long black hair was tied in a high ponytail, exposing her fair neck and delicate profile. An aloofness in her eyes and brows seemed to warn strangers away.

It was Luoxi.

Molly's heart skipped a beat, and she stopped without thinking.

The original Molly and Luoxi had been good friends. But since arriving in this world a few days ago, Molly had been busy practicing her swordsmanship and adjusting to her body. She hadn't had a proper conversation with Luoxi yet.

Meeting those clear eyes now made Molly strangely nervous.

Luoxi had clearly seen her too. She paused, her beautiful eyes settling on Molly. Her brow furrowed slightly, and a flicker of confusion crossed her face.

Molly forced herself to raise a hand and wave.

"Hi... Luoxi?"

Her voice came out dry. Even she felt awkward.

Luoxi nodded and stepped closer, studying Molly's face as though searching for something.

"Have you... been all right lately?"

"I've been okay."

Molly nodded and tried to hide the bags behind her.

Luoxi glanced at the bulging bags. Her expression grew even stranger.

She knew how little the original Molly ate. The slender girl had struggled to finish even one bowl of rice. Why had she suddenly bought so much food?

But Luoxi didn't ask. She gave a soft "Mm," then said earnestly,

"The streets haven't been safe lately. The news says there have been incidents in a lot of places. Go home early and don't linger outside, especially after dark."

"I will. Thank you." Warmth spread through Molly's chest, and she nodded seriously.

Luoxi said nothing more. She only gave Molly one long look.

Deep in her eyes, a golden light seemed to flash—so quickly it might have been an illusion.

Then she turned and left, walking tall with an effortless air of confidence.

Molly watched her disappear around the corner before breathing a sigh of relief. But questions crowded her mind.

The look Luoxi had given her... Something was off.

And why did Molly keep feeling that Luoxi knew something?

She shook her head, pushed those thoughts aside, and carried her bags around a corner onto another road.

It was a shorter way home, but it passed a secluded alley...

The same alley where she had encountered the Tentacle Monster.

Curiosity had brought her this way.

But when she reached the alley entrance, she stopped.

Yellow caution tape blocked the way. Beside it stood a sign reading, "Construction and repairs. No entry."

Several people in construction uniforms guarded the entrance, their faces stern.

Molly understood. The Tentacle Monster incident must have drawn a lot of attention.

She didn't linger. She went around the caution tape and headed for the main road.

After only a few steps, she caught sight of two men in black protective suits crouching beneath a tree nearby, muttering to each other.

Black gas masks covered their faces, making them look like flies. The sight was deeply unsettling.

Molly slowed without thinking.

"Damn it, how long do we have to keep doing this lousy job?"

One man's muffled voice came through his gas mask, edged with impatience.

"We sit here every day and haven't seen a damn thing. I'm bored out of my mind, I say."

The other man snorted.

"Who knows? Orders from above. We don't dare ask, I say."

"Want to have some fun at Lovers' Bar on the backstreet tonight? I hear the new student girls are pretty good, I say."

"Forget it. They're cracking down lately. Don't cause trouble, I say."

Snatches of their conversation reached Molly. They ended every sentence with "I say," a verbal tic that made her skin crawl.

She quickened her pace without showing anything, but alarm bells rang in her head.

Protective suits, gas masks, and that strange way of speaking—nothing about them seemed normal.

Could they be... part of an organization connected to Monster Demons?

Molly didn't dare dwell on it. She hurried toward home.

She made it back without incident.

At home, Molly sorted her purchases into the fridge and cupboards. Seeing them packed with food finally put her somewhat at ease.

That evening, Molly made a huge pot of beef and rice. Its aroma filled the living room.

Drawn by the smell, Moyan finally came out of her room. Surprise flickered in her eyes when she saw the enormous bowl of beef and rice on the table.

"Want some?" Molly asked with a smile.

Moyan nodded, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and ate in small bites.

They still didn't say much. Only the soft clink of bowls and chopsticks broke the silence.

But Molly liked it. The quiet felt comfortable, not awkward.

After dinner, Moyan took the initiative to clear the dishes, while Molly returned to her room.

Rather than practice her swordsmanship right away, she sat at her desk and stared thoughtfully at the deep-blue ring around her wrist.

Everything that had happened lately had made her realize this world was far more complicated than she had imagined.

The appearance of Monster Demons was no coincidence.

And the Transformation Device and Proficiency Panel—where had they come from?

Why had she been chosen?

The questions circled in her mind, but she had no answers.

Molly rubbed her temples and pushed them aside. Whatever the truth was, getting stronger came first.

Only with enough strength could she protect herself and those close to her in this dangerous world.

She stood, intending to take a shower before continuing her sword practice.

Steam filled the bathroom. Molly undressed, looked at herself in the mirror, and couldn't help blushing.

The original Molly really had been beautiful, with fair skin and graceful curves.

She was also completely smooth, without a stray hair.

Molly showered quickly. Just as she was about to turn off the water, something on the floor caught her eye: the opening of the drain.

Green bubbles were slowly rising from it.

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

Molly's heart lurched, and she instantly went on guard.

She took half a step back, staring hard at the drain.

More and more bubbles emerged, gradually gathering into a mass of green jelly.

The mass kept growing until it popped out of the drain and landed on the floor with a soft plop, becoming a green Slime the size of a bucket.

It was sticky all over, and bubbles rose across its surface. Above it floated two lines of text:

[Monster Demon: Slime]

[Level: 1]

"!"

Molly's pupils contracted.

A Monster Demon!

She had no time to think. Two words flashed through her mind:

"Transform!"

The familiar warmth surged through her. White light flashed, and she found herself in a pure-white dress, her white hair falling to her waist. The silver Broken Sword rested firmly in her hand.

The Slime seemed startled by the light. It lunged at Molly, not particularly fast, carrying a sickly sweet smell.

Molly's gaze sharpened. She gripped the Broken Sword, turned her wrist, and brought the blade down hard.

Thud!

The blade struck the Slime with a dull sound.

Green goo splattered everywhere. The Slime split in two, then quickly fused back together, though it was smaller than before.

"It can heal itself?"

Molly raised an eyebrow and swung again without mercy.

Chop! Slash! Sweep! Thrust!

She executed the four basic movements with practiced ease, landing every strike squarely on the Slime.

It grew smaller and smaller, and its green glow steadily faded.

At last, it could hold itself together no longer. With a pop, it collapsed into a puddle of green jelly.

At the same time, a faint light flashed, and a purple-black fragment the size of a fingernail fell from the jelly.

Molly lowered her sword, walked over, and prodded the fragment with its tip.

"What is this?"

As she wondered, the fragment suddenly turned into a streak of white light and shot toward the Broken Sword in her hand.

Hum—

The Broken Sword trembled gently, letting out a clear ring.

Then an unfamiliar memory poured into Molly's mind. A breathing method appeared clearly in her thoughts, as though someone were guiding her through it step by step.

[Warrior's Breathing Technique: First Tier 0/10000]

A new line had appeared on the Proficiency Panel.

Molly froze, then realized what had happened. Delight flooded her face.

Was this... a new skill?

Following the method in her memory, she took a deep breath.

A faint current entered through her throat, flowed into her abdomen, circulated through her limbs and body, then slowly left through her mouth and nose.

The soreness in the muscles it passed through eased considerably. Even most of the fatigue from swinging her sword faded.

"Healing! It's a passive skill that slowly heals me!"

Molly was thrilled.

Until now, she had gotten through sword practice by sheer endurance. When she was tired, she rested. When it hurt, she bore it.

With the Warrior's Breathing Technique, she could practice while breathing this way and slowly recover her stamina. It was perfect for grinding proficiency!

She immediately used the technique again. Feeling that faint but unmistakable warmth flow through her body, she couldn't stop smiling.

Even getting rich overnight wouldn't feel this good!

[Warrior's Breathing Technique proficiency +1 +1...]

Molly stood with her sword in hand, watching the technique's proficiency slowly rise on the panel. Her eyes shone.

Second-tier Basic Swordsmanship, plus first-tier Warrior's Breathing Technique.

She had grown stronger once again!

Outside her window, night had fallen. Who knew how many Monster Demons lurked in the city's shadows, watching...