Chapter 35

At first, Yin Yihan felt that Bond looked familiar, after all, she had watched the 007 series when she was young. However, since there were several actors who played 007, she wasn't that familiar with the real 007. After Chuci shouted, he immediately helped Yin Yihan identify the real protagonist, so Bond slipped away very quickly, failing to attract any of Yin Yihan's attention. This allowed Bond to easily find a path with fewer trees and take a shortcut to get ahead of everyone.

Chuci ran in front, panting, while Yin Yihan pursued calmly, slowly. She took out a custom USB power bank and plugged it into an interface that popped out from her rib area. This was a life-saving device provided by the Main God, with a power output of 300KW, capable of sustaining the alloy armor for 30 minutes of combat. Yin Yihan had four of them, but usually, she only used solar power to charge the alloy armor. This was the first time she used one.

Although the power bank was very useful, unfortunately, it could only be charged in the Main God's space. In the real world, there was no suitable place to charge it. Power plants? Don't be ridiculous. Probably only a nuclear power plant could supply such a high power output, and it wouldn't be 100% efficient, with a 20% loss. It would be time-consuming and labor-intensive, not as convenient as a one-click recharge in the Main God's space.

With this power bank, Yin Yihan's endurance was guaranteed. Chasing Chuci and others was not just a matter of keeping up; she even had extra power to store in her body, restoring the energy of the alloy armor. Feeling confident, she pursued Chuci with renewed determination.

Chuci turned his head and saw the familiar power bank, almost fainting. Damn, it even has a built-in rechargeable battery! Chuci hadn't thought of this. Although he had estimated that Yin Yihan had killed many participants and unlocked space items, he hadn't guessed that she had a power bank.

Why didn't she use it earlier? Chuci couldn't figure it out, never considering the reason—she was short on points!

The power bank cost 1000 reward points, and each charge cost 200 reward points. Main tasks usually didn't give rewards; only killing monsters or triggering side quests did. So, if a participant just ate and waited to die, they would be eliminated. Even if they killed monsters at the cost of their lives, it was only enough for regular enhancements (improving stats). Yin Yihan could fully modify her alloy armor because she had experienced this type of cycle world and had accidentally triggered a side quest chain, giving her enough points to enhance herself. Since then, she hadn't triggered any side quests, so she had been living on a low income, even struggling to charge her power bank.

With others having power banks, Chuci could only run for his life.

Hope was just ahead, and Chuci never thought he would fall at the last hurdle.

Chuci and Angus ran hard and finally reached the predetermined location. They turned a corner and disappeared from Yin Yihan's sight.

"Damn!" Yin Yihan was also anxious. She had to complete this side quest; otherwise, she would be in a worse situation in the next cycle world.

So, Yin Yihan also sped up, quickly rounding the corner. She saw Chuci and the protagonist running ahead. They were sprinting down a narrow path.

"Finally, my moment to shine!" Yin Yihan thought to herself. Although the path was narrow, it was still a suitable passage. Activating the nitrogen thrusters in her feet, Yin Yihan lunged forward like a fierce leopard.

"Miss, who are you looking for?" The man following Chuci suddenly turned around, revealing a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar. It was familiar because his back and hair were exactly like the person Chuci had taken care of earlier, but it was unfamiliar because Yin Yihan clearly recognized this face as Bond's!

"Lady, are you looking for me?" A voice came from behind. Yin Yihan turned around to see the real protagonist, Angus, bent over and panting in the forest.

Yin Yihan didn't stop to think; she charged directly at Chuci. As long as she killed Chuci, the side quest would be hers alone.

Such decisiveness was unexpected by Chuci. He thought she would hesitate, but it didn't change her fate.

A steel cable rose from both sides of the trees, blocking Yin Yihan's waist. At the same time, two steel nets rose from the trees and the ground, trapping her and hanging her in mid-air.

"Don't try to use your laser sword, or I'll activate the power." Chuci held a controller in his right hand, his thumb pressing firmly on the switch. Bond also revealed a disguised patch of grass, which was connected to six generators. The machinery was already running, and a switch connected to the steel cable. Yin Yihan saw clearly that even if the voltage couldn't damage her alloy armor, it would definitely harm the flesh and brain inside.

"What do you want?" Yin Yihan's voice was dark, her eyes filled with anger and killing intent, but she understood the principle of "being the fish on the chopping block" and kept her hands away from the steel net.

"I don't want anything, just that you've been trying to kill me, and I need to protect myself." Chuci sneered, waving the remote control in front of Yin Yihan. "I don't know if 1000V can instantly kill you, so let's compromise. You can choose to return to the Main God's space or risk your life to break through the electric net, but..."

Chuci looked up and down at Yin Yihan, saying with a mocking tone, "Are you sure you'll come out unscathed, not die on the spot, not be seriously injured, or be able to complete the difficult side quest with a damaged body?"

Each word pierced Yin Yihan's heart. Her eyes gradually changed from fierce to hesitant, and finally to confusion.

After all, she was a veteran. Although Chuci had convinced her, Yin Yihan still remembered that she was a participant and couldn't return empty-handed. Plus, "I don't have enough hearts."

"I'll make up the difference." Chuci was generous enough to offer.

"How many do you have?" Yin Yihan asked, clearly haggling over the side quest.

"Thirteen." Chuci wouldn't honestly report the number.

"I'll take them all." Yin Yihan noticed that Chuci hadn't relaxed his guard and could release the switch at any time. She didn't want to argue and directly took all the hearts. Adding the nine she had killed herself, she could earn 9000 reward points.

"Deal." Chuci had intended to haggle more but felt a sense of unease and ended the negotiation. He pulled out a series of bloody hearts from the implant space and handed them to Yin Yihan, saying sternly, "If you don't leave in three seconds, I'll cut the power."

"Don't worry, I won't go back on my word." Yin Yihan pressed her wrist against the steel net, where her folding space wristwatch was. As long as she put it away, she could choose to leave.

Just as the two were fully focused on this uneasy transaction, a sudden strong wind appeared. Without thinking, Chuci threw the hearts toward Yin Yihan, stiffened, and fell to the ground.

The attacker probably didn't expect Chuci to use this dodge and couldn't find a good angle to attack. It could only carry the hearts and kick off the steel net with its claws, then retreat into the forest.

"Yin Yihan, watch this!" Chuci shouted, hiding his right hand under his body, showing Yin Yihan that he still held the controller.

The hand gripping the steel net stiffened, and Yin Yihan cursed under her breath, not daring to move.

"Friend in the forest, come out. Your plan has failed." Chuci lay on the ground, facing off with Yin Yihan. Bond now had a chance to act, taking a Saiga-12 from a participant, which was more practical than Chuci's Protecta at close range.

"Too bad, couldn't take out this newbie." The person in the forest knew he couldn't hide and stepped out, greeting Yin Yihan, "Hey, Sister Yihan, looks like things aren't going well."

"Ye Jun, are you trying to save me or harm me!" Yin Yihan was both angry and furious, wanting to rush out and kill everyone.

"Hehe, Sister Yihan, of course, I'm trying to save you, but this guy is too smart." Ye Jun's smile was insincere, and his thoughts were unreadable, completely different from his behavior on the plane.

A white, ferocious beast covered in bristles walked out of the forest. It looked like a cross between a lion and a tiger but was twice as large. Its mouth was filled with sharp fangs, and its limbs were thick and agile, equipped with steel claws. It wore a layer of metal exoskeleton armor, and its long tail ended in a sharp, horn-like tip. It was clear that a swing of the tail would be as powerful as a meteor hammer.

This beast, designed for slaughter, crouched at Ye Jun's feet, opened its mouth, and spat out a series of hearts in front of Ye Jun. It seemed obedient, but no one believed such a giant beast was for show.

"Another one!" Chuci had already stood up, looking at Ye Jun with surprise.

"Thanks to this guy, if he hadn't led the way, it would have been hard to find you." Ye Jun clapped his hands, and another person stepped out of the forest.

"It's you." Chuci almost wanted to kill. The person wasn't anyone else but Hao Jun.

"Yes, it's me. Didn't expect that, did you? I knew you would leave me behind to do things alone, so I didn't follow Bond's orders and trailed you from a distance. Since you want to monopolize the side quest, don't blame me for ruining it!" Hao Jun's long-suppressed emotions burst out, his eyes filled with venom, even making Chuci frown.

"I see. I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it." Chuci's plan had its twists, but it was still under control. Even if Hao Jun had met Ye Jun by chance, it wouldn't change the outcome, because...

"Die!"

Chuci shouted, releasing his finger and rolling on the ground. He and Bond rushed behind Yin Yihan, and an explosion sounded!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The massive explosion echoed across the entire island, shattering the afternoon's tranquility!