Cold sweat trickled down Lin Xin's back as she stared at the four cloaked figures looming at the prison door.
No way… They're early.
She had calculated at least five minutes between sacrifices. But barely three had passed—and they were already here.
Her heart pounded. Something was off.
The Hellfire Cultists opened the cell without hesitation.
Lin Xin lowered her head, feigning obedience. No resistance. No panic. Just quiet compliance—unlike the other girls who had screamed and struggled.
The fox-eared girl beside her trembled violently, shrinking into the corner as one of the cultists approached. Her eyes squeezed shut, her voice barely a whisper.
"Don't…"
But the robed man hoisted her up effortlessly, ignoring her plea.
Lin Xin followed silently, her calm demeanor lowering their guard. Two cultists led the way, one carried the fox-eared girl, and the last kept a loose eye on Lin Xin.
The corridor was suffocatingly silent, the air thick with rot and a metallic tang. It was a sensation Lin Xin had never felt as a player—this was real.
A faint glow appeared ahead. The sacrificial chamber.
The cultists relaxed slightly.
Lin Xin did not.
In a flash, she pivoted and drove her heel into the abdomen of the cultist beside her.
Bang!
–102!
Her kick—four times stronger than a normal human's—obliterated his health bar. The cultist collapsed instantly, organs ruptured.
The second cultist, startled, dropped the fox-eared girl and lunged forward.
Lin Xin's fist met his throat.
–172!
Weakness Critical!
He crumpled, gasping, blood pooling beneath him.
The fox-eared girl sat frozen, wide-eyed, watching the glowing green figure—Lin Xin—charge toward the remaining two cultists.
They had drawn short blades, dark and cursed. A single hit could inflict confusion or paralysis.
Lin Xin didn't flinch.
She twisted her body, narrowly dodging both blades, then grabbed their wrists and redirected the weapons—straight into their throats.
Puchi! Puchi!
–193! –189!
Both collapsed, choking on their own blood.
Ding ~
"You have successfully killed a Hellfire Cult Canon Fodder. Gained 89 EXP."
"Gained 92 EXP."
"Gained 90 EXP."
"Gained 96 EXP."
Lin Xin exhaled slowly.
She crouched and peered through the cracked door at the end of the corridor. Inside, Hellfire priests chanted in unison, their voices forming a barrier of sound that masked the chaos outside.
Good. They haven't noticed.
She turned to the fox-eared girl, knelt beside her, and offered a gentle smile.
"Shh… Trust me, okay? I'll get you out. Just stay quiet, alright?"
The girl stared at Lin Xin's radiant face, her voice caught in her throat. But she nodded, tears drying as courage flickered in her eyes.
Lin Xin patted her head softly, then turned to the fallen cultists.
Three had dropped nothing.
But one had a floating white treasure chest.
(Note: Chest rarity matches item level.)
Gray → White → Blue → Green → Orange → Red → Gold → Colorful
Lin Xin blinked. A drop? From a basic mob?
In Star Trail, the drop rate was notoriously low—barely 1%. And even then, most chests were junk-tier.
But this was a Common Grade chest.
She grabbed it without hesitation.
Item: Common Grade White Treasure Chest
(Dropped by Hellfire Cult Canon Fodder)
Evaluation: "I think what you're thinking now is to open it."
She did.
Inside was a sleek, rose-engraved pistol.
Item: Rose's Woe (Common Grade)
Attack: 170–200
Durability: 60 / 60
Magazine: 10 rounds
Bonus: +3 Strength, +5 Agility
Evaluation:
"A mother's final gift to her daughter, Rose. Faced with sacrifice, Rose chose death over defilement. Her soul lingers in the weapon, watching the cult's twisted hearts…"
Lin Xin's breath caught.
A weapon. A gun. Her specialty.
And—most importantly—it was mechanical.
As she gripped the pistol, its stats surged.
Item: Rose's Woe (Enhanced by Mechanical Affinity)
Attack: 340–400
Durability: 120 / 120
Magazine: 20 rounds
Bonus: +6 Strength, +10 Agility
Her panel updated:
Name: Liuying (Lin Xin)
Race: Glamour Iron Cavalry
Template: NPC
Letter Rank: 1
Attributes:
Strength: 26 (↑)
Agility: 30 (↑)
Stamina: 20
Spirit: 20
Charm: 99
Health: 200
Power: 200
EXP: 367 / 10,000
She glanced at the fusion progress of Heart of Hero.
Fusion Progress: 60%
Still 40% remaining…