Among the crowd, Mu Chen was clearly enjoying the admiration and flattery directed his way.
Perhaps it was because he was already used to being in a leadership position.
With a calm and natural demeanor, he spoke:
"Let's not split up for now. Fierce-tier instances are extremely dangerous—this isn't something we can handle by scattering."
"We must stick together."
Naturally, everyone gathered around Mu Chen.
At that moment, Ma Jun and Jiang Han—who were standing off to the side—became especially conspicuous.
Jiang Han stood alone, aloof and self-contained. Just standing there, she radiated an intimidating aura that warned others to keep their distance.
At a glance, she was clearly not an ordinary person.
Compared to her, Ma Jun appeared completely unremarkable.
Aside from his clean-cut, handsome looks that girls tended to like, there didn't seem to be anything special about him.
Plain and ordinary.
So naturally, someone immediately shouted at him.
"What are you still standing there for?! Didn't you hear what Boss Mu said?!"
"Stick together! Stick together—don't you understand?!"
Ma Jun gave the speaker a flat glance and ignored him.
He had no intention of doing anything.
In the Shock Horror Game, people like that never survived past the first instance anyway.
Even with newbie protection, instances still had a significant elimination rate.
Elimination—
Meant death.
Seeing Ma Jun's cold reaction, the person tried to shout a few more times, but Mu Chen stopped him.
"Everyone has their own choices," Mu Chen said calmly.
"Don't interfere with other people's decisions."
Jiang Han also glanced at Ma Jun with mild curiosity, but after one look, she quickly withdrew her gaze.
Ma Jun felt her eyes on him and gently shook his head.
Luckily, the ones who came in are girls Jiang Han's age…
If it were Jiang Han's mom instead… heh.
Whoosh!
Just as Mu Chen finished speaking, a sudden gust of cold wind swept through the area!
"Hehehe…"
Along with shrill, ear-piercing laughter, it rushed straight at them!
Everyone felt goosebumps rise all over their bodies.
The laughter was far too eerie—
Enough to chill them to the bone!
When the cold wind passed, a new figure suddenly appeared in front of everyone!
It was a girl dressed in black.
She wore a black lace dress with a distinctly Gothic style.
The tailoring was exquisite, the patterns intricate.
Her appearance was just as refined and doll-like.
Ash-gray long hair draped down her back, slightly curled at the ends.
Her eyes looked innocent—
yet were filled with cruelty.
Just by looks alone, she was a loli.
But her figure completely contradicted that impression.
The girl was exceptionally tall.
Ma Jun was around 1.8 meters tall, yet she was still a full head taller than him!
She had to be over 1.9 meters!
A true giant loli.
Ma Jun recognized her instantly.
One of the castle lord Lady Akuna's three daughters—
Daniela.
Daniela tilted her head, her burning gaze sweeping over the group.
Her voice sent chills down their spines.
"More fresh blood has arrived."
"That's wonderful… I haven't had human blood in such a long time."
She extended her crimson tongue and slowly licked her lips.
Mu Chen felt his scalp go numb just from looking at her.
Though he had undergone training since childhood and seen plenty of horror simulations—
Those were all fake.
Now that he was truly inside the Shock Horror Game, facing a towering, inhuman giant loli—
His heart still couldn't help but race in fear.
Thankfully, Daniela didn't seem interested in him.
Instead, her gaze locked onto the person who had just shouted at Ma Jun earlier.
The man's hair stood on end the instant she looked at him.
Daniela pointed at him.
"You. Come here."
The man panicked instantly.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
He didn't dare resist and staggered out of the crowd step by step.
Daniela took a single stride forward, opened her mouth, and aimed straight for his neck.
Her teeth sharpened instantly.
The man completely broke down and screamed:
"Boss Mu—save me!"
Seeing this, Mu Chen subconsciously stepped forward, trying to intervene.
But before he could move—
A flash of brutality passed through Daniela's eyes.
"Trying to run?"
A cold gleam flashed.
One of Daniela's arms transformed into a massive scythe-like weapon.
"AAAAAHHH—!"
A scream rang out.
And it wasn't just from that man—
Mu Chen screamed too.
With a casual swing of her arm—
The man's thigh was severed on the spot!
And Mu Chen, who had been standing behind him, lost an arm as well!
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Everyone was utterly stunned.
So this was the power of a Fierce-tier instance?!
Even someone like Mu Chen—who had been trained since childhood—
Couldn't withstand a single exchange!
Didn't that mean they were all doomed?!
Many people broke down and cried on the spot.
Even Jiang Han, who had remained calm until now, changed expression.
Her hand silently moved to her waist, assuming a guarded stance.
Among everyone present—
The only person whose expression didn't change at all—
Was Ma Jun.
Daniela finally noticed him.
"Why aren't you afraid… huh?"
As her words fell, Ma Jun slowly raised his head.
The moment Daniela saw his face clearly—
She let out a shocked gasp.
Those ruby-like eyes erupted with a dazzling light!
But this time—
It wasn't the joy of discovering prey.
It was…
A completely different kind of desire.