Chapter 2

God be my witness, I thought I had everything under control after overhearing that damned conspiracy in the basement.

But I made a fatal mistake—I was too arrogant, like a Yasuo who had twenty kills in Summoner's Rift and was full of taunts, thinking he could ignore all the damage from the turrets.

As it turns out, reality isn't like that damn game interface, and I underestimated the depths of Samantha's cold-blooded nature.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the heavy curtains.

Samantha knocked on my door with a steaming plate of fried bacon and macaroni.

She wore elaborate makeup and a low-cut, tight-fitting knit top—her classic outfit that she used to use to trick me into giving her expensive gifts.

"Arthur, darling, you must have been exhausted last night. Have something to eat." She smiled like a saint, her eyes full of feigned tenderness.

I raised an eyebrow, thinking that as long as I didn't eat the breakfast that was obviously spiked, I could see her make a fool of herself.

But I never expected that the damn military-grade nerve gas wasn't put in the food at all, but was smeared on her bright red lipstick!

When she bent down, pretending to give me a reconciliation hug, that sweet fragrance instantly filled my nostrils.

"Damn it..." I only managed to utter half a word before my vision began to spin. The skill panel of LOL flashed wildly in front of my eyes, and finally turned into a dead gray.

When I opened my heavy eyelids again, the intense pain felt like several rusty saws were hacking at the back of my head.

I found myself tightly bound to a load-bearing pillar in the basement of the villa, with thick iron chains digging into my flesh.

The basement reeked of a nauseating stench of blood.

"Oh, Sleeping Beauty has finally woken up?" Karl held a blood-stained scalpel in his hand, his smile as sinister as a repulsive viper.

In his other hand, he held a crystal ball emitting a ghostly blue light—my supernatural power core! The materialized core of the system's power!

"How could you..." I gritted my teeth, cold sweat dripping from my forehead onto the floor.

“Stop struggling, Arthur.” Samantha looked down at me, putting on a pair of black stockings, clearly in order to seduce some high-ranking figure in the base. “Although Karl’s ability is one-time use, as long as he can come into contact with someone who has lost the ability to resist, he can perfectly strip them of their power.”

And you? You're just a useless game addict; possessing such power is a complete waste.

“Samantha, you ungrateful bitch! I'm the one who pulled you out of the horde of zombies!” I roared.

"So what?" She didn't even bother to hide the disdain in her eyes. "The world has changed, Arthur. In order for our family to climb into high society in this base, we need powerful forces as bargaining chips. And you're too selfish, unwilling to contribute your power willingly. If you give it to us, we can exchange it for a better status and resources, instead of just being a so-called 'hero' like you!"

They not only took my crystal core, but also wanted to squeeze every last bit of value out of me in front of everyone.

Carl dragged me, weak and exhausted, out of the villa like a dead dog and threw me onto the bustling street.

Samantha's parents even shouted and cursed at the base survivors who were watching, accusing me of being selfish, hoarding supplies, and even fabricating lies that I was going to assault Samantha.

People's eyes were filled with disdain and indifference.

"Stop! You beasts, let him go!"

Just then, a petite figure suddenly pushed through the crowd and rushed in. It was Chloe!

Her hoodie with Teemo printed on it was already filthy, but her bright blue eyes burned with an unprecedented rage.

Without hesitation, she stood in front of me, spreading her arms to protect me behind her.

"Get out of here, you stupid little bitch!" Karl sneered, relying on the strength he had just stolen, and kicked Chloe hard in the stomach.

"Bang!" Chloe was kicked away and crashed heavily into the rough brick wall, a stinging trickle of blood instantly spilling from the corner of her mouth.

"Chloe!" My heart clenched, and anger surged violently in my chest like a volcano, but my body, devoid of its driving force, didn't even have the strength to stand up.

"If you don't get out of here, I'll kill you and this piece of trash together!" Samantha coldly commanded.

Karl stepped forward, raised the hand that was shimmering with the arcane light that should have belonged to him, and made as if to strike down.

Chloe clutched her stomach, staring intently at the two despicable people.

She knew there was no chance of winning if she fought head-on. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, turned her head sharply, and gave me a deep and resolute look.

There was no fear in those eyes, only an unwavering determination.

"Arthur, wait for me..." she said to me in a very low voice, then gritted her teeth, staggered out of the crowd, and disappeared into the chaotic alleys of the base.

I know that this silly girl definitely didn't abandon me and run away. She was determined to find a way to get me out, even if it meant risking her life.

As for me, I was thrown into the cold mud and water, my eyes fixed on Samantha and Carl's departing figures.

They were laughing, laughing so unrestrainedly.

But what they didn't know was that deep in my mind, the gray LOL system panel was beeping at an extremely strange frequency, as if... it was counting down before a version update.