"Hiss—!"
Serie sharply drew in a breath, as if she had been forcibly pulled out of the deepest nightmare.
Her heart pounded so violently it felt like it would shatter her ribs. She frantically scanned her surroundings—
Pale walls, a narrow single bed… It was a Control Bureau containment cell!
She was back?
An ominous premonition rose within her.
She practically lunged towards the 'Witch' interface deep within her consciousness.
Thankfully!
The Wildfire Witch's figure still existed. Her consciousness touched it.
In the blurred perception, the heavily wounded Wildfire Witch seemed to have received treatment. She lay on a shabby small bed, eyes closed tightly, her breath faint.
Serie's heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally settled.
That feeling of being forcibly "stripped" just now was too sudden; she truly thought the Wildfire Witch had…
She forced herself to calm down and perceive the surroundings on the other end more meticulously.
The Wildfire Witch's wounds seemed to have been crudely bandaged, and for now, there was no fatal danger.
She seemed to have encountered a kind person…
She just needed to slowly wait for her recovery.
Good thing…
Serie let out a long sigh of relief. The battle just now was like a nightmare.
Recalling the almost uncontrolled excitement and battle intent on the battlefield, Serie touched her chest with lingering fear. The aftermath of her heart's frantic pounding seemed to still linger there.
That was definitely not her usual self.
She knew very well that this was the Wildfire Witch's body "causing trouble."
Although all avatars were controlled by Serie's core consciousness, each Witch's distinct personality and past experiences would affect her.
It was like seeing the world through different filters.
Perhaps for the same event, Serie would have two different reactions if she viewed it through the Mad Eater Witch versus the Wildfire Witch.
Just now… she really walked a trip to the gates of hell.
Her fingertips felt slightly cold, and the feeling of lingering fear slowly spread.
Fortunately, although the Wildfire Witch was severely injured and unconscious, her life was not in danger.
More importantly… that almost impossible mission was accomplished!
[Main Mission: Retreat, or Fight to the Death (Completed)]
[Reward: Ability Point * 3, Permanently Unlock Ability 'War Frenzy']
Everything was worth it.
A smile spread across Serie's face.
War Frenzy was definitely a divine skill for the Wildfire Witch.
Without this ability, she would never have been able to break out of the encirclement of the Control Bureau team.
As for the three Ability Points…
Right now…
The Wildfire Witch was still unconscious, her consciousness submerged in the depths of darkness. It was unknown when she would wake up.
These three precious Ability Points couldn't just sit there waiting for her to recover, could they?
Time waits for no one.
With a slight turn of her thought, she made a decision.
First, she would use the points on the Mad Eater Witch or herself.
The main body was the root after all, and the Mad Eater Witch was also expected to develop. More strength meant more security.
Alas, the Wildfire Witch shed blood and sweat for Serie, only for the Mad Eater Witch to reap the rewards in the end. It's truly disheartening…
Of course, these were just jokes.
The Wildfire Witch was her, the Mad Eater Witch was her, and the one huddled in the containment room was also her.
Ultimately, giving Ability Points to anyone was strengthening "Serie" as a whole; there was no distinction. Especially after gaining more abilities, she could complete other missions faster to gain more Ability Points, and then use them to nourish the injured Wildfire Witch.
The only thing that needed time to consider was which abilities to assign the points to.
Just as Serie's thoughts were churning, the door opened with a soft "click."
Doctor Lynette walked in carrying a tray. She glanced at the clock on the wall and said softly, "It's already twelve o'clock. Are you hungry?"
Serie quickly got up from the bed and took the still-warm tray.
She was indeed a little hungry.
A meaty aroma, tinged with the smell of scorched fat, instantly assailed her nostrils, making her feel a little inexplicably uneasy.
"Today's lunch in the cafeteria is steak and rice," Lynette said, looking at Serie, with a hint of imperceptible concern in her eyes. "Perhaps… in a few days, I can try to apply to take you for a walk inside the Control Bureau, or even directly to the cafeteria for your meal?"
"After all, you have nominally passed the Cold Condensation Experiment assessment."
Go out?!
Serie's eyes instantly lit up.
Although she hadn't completely cleared her suspicion with Hayato and was still some distance from complete freedom, being able to leave this pigeon coop with its stark white walls, even if it was just to walk around, was enough to make her overjoyed.
She was almost growing mushrooms from lying on this bed for so long!
"Thank you, Doctor Lynette!" Serie's voice unconsciously carried a hint of sweet, innocent charm, and her smile was dazzling.
Comparing goods makes you want to throw them away; comparing people makes you want to die!
Originally, Serie was still somewhat wary of Lynette, even aloof.
But recalling the cold and cruel project leader in Zoya's memory, and then looking at Lynette, who always had a gentle smile, personally delivered meals, and even often tried her best to protect her…
This was simply an angel descending, wasn't it?!
Serie's intentional coldness and aloofness, by contrast, seemed like spoiled arrogance.
Although Serie couldn't completely relax her guard, in truth, the person who needed to rely on the other was Serie, not the high-ranking and powerful Lynette.
No matter what, Lynette was the only piece of driftwood she could grasp in the turbulent current.
Even if this piece of driftwood might have other intentions, if she didn't grab it, she was afraid she would sink straight to the bottom!
"It's nothing. Just call me anytime if you need anything." Lynette was clearly affected by Serie's sudden enthusiasm and smile, and her voice became a few shades lighter.
Although she wondered in her heart why this girl was like a little hedgehog with thorns raised in the morning, and then by noon she was…?
However, this was, of course, a good thing.
Lynette also didn't stay to watch Serie eat as usual. After delivering the meal, she quietly left the room.
But as soon as Serie placed the tray on the small table and looked closely—
She almost threw up.
Perfectly roasted steak, drenched in thick sauce, covered the glistening rice…
But this enticing scene instantly overlapped with the hellish imagery in her mind—the charred, twisted, smoking Soldier corpses on the ground, emitting a mixed smell of burnt flesh and blood.
"Ugh—!"
Serie's small face instantly turned pale. She stumbled into the bathroom and dry-heaved into the sink.
She had originally thought she was composed enough to calmly manipulate flames to burn enemies into charcoal…
Now, she realized she was still herself; just now, it was entirely the Wildfire Witch's strong psychological fortitude.
Serie herself simply couldn't endure such raw death and the stench of burning.
The image, like a maggot clinging to bone, mingled with the meaty aroma of the steak, churning wildly in her mind.
Ugh—!
Ultimately, of that exquisite steak and rice, she only managed to scoop two mouthfuls of rice before she could no longer swallow.
When Lynette returned to clear the tray, she saw the almost untouched steak and rice, and then Serie's reddened eyes. Her own eyes instantly filled with heartache.
"Still no appetite? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?" she asked softly, her tone cautious.
Serie just shook her head weakly, forcing out a feeble smile.
Lynette naturally didn't know what Serie had experienced. She could only attribute all the blame to Hayato and the Control Bureau's system, which had made this innocent little girl suffer too much unnecessary pain.
Lynette's thought was a happy accident. Indeed, Serie's current state was inextricably linked to the Control Bureau.
Her lunch hour was barely endured through the difficult nausea.
Serie had just leaned against the headboard, trying to calm her churning stomach and chaotic thoughts…
Deep in her consciousness, the connection line belonging to the Mad Eater Witch suddenly sent a violent, warning-filled fluctuation.
Something had happened at the ancient tomb…!