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Despite knowing death was imminent, Liu Xingluo instinctively raised his arms to block the approaching drill, even though he understood it would be utterly useless.
A fleshy arm could never withstand a metal drill.
Yet, the primal instinct for self-preservation in the face of danger was not so easily subdued.
He had braced himself for pain even more excruciating than yesterday’s, ready to unleash a scream.
Surprisingly, however, no such sensation materialized.
A strange feeling washed over Liu Xingluo, prompting him to open his eyes and survey the new predicament.
Before him stood a wall of pure light, positioned squarely between Liu Xingluo and the Drill-Rat, effectively deflecting its assault.
No matter how rapidly the creature spun its drill, it failed to inflict even the slightest crack upon the luminous barrier.
“What is this?”
The scene unfolding before him was utterly unbelievable, compelling Liu Xingluo to instinctively reach out and touch the wall of light.
He needed to ascertain if this luminous barrier was truly real, or merely a dying hallucination.
The moment his hand made contact with the wall of light, it seemed to sense his touch, instantly sending the still-attacking Drill-Rat flying backward.
“This isn’t a dream; someone came to save… huh?”
He had initially assumed the wall of light was a rescue effort, but the very next second, it began to approach him.
As it drew closer, its form shifted, transforming from a solid wall into a net that tightly enveloped Liu Xingluo’s entire body.
“What is this doing now? Hm? My hand…”
Liu Xingluo was initially panicked as the luminous net covered his body, but he quickly realized the reason behind its embrace.
His body had begun to transform under the influence of the light net.
His formerly dark, sturdy arms became fair and slender in a mere second or two.
Not just his arms, but Liu Xingluo’s entire physique underwent a metamorphosis.
After three seconds, the light net completed its alteration of Liu Xingluo, receding from his body and vanishing without a trace.
“What in the world just happened? And why is everything around me suddenly so incredibly clear?
My clothes seem to have grown larger than my original size, too?
Huh?
Wait, are these my breasts?
Don’t tell me… down there is gone too?
Damn it! It really is gone!
My voice sounds completely different from before!”
Upon the completion of the change, the first thing Liu Xingluo perceived was a markedly enhanced vision.
In this subterranean space, 1800 meters deep, she had previously relied solely on intuition to discern her surroundings.
Now, however, she could see everything with crystal clarity, as if the brightness had been cranked to its maximum.
Thanks to this amplified sight, she could also witness the bizarre transformation that had befallen her own body.
All traces of her former male self had vanished, replaced by characteristics exclusively belonging to women.
This left her in a state of bewildered panic.
Could this be an awakening? An awakening of her superpowers?
She had previously heard of individuals experiencing physical mutations after awakening superpowers, such as changes in hair or eye color.
Yet, they always remained recognizably the same person.
For someone like Liu Xingluo to transform so completely as to be utterly unrecognizable was unprecedented.
Had Liu Xingluo not still been wearing the ill-fitting old suit her father had left behind, even her own sister, Liu Ruyan, would never have recognized this woman as the younger brother she had always doted upon.
The changes occurring in Liu Xingluo also stunned the other two Drill-Rats, leaving them momentarily unsure whether to continue their assault.
Though the human before them hadn’t yet attacked after her transformation, their instincts screamed that she was profoundly different from before.
To press the attack now would only result in their unilateral slaughter.
Furthermore, they sensed the aura of a fellow creature emanating from her.
Though they couldn’t comprehend how this human had achieved such a feat, the presence she exuded undeniably belonged to a peer of a far higher caliber than themselves.
This realization intensified their trepidation, preventing them from launching an attack, and they began to slowly retreat.
[They’re retreating? Judging by their expressions, they seem afraid.
Are they scared of me? And why can I discern their expressions anyway? They don’t look any different from before.]
Noticing the actions of the two Drill-Rats, Liu Xingluo instantly recognized their fear, not mere caution.
Yet, she puzzled over her newfound ability to read their expressions.
Could this be her power? The ability to understand the emotions of Aberrant Beasts?
Before Liu Xingluo could finish observing the two retreating Drill-Rats, the one that had been flung away righted itself and lunged at her once more.
Perhaps it, too, had sensed the aura of a high-level Aberrant Beast emanating from Liu Xingluo.
Yet, Liu Xingluo had not only trespassed and provoked it in its own territory earlier but had also just sent it flying.
This had infuriated the creature to no end.
Regardless of whether its opponent was human or a high-level Aberrant Beast, for daring to make it suffer such indignities, it would stake everything it had today!
“Eek! Stay away!”
Even with the powerful abilities she had inexplicably gained, it was too much to ask a civilian like Liu Xingluo to immediately shift her mindset and engage in combat.
Thus, she instinctively threw her hands up to block, only to be sent flying by the Drill-Rat.
Witnessing Liu Xingluo’s disheveled and vulnerable state, the other two Drill-Rats, who had initially planned to seize the opportunity to escape, changed their minds.
Since this high-level individual before them appeared so easily overwhelmed, she must surely be in a weakened state.
If all three of them could cooperate to take down this high-level Aberrant Beast, consuming her flesh and blood would allow them to evolve to a superior rank.
Opportunities to slay a weakened high-level individual were rare; they absolutely had to seize this one.
With a decision made, they immediately followed the first Drill-Rat, heading in the direction Liu Xingluo had been knocked.
The subterranean cavern was their domain, and with their opponent being a high-level individual in a weakened state, this battle was theirs for the taking!
Meanwhile, Liu Xingluo, having been sent flying, came to a halt only after colliding with the cavern wall.
“Incredible.
I thought that would hurt.
I can’t believe I have no injuries at all.”
Flexing her body, Liu Xingluo couldn’t help but marvel at her awakened physical resilience.
Had this been her body before the awakening, let alone being knocked flying, that single drill attack would have been enough to grind her into a pulp.
Yet, her awakened form had sustained no damage from the recent impact.
Not just no damage, but not even a hint of pain.
Regrettably, however, her suit had not inherited her body’s defensive capabilities; the sleeves were utterly shredded from the recent attack.
She recalled that her sister had specifically prepared this suit for her just last night.
To dare ruin her sister’s thoughtful gesture like this was unforgivable.
She would absolutely teach those Aberrant Beasts a proper lesson!
She would show them just how formidable her awakened physique truly was.
The adventure continues! If you loved this chapter, The Villainess Refuses to Follow the Script is a must-read. Click here to start!
Read : The Villainess Refuses to Follow the Script
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