Ashley sidestepped, letting the loli pounce into empty air. She splatted onto the ground.
Gwendolyn writhed in embarrassment, trying to crawl back up.
“Tell me the password,” Ashley said, lightly nudging her with her toe.
“You’ll never get it out of me!” the loli spat furiously.
“Don’t be so absolute. Let’s make a deal—you help me, and I’ll get you out of here.” Ashley shifted her tone, smiling sweetly.
“You…”
Gwendolyn froze, staring at her in disbelief. After a moment, she looked away and muttered coyly, “Hmph, I don’t need your help… unless you apologize…”
“‘Deep Sea Moonlight’!” Ashley snapped her fingers.
In an instant, the ASMR-like tidal roar washed over their eardrums, wave after gentle yet immense wave, sending shivers through their bodies.
Gwendolyn’s eyes widened as she watched water rise from the floor, surging and swirling rapidly up to her waist. By the time she opened her mouth to scream, her voice was drowned in the clear, pristine blue waves.
She struggled instinctively, only to realize it was illusory water—she could still breathe. Her panic gradually subsided.
Miraculously, as the water flowed over her body, the dirt on her clothes and skin peeled away and dissolved, leaving her clean and refreshed.
“Mmm…”
Gwendolyn, who hadn’t bathed in days, felt instant relief throughout her body. She let out a soft hum as the urine stains vanished too, her whole body warming comfortably, like soaking in a hot spring.
Moonlight filtered through the water, casting rippling light patterns that turned this watery space into a corner of an undersea paradise.
Bathed in the moonlight, Gwendolyn felt happiness and peace flooding in. Her tormented, exhausted spirit recovered swiftly, and her SAN value quickly filled up.
“This is Mr. Smedley’s ability!” She stared in shock at the blue-haired loli.
“Come on, I’ll protect you and get you out.”
Ashley’s smile was sweet, her tone gentle. She slipped an arm under Gwendolyn’s knees and behind her back, lifting her up gently.
Huh? Huh?!
This one-eighty left Gwendolyn baffled. But lying in the blue-haired loli’s arms, wrapped in a powerful sense of security, was addictive.
She pursed her lips, her eyes sparkling, cheeks flushing with a faint blush. “Are you going to carry me out through the horde? If you save me, I’ll buy you anything! You can make a shopping list as thick as a book, and we’ll go spend!”
“Through the horde? No, no—the opposite direction. We’re heading straight to the Initial Chamber where the King Insect is and slaughter it!” Ashley’s eyes widened, her pupils like two terrifying black holes.
“Huh—?! I don’t want to go there! Put me down!” The loli realized something was wrong and cried out.
“Once the fight starts, hide in the Slanted House. The bugs aren’t smart enough to find you,” Ashley soothed. “If I win, you’re saved. If I lose, you’re happy.”
“Happy how?!”
“Won’t it be fun watching the annoying ones die right in front of you?”
“Well, that’s true…”
Though she said that, Gwendolyn didn’t actually want to see Ashley die.
“Alright, hand over any treasures you have.” Ashley reached out expectantly.
After all the back-and-forth, the rich loli was completely compliant, following orders obediently.
The Slanted House did contain some cutting-edge tech and ancient relics, but after hearing the rundown, none were what Ashley wanted.
“Do you have any long-range tools that detect supernatural fluctuations?” she asked.
“Something like that… Right, the sonar from the Long Conch!” The rich loli’s mind turned quickly.
In deep-dive excavation ops, submarine sonar was the primary detection method—scanning spatial outlines, analyzing potential enemies, locking onto supernatural reaction points.
As the fourth seat in the Hundred People Assembly, Smedley’s submarine Long Conch had top-tier sonar tech, capable of scanning a two-to-three-kilometer radius in seconds.
Though two or three kilometers was short, the Lord of Insects’ supernatural fluctuations were massive and intense. Pinpointing the direction was all that mattered.
“It’s docked at Heber Base behind New Market Street for repairs. That’s one of the world’s top repair facilities—many of my vehicles are serviced there,” the rich loli added.
Ashley’s heart stirred. Activate the sonar, locate the Lost Corridor, take that thing out, and release all the trapped supernatural powerhouses—that was the only path to victory!
With the rich loli’s guidance, Ashley weaved through streets and alleys, speeding toward New Market Street.
Soon, the bugs spotted them. After all, they were charging through the enemy’s main camp.
City No. 1’s bug soldiers were diverse: beyond Crawlers, there were slender, agile mantis warriors, Jumping Bug Shield Guards with bloated, shield-like chests and abdomens, antlion ambushers lurking underground, plus flying types, odd-movers, and more. Enhanced by insect jade, they brimmed with supernatural power—even bullets couldn’t pierce their shells.
But against Ashley’s all-star lineup, they exploded on first contact, spraying juices that were collected as paint to craft fusion beasts.
With fusion beasts joining, the team grew stronger, forming an unstoppable torrent. Their synchronized footsteps thundered through the streets like rolling thunder.
Gwendolyn’s big, dark eyes widened in shock. In just moments, she’d seen the blue-haired loli use five or six different abilities—she was ridiculously overpowered.
