The sun began its initial descent. Like half a tangerine duck egg yolk, it was dissolving slowly into the navy blue sky. The sepia tone that had lost its initial temperature gleamed weakly on the surface of the planet, receding at a speed visible to human eyes. Meanwhile, on the "Pumpkin Route" where the elongated shadows of the street lamps claimed their territory, the tension was building as the time ticked away.
Even though Lin Sanjiu had repeated her question, all she got in return was silence.
With her heart suspended in her chest, she recoiled two steps back. The tug of war between Puppeteer and his squadron of puppets and the suctioning force of that painting had been in a stalemate. Neither of the parties would emerge victorious from the battle in the foreseeable future. Lin Sanjiu knew that a long delay meant many hitches; hence, to hurry the battle, she turned to the artist and yelled, "Increase the output!"
The way to increase the output was by perfecting the drawing. Once the materials, textures, lights, and shades of the drawing had been perfected, the suction of the Special Item would reach its maximum power. After hearing Lin Sanjiu's order, the "artist" that looked like a real-life person dipped his brush onto the palette and began to complete the drawing.
With every stroke, Lin Sanjiu could felt the force increasing. The force ripped all the skin and limbs off the group of puppets who had been clinging to each other. Lin Sanjiu could even hear the ripping and cracking sounds as their muscles were being torn from their bones. However, the puppets were not living organisms. They probably did not feel pain as they didn't even whine.
"Can you now tell me where they are? I--"
"What an interesting item you have there, huh?" Puppeteer asked in and cut short Lin Sanjiu's next words. The red of his anger had faded, leaving only ashen white on his face. As Puppeteer locked his gaze on Lin Sanjiu, he smiled a little, "I've allowed you to toy with me long enough, I guess?"
As Lin Sanjiu's heart tightened, she quickly leaped backward. She didn't know what had happened in that second nor did she see anything. All she heard was a loud explosion, and in the moment she landed on the ground and raised her head to check, Puppeteer was already standing on the ground. At the same time, an unknown shock wave hit the artist and his easel. She saw him was flying far away into the sky, crushing many walls in his path, and smash into a pile of broken bricks before being buried by the rubble.
" I knew that he couldn't be stopped that easily, " Lin Sanjiu cursed inwardly, " Luckily, I still have my last resort. "
"You three, bring that guy to me," Puppeteer ordered puppets without turning his head. Upon receiving their master's orders, those puppets instantly sprinted toward where the artist had flown, "I like that special ability. He might be of good use to me in the future."
" He mistook that thing for a Posthuman! "
The thought flickered in Lin Sanjiu's mind and made her stop for a moment, but she had no idea and didn't have enough time to think of a way to manipulate this misunderstanding to her advantage because Puppeteer had already turned his attention on her.
If she hadn't activated her hypersensory, and if she were still the half-baked Lin Sanjiu, she might still be shrouded in the dark even after Puppeteer's attack had landed on her. In a flash, her body caught a glimpse of an unusual thing that stood out from the environment. It couldn't be seen; it couldn't be touched. It shot out from Puppeteer's finger and had closed in on her in a blink of an eye.
Even with her hypersensory activated, Lin Sanjiu couldn't do anything as she had not had enough time to parry the attack. To avoid getting hit, she had to dive down and thrust herself to the ground. Just as the thing missed her narrowly, it turned and threw itself once again at Lin Sanjiu like a homing missile. Lin Sanjiu bit her lip and reached for her card. A silhouette of a human figure appeared in mid-air and intercepted the thing before falling to the ground.
Lin Sanjiu's reaction was ultrafast. Jumping up from the ground, she scrambled to her feet and concentrated her gaze on the thing on the ground.
The thing that she had summoned in the heat of the moment was Ren Nan's corpse.
The sudden appearance of a large-mouthed, engorged-eyed corpse did not thwart Puppeteer. He swept his gaze over it and turned to Lin Sanjiu, curling his lips into a warm, lovely smile, "Well, well, interesting, but I'm not yet done with my [Pestilence], and I have plenty of shots left. Do you have enough corpses to block them all?"
On the ground in front of her, Ren Nan's corpse was withering. It was as if he was a person who had been tormented by his sickness his whole life before he could finally rest in peace. Ren Nan's hairs thinned, his cheeks sunk deeply into his face, and his belly swelled.
"Is that a Special Item?"
"Have you heard of route "300—"
Just as the sentence escaped Lin Sanjiu's mouth, Puppeteer shot another [Pestilence] at her. It had no form and no smell. It wasn't a Special Item, but an Evolved Ability.
[Pestilence] worked in the same fashion that a drop of blood from an AIDS patient or the spittle of a tuberculosis victim. This ability was an invisible "contagium." Once it entered the human body, it completed the disease cycle from infection through latency all the way to the final stage within a few seconds. The symptoms, however, varied from disease to disease as there were countless diseases in the world. The disease appeared randomly on its target, and the effect only lasted for a minute. After a minute, the chances of survival and recovery depended on the target's immune system and natural resiliency.
If this ability grazed even the slightest part of her skin, she would probably end up like Ren Nan.
Lin Sanjiu kicked the ground and thrust herself into the air as [Pestilence] slipped through the gap between her feet and the ground. However, her temporary out-of-firing-range status was short-lived. [Pestilence] made a U-turn and charged at her back.
"Damn it!"
Lin Sanjiu did not summon Er Dao's corpse. Instead, she grabbed the pumpkin shell that acted as the lamp post and hurled it toward [Pestilence] while she was airborne.
In the next second, she felt itchiness spreading from her palm as if something had gotten into her skin.
"Oh, please pardon me for not informing you," Puppeteer said as he looked Lin Sanjiu fell from the sky. A cruel, sly grin was dancing around his lips as he talked, "[Pestilence] can penetrate through inanimate objects."
Dizziness struck her before Lin Sanjiu hit the ground. As a triumphant gleam flashed through Puppeteer's eyes, because he thought he had won the fight, Lin Sanjiu closed her eyes and made a loud, hearty sneeze. "Achoo!"
She wiped her nose and raised her head. She saw Puppeteer was looking at her with his popping eyes.
"The flu? You just caught the flu?" His words passed his lips in a disbelieving breath, "I have attacked hundreds of people with my [Pestilence]—"
Judging from the look of Ren Nan, she could roughly guess what Puppeteer was going to say next. Apparently, she was his first target to only catch the flu after getting hit by his [Pestilence]. Anyway, she didn't have much time to thank God for her minor fortune, but at least she still had the time to express her gratitude to Xueqin in her heart, and she did. After that, she summoned her [Tornado Whip] and lashed it wildly in her hand to create a tornado before sending it at Puppeteer.
"I guess you leave me no choice but to stop holding back," Puppeteer's face grew gloomy. His words had no other emotion but fury.
Facing the destructive tornado, Puppeteer refused to move an inch away and faced it head-on. Then, the next movement he took scared Lin Sanjiu to the core of her heart.
Although it looked different, the sight of Puppeteer when he gently extended his arms still reminded Lin Sanjiu of the lethal attack Hei Zeji used when he was "Queen Margaret."
However, no whirlpool formed in front of Puppeteer, but the raging and barbarous air current brought forth by the tornado had mysteriously dissipated within the duration of a few breaths. Lin Sanjiu was stunned, oblivious of what Puppeteer had done. When she blinked again, the face of Puppeteer dusted in gold glitter powder was already a few centimeters away from her.
Then, suddenly, from the heavens and the earth came a force that was as strong as a tsunami. It condensed, materialized, and lunged at her.
Even with the enchantment of the "Lucky Star," Lin Sanjiu still had to squeeze every ounce of power from her body to parry Puppeteer's attack and earn a brief second to take a breath in the time between his attacks. She just learned the combat technique from Hei Zeji not long ago and had not quite mastered it yet, but she was glad that she had learned it from him; otherwise, she might not be able to defend herself against Puppeteer's storm-like, seamless attack.
Truth to be told, it was all thanks to her hypersensory that she managed to distinguish Pupeteer's attacks. If she ever used her naked eyes to observe Puppeteer, she would have only seen that Puppeteer was just standing pretty leisurely waving his hands now and then.
Right now, dragging Puppeteer was no longer her priority.
Lin Sanjiu thought that if she continued to fight this battle with the idea of dragging him for a while, she would probably die faster than anyone before accomplishing her given mission, which was to keep Puppeteer busy for two hours. If she wanted to stay alive, she had to go the whole hog, hold nothing back, and fight with all her heart and soul. Evolved Ability or Special Item was crossed-out of her attacking options as she had to focus entirely on Puppeteer. Even then, she still had to rely on "Lucky Star" to save her from being injured numerous times.
At the same time Lin Sanjiu was dragging herself to come out on top of her exchange with Puppeteer, Mrs. Manas was fighting as well and counting down the time for Lin Sanjiu.
"58, 59… 6! It's 6 PM!" Her voice sounded excited and trembled a bit. It was as if she was overwhelmed by great joy and fear, "It's already one past six. Why he hasn't come yet?"
Lin Sanjiu felt like she was on a roller coaster, her heart was high in the air, and all the blood had rushed up into her brain. She tightened her lower jaws, unwilling to believe that her second plan might end in a failure.
Puppeteer was getting relaxed as a smile danced around his lips. Even though the woman in front of him was unpredictable when they first engaged in a battle, he was confident that he could claim her life.
Nevertheless, there was a saying that every cloud had a silver lining. Just as Puppeteer pressed forward to land a final blow on Lin Sanjiu, a voice suddenly resonated in their ears. Judging from the distance of the sounds, he should be not far away from them.
"Hey, can you both stop for a moment, please?"
"Here he comes!"
Maybe Puppeteer was stunned by that voice since he did stop his attack. Seizing her golden opportunity, Lin Sanjiu jumped and rolled a few meters away from him. Then, she stopped.
She shouldn't move any further; or else she might accidentally get "punished" by the incoming person.
Puppeteer narrowed his eyes and turned his head slowly. His gaze fell on the side of the road as a child stood there seemingly appearing from nowhere.
From a glance, he swore he had never seen a kid that looked more like a kid than the kid standing in front of him.
He was wearing a tank top with a striped pattern and a pair of shorts. His limbs were tiny and skinny. The corner of his lips was stained with a trace of stickiness, the remnants of whatever sugary deliciousness he'd devoured on the way. There was a droplet of clear liquid dangling under his nose. He looked just like a little boy. Nevertheless, he was not affected by Puppeteer's [Pestilence] no matter how hard the latter had tried.
"Inhabitants of the pocket dimension?" Puppeteer saw the light. He then turned his attention back to Lin Sanjiu.
The tall woman responded to Puppeteer's gaze with a lovely smile on her face. After that, she heaved a long sigh of relief and went limp on the ground. Obviously, she knew and was prepared for the arrival of this little boy.
"You've attacked me so many times," said the little boy, sniffling, "I don't feel any pain, so I'll let you pass this time. After all, you have to pay me tons of Stamina Points."
"Hold up. Just hold up for a second," No matter how powerful Puppeteer was, there was no way he could hold out against an inhabitant of the pocket dimension, "Why I have to pay you Stamina Points?"
Sitting on the ground opposite of him, Lin Sanjiu offered him another big, heartful smile.
The little boy scrambled his body before pulling out a crumpled paper from his pocket. While sneezing, he said, "I've received complaints from the female shop owner of the barbeque restaurant, the store owner of the jelly shop, and the store owner of the cafe shop. Mister, for your information, you have destroyed a windowed door, three tables, four fluorescent lights, and a brick wall, so you owe two hundred and seven Stamina Points for the damage you have done."
Without waiting for Puppeteer to digest what he had said just now, the little boy turned to Lin Sanjiu and said, "You too, big sister. You have shattered two fluorescent lights at the barbeque restaurant, so you have to pay thirty Stamina Points."
Lin Sanjiu was more than willing to pay the thirty Stamina Points. Just as she withdrew her wrist, Puppeteer, who was standing in a daze all the time, growled, "What did you say? Why should I pay for what I have destroyed? This is a pocket dimension!"
A few minutes ago, while they were all engaged in the scrimmage, Lin Sanjiu yelled at the female shop owner to keep her mouth shut.
The latter refused to listen and finished what she had to say, "You've destroyed my fluorescent lights, please pay me with your Stamina Points."
"We still have to pay for this?"
"Originally, it was not needed," The female shop owner finished her sentence as fast as she could, "But you're very lucky now, so you have to compensate for what you have destroyed."
Lin Sanjiu understood this logic only after she arrived at the door and saw the litter of shattered glasses on the ground.
If she had to pay after destroying a fluorescent light, then how much did Puppeteer have to pay for destroying the door and the wall?
"So," She said with a matter-of-fact tone, "This ability of mine can bring me five minutes of luck, it alters how the pocket dimension works so that the pocket dimension now demands compensation from us should we accidentally, or intentionally, destroy any facilities in the pocket dimension. The female shop owner has told me that the person in charge of collecting the compensation would come at 6, so I've been waiting for him all along."
Color bled from Puppeteer's face, and his lips were quivering so rapidly that no people could see they were shaking.
Even though he had earned quite a lot of Stamina Points by clearing the attractions, he could never earn two hundred and twelve Stamina Points. It's insane!
"The day is turning dark," the little boy sniffed heavily and said, "So you have to pay another ten Stamina Points if you're staying for a day. If you do not have enough Stamina Points, then pay with your limbs."
"Fine, then!" Puppeteer suddenly burst into a fit of laughter, "I'll pay with her limbs!"
Before his voice died away, his body congealed into a streaking shadow, darting toward Lin Sanjiu. She had become vigilant the moment Puppeteer laughed. Nevertheless, if it weren't for the little boy grabbing Puppeteer's trousers at the very last minute, Lin Sanjiu believed that she would've ended up in a bad situation. At least one of her limbs might no longer be attached to her body. With this thought in her mind, her face turned ashen white as she retreated from the side of the grimacing Puppeteer.
"Stop messing around, mister," the little boy said like he was an adult, "Upon checking, I know you have one hundred and eighty-seven Stamina Points. Now, give them all to me."
Puppeteer's face turned ugly. He spat at the little boy, and his eyes went bloodshot. His words that came out from his lips were filled with unbounded anger and fury, "What about the rest? What do you want to take from me?"
"You have lost the most precious organ. Along with the ten Stamina Points, I'll be taking both your legs and one of your arms."
Upon hearing this, Puppeteer calmed down just like the ocean after being ravaged by a storm. With a stern face, he sat on the ground and glared at Lin Sanjiu. He did not even glance at the little boy, "Fine, take whatever you want, then."
Seemed like he had compromised and accepted the reality.
Even though he had a squadron of puppets in his arsenal, his own body was his greatest weapon. If he lost a large portion of his body, he might not even be able to catch himself new puppets.
If Lin Sanjiu was the person who was going to get her limbs removed, she would not have compromised so fast.
As soon as the little boy took his first step, a hand fell on his shoulder. He tilted his head above and met with Lin Sanjiu's gaze.
"Kid, can you give us a moment, please?" She smiled at him. Since she still had five minutes before the effect of the Pygmalion Choker warded off, it was natural that the little boy would do what she had asked. Then, she went forward and crouched beside Puppeteer.
Both of them were silent.
"I hate to admit it, but this could be considered as your strength as well," Puppeteer sneered.
Sighing, Lin Sanjiu said slowly, "Even though I have discovered your secret, I don't mean it, and my lips are sealed. I don't get it why you had to get into such a mess. Now you have to lose your limbs."
"Do you think I care? These limbs?!" Puppeteer chimed in with a sharp voice. His eyes reddened again due to his rising anger, "You have no idea what I have lost, you idiot!"
"Alright, alright," Lin Sanjiu nonchalantly waved her hand, "I know what you have lost. The grand prize at the final pitstop, right?"
Puppeteer's jaw tightened. His eyes were filled with razor-sharp anger that could slice Lin Sanjiu into a zillion pieces.
" He is such a gloomy person that tends to go to extremes to get what he desires. I suppose I needed some time before I can get the whereabouts of Rena and Reno out of him ," as the though swayed into her mind, she smiled at Puppeteer and said, "You're the idiot! Do you know Santa Claus? Is there bad blood between you two?"
Puppeteer was stunned.
"Let me tell you something: he is in here as well. Although he's not a Growth type, he is catching up fast. He is going for the grand prize at the final pitstop as well. You're powerful, no doubt, but I guess neither of you could emerge unscathed if you two ever engaged in a fight. May I ask what is so great about the prize that could make you go through so many difficulties to get it?"
This sentence had pressed a button in Puppeteer. His expression changed. It was an expression that Lin Sanjiu had never expected would appear on his face. She even wondered if her eyes had played a trick on her—
"Oh, so he has come as well," Puppeteer's tone was soft. With downcast eyes, he continued, "A wish. The prize is a wish. The Starry Carnival Amusement Park will grant you any wish."
"A wish?"
Lin Sanjiu was dumbstruck.
It seemed that all emotion had left Puppeteer, leaving only a blank behind. Rather than saying he was talking to Lin Sanjiu, he was more likely talking to himself, "It seems like what has happened in the past is irreversible no matter how hard you try. Hah, human strength is the weakest."
Thump. Puppeteer seemed to be very tired. He fell to the ground and stayed still.
"Where is that kid? Is he not coming to claim what he wants?" He asked expressionlessly as he stared into the dark blue night sky.
Not knowing what kind of story was happening in Lin Sanjiu's mind, she halted the little boy and studied Puppeteer.
Even though she did not have the wisdom of Nüwa, she had a particular set of skills that belonged only to her. She could see that a shadow of despair had enveloped Puppeteer whole, even his soul.
" What could that wish be to make a person like him to exhibit such an expression? "
"I can offer you two items that can help you get the grand prize," Lin Sanjiu cleared her throat, and said hesitantly, "In exchange, you only have to tell me the whereabouts of Rena and Reno and stop hunting me."
She wasn't at all certain that Puppeteer would agree to her second condition, but she had to try. After all, there was no harm in trying, right?
A long time passed. Long enough that the stars were popping out to play hide and seek. When the little boy began to grow impatient, Puppeteer then spoke with a harsh voice, "What can you offer me?"
"I can help fill up the Stamina Points that you lack," Then Lin Sanjiu quickly said the next offer, "I can even tell you the next move of Santa Claus."
Puppeteer suddenly shot up from the ground, scaring Lin Sanjiu.
With a disbelieving look, Puppeteer looked at Lin Sanjiu like he was looking at the dumbest person in the world, "Do you know that I can still obliterate you once this little jerk is gone. Are those two kids worth the risk?"
Lin Sanjiu grit her teeth and gave it a go around her brain before she nodded. After all, if everything failed, she still had Hei Zeji on her side.
"I loathe you, people like you, and your kind of self-righteous justice the most," Puppeteer drew his eyebrows together tightly as if he saw some kind of bug, "Consider yourself lucky. I'm the kind of person who won't go back on his word."
"Who is the lucky one here?!"
As she cursed him inwardly, she warped her [Defense Forcefield] around her hand and falteringly held Puppeteer's cold hand.
Puppeteer saw what she had done, but he paid no mind to it. He scornfully raised his chin and opened his mouth. At the same time, Lin Sanjiu told him about Santa Claus as well.
"Yea, I've kidnapped the twins, but I handed them to the Progressor Alliance--"
"The Progressor Alliance has set both you and Santa Claus up so that you two would meet—"
Both of them fell silent at the same time.
" Huh? "
"Haha, well, well. Seems like our good samaritan Miss Lin Sanjiu is being hidden in the dark all these time. Then, a knowing smile appeared on Puppeteer's face as he said, "Do you have any idea who told me about this pocket dimension?"