Infinity, The Arcade Age

With a casual kick to Feng's lifeless body, Mature glanced at the corpse beneath her feet. The twisted expression of the dead man reflected his refusal to accept the inevitable. She shrugged indifferently and stepped on his remains as she strode toward Earth, the other adventurer.

Despite using a consumable item to heal most of his injuries, Earth turned pale as he watched Mature's approach.

In a desperate roar, he activated his most powerful move.

Ultimate Move: Dark Hell Bliss!

Tu's grappling move barely initiated before Mature's crimson eyes flashed. Dragging a trail of blood-red energy, she charged straight at him.

Her counter? A move beyond her previous Heaven's Glide.

A-Level Skill: Deathlight!

Both combatants unleashed their ultimate moves, but the result was decisive.

Earth's meager stats and diluted bloodline rendered his resistance futile. His ultimate was shattered instantly, leaving him wide open for Mature's relentless assault.

With her arms moving like scimitars, Mature unleashed a whirlwind of slashes.

Deathlight's Full Combo: Twelve Consecutive Strikes!

Each strike landed cleanly, leaving Earth—a powerhouse of strength and durability—torn apart. His body was reduced to chunks of flesh and bone, scattered amidst a cloud of blood.

As fragments of Earth's corpse rained down, Mature stood amidst the blood mist, taking a deep breath.

The red droplets clung to her face and clothing, but far from being repulsed, she appeared to revel in it.

The Hakkesshu, or Eight Heralds, were not just loyal servants of Orochi but also infamous for their brutal and twisted personalities. Among them, Mature and her partner Vice were particularly notorious.

Both women were strikingly beautiful, yet their temperaments were equally vicious.

Mature's soft, elegant exterior concealed a cold and merciless interior, earning her the title of the Ruthless Beauty.

Vice, on the other hand, was outwardly cruel and inwardly sadistic, known as the Pure War Maiden.

If Mature was the executioner, Vice was the torturer.

And now, the executioner, Mature, had been summoned as Qin Ming's desperate gamble using a Game Coin.

Her presence guaranteed that Wind and Earth, who dared to mimic the Hakkesshu's powers, wouldn't leave alive.

True to her nature, she had torn Wind and Earth apart with little effort.

But now, the question loomed: who would be next?

Standing amidst the carnage, Mature turned with a radiant yet chilling smile. Her gaze locked onto Qin Ming, Mai Shiranui, and Mary.

Her eyes were cold enough to freeze blood.

Qin Ming's heart sank. This wasn't over.

Mature wasn't just here to deal with the impostors. As one of Orochi's Heralds, she couldn't risk anyone discovering her identity or witnessing her powers.

Anyone who saw her in action—especially in a world where Orochi's resurrection hadn't yet begun—was a liability.

The only solution? Eliminate all witnesses.

This was why Qin Ming had hesitated to summon her.

Her help was guaranteed, but her methods were… unpredictable.

With a starting favorability of 100 points, Qin Ming had no illusions about her goodwill. 100 points meant familiarity, not friendship.

And now, she was sauntering toward him with catlike grace, her cold smile hiding intentions as sharp as her blades.

Mai Shiranui and Mary wisely stayed back. They understood full well that even in peak condition, they wouldn't last ten moves against someone like Mature.

The two women huddled behind Qin Ming, gripping his shoulders tightly as if he were their shield.

Despite his pain and injuries, Qin Ming forced a smile as he faced the advancing Mature.

"Good evening, beautiful."

Mature paused mid-step, her elegant form stiffening. She glanced around at the battlefield—the wreckage, the blood, the corpses—and then at Qin Ming, bloody and battered.

Her eyebrow arched.

"You think this is the right time to strike up a conversation?"

"Of course!" Qin Ming replied, still smiling. "A gentleman should always take the opportunity to greet a lady, no matter the circumstances."

Mature raised a hand to her mouth, letting out a melodic laugh.

"Oh ho ho ho! You're quite the smooth talker, aren't you? Pity about your face, but your words are sweet enough. Thanks for the compliment, little boy. And now…"

Her tone turned icy.

"Die."

With a graceful bow of mock gratitude, Mature suddenly lunged. Heaven's Glide activated, and her crimson energy surged toward Qin Ming.

"Flattery?" she sneered mid-attack. "Flattery won't save you!"

Mai and Mary turned pale. They gritted their teeth, ready to jump into the fray despite the futility.

But Qin Ming raised a hand, stopping them.

He sat down, glaring at the incoming attack without moving.

As Mature's hand closed around his throat, Qin Ming braced himself for the killing blow.

Yet… it didn't come.

Mature froze, holding him by the neck. She examined him closely, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

Why?

Why did she feel so reluctant to kill him?

The infamous Ruthless Beauty, known for her cold-blooded efficiency, now hesitated before delivering the final strike.

Her fingers loosened slightly as an inexplicable warmth spread through her chest.

She took a step back, rubbing her face as if to dispel the strange heat rising in her cheeks.

What was wrong with her?!

Realization dawned, and her crimson eyes widened in shock.

She leapt backward, creating distance between herself and Qin Ming, as if she'd touched a flame.

From a safe distance, she stared at him with disbelief.

"Why do I feel… drawn to him?!"

Her mind raced. She was no stranger to flirtation or compliments. As a high-society secretary, she'd heard it all before.

But this scruffy, half-dead man…

He triggered something in her.

The answer lay in the shimmering effect of an item Qin Ming had activated earlier.

Radiant Silver Consumable: Certificate of Honor from Parcy Village! Activated!

+300 Favorability Points!

At this moment, Mature's favorability toward Qin Ming had skyrocketed to 401 points—Confidant Level.

She might not understand why, but her cold heart was telling her one thing:

She couldn't bring herself to kill him.

(End of Chapter)