Another gash bloomed on his body, slick and crimson.

The Ghost Leopard's attacks were giving Lin Luo a major headache. If it were a sustained assault, his current agility would allow him to at least barely parry and slowly search for an opening. But the Ghost Leopard was a true assassin—elusive, impossible to guard against, striking once and vanishing instantly without lingering!

Due to excessive blood loss, Lin Luo’s focus was fraying, his attention scattering.

Damn it! If this keeps up, I’ll bleed out before the fight even ends. Seriously, where’s the payoff?… Doesn't matter, I have to fight! If I do nothing, I die, and my spirit won't rest easy!

Great Ancestor of the Three Nothings, Great God of Spring Day, Divine Moe above… please, please bless your disciple with instant success and a killing blow!

Lin Luo drew a deep breath, ignoring the bothersome feline entirely. He tapped his toe on the ground, using the stored electrical impulse to launch himself forward like a cannonball toward Liu Ziwen.

They were only four or five meters apart. Lin Luo reached the man in less than a second, his right hand, crackling with residual electricity, lunging viciously for Liu Ziwen’s throat.

Level 2 electricity wasn't powerful; it held little offensive capability—the Misaka clones, relying solely on this power, couldn't form a real fighting force. But Lin Luo was different; by channeling his life force, he could achieve instantaneous explosive power. Even LV2 was enough for a fatal strike!

His fingers were centimeters from touching Liu Ziwen’s skin, but just then, Lin Luo caught a flicker of mocking amusement in the man's eyes—a look reserved for the already dead…

Wrong!

An alarm screamed in Lin Luo’s mind, but it was too late. A colossal force rebounded violently from Liu Ziwen’s body.

Ptoo!

Lin Luo violently spat out a mouthful of blood, sent flying backward like a projectile. Simultaneously, the Ghost Leopard, which had been lurking in the shadows, materialized, its massive jaws snapping toward his neck… No escape!

I’m going to die! Going to die! Going to die…

In his periphery, he could see the Leopard's fangs less than thirty centimeters from his throat, the cold, bloody scent washing over him. Death felt imminent, and in this moment, Lin Luo was consumed by fierce regret… Damn it, I haven't had a real in-depth exchange with the Railgun Master yet, haven't scattered my seed across the world—I can’t accept this!

Explode! Gene Lock… OPEN UP, DAMMIT!!

There was no surge, the Gene Lock remained sealed… The Ghost Leopard’s fangs crunched as they pierced his flesh. Luck was on his side, however; perhaps the biological currents within him had slightly skewed the attack’s aim. It didn't catch his throat but tore into his shoulder instead.

“Agh!”

A sound of pure agony escaped his lips. Just from the sound, Lin Luo knew his scapula was pulverized. Vermilion blood surged from the wound, dyeing half his face scarlet.

“Not dead yet? Good. You can witness your own despair firsthand.”

Liu Ziwen rose unsteadily, swaying as if he could barely remain upright, yet his eyes glowed with unnatural excitement. He began to shuffle step-by-step toward Mikoto…

Lin Luo’s throat convulsed, but no sound emerged. The Ghost Leopard had vanished again after its strike, likely dissipating because Liu Ziwen’s current state couldn't sustain it. It was the final blow, yet it was enough to render Lin Luo completely incapable of fighting.

He lay immobilized, forced only to watch…

Soon, Liu Ziwen reached Mikoto. He murmured an incantation, and instantly, the Beast Taming Tome hovered above her, casting a spectral glow that enveloped her entire form. Then, centered on her chest, a crystalline, snow-white object revealed itself.

It was Mikoto’s heart, and simultaneously, the World Heart anchored within her—the Heart of Kindness!

Drawn by the Beast Taming Tome, the World Heart began to slowly detach from Mikoto’s body, ascending toward the Tome… The girl herself, lost in unconsciousness, showed no reaction whatsoever.

“Hahahaha… The World Heart! The World Heart… So this is what it looks like! I finally have it! Greater power! A passage to higher worlds… Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

Liu Ziwen roared with laughter, his entire body trembling with unstoppable elation.

The World Heart? That’s the World Heart! No! I absolutely cannot let him take it! I have to stop him!

Lin Luo stared at the World Heart within Mikoto, his eyes wide open. It was flawless and pure, white as snow, radiating a singular, breathtaking beauty. Looking at it, Lin Luo felt a connection, a resonance along his very bloodline. Deep within his consciousness, the Contract Tome also vibrated faintly, recognizing the attraction!

Stop him! I must stop him!

Lin Luo bit his lower lip so hard that the flesh tore and bled profusely. He had to. Otherwise, his collapsing consciousness and the overwhelming tide of exhaustion would pull him under immediately…

If the World Heart was stolen by Liu Ziwen, not only would Mikoto die, but he would die too! Of course, even without that shared fate, he could never stand by and watch such a thing happen… But! What can I do? How can I save her?

Seeing the World Heart almost completely free of Mikoto’s body, Lin Luo went mad with urgency, simultaneously drowning in self-recrimination… Too arrogant, I was too arrogant! Thinking I was safe just because Mikoto was by my side—what an arrogant thought! I knew nothing, understood nothing. I had zero defense against Liu Ziwen. Just as he said, I was utterly foolish!

If I had been cautious from the start, probing his capabilities first, things wouldn't have come to this… Damn it!

This cursed body, MOVE! Contract Tome… Contract Tome, react, you bastard!!

Lin Luo screamed inwardly, and precisely at that moment, the familiar voice of the Contract Tome echoed again:

“Ding! Given the Host’s life is in critical danger, the Contract Tome automatically activates its hidden function. Host gains the skill—Divine Healing. This can repair the body by consuming a portion of life force and can be used on anyone. Note: The hidden function can only be activated once.”

“The Contract Tome senses the World Heart is about to separate from its core host. Automatic protective measures activated. Host gains the skill—Spatial Jump. Consumes 100 Life Force for a non-localized spatial leap, maximum distance 100 kilometers, maximum occupancy two persons. This skill can be used once per level.”

Divine Healing? Spatial Jump?

Lin Luo was shocked and thrilled. Though he didn't know the context, the Contract’s cold, mechanical voice sounded like heavenly music right now.

Without hesitation, Lin Luo targeted himself with Divine Healing.

“Host’s injuries are severe, requiring the consumption of 32 Life Force. Confirm use?”

…Confirm!

A warm sensation flooded his entire being, as if enveloped in holy light. Lin Luo’s wounds healed instantly, though he simultaneously felt a drain of vitality, leaving him slightly dizzy.

“Divine Healing complete. Host consumed 32 Life Force. Current remaining Life Force: 140 points.”

One hundred forty Life Force—enough to use Spatial Jump once!

Lin Luo clenched his jaw, hauled himself up from the ground, balled his fists, and charged toward Liu Ziwen with blistering speed…

“The World Heart… It’s mine! It’s all mine…” Liu Ziwen muttered ecstatically beside Mikoto, his entire attention glued to the snow-white World Heart, completely oblivious to his surroundings. At this moment, the World Heart had almost entirely separated from Mikoto’s body—thirty centimeters, no, only twenty-five centimeters left before the Beast Taming Tome could absorb it!

“LIU ZIWEN, AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!”

Suddenly, Liu Ziwen heard a voice saturated with pure rage. He instinctively snapped his head around. His pupils constricted—a fist was inches from his face.

Thwack!

The punch landed squarely on Liu Ziwen’s face. Even without electrical augmentation, this blow, fueled by righteous fury, sent him flying backward.

And with the loss of Liu Ziwen’s mental focus, the absorption process by the Beast Taming Tome was abruptly halted. It dissolved into a spectral glimmer and retreated back into Liu Ziwen’s body.

At the same instant, the World Heart retracted back into Mikoto’s form.

“Aaaargh! Lin Luo, you bastard! Why did you stop me, ah, damn it!” Liu Ziwen stumbled upright, roaring like a cornered dog as he charged Lin Luo.

Lin Luo watched him coldly, killing intent blazing in his eyes, but he knew this wasn't the time to fight. A man driven this mad wouldn’t even spare his own life; who knew what other hidden tactics he possessed.

Clutching Mikoto’s body securely, Lin Luo activated Spatial Jump immediately.

…The two of them vanished from the spot in an instant!

Liu Ziwen froze, then erupted in a furious roar. “Aaaargh! Lin Luo! You scoundrel! I will kill you! I swear I will kill you! The World Heart… Give me back my World Heart!”

Cough!

Having attained and then instantly lost his prize, Liu Ziwen’s emotional control shattered. The internal injuries flared up again, causing him to violently spew a massive mouthful of blood before he pitched straight forward and collapsed.

“The World Heart… Just a fraction away, and the World Heart would have been mine, why… why…”

(Desperately requesting recommendation tickets; if you can't vote, please click anyway. Thank you in advance.)