"I'm very good at it!"
Chen Shi froze.
His eyes widened.
He looked at the desperate man.
Then at his own reflection in the window.
Wait a minute.
Is this guy... imitating me?
Trying to copy the 'Simp Strategy'?
Bold.
Very bold.
But...
Does he know the first rule of boot cleaning?
It's not about the cleaning.
It's about the people who clean it.
Lady Cecilia looked down.
Her expression... confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"Dust?"
She lifted her pristine white heel.
"My shoes are spotless."
The man gritted his teeth.
Sweat pouring down his face.
If that pretty boy Chen Shi can do it...
I can do it better!
I am a Professor of Anatomy!
A genius in my field!
That Chen Shi is trash compared to me!
Just a lucky gigolo!
"Let me show you true devotion!"
He dropped to his knees.
Pulling out a silk handkerchief.
He lunged toward her foot.
FWOOSH.
He didn't even touch the leather.
A wave of black, visible Aura exploded from Cecilia's skin.
Like invisible acid.
"AHHHH!"
The scream was cut short.
His skin bubbled and melted.
Flesh evaporated into black smoke.
Muscles disintegrated.
Clatter.
In one second.
A clean, white skeleton collapsed on the polished floor.
The skull rolled away.
Still holding the silk cloth in its bony fingers.
Cecilia stepped back.
Frowning slightly.
She kicked the skull aside.
"Baffling."
"Poor thing."
"Madness must be contagious today."
Hiss.
The entire gym sucked in a cold breath.
The temperature dropped to absolute zero.
Realization hit them like a truck.
The Dragon Country stream exploded.
[Hahahaha!]
[Bro thought he was Him!]
[Copying the exam answers but writing his name wrong!]
[Look at yourself in the mirror first!]
[We got used to Brother Chen flirting with Annie...]
[We forgot S-Rank ghosts are walking nukes!]
[It's not that ghosts are friendly.]
[It's that Chen Shi is built different!]
[His body can withstand the aura!]
[Dragon Country Eternal!]
But the foreign stream refused to accept it.
[Whatever!]
[That guy was weak!]
[Chen Shi is just lucky!]
[He has some weird resist stat!]
[If a real Awakened tries it...]
[They can withstand the aura and get the girl!]
[Look!]
[Jason is moving!]
[He is an A-list movie star!]
[And he cleared the 'Midnight Subway'!]
[He has an Awakened Shield!]
[He will show Chen Shi how it's done!]
[Go Jason!]
[Show them the charm of a Western Hero!]
Jason stepped out from the crowd.
Smoothing his slicked-back blonde hair.
He struck a pose.
The classic "Movie Poster Hero" stance.
Wink.
He shot a charming glance at the female players.
"Oh my god! It's Jason!"
"He's so handsome!"
"Save us, Jason!"
"Show that ghost what a real man is!"
Jason smirked confidently.
A faint golden light shimmered around his body.
[Awakened Skill: Charismatic Shield]
He walked toward the giantess.
His steps measured. Elegant.
"That fool..."
"He didn't understand finesse."
"But I..."
"I am an expert in handling... heavy machinery."
He stopped three meters away from Lady Cecilia.
Flashing a dazzling, million-dollar Hollywood smile.
"My Lady."
"Allow me to offer my services."
Lady Cecilia frowned.
Her perfectly manicured eyebrows knitted together.
A look of mild, confused disgust.
She didn't move. She just stared.
Chen Shi covered his mouth.
Shoulders shaking.
Idiot.
Absolute clown.
I cleaned Annie's shoes because she ORDERED me to.
It was a test of submission and loyalty.
You walking up to a stranger and asking to lick her feet?
That's just perversion without context.
And without my 'Special Constitution'...
You are just a shiny skeleton in waiting.
He laughed so hard he lost control.
Swish.
His loose jacket swung open.
Revealing the secret he had hastily tucked away.
The "Dragon Root".
Pinned vertically against his stomach by his belt.
Straining against the thin shirt fabric.
Like a trapped python trying to escape.
Ferocious.
Veiny.
Throbbing with "Respect".
Elena turned to him.
Ready to scold him for laughing at a dying man.
"Hey, show some respec—"
Her words died in her throat.
Her eyes locked onto It.
Pupils trembling.
Earthquake.
The sheer... verticality.
The aggression.
The visible outline of the "head" pressing against his shirt.
Elena's face went blank.
Then exploded into red.
She immediately squatted down.
Burying her face in her hands.
Shoulders shaking.
"I didn't see anything..."
"I didn't see anything..."
"Why did it... look at me?"
"Come on! Even in movie there isn't a stuff like that!"
...
Jason took a deep breath.
Adjusting his tie.
"Activate."
Hum.
A dazzling, golden film covered his entire body.
Like a layer of liquid sunlight.
[Awakened Skill: Hero's Halo]
[Effect: Defense +300%, Charisma +50%, Aura Resistance +200%]
"Perfect."
He felt the power surging.
He walked forward.
Entering the 5-meter death zone around Lady Cecilia.
Sizzle.
The air distorted.
The golden shield sparked violently.
Like metal touching a high-voltage line.
Jason's smile stiffened.
Heavy.
So heavy.
The air pressure around her was like walking through solid lead.
But he was a professional.
He forced his legs to move.
He knelt down on one knee.
Graceful. Like a knight proposing to a queen.
He pulled out a premium silk cloth.
Reaching for the massive, white high heel.
Zzzzt.
The moment his hand got close to her foot...
His shield screamed.
Sparks flew, singeing his expensive cuffs.
He gritted his teeth.
Veins popping on his forehead.
Forcing his hand to make contact.
Rub. Rub.
He started to polish the leather.
Desperately.
"See?"
"I'm doing it!"
"I'm touching her!"
He glanced at the camera.
Trying to maintain his cool image.
But his hand was shaking uncontrollably.
Then.
Greed took over.
He remembered Chen Shi massaging Annie's legs.
"If I go further..."
"The audience will go crazy!"
"I will surpass him!"
He reached up.
Trying to touch the pale, exposed skin of her ankle.
BANG.
His hand hit an invisible wall.
Hard. Cold. Unyielding.
He pushed.
But the air itself rejected him.
Crack.
A spiderweb fracture appeared on his golden shield.
Right in front of his face.
The S+ Rank corruption was eating his skill alive.
"No..."
"It can't end like this!"
He looked up at Lady Cecilia.
Hoping for a reaction.
A blush?
A smile?
Anything to acknowledge his existence!
But Lady Cecilia just looked down.
Her face was a mask of absolute indifference.
Cold.
Bored.
Like a human watching a bug struggle in a jar.
Jason was sweating bullets.
Soaking his suit.
His shield was flickering like a dying lightbulb.
I can't lose!
I'm Jason!
I'm the protagonist!
How can I lose to that nobody Chen Shi?!
Panic overrode his sanity.
"I need to go deeper!"
"The Ultimate Move!"
He leaned forward.
Sticking out his tongue.
Aiming for the pale skin of her instep.
Pouring all his remaining energy into this final, desperate strike.
Suddenly.
The temperature dropped to absolute zero.
Under the white brim of her hat.
Lady Cecilia's bangs parted slightly.
Revealing eyes that glowed with a terrifying crimson light.
Predatory. Cruel.
"Filth."
She raised a hand.
A massive, black iron sledgehammer materialized out of thin air.
WHOOSH.
It came down like a meteor.
SPLAT.
Jason's head...
Disappeared.