Lin Fan had been trekking across the Martian wasteland for several hours. His C-grade physique granted him greater adaptability to the harsh environment, yet the prolonged journey still exacted a heavy toll. He skillfully avoided several mutated creature nests and gave wide berth to a few raider patrols. The Martian night, fraught with peril, was nonetheless filled with a burgeoning sense of power within Lin Fan.
Just as he was about to find a place to rest, a sudden burst of gunfire and a girl's scream echoed from the distance. Lin Fan's heart stirred. While he knew that meddling in the wasteland often led to trouble, that single scream made it impossible for him to ignore.
He swiftly concealed himself, moving stealthily towards the source of the sound. In a canyon eroded by wind and sand, he witnessed a scene that ignited a furious rage within him.
Three heavily armed raiders had cornered a girl, clad in a tattered protective suit, pushing her to the brink of despair. She appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen, and though her face was smudged with dirt and blood, her delicate features were still discernible. She clutched an old laser pistol, but it was clearly out of ammunition, leaving her to resist with desperate futility.
"Little beauty, don't struggle! Come with us willingly, and we'll make sure you live like a queen!" A grinning lead raider sneered, his energy whip cracking sparks in the air.
The girl's eyes were filled with terror and hopelessness. She knew what fate awaited her in the hands of these raiders. She clutched a worn backpack tightly to her chest, her only possession.
Witnessing this, Lin Fan's anger could no longer be suppressed. He recalled the bullied and helpless on Earth, and his own past powerlessness. Now, he possessed strength, and he could no longer stand idly by.
[Quest Issued: Wasteland Rescue]
[Objective: Defeat all raiders and rescue the trapped girl.]
[Reward: Origin Energy points +150, Girl's Favorability (Unknown effect)]
"Favorability?" Lin Fan paused for a moment, but the immediate situation pulled him back to reality. He no longer hesitated, his figure darting out from behind the rocks like a phantom.
"Get lost!"
With a furious roar, Lin Fan activated Origin Shockwave. A blue energy wave surged forth, directly slamming into the lead raider. The raider, completely unprepared for the sudden appearance, was hit head-on by the energy wave. He screamed, his body sent flying backward, crashing heavily against the canyon wall, his fate unknown.
The remaining two raiders were aghast. They immediately swung their weapons towards Lin Fan, firing wildly. Lin Fan moved with agile grace, his C-grade physique and basic combat techniques allowing him to easily evade the laser beams. Simultaneously, he activated his Origin Energy Shield, deflecting several stray shots.
He plunged into their midst, using both fists and feet. Each punch carried the explosive force of Origin Energy, each kick the heavy impact of Python's Resilience. The raiders were like paper in front of him, utterly unable to resist. In mere moments, the two raiders were left with broken bones and collapsed on the ground.
The girl watched, dumbfounded, as everything unfolded before her. She had never seen such a powerful person. He was like a war god descended from the heavens, effortlessly dispatching enemies she couldn't possibly fight.
Lin Fan approached the girl, his killing intent receding. He tried to make his voice sound as gentle as possible: "Are you alright?"
The girl stared at him blankly, her eyes filled with the terror of her near-death experience and a hint of unbelievable adoration. She shook her head, clutching her backpack tightly, her body still trembling slightly.
"Thank you… thank you…" The girl's voice was barely a whisper.
Lin Fan noticed the backpack she clutched and her worn but clean protective suit, which was distinctly different from the typical raiders or wanderers of the wasteland. He guessed she might be from a settlement.
"What's your name? Where are you from?" Lin Fan asked.
The girl hesitated, seemingly assessing whether Lin Fan was trustworthy. Finally, she softly replied, "My name is Emily… I'm from Steel Bastion."
"Steel Bastion?" Lin Fan's heart lifted. That was exactly where he was headed. The system's quest reward, the girl's favorability, seemed to be connected to this.
[Quest complete! Gained Origin Energy points +150. Girl Emily's Favorability increased: Friendly.]
"I'm also going to Steel Bastion," Lin Fan told Emily. "If you don't mind, we can travel together."
Emily's eyes flashed with surprise. In the wasteland, encountering someone so powerful and willing to help her was an incredible stroke of luck. She nodded, softly saying, "Okay… Thank you, Lin Fan."
Lin Fan smiled faintly. He knew that this journey to Steel Bastion would no longer be solitary. And Emily's appearance might bring him more unexpected opportunities.