Chapter 271: The Pain Was Worth It
This was more than just pain; it was utter agony.
’Seriously, does body refinement have to be this brutal? Can’t it be just a little bit gentle?’
Pain, pain, pain...
’The pain of childbirth or getting kicked in the balls probably felt like child’s play compared to this.’
She was utterly spent, as if she’d just been pulled from the water, her clothes soaked through with sweat.
’Three minutes. Just three minutes, only 180 seconds. I just have to count to 180, and the pain will be over!’
But the pain scrambled her ability to count; it was so intense that even basic thought became impossible.
’Is this because I used a shortcut to get my Strength past 30? Whatever the reason, the balance is broken. The agony from this Body Refining Pill is on a completely different level from the Intermediate one.’
It was the kind of pain that made you wish you could pass out, only to be jolted awake again by the sheer intensity of it.
Ever since Faye Yardley had steeled her resolve to become strong, this was the first time the thought ’Someone save me, please save me’ had ever crossed her mind.
’Was that really three minutes?’
’F*cking felt more like three hours!’
As the pain receded like a tide, a euphoric lightness washed over her.
Gasping for breath, Faye Yardley was like a fish out of water, finally finding its way back to the sea.
She lay sprawled on the floor, not even flinching at the glistening puddle of sweat that had formed beneath her.
[Strength +2, Spirit +2, Agility +1, Constitution +1]
’What a massive haul. I almost died from the pain, but compared to these rewards, it was all worth it.’
[Server-wide Announcement: Congratulations to Veridia player Faye Yardley for getting All Attributes past 30, reaching the Third Tier and initiating the Third Tier era for all players. Veridia Reputation +1000, Personal Reputation +1000] x3
The dazzling server-wide announcement, repeated three times, stunned every Aquarian who had just returned to sea into silence.
Faye Yardley’s lips twitched. ’So the system isn’t even going to ask if I want to remain anonymous this time, huh.’
’Number one on the entire server!’
’I should be proud. So what if it’s not anonymous? Who’s going to find me in this vast ocean, anyway? Even if someone used an Invasion Card to try and assassinate me, I’m not afraid.’
Eamon and Cole Kensington also saw the dazzling fireworks of the announcement on the TV inside their cabin.
Ten minutes later, Faye Yardley had washed up, changed, and was once again sitting in the dining area, feasting.
The food she’d just eaten had been almost completely consumed as energy along with the Body Refining Pill.
"Sister!"
The door burst open and a familiar figure rushed inside.
"Willow? What are you doing back here?"
"Congratulations, Sister! I told my brother as soon as I heard the news, and then I came right back." Willow said immediately, "I’ll go make you something good to eat. You need some ingredients packed with energy."
Faye Yardley took a sip of her tea and gestured to the cup. "I’ve got this, so don’t worry. I’m perfectly fine."
’She still had plenty of golden petals in her storage. Making tea to replenish her energy wouldn’t be an issue.’
"By the way, has my brother’s group returned? Did you lose anyone?"
Willow Yardley pan-fried two large steaks for her, then sat down at her side. Her voice was a little downcast as she said, "An eight-year-old child and three of our members’ relatives didn’t make it back. They said the child died protecting two other, even younger kids. The two who were saved haven’t said a word since they got back. We gave them some sleeping pills yesterday. They hadn’t woken up by the time I left, but even in their sleep, they were restless."
Sigh...
Faye Yardley sighed. With a large group of people, things like this were completely unavoidable.
Still, considering how many people they had, their losses were relatively small.
It was unrealistic to expect to get through this without any casualties.
"Sister, hurry up and try this steak. My brother went out of his way to trade for this energy-rich meat. He also said not to worry about what’s going on over there; he’ll handle everything."
Faye Yardley grunted in acknowledgment, pulled the plate over, and dug in with her chopsticks.
’Even huddling together for warmth only serves to increase an individual’s chances of survival.’
’Everyone should have been mentally prepared for this kind of thing when they entered a world like this.’
’Those who were close to the deceased would inevitably be heartbroken, but Faye Yardley, naturally, was not one of them.’
So she didn’t dwell on it. She had asked, she had sighed, and now it was over.
After all, she had never even met them. It would be bizarre if she felt any attachment.
Her sigh was less for her teammates’ relatives and more for the eight-year-old child.
"Huh, what kind of beef is this? It’s actually really good."
"Mhm, it’s from a cow raised in my brother’s livestock pens. The calf itself was specially traded for some time ago," Willow Yardley continued. "I learned a lot about animal husbandry over there, too. I’ll go check on our livestock pens in a bit."
At the mention of her own livestock pens, Faye Yardley felt a pang of guilt. ’Hopefully, the poultry and animals in there haven’t starved to death yet.’
After Willow left, Faye Yardley continued to eat while she opened up their private group chat to check the messages.
She glanced at the member list. Good. No one was missing.
Wade Warren: The boss is already number one in the world. As a member of this group, I feel like I’m seriously dragging everyone down. So ashamed.
Bonnie Callahan: What’s the point of comparing yourself to the best? I don’t even dare to brag anymore. If I did, I’d be drowned in calls from every aunt and uncle I have.
Kyle Lewis: Guys, I think I’m becoming a terrible person. I heard from my dad that some people from his other family died... and I actually feel good about it. I even think he deserves it. If he hadn’t abandoned my mom, he wouldn’t be going through this pain right now.
Bonnie Callahan: That’s just human nature. Don’t think you’ve turned bad. Humanity was never all that great to begin with.
Wade Warren: I was just on the national channel reading the discussions about Veridia’s reputation. This might be leading to some kind of faction system. After all, everything has been mostly individual-based so far.
Leo Sloan: The truth is, most people have barely gotten their Attributes past 10. The unlucky ones don’t even have all four Attributes at 10 yet. If they start a faction event now... it would be fine if it’s just among us Aquarians. But if we’re up against the Otherkin, I’m afraid we’ll get crushed. Who knows how many people would vanish then.
Gavin Donovan: Boss, you’re incredible! Let’s see them get mad. I bet a lot of big-talkers are eating their words right now.
Wade Warren: @Pierce, can you sell me a Limb Regeneration Potion? My uncle was just crying his eyes out, begging for help. My cousin made it back, but he’s missing a leg.
Reading this, Faye Yardley frowned slightly but didn’t say anything. ’If a group member needed it for themselves, I’d even offer up one of my own potions to help. But a teammate’s cousin... forget it. He’s not dead, anyway. He can just wait for Mr. Pierce’s group to produce more.’
’I already gave half of the ones I got to my brother. Every single one I have left is precious.’
She stopped reading the group chat and switched to the national channel, where messages were flying by at an incredible speed.
Faye Yardley had finished both steaks and a large bowl of celery and fish ball soup by the time she found the information she was looking for.
It turned out someone really had entered the gates of Nightfall Citadel and just kept walking. He said that every time he stopped, a Smoke Person would approach and ask him what attraction he wanted to see...