Stronger with Crimson Modifier

The moment the thought appeared, Zhao Ying froze.

She didn’t understand why such a thought had suddenly crossed her mind.

She shook her head, trying to fling the absurd idea from her mind, but it was as if it had taken root and refused to be dislodged.

In that moment of turmoil, she felt a strange sensation from the utility pole beneath her palm.

She looked down and saw that her fingers, resting on the pole, had at some point applied a bit of pressure, their tips sinking deep into the hard concrete surface.

As her fingers tightened slightly.

CRUNCH—!

A soft scraping sound followed, and Zhao Ying’s pupils constricted.

She watched, wide-eyed, as the incredibly sturdy concrete utility pole crumbled like a soft pile of sand under her hand, five clear finger imprints easily gouged into its surface.

Concrete debris trickled from between her fingers, falling silently at her feet like grains of sand scattered by the wind.

She stared, stunned, her hand frozen in mid-air, the rough texture of concrete still lingering on her fingertips.

She had noticed this about her body last night when her physique was enhanced, but it hadn’t been this obvious.

If it weren’t for the five deep imprints clearly etched into the utility pole, reminding her that this was all real, she would have dismissed it as a hallucination.

This strength made her feel deeply uncomfortable.

It was as if all the once-solid objects around her had become much more fragile.

She could break them with the slightest carelessness.

Just then, a noise came from the distance.

She turned to look and saw several figures walking toward her through the misty rain.

Seeing this, Zhao Ying pushed her thoughts aside.

She quickly left the area, taking a roundabout path.

She headed home, planning to buy some groceries on the way.

Because she was trying to complete the system’s 20-kilometer running mission, she had now gone quite far out of her way.

Without even realizing it, she had run all the way from Zone F of the Lower City District, where her home was, to Zone D.

Compared to Zone F, which was dilapidated but still relatively orderly, Zone D seemed far more chaotic and dangerous.

The sides of the street were piled high with uncollected garbage, and the stench of rot filled the air, mingling with the smell of rain to create a nauseating odor.

Graffiti and broken billboards were everywhere, making the entire block look even more rundown.

From time to time, she could see punks gathered in twos and threes, taking shelter from the rain.

Some were squatting, others standing.

Their arms were covered in menacing tattoos, their builds were large, and their eyes held a fierce glint.

When the occasional passerby went by, the punks would shoot them provocative stares, sometimes even letting out a few malicious sneers.

Seeing this, Zhao Ying couldn’t help but quicken her pace.

However, just as she reached an intersection.

"Ding! As a Hunter, maintaining your body’s energy intake is also necessary."

The cold, mechanical voice of the system rang out in Zhao Ying’s mind.

"Mission Issued: Eat."

"Mission Requirement: Proceed to the restaurant 300 meters to your left. Your meal must include a mix of meat and vegetables, with a total caloric intake of over 10,000 calories."

"Please begin the mission within half an hour!"

Zhao Ying’s body stiffened, and her steps faltered.

At the same time, a sharp pang of hunger shot through her stomach, as if in response to the system’s command.

She frowned, her eyes quickly scanning the surroundings before locking onto a nearby restaurant.

A crooked neon sign hung over the restaurant, flashing the three words "Flavor of Ni."

A few young men stood at the entrance, shiny studs in their ears and cigarettes dangling from their lips, the smoke rising slowly in the rain.

A restaurant was a luxury in this part of the Lower City District; normally, Zhao Ying would never set foot in such a place.

The last time she’d eaten out was two years ago, when her older brother, Zhao Yao, got into a top middle school. To celebrate, her father, Zhao Tian, had splurged and treated the whole family to a meal.

Ordinarily, Zhao Ying couldn’t even imagine having the money to spend at a place like this.

But today was different.

She glanced down at the old, black watch on her wrist.

It displayed a string of numbers.

Her father, Zhao Tian, had given her money for a nice meal—something to do with Zhao Yao’s situation. That, combined with what she’d managed to scrimp and save herself, was enough to afford a meal here.

She thought of the penalty for failing the mission, and her heart tightened. She immediately started walking toward the restaurant.

Pushing open the heavy, reinforced door, she found the restaurant’s interior was a world away from the street outside.

Warm light spilled across the metallic-textured walls. The air was filled with the aroma of synthetic food mixed with the faint scent of spices.

An old-fashioned jukebox stood in the corner, playing a slow blues tune that echoed through the restaurant.

A transparent, holographic screen hung on the far wall, currently broadcasting the news. On it, an anchor was deadpan-reporting on a violent incident in the Lower City District.

Zhao Ying’s gaze swept quickly across the restaurant, taking in the few scattered customers.

The moment she pushed the door open, all their eyes shot toward her, filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

Zhao Ying felt a wave of unease and her fingers tightened slightly, but she quickly regulated her breathing and forced herself to calm down.

"Welcome! How many in your party?"

A server in a clean uniform greeted her with a smile.

"Just one."

Zhao Ying replied.

Finally, led by the server, she found a table by the window and sat down.

Outside, the rain was still falling. Water slid down the glass, blurring the view of the street.

The server handed her a paper menu. Zhao Ying took it, her eyes quickly scanning its contents.

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