Chapter 36: Seven-Day Training Preparation

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Seven-Day Training Preparation

Seraphina Sullivan stared coldly at the bracelet Corinne Joyce offered, her gaze as sharp as a blade.

She knew all too well what accepting this bracelet meant.

It meant becoming Corinne Joyce’s Substitute Puppet, taking all her damage until death.

The Talent was certainly powerful, but it was also incredibly vicious.

"Heh..." Seraphina chuckled, her voice dripping with undisguised scorn. "No way. Do you really think a cheap bracelet can make up for what you’ve done?"

Corinne Joyce gritted her teeth.

’Just wait until I turn Seraphina into my Substitute Puppet,’ she muttered inwardly. ’I’ll make her suffer then.’

Seraphina didn’t expose Corinne Joyce’s status as a Player. Now wasn’t the time to reveal that.

But she wouldn’t forget a single score that needed to be settled.

"You know, I should thank you," Seraphina said, forcing a brilliant smile. "If you hadn’t stolen that scumbag, I never would have seen his true colors."

Corinne Joyce’s fingers tightened abruptly, the metal chain of the bracelet digging deep into her palm.

She hated Seraphina’s nonchalant attitude more than anything, as if nothing in the world mattered to her.

"You’d better not show your face in front of me again." Seraphina turned and walked toward the community gate, her voice drifting back lightly. "Otherwise... I can’t guarantee what I’ll do."

Corinne Joyce stood frozen, staring daggers at Seraphina’s retreating back, the venom in her eyes almost tangible.

Her carefully planned reunion had been shattered so casually.

And she hadn’t even achieved her goal.

"Why..." Corinne Joyce whispered through clenched teeth, her nails digging into her flesh. "Why do you always act so high and mighty!"

The rain soaked the hem of Corinne Joyce’s dress, and the bracelet left a bloody welt in her palm.

Ever since they were children, Corinne Joyce had hated how she always felt like a sidekick whenever she stood next to Seraphina.

Her grades, looks, popularity... none of it could compare to Seraphina’s. Even the boyfriend she had schemed so hard to steal couldn’t stop thinking about Seraphina.

"Since you won’t be my substitute..." A twisted smile suddenly appeared on Corinne Joyce’s face. "Then I’ll just find someone else to deal with you."

She pulled out her phone and found a number saved under "Chandler."

He was a Player she had met in the last instance, a desperado who would do anything for profit.

Besides, she had saved his life in that instance, and he had promised her a favor.

"Yeah?" The call connected, and a gruff male voice came through. "What’s up?"

"Chandler, you said last time that since I saved you, you’d do one thing for me? Does that promise still stand?" Corinne Joyce’s voice was sickeningly sweet.

There was silence on the other end, then he said, "Name it!"

"Help me get rid of someone..."

After hanging up, Corinne Joyce glanced one last time at the window of Seraphina’s apartment before turning and disappearing into the rain.

She casually tossed the bracelet into a storm drain by the road, and it was quickly washed away by the murky rainwater.

Meanwhile, Seraphina, now back home, stood at her window, thoughtfully watching the direction where Corinne Joyce had disappeared.

She knew this "old friend" all too well.

Corinne Joyce was the type who would never give up until she got what she wanted.

’Looks like I need to prepare ahead of time...’ Seraphina materialized a Silver Needle, twirling it deftly between her fingertips.

The rain outside grew heavier, the rivulets of water snaking down the glass like some ominous premonition.

’Even Corinne Joyce has become a Player. It seems there will be more and more Players entering the Disaster Game. No wonder Justin Brooks and the others are conducting a thorough population check.’

Seraphina began sorting the supplies she had purchased, putting them away neatly.

There were seven days until the next instance opened, and she had to make full use of this precious buffer period.

In the following days, she strictly followed the training regimen she had created for herself.

Every morning, she woke up at six o’clock sharp and began with half an hour of physical training.

Push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. Although the [Body Transformation Pills] had given her a Speed Enhancement, her underlying physical constitution had also been strengthened, allowing her to endure more intense exercise.

"Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine... one hundred!" Seraphina gasped, finishing her last set of push-ups. Sweat dripped from her chin onto the yoga mat.

She wiped her sweat and picked up a wooden staff she had placed nearby.

’Next is swordsmanship practice...’

Facing a target on the wall, she practiced her thrusting motions over and over.

After that came live combat practice.

Her [Quick Sewing] Skill condensed into the Silver Needle Sword in her hand, which became a silver stream of light. Every thrust tore through the air with a sharp whistle.

Thanks to her speed bonus, her thrusts were so fast they almost left afterimages.

’Women lack raw power, so I have to compensate with speed and precision.’ Seraphina adjusted her stance in the mirror, ensuring every strike could hit a vital point.

After lunch was time for theoretical study.

Seraphina diligently studied a firearms manual she had downloaded, using a broom as a makeshift rifle to practice her shooting stance.

Although she had weapons from Nicholas Jensen in her Space, they were useless if she didn’t know how to use them.

’Safety, aim, breath control...’ she muttered to herself, her finger mimicking the motion of pulling a trigger.

In the evenings, she would study survival guides and tactical videos, taking detailed notes.

Sometimes she would even study a human anatomy model, researching which parts of the body were most vulnerable to a fatal blow.

’If I could coat the Silver Needle Sword with poison... it would be easier to finish off enemies,’ Seraphina mused. ’It’s worth a try, but I don’t have any poison on hand. I’ll need to collect some next time.’

On the evening of the seventh day, Seraphina stood before a mirror, inspecting the results of her week of training.

Faint muscle definition was now visible on her once-slender arms, and her reaction speed was faster than before.

Most importantly, she could now precisely control every ounce of Power in her Silver Needles.

"It’s not enough," she told her reflection. "But at least... my chances of survival are a little higher."

Outside the window, the downpour continued unabated.

Seraphina put away her training equipment, double-checked the gear she had prepared, and stored it all in her Space.

Tomorrow was the day a new instance would open, and no one knew what it would be.

BANG! BANG!

The sudden knock at the door made Seraphina frown.

The storm had been raging for days, causing severe flooding in the city. She had remained shut in, focusing solely on preparing for the upcoming instance.

"Sullivan, are you home?" a familiar voice called from outside.

Seraphina peered through the peephole and saw it was Miss Webb from next door.

Justin Brooks’s mother.

She opened the door cautiously, but left the security chain on.

"Miss Webb, is something wrong?"

Susan Webb had an anxious look on her face. "Oh, Sullivan, this rain just won’t stop. Everyone in the community chat group is saying this is a rainstorm disaster and that we should all hurry and stock up on supplies. I thought I’d ask you to come with me so we can go to the supermarket and grab some things. Everything is being rationed now. If we don’t buy something, I’m afraid we won’t have anything to eat."

A flicker of movement in Seraphina’s eyes was the only sign of the rapid calculations running through her mind.