Norris leaped, barely dodging Karen’s swift pounce. His chest Mushroom Cannon fired, blasting her claw with a bang, spraying blood.
The recoil spun him midair, evading her follow-up. A crisp double jump shifted his trajectory.
Right then, Jida charged in sync, its head Scout Puffshroom popping up, clearing the cockpit entrance.
Norris slid inside, slotting Yellow Codex into the left arm shield’s groove.
Jida swung the Yellow Shield, blocking Karen’s next rush.
The Scout Puffshroom dropped back, fitting perfectly.
Karen, a wild Gold-tier werewolf, had racial advantages but no chance against fully armed Jida.
Fearing he’d kill her, Norris skipped the shoulder Resonance Cannon, relying on Yellow Shield’s top defense and Jida’s drill to dominate.
Finally, covered in cuts, Karen lay pinned under Jida, immobile.
Norris popped the Scout Puffshroom, peering at her helplessly. “Can we stop? Promise no chasing, and I’ll let you go.”
Karen didn’t reply, her wolf eyes burning hotter, panting. “Little Lizard… you’re that strong!”
Norris’s face fell, ducking back. As he floundered, Little Blue’s voice echoed via the Network. “Norris! Knock her out! Kill her if you want!”
Other wolves nodded, agreeing.
Such… wild customs…
No other way. Norris raised Jida’s left arm, slamming Yellow Shield on Karen’s head. She grunted, eyes rolling, and passed out.
Just then, dawn’s first light hit, bathing Jida and Karen. In the sunlight, her body visibly shrank, transforming.
“What’s… happening?!” Not just her—all wolves in the light shrank, their moonlit strength draining like a tide.
Plop—their loose pants fell.
Under dawn, twelve naked humanoids stood, with only wolf tails and ears left!
“You’re human!”
“You too… wait, not fully human!”
“My fur! My thick fur!”
Never seeing sunlight, the wolves hadn’t expected this. Without warm fur, the Far North’s cold hit hard!
Clutching Digging Puffshrooms, they scrambled back to the Stone Fortress.
Norris stared at the unconscious, human-formed Karen, head spinning. A real mess!
He hoisted her, rushed her to his mushroom hut, tossed in a warm Digging Puffshroom, and called it done for now.
[Did you regret saying no for a second?]
“Senior… don’t joke now!” Norris thanked his scales for hiding blushes. “What’s going on?!”
[Like vampires weakening in sunlight, low-strength werewolves lose most racial power, forced to a near-human base form.]
“That’s… so weird…”
[Sunlight Weakness (Lose Racial Stat Boost)]
A long-term effect—they wouldn’t revert until night.
Little Blue and the others panicked over their human-like looks, huddling and debating, terrified it was permanent.
But losing racial boosts just dropped them to average human stats for their tier. With proper gear, they’d still fight decently.
Werewolves and vampires weakened in sunlight, making demonkin’s stable performance across environments stand out!
Lin Jun didn’t care about their combat shifts—as long as their brains worked.
Still, he mused, maybe test if Sunstone light could force this “human shift” too…
Inanna’s mood wasn’t great lately.
Puffshroom Masters kept growing.
Today, she caught two commanding their Puffshrooms to fight, the crowd betting on winners for fun.
Her icy stare ended the absurd match, but she knew it was pointless.
Beyond her sight, those pure, lovable Puffshrooms still faced cruel treatment.
Puffshroom Masters reaped Mycelial Network and Puffshroom benefits without a shred of gratitude, abusing them… disgusting.
Another thing nagged her—she kept dreaming of her mother.
Did it mean she missed that faded figure?
On her wide bed, Inanna hugged her Knight Puffshroom No. 3, pushing away the day’s ugly images, drifting to sleep.
A grand, golden ballroom filled her dream.
Under sweet melodies, Puffshrooms twirled in pairs across the dancefloor.
In a stunning gown, Inanna gently held a Puffshroom’s mycelium tendril, guiding it through the shimmering floor.
Far off, servant-clad Puffshroom Masters wove through, pouring glowing mana potions from gold cups onto tired Puffshrooms’ caps.
All was dreamy and perfect.
Knock knock—
Mid-dance, heavy knocks broke the harmony.
A strange feeling stirred Inanna. She approached the massive door. It creaked open, revealing a pink-haired woman.
She’d seen this scene countless times in dreams, yet couldn’t grasp clear memories.
“Mother,” she whispered, “here for the ball?”
The woman didn’t answer.
Inanna hesitated, then invited her in.
Her Puffshroom’s tendril curled around her wrist, tugging back.
She smiled, patting its cap. “I’ll dance with you later.”
She broke free, opened the door wide, and took her mother’s hand to lead her in.
The moment their fingers touched, the woman gripped tight, her icy touch jolting Inanna, alarm bells ringing!
Her Puffshrooms sensed danger, rushing toward her!
The woman lifted her head.
Under pink hair, no face—just two deep, twisting black voids and a strange voice: “Finally… caught you!”
(End of Chapter)
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