[Main Quest: Main Quest – Clown Demon: Make the Hunters Cry]
[Objective: Eliminate the Demon Hunters]
[Status: Completed]
[Reward: 8000 Exp]
[Level Up: 5 → 7]
[Stat Points Gained: 10]
[New Skill Acquired: Demon's Grasp]
[Type: Active]
[Effect: Shadow arms erupt from the ground and grab enemies within a 5-meter radius. Enemies are bound for 5 seconds.]
[Cooldown: None]
[MP Cost: 50]
[Applying Penalty…]
[Overdrive Residue Detected]
[Paralysis Effect: 24 Hours]
Liu Yang's lips stretched in a big grin as he stared at the glowing screen. His chest was heaving, his breath short, but his eyes were full of joy. "Finally… finally some real rewards!"
But before he could laugh, his legs bent weird. His knees gave out.
His arms dropped heavy, like two grocery bags cutting into your fingers after a long. His whole body collapsed straight to the ground.
His cheek smacked the cold stone floor, his jaw half open. He tried to move a finger but nothing came, not even a twitch. His body was stiff, locked like iron chains held him down.
Only one sound slipped out, broken. Weak. "What the fu—" And then nothing. Silence. His eyes stuck half open, his breath slow and weak, his chest rising only a little. He felt like a broken doll dropped on the ground.
Blah Blah peeked out from behind the rock, one eye first, then the other, her lips trembling. When she saw Liu Yang hit the ground stiff, she gasped so loud the sound echoed in the cave.
Her legs started to wobble, and she rushed out, almost tripping, her skirt fluttering wild with each step.
Her chest bounced under the loose cloth, both soft oranges jiggling with every step forward, up and down, like they couldn't decide if they should follow her or run the other way.
She stumbled once, her hand pressing down on her skirt, but she didn't stop. She kept running until she reached him, falling to her knees beside his stiff body.
"Master! Master!" she cried, dropping to her knees beside him. Her hands hovered over his face like she didn't know whether to shake him or not.
Then her lips trembled, and words started spilling. "Oh Demon God… Master fell again. Every time he fights… he falls! It's… it's like a custom! Yes, that's it. Master's great custom—win the fight, then collapse dramatically. Wahhh, so noble! So cool!"
She pressed both palms together like she was praising a holy rite. "Other demons fight and keep standing, but Master… no, Master makes the ground his throne! Yes, Master rules lying down!"
Blah Blah's eyes filled with watery shine, her hands clutched tight against her chest. She leaned over him, her voice trembling like she was giving a speech at his funeral.
"Ohhh Master… you used all your strength just to save me… you didn't even care how much you will suffer. Such noble sacrifice… for me…"
Her lips quivered, and she pressed her forehead down near his arm. "Master, you always stand for me, you always use your strength full for me. Why? Why do you care so much for me? I am your wall, remember? You should have waited for me to join. I was just waiting for your signal to join… why didn't you give me a signal?"
She sniffled, her shoulders shaking, looking like she was about to burst into tears.
Inside his stiff body, Liu Yang's soul was screaming.
"Signal?! What signal?! You were hiding your butt behind a rock like a scared rabbit! What was I supposed to do, send fireworks?!"
He wanted to roll his eyes, wanted to scream at her, but his mouth didn't move.
"Great. Perfect. First harem member: certified rock-hugger, butt-shaker, and now giving me a TED talk while I'm paralyzed. Kill me. Just kill me again."
Inside Liu Yang's head, trapped in his stiff body, his eyes screaming while his mouth couldn't move.
System…
[Yes, Host?]
"Can you also make me deaf in this paralysis penalty? Please. I beg you."
[Apologies, Host. Current patch does not support "Selective Girlfriend Mute Mode."]
[But if you want, I can increase her voice volume by 200% so you don't miss any detail.]
Liu Yang's soul cried blood inside. It was not just crying, it was like blood poured from his mouth, thick and heavy, dripping down his chin.
Inside, his soul was rolling on the ground, smashing its head into walls, crying blood and snot and regret. Full meltdown mode.
Tears ran like rivers, his eyes stretched wide like they were going to pop out. He could not scream, he could not move, only suffer.
"Twenty-four hours of penalty, great… my body is a log, my ears are wide open, and she won't shut up. Oh System, please, play some music, play anything… drown me out…"
His lips didn't move, but in his head he was wailing harder.
"System… tell me… is it too late? Too late to change the novel title? Forget 'Sorry Hero, Your Harem Is Now Mine.' Make it… 'Sorry Hero, I'm Just Here for the Tutorial.' Yeah. That fits."