The "tin can" that had been sent flying with a slap struggled to its feet from the snow once more. A savage, tyrannical light ignited in Slad'ran's huge, bronze-bell eyes.
It let out a roar that seemed to shatter the valley, then stomped forward, the very ground trembling with each step.
It charged toward Lin Xiyue, its massive spiked mace raised high, ready to smash the little insect who had repeatedly provoked it into a bloody pulp!
"Xiyue! Dodge!"
Lin Qingyue's heart clenched. She instinctively waved her staff, casting a protective shield over her sister.
Lin Xiyue had barely caught her breath when the colossal shadow blotted out the sky, descending upon her.
She gritted her teeth, ignoring the numbness in her arms, and threw all her strength into a desperate roll to the side.
BOOM—!!!
The massive mace grazed her back as it slammed into the frozen earth, blasting a terrifying crater.
A shockwave mixed with shattered rock and ice shards struck Lin Xiyue like an invisible wall.
She had dodged the fatal direct hit, but the violent aftershock launched her into the air.
The shield around her shattered instantly, dissolving into a shower of light particles.
A spray of hot blood erupted in mid-air as she crashed heavily into the snow over ten meters away. She felt as if the impact had violently displaced her internal organs.
"You just don't quit, do you?!"
Seeing Slad'ran about to pursue again, Lin Qingyue looked at her battered and miserable sister. Her heart ached with pity, but a nameless rage surged straight to her head.
Chip damage?
Can't break its defense?
That's just because the firepower isn't strong enough!
Today, I'll make you, you stupid troll, remember this: the first thing we Liyue people say when we negotiate is, "I will have order!"
With a thought, she prepared to retrieve the ultimate trump card from her System Space: the [Zhongli Trial Card].
One Planet Befall for a physical transcendence!
However, just as she raised her staff, instinctively intending to cast a Healing Spell to stabilize her sister's health, something unexpected happened!
The moment the pink healing light landed on her sister, a crisp ding echoed in her mind, and an invisible switch was instantly flipped.
The next second, a cheerful BGM—completely out of place on this grim battlefield—suddenly blared through the sky!
The lively, bouncing melody seemed to belong not to a battlefield, but to a sun-drenched afternoon garden.
Lin Qingyue's heart sank.
You've got to be kidding me! You're pulling a stunt like this at a life-or-death moment? Please, don't let it be something useless!
[Melody Beyond the Strings triggered! BGM: "Let's Go, Crimson Knight!" (Genshin Impact - Klee). Costume Character: Klee.]
Immediately after, a blinding red light completely enveloped Lin Qingyue!
Above her head, the iconic massive virtual screen unfurled once more, displaying gilded characters:
"Klee: Hahahaha, I can blow everything up!!!"
Next, a well-produced yet bizarrely styled promotional video began to play:
On the screen, a 2D anime version of Lin Qingyue, dressed in a red dress, ran joyfully through a sea of flowers. She casually tossed a round object, and the next second, the entire flower field exploded into the sky.
The scene shifted. She ran through a crowd of various monsters, casually dropping a few more round objects. The monsters were instantly blown to smithereens.
Finally, the camera froze on the 2D Lin Qingyue, hugging a massive red bomb with rabbit ears, flashing a bright, innocent smile.
Following this, a rough, hearty male voice belted out the lyrics:
"Innocent and cute, kawaii! That's our Klee!"
Lin Xiyue, Su Wan, and Xia Lian: "...Pfft!"
The light faded, revealing Lin Qingyue's new appearance to everyone.
She wore a delicate little dress, predominantly red and adorned with clover patterns. On her back was a small brown leather bag filled with strange gadgets. On her head sat a large red witch's hat, its brim decorated with feathers and roses.
The System had thoughtfully altered the clothes to fit her perfectly, but the outfit was still unmistakably designed for a child. Stretched taut over her voluptuous, bombshell figure, the visual effect could only be described as bizarre.
The fabric strained against her impressive curves, and the small brown bag, meant to be cute, now looked like a miniature keychain hanging off her back.
An indescribable, absurdly yet strangely alluring "mature woman in oversized children's clothing" shockwave swept through the onlookers.
Then, in a crisp, childlike voice completely at odds with her usual mature tone, she declared:
"I can blow everything up!"
"Sis, the Heroic Spirit you summoned... is a little girl?"
Lin Xiyue, having just scrambled to her feet, completely forgot her injuries and couldn't help but comment.
"That children's outfit on you is practically a crime. Just looking at it makes me feel suffocated."
"So flashy," Su Wan muttered, instinctively pursing her lips in disapproval. Yet her gaze lingered on the absurd outfit for a few extra seconds, drawn in against her will.
Raised from childhood to be poised and proper in both manner and speech, she had never imagined that someone could wear such... utterly unrestrained clothing in front of so many people.
This complete disregard for others' opinions stirred a faint, previously unnoticed flicker of envy within her.
Meanwhile, Xia Lian's face had turned beet red.
Just looking at Lin Qingyue's outfit from a distance sent a wave of intense secondhand embarrassment crashing over her, making her wish she could dig a hole in the snow and bury herself.
But her unwavering professionalism forced her to steady her nerves, her eyes remaining locked on the distant enemy.
The Troll Shaman, on the other hand, was completely captivated by the sudden BGM and the bizarre animation playing on the screen above its head.
With its mouth agape, it stared blankly upward, completely baffled by this strange new magical ritual.
In that moment of distraction, Xia Lian seized her opportunity.
Swish! Swish!
Two silent arrows shot out in quick succession.
The first struck the Shaman's hastily erected shield, sending cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
The second followed immediately, piercing through the unstable shield and straight into the Shaman's shoulder!
The Shaman shrieked in pain, finally snapping out of its shock. It glanced around in terror.
"System, am I cosplaying as Klee, or as her mother, Lady Alice?"
Having endured social death multiple times, Lin Qingyue's skin was now as thick as a fortress wall. She even had the mental space to complain internally.
[Ding! System Notification: Lady Alice does not dress like this!]
The System's reply was, as always, brutally honest and soul-crushing.
"Fine, you win."
Lin Qingyue gave up the struggle.
-
Meanwhile, in the center of the mountain pass.
"Traitor! Is this all you've got?!"
Mograss was locked in a fierce battle with Aeldara. Though he was being suppressed, he managed to hold on for the moment, relying on his exquisite demonic armor and recently enhanced body.
But just then, the cheerful BGM and the soaring red light made his heart leap.
He instinctively turned his head.
When he saw the massive virtual screen and the arrogant title displayed upon it, the Soul Fire burning beneath Mograss's helmet flickered violently!
That screen!
He recognized it!
It was that very screen!
The one summoned by that pink-haired priest who had carried a bizarre alchemical contraption and riddled his elite troops with holes!
She's here too?!
The memory of the terror inflicted by the "Sky AK-47" flashed through Mograss's mind, and the battle-axe in his hand involuntarily slowed by half a beat.
In a battle of masters, a single moment decides life and death.
"You dare lose focus in the middle of a fight?"
Aeldara's icy voice echoed in his ear.
Mograss snapped back to his senses in horror, only to see a silver sword flash—so fast it was almost a blur—breaching his axe's defense and magnifying infinitely before his eyes!
Puchi—!
The silver Knight Sword pierced precisely through the gap in his shoulder armor, shattering his collarbone. The chilling Power of Death and Frost surged into his body, relentlessly tearing at his Soul Core!
"Ugh-AAAAAHHH—!"
Mograss let out a roar of excruciating pain. A massive burst of power erupted from him, forcefully knocking Aeldara back.
He himself stumbled several steps backward before collapsing to one knee. Clutching the wound that was steadily leaking black energy, his Soul Fire flickered erratically—a clear sign of a grievous injury.
He shot a venomous glare at Lin Qingyue in the distance, then turned his gaze back to Aeldara, whose breathing remained steady.
He knew he had already lost.
-
Meanwhile, the "hero" responsible for all this, Lin Qingyue, was currently staring down at her own fair, slender hands.
[Bonus Effect: Can use "Kaboom!," "Jumpy Dumpty," and "Sparks 'n' Splash." During the duration, Fire Elemental Affinity is greatly increased.]
[First time triggering Klee's Disguise. Drawing additional reward...]
[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained Klee's passive: Lucky Clover! Luck +1]
"Huh? Luck is an actual stat?"
[Ding! Luck is a hidden attribute. It is not displayed on the class panel and can only be revealed through special means.]
"Alrighty then!"
Even in this frozen wasteland, she could feel the surrounding Fire elements buzzing with unprecedented activity, as if awaiting her command at any moment.
"Hey! Big guy!"
Lin Qingyue looked up at the Troll Chieftain, Slad'ran, who was still stunned by the sudden turn of events.
Due to the disguise, her voice now carried a crisp, childlike tone, which clashed bizarrely with her mature, elegant face and figure.
Slad'ran stared at the little figure whose entire aura had abruptly changed, its massive eyes filled with confusion.
It couldn't understand why this tiny human had suddenly changed her clothes and her presence so completely.
But its beastly instincts screamed that this "little red-clad figure" was extremely dangerous!
"Look over here! I've got something cool to show you!"
Lin Qingyue flashed a friendly (nuclear) smile.
Mimicking the little girl in red from her memories, she reached into the small backpack on her back and pulled out a round, bright red... bomb? It even had a pair of rabbit ears.
[Jumpy Dumpty!]
The skill's name automatically surfaced in her mind.
Without a moment's hesitation, Lin Qingyue hurled the "Jumpy Dumpty" in her hand straight at Slad'ran.
The red bomb traced a cheerful arc through the air, bouncing playfully before landing at Slad'ran's feet.
"Guh?"
Slad'ran lowered its head curiously, staring at the little object bouncing harmlessly by its feet.
Then, it saw the "little red-clad figure" make a silly face, spread her arms like an airplane, and shout:
"Da-da-da—"
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted, the violent shockwave kicking up a blizzard of ice and snow, forming a small, crimson mushroom cloud!
The raging Fire elemental energy instantly engulfed Slad'ran's massive body