**Chapter 11: This Is... So Much Fun!**
In the first second, Lu Li swung the Buddha's head into the ghoul's waist, melting a chunk of flesh. The ghoul tried to trap Lu Li in a deadly hug. His mind was calm, the brain release enhancing his thought process. He analyzed the Buddha head's power and formed a battle plan.
In the second second, Lu Li dropped to avoid the ghoul's grasp, his legs wrapping around its right leg. Using a burst of strength, he twisted his body and lifted the Buddha's head. His abdominal muscles contracted as he sat up, slamming the Buddha head into the ghoul's left knee, melting it and causing the ghoul to collapse. The ghoul's waist began to regenerate, but Lu Li had already adjusted his plan.
In the third second, Lu Li positioned his left hand in front of him and bent his legs. His left leg stabilized him as his right hand clutched the Buddha's head. Lunging forward, the ghoul's grotesque tongue pierced Lu Li's left hand. He grabbed the tongue with his injured hand and smashed the Buddha head into the ghoul's mouth.
Time's up. Lu Li deactivated his muscle release. His body, unable to handle the strain, suffered multiple torn muscles, and his right hand and left leg bones fractured. Blood streamed from his nose, a side effect of the brain release's overclocking.
The ghoul's head smoked, white smoke with a burnt stench wafting up. The ghoul couldn't scream as the Buddha head melted its face. It collapsed, unable to regenerate its left leg or its tongue, now severed. Lu Li fell backward, landing painfully.
Ignoring the agony, Lu Li yanked out the ghoul's tongue, noting the black spreading from his left hand wound. Recalling the mutant ghoul's abilities, he knew this was the life pollution, turning him into a ghoul's minion.
He immediately controlled his body, closing off blood vessels to slow the spread. The infection had already taken most of his forearm. Seeing the Buddha head combating the ghoul's regeneration, Lu Li shook his head and pressed his left hand to the ground. Gritting his teeth, he forced his left arm muscles to release, snapping the infected forearm off at the joint.
With his arm limp, Lu Li bit down at the joint, severing the rest with his enhanced jaw strength. A small amount of blood stained his white teeth red. With the infected forearm severed, Lu Li trembled from the pain.
The marionette hurried up the stairs, the red tear on her face glowing brighter. Through her connection with the temple's artifact, she ignored the protective light and skipped much of the distance. She prayed fervently, "Please be safe. If something happens to him, what will happen to my master? But he's smart. He should be fine if he reaches the temple quickly."
Remembering how Lu Li had pieced together information from her fragmented words, she felt a bit relieved but pushed herself to move faster. She was almost there, almost able to secure the artifact to save her master.
The marionette's speed was partly thanks to the tear's material. Years ago, the old man had spent all his savings on premium materials to make the marionette, but it felt incomplete until he painted a tear on its face. The tear was made from a piece of high-quality cinnabar given by an old monk. This special material had awakened the marionette's intelligence. The monk, who founded the temple, had chipped off a piece of the artifact, using it to create the tear.
"I must save my master at any cost!" the marionette resolved, finally reaching the top and witnessing an unbelievable sight.
The mutant ghoul lay convulsing on the ground, the Buddha head embedded in its face, constantly regenerating and melting. The marionette knew it wouldn't last long, using up its stored energy.
But the shocking sight was Lu Li, sitting on the ground, his severed arm beside him. His head hung low, trembling.
"You're okay! Your injuries will heal once we're back in the real world. You might lose some flexibility, but…" the marionette approached, ready to console him, relieved he was alive. As long as he could secure the artifact, her master would be saved.
Lu Li looked up, making the marionette step back involuntarily. His face was covered in blood, but he was smiling, his expression one of pure excitement. Dressed in the red costume, he shivered with exhilaration.
"This is... This is so much fun!"
[TL: A true Psyco has been born! Interesting ...]
End of the chapter.