[Ding! You've killed a one-star awakener and earned 1000 experience points.]
Yuto Saito's lips curled into a satisfied smile as the system prompt echoed in his mind. The experience boost from killing an awakened far surpassed that of slaying ordinary zombies.
A thrill coursed through him. The more Awakened I can find, the faster I'll grow.
His attention shifted to Ding Li's lifeless body, noticing the ring on the man's finger. Yuto knelt, slipping it off with ease. A quick scan revealed its contents: 13 white crystals, a storage ring, and some food—valuable finds.
Ruoruo, ever observant, pointed out, "Those two have rings as well."
Without hesitation, Ruoruo removed the rings from the other two fallen thugs, revealing a cache of materials inside. Yuto's smile widened. "13 spar, 4 rings. Not bad at all."
Ni Shuang's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Xiao Tutu, we might actually have enough to upgrade the floating island today!"
Yuto nodded. "We're close. With these 13 crystals, we now have 98 total. We need 103 to upgrade before the energy deduction at 6 PM. Just five more spar to collect."
Ni Shuang furrowed her brow. "So, after upgrading the island, we'll need three crystals a day to maintain the protective barrier?"
Yuto affirmed with a nod. "That's right."
Natto chimed in, counting on her fingers. "With 98 spar now, we just need 5 more. Easy."
Yun Yun smiled confidently. "Let's find a few zombies on our way back. We'll collect the rest in no time."
Yuto glanced at his watch. "There's no rush. We can upgrade once we return."
Orange tapped the door lightly. "It's safe. You can come out now."
The door creaked open, and Yu Qi stepped into the light. Her eyes, wide and grateful, flickered with cautious curiosity as she scanned the group that had saved her. Yuto studied her for a moment, feeling an odd sense of recognition. Where have I seen her before?
Before he could place her, Mina's face lit up. "Wait… are you Yu Qi?"
Yu Qi's gaze shifted to Mina, and she asked softly, "You know me?"
Mina chuckled. "I've seen your TV series. You're pretty popular!"
Yu Qi's cheeks flushed with a mix of pride and relief. For the first time that day, she felt a sense of safety, as if she had finally found an ally. She stood tall, her long hair cascading over a pristine white top paired with a black skirt. Her legs, smooth and elegant, seemed to gleam under the dim lights.
"I can't thank you all enough," Yu Qi said earnestly. "If it weren't for you, I don't know what would've happened today."
Yuto waved off the thanks. "It was nothing."
Yun Yun stepped forward. "Yu Qi, would you like to gain the power to protect yourself? To be as strong as we are?"
Yu Qi blinked, unsure. "You mean… I could have abilities like yours?"
Yun Yun's sweet smile widened. "Exactly. If you join our team, you'll gain the strength to face anything."
Yuto observed the conversation in silence. He admired how easily Yun Yun made the offer—she truly was the perfect companion, always thinking ahead. She deserves a reward for this, he thought to himself.
Yu Qi's doubt wavered. Yun Yun's charm was undeniable, and there was something calming about her presence. "If I join you… could I really become as strong as you?"
Yuto stepped in. "You could, yes."
But Yu Qi hesitated, a deep sadness crossing her features. "But I'm just an ordinary person. Not an Awakened like you."
Natto chimed in, her voice light and cheerful. "I was ordinary too, you know. But now I'm four stars strong, all thanks to joining this team!"
Yu Qi's eyes widened in disbelief. "You were ordinary, like me?"
Natto nodded. "Yep! I'm Natto, by the way. And this is Yuto Saito, our captain."
Yu Qi's gaze shifted to Yuto. There was something magnetic about him—his calm demeanor, his sharp intelligence. She found herself involuntarily staring. "Captain," she said softly, "thank you again."
Yuto gave her a small smile and brought up the system prompt.
A virtual message appeared before Yu Qi:
[Captain Yuto Saito invites you to join the team. Do you accept?]
Without hesitation, Yu Qi tapped the screen, eager to become stronger. She wouldn't let herself be a victim again, not after today.
As soon as she agreed, all the team members received a notification. Their attributes increased by 10 points each, and even Nako, stationed far away in X City, benefited from the boost.
Nako's cheerful laughter filled her dormitory as she marveled at her luck. "All this, and I didn't even fight a single zombie today!"
Back with the group, Yu Qi stood stunned. She could feel her body surging with new energy, her strength growing exponentially. She glanced at Yuto, speechless. "Captain… I… I'm stronger. It feels incredible!"
Yuto chuckled. "That's just the beginning. You'll adjust quickly. And remember, I won't force you to do anything. Whatever you decide to do from here on out is your choice."
Yu Qi's face flushed at his words, her thoughts spiraling. She had prepared herself to offer anything—anything—to be saved. But now, here he was, telling her she was free to choose. The kindness threw her off balance.
"Why do I even think like that?" she muttered to herself, casting a quick glance at the beautiful women surrounding Yuto. "With women like them by his side, he wouldn't even look at me."
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself. I won't be a burden. Not anymore.