When Song Shi opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed.
Cold liquid from an IV slowly flowed into the veins on the back of her hand. Around her, a chaotic mix of striped patient uniforms and white lab coats blurred in motion. Voices, near and far, buzzed incessantly in her ears, an overwhelming cacophony she was forced to endure.
She felt like a giant vessel, helplessly absorbing every noise around her.
A persistent, slow-burning pain gnawed at her back, needling her nerves. Her head throbbed as though inflated, and waves of nausea surged relentlessly. She cupped her mouth with her uninjured hand, dry heaving repeatedly.
Tears, unbidden and physiological, spilled from the corners of her eyes.
Silently, she wiped them away with her sleeve.
"Name: Song Shi. Age: Seventeen. Attending Renxi High School. High-probability Berserker candidate. Participated in differentiation stimulation experiments one day ago. Failed to awaken and was released. Today, encountered Lin Hu, a fellow high-probability candidate, while riding Route 912 at Qingjiao Station..."
Song Shi lowered her arm and turned toward the voice.
Two police officers in black uniforms stood nearby. A green holographic screen floated before the male officer, while the female officer stood slightly to his side.
Her gaze flickered to the badge numbers on their chests as she struggled to speak.
"Yes," she croaked, her voice hoarse and rasping.
The female officer walked to the table, poured warm water into a cup, inserted a straw, and held it to Song Shi's lips.
Grateful, Song Shi looked at her and sipped a few mouthfuls. The water soothed her throat slightly.
"Why did you suddenly intervene?" the male officer asked casually, eyes scanning the data on his holographic screen. "According to the records, you haven't awakened."
Initially, Song Shi had acted to avoid being implicated as Lin Hu's accomplice. But now, faced with two police officers, she chose to frame her actions in a better light.
"There were ordinary people on the bus," she said weakly, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "I didn't want them to get hurt. I thought if I could subdue the robber, they could escape safely."
Her frail tone and pale complexion cast her as a selfless, brave citizen.
The female officer, returning the cup to the table, glanced at her briefly.
"According to the bus surveillance footage," the male officer began, his voice devoid of emotion, "Lin Hu only had one bullet in his gun. His original intent was mere robbery, not mutual destruction. Your actions provoked him, leading to the bus explosion. The blast damaged nearby vehicles, resulting in property losses exceeding one million."
Song Shi listened quietly, her expression unchanging. "This was my first experience in such a situation. Next time, I'll follow the example of other passengers—stay passive and wait for your rescue."
The male officer appeared unfazed by the underlying sarcasm, merely recording her words on his holographic screen.
Once finished, he put away his lightbrain and looked down at Song Shi. "Your conduct during the bus hijacking was commendable. Following protocol, we'll submit a report to request a reward on your behalf. Focus on recovering. Given the severity of your injuries, we've arranged for a D-level Healer to treat you."
A reward? That surprised Song Shi.
"Thank you," she murmured, her lips curving faintly.
The male officer departed briskly, engrossed in his lightbrain as he walked. The female officer lingered a moment longer.
"Officer, wait," Song Shi called, her voice halting the female officer.
Turning back, the officer approached. "What is it?"
"My money—" Song Shi began, attempting to raise her wrist with the lightbrain, only to flinch as pain shot through her back.
The female officer shook her head regretfully. "We couldn't recover it. As soon as the funds entered his account, they were funneled into the black market in the western suburbs. That area… well, you know."
Song Shi barely registered her explanation. The words "couldn't recover it" echoed relentlessly in her mind. Her money—her three months of living expenses—gone.
Her throbbing headache worsened.
"Are you alright? Song Shi? Doctor! Doctor!"
She felt someone shaking her arm, heard frantic shouting nearby. But the words blurred, indistinct. Half-lidded, she saw flashes of light and shadow.
Then, a warm hand clasped hers.
The touch was almost magical, radiating warmth that coursed through her veins to her back. The numb, searing pain in her wounds gradually sharpened before being drawn away, replaced by a soothing heat.
It felt… wonderful.
Her furrowed brows slowly relaxed as comfort enveloped her.
Sometime later, the pain vanished entirely, replaced by a faint tingling sensation.
Lulled by the warmth, Song Shi drifted into a deep sleep.
When she awoke, her body felt remarkably light. Her head no longer throbbed.
Finally, she had the mental clarity to examine the lines of text in her mind:
**[Abuse Value Progress: 6%]**
**[Counter-Abuse Value Progress: 4%]**
Song Shi sighed heavily.
Despite suffering grievous injuries, her Abuse Value had only increased by 5%. Even indirectly causing someone's death had only raised her Counter-Abuse Value by 3%.
Reaching 100% for both seemed an impossibly distant goal.
Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself.
There was no use dwelling on it—she had to keep moving forward.
In less than two days, she had faced life-threatening danger three times. Each encounter had brought her perilously close to death.
In this world, strength was paramount.
No matter how difficult, she had to complete the system's progress bars.
This body, seemingly worthless, held the potential for awakening. She couldn't afford to waste it.
Raising her hand, she noted that the IV needle had been removed, leaving no trace on her skin. Even moving her arm caused no pain in her back.
Sitting up, she tested her range of motion, rotating her shoulders and flexing her joints.
Someone had held her hand before she fell asleep—she remembered that much.
Could that person have been the Healer?
Healing-type Awakened.
The *Human Differentiation Guide* described C- and D-level Healers as too low-ranking to assist in combat. Instead, they served as dedicated medical personnel in the rear lines.
Healers were highly sought after in hospitals. Their abilities allowed injuries to heal at astonishing speeds.
Without the intervention of those police officers, Song Shi wouldn't have received a Healer's care. She would have been confined to a hospital bed for months.
And the hospital fees… that thought alone made her wince.
"Have my hospital expenses been paid?" she asked, calling out to a nurse passing by with a tray of medicine bottles.
The nurse nodded. "Yes, they've been covered. If you've recovered, you're free to leave."
*(End of Chapter)*