CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 62: GLUTTON · GRASS HUT · THRONE

In terms of food consumption, Su Qiangwei won!

The Myriad Transformations ability granted her a digestion and absorption power beyond human limits.

She almost gains weight with each bite.

Sitting next to her, Ma Ran watched her transform from a frail, sickly girl to a slightly plump, invincible young beauty with each mouthful.

Gazing at the dining plates stacked half as tall as a person, Ma Ran rubbed his stiff facial muscles and carefree admitted his defeat.

"You win."

Moreover, Ma Ran was willing to call her the "Earth’s Strongest Rice Bucket King."

Come to think of it, it’s quite pitiful.

From start to now, it seems food consumption is the only area where Su Qiangwei can defeat Ma Ran.

After the two enjoyed a gluttonous feast in the cafeteria, their internal acupoint micro-organs began to work efficiently.

The abundant inner qi swiftly restored their vitality.

Ma Ran, with a triumphant Su Qiangwei, went to the A3 District hospital, which had resumed normal functions.

Healthcare workers, clad in white coats and masks, hurried back and forth, extremely busy.

Over a thousand people trapped in dreams by the Nightmare Dust have mostly awakened by now.

However, they presented various symptoms.

Blindness, deafness, loss of smell, touch, taste, inability to move fingers or toes...

The symptoms were extraordinarily varied.

The good news is that clinical data comparisons show these patients are recovering slowly.

Sleep can also accelerate the recovery process.

As time passes, they will all heal.

Besides, there’s bad news—over seventy rescuers from the A3 District vicinity have now fallen into a deep sleep.

No means can awaken them!

Ma Ran struck precisely, almost all just knocked unconscious.

Among this group, those most severely injured were the ones struck by stray bullets.

After emergency surgery to remove bullet fragments, they temporarily avoided the risks of infection, blood loss, shock, and other complications.

But the problem is...

The existing medical system cannot surgically remove the "Nightmare Spores" parasitizing these seventy-four bodies!

These immature Nightmare Spores were originally one-time consumables forcibly used for parasitism in an emergency by the Nightmare Mother 98725.

After being knocked unconscious by Ma Ran, these immature spores almost integrated into every inch of their hosts’ muscles, every bone, and every drop of blood.

Over time, the spores will gradually decay, releasing potent toxins.

With inner qi support, those parasitized will not be directly killed by decaying immature Nightmare Spores for the time being, only showing signs of poisoning.

But as time passes, their inner qi will eventually deplete, and death will arrive on schedule.

Forcing surgery, this group will most likely die; even if barely saved, they will undoubtedly suffer irreversible serious injuries.

If not operated on, they won’t last long!

A difficult choice!

Ma Ran had faced too many similar choices in his past life.

That feeling of powerlessness, he experienced it too many times.

This lifetime, Ma Ran doesn’t want to feel it again.

"Hey!"

"Over here!"

Song Chu, with his face wrapped in bandages, sat in a semi-automatic wheelchair, excitedly waving at Ma Ran.

He wasn’t actually seriously injured, just physically and mentally exhausted, plus muscle tears.

After a brief treatment and a short nap, he regained mobility.

If not for the attending physician repeatedly urging Song Chu to rest quietly, he probably would have jumped out of the wheelchair to Ma Ran by now.

Earlier, in a critical moment, calling Ma Ran’s name felt very smooth to Song Chu.

Now that everything’s resolved, he instead felt at a loss.

Looking at Ma Ran not far away, Song Chu opened his mouth and hesitated for a long time, unsure how to address him.

By name?

Not respectful enough.

After all, this person pulled him out of a deadly crisis!

Brother Ma? Brother Ran?

Comrade? Battle buddy?

Good friend?

These titles were either too awkward for Song Chu himself or too intimate, uncertain of how Ma Ran would react.

Song Chu is a man with pride!

If he completely ignores him, wouldn’t it be embarrassing?

Song Chu noticed that Ma Ran brought with him a very good-looking young girl with striking looks.

"Take care of your injuries; the days of fighting side by side..."

"Are still long."

When he said this, Ma Ran’s tone was sincere, his gaze calm, yet it gave Song Chu a feeling of blood rushing to his head.

Song Chu instinctively nodded, scratched the side of his face wrapped in bandages, glanced at Su Qiangwei, and changed the topic: "Your girlfriend?"

As he spoke, his eyes unconsciously fell on the white hair on Ma Ran’s forehead.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but the white strands seemed to have increased since before.

Hearing this, the girl grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp white teeth: "Although your contribution isn’t as much as Ma Ran’s, you got hurt more than he did."

"So..."

"Hero, stop talking and rest well!"

Alright then!

No need for introductions!

As soon as Song Chu heard this, he immediately realized her identity.

He raised an eyebrow, boldly retorted: "Su Qiangwei, I previously thought you were a menopausal woman with a voice shifter..."

"Didn’t expect you to be so young?"

Strangely, though Song Chu was nervous earlier, unsure what topic to start with Ma Ran,

After Su Qiangwei threw a couple of snarky remarks at him, he no longer felt nervous.

The three together instantly made Song Chu feel like he was back when everyone was united against the alien creatures.

"Oh?"

Su Qiangwei let out a cold laugh, about to go all out to verbally crush this unaware sand sculpture teammate, making him realize his team position: "Kid, without me, you’d be cold by now!"

Just when Su Qiangwei, attempting to exploit her favor, was halfway through her words, Ma Ran stuffed a large piece of puff pastry into her mouth.

"Mmmmmm!"

Su Qiangwei glowered at Ma Ran, angrily bit through the chocolate puff, and devoured it in a few bites: "We are both competitors for the Grass Hut King, yet you help others bully me!"

After saying that, even Su Qiangwei was stunned.

She felt today might be the day when both her physical energy and brain power were over-exhausted, leading to sudden brain damage.

The term "Grass Hut King" comes from Dong Huaiming, setting aside its ridiculousness for now.

After saying this, Su Qiangwei suddenly felt it made more sense if Ma Ran didn’t help her.

Ma Ran, a steel tough guy with no appreciation for soft and tender, if he really spoke for her, that would be more surprising!

"Brother Ran!"

Song Chu sneakily changed his address for Ma Ran.

Though a bit awkward, it seemed very natural: "You are the main contributor to resolving this A3 District Nightmare incident."

"Without you, I’d definitely be dead!"

"If you need any help in the future, just one word, and I’ll be there!"

Su Qiangwei stood nearby, her face full of disdain and scorn.

Lick!

Relentlessly lick!

If you can out-lick Wu Di and Dong Huaiming, Su Qiangwei will dare to bark like a puppy in front of Ma Ran!

Song Chu, at the age of twenty, almost thirty, shamelessly recognized Ran as his brother.

So happy being the bait, grateful even if betrayed while helping count the money...

At this moment, the girl once again began to question Ma Ran’s specific superpower.

Isn’t he really a brainwashing ability user?

Can mere charisma be this exaggerated?

Or is it...

Ma Ran’s eyesight is so sharp that the ones he saves coincidely believe in repaying kindness with gratitude?

Su Qiangwei started doubting life a bit.

The three chatted a bit more before parting ways.

Blocking the road would delay the medical staff’s work.

Song Chu was gently yet firmly guided back to bed by the nurses.

Ma Ran and Su Qiangwei went together to the isolation zone specifically set up for the seventy-four individuals parasitized by the Nightmare Spores.