Apocalypse Villainess? Nah, I'm Nice

The world before Paige Summers was a formless void. The pain had seemingly surpassed the limits of her endurance, giving way to numbness. Her body felt as if it were filled with lead, each step a struggle, and her gaze was too unfocused to settle on anything.

She had only one conviction in her heart: ’I have to get away! I have to... survive!’

’Yes, I have to live!’

Having died once doesn’t mean a person has seen through the vanity of all things. More often than not, everyone has their own lingering attachments.

Take Leanne Walsh, for instance. Her dream was to get back to Shawn Monroe’s side—not as a subordinate, but as his woman. To that end, she had tried to kill Paige Summers on several occasions, hoping to sweep aside old enemies and clear the path to her goal.

As for Paige Summers, all she had ever wanted, from beginning to end, was to live.

In essence, she wasn’t an ambitious person. In her past life, she had fallen into learning Artifact Making from her grandfather; her initial reason wasn’t passion, but necessity. Gradually, she grew to see Artifact Making as an inseparable part of her life. Possessing such a skill, it wasn’t as if various factions hadn’t extended invitations to her. If she had been willing, she might have led the Summers Family to a different kind of glory.

But she had refused them all.

She much preferred a peaceful life.

Yet, a bizarre twist of fate had brought her to this world.

’The life laid out before me is one of constant turmoil. You want peace? You want to live a good life? Fine! First, I have to make myself powerful! So powerful that I fear no one and no harsh environment. Then we can talk!’

’That’s right. I want to live. I want to get stronger. How can I stop here?’

Paige Summers felt the energy in her body begin to circulate wildly. A scorching heat bloomed in her chest, continuously pouring energy into her depleted body. It was as if a cycle had formed, the energy connecting end to end as it surged within her, touching every part of her from head to toe.

Gradually, the leaden weight and numbness in her body faded. The void before her eyes receded, as if a bright light was gathering within them... She snapped her eyes wide open!

’Is this... a breakthrough?!’

As her senses returned, she realized she was sitting on the ground, half-supported and half-held by Sean Raines. Not far away, Marcus Monroe was leading the Superpower Users who were still in decent shape in an assault on the toad. They were, of course, mostly his own subordinates, joined by Forrest Chapman, Claire Chapman, and a few captains from the Hunting Party. The rest had already succumbed to exhaustion and were focused on recovering off to one side.

In truth, the attacks from Marcus Monroe’s group weren’t particularly effective.

They maintained their distance, using ranged attacks to provoke it. Whenever it became enraged and lashed out with its tongue or spat its Poisonous Liquid, they would swiftly dodge. Then they would repeat the process from a different angle...

Even so, they were already giving it their all. After all, their stamina and superpower reserves were running low.

Paige Summers watched for a moment and began to understand Marcus Monroe’s strategy.

’The toad can’t produce an endless supply of its Poisonous Liquid. They just have to exhaust it. By the time it runs out, the Superpower Users who are recovering should be ready to fight again. Then, it’ll be much easier for everyone to concentrate their firepower and launch an all-out assault!’

Her thoughts turned to her own condition. Although she didn’t know how she’d broken free from the toad’s Spiritual Attack, it was clear she had received a blessing in disguise!

Seeing her sit up on her own, no longer needing his support, Sean Raines was both relieved and worried. "Are you okay?"

Paige Summers glanced over at him and saw that his face was a ghastly, ashen white. She couldn’t help but guess, "You’re the one who saved me?"

Sean Raines let out a breath and sat down on the ground. "Only partially. I didn’t expect that ugly beast’s spiritual power to be so difficult to handle. I barely managed to seal it, and only temporarily. Luckily, the Hunting Party drew its attention. Otherwise, we both would have been in grave danger." He paused, giving her a strange look. "I thought you’d be unconscious for a while longer. I never expected... You... did you just Promote?"

Impressed by his sharp eye, Paige Summers nodded, then immediately turned her gaze back toward the battlefield.

’No wonder they can keep this up. Sean Raines must have temporarily sealed its spiritual power. But if it’s only temporary, then this slow-burn tactic is a problem. The toad’s entire back is covered in poison sacs. For all I know, by the time they finally exhaust its Poisonous Liquid, its spiritual power will have recovered...’

’Marcus Monroe’s group must be resorting to this because they’re short-handed.’ Realizing this, she had no desire to chat with Sean Raines any longer. "You get some rest here. I’m going to help them!" she said, before getting to her feet and running over.

A helpless yet subtle expression appeared on Sean Raines’s face. ’She really is one of a kind! To face that kind of danger, and then the moment she wakes up—without even noticing the Clear Heart Talisman still on her chest—she just rushes headfirst back into the fray... How should I put it? She doesn’t seem quite as formidable as she looks in a fight. In fact, she’s a little bit foolish... but for some reason, I’m in a great mood...’