Chapter 38: Sunshine Defense War

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Sunshine Defense War

The leaves of the Sunflower in her arms suddenly tensed, its stem trembling slightly as it touched Seraphina Sinclair’s fingers.

’It must be scared, but it’s kind of cute.’

"New place... never been..."

’Never been here before, huh.’

Seraphina Sinclair had never been here either. She silently hugged the flowerpot tighter, a gesture of reassurance.

The golden light before her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a pure white cubic space.

She stumbled before steadying herself, only then realizing the ground was as soft as cotton, yet left no footprints.

’What a strange space.’

The moment that thought appeared, a text panel popped up in front of her.

[Welcome to the Waiting Space, Participant #47!]

’I’m actually number 47?’

’I thought I’d been fast enough. You need some time to think, right?’

’And I thought pretty fast, too.’

’What kind of people were ahead of me?’

’Were the first 46 all just reckless brutes?’

She felt a little bad for the thought, shaking her head and falling silent.

The Sunflower swiveled its head about, as if observing its surroundings. After a full circle, it seemed to grow bored and turned its face up toward Seraphina Sinclair.

’It really is cute.’

Seraphina Sinclair raised a hand and tapped its head.

’I don’t know why I brought the Sunflower, but since it’s here, I hope it’ll be useful.’

The one-minute countdown quickly hit zero.

The space she was in cracked open from the ceiling, all the whiteness draining away like a receding river.

After the fantastical display was over, Seraphina Sinclair finally got a clear look at this instance space.

This was a wasteland, with an overall yellow-green hue. The ground was covered with patches of clearly stunted grass.

But most importantly, there was a sun.

The moment the sun appeared, the Sunflower, a true sun aficionado, immediately turned its face toward it.

As for Seraphina Sinclair... how could she be as important as the sun?

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

That wasn’t all. The Sunflower added telepathically, "Such brilliant sunshine... I love it... I wish it could always be like this."

’Great.’

’So now it’s turning its nose up at my Hand-cranked Sunlight Lamp.’

Seraphina Sinclair huffed, completely unbothered, and plopped down cross-legged beside the Sunflower.

’It can be as picky as it wants. It’s still getting the sunlight lamp from now on.’

’Is this what they call a forced relationship?’

Seraphina Sinclair scanned her surroundings carefully. Apart from the two of them, there didn’t seem to be any other living creatures.

Being a wasteland, her field of view was exceptionally open, allowing her to see far into the distance.

But there was nothing.

Not even a single suspicious black dot.

Seraphina Sinclair was puzzled, but she had no intention of moving rashly. Besides, the Sunflower was busy sunbathing, so it was better to wait patiently.

’The system promised an "experience," so there’s no way it’s going to be this peaceful.’

Seraphina Sinclair glanced around again. After confirming that it was truly peaceful and devoid of any danger, she raised an eyebrow and started to think.

’Have I not met some condition?’

’The monsters haven’t even shown up yet?’

Seraphina Sinclair looked at the environment again. ’If there were monsters, where would they be hiding?’

The answer was practically screaming at her.

Underground.

’Underground is the only place monsters could be hiding.’

’But... what’s the use in knowing that?’

Seraphina Sinclair squatted down next to the Sunflower again.

Perhaps because the sun was so strong, the Sunflower was producing sunshine at a remarkably fast pace.

[Sunshine +25]

A small orb of sunshine popped out and automatically flowed into Seraphina Sinclair’s arm.

At the same time, a panel popped up.

[Sunshine Defense Is About to Begin!]

[Protect Your Sunshine! Protect Your Sunflower! Protect Your Brain!]

’Right. Protect my brain.’

After this line of text disappeared, the next one appeared instantly.

[Monsters appear when sunshine value reaches 100!]

[Current Wave: 1]

[Current Monster Details: Rotting Corpse x10]

[Note! Killing monsters grants points! Rankings are determined by your score! The higher your score, the higher your rank, and the greater the rewards!]

[Note! If you give up, you’ll receive a complimentary death experience, courtesy of the system!]

’They really know how to sugarcoat it. I thought it would just be me dying, but from the looks of it, the Sunflower has to die with me?’

’That’s not happening!’

’Spare the rod, spoil the ’flower. I don’t see myself as a doting mother, but there’s no way I’m just going to stand by and watch my Sunflower get snuffed out.’

’Looks like I have to go all out now.’

The moment the sunshine value reached 100, the entire wasteland suddenly came alive.

Seraphina Sinclair felt the ground beneath her feet begin to tremble slightly, and a low rumbling sound came from the distance, as if something was squirming underground.

She quickly stood up, gripping her military knife, and simultaneously drew out a few Fire Drawing Runes.

"Yummy..."

The Sunflower’s thought echoed in her mind, accompanied by the sound of it chewing in eager anticipation.

’This kid is such a glutton.’

’And so carefree, too.’

’I really want to grab its head and give it a good shake. Open your eyes! There are ten of them!’

’Before you decide whether to eat them, could you maybe consider if the human standing next to you can even handle them all at once?’

Seraphina Sinclair narrowed her eyes and saw the ground about twenty meters away begin to bulge as a rotten arm burst through the soil.

Then came a second, a third... until a full ten Rotting Corpses had clawed their way out of the ground. Rotting flesh hung from their exposed bones, and their movements were slow as they hadn’t yet locked onto a target.

Seraphina Sinclair realized in an instant that this was the perfect opportunity.

She immediately charged forward. Before the Rotting Corpses had even fully emerged from the ground, she swiftly ripped three Fire Drawing Runes!

"Burn them to death!"

Seraphina Sinclair let out a dramatic, cringey yell as flames shot from her arm toward the Rotting Corpses, instantly engulfing the heads of three in a fiery blaze.

"ROAR—"

The Rotting Corpses let out shrill howls, their struggles becoming more violent. But the fire clung to them like gangrene, quickly reducing them to a pile of cinders.

[Points +30]

But it didn’t end there. The remaining Rotting Corpses were also climbing out of the same spot, and the flames spread via the corpse oil seeping from the bodies, quickly setting every last one of them ablaze.

[Points +10]

[Points +10]

...

[Congratulations! You have successfully defeated all monsters of the first wave!]

[Current Points: 100]

[Current Wave: 2]

[Current Monster Details: Rotting Corpse x15]

’Still Rotting Corpses, but five more of them.’

Seraphina Sinclair pinched two Fire Drawing Runes between her fingers and gave them a little shake. ’With these, I’m invincible.’

A moment later, another claw stretched out from underground.

Seraphina Sinclair’s gaze immediately locked onto it. After waiting for the Rotting Corpse to climb out, she leisurely tore open a rune paper and commanded the flame to go on its own.

All the while, she remained seated cross-legged beside the Sunflower, not even budging an inch.

[Points +10]

’That’s one down.’

Seraphina Sinclair glanced over. The fire had already spread to the second Rotting Corpse.

’Mm, excellent.’

’These Rotting Corpses are perfect for carrying the Olympic torch.’

’I mean, they’re monsters willing to sacrifice their lives to keep the flame going!’