Chapter 197: Lean in so I can give you a kiss

Nishitani Kyohei teetered on the brink of mental collapse, and Fang Cheng’s taunt pushed him over the edge. His sanity shattered instantly.

Overwhelmed by his emotions, he plunged back into the Crazed Blood state, roaring as he lunged at Fang Cheng. Even Otsutai beside him couldn’t react fast enough to stop the charge.

But the moment Nishitani surged forward, bullets whistled through the air.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

The first bullet blasted Nishitani’s head apart. The rest tore his body to shreds.

Otsutai jerked his gaze upward, spotting two solo combat systems speeding toward them from afar. Kanzaki Rin and Takeda Masumi had cleared the remaining enemies and arrived as reinforcements.

Fang Cheng glanced up, relief washing over him. Handling Otsutai or Nishitani alone was manageable—he could take either one. But fighting both simultaneously? That was trouble.

Nishitani, especially, was a walking human-shaped bomb. One slip-up meant losing a life. If he’d realized Fang Cheng’s revivals were finite and spammed endless self-detonations? Those lives would’ve drained fast.

Luckily, Fang Cheng wasn’t solo.

Takeda Masumi zoomed after Otsutai, her machine gun raining havoc. Her *real* firepower dwarfed Fang Cheng’s cobbled-together gear, sending Otsutai scrambling.

Kanzaki Rin landed beside Fang Cheng, her helmet retracting to show her face. “Injured?”

Fang Cheng shrugged. “Just warming up. Another minute and I’d have finished them.”

Kanzaki Rin frowned. “Then put pants on. Enjoying the breeze?”

Though revived, the explosion had stripped him bare.

Fang Cheng: …

*You show up and immediately stare? That concerned?*

He glanced down. “Breezy, yeah. Bigger volume, faster cooling—ever heard of it?”

Kanzaki Rin: (·へ·)

Meanwhile, Nishitani Kyohei regenerated, shedding the Crazed Blood state. Spotting Kanzaki Rin, Aoki Yusuke’s lingering thoughts flared. “Kanzaki!” he blurted.

Kanzaki Rin turned, brow furrowed. “The Aoki family’s vampire? How does he know me?”

Fang Cheng, now clad in his Blood Combat Suit, stood up. “No clue. Claims he’s Aoki Yusuke. Total nutjob.”

“But Aoki Yusuke’s dead.”

“Hence ‘nutjob.’”

Kanzaki Rin eyed Nishitani skeptically. Why would the Aoki family employ a madman?

Nishitani’s chest tightened as Kanzaki dismissed Aoki’s death. “Kanzaki! I’m *alive*!” he shouted.

Her presence—and the sight of her standing with Fang Cheng—fueled Aoki’s resentment like a drug. Nishitani slammed palms against his skull. “Stop it! Get *out* of my head!”

Fang Cheng pointed at him, “See? Doesn’t that just prove he’s a lunatic?”

Kanzaki Rin: “…”

Fang Cheng suddenly said, “Find a way to provoke him until he loses his mind. Fighting a fool would be easier.”

Kanzaki Rin asked, “How?”

Fang Cheng wrapped an arm around her waist and yanked her close. “Like this.”

Even in their bulky solo combat systems, the embrace still worked.

Kanzaki Rin stiffened, about to pull away, but Fang Cheng muttered, “Stay still.”

Takeda Masumi flew back after emptying her bullets, gaping at the scene—*Damn, these two are sneaking around! Rin lied about not liking him!*

*If they’re this bold in public, what filthy positions have they tried in private?*

Nishitani Kyohei saw Fang Cheng holding his goddess and roared, “Let her go!” before pounding his own head.

Fang Cheng and Kanzaki Rin exchanged startled looks—this mirrored Aoki Yusuke’s behavior. *Was he really possessed?*

Fang Cheng tightened his grip. “Not enough. Tilt your face—I’ll kiss you. Don’t worry, I brush twice daily.”

Instead of complying, Kanzaki Rin stomped his foot.

“Ow!”

Takeda Masumi hovered above, voice dripping with vinegar. “Cut it out! Flirt on your own time! Have some shame!”

Kanzaki Rin shoved Fang Cheng away, snapped her helmet shut, and soared upward.

“Keep the vampire busy. Watch for exploding blood. I’ll handle the Wild Boar first.”

With Kanzaki Rin and Takeda Masumi distracting Nishitani Kyohei, Fang Cheng finally faced Otsutai alone.

Only this way could he kill the beast.

Fang Cheng inhaled deeply, activating Overload Mode as he glared at the ash-coated Otsutai.

Otsutai met his gaze, sensing the final clash. “None of you leave alive!”

His body grotesquely swelled, muscles bursting through skin once impervious to blades and guns.

The human shell split, revealing a black monstrosity—a Wild Boar the size of a Shanghai double-decker bus.

Fang Cheng finally remembered: Northern Area 11 legends spoke of Otsutai, a “Mountain God” with divine strength and invincible hide, worshipped in shrines despite being a monster.

*So I’m fighting a god.*

Otsutai’s mountain-like form loomed, iron hooves scraping the ground. It charged, tusks aimed, shaking the earth like an avalanche.

Fang Cheng dodged with a short-distance dash as Otsutai plowed into a building, collapsing it instantly.

Drones piloted by Ye Yuqing and Sato Mai sprayed bullets, only to bounce off its ironhide.

Ignoring the pests, Otsutai reared and slammed its hooves down.

War Trampled.