[Psyche:

  72% → 70%]

  [Active Buff: Melo’s Anchor — Auto-triggered]

  [Psyche: 70% → 71%]

  Ignoring

  his discomfort, she pivoted toward the holographic interface floating

  before her—her Twitch chat, scrolling at an unreadable speed—and

  graced her audience with a theatrical bow, backside out and hands

  pressed together.

  — Today,

  my little nekos, VoodUwU is going to do a giga-huge dungeon with her

  new nakama ~ We’re going to hunt mean mushi all together, nyaa!

  Ganbare! ?

  Nova,

  imperturbable despite the candy-pink chaos thrashing beside her, took

  charge with a curt tone:

  — I’ve

  been able to contact an Elite player who should join us a bit later.

  I want us all to see him together as a group of four first; I don't

  know him personally, so I’ll give you the first look. Be

  open-minded. For now, focus on the Scolopteras.

  Vincent

  stood stunned for a moment, then followed the lead.

  Maybe

  it’ll be a guy, like, a normal one. Like a male version of Nova:

  the type who does his job without chirping, a solid guy like Zombie

  Man. Someone who won't show off and...

  They

  pushed deeper into the Scarlet Marshes, the mist thickening around

  them. VoodUwU continued talking to her chat, commenting on every

  detail of the landscape with "waaah ~" and "sugoi ~"

  that made Vincent want to hurl himself into a swamp and never

  resurface.

  Melo

  walked beside him, whispering discrete incantations. Vincent felt the

  buffs activate: Renewed Vigor, Mental Haste, Psychic Resilience.

  Waves of soothing warmth spread through his virtual body.

  

[Active

  Buff: Renewed Vigor] (+12% Stamina Regen)

  [Active Buff: Mental Haste]

  (+8% Reaction Speed)

  [Active Buff: Psychic Resilience] (+5% Psyche

  Degradation Resistance)

  [Psyche: 71% → 74%]

  — Thanks,

  Vincent murmured.

  Melo

  smiled.

  — Always.

  But

  Vincent noticed something. The buffs were... weaker. Not by much, but

  perceptibly. Because Melo was now buffing four people: Vincent, Nova,

  VoodUwU, and himself.

  Buff

  dilution.

  [Psyche:

  74% → 73%]

  Melo

  seemed to sense his unease. He discreetly pulled a small package from

  his inventory—a sandwich wrapped in virtual craft paper—and

  handed it to Vincent.

  — Here.

  Eat this. Food Buff: +15% Physical Damage, +10% Psyche Regeneration,

  duration 30 minutes.

  Vincent

  took the sandwich and devoured it in a few bites. The taste was

  surprisingly good—Melo had really leveled up his Cooking skill.

  

[Item

  Consumed: Melo’s Fortifying Sandwich]

  [+15% Physical Damage (30

  min)]

  [+10% Psyche Regeneration (30 min)]

  [Psyche: 73% → 76%]

  OK.

  OK, that’s better. Melo was right. It compensates.

  Vincent

  looked at Melo, something warm spreading through his chest.

  Dammit,

  I love him. Not in a gay way, mind you. Just... I love him. He’s my

  pal. My best friend.

  [Psyche:

  76%] (Stable, Anchor active)

  Nova

  suddenly raised her hand—the signal to stop. Ahead of them, in a

  marshy clearing, four massive silhouettes moved slowly.

  Luminescent

  Scolopteras.

  Each

  measured easily three meters long, their segmented bodies covered in

  black chitinous shells that glowed with a pulsing bluish light.

  Dozens of clawed legs clicked against the wet rock. Their mandibles

  opened and closed with sharp snaps, dripping with a greenish venom.

  Above

  their heads, tags floated: [Luminescent Scoloptera - Elite Rank - Lv.

  12].

  Vincent

  felt his pulse quicken.

  My

  targets. My hearts. Finally.

  

[Way

  of the Wolf: Territorial Instinct activated]

  [Bonus: +5% damage in

  claimed zone]

  Nova

  turned to the group, her voice low.

  — VoodUwU,

  put your leeches on the one on the left. Vincent, you focus the one

  on the right. Melo, keep the buffs up and heal if necessary. I’ll

  tank the two in the center. We go in three... two... one...

  — ATTACK,

  MINNA ~ ?

  VoodUwU

  leaped forward before Nova could even finish her countdown, staff

  raised, her high-pitched voice piercing the air.

  — Kyaaaa

  ~ Leech-chan, iku yo ~ !

  She

  twirled her staff, and a dozen black leeches shot from the vessel,

  flying through the air like living projectiles. They slammed against

  the shell of the left-hand Scoloptera, latching on with slimy

  suckers, and immediately began to pulse, draining the creature’s

  life.

  The

  Scoloptera shrieked—a shrill, metallic sound—and turned toward

  VoodUwU.

  And

  there, something changed.

  VoodUwU

  stopped skipping. Her kawaii smile vanished. Her red eyes

  narrowed—calculating, cold. She took a step to the side—a

  minimal, precise, economical movement—and the Scoloptera charged

  into empty space, its mandibles snapping on nothingness.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  — Too

  slow, she whispered, her voice suddenly devoid of all affectation.

  She

  pivoted, staff spinning, and three new leeches shot out, aiming for

  the joints of the Scoloptera's legs. They burrowed in, and the

  creature stumbled, slowed.

  Vincent

  stayed frozen for half a second, jaw dropped.

  Dammit.

  She’s... she’s actually good.

  Nova

  charged the two central Scolopteras, her Shadow/Light blade tracing

  glowing arcs. Melo launched a volley of buffs, hands dancing in the

  air, incantations fast and fluid.

  Vincent

  shook his head, forcing himself to focus.

  Not

  the time to gawk. Move it, asshole.

  He

  activated Predator Instinct, the world slowing down around him. The

  Scoloptera on the right turned to him, mandibles open, venom

  dripping.

  

[Way

  of the Wolf: Predator Instinct]

  [Effect: Slow motion (3 sec)]

  [+20%

  Accuracy]

  Vincent

  leaped, claws erupting from his hands, and struck the shell with all

  his might.

  The

  shell held firm, barely scratched.

  Shit.

  Elite Rank. Reinforced carapace. Have to aim for the joints.

  The

  Scoloptera counter-attacked, front legs whipping through the air.

  Vincent rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, and rose

  into a crouch.

  Articulations.

  Neck. Underbelly.

  He

  charged again, this time aiming for the joint between the head and

  the first body segment. His claws sank into the soft flesh, tearing a

  shrill scream from the creature.

  [Targeted

  Fracture: Activated]

  [Critical Hit]

  [-340 HP]

  Yeah.

  Like that.

  Vincent

  pulled, tearing away, and a spray of black fluid splashed the ground.

  Behind him, he heard VoodUwU talking to her stream, her voice

  high-pitched and kawaii once again.

  — Waaah

  ~ Did you see, minna? Vincent-kun is so strong ~ He’s tearing

  everything apart, nyaa ~ ?

  She’s

  commenting on the fight in real-time. She’s fighting AND she’s

  streaming. At the same time. Holy shit.

  [Psyche:

  76% → 74%] (Jealousy + Incredulity)

  Melo

  cast a new buff, and Vincent felt a wave of heat surge through his

  muscles.

  

[Active

  Buff: Decupled Strength - +20% Physical Damage - 15 sec]

  incent

  smiled savagely.

  

  He

  struck again, again and again, claws shredding the Scoloptera's

  flesh. The creature struggled, legs lashing the air, but Vincent was

  faster, more precise.

  

[-280

  HP] [-310 HP] [-295 HP] [Devastating Bite: Available]

  Vincent

  activated the technique—a reflex now, almost automatic. His jaws

  opened wider than life, the edges of the mask deforming, and he bit

  down.

  

[Devastating

  Bite: CRITICAL] [-520 HP] [Enemy: Critical State]

  The

  Scoloptera collapsed, its body convulsing, then went still.

  [Luminescent

  Scoloptera defeated - +850 XP]

  Vincent

  stood up, panting, and turned to the others.

  Nova

  was methodically slaughtering the two central Scolopteras, her blade

  dancing in a deadly ballet. Melo was maintaining the buffs, hands

  raised, total concentration etched on his face.

  VoodUwU

  was dancing.

  Literally.

  She twirled around her Scoloptera, evading every attack with fluid,

  almost choreographed grace. Her leeches drained the creature’s life

  as it slowed, weakened, and faltered.

  — Come

  on, mushi-chan ~ Go night-night now ~ ?

  She

  raised her staff, and one last leech—larger, blacker—shot out,

  burrowing directly into the Scoloptera's eye. The creature shrieked,

  reared up, then collapsed, dead.

  [Luminescent

  Scoloptera defeated - +850 XP]

  VoodUwU

  gave a small bow toward her stream.

  — Yatta

  ~ We won, minna ~ ?

  Vincent

  stared at her, unable to look away.

  She

  killed it. Without taking a single hit. Without breaking a sweat.

  While talking to her fucking Twitch chat. She is... dammit. She is

  really strong.

  

[Psyche:

  74% → 71%] (Forced recognition + Jealousy)

  Nova

  finished off the last two Scolopteras with efficiency, then turned to

  the group, wiping her blade.

  — Well

  done. VoodUwU, excellent control. Vincent, good damage. Melo,

  impeccable buffs.

  Melo

  smiled, but Vincent noticed the fatigue in his eyes. Buffing four

  people at once, maintaining concentration, monitoring everyone's

  health bars—it was exhausting.

  He’s

  tiring out faster. Because of the group. Because of me. No, not

  because of me. Because of them. Because of this fucking streamer and

  this shitty Elite group.

  [Psyche:

  71% → 69%]

  Melo

  approached Vincent, pulling out another sandwich.

  — Here.

  Eat. Your Psyche is dropping.

  Vincent

  took the sandwich and devoured it.

  [Item

  Consumed: Fortifying Sandwich] [Psyche: 69% → 72%] (Food buff

  renewed)

  — Thanks,

  he muttered.

  Melo

  placed a hand on his shoulder.

  — You

  okay?

  Vincent

  nodded, even though it was a lie.

  No.

  I’m not okay. Because this kid in a maid outfit is better than me.

  And everyone sees it. And there’s nothing I can do.

  [Psyche:

  72% → 71%]

  VoodUwU

  approached the Scoloptera carcasses, staff raised, her smile back on

  her face.

  — Nyaa

  ~ Now, VoodUwU is going to show minna something super cool ~ ?

  She

  pointed her staff at the Scoloptera Vincent had killed and whispered

  an incantation. The leeches in the vessel pulsed, glowing with a dark

  red light.

  — Parasitic

  Resurrection ~ ?

  A

  dozen leeches shot out, burrowing into the Scoloptera's corpse. The

  body convulsed, lifted, legs twitching. And the Scoloptera stood up.

  Dead,

  but standing. Eyes empty, glowing with a red light. Controlled.

  

[Reanimated

  Luminescent Scoloptera - Under control of VoodUwU_Kawa?]

  Vincent

  felt his heart stop.

  She

  can REZ them. She can bring back the mobs. Dammit. That means... that

  means even if someone touches the bodies, I can still get the hearts.

  Because she can bring them back. And I can kill them again. And take

  their hearts.

  

[Psyche:

  71% → 74%] (Sudden hope)

  VoodUwU

  turned toward Vincent, her smile kawaii but her eyes calculating.

  — You

  wanted their hearts, right, Vincent-kun?

  Vincent

  blinked.

  — How

  did you...

  — Nova-chan

  told me. Don’t worry ~ I can bring them back as many times as you

  want, nyaa ~ ?

  She

  winked.

  — But

  you’ll have to be nice to VoodUwU, ne ~ ?

  Vincent

  didn't know what to say. Because on one hand, she was insufferable.

  But on the other, she had just offered him exactly what he needed.

  Dammit.

  I can’t hate her. Even if I want to. Because she’s useful.

  Because she’s strong. Because she can help me.

  [Psyche:

  74% → 76%]

  Melo

  smiled, placing his hand on Vincent’s shoulder again.

  — See?

  I told you she was alright.

  Vincent

  sighed.

  — Yeah.

  Yeah, OK. She’s... alright.

  Even

  if she talks like a toddler. Even if she wears a ridiculous maid

  dress. Even if she says "nyaa" every five seconds. She’s

  strong. And that’s all that matters. Right?

  [Psyche:

  76%] (Stable, forced acceptance)

  Nova

  crossed her arms, satisfied.

  — Good.

  Test passed. VoodUwU, welcome to the Elite group.

  VoodUwU

  clapped her hands.

  — Yatta

  ~ Thank you, Nova-chan ~ ?

  She

  turned to her stream, her voice rising in pitch.

  — Did

  you see, minna? VoodUwU is part of an Elite group now ~ We’re going

  to become the strongest in TRAUM, nyaa ~ ?

  The

  Twitch chat exploded with enthusiastic messages. Vincent looked away,

  jaw clenched.

  Yeah.

  Great. Fantastic. Now I’m going to have to put up with this every

  session. Holy shit.

  [Psyche:

  76% → 75%]

  But

  Melo was there, his hand still on his shoulder, his smile soothing.

  And for now, that was enough.