Apocalypse: System of lotteries

Henry scanned the quickly disappearing shadows in the bushes, unable to discern what they were, and continued to command the puppet to capture the retreating, Holy Maiden.

[Your frogs are anxious, thinking that if you don't come soon, the girlfriend they found for you will be taken away... Foodie prepares to activate its fighting spirit, wanting to strike the knight puppet...]

[Your frogs are delighted to see you coming and feel reassured, ready to lie in the grass and watch a blockbuster movie... They've even thought of a movie title... "Ming Battles Two Men to Save His Wife"]

"..."

Damn it! Ming nearly choked on the fruit he was biting upon hearing the movie title.

Can you two stop causing trouble?

"So, you have a bodyguard. No wonder you're so composed." Henry looked at the man who suddenly appeared and waved his hand, the knight puppet returning to his side.

Ming scanned the cloaked man with[Eagle Eye]:

Henry, Level 29 Puppet Master.

[Weakness: you Fighting him is like child's play...]

After checking the attributes and not paying attention to the one-star King-level puppet, Ming turned to Alice.

"You should leave now. This has nothing to do with you, and God wouldn't want me to involve you. Hurry up and go."

"That won't do. There's still half a mountain of fruit waiting for you to pick." Ming glanced at Alice nonchalantly, simultaneously giving her a  look.

"…"

Could you not conjure a fabrication to bewitch me with the sentiment? Very well, in the recesses of your heart, I am but a mere instrument, a tool in your pick fruit, I understood~

But, faced with death, your thoughts still fixate on plucking fruit? This Henry is a puppeteer who manipulates a king-level puppet! Doth fear elude you entirely?

Ming cast a sidelong glance at Henry and quipped with a grin, "Have you come to aid me in harvesting fruit?"

"…"

Upon hearing this, Alice crumbled in despair. It seems my servitude as your instrument no longer satiates your desires, you incorrigible scoundrel!

"Esteemed Holy Maiden, though I comprehend not the discourse of your protector, I sense from his smile an unwavering self-assuredness. I shall kill him first, and then bring back you!"

With a flick of his wrist, Henry sent his knightly puppet hurtling toward the man before him.

As Ming sidestepped to the left, the knight's sword narrowly attack him, striking the ground instead. In that instant, Alice commenced her incantation, preparing to bestow the Sacred War Song buff upon Ming.

The knightly puppet raised its sword once more, slashing diagonally. The blade grazed Ming's visage, perilously close.

[Your frogs regard you, bewildered. Such adversaries are customarily trounced quickly by your might... You seem amiss today...]

[Da Vinci is perplexed. A prime opportunity for a valiant rescue, yet you deliberately suppress your true prowess...]

"Be cautious!" Alice's sound rang out as Twin beams of golden light enshrouded both Ming and Alice.

[Sacred War Song buff attained, all attributes enhanced by 10%, persisting for 10 minutes]

"Ah, an attribute boost, I see." Yet this augmentation effect failed to astonish Ming, as the sacred song practitioners he had encountered all possessed analogous psionic techniques.

Initially, Ming sought to obtain information about Alice's psionic techniques through the eagle eye, as his eagle-eyed perception could not penetrate her.

Unexpectedly, Henry's arrival presented him with a simpler approach. Yet Ming felt that Alice's psionic techniques couldn't be so mundane, so he continued to restrain his true capabilities, allowing her to unleash her powers without reservation.

Observing the man before him, who could only dodge under the pressure of his puppet, Henry smugly addressed Alice, "Esteemed Holy Maiden, if you refuse  me, I shall have no choice but to eliminate your protector."

In desperation, Alice implored, "Don't worry about me! I know you don't want me to come to harm, and I'm touched, but this matter has naught to do with you. I cannot bear to see you hurt for the sake of a stranger like myself."

Having narrowly evaded another perilous strike, Ming turned to Alice and urged, "Hold your tongue~ Keep singing and continue to enhance my state."

"…" Alice felt a mix of emotions, both moved and disconcerted. He was brave, a good man; but if only he were mute. With that thought, she began chanting the Song of Sacred Armor, her gaze never leaving Ming, hoping he could hold out until her incantation concluded.

[Foodie watches as you are subdued by the knightly puppet, wanting to offer assistance…]

[Da Vinci understands... It reassures Foodie, explaining that Ming is enacting a tragic scene...]

[Da Vinci patiently tells Foodie that Ming aims to show Alice how he is protecting her with his life, to make her fall deeply in love with him…]

[Foodie gazes at you with admiration, realizing that Ming is truly a master of the art of love… Teach me when we return home; I too wish to learn…]

At this moment, Alice's incantation of the Song of Sacred Armor came to an end, and twin beams of golden light descended upon her and Ming.

[Song of Sacred Armor effect obtained: Invincibility for 3 seconds, following invincibility, defense increased by 50% for 3 minutes]

"Invincibility  for the whole party?"

Ming evaded the knightly puppet's slash, thinking to himself how useful this skill was; no wonder Henry wished to take Alice back.

Once more, he narrowly dodged a lethal blow, each time on the cusp of being struck by the puppet, yet miraculously avoiding attack.

"Esteemed Holy Maiden, have you made up your mind?" Henry spoke calmly, "I grant you but 10 seconds to ponder!"

Ming sidestepped the puppet's assault and retorted, "Keep singing~ Pay no heed to his prattle!"

"Very well!" Alice replied, "I require three minutes to chant the Sacred Light Purification. Can you hold?"

Ming avoided another attack and gazed at her with a smile, "of course, dear~?"

"…"

A blush crept across Alice's face, ming's gaze make her heartbeat rise! Subsequently, she began her incantation of the Sacred Light Purification.

"You want to delay the time? Dream on!" Henry sneered and waved a hand, "Knight, charge!"

At his command, the knightly puppet, which had been exchanging blows with Ming, abruptly retreated. A psionic warhorse materialized, and the puppet vaulted into the saddle, gripping a heavy lance.

"Slay!"

With a pointed gesture from Henry, the puppet's lance led the charge, the warhorse neighing as it launched its assault.

Ming glanced back at Alice, giving her a meaningful look, "Sing beautifully~ Don't go off-key~"

"…"

Alice wore a vexed expression, be careful, you!

Ming turned his head and, in the nick of time, sidestepped the lance aimed at his chest. He feigned disarray, spinning around to regain his footing.

"Damnation!" Henry fumed, "That was mere luck, keep attacking!"

The knightly puppet raised its lance again, spurring its steed to charge.

With an adroit posture, Ming evaded the onslaught once more.

"…"

Henry was both astonished and enraged. How had that guy dodged an attack that should have been a sure hit? He activated the puppet's skill: "Knight's Duel!"

The Knight's Duel forced a one-on-one confrontation!

At that moment, Alice bellowed, "Sacred Light Purification!" A beam of golden light struck the charging puppet, which then halted mid-assault, standing stupefied in place. Alice, having exhausted her mental strength, looked at Ming with dizziness.

"Why don't you hasten to my side and hug me~"