Chapter 31: Recharge

Ray never opened his eyes. Every sense in his body had already been seized by the aphrodisiac pollen. The moment May stepped closer, that faint sweet scent hooked straight into his nose and refused to let go.

"Is this rope... the real deal?"

"Of course it is. Don’t worry."

"Fine. Less talking. Just restrain me already or the Skinwalker Demon will hit even harder!"

May crouched down and stared at the broad, iron-hard expanse of his body, at the sweat-slick skin and the ridges of muscle that disappeared beneath his waistband. For a second she genuinely didn’t know where to start.

"Ray... sit on the floor. Standing makes this harder."

Ray slid down the wall and settled cross-legged.

"Hurry. The toxin’s still in me. Otherwise I’m going to do something that can’t be undone for five days straight!"

His fists rested on his knees, every muscle drawn so tight it looked ready to snap.

May sucked in a deep breath, gripped the system-issued item, and moved behind him. She fumbled clumsily with the rope.

"Alright, I’m starting."

"Yeah..."

Ray kept his eyes shut, jaw clenched.

She had just gotten the first loop in place when everything went sideways. Ray let out a low grunt. The muscles across his back suddenly swelled.

"...Fuck. Is this the Skinwalker Demon’s doing too? Why is everything so hard to explain?!"

May’s eyes went wide. Inside her head, she was screaming.

This damn system... if anyone saw this, they’d think I had some crazy kink!

Ray’s breathing grew heavier. He kept his head down, forehead pressed against the backs of his clasped hands. Sweat had completely soaked his short hair.

"You... finished yet?" His voice was buried deep in his throat.

"Not yet. This hotel’s rope is... weird. Turn around a bit."

To get a proper hold, she had no choice but to straddle him, placing her hips over his legs.

Damn, she thought, this guy sure does not waste his time... What a... solid reaction.

Pretending she noticed nothing, May leaned forward and reached for the next loop. The movement inevitably brought her soft skin against his cheek.

Ray’s breath caught. He jerked his head sharply to the side, trying to escape the contact.

But—

"Ray, stop moving..."

As she spoke, her fingers brushed across—

His skin was scorching. The muscle underneath felt hard enough to break stone. When her fingertips slid over the left side of his chest, they paused.

Is that...?

Her mind blanked for a second. She couldn’t help herself.

"Ngh—"

Ray’s head snapped back. Veins stood out sharply along his neck. A heavily suppressed groan tore from deep in his throat—more painful than taking a blade on the battlefield, yet threaded with something that refused to be named.

His eyes flew open and locked onto her.

"You..." He was panting hard, lips cracked. "Don’t mess around."

May’s face burned. She yanked her hand back and played dumb.

"I felt a bug. Just trying to flick it off."

"Don’t. Mess. Around."

Ray gritted his teeth. Sweat rolled from his chin and dropped onto the back of her hand.

"Maybe I was seeing things."

Her gaze drifted lower, but—

"Ray... isn’t this a little too... tight?"

Ray clamped down on his back molars so hard the veins at his temples stood out. Sweat slid down his cheeks and hit the floor.

"This isn’t working. There’s something wrong with this whole place—get me out of these ropes!"

His voice had gone completely hoarse, like sandpaper scraping stone.

"Doesn’t look like I can, Boss. What do we do? Are we both getting eaten by the Skinwalker Demon?!"

The system’s cold mechanical voice cut through her mind.

[Ding. Item energy insufficient. Unable to activate partial defense net. Host must recharge immediately.]

May’s heart skipped. "How do I recharge? Burn coal or plug into a socket?"

[Recharge method: Host must kiss the user’s neck for no less than three continuous seconds.]

She sucked in a sharp breath.

This damn system only ever gave life-threatening tasks! Kissing his neck for 3 seconds? He would snap the ropes in a second and crush her with a single blow.

Bang—!

A deafening crash exploded outside. The solid door was punched clean through. Foul-smelling viscous fluid and splinters of wood sprayed into the room. The Skinwalker Demon’s rotting face pressed against the hole, mouth stretched wide in a piercing shriek.

"Hurry! That thing’s coming in!"

Ray’s eyes were blood-red. Every muscle in his bound body strained against the ropes.

May panicked. Without a recharge, there would be no defense net. Bound like this, Ray was nothing but a living target.

Fine—I’ll kiss him! Do I have anything to lose?

Just please don’t kill me afterward, Boss!

Though she had to admit... this system was basically a blessing. A man built like this was both handsome and ridiculously well-put-together. Kissing him would be a pleasure.

She squeezed her eyes shut, grabbed his broad shoulders with both hands, rose onto her toes, and pressed her lips against his throat.

Ray was about to curse when a sudden soft, warm pressure settled over his Adam’s apple.

It was May’s lips.

The damp heat sank through his scorching skin and flooded every nerve. His entire body jolted as if struck by lightning.

"Ugh..."

A low growl rumbled from his throat. May felt the hard ridge of his Adam’s apple roll beneath her lips.

The system still hadn’t chimed. She could only force herself to keep going...

Boom!

Ray detonated. Both arms exploded outward with raw force.

[Task completion detected! Ten doses of Diamond Kidney injected into Boss!]

[Combat power off the charts!]

The instant the ropes shattered, Ray didn’t collapse—he rose like a fully awakened predator. One brutal kick slammed into the door.

The Skinwalker Demon that had already forced half its body through the opening never even managed a scream. The kick caved in its chest and sent it flying five meters down the corridor, crashing into the far wall.

Ray charged out after it, fists raised.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several heavy impacts followed. Half the creature’s body was torn apart on the spot. Green blood splattered the entire hallway.

May hadn’t even finished the breath of relief or managed to shout when Ray spun around.

Those eyes were still dripping blood-red.

He strode back into the room, bringing a gust of the same foul wind with him.

"R-Ray...?"