Chapter 174: I Can’t Breathe...

Chapter 174: Chapter 174: I Can’t Breathe...

The small candlelight flickered in the maiden’s crimson eyes, which were filled with the image of the man before her.

Though she was so nervous that even her eyelashes trembled, she kept her head held high, stubbornly refusing to retreat even half a step.

Lance looked at the face so close to his, flushed crimson with shyness.

He knew, of course, that there was no such absurd custom on Earth requiring a kiss on one’s birthday.

But he didn’t expose her clumsy attempt.

The maiden had already revealed her feelings to him without reservation.

Lance stood up, walked around the small round table, and came to stand before Cecilia.

"This isn’t a custom, Cecilia."

As Lance gently cupped her palm-sized face, an almost inaudible, trembling gasp escaped the maiden’s nose.

What began as a tentative, gentle touch was like a spark thrown into a pile of dry kindling.

The skin hunger suppressed within the Half-Elf erupted the moment she felt the warmth of Lance’s body, like a flood breaking through a dam.

The maiden’s hands wrapped around Lance’s neck, and she obediently closed her eyes.

Lance leaned in slowly, his movements restrained and gentle. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

The moment their lips touched...

"Ngh..."

An incredibly sweet hum escaped uncontrollably from Cecilia’s throat.

[System Notification: You have engaged in a second spiritual-desire contact with the Half-Elf. The Magic Power within the Half-Elf’s body is vibrating violently! Half-Elf Research Progress +13. Current Level 3 (55/100)]

The previous progress of over 40 had come purely from the last time he’d replenished her magic.

The notification that popped up on the panel failed to distract Lance.

Because the maiden in his arms was reacting in such an inexperienced and adorable way.

Cecilia was like a little fish gasping for air, her hands clutching helplessly at Lance’s neck.

After just a simple pressing of lips that lasted for about ten seconds, Lance pulled back a little.

"Now..."

Lance’s breath ghosted over the tip of her nose. "Did my feelings get through?"

Cecilia dazedly opened her eyes a crack, a film of moisture already clouding her vision.

"Ooh..."

The corners of the maiden’s eyes were red. Instead of loosening her grip on Lance’s neck, she pulled him down forcefully.

She tilted up her long, swan-like neck and actively chased after Lance’s retreating lips, her voice muffled and soft, tinged with an unreasonable, coquettish innocence.

"No... It’s not enough..."

At this unguarded demand, a flash passed through Lance’s dark gold eyes. The desire of the Dragon Descendant seemed to begin to boil.

One of his hands slid up her back to support the nape of her neck.

His other hand wrapped around her slender waist, which was barely a handful, lifting her completely from the chair and setting her on the table before kissing her again.

[System Notification: Half-Elf detected entering a dependent state due to the ’Flowering Stage’! Your aura is permeating her soul imprint. Research Progress has surged by +25. Current Level 3 (80/100)]

Cecilia felt like she was about to melt.

Breathing became extremely difficult.

Because of that damned [Joy Spring] Trait, Lance’s heated breath, and even the tiny beads of sweat on his skin, were like poison to the Half-Elf Maiden at this moment.

"La... Lance..."

Her voice was fragmented, laced with a sweet, whimpering tone. "I can’t... I can’t breathe..."

But when Lance pulled back to give her some space,

the maiden would quickly tighten her arms and chase after him, offering her lips once more.

Just then, the short birthday candle on the table finally burned down to its end.

With a soft SIZZLE, the flame died, leaving behind a wisp of blue smoke and plunging the two of them into darkness.

However, in the darkness, only the "Moonlight Moss Amber" on Cecilia’s wrist emitted a faint, silver-blue glow.

The fluorescent light flickered with her rapid breaths, casting ambiguous shadows on the wall.

A long, lingering kiss finally, reluctantly, ended.

[Research Progress +20! Current Level 3 (100/100). Maximum threshold has been breached!]

[Biological Research Level has increased: Level 3 → Level 4]

[Rapidly completing Half-Elf Illustrated Guide information...]

[Detected that the research subject is an individual with extremely high destiny weight and a unique Talent: Cecilia Rosenthal]

[Adapting Traits based on the research subject’s Talent... Congratulations, you have acquired the Research Trait: Spiritual-Desire Coexistence: Source Material Harmonization (Cecilia Rosenthal)]

Cecilia was panting heavily, the tips of her ears shockingly hot, the tear tracks at the corners of her eyes not yet dry.

Seeing Cecilia gasping for breath, Lance thought he should let her calm down.

Their recent intimacy had consumed too much of the maiden’s stamina.

Lance lowered his head and gently tucked the silver strands of hair that had fallen across her forehead behind her ear.

His voice was tinged with a suppressed hoarseness. "It’s a little chilly on the first floor. I’ll take you upstairs to my room to rest for a bit."

His intention was only to let Cecilia calm her racing heart in the quiet of his bedroom.

But seeing the way the maiden’s legs were weak, he estimated she probably couldn’t even walk to the staircase on her own.

So, Lance extended his sturdy arms, preparing to carry her up directly.

However, just as the four words "go upstairs and rest" dissipated into the air,

disaster struck!

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion erupted in the living room.

A dazzling purple light suddenly flared up around Lance’s body.

He felt as if a giant, invisible hand had instantly wrapped itself tightly around him.

It was followed by an immense, irresistible pushing force.

With a loud BANG!

The various furnishings in the house were swept up by the violent gust of air. Pots, pans, bowls, and plates clattered to the ground amidst splintered wood.

"Senior!"

Cecilia didn’t even have time to cry out in alarm before the warm arm wrapped around her waist vanished.

Lance’s body was seized by that immense force and sent crashing violently into the thick stone wall outside in the courtyard.

The terrifying impact instantly created a spiderweb of cracks on the hard surface of the wall.

Stone chips flew everywhere.

"This Spell structure..."

Seeing that translucent purple Force Field, Cecilia instantly knew who the Caster outside was.

Ignoring her weak legs, she stumbled over to the broken window and shouted nervously, "Auntie! Don’t hurt him! He’s my partner!"

This was a modified Second Ring Spell.

It was called [Grip of Restraint].

This was her auntie’s favorite move for teaching troublemakers a lesson during practical combat classes at the academy.

This Spell could forcibly distort local space, creating a physical suppression Force Field made of highly concentrated Magic Power.

Furthermore, its destructive power could fluctuate within a huge range, depending on the amount of Ethereal Magic Power the Caster put into it.