America: The Cremator

Chapter 181 [The American Dream☆☆☆☆] and the S-Class Mystery!

Stella's hand, which was about to type, froze in mid-air. She pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses and scanned Su Long back and forth.

"I never imagined you could fight against such a monster."

"People always have to improve, otherwise they'll become food for those monsters sooner or later," Su Long adjusted the IV line and casually asked, "Speaking of which, do you personally treat every VIP-level wounded person who's brought in?"

Stella raised her chin slightly, exuding a haughty air: "Ordinary patients can't get me to come."

Su Long leaned back in his leather recliner, adjusted the position of his left arm, and chuckled, "Looks like you came here because of me."

Stella snorted coldly, but did not refute. Instead, she got up and walked outside: "Your basic treatment is done. All that's left is to rest and let your brain repair its overdrawn mental energy. I still have some work to do, so I'll go back to the lab first."

After Stella left, only the beeping of medical equipment remained in the ward.

Su Long sighed, closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into his mind.

Experience points: 80; Mithril coins: 0

Soul Crystals: 2

After seeing the current reserves of various resources, Su Long's heart couldn't help but beat faster.

With 80 experience points and two extremely precious soul crystals, he can raise both attributes to four stars as long as he accumulates more experience points!

After the initial excitement subsided, Su Long's gaze moved downwards, settling on the new entry he had just extracted from the Nightmare Butterfly's corpse.

【Flame Mist Realm☆】

[Type]: Blessing [Description]: The host can release a dense fog 10 meters in diameter, composed of special high-temperature particles. This fog obstructs the vision of enemy targets, preventing them from seeing the host. Enemy targets who inhale or come into contact with the fog will suffer continuous high-temperature burning damage and intense pain.

[Review]: Are you going to play or not?

Su Long read through the entry description word by word, and couldn't help but curse under his breath.

This skill is too creepy!

A smoke grenade with one-way vision, combined with a continuous incendiary grenade that covers indiscriminately, would be an absolutely unbalanced, wheelchair-level skill in an FPS shooting game.

Without much hesitation, Su Long directly consumed 10 experience points to upgrade [Flame Mist Realm] to two stars.

The light on the surface of the [Flame Mist Realm] entry flickered, and the star rating changed accordingly.

【Flame Mist Realm☆☆】

[Type]: Blessing [Description]: The host can release a dense fog 30 meters in diameter, composed of special high-temperature particles. This fog obstructs the vision of enemy targets, preventing them from seeing the host and blocking their sensory abilities. Enemy targets who inhale or come into contact with the fog will suffer continuous high-temperature burning damage from the inside out, accompanied by intense pain and dizziness.

[Comment]: Where is the report button?!

Looking at the newly added effects, Su Long nodded unconsciously. This is great! One-way smoke + incendiary bomb + tear gas, it's incredibly sneaky!

Having confirmed the effects of the upgraded entries, he returned his gaze to the resource panel.

The experience points have changed; there are 70 points left, enough to push a core term to a higher dimension.

【Flame Fist and Flame Bullet☆☆☆】, 【Lucas's Contract☆☆☆】, 【Sirius's Contract☆☆☆】, 【Raphael's Contract☆☆☆】, 【The American Dream☆☆☆

Su Long glanced at the remaining three-star attributes. The first four were all geared towards output, while [American Dream] was purely for survival.

Having experienced enemies like the Nightmare Butterfly who wielded the rules of dimensional reduction, he knew very well that no matter how high his output was, it had to be based on the premise of survival.

With a thought, Su Long deducted 50 experience points and a soul crystal from the panel. The "American Dream" entry immediately glowed white, and its star rating changed accordingly.

The American Dream ☆☆☆☆

Type: Blessing Description: The host can activate this effect actively or after suffering severe injury and falling into a coma, restoring the body to its state 3 minutes prior. This state includes health level, physical strength, and mental state, but excludes memories. (Cooldown: Once every 2 days)

Evaluation: A get-out-of-jail-free card!

Looking at the new entry, Su Long's breathing became heavier.

Go back to three minutes ago! And reset your health, stamina, and mental state all at once!

This means his room for maneuver has been greatly increased; he can withstand three minutes of damage and then return to an unharmed state!

Furthermore, the skill cooldown time has been significantly reduced from once every 3 days to once every 2 days.

This greatly increased his chances of survival.

Those 50 experience points and one Soul Crystal were well worth the money.

After closing the entry interface, Su Long looked at the remaining 20 experience points and then brought up his personal basic attribute panel.

[Constitution: 60 (Iron Body!)]

Agility: 60 (Starting at zero frames!)

[Spiritual Vision: 60 (Eagle Eyes!)]

[Spirit: 80 (A childlike heart!)]

[Charm: 60 (Charming and dashing!)]

[Domain: 20 (Prototype!)]

Looking at the newly added domain attribute, Su Long was somewhat surprised; the initial value of this attribute was not zero, but 20.

0

Clearly, the power of the domain did not appear out of thin air tonight.

Even before this, he had already conducted several real-world battles in the "Domain of the Billion-Dollar Incinerator".

This has allowed him to continuously deepen his understanding of the rules of the domain.

Now, the system simply quantifies and presents his accumulated practical experience, continuous training and improvement in the most intuitive data form.

20 points represents the foundation he has honed through countless battles in his domain.

Su Long looked at the remaining 20 experience points.

Currently, most of his attributes are around 60, except for his spirit, which has risen to 80 due to special circumstances. With only 20 points in his domain attribute, it's hard for him not to want to improve this "weak point".

Having made up his mind, Su Long put all of his last 20 experience points into his domain attribute.

The numbers on the panel jumped rapidly.

[Sector: 40 (Mature!)]

Immediately afterwards, semi-transparent system prompts popped up one after another.

[Domain attribute enters a new stage! Domain aggression has increased significantly, domain expansion speed has increased markedly, and the mental energy consumed to maintain the domain has decreased slightly.]

After upgrading the domain, Su Long completely relaxed and rested. The numbers on the electronic clock on the wall ticked, and twenty minutes passed in silence.

The ward door was pushed open, and Stella walked in carrying a stainless steel medical tray.

She glanced at the empty IV bag, walked briskly to the recliner, tore off the medical tape securing Su Long's hand, and pulled out the needle.

Su Long glanced down at the needle that had been tossed into the tray.

It was a thick, black metal tube, twice as thick as a regular IV needle, its tip gleaming with a cold, sharp light.

"This thing is terrifying," Su Long couldn't help but mutter.

As Stella packed up the instruments, she said irritably, "Do you take me for some kind of heartless doctor? Someone who tortures you with these kinds of instruments?"

"Without this largest needle, it's impossible to get it into your vein. If your physical condition continues to improve, I'll have to order some needles used for injecting cattle."

Su Long stretched out his arms and, confirming that the soreness in his brain had subsided considerably, said with satisfaction, "Hmm, I feel much better now."

He glanced at the digital clock on the wall; the green numbers showed it was four in the morning. He turned to Stella and asked, "Are you off work now?"

Stella hung the patient record board back on the metal shelf at the foot of the bed and joked, "Yeah, I could have gone home a long time ago. But we have a VIP patient who needs special care, don't we?"

Su Long stood up, straightened his slightly wrinkled casual jacket, and invited with a smile, "Since you're off work, why don't you do me the honor of going out for a stroll?"

Stella was visibly surprised when she heard Sulong's suggestion.

She pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, her gaze lingering on Su Long's face for two seconds before she said, "I thought you would only invite me when I'm useful to you."

Su Long shrugged helplessly: "Of course not. I just felt that since you've been working overtime for me until now, it's only right that I treat you to a coffee or some fresh air."

"Do you have a destination?" Stella countered.

Su Long shook his head and replied, "No, I don't know. Do you have any recommendations?"

Stella glanced at Suron for a few seconds, then walked towards the ward door. "Yes. Come with me."

After waiting for a moment outside Stella's office, she changed into a fitted casual outfit and then led Su Long to the underground parking lot.

As soon as you step out of the elevator, you're greeted by a sleek red Porsche 718.

She pressed the car key, and the sports car's headlights flashed twice.

Stella opened the driver's side door, got in, then opened the convertible top and tilted her head toward Suron, who was still standing outside: "Get in."

Su Long got into the passenger seat, Stella stepped on the gas, and the Porsche sped out of the garage and into the empty streets of Seattle in the early morning.

The car stopped at a 7-Eleven convenience store, where Stella briefly took him inside to buy two hot lattes and a large bag of snacks before returning to the car.

"Professor Stella, where are we headed?" Suron asked.

Stella placed the latte on the cup holder, fastened her seatbelt, and replied, "Alki Beach."

"When I was a child, my father often liked to bring me here."

Her voice was soft, conveying a rare sense of relaxation.

Surong turned his head and his gaze fell on Stella's profile.

Stella's expression was exceptionally gentle at that moment.

A cold wind blew up a few strands of her golden hair, which danced in the dim light of the carriage and occasionally brushed against her face.

The streetlights cast shadows that danced rapidly across Stella's face.

Her high, straight nose was clearly outlined in the light and shadow, and her elegant jawline extended to her slender neck, hidden at the edge of her turtleneck sweater.

Su Long looked at her hair blowing in the wind and her profile, which looked particularly charming in the night.

Stella, once she takes off her white coat, possesses a completely different kind of attraction—a genuine and vibrant charm that comes from letting down her guard.

The roar of the engine gradually subsided on the empty seaside boulevard, and the red Porsche 718 came to a steady stop in a temporary parking space by the roadside.

As the two opened the car door, the chilly sea breeze of the early morning rushed towards them, carrying the salty and watery smell unique to Puget Sound.

Su Long took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs and completely washing away the acrid smell and bloody stench he had picked up in the underground cabin.

They walked side by side along the paved walking path on Alki Beach.

One side of the walkway is a long stretch of fine sandy beach, where waves wash over the coastline, making a rhythmic splashing sound.

On the other side are low bushes and scattered picnic benches.

Looking into the distance, the outline of the Alki Point Monument appears and disappears in the darkness, like a lonely lighthouse.

The horizon was beginning to change; the once-dark night was torn open, and a faint blue-gray light appeared on the horizon.

The silhouette of Mount Rainier in the distance was revealed in the dim light.

The two slowed their pace, with Surong deliberately slowing down to match Stella's rhythm.

Stella was wearing a camel-colored trench coat over a soft chiffon blouse and slim-fitting dark jeans.

A strong sea breeze blew by, and her close-fitting clothes perfectly outlined her tall and graceful figure.

She kept her head down, her gaze fixed on the road beneath her feet, occasionally lifting her foot to kick a small pebble scattered on the side of the road.

The pebbles rolled far across the road, making a crisp, clear sound that was especially distinct in the quiet of the early morning.

The sea breeze tousled her golden hair, and a few strands playfully brushed against her cheeks.

Her wire-rimmed glasses would occasionally slip down to the tip of her nose, and she would raise her hand and gently push the frame back with her index finger.

"The sun is about to rise." Su Long broke the silence between the two, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sea met the sky in the distance.

"Yes." Stella stopped and gazed at the distant sea, her voice soft. "Actually, the process of waiting for the sunrise is beautiful in itself."

The sea breeze grew stronger in gusts. Su Long turned to look at her thin clothes and asked, "Aren't you cold?"

"It's alright." Stella shook her head, put her hands in the pockets of her trench coat, and continued walking.

The two continued walking until they reached the end of the trail. There, they found a sheltered corner of the beach, with several large, flat rocks scattered about in a pleasing manner. Ahead lay the open sea, completely exposed to the elements.

The waves rolled and crashed all the way down to the bottom of the reef.

The sky was rapidly changing color, gradually shifting from blue-gray to a rich pinkish-purple. The sea reflected all the sunlight, and the whole world was enveloped in this soft and dreamy color.

Su Long walked to a large rock and brushed away the remaining sand and moisture from its surface with his hand: "Sit here."

Stella went over and sat down next to him.

Su Long sat down next to her, leaving about a fist's distance between them, which was neither too intimate nor too distant.

Su Long took the two hot lattes out of the plastic bag, handed one over, and then tore open a bag of potato chips.

"That's all the convenience store has, just make do with this." Su Long handed her the potato chips.

Stella took the latte, held the paper cup with both hands, and took a small sip.

The warm latte slid down my esophagus, dispelling the slight chill in my body.

She picked up a potato chip and put it in her mouth, chewing it gently. The medical expert, who usually pays great attention to healthy eating, showed no resistance to this high-calorie junk food at this moment.

After taking a few bites of snacks, Stella suddenly put down her paper cup, bent down, and untied the laces of her flat ankle boots.

She took off her shoes and neatly placed them next to the rocks, along with her socks.

A pair of fair and shapely feet were exposed to the air.

The toes are rounded, and the arch of the foot is beautifully curved.

She dangled her feet over the edge of the reef, her toes lightly touching the sand below.

A wave surged in, and the icy seawater washed over the beach, lapping against the backs of her feet.

Stella instinctively twitched her toes, then relaxed, letting the seawater wash over her skin again and again.

"Want to listen to some music together?" Stella turned to look at Suron.

Su Long nodded: "Okay."

Stella pulled an old Sony Walkman and a pair of tangled wired headphones from her trench coat pocket.

She skillfully untangled the knot in the cable and handed one of the earbuds to Su Long, but the headphone cable wasn't long enough.

Stella smiled slightly and gestured, "Come closer."

Su Long moved closer to her, took the earplug, and put it in his right ear.

Stella pressed play, and a soothing, low piano prelude filled her ears, followed by the distinctive voices of Taylor Swift and Bonlver.

The melody of "Eile" flows gently in the sea breeze, carrying an indescribable sense of brokenness and relief.

It was extremely quiet around me, with only the music from my headphones and the white noise of waves crashing against the rocks.

The sun finally rose.

A red sun broke free from the sea level and leaped into the sky.

The dazzling sunlight instantly tore through the last vestiges of night, and the distant summit of Mount Rainier was bathed in a dazzling golden light.

The sky was bright.

Su Long turned his head, and in the morning light, he could clearly see Stella's deep eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses.

The sunlight cast soft shadows on her profile, making even the fine downy hairs on her cheeks clearly visible.

Because of the headphone cord, the two were extremely close, their shoulders almost touching.

Su Long could even smell the faint scent of disinfectant mixed with the fresh fragrance of shampoo on her.

Stella noticed Su Long's gaze. She didn't turn her head, but her fingers, which were resting on her knees, curled slightly.

"When was the last time you watched the sunrise here?" Su Long asked casually, shifting his gaze to the shimmering sea.

Stella was silent for a moment, the light losing focus, as if she were lost in some distant memory.

"Six years ago." Her voice was very soft, almost carried away by the sea breeze. "I haven't been here since my father passed away."

Su Long took a sip of his latte, which had grown a little cold, and crumpled the paper cup.

"I entered your dream when we were fighting against the Smiling Mother."

He turned to look at Stella's profile, his tone certain: "If I'm not mistaken, your father must have died at the hands of some strange force."

Stella stiffened slightly, then slowly nodded.

"Yes."

"Perhaps you can tell me what's special about it," Suron said, fiddling with the empty paper cup in his hand. "If I encounter it in a future mission, I'll help you deal with it."

He now has the confidence to do so.

With the trump cards of the billions of crematoriums and infinite spiritual power, he was confident that he could burn them to ashes as long as he didn't encounter a rule-based monster that was completely incomprehensible.

Stella turned her head and looked at Su Long's eyes, which were bloodshot but still sharp.

Her fingers clenched in the trench coat pocket, then slowly loosened.

"Then it's better if you don't meet her." Stella lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the surging waves at her feet.

Why?

"I hope you live." Stella's voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling sense of oppression.

She raised her head, looked directly into Su Long's eyes, and said, word by word, "The one who killed my father was an S-class monster."

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