They may be the most foolish people, yet it is because of them that the world continues to move forward.
Healing. Devotion. Altruism. This is Abundance in its purest form, undistorted by so called believer.
And Ena once walked this Path as well. One could say she had stepped onto it even before the name of Abundance was born.
…
…
"It… hurts."
The arrow pierced her body like a spear. Pain spread violently from her abdomen, overwhelming her senses. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes as her body gave way.
She had imagined she would remain calm, like the heroes in stories who endure wounds without flinching.
But reality was different.
She wasn't that kind of person.
She was only a healer.
It turned out that if you're afraid of pain, you should put all your points into Defense. Putting them all into Vitality still hurts, just like what she was experiencing now.
Arlan sword surged with violet lightning as he brought it down toward the Trampler.
"Miss Ena!"
"Should we take it out?!"
"Someone help her!"
The girl Ena had shielded clung to her, crying uncontrollably, while several young Scholars rushed forward, trying to remove the arrow.
"Don't touch it!" Ena stopped them quickly.
"I… I'm okay." She takes a deep breath.
Then, fine vines began to grow from the wound, wrapping around the arrow and pulling it free. As it left her body, a soft green light covered the injury. Within moments, the wound disappeared completely.
Then just as she was preparing to use the Power of Abundance to help Arlan fight the Trampler, she saw several incredibly thick vines pierce through the cabin ceiling. The vines spread downward, strangling the originally aggressive Trampler like giant pythons.
"What is… this?!" Arlan muttered, his guard rising instantly.
He raised his sword, preparing for a possible follow-up attack. However, the vines did not attack him. Instead, they bypassed him and whipped toward a masked individual.
"Hahahaha! She'll be fine. Why are you so worked up?"
The person touched their shattered mask, then vanished into a puff of smoke. The vines withdrew just as suddenly as they had appeared.
Calm returned, leaving behind only the broken ceiling and the vanished figure.
What felt like a life and death crisis turned out to be nothing more than a false alarm. At that moment, somewhere in the universe, an Emanator of Abundance was frantically chasing a Masked Fool.
"…That… really scared me" Ena looked up and realized everyone was staring at her.
Arlan thought for a moment, then asked, "Miss Ena, are you alright? Do you know what just happened?"
"I'm fine. Abundance blessings allow my body to recover quickly. But I don't understand those vines either. I did see someone wearing a clown mask. Maybe it was some kind of prank by a Masked Fool?"
"That's a possibility." Arlan looked at the healed wound and swallowed quietly.
While Abundance blessings did accelerate healing, recovering instantly from such a serious wound was something even many notorious Followers of Abundance could not achieve. Whatever she carried, it was far beyond normal understanding. Perhaps only Ms. Herta could explain it.
"Arlan, are there any other monsters around?" Ena asked, her gaze lingering on the large hole in the wall and ceiling.
"There shouldn't be. That Trampler appeared without warning. And that masked individual didn't seem like one of ours. It's possible… this was all just a prank by a Masked Fool." Arlan frowned, his fists clenched.
Ena hesitated. She wanted to reunite with the Astral Express, but the thought of another incident like this held her back.
Arlan paused as a communication came through. After listening, he turned toward Ena.
"Did something else happen?" Ena asked, looking at him.
"I just received a message from Ms. Herta. She said she's taking over security matters from here on. Also, Ms. Herta said…" Arlan hesitated.
"She detected two Abundance signatures at the Emanator level. One is confirmed. The other… is unknown."
"Miss Ena… you wouldn't happen to…"
"Ahem… I might be, maybe, sort of… close to that level. But that doesn't mean I'm an Emanator. I was just once noticed by the Aeon of Abundance and received some blessings. That's probably why."
The moment Ena said that she felt several intense gazes fall on her, almost fanatical, making her break out in a cold sweat.
"Anyway… if everything's fine, I'll go regroup with the Astral Express!"
"Also, remember! I am not an Emanator!"
Ena broke into a run. People often became fanatical when faced with unknown powers or those who saved them, and right now, only her fellow Trailblazers from the Astral Express could make her feel at ease.
Elsewhere, the trio had already fought their way ahead, with Himeko providing support along the way.
They advanced triumphantly, defeating all enemies, and finally arrived before the Space Station lead, Asta.
Ena ran through the corridors, the remains of the Antimatter Legion scattered everywhere.
She followed the safe route Himeko had given her, she soon caught sight of familiar figures.
March 7th, Dan Heng, Stelle, and Himeko stood ahead.
"Mama!" Stelle immediately rushed over the moment she saw her.
Ena quickly opened her arms to catch this baby who was a good head taller than her. For a moment, she smiled.
until Stelle restless little hand touched the exposed skin of her midriff.
"Hehehe, Mama smells so good."
Ena stiffened, then quickly pushed the little raccoon, who was acting a bit strange toward her own mother.
"Stelle! Who taught you this?! March?!"
"Why am I the first suspect?! Blame Dan Heng for once?!"
March 7th threw the accusation aside, while Dan Heng expression clearly said he wanted no part in this.
"Simple. Dan Heng isn't that bored" Ena gave March a deadpan look.
"Hey, that doesn't mean it's me!" March 7th raised her hands in protest.
"Then explain this, who keeps faking being critically ill whenever Dan Heng isn't around, just to make me heal them, and then clings to me and saying 'Ena, you smell so nice'?!" Ena crossed her arms
March 7th paused, then laughed awkwardly. "Wait… I did that?"
"Stop playing innocent." Ena pointed straight at her.
There was a reason Stelle and March 7th were always together in the game.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.
It was just that March 7th level of "strangeness" was slightly lower than Stelle at least for now.
"Stelle, tell me who taught you to say those things?" Ena asked gently, cupping her face.
To shape proper values, a child education had to start early.
"I learned it myself!"
Stelle put her hands on her hips proudly.