Chapter 153 - 148: The Nightingale Falls - Apocalyptic Wasteland Simulator

After successfully stopping Black Demon Number One's attack, Chen Pingchuan quickly strode over to Nightingale.

At this moment, Nightingale's condition wasn't just bad; it was exceptionally poor. Her face was as pale as paper, completely drained of color. Her once bright and captivating eyes had begun to dim. As her vitality ebbed away, her life seemed to be reaching its end. It felt as if she could be gone in the next second.

Chen Pingchuan gently held Nightingale's frail body, his own arms trembling slightly. He was afraid to apply any force, terrified of hurting her by accident. Nightingale was barely holding on to the last wisp of her spirit. Her lips moved slightly, a stubborn light flashing in her dim eyes. She struggled to raise her arm, her slender, pale hand reaching arduously toward Chen Pingchuan's cheek.

"I want to touch you..."

Nightingale didn't know why, but she desperately wanted to touch her handsome savior's face.

However, a crushing powerlessness held her fast. Her partially raised arm seemed to be caught by an invisible force. It paused in midair for a moment before falling heavily, landing limply on Chen Pingchuan's arm.

Seeing this, Chen Pingchuan quickly grasped Nightingale's icy hand and carefully placed it against his right cheek. He looked at the woman in his arms, whom he had only met a few times, and a mix of emotions washed over him, leaving him momentarily speechless.

Just a moment ago, he had quickly reviewed the system's prompt messages and confirmed that Nightingale was the fourth person whose affinity for him had met the standard. Due to his talent, he was never short of female attention. Yet, even though Chen Pingchuan had imagined countless possibilities, he had never expected Nightingale to be the fourth woman to meet the system's criteria.

After all, he'd had emotional entanglements with plenty of women. There was no need to even mention Xia Qingxue, Ji Hongxiu, and Belia. Ultimately, the affection he'd gained from them was achieved through underhanded means. With Xia Qingxue, he had used his foreknowledge to cater to her preferences, becoming her Heaven's Chosen. As for Ji Hongxiu, his divine self in the simulation had used confinement and conditioning; although the final result was to his satisfaction, the methods were despicable. Belia was a similar case; it was only after luring her away that they shared an unforgettable experience of mutual hardship. There were heavy traces of manipulation in his relationship with each of them.

Nightingale, however, was different. She had only interacted with him for a few days. Even he was bewildered. How could she have fallen for him so completely and without reservation?

Chen Pingchuan could understand if she chose to offer herself to repay him for saving her life, especially given his looks. However, this was an affinity score judged by the system. Huang Yujia, with whom he'd had an intimate physical relationship, hadn't qualified. Feng Jiaqi, who developed feelings for him after being tied up in a hotel, hadn't qualified either. Ye Luo, with whom he'd had a financial transaction, was even further from the mark. And those young women at the massage parlors who claimed to love him? They definitely didn't qualify.

Yet this somewhat aloof and resolute combat team leader had unexpectedly fallen head over heels for him.

Chen Pingchuan began to feel confused, even lost, as if the future was rapidly spiraling out of his control. A thousand jumbled thoughts flashed through his mind, but it all happened in a few seconds. His actions never faltered. He held Nightingale's hand tightly, feeling it gradually grow cold as he comforted her, "It's all right. Don't be afraid. Just get some sleep. We'll see each other again very soon."

Although Chen Pingchuan didn't know when he would die in this simulation, he understood how one should act when comforting someone. He also suddenly grasped the hidden meaning of the tower defense game. Who said you had to defend the tower? Couldn't you just join the monsters and attack the defenders? Who could argue that this wasn't just an alternative form of tower defense?

Damn it, so I was the final boss of the monster faction all along!

This was Chen Pingchuan's last thought. In the next second, a massive missile trailing white smoke streaked across the sky, its destination set precisely on his position.

A flash of white light engulfed him, and his vision went black.

Damn! I knew I shouldn't have tempted fate like that.

[Ding! You have died at the age of 20.]

[This simulation has ended!]

[Due to an unknown reason, the talent 'Death Won't Close My Eyes' failed to activate. Due to insufficient energy, no compensation can be provided.]

[You may select any number of the following rewards. Alternatively, you may retain simulation rewards by consuming simulation points equal to one percent of the reward's exchange value.]

[Reward Contents: Bloody Plunder (Skill), Energy Crystal Warehouse Key One (Item), Energy Crystal Secret Warehouse Key Two (Item), Feces-Stained Mechanical Arm (Item), Filthy Heart (Item), Diseased Kidney with Stones (Item)...]

[Bloody Plunder]: Purple Skill (Exclusive). Can only be selected by a host with divinity. Can be combined with the talent 'Heart of Destruction' to form 'Heart of the Demon God.' Every Demon God is a master of plunder.

Skill Effect (Active): [Click to expand]

Skill Effect (Passive): [Click to expand]

Exchange Cost: 10,000 simulation points

[Energy Crystal Warehouse Key One]: White Item. As the name suggests, this key can unlock the door to the Energy Crystal Warehouse at the Spring City White Crystal Mine.