The Heart System

Chapter 774: Chapter 774

That barely did anything. Desperately, I opened my free hand and aimed it at her face.

”Ah, shit, ah, shit. Fireball!”

Flames erupted from my palm.

The blast struck her square in the face, making her shriek as she released my throat and leaped backward.

I hit the stone floor hard, coughing while dragging air back into my lungs.

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Wall-rider [Lv. 2]

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HP: 12/17

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Wall-rider. Right. Just my luck. Not Naked-lady or butter-fly. Wall-rider...

”Ack...” I groaned. ”Fuck... fuck, what is that thing... oh, god...”

I began running in the opposite direction, the way I had come. But the monster was too fast. With a single massive leap, she landed directly in front of me, forcing me skidding to a halt. This was bad. Real bad. She was way out of my league.

I thrust my palm forward and hurled another fireball. She simply ducked beneath it, glancing back as the flames harmlessly dissipated against the cave wall. Then she turned her gaze back to me, a slow, predatory smirk spreading across her face.

”Boring,” she purred, dragging out the vowels. ”So, so, so, soo boring.”

”Ah, fuck off. No, no, no. Nope!”

I knew dying in here didn’t mean permanent death, but I really didn’t want to experience that pain twice. So... hating myself for it every second, I swallowed my pride. Like an absolute coward, I willed the system menu to life. As the translucent screen popped up asking for confirmation to log out, I hit ’yes’ faster than I’d ever clicked anything in my life.

Everything plunged into sudden, absolute darkness.

Well, at least now I knew what I was up against the next time I dived back in.

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We had to postpone the dinner since... well, stuff. But now we were all together. In the jeep, Jasmine was sitting in the front seat while Tessa and Kim sat in the back. Nala’s car had just parked behind us, the engine shutting off. Mendy’s house stood right in front of us, and I swear I could already smell the food coming from inside. It smelled like heaven.

”Mmh,” Jasmine said, opening her door. ”I’m hungry.”

”Same here,” I replied, stepping out. ”Come on, can’t wait any longer, not gonna lie.”

I glanced back and watched Nala and the others getting out. Eleanor was the last one to step out, still on her phone. From the way her face was grimacing, I could tell she was talking to her brother Mark again. That damn gambling addict was still nagging her?

”Mark,” I muttered to myself. ”Fucking idiot. This guy...”

Everyone was dressed casually for the evening.

Jasmine wore a soft oversized cream sweater that hung loosely off one shoulder and a pair of light-wash jeans that hugged her legs. Tessa had on a simple black tank top under an open denim jacket with high-waisted cargo pants. Kim was in a fitted gray long-sleeve shirt and black leggings, looking comfortable but put-together. Minne wore a pastel pink hoodie and matching soft shorts that made her look cute and cozy. Eleanor had chosen a white blouse with the sleeves rolled up and dark slim jeans. Nala, ever the stylish one, wore a black cropped sweater and high-waisted beige trousers that emphasized her figure without trying too hard.

The neighbor across from Mendy’s house was practically glued to her front window, openly staring. I caught her dead-eyed gaze straight through the glass for a split second before she gave a disapproving huff, stepped back, and sharply pulled the curtains shut.

Yeah, definitely not a great look for me. One guy rolling up with an entire entourage of girls in broad daylight? She probably thought I was gay or something.

I’d also called Esme earlier, but she didn’t want to come. I understood and didn’t push it further.

Another car pulled up beside us. The door opened and Kayla stepped out. She was wearing tight black yoga pants that clung to every curve, and her ass looked absolutely massive in them. Up top she had on a simple loose white T-shirt that still somehow managed to look good on her.

Everyone started greeting each other right there on the driveway. Jasmine hugged Kayla tightly, laughing about something. The atmosphere was easy and familiar... damn, this actually felt good. The kind of comfortable energy that only came from people who actually liked being around each other.

”Took you long enough,” Tessa teased Kayla. ”We thought you’d ditched us!”

”Traffic,” Kayla replied with a shrug, then looked at me. ”Hey.”

”Hey,” I said, smiling.

Once everyone had exchanged their greetings, we all walked up to the front door together. I knocked twice.

A few seconds later, the door opened and Mendy stood there. At first her eyes widened a little at the size of the group, she was clearly a bit overwhelmed seeing so many people at once, but the surprise quickly melted into a warm, genuine smile.

”Oh my god, you all actually came,” she said, stepping aside. ”Come in, come in!”

Jasmine was the first to hug her. ”Of course we came. Smells amazing in here already.”

Tessa followed with a quick side-hug. ”Hope you cooked enough for an army.”

”I may have overdone it a little,” Mendy admitted with a small laugh as Kim and Minne took their turns hugging her.

Nala gave her a polite but warm hug. ”Thank you for having us.”

Kayla went next, squeezing her tightly. ”Missed you.”

Eleanor offered a softer hug and a quiet, ”Thanks for inviting us.”

I was last. Mendy hugged me as well, lingering just a second longer than the others. ”Glad you could make it,” she said.

”Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied.

She stepped back fully and gestured inside with a bright smile. ”Well, don’t just stand out here. Come in, everyone’s already making the place feel alive.”

We all filed into the house one after another, the warm smell of home-cooked food wrapping around us as the door closed behind the last person.

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