System Rebooting!

A dark black gate appeared behind Cha Li, sucking air in and pulling the assassin along too. Feng Hei Lang grinned. 'Oh! [Abyss Gate] has something to do with pulling all hostile entities towards a single direction!'

The rest of them weren't affected and only the assassin was. However, Kirei grabbed Cha Li's hand and pulled her away from the gate. Feng Hei Lang frowned and brought up her daggers. "Kirei! Wake up!"

As Kirei started running towards her, Feng Hei Lang dodged and quickly checked her HP.

[HP: 50/50]

'Alright, I'm now all healed up from the healing potion!' She crossed blades with Kirei and shouted, "Wake up, Kirei!"

Cha Li stood up and picked up her daggers. She ran towards Feng Hei Lang and called out, "Two Dancing Devils!"

Her movements were twirling around, and Feng Hei Lang was unable to pick up where she was going to attack. She quickly used [Shadow Manipulation] to form a ball around herself.

She could hear Cha Li and Kirei hitting against the shadow ball, trying to break it. Kirei called out, "Hell Fire: Explosion."

The ground started shaking as large geysers of black lava started erupting. Feng Hei Lang could feel herself being bounced around. "Ow, ow, ow! Can't you be nicer, Kirei?!"

She popped herself open from the shadow ball just to get a faceful of blue mist. Feng Hei Lang coughed, intaking a huge amount. 'Shit! Not good!'

Her vision slowly started blacking out, and she felt like her head was covered with fog. Feng Hei Lang could feel herself moving, but she couldn't stop it. 'Goddammit! Her ability hit me right in the face!'

She could hear loud beeps from the system.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[Alert! Alert! User is being forcibly overtaken! Alert! Alert!]

[Rebooting System!]

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[Reboot Failed!]

[Rebooting System!]

Feng Hei Lang felt her head fill up with all the system messages. She wanted to scream in annoyance. 'Shut UP SYSTEM!'

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[System Rebooting!]

[Alert! Alert! User is being forcibly overtaken! Alert! Alert!]

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[Rebooting Starting!]

[Reboot Failed!]

She could feel herself reaching for her daggers to fight against Kang Lei. Feng Hei Lang gritted her teeth and tried to stop herself, but it didn't work.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[Shutting User Down for Rebooting!]

[Alert! Alert! User is unable to shut down! Alert! Alert!]

Beep! Beep! Beep!

[User being Forcibly Shut Down!]

Black started filling her vision, and she fell down to the ground, while the beeping became even louder. Feng Hei Lang slowly closed her eyes. 'What...is happening...'

~~~~~

After a few minutes, Feng Hei Lang jumped up from the ground and gasped. Kang Lei was still engaging the assassin and Kirei, while being covered in wounds. She stood up and clenched her fists. 'Yes! I'm back in control!'

Beep!

[Due to system failure, user will receive skill [Mental Blockade] as compensation]

Feng Hei Lang didn't spend the time to even look at the skill. She picked up her daggers and ran towards Kang Lei. "Kang Lei, catch!"

He turned around to catch a healing potion that she threw at him. At the same, Kirei lashed forward with the sword in his hand. Feng Hei Lang used [Shadow Manipulation] to create a wall to block his strike.

Forming multiple shadow swords, Feng Hei Lang shot them at Cha Li, but she dodged.

Kang Lei drank the potion and gasped for breath. Feng Hei Lang called out, "Back up, I got this!" She ran towards the assassin and murmured, "Xing, activate [Starfall]!" The sky turned black and Feng Hei Lang melted into her own shadow, only to appear behind Cha Li's shadow.

She stabbed her dagger upwards, but the assassin was already gone. Feng Hei Lang gritted her teeth. "Tch. An afterimage?"

Kirei leapt at her, his sword covered with a black fire. She jumped back and activated [Flying Daggers] causing cuts to appear all over Kirei. "Kirei! I don't want to hurt you! Snap out of it!'

He ignored her cries and stabbed his sword onto the ground. "Hell Pit."

A gaping hole opened beneath her feet, leading to black lava. Feng Hei Lang managed not to fall down using her [Shadow Manipulation] to travel to Kirei's shadow. With a wave of her hand, she hit Kirei on the back of his neck, causing him to go unconscious.

Feng Hei Lang placed him down, gently as she saw the hole close up. The assassin frowned and started leaping her way out of the canyon. She started chasing, but Kang Lei grabbed her arm. "Don't chase after her. We have to treat Kirei first."

Feng Hei Lang pulled out another healing potion and placed it against Kirei's mouth, making him drink it. 'I only have six left! I should probably find some more luck wheel tickets.'

She watched as Kirei started stirring. He slowly sat up and rubbed the back of his head. "...What happened?"

Kang Lei sighed in relief. "Finally, you came back to your senses." Feng Hei Lang nudged him. "It wasn't Kirei's fault. The assassin's ability was Brainwash."

Kirei flinched as he got a splitting headache. "The assassin used their ability on me...?"

She nodded and help him up. "Come on. We'll be heading back to the the inn in Fengli city. It might be better to rest right now."

Kang Lei nodded. "Yeah, and the gladiator snake drop that you gave to Feng Hei Lang saved us all."

Kirei had a tried smile on his face. "Glad it helped..." He fell unconscious once more and Feng Hei Lang carried him on her back. Her steps wobble because he was so heavy.

Kang Lei picked him up and said, "I'll carry him. Worry about yourself first, you were also under the effect of Brainwash for a little bit, Hei Lang."

Feng Hei Lang nodded and looked up at the sky. 'The quest didn't end, so the assassin is still around here. I better be alert.' She walked away from where she found the assassin, heading out of Venom Valley.