It Hurts? Then Why Are You Moaning?!

Just like before, this was a spar whose outcome was obvious without needing to watch closely.

It was impossible for Kiana to defeat Shu head-on, even wearing a [Divine Key].

What everyone wanted to see was how effective this Divine Key could be, and whether they could hold their own after Shu left.

After all, besides Herrschers, there were other dangers like high-rank Honkai Beasts. Relying solely on a few superhumans with enhanced physiques and several Titan mechs would make it difficult to counter those high-rank beasts.

Shu had just sparred with the Titan mechs this morning; he would naturally have a clear understanding of how strong Kiana became after putting on the Key of Evolution.

See... I told you it was Otto's instructions, precisely so I would understand Kiana's strength level.

Otto felt like he probably hadn't slept enough; otherwise, his nose wouldn't be itching.

"Alright, prepare to activate the Key of Evolution," Otto casually touched his nose, then said to Kiana.

Kiana nodded and pressed a small protrusion on her wrist.

Instantly, a faint burst of steam erupted from the Key of Evolution, and the emerald green patterns began to shift to yellow, starting from her limbs.

Shu saw Kiana's body tremble slightly.

"Here it comes!" Kiana muttered under her breath, then pressed a second button.

The yellow patterns began to change once more.

As if red blood flowed from the gem, the patterns rapidly turned crimson, starting from where they connected to the gem.

Large amounts of white steam billowed from the armor's seams.

"Ngh—" Kiana suddenly let out a low grunt. Shu's eyes flickered, and he immediately took a step forward. "Kiana, how are you? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

"It feels a bit itchy..." Kiana frowned tightly, murmuring softly, "Just a little bit..."

"Can you describe it?" Otto added from the side. "What kind of itch?"

"It's like..." Kiana hugged herself, looking distressed. "Like bugs crawling all over my body... I feel it everywhere..."

"Currently at 0.3% power," Otto glanced at the number displayed on the machine beside him and nodded. "We'll increase it by one level. Can you handle it?"

Kiana nodded. Shu silently moved a few steps closer to Kiana, standing within arm's reach.

The distance between them seemed a bit too far.

Otto operated the instrument, increasing the Key of Evolution's power to %.

This time, Shu heard Kiana let out another small moan and saw her shoulders twitch unnaturally.

Is it because she's itchy and wants to scratch, but can't through the armor?

"This time it's ten levels. Can you handle it?" Otto recorded Kiana's reaction on the clipboard, then asked again.

Kiana simply nodded this time.

Otto pressed the button on the machine, and the power instantly jumped to 0.4%.

"How do you feel now?" Shu quickly asked, watching Kiana's body constantly fidgeting uncomfortably.

"Very itchy... but otherwise, nothing too bad..." Kiana squirmed. "I also feel a little nauseous..."

Nausea effect?

Shu frowned, then turned to Mei, who was wringing her hands nearby. "How much did Kiana eat for lunch today?"

"Uh... Four large bowls of rice, two bowls of soup, two plates of braised pork, one plate of chicken wings..." Mei paused, then quickly and detailedly reported Kiana's lunch to Otto.

"Eh? I actually ate that much?!" Kiana was shocked; she didn't even remember eating so much herself!

Otto was silent for a moment. He had a clear understanding of Kiana's appetite, as Kallen could eat slightly more than Kiana.

But wasn't this lunch a bit excessive?

She's stuffed.

"Can you handle another ten levels?" Otto thought for a moment, then asked again.

"Otto, isn't this a bit..." Shu frowned, looking at Kiana, who was constantly resisting the urge to scratch her armor, and asked Otto.

"It's fine..." Kiana's squirming became more pronounced. "Actually, if it keeps going like this, I might not be able to hold on..."

Since Kiana herself said it, Shu could only close his mouth.

"Ready..." Otto gave Kiana a heads-up this time before pressing the button.

"Mmm~"

Kiana's body suddenly trembled, followed by a somewhat relieved-sounding moan.

Shu: "?"

"Ngh—!" Realizing the sound she had made, Kiana's face instantly turned red. She covered her mouth with both hands, glancing at Shu, who was closest, then at Mei in the distance.

"What does it feel like?" Shu was only stunned for a moment, then asked again.

Seeing Shu wasn't pursuing the matter, Kiana sighed in relief and lowered her hands. "It's not itchy this time... It hurts just a tiny bit."

Shu: "???"

It hurts and you make that sound?! Kiana, you...

"Just like when you scratch an itch yourself," Kiana thought for a moment and specifically added. Then she saw the fleeting look in Shu's eyes.

"What's with that look... Wait, what are you thinking?!" Kiana tilted her head in confusion. Suddenly, she seemed to realize something too and quickly asked.

Oh.

This time, it was Shu who breathed a sigh of relief.

No wonder Kiana suddenly made that sound...

"Wait! It's not what you think!!" Kiana's face flushed red from urgency this time. She wasn't some kind of pervert! Mei would misunderstand! "Mei, please don't misunderstand! I'm not that kind of person!"

Although she could accept it, she really wasn't that kind of person!

Mei, please don't misunderstand!

"Pfft—!" Several people present let out low snickers one after another, then quickly composed themselves.

Everyone here was experienced. Theresa read plenty of manga, Himeko was an "old" woman who could be called Auntie, Fu Hua was exceptionally knowledgeable, Kallen could say some peculiar things, and Otto... well...

"Uh... What does it mean?" Mei, the purest person present, looked utterly confused.

"Mm, Kiana wants to say she isn't the type who likes being whipped by Sister Mei with a small black leather..." Bronya, with dead fish eyes, began explaining to Mei, adding fuel to the fire.

"Wait! Shorty, you—!" Kiana let out a sharp shriek and instantly dashed towards Bronya.

But she overshot...

A strong wind suddenly swept through the training ground, forcing everyone to instinctively narrow their eyes.

Keeping pace with the out-of-control Kiana, covering the distance almost simultaneously, was Shu, who had started at nearly the exact same moment.