Chapter 203: Chapter 203: From 1 to 1000 Fathoms Down

The old injuries on his body had not healed, with two broken ribs and a concussion to his spine, making his movements sluggish.

No matter how much he flailed, rolled, or struggled with all his might using hands and feet.

She was like a living strangling vine, wrapping tighter and tighter, more and more ruthlessly.

Breathing became increasingly difficult, his vision started to go black, and all he could hear was his own rapid heartbeat.

He was finally scared.

He almost couldn’t breathe.

Selene Kane’s forehead veins bulged, and fury surged in her eyes.

Can’t beat others, but can’t beat you?

She roared in her heart.

Looked like a sickly person normally, weak and frail, almost fainting while walking.

Even after turning into a Border Collie Clan, she wasn’t particularly fierce, but wagged her tail quite often.

Everyone’s spiritual power is S-level, who’s afraid of who?

At worst, it ends up fifty-fifty; it’s not certain who will win or lose!

Heath Vance froze for a moment, then immediately snapped back to reality.

His mind spun rapidly, calmly analyzing the situation.

He couldn’t break free; the other’s strength was extraordinary, and her skill was high. Continuing the fight would only drag him deeper.

He could only resign himself, gritting his teeth and uttering a low growl, his spiritual power quaking, and his form suddenly shrinking.

The fur retreated, and he reverted back to human form.

Her legs loosened, and she suddenly lost her support, unexpectedly falling into a warm embrace.

"??"

She froze instantly, her mind going blank.

She looked up, facing Heath Vance’s motion of rubbing his temple.

His brows furrowed, looking exhausted, with dried blood stains on his face.

The silver watch on his wrist flashed gently under the dim light.

She wanted to struggle, but her body felt nailed down, unable to move.

"Damn, is this even possible?"

The system’s voice suddenly rang in her mind.

"Right, right!"

The system, smug, wagged its phantom tail in the spiritual space.

"Isn’t it convenient? Every beast husband in your family is super strong, their spiritual power explosive, their combat awareness top-notch, cooperating seamlessly, truly enviable to others."

"When the kids grow up, they can protect you too."

The system’s voice turned gentle.

"With a family of three, all S-level, who would dare offend you?"

"Just enjoy life."

Selene Kane finally realized.

Heath Vance hadn’t had a chance to complain about her heavy hand when suddenly everything went dark, followed sharply by a pain in his nose.

A solid punch had firmly landed on his face.

"You female!"

He instantly covered his nose, warm liquid seeping through his fingers.

Blood dripped down his knuckles, staining the white lab coat.

Seizing his stunned moment, Selene Kane firmly pushed off the ground with her right foot, using force to bounce backward.

She stood, her hands supporting her knees, chest heaving violently.

Heath Vance wiped the blood from his nose, looking up at her.

"Where did you learn this? Close combat? Defensive moves? And the strength of that punch... doesn’t seem like the capacity of an ordinary female."

He rapidly scanned through his intelligence archives.

But there was no mention of her knowing how to fight, let alone such fierce and decisive moves.

"Didn’t you say you were just a female?"

Selene Kane straightened up, letting out a cold chuckle, her voice crisp.

"When I’m with those beast husbands, don’t you always say I’m gentle like a little rabbit, speaking softly, not even daring to step on bugs?"

She stood with hands on hips, her chest still gently rising and falling.

"So tell me, what are you? Why should I spoil you? Who gave you the nerve?"

Heath Vance pursed his lips, letting out a nasal hum.

"But you can’t really intend to kill me! That punch just an inch off, and my nasal bone would be broken!"

"You still want to experiment on me."

Selene Kane coldly interrupted him.

"Using drugs to stimulate my genetic potential, recording pain levels, observing mutation thresholds... you think I don’t know the methods of you scientists?"

She paused, a mocking curve rising at the corner of her mouth.

"Who are the real scientists disregarding human life for data? I know too well, you never cared about ’people,’ only results."

Heath Vance shrugged, expression indifferent.

"There are orders from above, I had no choice. A task is a task, just execute it."

Selene Kane laughed coldly, eyes flashing.

"Then I won’t make it easy on you."

She gently brushed her fingertips over the bruises on her neck.

"The Enforcers are on standby in the downstairs guardroom. You dare break into a female’s private room? Do you want a beating?"

Heath Vance looked dumbstruck, his brows furrowing further.

"What do you mean by ’beating’? Neural stimulation?"

He looked around in confusion, seemingly completely unable to understand her metaphor.

Without paying attention to him, she turned swiftly.

With a few paces, she reached the door, opened it, and dashed into the hallway.

Standing by the railing, she shouted loudly to Adam, who was preparing for shift handover downstairs.

"Sir! He’s bullying me!"

The voice was crisp and clear, piercing through the dormitory floor.

Heath Vance jumped up from the floor, anxious and angry.

"Aren’t you being unreasonable? It was you who started it! My nose is still bleeding!"

"Look at the bruises all over me!"

Selene Kane rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms covered in bruises, with a distinct red mark around her neck.

Her tone was icy, her eyes scornful.

"Arguing about who started it with me now? Take it up with the ’Interstellar Federation Female Protection Law.’"

Before she finished speaking, a dark shadow flashed down the corridor like a storm.

Adam’s figure appeared at the door.

He swept a glance over the scene, his gaze pausing on the marks on Selene Kane’s neck.

Before Heath Vance could argue, Adam clamped his arm, forcefully twisting it, dragging him toward the staircase.

"Hey! Wait! I have a task certificate! I’m an official member of the Department of Research!"

Heath Vance struggled and shouted, but Adam remained unmoved.

"That voice," she sighed softly, closing her eyes contentedly, "truly relaxing."

Alza huddled in the corner of the bed, hugging his knees, trembling.

Listening to the commotion in the hallway, his heart filled with fear.

Peeking at Selene Kane’s back, he swallowed hard, silently chanting in his heart.

In the future... better never provoke her.

He snuggled close to Sophie Shaw, not even daring to revert to human form.

The soft, warm body pressed tightly against him, the fluffy tail trembling slightly.

He didn’t want to transform back into human form; he was genuinely afraid.

Each time he attempted to gather spiritual power to transform, the energy within him would violently shake.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to, he’s truly scared.

The fear is deeply ingrained, rooted in countless failed attempts and the ensuing backlash.

His body was too weak, and his spirit no longer whole.

Even a basic transformation felt like walking on the edge of a blade.

He once tried to forcefully revert, resulting in three days of unconscious sleep.

Selene Kane did not push him.

She simply sat quietly by the bed, her gaze occasionally drifting to his fox form.

She knew he was struggling, also knew he didn’t want to appear too incapable in front of her.

But precisely because of that, she was even more unwilling to impose any additional pressure.

After all, his body had always been weak, just surviving was a feat.

Ever since he was severely wounded by enemy spiritual power in the last mission.

His constitution deteriorated drastically, to the point where even absorbing the simplest nutrient was difficult.