Viola paused, her gaze involuntarily shifting towards David's figure. She didn't know why, but upon hearing those words, her eyes instinctively landed on David. Almost imperceptibly, her heart, which had rarely stirred, started to flutter.

David had just asked a casual question, so naturally, he didn't pay attention to Viola's reaction. As he walked up to the corpse of "The Thunder-Speed Saint Hot Spider," the system's voice chimed in his ear.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing The Thunder-Speed Saint Hot Spider and obtaining an advanced pronucleus! ]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for triggering a hundredfold critical strike and obtaining one hundred advanced pronuclei! ]

Similar to the Golden-winged Tiger, the kill rewards were advanced pronuclei. David then placed his hand on the spider's corpse and softly uttered the extraction command.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successful extraction, obtaining the Absolute Zero attack-type ability! ]

"Hmm? A new ability?" David showed a hint of surprise upon hearing the system's announcement. Usually, the extractions yielded fragments or similar items. He hadn't expected to acquire a brand-new ability this time.

This realization made David understand that the extraction function indeed held surprises. With a thought, the explanation about Absolute Zero appeared in David's mind.

[The host can condense the air within a radius of ten li (roughly 5 kilometers) into frost, thereby restricting the opponent's attacks.]

[Under this effect, opponents struck by the Absolute Zero attack will be subjected to frostbite damage.]

[The ability lasts for two minutes and can be extended as the host's strength improves.]

Listening to the system's explanation, David nodded silently. He hadn't anticipated that this ability not only constrained opponents but also allowed him to launch attacks using the frostbite effect. It was undoubtedly a versatile offensive ability. Following that, an unfamiliar memory rushed into David's mind, detailing the method to wield Absolute Zero.

In a matter of moments, David completely grasped the ability in his mind. Glancing around, he slightly manipulated his consciousness, immediately activating Absolute Zero.

In an instant, all the trees within ten meters of his front were covered in a thick layer of frost. Under the frigid temperature of this layer of frost, the once vibrant and sturdy trunks turned into withered wood, collapsing to the ground.

The entire process lasted less than ten seconds, leaving David slightly astonished as he observed the fallen, withered trees. He had only activated Absolute Zero on a small scale, yet the effect had been this remarkable.

What if he used it to its full potential? A smile of intrigue formed on David's face. After completing this demonstration, he returned to Viola's side.

"Why is the queen blushing?" David teased as he looked at her.

"I... I'm not!" Viola, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to reality upon hearing David's comment. She blushed and looked down, stuttering in response, seemingly afraid that David might notice her unusual behavior. David just chuckled in response.

Initially considering venturing deeper into the beast forest, David thought it might be better to leave some opponents for practice. They might prove to be particularly helpful in the future. So, he left the forest with Viola and Mandy. On the way back, Viola's complexion was especially rosy, and she seemed lost in thought, keeping her head down.

Viola couldn't help but lift her head to steal glances at David's towering figure, and her heart kept pounding fiercely with each stolen look. In a trance, she felt like she was experiencing the indescribable joy of being human. However, she hadn't expected this feeling to surge so intensely.

Upon returning to the base, Viola eventually regained her composure. Nonetheless, she would still occasionally glance at David from the corner of her eye. Entering the cave, David made his way to the kitchen, where the newly hunted game from the Kui tribe was stored. Placing his palm on it, David initiated the extraction process. In no time, he obtained several strands of beast souls.

After leaving the kitchen, David headed to the front of the base. The base he had built for Viola was currently only at the level of "Black Iron." Although it appeared incredibly sturdy, David understood that it was still insufficient to face off against powerful zombie creatures and other anomalies.

At this moment, Viola joined him. Her face was slightly flushed, and she kept her head down, a far cry from her usual demeanor as the queen of the Kui tribe.

"Do you need something?" David asked, breaking the silence.

This caught Viola off guard, and hesitantly, she replied, "I... I would like to ask you to reinforce the base a bit more." She refrained from voicing her true thoughts, instead opting for a different explanation.historical

David smiled and nodded, even if Viola hadn't mentioned it, reinforcing the base was already in his plans. He had assumed that this woman might leave due to fear when he entered the beast forest, but to his surprise, she had stuck with him till the end on both occasions.

This made David somewhat taken aback. Additionally, given his current cooperative relationship with the Kui tribe, he naturally intended to upgrade the base for her. Moreover, he had plenty of defense-type crystals in his system inventory. Rather than letting them go to waste, upgrading Viola's base seemed like a fitting use for them, as a gesture of goodwill.

David retrieved a defense-type crystal from his system inventory, and with a thought, the crystal disappeared into thin air. In an instant, the base emitted a dazzling light that caused Viola to shield her eyes. When she opened her eyes, she was taken aback! The base in front of her seemed to have transformed significantly, radiating a faint shimmering light. It appeared even sturdier than before.

This was the first time Viola had seen a Bronze-level base, but for David, it lacked novelty.

"Amazing!" Viola touched the Bronze-level base, her tone filled with astonishment. Her gaze towards David became even more admiring.

After completing this, David left with Mandy and headed towards his Golden-level base. Mandy's injuries had already healed completely, and she seemed to have become more agile. She exuded a growing human-like aura.

David was somewhat surprised by this transformation, but he realized that Mandy had been observing human habits by following him. It was only natural that she would become more human-like over time.

Mandy seemed to notice David's astonished expression. She turned her head to look at him, and for the first time, she flashed a smile.

"Master..." Mandy struggled to utter this word, her expression also becoming more respectful. It seemed she already understood the significance of these two words.

"Can you speak now?" David was once again taken aback, but then a gentle smile appeared on his face. He hadn't expected that this treasure he had taken from Duane would actually become so precious.

If Duane found out, he would surely be heartbroken. David reached out and ruffled Mandy's head, his expression tender. He realized that in the Wasteland World, there would always be someone accompanying him.