Ke Er’s amber pupils locked onto Boen, sending chills down his spine. He wanted to snap back, but the children’s mocking chants grew louder and more rhythmic. Adults passing by dared not interfere with the landlord’s son.

Suddenly, Boen noticed something off. Ke Er, flushed crimson from humiliation, suddenly had her pupils flash deep blue.

Beneath her HP bar at 17/18, a new buff appeared in her status panel—one he’d never seen before.

His level was higher than hers; he should’ve been able to inspect her status freely. Yet all he saw was the buff’s icon.

A desiccated white eye socket held a single blue eyeball, its pupil sharp and vertical—deep, chilling, like the abyss of the legendary Frost Chasm.

He froze. Two abnormal statuses flashed in his own panel: Suppression, an ultra-rare hard-control effect, and an icon shaped like an ice coffin—*Frost Witch’s Funeral (37/100)*.

Seconds later: 40/100… 42/100… 45/100.

The higher the number climbed, the bluer Ke Er’s eyes turned. The cruel nursery rhyme faded into silence.

He felt himself sinking toward the deathly void reflected in her gaze. Withered icy claws dragged at him, pulling him into their frozen ranks.

*"Help! Someone, save me!"* Tongue locked by Suppression, he could only scream inside his mind.

Trapped, watching the death countdown creep from 1 to 100 while plunging slowly into glacial darkness—nothing was more terrifying.

The bullies froze at Ke Er’s sudden sharp glare. Normally, she’d crouch sobbing, head buried in her arms.

The moment her tears stopped, their taunts felt hollow—like a party with no music. Glancing at each other, they turned to Boen for orders.

But Boen stood rigid, face pale as if choked by a ghost. His status hit 90/100. Skeletal claws gripped his throat, tightening.

*Bang!*

A tremor shook the village. Dust puffed into the air.

"Whoa!" Ke Er tumbled to the ground. As her gaze broke away, her blue pupils softened—like ice gems sealed in pine resin. Amber swirled inward, swallowing the blue, restoring her usual wide, innocent eyes.

Boen collapsed, trembling, pants soaked.

The kids stared, speechless. *We’re bullying her… why are YOU crying and wetting yourself?!*

Boen shook his head. The eerie statuses were gone. He’d never, ever want to see this loli again.

Dropping his basket, he scrambled toward the village, shrieking: "Help! Ghosts! Corpse spirits! Frozen zombies!"

"Hey, what’s wrong?" Several boys chased after him.

Ke Er blinked on the dirt. "Huh? How’d I fall? Wait… what just happened?"

Her big eyes darted around. Scratching her silver hair, flustered like a lost little beast: "Winter bamboo shoots! They fell! I dug these for Father—oh no, I must hurry home and cook!"

Boen sprinted home, sobbing. "Mom! MOM! GHOSTS!"

He skidded to a halt. His mansion—gone. Tears burst forth. He crumpled to his knees.

A bamboo boar the size of a hill stood where his home once was. Spines like sharpened bamboo shoots bristled across its hide—a furry, moving fortress. Twin tusks jutted like giant blades.

With a flick of its rump, the last stone wall shattered. Total wipeout.

Old landlord Roland wailed from afar, tears streaming: "Attack! Slay this beast! My silverware! My winter stores! Flaying you ten times won’t quench my rage!"

A dozen Level 6 militiamen with axes and wooden shields charged.

But the gap was vast. This was a Level 10 *Mutated Bamboo Boar King*—two tiers above ordinary.

"ROAR~!"

Its bellow split the sky. Blizzard winds howled. A massive hoof slammed the earth. A shockwave ripped glowing blue-frosted cracks across the ground.