Bianca's teeth sank deep into her lower lip, almost drawing blood. Her slender yet explosive arm muscles tensed as she paddled with all her might.
The Golden Beetle shot across the turbulent waters of Black Lake, desperately trying to evade the relentless, aromatic chocolate-scented bombing from behind. She was now utterly convinced she was the target.
Apart from the first seven or eight grenades that had been "evenly distributed" near the other teams, the remaining dozen or so grenades seemed to be almost exclusively aimed at the Golden Beetle.
The black balls whistled, deafening explosions rocked the air, and the murky lake water splashed against her... it all felt like a form of vicious, personal torment.
"Boom!!" Another grenade exploded right behind the stern, sending a massive shockwave that made the boat lurch forward.
The hull creaked with a thunderous groan, as if it would shatter at any moment. Bianca and her teammates were tossed about, choking on mouthfuls of lake water.
If their canoe hadn't been made of extremely dense, specially designed materials meant for various "accidents," the continuous shockwaves alone would have been enough to shatter the boat.
Bianca seethed with rage. In previous years, her easy victories had been thanks to a Banshee teammate she had arranged to wait far underwater near the finish line.
Once the Golden Beetle approached, the teammate would silently swim up and flip over the most threatening competitor's canoe from below. "No rules," right?
She had always felt she utilized that rule to its fullest, wisest extent. But she had never expected to meet a group like this...
a bunch of lunatics who interpreted "no rules" as "war zone law"!
Were they really students? Or were they escaped terrorists from some secret military base or mental institution?!
Bianca whipped her head around, her eyes blazing with anger and urgency toward the shore where her Banshee companion stood. She signaled frantically with her eyes: "Quick! Get in the water! Go flip them!" However, her companion took one look at the lake, which resembled a heavy artillery bombardment, with geysers of water erupting several meters high and the black, demonic boats continuously launching hazardous objects...
and their face turned as pale as paper, their head shaking like a toy so fast it almost left a blur, as they instinctively took a few steps back, almost falling onto their backside. Coward!
Bianca let out a silent roar in her heart, so enraged she could almost spit blood. If it were her...
yeah, facing something like this recklessly, with saturated firepower, she wouldn't dare enter the water either. It wasn't a competition anymore; it was suicide!
Bianca's head jerked back, her gaze locking onto the approaching black boat. Her eyes passed over the two crazy people causing the commotion and explosions, fixing themselves squarely on the Gothic girl standing at the stern, steady as a rock, as if she were merely admiring the view.
Wednesday Addams! This was all because of you!
If it weren't for this transfer student, everything would be the same as in previous years! She would still be the elegant, victorious, and sought-after Bianca!
"Wednesday Addams!" Bianca's piercing cry cut through the explosion and water sounds.
"Just you wait! I won't let you get away with this!" Wednesday heard the hateful scream and threat from afar, raising an eyebrow as a faint, almost amused smirk appeared on her cold face.
"How... enthusiastic," she commented softly, as if criticizing an insect trying to stop a train.
Then, she raised her voice, her tone steady but carrying an unmistakable command: "Vic, it seems our 'friend' needs more 'warm hospitality.' Increase the firepower. Focus your target on the Golden Beetle's stern and restrict their maneuverability.
" "Venom," she even extended a pale hand, "give me a few as well." Vic and Venom both froze for a moment, then their faces erupted with an unprecedented, almost joyful light!
"Yes, Captain!" Vic's voice cracked slightly with excitement.
He immediately began launching at a higher frequency, specifically targeting the water behind the Golden Beetle. Venom writhed in excitement, several tentacles obediently wrapping around three rounds of "chocolate-flavored grenades" and carefully placing them in Wednesday's open hand, even thinking to twist the pins toward her.
"Here, Captain! Just pull the little tail and throw! It's easy!" Venom's voice was full of excitement.
"No need to teach me. I've been playing with grenades since I was five years old." Wednesday weighed the heavy, dark, and ominous object in her hand, her fingertips tracing the cool, slightly sticky surface.
She caught the small metal pin with her fingernail and gave it a sharp pull! A soft hiss escaped as gas was released.
Wednesday's eyes gleamed, and her arm whipped out in a surprisingly strong motion, fluid and precise— The grenade, like a black bird filled with demands of death, whistled straight toward the Golden Beetle's flank!
Her throwing motion lacked Vic's manic flamboyance, instead bringing a cold, calculated precision, as if she weren't casually tossing a bomb but performing a dark art. The explosion!!!
A geyser of water erupted extremely close to the Golden Beetle's right side. The shockwave caused the yellow boat to rock violently, nearly capsizing!
Bianca and her teammates let out terrified screams, struggling with all their might to steady the boat. The corners of Wednesday's mouth curled up in an almost imperceptible arc, yet genuine.
An extraordinary sense of pleasure, like the richest black chocolate, melted in her heart. She extended her hand once more.
"Again." Her voice remained cold, but in the depths of her eyes, like a pool, two sparks of destruction ignited—sparks that had never been seen before.
Venom hastily offered her a few more. Vic watched in stunned silence before bursting into laughter: "Whoa! Captain! You're a genius! I love you!" The black cat's firepower instantly rose to the next level.
With the captain personally joining in, the chase turned into a true hunt. And the Golden Beetle, exhausted, drenched, and relentlessly pursued, was the prey.
Bianca saw the black nightmare chasing them, watching the Gothic girl throw explosives with the precision of a reaper, and the two madmen working together with increasing excitement... she sank into despair.
Hmm? Suddenly, Bianca noticed her surroundings had become quiet.
The roar of explosions had disappeared, replaced only by the sound of oars and her own heavy breathing. Could it be...?
She whipped her head back, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. The black devil's boat was still hot on their heels, but the people on board were empty-handed.
Venom's terrifying tentacles were no longer "spitting" out new dangerous balls.
Vic even let out a bored yawn, fiddling with the bell on his neck. They...
they were out of grenades! An extraordinary wave of relief washed over Bianca as her narrow escape was immediately apparent!
A perfect opportunity!