Rocot: Reborn

Claire felt an inexplicable fear rising from the bottom of her heart. Lu Li's eyes were as cold as a venomous snake, which made her shudder. She wanted to struggle, but found that she seemed to be firmly bound by invisible shackles and could not move.

"What...what do you want to do?" Claire tried to stay calm, but her voice couldn't help but tremble.

Lu Li didn't say anything, but a playful sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. He slowly raised his hand and gently stroked Claire's cheek. Her fair skin was as smooth and delicate as the finest porcelain, but it couldn't hide her panic at the moment.

"I remember that you weren't so afraid of me before." Lu Li's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of teasing and mockery, "Why, now that you've become the Shadow Queen, have you forgotten who picked you up from the garbage dump?"

Claire's face changed, and a trace of humiliation and anger flashed in her eyes. Lu Li's words were like a sharp blade, piercing the scar in her heart that she didn't want to touch the most. She wanted to refute, but found herself speechless.

"Why, you don't want to talk anymore?" Lu Li's fingers gently slid across Claire's lips, with a hint of teasing, "Or do you prefer me to talk to you the way I used to?"

Claire's body trembled slightly. She knew what Lu Li was referring to. She was just an orphan with no one to rely on, struggling to survive on a garbage planet. It was Lu Li who brought her back to the Shadow Kingdom, taught her fighting skills, and imparted the power of shadow to her, turning her from a weak woman who was bullied by others into the high and mighty Shadow Queen.

However, it is precisely because of this that Claire's feelings towards Lu Li are more complicated. She is grateful to Lu Li for saving her life, but she also hates his control and use of her. She desperately wants to get rid of Lu Li's shadow and prove herself, so she wants to get rid of him at all costs.

"Lu Li, don't go too far!" Claire gritted her teeth and said, "I am now the Shadow Queen, you are no longer my master!"

"Oh? Really?" Lu Li suddenly withdrew his hand, took a step back, and showed a playful smile on his face, "Since you have forgotten who gave you all this, then I will help you recall it!"

As soon as the words fell, Lu Li's figure instantly disappeared. Claire only felt a flash in front of her eyes, and the next second, Lu Li appeared behind her, holding her neck tightly with one hand.

"Hmm..." Claire felt difficulty breathing and her face flushed. She instinctively grabbed Lu Li's arms with both hands, trying to pry his hands open, but to no avail.

"You know what, I hate it most when someone betrays me." Lu Li's voice was like the whisper of a demon from hell, icy cold, "Especially someone like you, someone I once trusted wholeheartedly."

Claire struggled desperately. She could feel the strength in Lu Li's hand growing stronger and stronger, as if he was going to crush her neck. Just when she thought she was about to suffocate to death, Lu Li suddenly let go of her hand.

Claire collapsed on the ground helplessly, breathing in deep gulps of fresh air, her eyes filled with fear and resentment.

"Ahem...what...what do you want?" Claire asked with difficulty.

Lu Li looked down at her, his eyes full of contempt and ridicule.

"It's simple," Lu Li said coldly, "I want you to do me a favor as compensation for your betrayal."

"What help?" Claire asked warily.

"I want you to help me find something," Lu Li paused and said word by word, "something that can change the entire world..."

Claire lay on the ground in a mess, coughing violently, trying to breathe in a little air to relieve the pain of suffocation. She stared at Lu Li in disbelief, with fear in her eyes, but more of the anger and humiliation of being betrayed.

"Ahem...you...what do you want me to do?" She squeezed out a few words with difficulty, her voice hoarse.

Lu Li sneered and looked down at her as if she were an ant. He slowly adjusted his collar and then said almsgivingly: "I want you to help me find the 'Heart of Creation'."

"Heart of Creation?" Claire was stunned. The name seemed both familiar and unfamiliar to her. She seemed to have seen it in some ancient documents, but she couldn't remember the specific content.

"Don't play dumb, Claire," Lu Li interrupted her impatiently, "I know you've read those secret files that have been buried in history, and you know what the 'Heart of Creation' represents."

He paused, his tone filled with a hint of crazy persistence, "That is enough power to overturn the entire world. It is the ultimate weapon that will allow me to regain the throne and trample this world under my feet!"

Claire's heart was shocked. She remembered that the 'Heart of Creation' was the ultimate technology left over from the last civilization era. It had the terrifying power to change the world and even create life. But it only existed in legends. No one knew whether it really existed, and no one knew where it was.

"You're crazy, Lu Li!" Claire shouted in horror, "The 'Heart of Creation' is just a legend. Even if it really exists, it shouldn't be controlled by anyone! It will bring destruction and disaster!"

Lu Li smiled indifferently, that smile was full of ridicule and disdain, "Destruction? Disaster? So what? This world betrayed me, and it should pay the price!"

His eyes became cold and dangerous. "You have no choice, Claire. Help me find the 'Heart of Creation' and I may consider giving you a quick death. Otherwise..."

He leaned over suddenly, pinched Claire's chin, and said in a cold tone, "I will let you experience a taste more terrible than death."

Claire was forced to look up and meet Lu Li's cold and ruthless eyes. Fear was like a poisonous snake entwining her heart. She knew that Lu Li would keep his word, and she also knew that she had no way out.

"I... I can help you," Claire swallowed hard, her voice trembling, "but I need time, and I need more clues about the 'Heart of Creation'..."

"I can give you some time, but not for long." Lu Li let go of her hand, stood up, and looked down at her. "Remember, you don't have much time, Claire."

He turned and left, leaving only one sentence echoing in the air, "Don't try to play tricks, otherwise..."

Claire collapsed on the ground, looking at Lu Li's disappearing back, her eyes were complicated and difficult to read. Fear, anger, despair, all kinds of emotions surged in her heart, but finally turned into a helpless sigh. She knew that she had been involved in a storm that could destroy the world, and she was the chess piece that had no choice.

After Lu Li left, Claire struggled to stand up, staggered to the window, and looked down at the brightly lit city that never sleeps. The city gradually blurred in her eyes, as if foreshadowing her future fate. She knew that she had to find the "Heart of Creation" as soon as possible, otherwise...

Suddenly, there was a rapid knock on the door. Claire turned back sharply, her eyes alert and cold.

"Who?"

"Your Majesty, it's me, Alan." A familiar voice came from outside the door, with a hint of anxiety and worry.

Claire frowned slightly. Allen was her most trusted subordinate and one of the few people who knew her past. What was he doing here at this time? Could it be...

"Come in."

The door opened and Alan walked in quickly, with an undisguised look of anxiety on his face.

"Your Majesty, something has happened..." He lowered his voice and spoke hurriedly, "Our people found some strange things in the abandoned factory in the west of the city..."