The Coffin Barbell and an Explosive Pinch

How should I put it…? We weren’t truly standing on the clouds. More precisely, we were atop an invisible floor situated above the cloud layer, but since it was imperceptible, I decided to simply disregard it.

And then, there was the undeniable eyesore, which, in essence, truly defined the scene.

High above the magnificent, turbulent expanse of clouds, something utterly incongruous now stood.

A colossal generator, perhaps?

Indeed, that was present.

Yet, there was something a hundred times, no—a staggering ten thousand times worse.

Perched upon the clouds was a black coffin, inexplicably present!

“Mingdao-ge… could you explain…?” My ability to even comment had utterly abandoned me as I gazed at the cumbersome, elongated object. “Why on earth did you bring this thing out…?”

“Just consider it a barbell,” Mingdao-ge explained with a gentle smile. “There’s nothing sinister lying inside.”

Yet, what sane person would ever comprehend such a statement?

Who in their right mind would use a coffin as a barbell? You would?! This had to be a joke.

Helplessly, I turned my head, casting a glance at Leidi and Ruka-jie, who were busily occupied nearby.

They were meticulously connecting wires to some piece of equipment.

The humming generator restless above the clouds, the transparent soundproof chamber encasing it, several large pieces of equipment whose functions remained a mystery, and, of course, that ominous black coffin… Truly, it composed a remarkably peculiar tableau.

“They aren’t quite ready yet,” Mingdao-ge remarked, gently tapping my shoulder to reclaim my attention. “How about we begin our tests over here first?”

“What exactly are we supposed to do?” I inquired, utterly bewildered, as I could discern nothing here that might serve as a testing apparatus. “Don’t tell me it’s the coffin…”

“You’ll attempt to lift that coffin,” Mingdao-ge stated, a wide smile gracing his features.

“…”

He was right.

Mingdao-ge, you truly intended to use a coffin as a barbell.

“Alright then…” I muttered, my head drooping in disbelief, as I shuffled towards the coffin. It was surprisingly large, its height reaching my chin.

Never mind, I was too weary to scrutinize any further details.

Slowly, I embraced one end of the coffin.

With a forceful heave—

“Hmm?” I blinked, uttering a soft murmur.

It hadn’t budged.

In fact, it remained utterly motionless.

“[JP] Ping-chan, you’re still wearing your ‘shackles’,” Ruka-jie said, gesturing towards her wrist as she and Leidi approached.

“[JP] Ah, I forgot…” I hadn’t realized how quickly I’d grown accustomed to wearing them, despite it only having been a few days.

Slipping off the ‘shackles’ from my wrists and ankles, I once more embraced the coffin.

With another forceful heave—

“…”

It remained stubbornly immobile.

Come on, give me a break here.

Clutching the coffin, I turned back to face them, my expression a picture of acute embarrassment.

“[JP] Number Two, could you turn around for a moment?” Ruka-jie requested, poking Mingdao-ge’s arm with her finger. He promptly complied.

Simultaneously, Leidi and Ruka-jie exchanged a knowing glance, as if engaged in some unspoken consultation.

‘What are they up to?’

Just as this thought crossed my mind, Leidi approached, a smile playing on her lips.

“Turn your head back.”

“Oh.”

While I had no idea what Leidi intended, I nonetheless resumed my posture, facing forward and embracing one end of the coffin.

A sharp pinch!

“Eeyah—!!!!!” My head snapped up instantaneously, an involuntarily alluring cry erupting from my lips.

Leidi had pinched my rear end with considerable force!

What was this strange sense of déjà vu?

My mind raced, frantically searching for a similar past occurrence.

Ah, I remembered!

It was the time Ruka-jie had vigorously kneaded my chest!

My power only ever activated under conditions of significant mental fluctuation!

As understanding dawned, I lowered my head, only to find the coffin I had been holding was no longer there.

“Eh? Leidi, the coff—” My words were abruptly cut off as Leidi, from behind, cupped my face with her palm and twisted it sharply upwards and to the left.

Far above, I seemed to glimpse a black speck rapidly ascending.

It continued to climb.

‘Oh my goodness…’

‘I’m that strong?’

“[JP] Number Two, what are your thoughts?” Gently removing Leidi’s hand, I turned my head to see Mingdao-ge standing beside Ruka-jie, his face flushed and an awkward smile plastered across his features. “Was that scream just now my fault…?”

His gaze inadvertently met mine, prompting Mingdao-ge to immediately duck his head and clear his throat twice.

‘No way… he’s really that innocent?! This just makes me want to tease him relentlessly…’

“[JP] An extremely dangerous burst of power, enough to shatter Antarctica into an archipelago with a single stomp…” It must be quite difficult for you to analyze so calmly with such a flushed face. “Wait!”

“[JP] Say that again?!” Forgetting all about honorifics for a moment, I felt certain I had just heard something utterly preposterous.

“[JP] I said—”

“Boom—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

A tremendous roar accompanied a sudden, powerful gust of wind that swept over us.

Had something incredibly heavy fallen?

The coffin?! It couldn’t be, could it?!

Amidst the powerful wind, I managed to quickly secure my wind-tossed hair.

However… I had forgotten to hold down my skirt.

I was still wearing the same dress from yesterday, and now I was completely and shamelessly exposed to both Mingdao-ge and Ruka-jie.

“Thump!!!!!”

In that very instant, I witnessed Ruka-jie swiftly and forcefully pin Mingdao-ge, face-first, to the ground right before me, pushing him against the force of the wind.

Both Leidi and I jumped in surprise.

I stole a quick glance.

‘Whoa, that looks incredibly painful…’

‘I’m sorry, Mingdao-ge… Next time, I’ll be sure to mind my skirt…’