[System Notice: Congratulations to the Host for completing the Nightmare-level special mission — Siege of the Dead. Mission Completion: Perfect.]
[Mission Details: Endure for four hours. Exterminate over 300,000 zombies. Ensure all team members retreat safely. Destroy three hidden U.S. military research facilities and turn this area into a true death zone. Objective: Completed.]
[System Rewards Granted: Title — B-rank Zombie Slayer; Title — A-rank Taboo of Life; Aura — S-rank Depart, O Dead; Skill — SS-rank Mystic Eyes of Death Perception; Item — S-rank IS Battle Suit; All team members gain +3 to all attributes (to be completed within three months); Quest Daughter of Fate completed with Perfect Evaluation.]
[System Notice: Congratulations to the Host for completing the first phase of the Nightmare-level chained quest — Daughter of Fate. Completion: Perfect.]
[Mission Details: In the subsequent assaults, repel the enemy and ensure that no beings from the Otherside appear for at least three months. Eliminate three enemies of Peak Spirit level. Objective: Completed.]
[System Rewards Granted: Trial Space unlocked; Bloodstained Reward unlocked; one Ultra-Virtual Neural Console obtained; personal Strength, Endurance, and Agility each increased by one tier.]
[System Notice: Host's Strength +20, Agility +20, Stamina +20. Current Stats: Strength 85, Stamina 64, Agility 69, Spiritual Sense 60. Spiritual Power / Magic Power / Mana / Inner Power: AAA / B / B / B. Power Evaluation: Seems you've grown from a shrimp into a fish — keep it up, and don't end up as a salted fish.]
[Hidden Mission — Nightmare Duet Completed: Nightmare Duet refers to completing two Nightmare-level missions within one hour, with overlapping objectives and unchanged difficulty. Difficulty: Unassessable. Duration: One hour.]
[Rewards: S-rank Summoning Crystal ×1; Nightmare-level Quest Scroll — "Pursuit from the Realm's Great Youkai" ×1 (optional activation); S-rank Skill — Ordinary Punch; S-rank Item — Dungeon Upgrade Scroll.]
Zombie Slayer: B-rank Title. Achieved by slaying 100,000 zombies. Holders deal +15% damage to zombies, with a 1–10% chance to instantly kill zombies hit in non-fatal areas (chance depends on enemy level). Incoming zombie damage reduced by 10%. Immune to all zombie viruses. Ordinary zombies will fear you and will not approach in groups smaller than 1,000. However, mutated zombies will prioritize you as a target.
Taboo of Life: A-rank Title. Achieved by slaying 300,000 zombies. Holders intimidate all abnormal lifeforms, deal +15% damage to undead beings, with a 3–15% chance to instantly kill undead hit in non-fatal areas (chance depends on enemy level). Incoming undead damage reduced by 10%. Immune to partial viruses. Ordinary undead will fear you, while elite undead will hate you to death.
Depart, O Dead: S-rank Aura. Earned by freely traversing an endless sea of zombies without sustaining injury, exterminating over 300,000 zombies, including 3,000 mutated ones and 50 of Spirit level. Within this aura's range, all entities classified as "Dead" deal 15% less damage to you. You are immune to most undead viruses and curses. Damage against "Dead" targets increased by 20%. Ordinary undead will fear—even dread—you. Elite undead will not actively attack you, though those beyond elite rank are immune to the aura. Allies under this aura gain half of your effects.
Mystic Eyes of Death Perception: Originally an SSS-rank bloodline, now manifested as an SS-rank skill. Grants sight of all death lines within living and non-living matter. Any severed line causes absolute death of that target. Those who wield this ability possess the potential to slay gods themselves. Usage Limit: 5 activations per day. Duration: 10 seconds per activation. All charges reset upon daily system refresh.
IS[1] Battle Suit: S-rank Equipment. User restriction: Chu Lian. This is an ultra-conceptual form armor. When equipped, the wearer immediately attains Earth-level combat power. However, its growth potential is low—without upgrades, it will always remain at this stage. Note: This is a manually operated device. The system provides no operational tutorial; the Host must learn how to use it independently.
After collecting her thoughts, Chu Lian led the group toward Miami while simultaneously entering her system space to review her mission rewards.
First came the surge in attributes—so significant that her hands and feet felt weightless, as though the ground itself had softened beneath her. Every movement had to be made cautiously. Having only just begun to grow accustomed to her own strength, Chu Lian found this sudden leap rather troublesome. Fortunately, after this mission, it seemed there would be no major battles for a while. That would give her time to familiarize herself with her current body—otherwise, she feared she might accidentally ruin something important.
Next were the two titles that granted her dominance over zombies and undead. Though their effects were now somewhat minor compared to her overall strength, they were still quite useful—far more rewarding than her old LV1 Electromaster title.
Then came the aura. Within its range, her allies would essentially become killing machines against undead. She knew better than to underestimate even a modest buff; in large-scale battles, when numbers and power were against you, even a small boost could turn the tide—perhaps even decide victory itself.
However, when she reached the SS-rank skill Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, a faint sigh escaped her lips. The system had noted that this skill was originally a bloodline ability on par with Kurosaki Satsuki's SSS-rank By the Side of God. Now, it had been downgraded to SS-rank — and further limited by daily usage and time restrictions.
Still, it was to be expected. SSS-rank items could only be obtained through special or Fantasy-level quests, and even then, acquisition wasn't guaranteed—nor was quality. SSS was simply the system's broad rating for anything above SS and below EX, a vast range where proximity determined value: the closer to EX, the stronger and rarer it was; the closer to SS, the weaker and more ordinary.
Undeniably, both Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and By the Side of God were closer to EX-tier in quality. Yet, fate had let her slip just past it. Knowing how her system operated, Chu Lian understood: once it had granted her the SS-rank version, she would never again receive the SSS-rank bloodline of the same name.
Perhaps she could exchange it for someone else—but for herself, this downgraded SS-rank skill, bound by limits and lacking free activation, would be all she could ever use. Within the SS-tier, such a restriction made it little more than average.
As for the IS Battle Suit, one glance was enough to make her blush.
It was entirely white—beautifully designed, almost divine in form. Twelve pairs of feathered wings spread from its back, faint white motes of light drifting around the armor's surface, which was etched with delicate golden rune lines. It looked more like a breathtaking piece of art than a weapon of war.
Its weaponry consisted of a long spear and a lightsaber. Each arm module contained miniature dimensional spaces capable of storing vast numbers of bullets and missiles.
Its most powerful feature, however, lay in the twelve pairs of wings. During combat, they functioned as propulsion devices, and when entering Final Mode, they could combine into a celestial rail cannon capable of firing a Star Piercing Shot—a devastating attack of overwhelming power.
Yet, the armor's design was… somewhat too revealing—so much so that Chu Lian felt an immediate reluctance to wear it.
The leg armor had been replaced with thigh-high white fishnet stockings, lined with glittering rhinestones and held up by a lacy garter set, each strap delicately clinging to the soft curves of her upper thighs. Her feet were adorned with alluring silver anklets and encased in crystal high heels at least fifteen centimeters tall. They made her legs look even longer—and, unfortunately, far more eye-catching.
The rest of her body was clad in what resembled a white sailor uniform—except the skirt was so short that a mere gust of wind would lift it enough to reveal her underwear. Rather than protective equipment, it felt more like decorative attire.
Though the top half of the outfit looked somewhat proper, Chu Lian knew the truth—beneath the sailor collar, her chest was only covered with thin silk strips shaped like crossing ribbons, barely concealing the twin peaks beneath. It was as if the armor were telling her, If your outfit gets torn in battle, too bad—fanservice is all you'll have left.
"The person who designed this must've been some perverted leg and foot fetishist… Why else make it so revealing when it could've been perfectly modest?" she grumbled internally. Still, Chu Lian reluctantly accepted the reality. Perhaps this armor wasn't immediately practical, but she hadn't forgotten about the Dungeon Space—there would surely come a place where it could be put to good use. Even if not there, she could still find a situation in this world where its power would come in handy.
The final team reward, in truth, was well-deserved. The others had faced tremendous danger alongside her. To emerge alive and unrewarded would've been unfair. This was not only the system's acknowledgment but also its recognition of their shared struggle.
Yet even as she appreciated it, Chu Lian couldn't help but feel troubled. Her power had grown far too quickly. The girls didn't possess the same cheats and shortcuts she did—they could only grow step by step. No matter how hard they trained, they would never keep pace with her meteoric rise.
"It seems once we return, I'll need to start teaching them how to cultivate properly," she thought, glancing toward the tired, panting girls beside her. "With their talent and constitutions, rapid improvement should be entirely possible."
"Let's stop here. They should be arriving soon," Chu Lian said as they reached a highway. She guided the group off the road and told them to rest.
Moments later, two vehicles appeared in the distance—one an ultra-luxury extended RV, the other resembling an armored war tank.
Spotting Xu Jingyao in the RV's driver seat, Chu Lian turned to the girls. "No time to explain—everyone, get in the car."
Then, addressing the sixteen members of the special forces, she said, "Your stimulant's effects should be wearing off soon. Get in that vehicle—someone will take you to a safe place where you can recover. Don't ask me how I know. It's not something that needs an answer."
She stopped one of them as he opened his mouth to speak, shaking her head. "Don't say you want to stay and protect us. Think about what I said earlier—don't forget the honor you carry."
"And even if you did insist, look at yourselves. What use would you be in the next fight? Besides becoming cannon fodder or burdens that need protection, what could you accomplish? So don't go. Not this time."
At that, she shifted Anna gently in her arms and said solemnly, "If you truly see me as your commanding officer…"
Her words silenced them. After a brief pause, realizing they had no way to refute her, the soldiers straightened and saluted in unison.
"Yes, Commander!" they shouted in a single, disciplined voice.
Then, one by one, they boarded the tank-like armored vehicle, led by a few members of the male servant corps toward a hidden base. Their next task was simply to endure their recovery period safely. What they would say once they returned home was no longer Chu Lian's concern.
She wasn't worried about them revealing her information, either. With the rewards she'd just obtained, her abilities and techniques had evolved beyond recognition. Any data they shared would already be outdated—at best, it would only help her conceal herself more effectively.
Watching as the armored vehicle drove away into the distance, Chu Lian finally turned toward the RV, carrying Anna as she boarded.
As soon as she sat down, Xu Jingyao started the engine, steering the luxurious vehicle toward the heart of Miami. Though he knew the city was chaotic and dangerous, his only mission was to obey the girl's command. Life and death no longer mattered to him.
Leaning against the window, Chu Lian watched the girls' weary faces and felt a pang of guilt and affection. Was I pushing them too hard?
She truly wanted to deal with the dragon ravaging the city—the one connected to her—but she couldn't ignore the exhausted girls beside her.
With a quiet sigh, Chu Lian made a firm resolution: from now on, no matter what danger or duty arose, she would first consider the wellbeing of those at her side—and only then decide what course to take.
She no longer wished to demand that the girls follow her pace by force. Doing so would mean she was ignoring their limits entirely.
"Big Sis, are we heading out… to deal with that dragon from earlier?" Chu Chu asked, taking a glass of water from a butler. After drinking a sip, some of the fatigue faded from her face. She exhaled softly and looked up at Chu Lian.
"Yes," Chu Lian replied. "That dragon came because of me. I can't simply forget it just because it's no longer chasing me. I can't sit back and ignore the tragedies caused by my existence. Tell me, Chu Chu—if I did that, would I still be the big sister you admired so much?" She placed a hand over her heart and smiled gently as she looked at her.
It was her honest feeling. Even if she escaped the dragon's pursuit now, with its ability to track her across a thousand miles, it would always remain a threat until she faced it. Running away would solve nothing. What she had to do was confront it—and destroy it, no matter the cost.
"Of course not! That kind of Big Sis isn't my Big Sis at all. The Big Sis I know would never run away," Chu Chu said with a bright smile. She hadn't asked to question Chu Lian's resolve—she only wanted to confirm it.
As expected, her Big Sis was still the same—unwavering, fearless, unchanged by power or circumstance. Chu Chu's heart swelled with pride and warmth. Yes, she thought, Big Sis is still the best. And if I could become her bride one day… that would be even better.
"I think everyone feels the same way," Chu Chu continued, turning toward the others. "If we pretended not to see what's happening and ran away, letting such things happen—I couldn't live with myself. Even if it's not directly related to us, even if we're not the dragon's target… Big Sis's problem is our problem. When Big Sis stands her ground, so will we. Right?" Her smile was radiant, warm as sunlight.
"Though I'm worried, I support Chu Lian's decision," Li Xiu'er said softly, her fingers tapping her thighs as if playing an invisible melody. Her voice was quiet but resolute. She had always supported Chu Lian—even when doing so had nearly cost her life. Timid as she was, once she chose a path, she never wavered. Not then, not ever.
"I hope that what Chu Lian does today will one day become legend. And I… wish to witness it." Liu Yanran smiled faintly as she accepted a pen and paper from a butler, sketching a few strokes before speaking. She had fallen in love with this life—not the secluded days of poems and paintings behind closed doors, but the dangerous, vibrant world that lay beyond. Even if it was perilous, she wished to walk it alongside Chu Lian.
Ruriko Nana and Lux Lyle didn't speak, but both nodded firmly. Regardless of their backgrounds, they shared a core belief—the heart of responsibility. Only a leader like Chu Lian, one who bore the courage to face anything, could earn their loyalty, their service, and their trust for life.
If she were to run away now, they would never allow her to help them again—not out of resentment, but pride. That was their conviction, born of their upbringing and shared sense of honor.
"I want to see you in your true form—as a strong one," Kurosaki Satsuki said simply, her voice drifting down from above before she melted back into the shadows. The white-haired girl always expressed herself in the fewest words possible. Though she already saw Chu Lian as a mentor, a friend, and even a master, her way of showing support was through action—the relentless pursuit of greater strength.
"Lian, I'll always be by your side." A soft hand clasped hers gently. Inori's quiet whisper brushed her ear. Yes—she had always been there, from the moment she appeared beside Chu Lian, and she would remain—in the past, now, and forever. She gave her warmth, strength, and the reason to keep moving forward.
Chu Lian smiled, her heart light. "You're right. If a person can't even shoulder this basic sense of responsibility, how could they ever call themselves complete?" In her arms, Anna let out a soft "Mmm", as if in agreement.
"Lian'er, look at them—so many people supporting you. You should be content. Remember, you're never alone in this world. Not when you first arrived, not now, and not in the unknown future either. We live together, die together, never abandon or forsake one another. This… is the system's first covenant." Ayase, watching from within the system space, smiled happily as she raised her glass and drained it in one go. But even as she smiled, tears fell silently down her cheeks, staining her crimson robe—each drop glimmering vividly against the red.
"What more could I ask for in this life?" Her heart was full—yet there were still things to do. Closing her eyes, she once again sank her consciousness into the system space.
Earlier, she had gotten distracted midway through reviewing her mission rewards. She had only finished reading the rewards for Special Mission: Zombie Horde, leaving the other two unread. Now, she wondered—what new surprises awaited her?
[1] Infinite Stratos