[Trial Space: The Trial Space refers to those worlds whose world consciousness is in the stage of dissolution, where the life of the planet has already begun to collapse. Apart from death and abnormal lifeforms, nothing normal can exist there. These worlds cannot be used as Dungeons (but can be reversed). Because these worlds are on the verge of destruction, one can wreak havoc upon them freely without worrying about backlash from the world consciousness. If one can reverse such a collapse, then the world consciousness will merge with your own, making you the consciousness of that planet, governing the birth and death of all its life, protecting its development.]
[Note: Before entering each Trial Space, you will be subject to various restrictions, just like when entering a Dungeon. However, you will have greater freedom within the Trial Space and need not concern yourself with what you do there.]
"So the Trial Space is a place meant for me to fight. It looks similar to a Dungeon, but the restrictions against destroying the world or the protagonist's fate have been lifted," Chu Lian read the explanation, nodding slightly as she finally understood the true purpose of the Trial Space.
[Reversal Conditions: Completely eliminate the source of the collapse and all abnormal creatures or phenomena caused by it to achieve the initial reversal condition. Subsequent conditions will be generated automatically based on the planet's development. Note: Each reversal mission is generally at Fantasy-level difficulty. Do not attempt unless you possess the corresponding strength, or you will only accelerate the world's destruction. (World Reversal is a reward granted only for Perfect Completion.)]
This left her momentarily stunned. The explanation of a reversible collapsing world in the Trial Space didn't simply mean restarting that world—it meant she herself would come to govern it.
"Still, what's the point of ruling a world? Look at Tírnas and Eve—their worlds both suffered catastrophic disasters. Yet Tírnas, with her unparalleled strength across the dimensional world, managed to hold on by sheer force, while Eve could only fade away in despair. That alone shows that not every world consciousness is godlike in its power. Perhaps before its destruction, Eve's strength surpassed what it is now, but even then it was in vain."
She shook her head lightly. The reward of controlling a reversed world didn't interest her much. Managing even a small team was already difficult for her—expecting her to manage the affairs of an entire planet was absurd. She'd rather die than take on something so ill-suited to her abilities.
Leaving aside the explanation of the Trial Space, Chu Lian's gaze slowly moved to the next reward.
[Bloodstained Reward: Every enemy you slay will grant you Kill Points. Upon defeating certain special enemies, you may also obtain their valuable items (provided they are undamaged). Kill Points are not part of the normal system exchange and can only be used to trade for certain special items. Note: Kill Points may be exchanged only for life itself—this is a transaction where countless deaths are used to forge new life, hence the name 'Bloodstained Reward.']
Seeing this, she was stunned. "Bloodstained Reward… so it's encouraging me to kill enemies? No, wait—that seems to go against the system's original intention… or maybe not? If I'm killing zombies or other malicious enemies, then it wouldn't be a contradiction—it would simply be fulfilling its purpose."
Thinking along those lines, she finally understood why the system had unlocked the "Bloodstained Reward." It was encouraging her to continue following the system's five core principles—to align herself fully with the system's ideals. Although she couldn't quite grasp the full reason, Chu Lian felt instinctively that there was something important she had yet to realize.
As she thought this, her eyes shifted downward, eager to see what the Bloodstained Reward truly entailed. But upon seeing the list, her expression stiffened, unsure how to react.
Because the so-called Bloodstained Reward offered exchangeable "lives" of various kinds—none weak in combat ability—but there were far too many types. And all those types shared one collective name: "Monster Girls."
[Currently available lives for exchange under the Bloodstained Reward include: Two-Winged Fallen Angel (Sickly Little Sister type), Two-Winged Angel (JURU Married Woman type), High Demon (Overflowing with Lust type), High Devil (Tsundere Masochist type), Elf (Slender Beauty type), Dog-Eared Girl (Clingy and Adorable type), Fox Spirit (Passionate and Arrogant type), Vampire (Eternal Loli type), Dragon Girl (Ethereal Fairy type), Lamia (Soul-Enthralling type), Flower Spirit (Fresh and Intellectual type), Half-Cyborg Girl (Loyal Guardian type), Shipgirl (Boardable type), Mecha Girl (Rideable type), Weapon Race (Fusible type), Artificial Angel (Obedient Slave type), Tentacle Girl (Sadistic Nympho type), Spider Girl (Dominant Queen type), Glasses Girl (Intimate Secretary type), Science Girl (Fanatical Researcher type), Weapon Girl (Violent Drunkard type), Catgirl (Biting type), Witch of Books (Literary Maiden type), Virtual Girl (Dimension-Breaking type), Painted Consort (Elegant and Composed type), Mantis Girl (Nocturnal Predatory type)...]
[There are too many to list in full. Due to the Host's current strength, the exchangeable lives are limited to those of no higher than High Spirit rank. The system hopes the Host will continue to work hard and one day reach the level required to exchange for Divine Beast-class lives. (Note: The first life exchanged from each species will be the most perfect specimen of that race. This reward is exclusive to Perfect Completion tasks.)]
Such exchangeable lives didn't tempt her much at all—look but not touch? That was just cruel.
If the system's host were male, this would clearly be telling him: "Young man, this system is definitely helping you build a harem, so go forth and complete missions, kill your enemies!" From there, a passionate story of "I shall ascend to the heavens" would unfold.
But she was female! Though she hadn't forgotten that she was once a man deep down, her body was undeniably that of a woman now. Even if she could exchange for all these girls, she couldn't exactly do anything with them.
And as for a "harem," she already had quite the group around her. Even Chu Lian herself often didn't know how to deal with them all. If more of these were added, her daily life would descend into total chaos.
Still, even if they couldn't become part of her harem, they could at least serve as maids, right? The only issue was that all of these lives were clearly nonhuman girls—their features were too obvious. They could only appear within a completely closed environment.
As she mentally complained about the system's endless string of bizarre features, her gaze once again drifted downward, growing increasingly curious about the final reward for the long and arduous "Daughter of Fate" quest.
[Ultra-Virtual Neural Console: This is a quantum computer that operates at the uppermost limit of artificial non-biological intelligence. Its storage capacity can expand into a space the size of an entire solar system and can simultaneously support consciousness links for up to one hundred billion lives. It possesses a unique temporal computation algorithm, allowing linked consciousnesses to perceive time differently from the external world, indirectly extending their lifespan. However, because the device's physical body is made from an extremely rare and fragile material, any attack with Earth-level power or higher will instantly destroy it. Please handle it with care. (Perfect Completion reward; non-perfect completions only receive half of this ability.)]
[Ultra-Virtual Neural Console: It is called a 'gaming neural console' because it evolved from a game-oriented computational system. Its understanding of games surpasses all others. Using it as a core, you may construct several hyper-realistic virtual worlds. However, note that the total combined space of these games must not exceed the size of a solar system, or the console will collapse.]
[Available game types for construction include: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), Multiplayer Online Shooter, Role-Playing Game, Infinite Exploration Game, Nightmare City Game, Management Strategy Game, Sports Game, Music Game, Fighting Game, Mecha Warfare Game, Modern Military Simulation, Horror Survival Game, Moe Girl World, and Minecraft-type Sandbox (MC).]
[If the Host wishes to construct a game, please select up to three categories and provide the necessary data and designs to the neural console. It will gradually refine and perfect the world you wish to create. (Perfect Completion reward; non-perfect completion rewards are limited to one category.)]
The performance of this neural console could only be described as astonishing. What kind of civilization could have developed something so advanced?
Still, the fact that she could only select three game types to construct felt like a bit of a pity.
But she was satisfied nonetheless. Even with just three categories, she could already imagine the chaos these games would unleash upon the world. When those three were eventually released, the global gaming industry would undergo a revolution unlike anything before.
Of course, designing such vast and intricate virtual worlds would require tremendous time and effort. She had no delusion that it could be accomplished quickly.
Unless she had a massive amount of Kill Points to exchange for one of those "Science Girls" she'd seen earlier—otherwise, it would take time.
"Right, Ayase—those Science Girls, are they good at game development too?" Chu Lian's eyes brightened at the thought. She hurried over to the couch where Ayase lay resting.
"The things you exchange through Bloodstained Rewards come with a pre-exchange selection box," Ayase explained lazily, not even opening her eyes. "You can set their specialization there. Of course, I don't really recommend it—it'll limit their autonomous growth. But doing it occasionally is fine."
She wasn't asleep; she simply hadn't been interested in all the system details Chu Lian was reading. Since Chu Lian had asked, she answered without hesitation.
"So it really is possible. In that case, I can finally begin building my cultural empire starting with games." Chu Lian's heart leapt with excitement. At last, she'd found the starting point for the "Cultural Empire" she'd long dreamed of creating.
"Well, make sure you think this through," Ayase said, opening one eye to glance at her. "Once something like this appears, your company will be flooded with trouble—endless, unquantifiable trouble. It'll also attract the attention and competition of other corporations and even world governments. Unless you're prepared with sufficient strength, I suggest you hold off."
"I know," Chu Lian replied, waving her hand dismissively. "I don't plan to release it any time soon. Even after it's completed, I'll wait until everything's ready before launching it. For now, I'll test it myself first—make the games as perfect as possible." She wasn't foolish; she knew how to proceed carefully.
"Mm, suit yourself. Go ahead and read the rest. If you don't understand something, ask me later. For now, I'm going to rest—don't disturb me." Ayase stretched and reclined again, closing her eyes. She knew Chu Lian wasn't reckless—if anything, she was more cautious than most people. Her earlier warning had been more of a habit than a necessity.
Watching her, Chu Lian frowned slightly. "Ayase seems… off. Is she just tired? That shouldn't be it. Maybe she's got something she can't tell me." Though she was suspicious, she knew Ayase well enough—if it was something that could be shared, Ayase would say it on her own. If not, asking wouldn't change anything.
She turned back to the Bloodstained Reward interface and selected three races to review.
[Science Girl: A race born from humanity's boundless thirst for science. They are humanoid spirits who embody scientific curiosity and devotion. As lifeforms, they possess growth potential. Innate Trait: Learning speed for all scientific knowledge increased by 1000%; capable of controlling any scientific device within their understanding. Rank: Beginner Spirit. Initial Exchange Cost: 3000 Kill Points, decreasing by 100 points per subsequent exchange. After ten exchanges, each Science Girl costs 1000 points. (Perfect Completion Reward.)]
[Witch of Books: Born from within books, they are the inheritors and witnesses of knowledge, capable of perfectly reconstructing entire histories. Commonly found in great libraries across time and space, they are lifeforms sustained by knowledge itself. They worship literature and instinctively reject anything not recorded in written form. They are also the most perfect authors—though they lack human emotional comprehension, their narrative skill ranks among the highest of all races. As lifeforms, they possess growth potential. Rank: Beginner Spirit. Initial Exchange Cost: 3500 Kill Points, decreasing by 100 points per subsequent exchange. After ten exchanges, each Witch of Books costs 1200 points. (Perfect Completion Reward.)]
[Painted Consort: A race born from the resentment of those imprisoned within paintings, possessing an intense yearning for freedom. Because they emerge from artworks, they have exceptional artistic insight and talent. Their pursuit of perfection makes their paintings breathtakingly lifelike and beautiful—they are masters of fine detail. Note: Never attempt to imprison them, for they fear loneliness above all else. Only by granting them freedom will they serve you wholeheartedly. As lifeforms, they possess growth potential. Rank: Beginner Spirit. Initial Exchange Cost: 3200 Kill Points, decreasing by 100 points per subsequent exchange. After ten exchanges, each Painted Consort costs 1100 points. (Perfect Completion Reward.)]
"Why do I get the feeling that these three races, though perfectly compatible in concept, would never get along in practice? I can already imagine what a disaster it'd be if I brought them together. But the game needs their help... oh no, what should I do?" Chu Lian rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. The mental image that followed only made it worse.
Science Girl: "You obsolete relic! One of my hard drives stores more knowledge than all your musty books combined—what use are you?"
Witch of Books: "It's exactly because of people like you—those who worship science—that the preservation of knowledge has become so crude and soulless. You've forgotten the true charm of reading."
Painted Consort: "Both of you lack any sense of beauty. Science Girl, your science is nothing but cold metal! And Witch of Books, though we were both born from literature, I embody beauty that can be appreciated at a glance, while yours must be painfully deciphered—what a disgrace."
Science Girl: "What did you just say, you big-breasted airhead dressed like a stripper?! Believe it or not, I'll blast you into the stratosphere with one Star Piercing Shot and turn you into a celestial mural!"
Witch of Books: "Shut up, you flat-chested barbarian! This has nothing to do with you! And as for you, Painted Consort—you dare say you're better than me? Without words, your precious paintings can't convey anything! Only language grants imagination, you canvas-bound fool!"
Painted Consort: "Small-chested girls shouldn't speak until the adults are done! Witch of Books, you broom-riding hag in long robes—how could you ever understand the beauty of imagery? A single picture can evoke thousands of interpretations, while your words are forever trapped within their own descriptions!"
Science Girl: "That's it—you two busty idiots are asking for it!"
Witch of Books & Painted Consort: "Shut up, you flat-chested brat!"
And then, of course, they'd start fighting on the spot. What a perfectly harmonious day... so harmonious indeed.
"Pfft..." Chu Lian couldn't help laughing. Just imagining that scene made her realize how impossible cooperation among those three races would be—it was about as likely as demons and devils deciding to stop fighting forever.
"Ah, whatever, I'll think about it later. I must be overthinking this. There's no way they'd actually behave like that. Monster girls are cute—how could they start fighting over something trivial? And who says Science Girls have to be flat-chested? Or that Witches of Books always wear long robes and fly on brooms? Or that Painted Consorts are all busty exhibitionists? It's all just my imagination. Definitely." She shook her head, trying to drive the ridiculous images from her mind.
"Wait, why am I even thinking about this? I still have more rewards to check!" After dawdling for a while, Chu Lian finally remembered she had another quest reward left unreviewed.
It wasn't entirely her fault—after all, the quest called "Nightmare Duet" had appeared so suddenly. It was a new type of "Hidden Quest," and she hadn't paid much attention to it earlier.
Now that she remembered, she tapped the screen, switching from the "Daughter of Fate" quest completion tab to the next one: "Nightmare Duet."
[Hidden Quest: Nightmare Duet — Refers to completing two Nightmare-level missions within one hour, with overlapping objectives and unchanged difficulty. Difficulty: Unassessable. Time Limit: 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.]
Just seeing those rewards made her pulse quicken, especially that S-rank skill, "Ordinary Punch." She couldn't help but wonder—how powerful could Saitama-sensei's ultimate move truly be?
[S-rank Summoning Crystal: By spending the required points, you may summon an Earth-level powerhouse to become your pet, serving under your command. Note: This summoned being must not be human—it may belong to a humanoid nonhuman species, a beast, or the undead. Once they respond to your call, they will place a fragment of their soul within the crystal. When you fuse with that fragment, the contract will be sealed, and they will henceforth serve as your pet under your command. Note: Please treat them kindly, as independent beings—they may reward you in ways beyond your imagination.]
"This feels like... a Poké Ball? Maybe I'm overthinking it. Either way, having an Earth-level being by my side would be a huge help right now. I can't wait to see what kind of creature it'll be. Hmm, can I use it right now?" Chu Lian's eyes gleamed with excitement as she gazed at the S-rank Summoning Crystal before her. In the coming battle, having an Earth-level protector would almost entirely eliminate her worries about the safety of those around her.
Indeed, her reason for wanting to use the crystal immediately was to summon an Earth-level being capable of guarding her companions, ensuring their safety during the upcoming conflict.
As for having it fight alongside her? She wasn't that reckless. The situation was still uncertain—if a powerful Earth-level entity suddenly appeared beside her, both factions would immediately perceive her as a common enemy. Even if she managed to slay the dragon, she would inevitably become the primary target of suspicion—or worse, an enemy to both sides.
Unless the summoned being was something capable of carrying her into battle and moving freely between battlefields without being seen by others—a mount-type creature, for instance—she had no intention of exposing herself like that.
She would rather endanger herself than risk harm to those by her side. No one knew why Chu Lian had developed such a nature, but there was no doubt that this very trait made her deeply beloved by others. People couldn't help but trust and rely on someone like her—foolishly selfless, yet undeniably warm.
"You may," the system replied, giving her the answer she had hoped for.
"Then let's begin. What should I do?" She reached out and grasped the floating crystal gently, awaiting instructions.
"Place it in your palms, clasp your hands at your chest, and summon with your heart." For once, the system was entirely serious, offering her clear, step-by-step guidance.
Following the instructions, Chu Lian slowly infused her spiritual sense into the crystal. The world around her dimmed into darkness. The only light came from faint violet starlight above, shimmering softly in the distance. Yet within that shadowed void, her heart remained calm and focused.
Drip.. The sound of a water droplet falling onto a lake echoed softly, but she paid it no mind.
Soon, more droplets fell, each one resonating through the silence until it felt as though she were sitting beneath a waterfall—or beside a rain-kissed lake. The serenity was so pure it seemed to cleanse her soul.
Drip... This time, the sound was different—gentler, softer. Then another. The sound came from far away, faint and ethereal.
"Is that... him?" she wondered, silently praying and hoping.
"Excuse me, are you the one calling upon me?" A gentle and clear voice resounded in her mind. Chu Lian's lashes trembled, and she slowly opened her starlit eyes to behold the being before her.
Before her stood a creature of breathtaking beauty—its entire body a shimmering blue, slender and elegant, with diamond-shaped white markings adorning its torso. Its four legs stepped lightly upon the surface of the water as if it were solid ground. Its face and underside were white, its back adorned with flowing violet mane like an aurora, and two ribbon-like tails fluttered gracefully behind it.
A prominent, crystalline crest in the shape of a six-pointed crown gleamed upon its forehead, two elegant horns curving like those of a divine qilin. Its red eyes glowed like rubies, mesmerizing and tranquil. Its delicate feline-like paws barely rippled the water beneath them.
It was a creature of such beauty that Chu Lian fell in love with it at first sight.
"Yes... did you answer my call?" she asked softly, smiling as she extended her hand toward it.
"I am Suicune. I have answered your call. From this moment forth, I vow to you—our contract shall bind us, and I shall never forsake you for all eternity." Raising one graceful paw, Suicune placed it upon Chu Lian's hand, speaking the solemn words of their eternal pact.
"I accept your allegiance, Suicune."
As her consciousness returned to her body, Chu Lian didn't hesitate. She drew a small cut across her finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the crystal, merging with Suicune's soul fragment. In that instant, their bond was sealed.
"My master, is this... the System Space?" A circular, shimmering blue portal opened above, and Suicune stepped gracefully through, landing beside her with elegance and poise.
"Yes," Chu Lian replied with a smile. Since the summoning crystal was a product of the system, it was only natural that the creature summoned through it possessed some knowledge of this space. There was nothing strange about Suicune being aware of it.
"It seems my master is busy. Then I shall stand guard quietly." With that, Suicune lay down beside her, calm and still, simply watching.
Seeing that it didn't disturb her, Chu Lian turned her attention back to her remaining rewards.
[Nightmare-level Quest Scroll — Pursuit from the Realm's Great Youkai: Upon activation, this will initiate the quest. The difficulty is eternally fixed at Nightmare level. In other words, young lady, this will be a mission of nine deaths and one survival. Choose carefully.]
"Being hunted by Miss Purple isn't exactly something one can easily survive... I'd better set this aside for now and open it later when I'm ready. Since it's permanently locked at Nightmare level, it'll definitely come with restrictions." Chu Lian studied the scroll, then shook her head and stored it back into her personal space. Best to keep it sealed for now—it wasn't the right time.
[Ordinary Punch: S-rank Skill. At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than a simple punch with no special effects. However, the hidden power within it is enough to make even the mightiest tremble. Effect: Delivers a single punch with fixed 4000% strength output (pure strength attack). Below Earth level, one punch will leave the user completely drained. Earth level and above may use it continuously until stamina runs out.]
"Pfft..." Chu Lian froze upon reading it. This... this is Saitama-sensei's move? Turned into a skill? The description alone made her jaw drop. "No way this is just S-rank! It's easily SS, maybe even higher! Unless... because it's purely physical, that's why it's rated S. Still, I totally lucked out!"
Deep down, she knew this skill was likely the most impactful reward of all. After all, the system evaluated everything on overall versatility, not raw destructive power.
For example, the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception—which allowed her to sever death lines—was rated SS because of its universal applicability. But Ordinary Punch, though immensely powerful, was still classified as a single-type, pure-force attack, limiting its grade to S.
Yet the difference was clear. Mystic Eyes could be used five times, lasting about fifty seconds in total. Ordinary Punch, on the other hand, could only be used once at her current level. That contrast alone showed which was the more dangerous.
"My god... it feels like the system is trying to turn me into some kind of super-powered brute!" she muttered, half in awe, half in helplessness.
"Tch. This lady has no interest in having a barbarian stand by her side."
"..." Chu Lian stared at the floating text the system projected, utterly speechless.
After a brief silence, she decided it was better not to argue—otherwise, the system would only start mocking her again.
With a small sigh, she moved on and opened the final reward's description. The moment she saw it, she fell completely silent for a long, long time...