[S-rank Dungeon Upgrade Scroll: Allows you to upgrade an existing dungeon into a higher-tier world dungeon while keeping the overall difficulty unchanged.]
[Please note: Every dungeon space serves a unique purpose. If you fail to find a replacement or complete its role, you will permanently lose access to the rewards and growth opportunities associated with that dungeon, and you will never be able to enter it again. If you successfully obtain the replacement item, you will still receive the system-designated mandatory item upon completion, but no other rewards or enhancements. However, your entry eligibility for that dungeon will remain.]
[Current dungeon available for entry: Harry Potter World. Dungeon Entry Ticket: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Admission Letter ×1. Mission: Unknown. Reward: Unknown.]
Staring at the glowing parchment suspended in midair, alongside the delicate Hogwarts letter shimmering with faint purple light, Chu Lian hesitated.
From a purely strategic standpoint, the logical move was to use the Dungeon Upgrade Scroll to enhance the dungeon. Doing so would yield higher rewards and stronger gains.
But she couldn't bring herself to do it. Harry Potter was the very first world she had ever earned entry to, and something deep inside her told her that she would need something from within that world—something important. If she upgraded it now and lost her chance to enter, who knew when the next dungeon would come—or if it would even be suitable for an upgrade.
"You don't need to dwell on this so much. Do you want to know what task you'll have to complete in Harry Potter and what the rewards are? I'll show you," Ayase said softly, opening her eyes after a long rest on the sofa.
Barefoot, she walked gracefully across the floor. As she passed Suicune, she reached down and gently stroked its mane.
Strangely, the proud beast did not resist her touch. Instead, it closed its eyes peacefully, as though enjoying her caress.
"Until she matures fully, I'll be relying on you," Ayase said quietly through a telepathic link.
"Do not worry. My master is my life. Until my body and soul are dust, she will never come to harm," Suicune replied solemnly, making its loyalty clear.
"Thank you." Ayase gave a faint nod before walking over to Chu Lian. Seeing her lost in deep thought, she sighed softly, reached out, and brushed her hand across the screen. Instantly, the display changed.
"Current dungeon available for entry: Harry Potter World. Dungeon Entry Ticket: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Admission Letter ×1. Mission: Slay the Dragon. Reward: Dragon's Heart."
"This..." Chu Lian blinked, momentarily stunned. "Isn't that a bit too hard? Dragons, no matter how weak, are still at least High Spirit level. They're not something you can just kill easily. Well, maybe the ones in Scroll of Maidens are an exception, but still..."
"It's not that difficult," Ayase replied calmly. "In the Harry Potter world, the highest beings barely reach the peak of Spirit level—half a step from Earth level at most. It's not a true high-magic world, so the dragons there are capped at High Spirit level. The quest isn't meant to be impossible. When you first got that entry ticket, your strength was equivalent to an ordinary child's. The task was tailored to that level. Of course, now that you've far surpassed it..." She flicked Chu Lian's forehead lightly, smiling when she saw her wince and rub the spot.
"For me now, it's an easy quest," Chu Lian admitted with a pout. "But I bet when I actually enter, my power will be restricted—probably capped at Spirit level. Otherwise, there'd be no challenge. Still, for the me back then... slaying a dragon? That would've been harder than giving birth!"
Ayase chuckled. "You're not wrong. But the dungeon did come with an entry window—Hogwarts opens on September 1st, with replies due by July 31st. The system probably meant for you to use that time to strengthen yourself before entry. None of us expected your power to grow this fast..." Her voice trailed into a quiet sigh.
Ayase had once used countless methods to draw Inori and the others—who had been wandering through the void—into this world, intending for them to become Chu Lian's first allies in strengthening her power. Her goal had simply been to help Chu Lian develop self-defense capabilities. Yet the results had far exceeded her expectations. Before Inori and the others even arrived, Ayase herself had been sealed within the Punishment Space, unable to leave.
Inori, influenced by Chu Lian's presence, began to depend on her completely. From that moment onward, she devoted herself to helping Chu Lian grow stronger. The result was astonishing—Chu Lian's power surged exponentially, awakening the Key of Seven Illusions and inheriting the abilities of the Void. Even Ayase could no longer predict her growth.
Every battle since then, every increase in strength, had surpassed Ayase's comprehension.
She knew Chu Lian's potential was extraordinary—perhaps the highest possible. Yet the speed of her growth was terrifying, like a player in an online game endlessly leveling up by slaying monsters. If Ayase weren't the system's administrator, she might have suspected that some hidden function existed—an experience multiplier or secret power-boosting mechanism.
But that realization also made her understand something profound: Chu Lian could no longer be judged by common sense. Even though Ayase had already thought her to be exceptional, she had still underestimated her. This period of absence had shown her just how far Chu Lian could progress on her own.
Today, Chu Lian's progress had not only broken Ayase's understanding but had surpassed the fastest cultivation rate this world had ever seen. Even excluding those mythical beings who ascended overnight, her growth was nothing short of miraculous.
And so, Ayase had decided she would no longer attempt to restrict Chu Lian's power. Instead, she felt a quiet anticipation—just how far would this girl go? What kind of greatness awaited her future?
That was why she had chosen to reveal system information that normally would've remained hidden—to let Chu Lian make her own choice.
"Slay the dragon... Dragon's Heart." Chu Lian's gaze lingered on the words glowing across the screen, her eyes gradually brightening. "Maybe... this could be substituted."
"Ayase," she said suddenly, turning to her, "if I kill the dragon outside, could its heart replace the one required for this mission?"
"Hmm? Oh... yes, it could," Ayase answered after a brief pause, as though realizing Chu Lian's intention. "I showed you that quest because the dragon outside can indeed serve as a substitute. But think carefully—the dragon in Harry Potter and the one out there are worlds apart."
"The one in Harry Potter is High Spirit level," Ayase continued. "But the one outside? That's a beast that fell from Heaven level to the peak of Earth level. Aside from its reduced tier, every other aspect of its strength still matches a Heavenly creature. Forget killing it—even injuring it would be nearly impossible." Her tone was not meant to discourage Chu Lian; it was simply the truth.
After all, three Heavenly beings who had once fallen to High Spirit level had still been able to toy with Chu Lian as if she were nothing but a fragile plaything. If the difference of just one tier could create such a gap, then what of a monster born of pure celestial might?
Even its body alone, without invoking any abilities, could crush nearly all other races with ease. To face a creature like that—one standing at the absolute pinnacle of the Earth level—was to stand against something that defied reason itself.
"I've already decided, Ayase. I believe I can do it," Chu Lian said firmly, her eyes burning with determination. "Because there are people I have to protect. If I can't challenge my limits, how can I believe in my own strength to protect them—and to make you feel at ease?"
Her unwavering gaze made Ayase's heart tremble. Unable to resist, she stepped forward and pulled the girl into her arms, lowering her head to press her crimson lips against Chu Lian's soft cherry ones.
The girl didn't freeze or resist—she closed her eyes instead, parting her lips as their tongues intertwined in a tender, fiery dance.
Ayase's gaze softened as she kissed her, the tenderness in her heart overflowing beyond restraint. Here and now, she wanted nothing more than to lose herself completely in this moment.
Their mouths stayed locked for a long moment. When they finally separated, a thin string of saliva stretched between their tongues, trembling before snapping. Chu Lian licked her lips seductively, slowly drawing her tongue across the moisture left behind, her half-lidded gaze still fixed on Ayase.
"Do you like this feeling, Ayase?" she asked, her voice sultry and languid, as if the autumn moon shimmered within them. Every word carried an alluring pull, a whisper that could make hearts flutter.
"You're becoming more assertive in this kind of thing," Ayase murmured with a wry smile, brushing a finger over her bitten lower lip, tilting her head as she gazed at her with playful affection.
It wasn't their first time being this close, but ever since their kiss in the Consciousness Space, something between them had changed. The invisible barrier that had always existed seemed to have quietly shattered. Neither of them said it out loud, yet both fully understood and silently acknowledged what their relationship had become.
"Promise me you won't take unnecessary risks," Ayase whispered, her tone softer than ever before. "I can't intervene anymore—if I do, they'll find another opening to strike, and when that happens… it could be fatal. So please—be careful. Very, very careful." It was the first and only time she had ever pleaded so gently, so sincerely.
Chu Lian smiled faintly. "Whether for all of you or for myself, I won't act recklessly. Besides, I don't believe that dragon is invincible. There's always a way—there has to be." Tilting her head slightly, she brushed a strand of hair from her face, her eyes shining with firm conviction.
"Then I'll let you decide for yourself." Ayase looked deep into her eyes, trying to read the thoughts hidden within, but found them impossible to grasp. In the end, she didn't press further. Instead, she reached out and gently patted Chu Lian's head.
Closing her eyes, Chu Lian savored the warmth of that touch. Even if it wasn't for the quest, she thought silently, I'd still kill that dragon with my own hands. I swear it.
Lowering her hand, Ayase stepped back, her gaze quietly lingering on the girl standing before the system screen.
"System, I will use the S-rank Dungeon Upgrade Scroll," Chu Lian said firmly. "Target dungeon: Harry Potter World. Upgrade—now." She raised both hands, one holding the scroll, the other the Hogwarts Admission Letter.
"As you wish."
Light burst forth. The two items floated from her palms, transforming into orbs of energy that spiraled around each other above her head. They spun faster and faster, until their individual forms blurred together, merging into a single radiant sphere.
A flash—and the light vanished. A single object fell into her waiting hand.
"Dungeon upgrade complete. As the upgraded dungeon must retain the core essence of the previous one, the new world will remain of similar nature. Please remember this and use it wisely."
For some reason, the system's voice sounded calmer—almost gentle—in Ayase's presence. Perhaps... it feared her?
Chu Lian pondered the thought for only a second before dismissing it. Her attention shifted to the newly transformed item in her hand. The words inscribed on it made her freeze.
"Overlord."
Her eyes widened. "Wait—Overlord? As in... Bone King himself? His power is Heaven-level! Don't tell me the quest is to kill him! If that's the case, I'm out."
Indeed, the first thought that flashed through her mind upon seeing that title was the absolute nightmare of facing Ainz Ooal Gown—the so-called protagonist, but in truth, the ultimate boss of that world.
"Don't overthink it. Just check the quest first," Ayase said gently beside her. "Upgraded dungeons display their objectives directly."
Her reminder pulled Chu Lian's focus back. Nodding, Chu Lian lowered her gaze toward the screen, eager—and slightly anxious—to see what awaited her.
But just as the words began to form, someone lightly shook her shoulder. Her consciousness flickered—and she was pulled back into her body.
"Lian, we've arrived."
Inori's soft voice drifted to her ear. Chu Lian blinked, her eyes meeting Inori's beautiful wine-red gaze. "We... arrived in Miami?" she asked, still a little dazed.
"I'm not sure if this is still Miami," Inori said quietly, shaking her head. She pointed out the window, her voice trembling slightly. "Because... it doesn't look like a city anymore."
Following her gaze, Chu Lian slowly turned toward the window—and froze.
The scene outside was unrecognizable. The once-glorious city of Miami lay in ruins, devoured by chaos and fire. Nothing remained of its former splendor.
Her fists clenched tightly. Then, in a voice trembling with fury and resolve, she swore an oath:
"I will kill it. With my own hands."