The Underground Training Ground was pitch black.
Even Lucas, a rebirth veteran, stumbled in the darkness.
He pulled out a flashlight, its faint glow revealing the path.
The Ground was vast, with winding, labyrinthine training rooms.
Even with a map, first-timers got lost.
Despite ninety-nine rebirths, Lucas rarely visited here.
He chose a flashlight because it was Sakura's zone, with poor light transmission.
A faint beam wouldn't attract Yandere Valkyries.
Sakura wasn't light-sensitive; a flashlight made no difference.
"Please, no Sakura…"
Lucas prayed.
The vast terrain and Sakura's nature meant he could avoid her if lucky.
In his pink dress, Lucas tiptoed, feeling only shame.
…
Lockers were centralized in five areas: A, B, C, D, E.
Area A was for S-Class Valkyries like Theresa.
B, C, D, E were for others.
Lucas, in Area B, approached its storage room.
Flashlight on, he recalled his first time here, chased by Night Valkyries.
Without a flashlight then, he groped blindly, touching a fox-eared woman—Sakura.
Her ears were soft, but she killed him.
…
Area B Storage Room: Valkyries stored items here.
Staff managed it by day, not night.
The flashlight swept lockers.
"Welt Yang wouldn't use these common ones."
Daytime Valkyries could find the weapon.
Training rooms cost 500 yuan per hour, free once monthly.
Holographic projections simulated Honkai Beasts or Undead.
Private battles, no injury worries, but mental strain was real.
Two "deaths" in training revoked access for three days, preventing overtraining deaths.
St. Freya had such incidents.
Lucas headed to the corner.
Valkyrie lockers lacked privacy, but staff changing rooms existed.
If an employee left, their locker could stay unopened.
Lucas targeted these.
Five areas, five changing rooms.
If lucky, he'd find Welt Yang's weapon fast.
"Eden Star?"
In pink, Lucas entered the staff-only room.
Changing rooms were once gendered, now all female.
Lockers stood in rows, all locked.
Two hairpins made short work of them.
First locker: work clothes.
Second: work clothes, pink plug-in. "Well played."
Third…
No weapon found, Lucas moved to the next area.
Time slipped away.
The humid, musty air filled with moss and faded writing contrasted the daytime Ground.
Lucas headed to Sector C, monitoring temperature.
Himeko used footsteps, Pardofelis bells, Sakura a temperature drop.
Sakura moved silently, slowly, until spotting Lucas.
No danger en route.
In ten minutes, Lucas reached Sector C's storage room.
Lucky, he found Welt Yang's weapon in the seventh or eighth locker.
A small black pistol.
Without Welt Yang's note, Lucas wouldn't believe it was the weapon.
[Lucas, this is my best weapon. It's yours.]
[Start your adventure.]
[I believe in you.]
No other info. Lucas shook his head. "This pistol has a mystery."
Taking a deep breath, he grabbed it.
Heavy, substantial.
A tiny black dot floated below, expanding into a black-red, patterned ping-pong ball when moved.
"Eden Star?"
Excitement flashed.
A suction force erupted.
As an "ordinary person," Lucas couldn't resist, his body twisting like noodles.
Invisible hands kneaded him, but he felt no pain.
Gravity distorted space-time, creating the illusion.
"Pseudo-black hole?"
"Welt, what's this?!"
"Will it kill me?"
In a second, Lucas was sucked in.
…
He awoke later, unsure how long.
"Not dead?"
Checking himself, all parts intact, Lucas sighed.
"What is this place?"
The dark world wasn't pitch black; he saw far, but it was empty, infinite.
"You're finally here."
A faint voice from behind.
Lucas turned, seeing a long-gray-haired man in casual clothes, holding an emerald leaf.
Thirteen Flame-Chaser, Tianhui—Su.
"Why's he here?"
Confused, surprised, nervous, Lucas noted Su's feminine face.
Su's dim red eyes widened, stunned by Lucas.
--------------------------------
Hello everyone! I have posted new chapters on Patreon, if you like my work and want to support me on this creative journey, you can support me here: [patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you for your support!!!