"Mm, Inori, rest for a bit. I'll prepare a few things first." In Chu Lian's bedroom, she lay on the bed staring at the ceiling covered in starry wallpaper, her thoughts drifting far away. After remaining silent for a while, she spoke softly to Inori.
Then she stood up, walked to the center of the room, and picked up an unsheathed long blade. Looking at the cold patterns engraved upon it, her emotions became especially complicated.
"Cold Beauty: This was the personal saber of Xiang Yu, the Beauty Who Toppled Nations, and the weapon that accompanied her from the Otherside all the way into the present world without ever being abandoned. Later, it was given to Yu Ji for self-defense, guaranteeing her safety along the journey. After Yu Ji and the Overlord leapt into the river and died together, this blade vanished from the mortal world. No one expected it to appear once more today. Was it the result of the Overlord and Yu Ji falling in love again, or merely the will of fate that caused it to reappear? No one knows. However, one thing is undeniable: does the appearance of this peerless divine weapon represent something?"
"Evaluation: Pseudo-SSS Rank, Demigod Weapon."
"Form: Hilt length 27.7 cm, blade length 113.3 cm, total length 141 cm. The hilt resembles three phoenixes intertwined, while the blade is adorned like blooming poppies. It is an exceptionally gorgeous weapon of death."
"Traits: Weapon Breaker, Absolute Seal, Life Shatter, Overlord."
"Weapon Breaker: Any equipment, item, or weapon below S-rank quality will be cleaved apart directly by Cold Beauty."
"Absolute Seal: Anyone pointed at by the blade whose strength is lower than the wielder's will be unable to escape."
"Life Shatter: Wherever the long blade points, nothing can withstand it. No one may escape through substitute death techniques. All resurrection effects from items below SS-rank mystery level become invalid."
"Overlord: This blade belonged to the Overlord. Whoever wields it, is the Overlord."
"Note: Cold Beauty recognizes a master. Unless acknowledged by it, any outsider or anyone ignorant in the way of the blade who wields it will be consumed by its violent aura and turned into a machine that knows only slaughter."
"What a wonderful blade..." Her slender fingers slowly traced from the tip of the saber all the way to where her hand gripped it, and Chu Lian could not help sighing in admiration.
A pseudo-SSS evaluation. A demigod weapon. Nearly one of the strongest weapons in existence. Only the legendary Ten Famous Swords and a handful of weapons remembered throughout history could surpass it in quality.
Moreover, within those fragmented and fleeting memories, Chu Lian knew that the pseudo-SSS evaluation was likely only temporary. A seal had been placed upon it. Only she could remove that seal, and only once her strength reached at least Heaven level. Otherwise, it would never regain the glory it possessed in ages past.
That woman dressed in blazing red. That saber capable of bringing down nations. That smile that overturned the hearts of all living beings. Was she once the Overlord of Western Chu, Xiang Yu? And compared to the current Ayase, how unbelievably similar they were.
"From now on, you'll return to my side again. Well? Happy?" As if responding to her words, the blade trembled faintly. A chilling flash of saber light swept out, and Chu Lian saw the space before her distort, as though it might be sliced apart.
"Truly a peerless blade..." She was extremely satisfied. Although she had no idea where Liu Yanran had found it, now that it had returned to her side, could this perhaps be considered returning an object to its rightful owner?
Clang...
Even without an enemy present, the blade shone on its own, like an excited child. Perhaps those two thousand years of loneliness had left it waiting far too long.
"Don't worry. Tonight, I'll let you taste the flavor of real blood once more." Holding upright the cold and beautiful saber that stood one centimeter taller than herself—though if her hair thickness were included, they would definitely be the same height!—Chu Lian felt indescribably refreshed.
Meanwhile, Inori, seated at the bedside, furrowed her brows slightly and asked timidly, "Lian... do you not need Inori anymore?"
Indeed, ever since Chu Lian began fighting, her close-combat style had always involved long blades or weapons similar to them. And Inori's Void had been the very beginning of Chu Lian's battles with such weapons. It had also accompanied her longer than any other weapon.
Now that Chu Lian had obtained Cold Beauty, did that mean she no longer needed her Void? Did it mean she herself was no longer needed?
The sensitive girl could not stop herself from thinking in that direction. Chu Lian's recent actions had made her deeply uneasy. She feared losing her. And now... was this a sign?
"You're overthinking it." Though Inori's words were brief, how could Chu Lian fail to understand what she meant? Turning around to face the girl, she smiled gently and said, "As long as I'm alive, I'll always need you, young lady."
"Then why..." Her cherry lips pressed tightly together. She hesitated, worried, and more than anything, anxious over whether Chu Lian understood her feelings.
"Because I want to protect Inori..." Chu Lian shook her head. "The attribute boosts given to me by the Void greatly increase my combat power. But at the same time, they also make me dependent on it, causing me to lose control over my own attributes at critical moments. During this trip, after fighting for so long, I've basically mastered the abilities of my current attributes. If my attributes suddenly increase again, while my combat power would rise drastically, I would also lose control over my own abilities. That kind of instability is simply too dangerous."
"And besides, the Void is linked to your life. If I accidentally damage the Void, then Inori, you would die as well. I would absolutely never allow myself to do such a thing. And..." She walked over, raising the hand not holding the saber to lift Inori's chin. Looking into those wine-red eyes, she softly continued, "I want Inori to learn how to use your own Void and fight with it yourself. I believe you can do it... Mm, and don't think that I won't use the Void anymore either. When necessary, I absolutely won't hesitate. I hope Inori can understand my heart."
"Lian..." Biting her lower lip lightly, her gaze turned hazy. After whispering that single word, she raised her head and moved forward, gently kissing Chu Lian's lips.
Feeling her softness and sweetness, Chu Lian parted her lips slightly and closed her eyes, allowing Inori to act as she pleased.
Inside the room, the two girls entwined together. Their fingers slipped between each other's hands, interlocking tightly as though neither wished to let go. Perhaps their conversation had stirred their emotions, or perhaps they were simply responding to each other's tenderness.
Outside the room, the white-haired girl tightened her grip on her blade. In the end, she still did not enter. She was not hers, so why should she involve herself?
Only after a long moment did the two finally part, their lips separating first while their tongues lingered for an instant longer before reluctantly drawing apart. Looking at the blush upon each other's faces, they smiled simultaneously.
"Inori, when did you become this proactive and~" As Chu Lian spoke, she extended the tip of her tongue and licked across her lips, gathering the remaining saliva left behind from their kiss. "Lewd, hm?"
"I learned it from Lian." Inori blinked innocently and answered honestly without hesitation.
That honest answer left Chu Lian feeling deeply wounded. Alright then... so even these kinds of things could be learned. Inori, please don't start learning anything strange in the future, okay?
"Alright, I learned it from you." There was nothing she could really say in response. She could only give an awkward smile before sitting down beside her. Placing Cold Beauty across her thighs, she gently stroked it, and her thoughts gradually sank into her own status panel.
Name: Chu Lian
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 2002.02.08
Status: Normal
Endurance: 64
Agility: 69
Strength: 85
Spirit: 60
Spiritual Power / Magic Power / Mana / Inner Power: SSS / S / S / S [Currently Usable: Spiritual Power / Magic Power / Mana / Inner Power: AAA / A / B/ / B]
Attribute: None
Luck: EX~C
Strength Tier: Half-step Spirit level ~ Half-step Earth level ~ Unknown (One more step forward and you'll be a qualified warrior.)
Personality: Sharp-tongued, tsundere, scheming, resilient, loli, strong-willed, lewd
Hobbies: Acting cute, dropping integrity, yuri
Titles: Genius Literary Girl, Genius Music Girl, Drifting Wave Fairy, Loli, BlackNeko, Shameless, Twin Lotus, big sister, Eastern Dream, Goddess Maid, White Valkyrie, Rose Divine Envoy
Special Title: Miss Dolores
Talents: Loli Heart, Orchid in the Valley, Rose of the Eternal Bloom, Tírnas' Blessing, Innate Spiritual Body (Awakening), Battle Soul, S-Rank Innate Ability—Item Control, Sealed, Sealed, Conditions Unmet, Divinity, ???
Skills: Remilia-sama's Dignity, Head-Hug Squat Defense, Spiritual Power Bullet, Spiritual Power Burst, Ordinary Punch, Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, Godslayer (???)
Magic: Fire, Water, and Wind magic below Tier 3 from Overlord.
Special State: Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox
Special Abilities: Apocalypse Virus Progenitor, Void Controller (Current Users Available: Inori Yuzuriha, Hare Menjou), Electromaster LV1, Teleport LV4
Soul Skill: White Rose (Half-Sealed, abilities unlocked: White Ring, White Bloom)
Achievement: If Not Ample Bosom, How to Win Hearts (Belief in Progress)
Titles: Zombie Slayer—B Rank, Taboo of Life—A Rank, Dragon Slayer—S Rank
Auras: Depart, O Dead—S Rank, Depart, O Weaklings—S Rank
Cultivation Method: Divine Spirit Art
Items: Reimu's Donation Box, The Gloves Abandoned by the Ladykiller 2/3, Misaka Mikoto Set, Black Snow Princess Set, Seraph-Type IS Armor, Ultra-Virtual Neural Console, Lich King's Manual of Cultivation, Tírnas' Crystal Palace, Dragon Scale Armor, Dragonspine Bow, Dragon's Sin, Devourer's Soul Orb, Downfall of Castle and Country, Dragon Slayer Set (Three Pieces), Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Undetectable, Key of Seven Illusions (Unknown Ability), ???
Quest Items: Dragon Heart, S-Rank Quest Scroll—Pursuit from the Realm's Great Youkai, Dark Giant Clan Three Sisters' Marriage Contract
Special Item: Dragon Bloodline—S Rank ×1
Weapons: Key of Seven Illusions (Bow Form), Cold Beauty
Pets: Spirit Cat Cub (Tina), Suicune, World-Ending Dragon (Nina)
Class: None
Sub-Class: None
Hidden Class: Spacetime Traveling Merchant
Affinity: S (A very charming person, difficult to dislike at first sight.)
World Affinity: Native World SS
Special Worlds: Trial Space, Overlord
Completed Quests: Goddess Development Plan Main Quest ①—Debut of the Literary Girl, Side Quest ①—Sudi High School, Special Quest ①—Storm Approaches, Goddess Quest ①—Genius Music Girl's First Performance, Daughter of Fate ①—Repel the Powerful Enemy, Special Quest ②—Zombie Siege, Nightmare Duet, Class Quest—Spacetime Traveling Merchant
Completed Dungeon: Overlord
Talents: C-Rank Writing, C-Rank Music Theory, S+ Rank Performance, B-Rank Eloquence, C-Rank Basketball, A-Rank Driving, B-Rank Painting, B-Rank Cooking, S+ Rank Mastery of Classical Instruments, A-Rank Singing, A-Rank Acting Cute, ???
Current Points:
Goddess Points: 231242
Culture Points: 396000
Admiration Points: 302454
Dream Points: 1024
Item Points: 32
Integrity Points: 2754545
Slaughter Points: 47547
"Well, my points are still a bit low. The sudden surge in Slaughter Points was a pleasant surprise, though. That giant dragon alone gave me 15,000 points. Then the scattered battles, along with the fight at the graveyard, added another 16,765. Having this much now is only natural. Still not quite enough. Once I reach fifty thousand, I can start building my game."
"Oh, right. I still have a few other things... what were they again?" There had been almost no changes to the status panel. None of her attributes had increased by much. And yet, her current combat power was far stronger than before entering the dungeon.
Perhaps that was precisely why she had resolved not to rely solely on Inori's Void for attribute enhancement anymore. She had her own path to walk as well.