We're here.
Seele walked ahead of Stella and stopped.
Before them lay a desolate street, with ruined buildings crouching like silent beasts in the dim light.
Is this Rivet Town?
Stella surveyed the deserted street; only the sound of the wind wailing through the broken walls answered her inquiry.
The air held a scent of rust and dust, mixed with an indescribable... Rift aura.
Yeah.
Seele nodded, her scythe already in hand.
There are many Rift creatures here. If there are powerful Rift creatures, or if they are numerous, I will step in.
Understood!
Stella perked up, and blue light flickered repeatedly—
[Clara] appeared obediently to her left, her red coat particularly conspicuous in the dim environment;
[Bailu] appeared on the right, yawning, her dragon Tail swaying lazily;
[Little Herta] appeared last, elegantly adjusting her skirt, as if this were a ballroom rather than a battlefield.
Finally, Stella transformed into the appearance of [Stelle], holding a Flame Lance in one hand and a baseball bat in the other, striking what she considered a cool pose.
Let's level up!
Stella shouted confidently.
[Little Herta] glanced at her: "That 'I can take on ten' expression on your face, paired with that body that can be easily beaten up, is truly pathetically incongruous."
Sh-shut up!
Stella blushed.
Soon, their movements attracted a group of Rift creatures—a few Imaginary Weave and two Outer-Universe Flames.
The battle process... well, it was indeed very "plain and unadorned."
[Clara] hid behind the refreshed [Svarog], whispering: "Mr. Svarog, the one on the left..."
The refreshed [Svarog] didn't seem to have changed much, still maintaining that silent, mechanical appearance.
It clumsily raised its arm, its laser cannon slowly charging up.
Too slow!
Seele slashed an Imaginary Weave that tried to sneak attack, sending it flying, and shouted back.
Can't you make it move faster?
I'm trying!
Stella argued while knocking away another enemy with her baseball bat.
[Clara] is only level 27, and [Svarog]'s strength is tied to her level—
[Bailu] yawned and swatted away an Rift creatures with her Tail: "Ah~ so boring, these monsters aren't even a challenge. Stella, can't you summon some powerful characters? The kind that can clear the screen in one hit?"
I want to too!
Stella wanted to cry.
The battle ended after ten minutes.
The harvest was: the remains of a few Rift creatures, a small amount of EXP, and...
Dull, too dull!
On the way back to Stellaron Town, Stella couldn't help but complain.
It's so boring, I thought there would be some exciting battle scenes!
Seele carried her scythe and walked in front: "Reality is like that; not every battle is as breathtaking as in the stories."
But this is just too...
Stella sighed, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
Right! System!
She stopped and pleaded to the air—actually, to the system panel that only she could see: "system panel, oh system panel, considering how hard I've worked, at least open up the support character feature... I really can't take it anymore..."
[Host's request detected]
Huh?
Stella suddenly lifted her head, her eyes shining.
It responded!
[Trial Character feature enabled]
[Current Trial Character: Bronya Rand LV80 / 80 (Four-Star)]
Stella was stunned.
Not because she had obtained a trial character—although that was certainly worth rejoicing over—but because of that level.
LV80.
Max level.
Four-Star.
Her current highest-level character, [Clara], was only level 27!
What kind of concept was this? It was like taking a group of kindergarteners to an amusement park, and suddenly being assigned a special forces bodyguard!
Hey? What's wrong?
Seele noticed Stella had stopped suddenly, her expression going from confused to shocked to ecstatic, as colorful as an artist's palette.
I think... I can summon a very powerful character now...
Stella's voice was trembling.
The kind that's really, really powerful...
How powerful?
Seele raised an eyebrow.
Stella didn't answer, but directly operated the interface.
The next moment, blue light flickered, and an elegant, tall figure appeared before them.
Her silver-gray long hair was tied into iconic spiral twin Tails, her Silvermane Guards uniform was crisp and dignified, and she held a firearm symbolizing her status as a commander.
The moment [Bronya] appeared, Seele's hair stood on end, and she instinctively took a half-step back, holding her scythe horizontally in front of her.
A Silvermane Guards from the Upper District!
Seele's voice was filled with vigilance and shock.
And... she feels so strong!
It felt like taking a walk in one's own backyard and suddenly finding a lion sunbathing on the lawn—unreasonable, but very real.
Hello, Seele, and the original self.
[Bronya] smiled slightly.
You know me?
Seele was even more confused; she was certain she had never seen this Silvermane Guards officer before.
I do, but you don't know me yet.
[Bronya]'s answer was like a riddle, but her attention was soon drawn elsewhere.
And...
She turned her head, her gaze fixed on the edge of Stellaron Town. There, a few Vagrants had surrounded another figure—the same silver-gray long hair, the same Silvermane Guards uniform, only the expression was more vigilant and uneasy.
The real me seems to be in some trouble.