That costume show that blew up the entire internet was, in the end, just an interlude in the grand martial arts examination.
The progress of the arena tournament would not stop for anyone's social death.
The Quarter-finals.
Celeste finally hit the "ceiling" of her destiny.
Her opponent, Gao Shen.
A Level 22 Defensive Warrior.
Just like his name, both his personality and combat style could be described with one word—steady.
He was like a silent monolith, impenetrable and stubborn.
Standing on the arena, Gao Shen's gaze didn't even linger for a second on Celeste's highly recognizable pink staff.
He simply silently raised that tower shield, which was wider and thicker than his own body.
"Hum—"
The tower shield hit the ground with a dull thud. His entire being instantly connected with the aura of the arena beneath his feet, becoming as solid and heavy as a mountain.
"Match start!"
The moment the referee's voice fell, Celeste discarded all distracting thoughts and executed the Thousand Rock Army Spear Technique to its limit.
The pink staff shadows turned into a dizzying storm, pouring frantically onto Gao Shen's tower shield and heavy armor.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The sounds of metal clashing formed a rapid drumbeat. Sparks flew wildly off the shield's surface, only to be instantly swallowed by its heavy metallic luster.
Gao Shen completely gave up on attacking.
He used his actions to interpret the word "defense" to his very marrow.
His footsteps were as steady as if rooted in the earth. Every angle of his shield block was precise to the millimeter, neutralizing all of Celeste's tricky attacks into nothingness.
It wasn't that Celeste hadn't tried to find a weakness.
But Gao Shen's defensive system was a seamless whole, with internal energy flowing around him, airtight and impenetrable.
She even risked leaving an opening, attempting to lure him into a counterattack.
Unfortunately, Gao Shen didn't take the bait.
His tactic was clear to the point of cruelty: let the storm rage, I shall remain unmoved, until your last bit of stamina and mana is exhausted.
The situation reached a stalemate.
Relying solely on spear techniques, she couldn't break the deadlock.
Celeste glanced at the venti trial card in the system warehouse, and alarm bells rang in her heart.
For the sake of a mere quarter-final match, to transform into a white-stockinged, green-hatted Bard under a national live broadcast?
That wouldn't just be social death.
That would be social cremation, where even your ashes are scattered clean.
Not worth it, absolutely not worth it!
Thinking of this, Celeste's desire to attack weakened by thirty percent. She began tapping the opponent's shield half-heartedly, wondering whether to have hotpot or barbecue for dinner.
Time passed minute by minute.
The audience went from cheering at the start, to whispering, and finally to a dead silence.
Some began looking down at their light-computers, and some even started yawning.
One couldn't break the defense, and the other was too lazy to attack. Both sides had full health bars; what was the point of this fight?
This wasn't an intense martial arts exam quarter-final; this was clearly a massive hypnosis session!
Finally, just as Celeste was rhythmically tapping out the melody of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" with the tip of her staff, and even the referee was frequently checking his watch, preparing to declare an unprecedentedly dull draw—
A hymn rang out from thin air.
That singing was deep and grand, carrying the desolation and tragedy of an ancient battlefield, along with a sense of destiny that said "prepare to suffer, young one," instantly seizing everyone's soul!
["Overtones" has begun playing for you!]
The system notification exploded in her mind.
"!!!"
Celeste's whole body stiffened, and she almost dropped her staff.
No way?!
What's with this "no one gets to be happy today" BGM?!
And it triggered against a tin can? Is there something seriously wrong with the system's criteria for "Aha"?!
Almost at the same instant the BGM started, a grayish-white light enveloped Celeste!
The plain white priest robe on her body was swallowed and reconstructed by the light!
As the light dissipated, there was no longer a violent priest on the arena.
In her place was a knight clad in worn-out full plate armor, with a visor covering her face!
The armor was covered in battle scars. She held a kite shield in her left arm and a plain, unadorned straight sword in her right hand.
The pink staff that had been overflowing with girlish charm was nowhere to be seen.
Her entire being radiated a sense of desolation and resilience that said, "I can still die eight hundred more times."
[Overtones triggered! BGM: "Dark Souls III" (Dark Souls 3 - Main Theme).]
[Cosplay Character: Ashen One.]
[Gained additional buff: Weapon Art - Stance. The normal attack following the Stance can break the balance of an enemy defending with a shield from below.]
Celeste was first startled, then delighted.
"This one's not bad! Full armor, priest to knight, no big deal! The Ashen One is mute, no lines. It's just that this chest area is a bit tight..."
Below the stage, the dead-silent audience exploded instantly!
"She... she changed again?! What is it this time? A medieval knight? What on earth is her class!"
"This music makes my hair stand on end. I feel like I'm going to be killed by something in the next second!"
"The art style changed too fast! From magical girl to intellectual official, and now she's directly transformed into a hardcore knight?!"
"Sister—!" Selene sprang up from her seat again in shock, sighing with regret, "What a pity! This look isn't a dark history moment at all..."
The opponent, Gao Shen, was also stunned by this sudden turn of events.
But his rock-like personality allowed him to quickly steady his mind, and he only held his tower shield even more firmly.
No matter what you become, I shall remain unmoved!
On the arena, Celeste had already adjusted her mindset.
"Anyway, my face is covered by the helmet. Even if I lose face, it won't be Celeste's face!"
The moment her thoughts became clear, Celeste—or rather, the "Ashen One"—moved!
She didn't charge; she simply took a steady step forward, lowered her body, and gripped the straight sword with both hands. A faint light lit up on the blade!
"Break!"
A muffled shout came from beneath the helmet!
With a standard upward-slash weapon art, her sword swung up, precisely striking the lower edge of Gao Shen's tower shield!
"Crack—"