[Host command received, simulation commencing.]
After Lunelle confirmed the activation of the simulation once again, she—already well-versed in the process—felt only a slight dizziness before her consciousness shifted.
With a blink of her eyes, she found herself back in the familiar simulation space.
As the immersive simulation began to unfold, that same familiar scene—the one that had stopped her in her tracks countless times—started to play out once more.
--+--
[The Cocoon of Finality suddenly attempted to embrace you one step ahead...]
--+--
Honestly, Lunelle wasn't holding out much hope that she could withstand the Cocoon's baptism this time either.
In fact, the only reason she kept diving into these simulations was purely for the Honkai Energy Adaptability bonuses doled out as a 'Safety Net' reward.
Given her current one-to-one conversion rate for Honkai Physique, even those measly two points from the Safety Net offered a noticeable boost to her strength.
Lunelle had already braced herself for the usual outcome: being instantly overwhelmed by the 'Finality's Gift' and failing the simulation once again.
But just as she'd resigned herself to another defeat, this simulation threw her a curveball she never saw coming!
--+--
[Although your consciousness and body still contain many 'impure' elements, your core consciousness has returned to a state of purity, allowing you to withstand the 'embrace' of the Cocoon of Finality this time.]
[You have received the Authority bestowed by the Cocoon of Finality: Authority of Destruction!]
[Authority of Destruction (Purple / Simulation Herrscher Exclusive): A powerful Authority governing destructive force, gifted by the Cocoon of Finality! Possesses overwhelming destructive power capable of annihilating and deconstructing all things!]
[Upon binding, this Authority automatically generates a Herrscher core within the host's body, representing its power. This core will construct a Herrscher personality, shaped by the host's core consciousness, to enact the will of Finality.]
--+--
"Wait... Huh? I actually... made it through this time?"
Surviving the Cocoon's infamous 'plot kill' for the first time left Lunelle with a surreal, dream-like disbelief.
After all...
'Dammit! I remember when little bro was still around, this simulation wasn't like this at all!'
Remembering the recent, permanent loss of her 'little brother,' and now this previously insurmountable 'plot kill' just... passing?
Even though she could no longer call herself a 'seven-foot-tall man,' Lunelle couldn't help but view the whole thing from a detached perspective.
It just reinforced the profound malice the Cocoon of Finality seemed to harbor towards anything male.
So basically, as long as she was still technically male, it was a death sentence, right?
But since she'd somehow survived this supposed certain death, Lunelle—who had fully prepared to just go with the flow—couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation for what might come next.
However, before she could think further, a sudden pop-up notification for a critical simulation event triggered a wave of PTSD-like shock!
Because…
--+--
[Witnessing the Cocoon of Finality strike first without honor, the Will of the Sea, refusing to be outdone, forcefully descends its gaze!]
--+--
As the notification faded, Lunelle—currently in the simulation wearing her 'waifu' Seele's identity—had barely weathered the Finality's baptism when she was hit with another wave of 'mild shock' from the Will of the Sea of Quanta.
'Seriously? The Cocoon messing with me is one thing, but why do you have to butt in too? Is my simulated death not spectacular enough—'
Lunelle's useless lament within the simulation space was cut short.
In the next instant, her consciousness was utterly scrambled by the 'Sea's Gift.'
Fortunately, compared to the Cocoon's brutally violent torrent, the Sea of Quanta's flow was noticeably gentler.
Though, while receiving this sea-borne baptism, Lunelle's mind entered a state of complete overload, feeling utterly stuffed and unable to spare even a sliver of mental capacity for simple thought.
Given that Lunelle's soul origin had now fully reverted to female, and her current persona happened to be 'Seele,' whom the Sea's Will found exceptionally kindred, the experience was different.
From Lunelle's perspective, the Sea's Will was clearly—'a tad'—more gentle than the Cocoon, which seemed prone to rough 'embraces' upon spotting a girl it fancied.
So, each time Lunelle's consciousness teetered on the brink of collapse, the Sea's Will would notice and grant her a moment to catch her breath and recover.
It felt remarkably like a mother carefully feeding her beloved daughter, pausing to let her digest when she was full before offering more.
Under the direct gaze of the Sea's Will, Lunelle could vaguely sense that it held no ill intent towards her.
Unlike the Cocoon, which forcefully and rudely shoved its Authority into her simply because it liked her, the Sea's Will seemed intent on guiding Lunelle to uncover and draw out some special power hidden deep within her.
To compare, if the Cocoon offered the treatment of a stepmother, the Sea's Will was like a birth mother.
But the world Lunelle inhabited was ultimately a Honkai world, where the Cocoon of Finality held direct influence.
The Cocoon, possessing a somewhat childish, possessive nature, could not tolerate this blatant act of 'NTR'—the Sea of Quanta's Will brazenly poaching on its turf!
So, before Lunelle could fully digest the Sea's special gift, the pre-existing power of Finality forcefully severed the connection she had just established with the Sea's Will!
The simulator's event log faithfully recorded the standoff between the two entities:
--+--
[The Will of the Sea attempted to forcibly activate the innate Authority within your soul origin, which holds great affinity with the Sea of Quanta!]
[The Cocoon of Finality could not bear to see its chosen darling poached so openly.]
[It secretly tattled to its superior, the Imaginary Tree.]
[Detecting the Sea's Will's overreach, the Imaginary Tree instinctively exerted its home-field advantage, forcibly interfering and severing the link between the Sea's Will and your consciousness!]
[Your connection with the Will of the Sea has been temporarily severed. However, the brief contact still managed to draw out a portion of the special power buried deep within your core consciousness.]
[You have awakened the special Authority power of your core soul consciousness: Creation (Incomplete).]
[Authority of Creation (Incomplete) (Purple / Simulation Exclusive): A special Authority power drawn from your core consciousness through the guidance of the Sea's Will! Possesses the divine power to control and even shape life to a certain extent.]
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.