Baiheng was excitedly showing Cyrene a new Xianzhou self-stirring spoon. Although Cyrene was still a woman of few words, her eyes showed softness and curiosity, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Suddenly, the system puppet appeared silently before them like a ghost, startling both girls.
Cyrene instinctively recoiled, her azure eyes vigilantly scrutinizing this strangely shaped, cross-eyed, unfamiliar "puppet."
Baiheng almost instinctively stepped forward, shielding Cyrene, her snowy fox ears perked up in alert: "Sy-System? Is something wrong?"
The system puppet ignored Baiheng's small protective gesture and directly conveyed the instruction in a flat electronic voice: "Miss Baiheng, Madam Herta requests your presence."
"My master is looking for me?"
Baiheng's heart sank, and she asked with some trepidation, "Is...is it something important?"
The system puppet did not answer, merely "gazing" at her calmly with its purplish-red cross-shaped eyes. The invisible pressure made Baiheng feel a prickle on her back.
(Baiheng's inner thoughts: Oh no, oh no. Is she upset I spent too much money on shopping? Or did she find out I secretly brought too many things for Cyrene?)
Feeling uncomfortable under the system's stare, Baiheng had no choice but to compromise. She turned back and forced a reassuring smile at Cyrene: "Cyrene, I...I'll be right back. Wait for me here, okay?"
Cyrene looked at her worriedly and nodded gently.
Baiheng followed the system, step by step, with a feeling akin to walking to the execution ground.
[Data Corridor - Outside Anaxa's Cell]
When Baiheng was led by the system to Madam Herta, she immediately noticed a strange gray-haired girl standing beside Black Herta.
The girl's eyes were hollow and her face expressionless. Just standing there, she gave off an unapproachable aura.
"Ma-Master...you're looking for me?"
Baiheng spoke cautiously, her gaze involuntarily darting towards the gray-haired girl, her heart pounding.
Madam Herta elegantly raised a finger and pointed to the cell next to them. Baiheng followed the direction and saw only a green-haired figure squatting in the corner. It felt somewhat familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had seen him.
"The situation is simple," Black Herta explained in her uniquely flat tone. "You, and her,"
She pointed to the gray-haired girl beside her, "will 'interact' with the person inside. I need to assess your practical combat abilities."
Baiheng: "???"
The bewilderment on her face almost solidified: "Fi-Fighting? With whom? With this...Miss? Or with that...green-haired gentleman inside?"
She was completely confused. Why were they suddenly going to fight?
She was just a former pilot and a food enthusiast!
Before she could figure it out, the surrounding scenery abruptly changed!
It was no longer a narrow corridor or a cell, but an open circular arena.
Above was a brilliant night sky filled with stars, and lush flowers, grass, and trees grew along the arena's edge. One could even smell the fragrance of green grass and soil in the air.
Black Herta and the system had, at some unknown point, settled into two comfortable-looking spectator chairs that had appeared out of thin air at the edge of the arena, as if about to enjoy a performance.
Baiheng and the gray-haired girl, who was called "A Xing," stood in the center of the arena.
"Where...is this?" Baiheng looked around blankly.
Just then, the space before them twisted, and several grotesque Void Rangers appeared out of thin air. Their eyes glowed red, and they let out low roars, but they did not attack immediately, instead remaining stationary as if on pause.
The system's voice resounded through the arena, clearly explaining the rules to the two:
"This is a virtual training ground. A warm-up battle will now commence, against low-level Void Ranger projections."
"Please note: everything here is virtual, pain has been reduced by 90%, and even 'death' will result in immediate resurrection at the starting point. You may regard this as a realistic game."
"Please give your all and demonstrate your full strength. After the warm-up, a formal assessment battle will take place."
Baiheng listened, dumbfounded.
"Virtual? Game? Health bar?"
She felt like she was dreaming.
However, the Void Rangers wouldn't wait for her to comprehend the situation.
As soon as the system's explanation ended, the red light in their eyes flared, and they roared as they charged towards the two!
Their speed was fast, but one figure was even faster!
It was A Xing!
She had summoned her iconic metal baseball bat at some point, her eyes still hollow, but her movements were as swift and precise as a leopard's!
Without the slightest hesitation, she charged towards the Void Rangers, her bat swinging with a sharp whoosh, accurately striking their joints and cores. Her movements were clean, efficient, and seemed like a battle instinct honed by countless trials.
(Black Herta nodded slightly from the sidelines: (Inner thoughts) Not bad. As expected of a creation imbued with the Remembrance of the Elysian Realm's trials, her combat awareness and fundamentals are solid.)
Baiheng, on the other hand, was much more disheveled.
"Waaah! Are we really fighting?!"
She screamed in fright at the Void Ranger charging at her, almost instinctively clutching her head and running wildly around the arena. Her snowy fox ears and Tail bristled with panic, completely lacking any semblance of a combatant.
Black Herta watched Baiheng performing "parkour" in the arena, elegantly picked up a teacup that had appeared in her hand at some point, took a small sip, and then gestured to the system.
The system's voice sounded again, with an undeniable tone: "Miss Baiheng, Madam Herta reminds you: if you refuse to participate in combat or act passively, your 'infinite black card' will be immediately revoked."
Baiheng, who was sprinting, suddenly slammed on the brakes, almost tripping due to inertia.
"What?! Revoke my black card?!"
These words were more lethal than the Void Rangers' claws!
Thinking of no more delicious food, no more good things to buy for Cyrene...would Cyrene...Baiheng instantly felt that the Void Rangers in front of her didn't seem so terrifying anymore!
(Baiheng's inner thoughts: No! My black card! My food freedom! I'll fight for it!)
She spun around abruptly, facing the Void Ranger that was lunging at her again, her eyes hardening.
Taking a deep breath, she cupped her hands in front of her chest, and a long bow, entirely white and flowing with faint blue energy patterns, instantly materialized!
"Hmph!"
She let out a soft cry, sidestepped, nocked an arrow, drew the bow, and aimed—her movements were fluid, possessing a unique agility and coordination!
"Whoosh!"
The energy arrow shot from the string, precisely hitting a Void Ranger's core, instantly disintegrating it into data fragments!
Baiheng was momentarily stunned, seemingly surprised that she could do that?
But she quickly reacted, beginning to use her flexibility, moving to dodge attacks while continuously drawing and firing arrows. Although her movements were still a bit unpracticed, her aim was surprisingly good, quite reminiscent of operating a turret on a starship back in the day.
Black Herta and the system sat on the sidelines, quietly observing the battle.
Black Herta watched Baiheng gradually getting into the zone, and A Xing, who was like a precise combat machine. She suddenly remembered something and turned to ask the system: "This virtual arena, it seems it doesn't require us to go to their actual 'cell' doors to activate, does it?"
The system puppet nodded: "Yes, Madam Herta. As long as the corresponding individual's data coordinates are available, a simulated combat space can be generated anywhere."
Black Herta: "...Then why did we specifically go to Anaxa's room door just now?"
The system puppet replied in its emotionless electronic voice: "You didn't ask."
Black Herta: "..."
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