"Sleep, sleep... my dear... sleep~" As Chu Lian was typing, a soft voice suddenly drifted into her ears. Her already tired body grew even more drowsy, and her blinking became slower and slower.
She tried hard to turn around to see who it was, but her body wouldn't respond. Her head tilted to the side, and just like that, she fell asleep, resting on her arm.
Only then did the figure standing behind her let out a breath of relief. Those orange-red eyes quietly gazed at Chu Lian, lost in thought. Slender fingers twirled strands of orange hair as if wrestling with a difficult decision.
After a long time, her soft eyes suddenly turned resolute. Just as she leaned down to lift Chu Lian in her arms, two mirrors in the room reflected a face.
In the vanity mirror was Inori with pink hair. Her wine-red eyes stared forward as her cherry lips parted: "Mana, you mustn't..."
Mana's hands, which were just about to touch Chu Lian, abruptly stopped. She lifted her head and looked at Inori, asking, "Why can't I do it?"
"Because it might trigger a backlash from this plane's consciousness..." replied Eve, whose face appeared in the floor-length mirror. Her violet-red eyes held a rare trace of tension.
"I can sense that this plane's awareness has always been focused on Lian. If outsiders like us suddenly bring her powers from another world, I fear we'll be rejected. Even if we're not, it might drag Lian into trouble—or worse, make it so we can never stay by her side again..."
"I don't want to hurt Lian, or trouble her, and I definitely don't want to be forced to leave her…" Inori's reply was simpler. Her left hand rested on her chest while her right gripped her hem tightly, her tone gentle yet firm.
"I never intended to hurt her..." Mana lowered her head in silence for a while before finally speaking. "I've never wanted to hurt her. Never..."
"But I can foresee that she's in danger. It's an invisible but deadly threat. I don't know when or how it'll happen."
Compared to when she was the Apocalypse Virus's origin, Mana now lacked offensive power. But after being fused with the virus for so long, even after losing that strength, she had gained a special ability: premonition.
Premonition—the ability to glimpse the future. Though limited and sometimes wildly inaccurate, it could also, at times, be terrifyingly precise.
This time, she had clearly foreseen the danger surrounding Chu Lian. That cold, ominous thread of fate was like a chain around her ankle, forcing her to expend countless times more energy than normal to move forward.
Yet Mana could only see the end that bound Chu Lian; the other end was a blur. She only knew that the future was terrifying. If Chu Lian couldn't overcome this trial, her future would remain as dark and unclear as that unseen end.
Mana didn't know how to solve this or what would happen if it remained unresolved. She only knew she wanted to try—to do everything in her power to help. Even if it meant triggering unpredictable consequences.
"The power of the Void Genome is immense. Lian's body is still too fragile—she absolutely can't handle it," Eve said after a long silence, reacting to Mana's analysis.
In a voice only she could hear, Eve softly murmured, "Will we be allowed to help her? Just who is this girl… really...?"
"I understand. If the recipient's body isn't even minimally qualified, it can cause serious damage. But I have a solution..." Mana tucked her hair behind her ear, and smiled lightly.
"Mana, there's a mysterious power inside Lian…" Inori spoke softly, but she had spent the most time with Chu Lian. As someone with incredibly strong physical perception, she could sense the calm yet awe-inspiring force hidden within Chu Lian's body—a terrifyingly quiet strength lying in wait.
"Yes, and precisely because she possesses that power, I can help her… Premonition isn't just about glimpsing possible futures. Under certain conditions, it can guide those futures to manifest sooner..." After saying that, Mana no longer hesitated. She bent down, gently scooped Chu Lian into a princess carry, then turned and walked a few steps to lay her down on the bed.
She stroked Chu Lian's cheek and whispered, "I'm sorry. If I could, I'd ask for your permission. But this time, doing it without your knowledge is the best way to protect you… If there's any punishment later, let it fall on me."
Mana had foreseen Chu Lian's danger during their bath together the previous night. It was then she noticed the fate line coiled around her and resolved herself to help—no matter what.
As for the crisis Chu Lian faced, it stemmed from the hidden series quest she had triggered the previous Sunday:
"Hidden Series Quest: Daughter of Fate Initiated."
"Quest ① Sudden Crisis: During the upcoming assault, repel the enemies and ensure no beings from the Otherside can appear again for at least three months."
"Due to certain circumstances, some entities in the Otherside have become aware of your existence. They regard you as the chosen one—the woman destined to save them."
"Quest Difficulty: Nightmare. Time Limit: Undefined. Failure Penalty: Loss of freedom—becoming the key to unsealing the Otherside's passage to the Bright World."
"System Warning: You currently possess no direct means to achieve victory. Use every method and ability at your disposal. After quest activation, you are forbidden from relying on Seal Guardians or forces from the Bright World. If you value your freedom, find a way to overcome this trial."
The final note of the quest stated that Chu Lian would be attacked by three of the Otherside's strongest. Even with only one-tenth of their original power remaining, they were still unimaginably dangerous—far beyond what Chu Lian could withstand. That's why she had been so busy recently.
She wanted to finish all her preparations before confronting the coming threat. The moment the system issued the quest, a predetermined fate line had bound itself to her.
The other end of the chain Mana couldn't see? That was the three enemies—and the entire Otherside backing them. With her current power, Mana couldn't glimpse the future of such formidable beings, hence the overwhelming darkness.
These threads of fate were the result of the system intertwining with the world's destiny web. Not even top-tier powerhouses—or those who had attained domain-level strength—could easily perceive them. That Mana, an outsider spirit, could see them at all was beyond anyone's expectations.
"Eve, I know you're not strong right now. If given more time, maybe you could help solve all this—but not at the moment. Until the Apocalypse Virus fully merges with the world's consciousness, you can't manifest using Inori's body. You're powerless right now… But even so, I still need your help..."
Mana turned to face Eve and Inori and said solemnly, "The fate line entwining her is far too tightly bound. Without absolute external force, it can't be broken. That means she must face this tribulation alone..."
"If someone intervenes, the future will become more chaotic and unpredictable—and the danger may only grow. The only way to resolve this safely… is for the one who helps her to become part of her. Whether that means becoming her weapon—or her ability..."
"Eve, I need you to inject the Apocalypse Virus into Lian's body. At the same time, I'll guide out a portion of her hidden power to awaken. After that, we'll inject the Void Genome and let her become a 'King.' At that point, Inori becomes her weapon. You and I—her abilities. That way, we help her without interfering so directly that fate considers it tampering... and triggers a backlash."
It had to be said—Mana's plan was well thought out and had a high chance of success…
But unexpected interruptions always come without warning.
"I won't allow you to do this to my big sister. If she's in danger, I'll protect her. But you—none of you are allowed to touch her." The door hadn't opened, yet Chu Chu suddenly appeared in the room. She swept her gaze across the three girls, speaking word by word with intense determination.
Clearly, she had overheard a lot—and now had her own guesses about their origins. Knowing just enough of the truth, she naturally opposed their actions. After all, interfering in this way could lead to uncontrollable consequences.
"Chu Chu, don't stop them… I didn't plan on receiving a power upgrade right now either. But sometimes, plans can't keep up with changes. If there's a chance, then let's go with it." Chu Lian's voice suddenly rang out, startling both girls.
"Lian? You were supposed to be asleep for a while!" "Big Sis? Weren't you supposed to be asleep for a long time?" Mana and Chu Chu asked the same question almost in unison, revealing the shock they both felt.
A faint smile played on Chu Lian's lips. "If I were that easy to knock out, I wouldn't be lying here so calmly now."
Though she spoke, she didn't open her eyes. "I trust Mana—and I know her method will work. Chu Chu, I know you've uncovered a lot behind the scenes. Don't tell me. Don't ask me. Right now, just stay quiet, alright?"
"I... I..." Chu Chu tried to say more, but Chu Lian cut her off: "If you act up again, I'll have Tina take you out. Don't think I didn't notice her shifting into spiritual form to sneak you in here. So behave, okay?"
"...Okay. I'll listen to Big Sis..." Chu Chu looked down at Tina in her arms. Seeing the serious look in her eyes, she realized the threat was real. If Chu Lian said she'd wait even ten more minutes to follow through—she would.
And if she was thrown out of this room, which was already sealed by mysterious forces, getting back in would be nearly impossible.
"Then let's begin..." Chu Lian murmured with a soft smile, hearing Chu Chu's response.
She knew Mana, Inori, Eve, Chu Chu, and Tina could all hear her clearly.
"It'll work... I believe in us..." Mana whispered, lowering her head to place a kiss on Chu Lian's forehead.
In the next moment, a silver-white pentagram appeared on Mana's forehead. A mysterious power began to swirl around her, glowing like a radiant river of stars across the night sky...
And at the same time—changes began to stir within Chu Lian's body...