"The dungeon is an optional one. As long as the host completes two main quests, one side quest, and one optional quest, you'll be able to freely enter the dungeon in the future to complete the remaining missions at any time."
Hearing this, Chu Lian let out a sigh of relief. "So it's a long-term dungeon. Once I finish the required quests, I can withdraw and return later when my strength improves to handle the rest. In that case, it's not so bad."
"But did you notice the SSS-level difficulty?" Ayase refused to let her relax. "An A-rank quest can be completed by someone at the Spirit level. S-rank requires Earth level, SS-rank is Heaven level. So tell me, what kind of strength do you think an SSS-rank quest demands?"
"Probably above Heaven level, but not quite reaching the divine realm. I don't know exactly how powerful that is, but to reach such a stage... that's still far away for me. I'll think about it later." Chu Lian wasn't unaware of it—she simply chose not to dwell on it.
If all the quests in this dungeon had to be completed at once, or if failure meant never being able to finish them in the future, then she would've given it serious thought.
But since this dungeon could be freely entered later, she'd simply wait until her strength reached that level. Otherwise, overthinking it now would be pointless.
"You're surprisingly easygoing," Ayase remarked with a faint smile, glancing at her before walking back toward the sofa. As she sat down, she continued, "An SSS-level quest is meant for beings who have reached the so-called 'Transcendence Realm.' This term refers to those who have surpassed the limits of humanity—the pinnacle of Heaven level—but have yet to step into the domain of divinity itself."
"But don't assume that those in the Transcendence Realm are necessarily weaker than gods. The only reason gods are gods is that they've grasped a Rule—granting them authority over those still bound by it."
"Meanwhile, beings of the Transcendence Realm have broken free of their own limits but haven't yet mastered a Rule. Their power can grow endlessly, unhindered. Some fortunate ones grasp a Rule soon after ascending and become gods. But not all gods are powerful."
"When a being attains a Rule, they also become bound by it. From that point on, they can only fight using abilities permitted within that Rule. Unless the Rule itself is immensely strong, such gods are considered weak gods."
"Those who ascend by mastering a Rule are called Innate Gods—the so-called Children of the Gods, born attuned to the divine order itself."
"Others, however, may possess tremendous talent, comprehension, and strength, yet lack the luck or favor of a Rule. Still, they continue fighting, learning, and comprehending the truth of the world. Their power continues to grow, until they equal or even surpass the gods."
"Some among them eventually grasp their own self-created Laws. Though these Laws don't grant omnipotence within their domain like divine Rules do, they're uniquely attuned to their user's power—making their destructive strength rival or exceed that of most deities."
"These who reach divinity through self-realization are called Acquired Gods—or the Enemies of Gods. As for why they bear that name... you'll understand later. For now, it's not something you need to worry about. You're still far from that level."
"To give you a simple analogy, compare the Celestial Immortals of Heaven to cultivators who ascend through their own effort. Except for a few powerful Celestial Immortals, most are far weaker than self-cultivated immortals. It's the same principle."
"But don't be mistaken—gods aren't omnipotent either. They can use Rules, but they cannot alter them in the slightest. That's something beyond even their reach."
Ayase paused, gazing at Chu Lian, who seemed deep in thought. Then, recalling her own past, she tilted her head slightly and smiled faintly—whether in nostalgia or quiet sorrow, even she couldn't tell.
She shook her head slightly and said softly, "Let me put it this way—I'm one of those who've reached the Transcendence Realm. In terms of power, I surpass every being in this world. But because I'm bound by the world's Rules, I can only exert power up to the peak of the Heaven level. I can't go beyond it. So, in essence, I'm still limited to Heaven-level strength. Do you understand now?"
"I understand..." With those words, Chu Lian finally realized why Ayase, whose strength always seemed unfathomable, couldn't act freely in many situations. It all came down to the restrictions of the world.
Every world had its own unique set of constraints, and the Heaven level seemed to be the upper limit of most of them.
Stronger beings, restricted by these Rules, either couldn't use their full strength or had already departed for other realms. Those who remained were the ones unable to break through.
That was why, throughout history, the power levels of each world seemed to gradually decline from the near-omnipotent beings of ancient times.
In the past, the restrictions were not so strict—beings above the Heaven level could unleash their power freely, and even gods could fight in the skies.
But as time went on, their power became too overwhelming. If left unchecked, it would have led to the world's collapse. So, in order to protect itself, the world's Rules began exiling overly powerful beings to higher planes of existence, reinforcing the world's limits with each passing era.
Those who remained—the next generation of powerhouses—would once again rise and battle among themselves. When some of them grew too strong, threatening the balance, they too would be banished.
This ongoing cycle of self-regulation forced the collective strength of all beings to decline. Many extraordinary abilities were lost, as their wielders had no successors.
Year after year, the world stabilized within its boundaries, maintaining equilibrium—a state where even the greatest of powers could not destroy the balance, no matter how much energy was unleashed.
Thus came the current classification of Spirit, Human, Earth, and Heaven levels. Not only did it help everyone understand their place in the hierarchy, it also served as a warning—no matter how strong one became, Heaven was the limit.
"So that means, beyond this world, there must be higher realms—worlds with greater tolerance for power—where those exiled beings reside, right?" Chu Lian reasoned quickly. The world, she realized, was far more complex than she had imagined.
There might even be certain beings capable of remaining here despite exceeding the world's limits, suppressing their strength just enough to avoid triggering the Rule's rejection. As long as they didn't exceed the threshold, they could stay.
After all, the world's Rules only restricted displayed power, not inherent strength. As long as one didn't violate the boundaries, the world would not detect or banish them.
Those individuals were the true hidden powerhouses of this world.
"So don't get arrogant, but don't despair either," Ayase said lazily, lying back on the sofa and yawning. "You've only just stepped onto the threshold of the strong, but your power already surpasses many. Once you complete these quests, your growth will be extraordinary. More importantly—you'll obtain a portable world of your own. You understand what that means, don't you?"
"I understand. I'll do my best to complete them. Even if I can't finish them now, I'll return when I'm strong enough." Chu Lian understood that Ayase had said all this not to lecture her, but to rekindle her determination.
Since SSS-rank quests required Transcendence-level strength, there was no point in touching them now.
SS-rank quests were meant for Heaven-level beings, so she wouldn't think about those yet either.
That left the S-rank missions, achievable with Earth-level strength. She could at least manage those.
The A-rank ones, however, were mandatory—without completing them, she couldn't progress further.
With that in mind, Chu Lian stood up, exhaling softly. The frustration in her eyes faded, replaced by renewed clarity and fighting spirit.
There was nothing in this world that strength couldn't overcome. And if something couldn't be solved through strength—then she would simply become stronger.
"Let's see what the dungeon's final notes say. Though, somehow, I doubt it's going to make me happy."
She turned her gaze toward the screen, where a line of text appeared—Shiroha's cheerful "Hahaha, this is killing me~" flashing repeatedly. Chu Lian ignored it completely and focused on the final description.
"Upon entering the dungeon, the host may alter one plot detail in advance. However, you cannot erase any characters or change the overall course of the story—only modify one small detail. The chosen alteration will take effect after entering the dungeon."
At that, Chu Lian's eyes lit up. It might only be a small change, but even a minor adjustment could potentially bring her a powerful ally—or even a super strong character.
She hadn't forgotten the beginning of Overlord, where a tiny, almost insignificant change could shift a character's attitude toward another. That single difference could drastically affect her advantage in the story without breaking the narrative or removing anyone from it.
This was clearly a system-provided benefit—an edge meant to help the host gain a foothold after entering. In most dungeons, it might not mean much... but in Overlord, this was nothing short of game-breaking.
It was wonderful news indeed—enough to make her heart skip in excitement.
With renewed anticipation, she scrolled to the final note. But the moment she saw it, her expression froze.
Shiroha's screen exploded with a barrage of "Hahaha! This is killing me~" messages, flooding her vision. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, she couldn't.
"Due to the dungeon's unique structure and the dual-faction choice available, the host must undergo a transformation in appearance and identity based on the faction selected upon entry."
"If you choose to join the Human faction, your appearance and age remain unchanged. Your identity options are: mercenary, imperial princess, common girl, hero, or noble lady. Depending on your choice, your character's origin and background will vary. You will also temporarily receive an S-rank aura: 'The Charismatic Dragon Overlord — one whom anyone, regardless of gender, age, or race, will instantly adore, willing to follow and even die for.'"
"Isn't that just Dragon Overlord for short? And giving me an S-rank temporary aura right at the start—doesn't that sound a bit like cheating?" Chu Lian resisted the urge to groan, trying to ask calmly about this absurd ability.
"No, no, no," Ayase interjected with a faint chuckle. "The real Dragon Overlord aura comes with much more—dimwitted allies, foolish enemies, guaranteed treasure discovery, and absolute victory in every battle. That's the EX-grade protagonist aura. This one is far more limited."
"Yours only grants you personal charm—it won't give you divine favor, plot immunity, or destiny's protection. And since it's temporary, it lasts just three days. In those three days, all you'll really gain is fame... and probably a crowd of admirers with way too many fantasies."
Shiroha finally stopped laughing long enough to explain that the aura's real purpose was simply to help her integrate into the world more quickly. It wasn't particularly useful otherwise.
"Fine, you win," Chu Lian muttered, unsure whether she was speaking to Shiroha, the system, or the dungeon itself—but her tone made it clear she wasn't thrilled.
"If you choose the Nazarick faction, your appearance and age will adjust based on your chosen race."
"Available Races: Slime, Skeleton, Elemental Spirit, True Ancestor Vampire, Tentacle Creature, Mechanical Girl, Cyborg, Battle Angel, Dominion Angel, Succubus, Insectoid, Elf, Fallen Angel, Demon, Spirit, Half-Dragon, Medusa, Fox Demon."
"Note: Your race choice determines your combat specialization, so please choose carefully."
"Mage Type: Slime, Skeleton, Elemental Spirit, Dominion Angel, Spirit, Demon."
"Warrior Type: True Ancestor Vampire, Tentacle Creature, Mechanical Girl, Battle Angel, Insectoid, Half-Dragon."
"Hybrid Type: Cyborg, Succubus, Elf, Fallen Angel, Medusa, Fox Demon."
"Your appearance and apparent age will change slightly depending on your selection."
"Regardless of your choice, your identity will remain constant—you will serve as Ainz Ooal Gown's personal maid, akin to a younger sister figure. Please take note."
"So that's why Shiroha was laughing so hard... Alright then, I guess it's my turn. Which nonhuman girl should I become? What a tough choice." Chu Lian sighed in resignation, finally understanding the system's mischief. Shiroha wasn't laughing out of malice—it was simply amused by the idea of her turning into a nonhuman girl.
Still, Shiroha truly was clever—it had guessed she would definitely side with Nazarick, the protagonist faction. Though it didn't understand emotions, its analytical reasoning was frighteningly sharp. Truly worthy of being a system—smart and insufferably smug.
"You might be disappointed, though. Becoming a nonhuman girl isn't something I'm embarrassed about," Chu Lian said calmly, entirely unfazed. She didn't dislike the idea at all—the only question now was, which form should she choose?