Valentina let out a languid yawn, stretching her arms above her head with effortless grace. The gesture was both captivating and dismissive, radiating an aura of bored superiority that only amplified her beauty.
"Idiot," she drawled, her voice dripping with playful exasperation.
"I know how to use it. Just use the points to upgrade yourself." She punctuated the sentence with a delicate wave of her hand, as if dismissing a bothersome insect. It was a clear instruction, delivered with the casual authority of someone accustomed to getting their way. The sheer volume of System Points at her disposal – 12 billion – practically screamed for investment, and Valentina had no intention of letting them sit idle.
Maw Maw's holographic form momentarily flickered, its cheerful demeanor visibly deflating. Even an allknowing AI couldn't quite anticipate the sheer nonchalance with which its host would dismiss a complex explanation.
"Acknowledged, Host," Maw Maw replied, its voice losing a touch of its earlier enthusiasm.
"Initiating selfupgrade sequence using 10,000,000 System Points."
A cascade of shimmering data flowed around the room as Maw Maw began to siphon off the vast sum of System Points. The holographic cat's form began to subtly shift and evolve, its digital fur becoming more detailed, its eyes glowing with an intensified intelligence.
"Prioritizing core functionality upgrades and expanding access to advanced System Mall features," Maw Maw announced as it worked.
"Estimated completion time: approximately three minutes."
Valentina waved her hand dismissively, the gesture imbued with an effortless command that seemed to bend reality to her will.
"Maw Maw, also go to the Universe System World and tell the elders—the worker drones, I suppose—to transfer me 200 billion dollars." She didn't even bother to elaborate, as if such a request were the most natural thing in the world.
Maw Maw's holographic form paused midupgrade, its digital eyes widening slightly at the sheer audacity of the request. 200 billion dollars? That was an astronomical sum, even by Universal System standards. It was a significant drain on resources and would undoubtedly raise eyebrows among the higherups.
"Acknowledged, Host," Maw Maw replied, its voice regaining a semblance of its former enthusiasm despite the slight tremor of apprehension.
Valentina chuckled, a melodic sound that held a hint of amusement and undeniable power. She reached out and gently stroked Maw Maw's holographic cheek, the gesture surprisingly affectionate despite her earlier criticisms.
"Don't worry, Maw Maw," she said, her voice softening slightly.
"In the Universe System World, I have a 300 trillion net worth. They will know me."
The words hung in the air, imbued with an unspoken authority that silenced any lingering doubts. 300 trillion. It was a figure that dwarfed even the wealth of the most powerful corporations in known space. A figure that screamed of influence, power, and an almost unimaginable level of prestige within the vast and complex hierarchy of the Universe System World.
Maw Maw's holographic form visibly straightened, its digital eyes glowing with renewed confidence.
The holographic cat's form shimmered, its digital fur rippling as it processed the information. The sheer scale of Valentina's wealth was… staggering, even for an AI accustomed to dealing with cosmiclevel finances. It was a status that commanded respect, deference, and a swift compliance with requests.
"Understood, Host," Maw Maw replied, its voice now brimming with a newfound efficiency.
"Initiating communication protocol with the Universe System World Elder Council. Requesting transfer of 200 billion dollars to designated account."
A faint ripple distorted the air around Valentina as Maw Maw established a secure connection to the vast network that spanned countless galaxies. The holographic cat briefly vanished, replaced by a complex web of swirling data streams and encrypted code as it navigated the intricate bureaucracy of the Universe System World.
"Transfer request approved."
The countless worlds they'd traversed together, the dizzying array of novel project missions completed, flashed through Valentina's mind like fragmented memories. Each world a new challenge, a new identity, a new chance to escape the inevitable. They'd hopped between dimensions – idyllic farming villages, gritty cyberpunk cities, sprawling fantasy kingdoms – all in the name of completing their assigned objectives within each respective world. The last one had been their 100 millionth—a milestone celebrated briefly before disaster struck.
Before they could return to the relative safety of the Universe System World, a rogue black hole had appeared, swallowing everything in its path. To save Maw Maw, Valentina had instinctively pushed him away, sacrificing her own safety in the process. The last thing she remembered was the searing heat and crushing gravity before everything went black.
Now, she was here. A new world. And utterly alone.
Maw Maw, despite his advanced capabilities, had been flung far off course, lost in the chaotic currents of spacetime. His frantic searches for her had spanned countless eons, a desperate race against the fading echoes of her essence. Thankfully, on her 999,999th rebirth – a number that felt both meaningless and terrifyingly significant – he'd stumbled upon a body radiating a familiar aura. A body that was hers.
Maw Maw was ecstatic, his digital form practically vibrating with relief and joy. The fact that his host had managed to survive so many cycles of death and rebirth was already astonishing; her resilience was a testament to her inherent strength and adaptability.
But he also knew the truth. Valentina wasn't a saint.
Even before this world, Valentina had been more ruthless than ever before. In previous iterations, she'd casually extinguished entire civilizations, obliterated planets with a flick of her wrist, all fueled by fleeting moments of pique or boredom. A slight inconvenience could trigger a planetaryscale catastrophe. The sheer capriciousness of her actions had become a source of both anxiety and morbid fascination for Maw Maw.
The fact that she hadn't destroyed this world—that she hadn't unleashed her full demonic fury upon its unsuspecting inhabitants—was a genuine shock. It was an anomaly, a deviation from the established pattern that sent ripples of unease through Maw Maw's processing core.
Maw Maw sighed, a digital exhalation that manifested as a faint shimmer in the air around Valentina. It wasn't a sound born of sadness or frustration, but rather one of weary resignation.
Suddenly, a jarring notification flashed across Maw Maw's holographic form: SYSTEM ALERT: Host Designation – Villainous Character Protocol Activated.
The message pulsed with an urgent red glow, overriding his previous concerns about Valentina's mental state. The Universe System World, in its infinite and often inscrutable wisdom, had deemed her a villain. And that meant adhering to a predetermined narrative arc.
Valentina, who had been sleeping peacefully, stirred slightly. Her crimson eyes fluttered open, revealing a hazy confusion as she registered the presence of Maw Maw hovering nearby.
"Host host!" Maw Maw chirped excitedly, his digital form practically bouncing with enthusiasm despite the unsettling nature of the directive.
"As a villainous! I will give you tasks to act as a villainous!"
Valentina mumbled something unintelligible, attempting to burrow back into the comforting embrace of sleep.