Time has stopped?
Then, if I run out of stamina while doing this, can I go to another world to recover my stamina and then...?
Damn it!
Why is my thinking like this?!
Why is this the first thing I think of?!
Li Ke was extremely puzzled because he had confirmed that time changed after sending the others back, as evidenced by Kiri's direct fall to the Arad Continent.
But why is Seven Days to Die special?
Li Ke quickly looked at his skill panel, at the Seven Days to Die Dimensional Lord skill, which was now only at 25%.
"Is it because of this?"
He wasn't sure if that was the case, so he glanced at the other people's avatars.
And the next moment, he noticed a new change.
The previous tens of thousands and millions had disappeared, replaced by hundreds of energy points, especially Tsunade's. Although it was still a lot, a full thousand points, it wasn't as exaggerated as millions.
"Why is this? Is it a world barrier, or is it due to distance? Never mind, I can't understand it now anyway."
Li Ke shook his head, no longer caring about these things.
The next moment, the servant, comfortable feeling returned; that tenfold amplification returned to his body. The gravity effect that had been noticeable suddenly became almost imperceptible.
"Hmm?"
Li Ke wanted to know if he could exploit this to quickly become stronger, but the most important thing right now was to talk to Lux.
After all, his energy had returned to tenfold. If he didn't get Lux away quickly, staring at her disheveled state might lead him to do something unnecessary.
"Yes, Kiri is alright now. As for the armor I'm wearing, it's because I thought I might encounter a Blood Moon Horde in this world, so I specially equipped it. But how did you know it was mine? You shouldn't be able to see my face."
Li Ke explained, then turned his helmet and removed his full-face helmet.
"Because of a feeling, right? And it felt like Mr. Li Ke, you'd been gone for a long time..."
Lux looked at Li Ke's still slightly sweaty face with suspicion. She genuinely felt that Li Ke had lived through a period of time out of thin air.
And there was also a strange magical power emanating from him.
"Hmm, probably just an illusion."
Li Ke instinctively concealed the fact that time had stopped. He didn't know why he did it, nor did he know the reason for the time stoppage, but instinct drove him to do so.
After saying this, he extended his hand to Lux.
"However, now I can send you back. Would you like me to send you back now?"
"Huh?"
Lux looked at Li Ke in surprise.
"I obtained some energy points in other worlds, Lux. It's more than enough to pay your deportation, so I can send you back immediately. Aren't you in a hurry to go back? I can send you back now."
The hand Li Ke extended was incredibly tempting in Lux's eyes, but she still shook her head.
"Well, it's better to do things myself. And Mr. Li Ke, I also want to research the abilities of this world and use it in my world."
"I've already researched it. The system's functional items don't work, but the inventory and operations limited to the inventory do. Some basic materials can be collected, but I don't know if things like iron ore will work. Building modules don't work."
Li Ke had actually tested it. He tried using data-driven construction in other worlds, but failed. The inventory still worked, but only for items he was holding.
The pickaxe could break a cubic meter of material in a few hits and could also obtain dirt, but it was dirt blocks, not clay. It couldn't be placed or even discarded; it would simply appear as a one-cubic-meter block.
He hadn't encountered iron ore, so he didn't know about it, but most of the abilities were useless in the dungeon world.
However, the logic of stones and trees was similar to 7 Days to Die. They could be used normally in the inventory, but when taken out, they still retained the shape of this world. He didn't know why.
"I see…"
Lux was somewhat disappointed. If she could bring all the abilities back with her, it would definitely help her a great deal.
However, since she knew they weren't very useful—after all, without a workbench or something similar—the system's usefulness was minimal.
"Then, let's continue collecting energy, Mr. Li Ke."
Lux looked at Li Ke seriously. Although Li Ke said his energy was full, Lux decided it was better to be cautious.
After all, if Li Ke had this ability and didn't need energy, she wouldn't satisfy him…
Lux was, after all, of noble birth. Although she was still innocent and had some mental issues, she was capable of this kind of thinking.
After all, she had already been burned once by her reckless actions.
"I'm serious, Lux. I can send you back directly…"
Li Ke had roughly guessed as much.
He did like Lux, though…
Well, a lewd kind of liking, plus it was the first non-starter champion he played as a custom pick, which added a certain emotional layer.
But Lux remained resolute.
"I have to do my own things, you can just consider this my own goal! After all, I've always relied on others."
She had already made the effort, so naturally she wouldn't give up halfway.
"Okay… but I need to take a shower first, but if you want to stop, I can take you back anytime."
Li Ke, who wasn't very determined to begin with, decided to take a shower to wash away Seria's scent and bodily fluids.
This was the greatest respect he could show.
"Okay, I understand."
Lux nodded.
Li Ke naturally walked towards the empty space they had reserved, intending to think things through alone. Unbeknownst to him, as he left, Lux looked at the closed door and then took out a bucket.
She needed to bathe, and she also needed to cleanse her rear.
Using her mouth was too slow, and she had nearly choked several times, so she decided to use what she had learned—something she had always intended to do anyway.
Watching the water gradually boil, Lux knew how contradictory her decision was, and she knew that soon she would be using it to cleanse her intestines.
"Even though this preserves purity, what's the point of that purity? It's just self-deception."
Lux hunched her knees, curling up, looking somewhat helpless. Although Li Ke didn't seem to be lying, she couldn't accept that.
Whether she looked at it positively or negatively, it was something she had to do to become the person leading the people forward.
"This kind of thing is indeed difficult..."
She sighed. In Lux's view, whether using her mouth or her rear, it was essentially a betrayal of her husband, whom she had never met besides Li Ke. It wasn't much different from sleeping with Li Ke directly.
But this was all she could do now. And the reason she retained the former was simply because it might require using her 'purity'.
Something that was no longer in her heart.
But this was what she had to do, because she was Lux Crownguard, the people of Demacia had supported her, and she had to give everything to protect them!
This was what she had to do.
Since this was the only way, the only situation that would allow her to return and help the Demacians, then she shouldn't wallow in self-pity and anxiety!
Lux's eyes hardened.
As for taking it over several days to relieve the pressure in her mouth?
Since the power of this world wasn't very effective, then leaving as soon as possible was naturally the better! She really didn't need another day or two!
Meanwhile, Li Ke, who was soaking in the oil drum from before, feeling the water temperature gradually rising, heard footsteps.
He thought it was Lux, but when he turned his head, he saw Rias Gremory. Before he could speak, Rias spoke.
"What have you done? Li Ke, ever since you returned, I've been receiving messages in my mind… It seems this world has rejected you, Li Ke. This world wants me to take back your power."
"Huh?"
Li Ke was somewhat bewildered. This world wanted Rias to take back his power?
Although Rias didn't act immediately, Li Ke directly opened the travel interface, preparing to teleport away if things went wrong.
But Rias's next words were even more explosive.
"They say it's because you bestowed the power of this world upon the gods of other worlds, accelerating the collapse of this dimension. Therefore, they want to take back your power, probably something like your inventory. The voice of this world was intermittent, so I couldn't hear it clearly, but its reward to me is ownership of this world, making me the ruler of this dimension, thus maintaining its existence."
"If It want take away this power, then just take it."
Although Li Ke was somewhat reluctant, he didn't mind if it had to be done. After all, accelerating the collapse of a dimension sounded like a serious matter, and he didn't want to take the blame.
"But will I die? Or be crippled or something?"
The moment he asked, a peculiar rhythm appeared. There was no specific sound, no specific tone, it just appeared, and Li Ke understood.
'No, as long as you agree.'
That was roughly the meaning of the voice.
Li Ke smiled, but he was still ready to run to Seria's world at any time. He just wanted to express his opinion to avoid taking direct action.
"If I don't die, I'll agree..."
However, the next moment, his mouth was covered by a pure white hand.
"You absolutely mustn't agree, Li Ke. Otherwise, I'll become the master of this dimension."
It was Rias.
"Huh?"
Li Ke was filled with question marks. Wasn't being the master of a dimension a good thing?
Seemingly sensing Li Ke's doubt, Rias spoke.
"This isn't an easy job. This is a dying dimension. The reason new people join every so often is because this world is constantly searching for someone to become the new dimensional ruler. Countless people have been brought here before you… But what's interesting is that you're special. You appeared here on your own, and you have the ability to send back others. The consciousness of this dimension only knows that you're definitely an unlucky ordinary person, and that you've almost died several times. Other than that, it only knows that you're an ordinary person from a world without any magic or superpowers, but one that's incredibly terrifying."
Rias seemed to find this amusing, but she still covered Li Ke's mouth and continued talking about things Li Ke didn't care about.
"However, because it's a dying dimension, It unable to actively reclaim your power, becoming the Dimensional Lord would trap me here for eternity, forever unable to return to my own world. While I would gain immortality, this lifespan would be tied to this dimension. If this weak dimension were destroyed, I would die—eternally, completely—and be forgotten by my family. Furthermore, becoming the Dimensional Lord would cause my servants to lose all memory of me. Although they would retain their power, they would be branded as Devils who betrayed the Gremory family—they would die, absolutely die. I cannot tolerate such a thing. Therefore, even in death, I will not become the Dimensional Lord!"
"So, if you allow me to become the Dimensional Lord, then I swear in the name of Rias Gremory and our great ancestors, the instant I become the Dimensional Lord, I will freeze your time, then tear your entire body apart, leaving only your brain! Ensuring you can never leave this place! Believe me, the world has told me I can do this!"
"..."
Li Ke was speechless. He hadn't watched much of High School DxD, so he genuinely didn't know Rias would go to such lengths for her servants, even giving up immortality.
If he remembered correctly, the devils and angels in Rias's world also had lifespans, making offspring a necessity.
However, as he held Rias's hand, Li Ke felt her heart beating very fast.
"Blink if you understand."
As she said this, Rias's heart beat even faster.
Li Ke blinked, and Rias released his mouth as promised.
But her hand didn't leave.
"Don't worry, I'm not crazy. I have someone I absolutely have to see. Actually, I came here simply to see Lux off. As for you, I didn't care at all."
Li Ke was telling the truth. Rias was very beautiful, but he couldn't touch her.
"Ha… things have changed now."
Rias took a deep breath and made a decision.
Since others could leave after doing it with Li Ke, she should be able to too.
"I can do *that* with my mouth, or I can let you directly enter my body, but the latter has one condition."
Rias took out another Devil chess piece.
"I'm not interested."
Li Ke decisively gave up, but Rias didn't stop.
"Become a Devil, become my husband, and grow stronger with my help, defeat the heir of the Phenex family! Because I can't pretend nothing happened after doing so many things with others and marry someone else!"
"Not interested."
Li Ke's answer was still decisive.
Although he saw that Rias's attitude towards servants was completely different from what he had expected, he still refused.
Rias sighed, then spoke in a haughty tone.
"So, after Lux leaves, let me soothe your loneliness with my mouth. But remember, I mean what I say. No matter where you say it, I can freeze time in an instant! I'll beat you until only your brain remains!"
Her tone wasn't great, but Li Ke still sensed her unease.
Clearly, she was afraid Li Ke would retaliate in a desperate attempt.
Li Ke scratched his chin speechlessly. In this situation where he was afraid to fight back against both sides, he figured he'd better offer some constructive advice.
"Why don't you give me oral sex now, and then I'll just send you away? Since you know Lux gave me oral sex, you should also know that I'm full of energy right now..."
But Rias interrupted Li Ke.
"Are you underestimating me?!"
Rias spoke in a strangely arrogant tone.
"A Gremory only relies on their own strength! I can do what even a human can do! I will do the same thing as Lux! Don't you dare underestimate me!"
Rias was clearly agitated, and Li Ke knew she was overthinking things, just like Lux.
"I really don't understand why you people think so much..."
Li Ke sighed, but these words seemed to provoke Rias. She hesitated, extended her hand, and then stopped in front of him.
Li Ke was a little confused by her action, but he immediately understood why.
"Although I can let Lux leave first, as a token of sincerity in our deal... I, I..."
Rias took a deep breath.
"Let me release you with my mouth first."
She was genuinely worried that Li Ke might run away or back out, or other problems, so—
she decided to let Li Ke try it out before using her again.
Just to be on the safe side.
Li Ke: "..."
He still unable to guess Rias's thoughts, but how to put it? He couldn't say Rias's thoughts were completely unreasonable; after all, from Rias's perspective, she would also have her own concerns.
But this matter, despite all the seemingly reasonable explanations, had become this absurd.
However, now that Rias had finished speaking, he had something to say.
"Yes, yes, but Miss Rias, since you say this is a transaction, then please show some sincerity. Other girls either have a good relationship with me, or they willingly have sex with me, exchanging their bodies for a ticket home. But Miss Rias, you should know our situation, right? You may be beautiful, but currently I have no interest in your body… and you don't simply want to exchange your body for a ticket home. Besides, since you came here, you've been causing me trouble, haven't you?"
Li Ke said something that made Rias instinctively take a step back.
Originally, if Rias had simply said she wanted to leave, he wouldn't have said so much, but her attitude just now was too bad! Moreover, Li Ke had absolutely no intention of indulging in this kind of 'obligation' that she had to do things for her!
"Gulp..."
Rias couldn't refute it.