Su Lingxi woke up in a very bright room, her senses flooded with light. "I need to escape!" she thought urgently, trying to sit up but failing. "What?" she exclaimed, confused by her inability to move.
"You need to rest," Aurelius said calmly.
Su Lingxi immediately looked to her left and saw Aurelius sitting there, peeling an apple. "YOU!" she shouted, summoning her katana to attack him. But before she could strike, her katana was restrained by golden chains.
"Can you calm down?" said the princess from her right.
Aurelius was right, you also have a spiritual weapon. Interesting," the princess remarked, her eyes studying Su Lingxi intently.
Su Lingxi's katana turned to particles and disappeared, leaving her defenseless and even more bewildered. "W-What's going on?" she asked, her voice trembling with confusion and fear.
"You overexerted yourself," the princess explained. "Your body and spirit needed time to recover. We brought you here to ensure you wouldn't die from your own abilities."
Aurelius added, "You're a rare find, Su Lingxi. We want to understand your powers and help you control them."
Su Lingxi's mind raced, trying to process their words. She didn't trust them, but she was too weak to resist. For now, she had no choice but to listen and gather her strength, all the while searching for an opportunity to escape.
"I'm in control," Su Lingxi asserted, trying to sound confident despite her current state.
"By the looks of it, you really are," Aurelius replied, a hint of admiration in his voice.
"What I want is for you to join me and become one of my men," the princess said, her tone both commanding and inviting.
"What?" Su Lingxi asked, her confusion evident. "If I join you, what will happen to me?"
"You will be my bodyguard," the princess stated plainly. "Your abilities are rare and powerful. With proper training and guidance, you could become a formidable protector. In return, you'll have the resources and support of the Arcane Kingdom. You'll be safe from the undead and others who might seek to exploit your power."
Su Lingxi hesitated, weighing her options. Joining them could offer her protection and a chance to understand her abilities better, but it also meant aligning herself with people she didn't fully trust. She looked at the princess, searching for any signs of deceit, but saw only determination and a hint of curiosity.
"And if I refuse?" Su Lingxi asked cautiously.
The princess's eyes narrowed slightly. "Then you'll be free to go, but I can't guarantee your safety outside these walls. The world is a dangerous place, especially for someone with your unique abilities."
Su Lingxi took a deep breath, considering her choices. The prospect of being a bodyguard didn't appeal to her, but survival and gaining control over her powers did. For now, it seemed she had little choice but to accept the princess's offer, at least until she could find a way to ensure her own safety and freedom.
"Alright," Su Lingxi said finally. "I'll join you."
The princess nodded, satisfied with Su Lingxi's decision. "Good. Rest and regain your strength. Your training will begin soon."
As the princess and Aurelius left the room, Su Lingxi lay back, her mind racing with thoughts of escape and the promise of newfound power. She knew she had to be cautious, but for now, she would play along and use this opportunity to learn and grow stronger.
Su Lingxi watched as the princess and Aurelius left the room, finally feeling a moment of relief. She sighed deeply and started to think about her next steps. "For now, I'm safe, and I also found a job," she muttered to herself, trying to make sense of her situation.
"System, can you give back the books I haven't read yet?" she asked aloud.
Immediately, the books she hadn't finished reading materialized in front of her, neatly stacked on the table beside her bed. Their familiar covers brought a sense of comfort and purpose. She reached out, picking up the one on top, and began to read, hoping to gather more knowledge and prepare for whatever lay ahead.
As she immersed herself in the pages, Su Lingxi's mind raced with strategies and plans. She needed to understand her powers fully and find a way to ensure her safety and autonomy. Joining the princess's retinue was a temporary solution, but she knew she had to stay vigilant and ready to seize any opportunity that came her way.
For now, she would learn, grow stronger, and wait for the right moment to take control of her destiny.
But while reading the Special Rank Sword Mastery book, a new system panel popped up in front of her, stating, "The Host has reached the highest rank the host's body can accommodate. Learning higher rank abilities is still possible, but the usage of such skills is banned."
Su Lingxi was shocked. She knew this might happen she indeed had powerful abilities, but her body was limiting her. The realization hit her hard. Her potential was immense, but her physical limitations were a significant obstacle.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Su Lingxi muttered to herself. She felt a mix of frustration and determination. She had access to incredible power, but it was out of reach until she could strengthen her body.
She put the book aside and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "System, is there any way to improve my body's capacity to handle higher-ranked abilities?" she asked.
A new system panel appeared, stating, "The host can enhance physical and spiritual endurance through continuous training, acquiring specific items, or achieving significant milestones in personal growth and experience."
Su Lingxi nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "So, I need to train harder and find ways to improve myself physically and spiritually," she thought. This gave her a renewed sense of purpose. She now had a clear goal: to strengthen her body so she could fully utilize her powers.
Determined, Su Lingxi began to formulate a plan. She would take advantage of her current situation, using the resources and training available to her in the Arcane Kingdom. She would learn all she could from the princess and Aurelius while secretly working on enhancing her own capabilities. With time and effort, she would break through her limitations and unlock her true potential.
"Since there is nothing I can do yet, studying is the very best thing I can do," Su Lingxi decided. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, and when she opened them again, she found herself in a vast space. The floor mirrored the sky, and huge bookshelves floated in the air.
Su Lingxi started to walk, reading the names of the bookshelves aloud. "UL1, UL2, UL3... I wonder what is the meaning of this," she mused.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. "I want a book that can help me-" But then Su Lingxi realized something. "When I upgraded the strength on my stats, I became stronger, and dexterity is for my stamina. If I want to get physically strong, I just need to upgrade my stats and level up!" she exclaimed excitedly.
With newfound determination, Su Lingxi set out to explore the floating library, searching for books that would help her understand the intricacies of leveling up and enhancing her physical abilities. She knew that with the right knowledge and training, she could overcome her limitations and unlock even greater power within herself.
Su Lingxi detected something and quickly returned to her body. "Su Lingxi? Can you move? We need to get going," the princess hurriedly said.
"What's happening?" Su Lingxi asked, trying to gather her bearings.
"Assassins have come. Aurelius is engaging them in a fight. We need to get going," the princess explained urgently.
"What? Princess, hide in here," Su Lingxi suggested, concerned for her safety.
"There are too many of them," the princess replied, her voice filled with worry.
"That's good! A lot of XP points came to me instead," Su Lingxi thought to herself, realizing the opportunity for growth.
"Don't worry, Princess. Now that I'm your follower, I'll protect you," Su Lingxi assured the princess before stepping outside.
"What are you doing? Where is the princess?!" Aurelius shouted at Su Lingxi, confusion evident in his voice.
Su Lingxi ignored his question and started to run towards the soldiers. "Protect the princess! You have a moving ability, right? You're the perfect one to protect her!" she shouted back, determined to shield the princess from harm and fulfill her new role as her guardian.
Su Lingxi immediately summoned her katana and exchanged positions with Aurelius. "Now that the princess is protected, I need to collect my XP points," Su Lingxi thought as she dashed towards the enemy soldiers. The soldiers raised their shields to block Su Lingxi's attack, but to no avail. With a swift movement, Su Lingxi pierced through their defenses, her katana finding its mark as one of the soldiers fell to the ground, fatally wounded.
The remaining soldiers reacted quickly, forming a defensive line to protect themselves and their comrades. But Su Lingxi was undeterred. With skill and determination, she pressed forward, each strike of her katana precise and deadly. As the battle raged on, Su Lingxi focused on her objective, determined to gain as much experience as possible and strengthen herself for the challenges that lay ahead.
As Su Lingxi fought multiple soldiers, a new system panel popped up, giving her a task: "Kill 10 soldiers. Rewards: 5 stat points, 3 skill points, 1 elemental mastery point."
Su Lingxi's eyes widened with determination as she read the task. She knew this was an opportunity to further enhance her abilities. With renewed focus, she redoubled her efforts, striking swiftly and decisively at her enemies.
With each foe she defeated, Su Lingxi felt a surge of satisfaction and anticipation for the rewards that awaited her. She moved with purpose, targeting her opponents strategically to maximize her efficiency in achieving the task.
As the battle raged on, Su Lingxi pushed herself to her limits, her movements becoming more fluid and precise with each passing moment. She fought with all her strength and skill, driven by the promise of greater power and mastery.
Finally, after defeating the tenth soldier, Su Lingxi stood victorious amidst the chaos of the battlefield. She took a moment to catch her breath, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over her. With the task completed, she eagerly awaited the rewards that would help her on her journey to become even stronger.
About an hour later, the princess and Aurelius walked towards the fight and saw Su Lingxi kneeling on the ground, her sword supporting her to prevent her from collapsing. Su Lingxi was so exhausted that even standing would make her faint.
"Su Lingxi!" the princess called out, her voice filled with desperation as she and Aurelius ran towards her.
As they got closer, they were horrified by the extent of Su Lingxi's injuries. Her body was covered in wounds, and a gaping wound on her stomach was bleeding heavily. The princess immediately checked for signs of life, feeling for Su Lingxi's pulse. But when she pressed her fingers to Su Lingxi's neck, her heart sank it was already too late.
A new system panel popped up, stating: "The host has died. Initiating Sacrifice for the Universal Tree (7). The host will receive complete control over an element and will live again, but the host must pay a price."
In her final moments, Su Lingxi saw the system panel and felt a flicker of hope. "Complete control over an element," she thought. "But at what cost?" She felt her consciousness slipping away but clung to the promise of another chance.
With a final, whispered thought, she accepted the system's offer. "I accept... whatever it takes."
The system acknowledged her decision, and a bright light enveloped Su Lingxi. The princess and Aurelius stepped back, shielding their eyes from the blinding glow. When the light faded, Su Lingxi's body was gone, leaving only her sword and a lingering sense of her presence.
The princess and Aurelius exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what had just transpired. All they knew was that Su Lingxi's journey was far from over, and whatever price she had to pay, she was determined to continue fighting.