'Damn it! What's with this crazy situation?!' It was Ryder's last thought before he was decapitated by Gyuri, the Starlight known as "The Daughter with No Daddy."
"That's your first death, Daddy!" She cheerfully said, her lithe body swaying in delight while both her hands grasped the plain katana on her back. She was witnessing the fountain of crimson blood spurting from the beheaded and helpless body of the weak.
Ding!
[You have died.]
[The effect of the "Resurrection Bracelet" has been triggered.]
[You will be resurrected to the designated Saved Point.]
[Saved Point: Place of Demise.]
At that moment, as though Ryder's existence experienced a regression, every droplet of warm blood that painted the soil and nearby trees crimson moved on its own. Truly one with the body, the splattered blood found its origin as it was absorbed in Ryder's reviving body.
What's more, his head which rolled on the fertile soil was then reattached, which was followed by a deep gasp.
"Gasp!"
Ding!
[You have been resurrected!]
[Resurrection Bracelet remaining Instances: 99]
Clap!
In less than ten seconds since his untimely death, Ryder heard an innocent clap some distance across from him, where Gyuri was smiling playfully. However, he could not mutter a word or two. It seemed as though there was no escape unless he went through this abrupt, brutal, and hellish physical and mental training with the permission of the Goddess of Identity.
"It's different, Daddy. Hehe. In the game of Cosmic Nomenclatures, someone's death will cause their body to turn into pixels and dust. But here, everything will be reattached as though you were experiencing the time flowing backward."
'Huh? Is that what happened? It's not like I'll know since I died and… I-it's fucking painful and scary at the same time!' The sensation of being culled lingered in his mind and body. It was a feeling he hoped to never get used to.
"Yes, that's what happened, Daddy! Ah! By the way, before we can continue the plan to hone your body and mind before you ascend to your next Cultivation Rank, even if it's not to the fullest, you should rest a little! After all, breaking you to the point of no return isn't the goal! 'kay?!"
Ryder just nodded in submission. It's not like he could run away against a Starlight that was equivalent to a demigod in a sense.
***
In this morning already filled with surprises, Ryder's mind was in complete turmoil. Several questions with no definite answers arose concerning the nature of reality and the game; everything and everyone involved, to say the least.
'Gyuri knows about the existence of the game and my transmigration… Does it mean every Starlight is aware? If so…' He caught his breath, his thoughts paused for a second. Clearly, these questions were proving to be excruciating for his thick skull.
"Gyuri…" Sitting beside the person who adamantly proclaimed herself to be his daughter, who also just murdered him a few minutes ago, Ryder called her out, his tone quite monotonous.
Munching a baked potato, for god knows where it came from, Gyuri glanced at him. Tilting her head slightly, she then asked,
"Yes, Daddy?"
'Stop it, please… A grown woman calling me that way… I don't know what to say!' Ryder thought, feeling somewhat weird in an inexplicable way. However, he focused on the matter at hand regarding the thing he was curious about at the moment.
"What's the real purpose of the game, Cosmic Nomenclatures?"
Hearing such a question that came out of nowhere, the cheerful and mischievous Gyuri fell silent for the first time. Her thoughts were something that only she was aware of.
At first, Ryder was never curious and had decided to leave the possible reasoning behind his transmigration. After all, this life was infinitely better compared to his self on Earth, where he was holed up in his single apartment with windows that were barely being penetrated by sunlight.
But then, upon learning that Gyuri and possibly the other Starlights were cognizant of the existence of the game and his transmigration, Ryder couldn't help but be washed by curiosities about his surrounding circumstances.
"Ryder, I feel like I have no right to directly answer your question. It is better for the sole beloved to tell you." Gyuri formally addressed him.
Sole beloved…
The Goddess of Identity…
Ryder let out an expressive sigh. Seeing this, Gyuri casually continued,
"Daddy, for you, what does Chuuni mean?"
Knowing that his question was something that would not be answered at the moment, Ryder chose to entertain Gyuri's sudden query.
"Chuuni? Isn't it the Qi? The governing natural power of this world."
"No, no! Not that, Daddy. I mean, in your perspective, what does Chuuni imply?"
In less than a few seconds, Ryder simply responded based on what he knew.
"Well, isn't Chuuni the middle school second-year syndrome? It refers to a phase of exhibiting unusual behaviors that might be exaggerated similar to having superpowers."
"That's what the people of Earth believed. Technically, that's the correct answer." Gyuri chuckled, her grey eyes fixated on him. Her legs crossed while her right hand supported her chin.
"Huh? What do you mean? Is it supposed to be different?"
"Not exactly. But there's one ultimate difference; it's that the inhabitants of the Chuuni World do not feel what Earthlings call a 'cringe' whenever a fight is being fought while proclaiming one's identity or [Title]."
Based on the game world of the Cosmic Nomenclatures, every Awakened that was NPC ordinarily fights in a manner of being a chuunibyo. It was also the reason why Princess Luna Valentine shouted her [Title] upon utilizing the Chuuni Expansion: Infinite Crimson.
In some circumstances, NPCs tend to adopt this way of talking – speaking in quotes, to say the least.
"Hmm. What are you trying to get at, Gyuri?"
"Of course, you wouldn't yet realize, Daddy. But if there's one thing I can say right now… It's that you won't survive in the long run against your enemies in the future if you fail to adapt on time. This is reality, and the game is actually the copy. Remember that."
Before Ryder could process it, Gyuri began speaking in a way that symbolized a new start… A sign of what's coming!
"I am the Primordial Moon, the Beloved Creation of the Sole Beloved.
"I am Gyuri, and I will become your very daughter, Daddy."
At that moment, a serene grey aura burst forth from her body, instantly decimating Ryder's existence.
Ding!
[You have died!]
[The effect of the "Resurrection Bracelet" has been triggered.]
[You will be resurrected to the designated Saved Point.]
[Saved Point: Place of Demise.]
It was then…
Slash!
Spurt!
Bang!
Ding!
[You have died!]
"If you think you wouldn't be able to parry it, then dodge!"
Ding!
[You have died!]
"This will be my act of love. For you shall learn to love me, too, Daddy...
"I love you. I love you! Love me too!"
[You have died!]
[The effect of the "Resurrection Bracelet" has been triggered.]
[You will be resurrected to the designated Saved Point.]
[Saved Point: Place of Demise.]
[You have been resurrected!]
[Resurrection Bracelet remaining Instances: 9]