"'Berserk Sword Maiden' has completed a sword training session. Swordsmanship faction experience significantly increased."
"'Berserk Sword Maiden' has completed a sword training session. Swordsmanship faction experience significantly increased."
"'Berserk Sword Maiden' has completed a combat session. Swordsmanship faction experience significantly increased. Talent triggered, gaining an additional 10,000% experience. Resonated with the Void Realm during battle and summoned the spirit 'Waveform Sword.'"
Waveform Sword
One-Wing Spirit
Restriction: Must use a sword weapon.
Base Effect: Emits a wave-like sword aura.
Passive Effect: Normal sword attacks more easily destabilize targets."The sword doesn't tremble—it's just thirsty."
For the first time since starting college, Ash found himself living a surprisingly healthy schedule. At precisely 6 AM, he was already wide awake, scrolling through the Sorcerer's Handbook to check on the Berserk Sword Maiden's progress. He waited with bated breath, full of hope.
The game did not disappoint. In just one day, the Sword Maiden had achieved a major milestone!
Berserk Sword Maiden
Human · Female · 18 years old
Bond Level: 0 (30% experience shared)
Class: One-Wing Swordmaster
Class Trait: Reduces energy consumption by 10% when using sword-based spirits.
Equipment: None
Spirits: Waveform Sword
Swordsmanship Faction: Silver Rank
Void Realm Exploration: 0.000%
Water Magic Faction: Uninitiated
Though Ash wasn't entirely sure what a One-Wing Swordmaster entailed, he recalled the blood-crazed hunter who had obliterated him with just three wings. Having wings clearly indicated transcendence into the extraordinary.
If the Sword Maiden had truly become superhuman, Ash figured it was only fair that he—the hardworking, sleep-deprived player who had nurtured her into this paragon—should now reap the rewards of that 30% experience-sharing perk, right?
But no matter how many times he refreshed the system's information screen, there was no epiphany, no knowledge surge, no divine infusion of skills. The End Observer's interface remained stubbornly unchanged.
Ash felt cheated, as though he were a gullible kid who'd paid a shady dealer for lifetime VIP access to a chat app, only to be ghosted. His greed-fueled hopes were devoured by a crushing wave of disappointment.
Still, after giving it some thought, he realized he might have missed a step.
"Could it be," he muttered, "because I haven't paid yet?"
The games his company developed were infamous for their "pay-to-have-an-experience" design. If features were locked behind a paywall, that would be entirely par for the course.
If money could fix this, that was manageable. At least there was a way forward.
But if it was a bug caused by missing system components during his cross-dimensional transition, then his beloved game system was no better than a glorified waifu simulator.
Ding!
A notification popped up on his screen:
"Dear Ash Heath, the Fragmented Lake Prison has completed your life certification. You are now free to move about specific areas. Please see the attached Fragmented Lake Prison Handbook for details. Note: Meal delivery service has been discontinued. Please visit the dining hall for meals."
Simultaneously, a small green light appeared above his cell door, along with a glowing icon of a little walking figure. Faint music floated in from the corridor:
"If you've been hurt enough, use your hands to cut free from the curses of yesterday. Wait for daylight amidst the night…"
"Really?" Ash muttered, cocking an eyebrow. "This is the song they play to inmates? Are they mocking us?"
Still groggy, Ash opened the Prison Handbook. Each item he read made him question whether this was some elaborate prank:
Free Movement Hours: From 7 AM to 10 PM. Accessible areas include the Central Hall, Reading Room, Gym, Sauna, Viewing Deck, Couple Suites (supplies provided), Workshop, and Dining Hall.
Dining Hall Hours: Breakfast: 7–9 AM, Lunch: 11 AM–2 PM, Dinner: 5–8 PM. Meals outside these times require the use of delivery services.
Reading Room: Missing books? Submit a request to the administrator. Delivery guaranteed within three working days.
Media Room: Only officially licensed content is available. Currently running films will be accessible after theater releases end.
Couple Suites: Dispose of used items in the provided bins. Do not attempt to clean and reuse them.
The list went on, describing the facilities like a tourist brochure for a luxury retreat.
What surprised Ash the most was how detailed the handbook was about inmate privileges—but it said absolutely nothing about prohibited behavior. It was as if there were no rules at all.
"Something's definitely fishy," Ash muttered. But with meal service discontinued, he couldn't afford to hole up in his cell. Besides, his curiosity about the prison's true nature was eating at him.
At the end of a spotless, eerily quiet corridor, a sign pointed the way:
"← Central Hall · → Gym, Sauna"
Ash couldn't help imagining the other prisoners as towering, sweaty muscleheads who spent their days weightlifting and lounging in saunas. The mention of Couple Suites sent an involuntary shiver down his spine.
"I'll just eat and head back," he resolved, his steps quickening.
The Central Hall was vast, its ceiling made entirely of glass. Morning sunlight streamed through, casting a serene glow on rows of benches. Potted plants lined the walls, and inmates lounged casually—some chatting, others reading, one even napping.
If not for their prison uniforms, Ash might have mistaken the place for a public park.
A lone warden stood in the corner, engrossed in a holographic interface. Ash let out a breath of relief. At least there was someone to call for help if things went south.
Nearby, a holographic screen played a live broadcast of what seemed to be a council meeting. But Ash barely registered the dry political debates. His attention was drawn to a pair of inmates on a bench.
A towering green-skinned orc and a squat goblin were deep in conversation.
"Can you believe Lorenzo made it to parliament? Guess he joined the Eternal Wine Club. Andreia's faction is running circles around the mayor now."
"I wouldn't be so sure," the goblin replied. "Mayor Fenance has Enrico the Bishop backing him. Lorenzo might not be a sign of Andreia's rise—it could be her death knell. Mark my words, someone in her faction will be dead within a month."
Ash shook his head at the surreal scene: two prisoners casually analyzing high-level political maneuvers.
"You're wasting time listening to them," came a new voice from Ash's side.
Ash turned to see a blond man in a crisp uniform.
"Who are you?"
The man smirked. "Igula Borgen. You might've seen me in the headlines. Welcome to our little corner of the world."
Ash took a cautious step back. "Everyone here always this… friendly?"
"Of course," Igula said smoothly. "We're all comrades with a common goal."
"What goal?"
Igula leaned closer, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Escaping, naturally. Interested in joining our little research group?"
Ash's heart leapt. Just what he needed—a ready-made escape plan! He extended his hand eagerly.
"Of course, I—"
"Punch him," came a sharp, cold voice from behind.
Ash froze. He turned slowly, his eyes landing on a figure he recognized instantly: a girl in a fur coat, short skirt, thigh-high boots, and a decorative sword at her waist.
It was her. The Berserk Sword Maiden.
"What the hell?!" Ash's mind reeled.
Without hesitation, he swung around and punched Igula square in the jaw.