"Black-White Witch"
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 19
Bond Level: 0 (30% XP sharing)
Class: Tower Maiden
Class Perk: +15% learning efficiency within tower environments.
Innate Talent - Witch (Mid-Tier): Gain an extra 150% time-based experience; low chance to gain 10,000% time-based experience; increased favorability from Bronze Dragons (higher tier unlocks greater talent potential).
Special Ability - Personality Shift: Can adjust personality to suit various environments or opponents. +10 Insight, +10 Critical Precision, and critical rate increases over prolonged combat.
Silver Blessing - Witch's Taboo: The less people know about the Witch's true nature, the stronger she becomes in the virtual realm. Current secrecy level: 93% (bonus: +93% spell recovery speed). (Observers' awareness does not count toward this.)
Inventory: None
Mastered Spells: Mask, Hydrotherapy, Claw Strike…
Pathways:
Psychic (Silver)
Fist/Claw (Gold)
Temporal (Silver)
Water Magic (Silver)
Training Strategy: Not set.
Ash carefully reviewed her profile, noting her gold-tier mastery in Fist/Claw techniques and her silver-tier proficiencies in Temporal and Water magic. This operator wasn't just skilled—she was two-wing caliber thanks to her Silver Blessing.
He pondered whether the card draw system scaled new operators to match his current strength, or if it was purely random. Could someone with extraordinary luck draw a four-wing operator straight out of the gate?
The Black-White Witch's skillset had potential. With hydrotherapy magic and proficiency in water magic, she could double as a healer. However, her focus on fist/claw combat and time magic made her niche unclear. If she could manipulate time, though, Ash's tactical role might just become her permanent backpack attachment.
Speaking of her design, Ash glanced at her artwork. She wore a checkered black-and-white skirt, with one leg in white stockings and the other in black.
"Sword Dancer should take some notes."
Ash reluctantly turned to the new costumes he'd acquired, finding a small silver lining:
"Swimsuit - Observer": +10% to water magic buffs (virtual realm only; real-world equivalent attire activates the same buff).
"Apocalyptic Afternoon - Observer": +3% attack power while uninjured.
Costume stat bonuses?
While the boosts were minor, they were better than nothing. Ash grudgingly equipped "Apocalyptic Afternoon" for himself, noting that the swimsuit's aesthetics were too embarrassing.
"I've still got a shred of dignity left," he muttered. Wearing a swimsuit to battle wasn't just impractical—it would saddle him with a socially catastrophic debuff.
As for "Apocalyptic Afternoon," its design—a dark red gradient trench coat—was understated and functional, making it a much easier choice.
New Tools and Items
1.Training Gloves: Increases XP gain from fist/claw training by 15%.
2.Mid-Tier Trial Card: Grants moderate XP and a small bond boost.
3.Aurora Autodrive Car (Luxury Edition): Basic ground transport for the Time Continent. Lacks functional add-ons for now.
4.Pure Soul Drink: Speeds up soul recovery and boosts magic absorption rates by 5% for seven days.
Ash immediately put the Pure Soul Drink to use, downing one himself while queuing another for the Sword Dancer. However, her icon displayed a "zzz" status, indicating the drink would take effect after five hours of rest.
The standout from this draw session, though, was the peculiar golden-tier item:
"Pleasure Prince's Twenty-Sided Die":
Crafted by the Pleasure Prince for entertainment. When assigned to an entertainment-focused training session, operators roll the die for a chance at 0–200% spell XP (100% XP = one professional training session).
Effect Factors: Activity type, dice roll outcome, and operator mood.
Spell XP is unaffected by reductions and eligible for additional bonuses.
At first glance, it seemed to add value to previously lackluster "entertainment" sessions. Normally, entertainment only improved operator morale—a stat Ash had always ignored.
However, Ash scoffed. "Useless."
Even with the dice, entertainment remained inferior. Two action points could yield a maximum of 200% XP, but those same points spent on training guaranteed a full 200% XP. Entertainment might slightly boost morale, but Ash saw no reason to waste time on it.
"Operators are adaptable," he rationalized. "Sword Dancer's morale issues have improved after a few motivational speeches. She'll adjust. If I survived 996 workloads after graduation, she can handle a little overtime."**
"Endure hardship, and I'll be driving a Land Rover."
"Train harder, and I'll be in a Ferrari."
"Stack bricks, and the Observer will get a mistress!"
Satisfied, Ash dismissed the die's potential connection to the Pleasure Prince, one of the Four Pillars.
"Doesn't matter who made it. It's mine now, and I'll use it as I see fit."
Finally, he turned to the Mid-Tier Trial Card, noting its small bond increase effect. Sword Dancer already had a Level 3 bond with him, while the Black-White Witch was still at Level 0.
Using the card on Sword Dancer would merely sustain their current relationship. Using it on the Witch, however, could establish the groundwork for future trust.
Ash used the trial card on the Black-White Witch.
Just as Ash closed the interface, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into a deep sleep.
Thirty seconds later, the vehicle door slid open.
A boy dressed in deep blue butler attire stepped into the cabin. His long, pale-blue hair shimmered under the dim light, and his youthful face suggested he was no older than thirteen or fourteen.
The boy flipped Igula over, placed a hand on his forehead, and conjured a glowing tome.
"'Two-Wing Mind Path Leader, Azura Region – Ranked #2.' Also listed fifth on the region's 'Most Beautiful' rankings. Name: Igula Borkin."
A voice from outside chuckled.
"So Mildred finally got booted from the beauty charts? Excellent. Let's classify him as a 3-star asset."
The boy nodded, moved to Harvey, and repeated the process.
"'Two-Wing Necromancy Leader, Azura Region – Ranked #1.' Name: Archibald Harvey."
"Necromancy, huh? Barely worth noting, but a #1 ranking is still a #1. Another 3-star asset."
When the boy reached Ash, he hesitated.
"What's wrong?" came the voice from outside.
"He… doesn't appear on any rankings."
"None? He's a two-wing mage, right? Not even on the general lists? Combat? Creation? Pathways?"
"Nothing."
"Hmm… Then he's a zero-star trash asset."