[Scarlet Pearl Grass] (+1)
Bloodline Quality: Golden Legendary
Effect: Regenerative ability through blood essence; as long as the user survives, they recover quickly.
Description: "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger."
[Crush Mountains, Overthrow the World] (+1)
Talent Quality: Golden Legendary
Effect: Significant boost to base physique and physique growth.
Description: "Toppling willows is nothing. I'll move mountains instead."
[The Twelve Beauties of Jinling]
Bond Quality: Blue
Effect: When multiple bonded heroes fight together, each additional hero grants +10 Physique, +10 Spirit, and +1 Luck.
Current Bond Bonus: None (insufficient members).
Description: "A single punch of destruction!"
Lucian stared at Lin Daiyu's interface, his mind racing with disbelief.
"Crushing mountains? Overthrowing the world?!" His gaze flicked to the elegant figure before him, who was casually leaning against the table with her delicate frame and a faint, melancholic smile.
The contrast between her frail appearance and her absurdly overpowered stats was almost comical.
"This… doesn't make any sense!" Lucian muttered, rubbing his temples. He studied the interface again, confirming her physique attribute: 200 base, with multipliers pushing it to unimaginable heights.
If her stats were accurate, Lin Daiyu could single-handedly crush a hundred average Sovereigns at her level. Yet here she stood, looking as if a strong breeze might knock her over.
"Master, is there something troubling you?" Lin Daiyu asked softly, tilting her head. Her voice was gentle, with a sweetness that carried a hint of sadness, as though she were trying to console him.
Lucian cleared his throat. "Not at all. I'm just… surprised by your strength."
Lin Daiyu smiled faintly, her expression a mixture of shyness and amusement. "Strength? This frail body of mine hardly seems suited for combat, does it?"
Her self-deprecating tone made Lucian pause. Though her demeanor was delicate, there was an undeniable resilience in her gaze—a determination forged from pain and rebirth.
"Well," Lucian said, "you're not as frail as you think. You're stronger than you realize, and we're going to need that strength soon."
Lin Daiyu's eyes glimmered with curiosity. "You speak of the monster wave, yes?"
Lucian nodded. "The first day's wave is usually weak, but the Void isn't kind. The fights will grow bloodier, and survival will demand more from all of us. Are you prepared?"
"Blood and death," Lin Daiyu murmured, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she smiled, though the melancholy never left her eyes. "I've experienced both. Neither frightens me anymore."
Lucian watched as Lin Daiyu lazily leaned against the table, her posture relaxed yet oddly commanding. She propped her chin on her hand and idly twirled a strand of green silk between her fingers, her ethereal beauty captivating him.
Her soft features, tinged with sadness and determination, stirred something in him. The modern beauties of his past life seemed ordinary compared to the sheer allure of Lin Daiyu. In this world, only one other person came close to rivaling her—the crimson-robed principal of Shenhar Academy, known as the "Fairy of Clouded Dreams."
"Master," Lin Daiyu's voice broke through his reverie, her tone teasing. "You've been staring. Is something wrong?"
Lucian's cheeks warmed as he quickly averted his gaze. "No, nothing. I was just… thinking."
Lin Daiyu's laughter was light and clear, like silver bells. "If you say so."
She had been observing Lucian as well, noting his calm demeanor and calculating gaze. Though she felt a sense of disorientation after her summoning—reborn into a new life and bound to serve—his steady presence reassured her.
"Let me show you around the territory," Lucian said, standing up to distract from the awkwardness.
Lin Daiyu followed him, her silken robes brushing softly against the ground as they walked. Her white dress shimmered faintly in the light, revealing glimpses of her slender legs, pale as porcelain and flawless in form.
Lucian gestured around as he spoke.
"This is my domain, such as it is. Right now, it's little more than a starting point—a hut, a fence, and the Red Pavilion where I summoned you." He paused, glancing at her. "It's not much, but it's a beginning."
Lin Daiyu chuckled softly, her eyes scanning the rudimentary structures with an amused glint. "From such humble beginnings, great empires are born, are they not?"
Lucian grinned. "Exactly. Once we acquire more Void Crystals, I'll be able to set up the Barracks and start training units. That will give us the manpower we need to secure the area and fend off stronger monsters."
As they walked, Lucian explained his plans in detail: expanding the territory, summoning more heroes, building an army, and eventually forging alliances or waging war as needed.
Lin Daiyu listened intently, her expression thoughtful. Though her delicate appearance suggested fragility, her sharp eyes betrayed a keen intelligence.
Lucian's voice softened as he continued. "The Void has its rules. One of them is loyalty. Any hero or unit summoned to a Sovereign's territory will maintain a certain level of allegiance. It's not absolute, but betrayal is incredibly rare."
Lin Daiyu nodded. "And what of you, Master? Do you trust me?"
Her question caught him off guard. He stopped walking and turned to face her, meeting her gaze.
"I do," he said after a moment. "You've been summoned to fight alongside me, and I won't betray that trust. I hope you'll do the same for me."
Lin Daiyu's lips curved into a faint smile. "You're an interesting man, Lucian Ardane. I'll do my part."
As they continued their walk, Lucian couldn't help but feel a growing sense of companionship. Despite her fragile appearance, Lin Daiyu's strength and determination were undeniable.
By the time they returned to the Red Pavilion, Lucian's resolve had solidified. The battles ahead would be brutal, but with Lin Daiyu by his side, he was confident they could overcome anything the Void threw at them.