The air was heavy with the scent of burning wood, and the ground shook beneath her feet as the once peaceful city of Jinhai trembled. The sky above had cracked open, a deep rift of swirling blacks and blood reds, and from that chasm, demonic energy flooded the world like an unstoppable tide.
In the heart of the chaos, a lone figure moved with determination. Lian Xiu was not a hero—far from it. She was a survivor.
"Keep moving, keep moving," she muttered to herself, clutching her side as her breath came in ragged gasps. Her tattered clothes clung to her body, drenched in sweat and blood, the result of hours of fighting through hordes of mutated beasts and those who had once been human, now twisted by the influx of demonic energy.
A low growl echoed from the alley to her left, and Lian Xiu spun around, instinctively reaching for the dagger strapped to her thigh. Her fingers brushed the handle, but before she could pull it free, a massive clawed hand shot out of the shadows. It caught her by the throat, lifting her off the ground with terrifying ease.
"Crack."
The sound of her neck snapping echoed in her ears, but instead of darkness, everything went white. She blinked, disoriented, and the world seemed to bend around her.
---
System Notification:
Warning: Vital signs compromised. Survival probability: 0%.
...Error... System initiating...
A voice, cold and mechanical, filled her mind.
"Welcome, Host. Your survival rate has been calculated. You are expendable."
Lian Xiu's world swirled, and she gasped for air as her body was thrown to the ground. She could feel the warmth of blood pooling beneath her, but somehow, she wasn't dead.
"System? What the hell is going on?" she gasped, her body trembling as she tried to push herself to her feet.
System update complete. You have received the 'Ascension Protocol.'
Warning: System is actively trying to eliminate you. Survival is at your own risk.
Lian Xiu blinked at the words, trying to make sense of them. "What do you mean, 'eliminate me'? What are you?!"
A chuckle echoed in her mind, hollow and sinister. "You are weak, Host. But I can help you... for a price. If you fail, you will die. If you succeed, you will gain power beyond your imagination. Choose carefully."
She gritted her teeth. "I don't care about your games. Just tell me how to survive."
Survival method: Engage in battle. Absorb demonic energy. Evolve or perish.
Lian Xiu's eyes burned with hatred as she pushed herself upright. "I don't need your help. I'll survive on my own."
But the moment she spoke, the world seemed to shift again. The very air around her grew dense with power, and a ripple of raw demonic energy surged through her body. Her muscles spasmed, her vision blurred, and for a moment, she thought she might explode from the sheer pressure of the energy.