[B-Level Loot Box Opened: Congratulations, you've obtained the "Accumulated Virtue System"!]
[Accumulated Virtue System: Perform good deeds or receive gratitude to earn "Virtue Points." Accumulate enough points to unlock rewards.]
[Note: The system operates exclusively in reality.]
A loot box… capable of granting an entire system?
And not just any system—it was the polar opposite of the Evil Ascension System. Instead of promoting wickedness, the "Accumulated Virtue System" encouraged acts of kindness.
In the simulated world, Nolan needed to embrace his worst instincts, but in reality, he was required to be a paragon of virtue.
Although Nolan frequently helped others, it wasn't out of expectation for rewards. It was simply his nature.
To put it kindly, Nolan was soft-hearted. To put it bluntly, he was something of a pushover.
In another story, he might have been cast as the classic gentle protagonist.
Still, earning rewards for doing what came naturally was an excellent deal. And, if this system could help offset the guilt from his actions in the simulations, it was all the better.
"Rakani chu!"
"Makabaka!"
The low growl of something inhuman interrupted his thoughts. Spinning around, Nolan saw two dark-skinned, white-masked creatures approaching. One carried a wooden club, the other a flaming torch.
Hilichurls.
Having played Genshin Impact, Nolan immediately recognized the creatures. These humanoid monsters, ranging from the lowly Hilichurl to the formidable Hilichurl Chieftain, were a constant enemy in the game.
But now, facing them in reality, Nolan felt a twinge of unease.
"Jinei nima sla!"
The Hilichurl with the club suddenly charged, its guttural shout echoing through the clearing.
Nolan, though naturally kind-hearted, had been trained in martial arts by his grandfather—mainly to humor the old man. While he had always thought the techniques were little more than showy parlor tricks, his body instinctively moved.
He sidestepped the club's swing and countered with a powerful punch to the Hilichurl's chest.
"Charging Fist!"
Perhaps it was muscle memory, or maybe the system intervened, but Nolan executed the skill perfectly. The essence of Charging Fist lay in accumulating strength, but against the lightly-armored Hilichurl, even a basic punch was devastating. The creature's chest caved in with an audible crack before it was sent flying, its body crumpling lifelessly to the ground.
Moments later, the Hilichurl dissolved into black mist, vanishing into the earth.
[Killed a monster: Earned 10 Virtue Points.]
Nolan blinked in surprise. Killing monsters could earn Virtue Points?
It seemed that the system judged actions based on their benefit to humanity. Eliminating a threat qualified as a virtuous deed.
Before he could dwell on it, the second Hilichurl panicked and tried to flee. Nolan pursued it, delivering another decisive punch.
[Killed a monster: Earned 10 Virtue Points.]
Looking ahead at the distant silhouette of Liyue Harbor, Nolan began his journey—fighting monsters and helping others along the way.
Meanwhile, in a luxurious bedroom within Liyue Harbor…
"I'll kill you… I'll kill you!"
A girl bolted upright in her bed, her breath ragged and her body drenched in sweat. Her purple hair clung to her pale skin, framing a face both delicate and striking.
This was Keqing, one of Liyue's esteemed Qixing.
She had just woken from an unsettling dream—one that felt disturbingly real.
In the dream, she was a young girl again, targeted and isolated by a boy named Nolan. He humiliated her, orchestrated her expulsion from school, and ruined her family, forcing them to leave Liyue.
Her family's fall spiraled into tragedy: her parents died in despair, and overwhelmed by grief, Keqing leapt from a cliff to end her suffering.
Yet, instead of death, she was found by the Abyss Order. They offered her immense power in exchange for her loyalty.
In the dream, Keqing accepted their offer, undergoing torturous transformations. The despair and rage that consumed her turned into dark resolve. As the demoness "Thunder Calamity Rakshasa," she sought vengeance upon Liyue.
The dream's Keqing was a force of destruction, obliterating the families of her childhood tormentors. And Nolan, the source of her misery, was reserved as her final victim.
Just as she swung her sword to end him, Keqing awoke, gasping for air.
"Why… Why am I dreaming about this?"
She wiped the sweat from her brow, her thoughts racing. The version of herself in the dream was unrecognizable—cruel, bloodthirsty, and merciless.
Yet, deep down, she couldn't entirely fault that version of herself. After enduring such torment, who wouldn't fall into darkness?
"But…" Keqing's gaze sharpened. "The power I had in that dream… If only I were that strong now."
Though Keqing was already a formidable fighter thanks to her Vision, there was a vast difference between her current strength and the demonic might she wielded in the dream.
And while most dreams faded quickly, this one lingered vividly. She could recall every detail of Nolan's face, despite knowing she'd never met such a person in real life.
"Hmph." Keqing narrowed her eyes. "If someone like him existed, I'd teach him a lesson he wouldn't forget."
"Achoo!"
Nolan sneezed, rubbing his nose. He had no idea that somewhere in Liyue Harbor, a powerful figure had taken note of him—albeit in hatred.
"How much farther do I have to walk?"
Exhausted, Nolan sighed. "Why does it feel like I'm not getting any closer?"
[At your current pace, it will take three more days to reach Liyue Harbor.]
"Wait… You have navigation? Can't you just teleport me there? Aren't there teleport waypoints in Genshin Impact?"
[This function is not yet activated.]
Nolan groaned. "Can I start another simulation? Maybe I'll get something to speed this up."
[The character simulation refreshes daily at midnight. Please wait.]
"Help! Somebody, help!"
A desperate cry shattered the silence. Without hesitation, Nolan sprinted toward the sound.
Emerging from the bushes, he saw a towering Mitachurl wielding a massive axe. Surrounding it were wagons, injured guards, and terrified merchants.
Unlike the game, where Mitachurls were manageable foes, facing one in reality was an entirely different matter.
"Beast! Leave them alone!"
Nolan charged, landing a punch on the Mitachurl's chest.
The creature staggered but quickly regained its footing, swinging its axe in retaliation. The blow struck Nolan squarely, sending him sprawling and coughing up blood.
[Heroic Intent Accumulation: 50%]
Clenching his fists, Nolan gritted his teeth and launched another attack.
"Charging Fist!"