Chương 63: Asteria

I sit at the very edge of my spire, legs swinging idly over the side as I look out across the world. It is… quiet. Not the gentle quiet of a peaceful afternoon, where wind rustles leaves and distant life hums softly in the background. No. This is a far more thorough kind of silence. The kind that settles in after everything that could possibly make noise has been politely, efficiently, and extremely permanently removed.

The sky stretches endlessly above me, a clear, uninterrupted blue, the sun hanging high in the late afternoon as if nothing of note has occurred. Its light spills across the land without resistance, illuminating a landscape that no longer has anything left to reflect it properly. Below, the world is reduced to gradients of gray. Ash blankets everything.

What was once dense forest is now a sprawling expanse of charred remains, collapsed trunks and smoldered earth forming a jagged, uneven tapestry that stretches all the way to the horizon. The last traces of smoke have long since faded, leaving only the aftermath, clean in a way that feels almost… intentional. The ruined city beneath me stands in quiet defiance of total erasure, its structures cracked, fractured, and partially collapsed, yet still upright.

Streets lie empty, buildings hollow, every surface dusted in a fine layer of gray that dulls even the sharpest edges. No movement. No sound. No life. Even the wind seems hesitant to interfere, as if it has taken one look at the current state of things and decided that discretion is the better part of survival. I tilt my head slightly, watching as a small drift of ash slides lazily from the edge of a nearby rooftop, falling without urgency, without interruption, without anything left to disturb its descent.

It is, objectively— A monumental success. A complete, comprehensive, and deeply efficient removal of all opposing variables. I nod once, satisfied, as my tail sways behind me with quiet, smug approval. The view is excellent. I think I accomplished all of my goals throughout the course of the Tutorial. Points? Check. Dragonslayer? Check.

A highly comprehensive threat to whatever god, middle manager, or mildly suspicious conceptual entity decided that procedurally generated forests and monster encounters were a good idea? Check. Excellent. A small system prompt informs me that I have fifteen minutes remaining until I am finally teleported to Asteria. Plenty of time. I rise to my feet and stretch languidly. My dress follows the motion perfectly.

The fitted bodice flexes without resistance, the sleeveless cut leaving my shoulders completely free, while the crossed belts at my waist shift just enough to accent the movement without slipping out of place. The half-skirt fans slightly behind me as I extend, the plated segments catching the sunlight in muted, controlled glints before settling back into stillness. Extremely elegant. I approve. My tail sways once behind me, unimpeded. Good. I nod to myself. Then I step forward and jump. The fall is immediate.

Wind rushes past, tugging at the edges of the half-skirt and pulling strands of my white hair into a loose, trailing arc behind me. My boots remain steady, gripping nothing and yet perfectly aligned, as if the concept of footing is more of a suggestion than a requirement. A vine lashes outward mid-descent, catching a ledge and converting the drop into a smooth, controlled swing. Momentum redirects. My gravity shifts.

I land lightly at the base of the palace, the impact absorbed cleanly through my legs without so much as a stumble. Efficient. I make my way inside. Once I'm past the entrance, I deactivate the dress. It vanishes instantly, replaced once more by my starlight constructs. I pause for a moment. Then dismiss those too. The kaleidoscopic shimmer fades into motes of starlight, leaving me briefly unadorned before I reach into my storage and pull out one of the outfits I purchased earlier. Presentation matters.

I will be entering Asteria with my battle dress on—because it is clearly the most aesthetically superior option—but I won't keep it on forever, and walking into a populated world dressed like a breathing constellation is likely to attract an inconvenient amount of attention. This particular set is… acceptable. A short black pleated skirt settles at my hips, the fabric light but structured, paired with properly integrated shorts underneath for mobility.

A fitted crimson top contours cleanly along my frame, the color sharp against the monochrome palette, while a loose, unzipped black hoodie drapes over it, the reinforced cloth soft but dense enough to resist wind without restricting movement. Subtle crimson accents trace along the edges, tying everything together. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Matching colors is objectively superior, after all.

A pair of black socks slide into place, followed by more casual boots. Still sturdy, but far less aggressive than the combat pair. I take a moment. Then test it. A spin. The skirt flares lightly, controlled rather than excessive. A hop. No restriction. A few experimental steps, then a short skip for good measure. My ears perk. Comfy. And aesthetically pleasing. Nine out of ten. One point deducted for the complete and utter lack of cool runic effects. Tragic, really.

Satisfied with my new outfit, I make sure to grab the lich robe and the potions now that I have extra storage space, before exiting the palace and immediately correcting a critical oversight. Namely— I am no longer on my spire. This is unacceptable. I deploy my vines without hesitation, latching onto a distant ledge and converting forward momentum into a clean upward arc.

Another vine follows, then another, chaining together into a smooth, controlled ascent that carries me back toward my properly designated vantage point with appropriate speed and entirely reasonable flair. Some might argue that I simply wanted an excuse to use my vines again. I reject that interpretation on principle. It was clearly a practical decision to traverse the entire palace height down to the ground floor when there was a perfectly accessible window a mere ten meters away on a neighboring spire. Obviously.

I land lightly and reclaim my seat at the edge of my personal rooftop domicile, legs dangling over the side once more. My tail curls around my waist in a loose, content coil. A vine slips from my shadow and begins idly brushing through my fur with slow, deliberate strokes, while another rises just behind me and gently scratches at the base of my ears. I go still. Then— I lean into it slightly. Yes. This is correct. Comfort has been achieved.

I allow myself a small, satisfied exhale as the steady rhythm of the brushing continues, careful, consistent, and deeply effective. This is not unusual. The scratches are, objectively, excellent. I have already established that. … Not that I engage in such behavior frequently. The implication alone is a direct attack on my dignity. I will also politely ignore the fact that I am currently facilitating the process myself. That is irrelevant. What is relevant— Is the feeling in my chest. Warm. Steady.

Present in a way that it wasn't before. My heartbeat, clear and measured, a quiet rhythm beneath everything else. I tilt my head slightly, attention shifting inward. The excitement. The anticipation. The simple, undeniable sense of— Satisfaction. I am… happy. The realization settles without resistance. There were inconveniences. A few minor injuries. A dragon. Several forests that are no longer forests. But overall— This has been a highly successful experience. I like this world.

Even if it was, at times, existentially annoying enough to justify a catastrophic fire-based restructuring project. Growth. Progress. The steady accumulation of power. The feeling of my own decisions shaping reality in real time. It is… better. Infinitely so. I glance upward, toward the empty sky. Towards where the stars should be. A thought surfaces, uninvited. What would things have been like if none of this had happened? If I had remained on Earth. If there was no System. No Aspects. No power. No— This.

How would that version of me have turned out? Would she be happy? … I let out a quiet breath. A pointless question. I already know the answer. There's no way she could be. The only thing that interested me back on Earth was Elizabeth. I smile faintly at the thought of my only friend. There is absolutely zero chance Elizabeth failed her Tutorial. If anything, I would wager she somehow hijacked the entire thing through methods that would cause several managers immediate migraines.

Honestly, there is a non-zero possibility she already commands an army somewhere. My ears perk slightly. I bet I will find her first. Although there is a one hundred percent chance she is currently thinking the exact same thing. Doesn't matter. I am better. My gaze lingers on the sky for a moment longer before I close my eyes briefly, the warmth in my chest settling into something steady and certain. Integration was the best thing that could have happened to me. No hesitation. No doubt. Only fact.

My tail gives a slow, content sway as I open my eyes again, the corners of my lips lifting ever so slightly. Asteria. A new world. New sights. New challenges. New things to test. My heartbeat picks up just a fraction, anticipation threading through the calm. Yes. I am very much looking forward to this. Ten seconds remain. I rise smoothly to my feet, reactivating my battle dress in the same motion.

The fabric settles into place instantly, the black silhouette reforming around me with quiet precision, belts aligning, half-skirt resting perfectly, boots anchoring my stance. Aesthetically superior. And, more importantly— Prepared. There is a strictly non-zero chance that my arrival into Asteria involves immediate violence. I refuse to be caught underdressed for such an occasion. Five seconds. The faint trace of anticipation on my face fades, replaced with calm, composed neutrality.

My posture straightens just slightly, shoulders relaxed, expression smooth and unreadable. The mask settles into place. Three seconds. Two. One. The world disappears. A blinding white light floods my vision, absolute and immediate, swallowing everything in a clean, featureless void. It is the same light from before—the moment of integration—except this time I am not disoriented, not incomplete, not missing pieces of myself. Everything remains. All at once. Sight. Sound. Smell. No staggered return. No delay.

An appreciated improvement. The light fades. Reality returns. I am standing in the middle of a vast orchard. Rows upon rows of fruit stretch endlessly outward, bushes and trees arranged in loose, natural order rather than rigid structure. The ground beneath my feet is soft, living, untouched by ash or ruin, a stark contrast to the world I left behind only moments ago. Color. Actual color. Bright reds, deep blues, rich greens.

Strawberries cluster low along the ground, their surfaces catching the light with a faint sheen. Blueberries and raspberries grow in dense patches nearby, while farther out, taller trees rise above them. Apple, pear, their branches heavy with fruit. Alive. I draw in a slow breath. The air is… full. Sweet. Layered. Familiar scents overlap in a way that feels almost overwhelming after the sterile emptiness of the tutorial. Apples. Peaches. Apricots. Bananas.

Even something softer, more tropical beneath it all, papaya, faint but present. My ears flick slightly as I process it. This is what a living world smells like. A few steps forward bring more details into focus. There are unfamiliar fruits scattered among the familiar ones—strange shapes, unusual colors. A cluster of warped, purple-tinted berries hangs from a low bush, their surface faintly iridescent in a way that feels mildly suspicious.

Nearby, something that appears to be a hybrid between a tomato and a watermelon rests heavily on a vine, its striped surface suggesting deeply questionable design choices. I narrow my eyes slightly. These will require testing. Careful testing. Preferably on something that is not me. My gaze continues to sweep the orchard, taking in the scale, the density, the sheer abundance of life. There is no system message welcoming me to the world.

No ominous blue box announcing that my arrival has triggered some grand catastrophe, no dramatic declaration that reality itself has begun to unravel at my presence, as a certain Lich might have suggested. It is… Peaceful. I pause. …? A faint sensation brushes against my awareness. Subtle. Incorrect. My sixth sense for bullshit activates immediately.

I narrow my eyes and tilt my head upward, glaring directly into the sky with the full expectation that something, somewhere, has attempted to be mildly inconvenient without my permission. The sky, notably, does not respond. That is suspicious. I continue glaring anyway. The feeling vanishes. Just like that. … I hold the glare for another second, just to be thorough. Then I nod once. Yes. Problem solved. A highly effective and entirely reasonable solution to whatever that was. Satisfied, I lower my gaze. Now then.

There is, in fact, a more immediate concern. I turn slightly to the left. A man is sitting on the ground, having fallen backwards in what I can only assume was a deeply emotional reaction to my arrival. His ears—long, drooping, distinctly canine—hang stiff with shock, while his tail has frozen somewhere between alarm and confusion. He is staring at me. I stare back. A brief moment passes. I straighten subtly, posture aligning, presence smoothing into something composed and controlled.

The edges of my expression soften, carefully arranged into something polite, something reassuring, something that suggests I am not, in fact, a problem. Which is, objectively, debatable. I offer him a small, practiced smile. Then I speak.

"Oh. Hello."