Bai Ming watched the countdown that still had some time left before it ended.
She canceled Acheron's character card.
The familiar darkness enveloped her vision.
But perhaps due to her recently heightened senses, Bai Ming could now faintly perceive Acheron standing before her.
She glanced at her status panel:
--+--
[Role-Playing System]
[Name: Bai Ming (Acheron)]
[Lifespan: 240.59:51]
[Transformable Characters: Big Herta (Charge: 35.2%), Acheron (Charge: 1.4%), Celenova]
[Available Draws: 0 (50.4%)]
--+--
The remaining time, just like last time, converted into a little over one percent of charge.
At least it wasn't wasted.
Immediately after, the reward summary popped up:
[Reward Summary: Role-playing as Acheron. Successfully collected a large amount of emotional value. Host may acquire a fraction of Acheron's innate talents.]
'Please, not the Nihility nonsense—don't give me the Nihility nonsense!'
Bai Ming prayed silently in her heart.
Then, just like last time, a tingling sensation spread through her mind, followed by a flood of knowledge and training memories rushing into her consciousness.
Unlike the straightforward intelligence boost from before, Bai Ming felt her understanding of the blade had now ascended to a higher level.
It seemed what she had gained were Acheron's martial talents, not her Nihility-related abilities.
At the same time, the swordsmanship of the Xianzhou she had memorized over the past twenty-plus days, as well as the blade techniques she and Acheron had developed together, were now firmly etched in her mind.
"Excellent, all that time wasn't wasted."
Bai Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the system hadn't been absurd enough to slap her with a Nihility debuff.
So, the reward structure was becoming clearer. As expected, anything she created during the role-play could be retained.
This way, even if she had to role-play as Celenova next, she wouldn't have to worry about facing other Emanators of Destruction in combat.
Well then, time to start the next role-play.
Bai Ming focused her attention on the only character card that was lit up.
A tall woman, almost entirely white, appeared before her.
This time, before the body could pull her in, Bai Ming actively rushed into Celenova's form.
Soon, Bai Ming's consciousness grew clearer.
She could feel the long, trailing hair brushing against her body, and the ring-like ornaments floating near her face and calves.
"So this is your new body?"
Acheron eyed the now-transformed figure with little apparent interest.
Just moments ago, after her own form vanished, a blurred silhouette remained in place—unclear in features, ambiguous in gender.
But Acheron felt that must be Bai Ming's true form.
'Was it because she lacked a body of her own that she kept borrowing others' appearances?'
Acheron pondered but didn't voice the question aloud. Instead, she observed the elegant Emanator of Destruction with mild curiosity.
"Mhm, Emanator of Destruction—Celenova."
Bai Ming's voice had shifted as well, becoming as melodious as a lark's song.
Yet within that voice lay a trace of undeniable arrogance, making Acheron feel that this Celenova resembled a corporate leader of some sort.
And the moment Bai Ming uttered Celenova's name aloud—
Boom—!!!
An illusory roar exploded in their ears.
Not only Bai Ming, but even Acheron sensed that extreme will of destruction.
"...Nanook?!"
Bai Ming stared at the figure now before her—Nanook, golden blood flowing across his form.
She hadn't even left the entrance to the Nihility yet.
She never expected that merely speaking the name would draw Nanook's attention.
Those golden eyes traversed space, forcibly prying open the creeping Nihility.
An unfamiliar Emanator, suddenly appearing—
How peculiar!
This was not an Emanator he had created.
Nanook was certain of that. Yet the body gave him the distinct impression that it should have been shaped by his own hand.
She had not yet acted upon the will of Destruction.
That was natural—by all indications, she should be a newly born Emanator.
Yet Nanook could also perceive that the one controlling this body was not treading the Path of Destruction.
The soul within Celenova's form did not match the vessel.
Nanook saw it clearly.
'You—Emanator of Destruction, Celenova?'
Nanook's question came laden with thick intent to destroy, pressing down toward Bai Ming.
Acheron instinctively moved to step in front, to clear the threat for Bai Ming.
Even if it was Celenova, she would still draw her blade. But Celenova pressed a hand on Acheron's shoulder, pulling her back and shielding her instead.
How interesting.
A flicker of interest stirred within Nanook.
Though he had indeed been considering messengers in nearby realms lately, this—Celenova, a future Emanator of Destruction, born to obliterate kindred—had appeared in an era and place where she should not exist.
Whose handiwork was this?
Let them see clearly.
And so, he gazed at Bai Ming, looking past Celenova's appearance into the Bai Ming hidden within.
The aura of Destruction surged forward, but held no intention of destroying Bai Ming.
A single drop of golden blood fell from Nanook's pupil, crossing vast starry rivers to land upon Celenova's forehead.
It seeped swiftly inward, transforming into a golden pool that wrapped layer upon layer around Bai Ming's soul.
A heart-palpitating power of Destruction, yet warm as a lamb.
Bai Ming even felt she could wield this oceanic force as easily as moving a finger.
Then, without another word, Nanook withdrew his gaze, retreating from the crevices of Nihility.
And then—
When Bai Ming instinctively glanced at her status panel, she felt her heart skip a beat:
--+--
[Role-Playing System]
[Name: Bai Ming (Celenova)]
[Lifespan: 100 years (Paused) + 30 days (Role-Play)]
[Transformable Characters: Big Herta (Charge: 45.2%), Acheron (Charge: 11.4%), Celenova]
[Available Draws: 0 (60.4%)]
--+--
The other progress bars were normal, having increased by only about ten percent.
Logically, the lifespan entry should have been the same.
But it had jumped straight to a century.
Bai Ming could only attribute it to that golden energy enveloping her—so destructive, yet so gentle.
Lately, she'd come to understand one thing: an ordinary person's lifespan was tied to bodily decay, while hers was related to the dissipation of her soul.
The system's character cards could prevent other souls from dissipating, but the body she'd made herself lacked some crucial element.
Yet that single drop of blood seemed to have filled in what she'd overlooked before.
A hundred years wasn't much, but it was the Path of Destruction after all—can't ask for too much.
At least she now had a research direction.
But why?
Why hadn't Nanook just smacked her down?
Bai Ming found it rather unbelievable.
Generally, Aeons didn't intervene directly against individuals.
But for Bai Ming to pilot a body meant for a future Emanator of Destruction and not get punished?
That was strange.
What was Nanook thinking?
She decided to let it go.
"Just now… did you really become an Emanator of Destruction?" Acheron asked, curious.
"Probably not. This power isn't that strong."
Bai Ming focused inward. The power within her was clearly a far cry from what a true Emanator should possess.
Moreover, upon closer inspection, that drop of golden blood felt more like a marker placed upon her— not an actual appointment as an Emanator of Destruction.
--+--