Chapter 131
"System!"
"..."
The system, which had been making a racket just moments before, suddenly fell silent and stopped talking.
But MEI knew that the system had backed down! The system that was just being stubborn had now cowered! He was considering, or rather, thinking about how to explain the current situation.
MEI doesn't care much about this; it's a tug-of-war phase right now, and the final outcome hasn't been decided yet.
The system will definitely be manipulated, and the effects will be immediate.
Yes, the effect comes immediately.
Mei watched as a hail of arrows streaked across the sky and landed behind her. The distance of the arrows was perfectly controlled, and the ring of fire they formed burned right behind her.
It can make MEI feel threatened but won't actually kill them.
"That's interesting." Mei adjusted his glasses and said, "Let's see how long you can hold out."
The tug-of-war began, and MEI knew she didn't have many cards to play against this system. In fact, she could say she only had one card, and that one card was enough to be the decisive factor in this confrontation with the system.
My own life!
The worst outcome is death, isn't it?
What is death?
It's not a big deal! If we can't clear this up with this system now, MEI doesn't want a system that might betray us at any time!
Mei wasn't in a hurry and kept moving forward.
"System," MEI said calmly, "You know, the worst outcome is that we both die here. For me, the worst outcome is that I die, and you find another host."
'If you have the opportunity to find another host, I suggest you don't choose a time traveler.'
'A transmigrator like me, who died once and transmigrated once.'
Having died once, I know the preciousness of life and also have much less fear of death.
It feels contradictory, but that's just how it is.
Mei doesn't want to die, but she also doesn't want to live like this.
MEI walked step by step toward the group of Honkai Beast.
Round after round of arrows rained down on her from the sky, but everything was just as it had appeared before. They landed precisely behind her.
It's just the right amount of a threat without hurting her.
The smoke and dust were still lingering in the distance.
But MEI could already see that the smoke and dust had weakened considerably.
It should be almost done.
Mei continued walking in that direction, and gradually she could see clearly what kind of Honkai Beast was approaching. Emperor-class.
Six Temple-class Honkai Beast, accompanied by Imperial Guard Meele resembling an army and Divine Crossbow Guard, surged towards MEI in what appeared to be an army-like formation, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Six large-headed Temple-class Honkai Beast, with Imperial Guard Meele and Divine Crossbow Guard in the second row. One Honkai zombie and one crossbowman alternate in their positions.
They have already seen MEI.
The guard, who had been shooting while walking, suddenly changed his attack method and started shooting directly.
MEI stopped and stood there motionless.
Then the first volley of arrows came flying straight at us!
With direct fire, the accuracy of the sniper rifle is already quite high. When firing at a MEI positioned without any cover, it's virtually impossible to miss.
The first volley of arrows came flying.
MEI did not dodge.
He just took it with his bare hands.
And then I endured it...
"It's a 50% Novice Protection that's been triggered." MEI pushed up her glasses. She was well aware of the effect of the title she was equipped with.
'But you won't be this lucky every round.'
Even with a 50% damage reduction.
'As long as one round gets hit.' MEI sneered at the Divine Crossbow Guard.
'He's definitely going to die!'
A person dies when they are killed, it's that simple. And that system... well, now it's up to you to choose!
Mei showed no intention of running away. The second volley of arrows came quickly, and the fastest arrows were less than half a meter away from her.
In the next round, it's really not certain that the damage immunity will be triggered!
I'll die! I'm definitely going to die!
You'll die!
MEI remained unmoved!
Then...
Suddenly, the surroundings darkened, and the arrow seemed to be in bullet time, flying through the air extremely slowly!
"Alright!" the system finally retorted, shouting, "I can explain this!"
"You're insane!"
In the camp, Siegfried, who had been anxiously waiting, suddenly became less impatient. Apart from Himeko and the Redhead, everyone else seemed to have changed a little.
"What happened?" Himeko asked Siegfried.
She suddenly felt that something was off.
Siegfried was looking at him with a completely bewildered expression.
Confused?
What is he confused about?
Apart from the Redhead, everyone else looked somewhat confused.
"I... um..." Siegfried scratched his head and said, "I don't know, it feels... how should I put it?"
It's like... like I've entered a Sage Time. Yes, that's exactly the feeling, like I've suddenly entered Sage Time, and I'm oblivious to everything around me.
His passion for Cecilia, in particular, diminished by more than half in an instant.
Feel...
Suddenly I realized how incredibly stupid I had been.
"It does seem to be pretty much what I expected." Siegfried felt a little out of sorts, suddenly entering Sage Time. Before he could figure anything out, he suddenly heard Mei's voice.
He glanced at MEI and said, "Looks like you've found a way to crack it."
'Huh?' Himeko noticed that Siegfried was suddenly different from before. He didn't seem to be forcefully grabbing Mei and calling her 'my wife' anymore.
To be honest, Himeko doesn't say much.
However, he still couldn't think highly of Siegfried, who had been so persistent in pursuing him.
It feels like someone who is completely unable to face reality, clinging to something to deceive themselves into believing they can't escape it.
Himeko felt she didn't have much right to judge Siegfried's actions.
"Not entirely," MEI said, adjusting his glasses. "But for now, things are probably in a pretty good situation for me."
"I need to rest for a while."
Mei ignored the others, sat cross-legged in front of the campfire, and closed her eyes as if she were dozing.
She won this round, but she also walked on the edge of life and death.
If I miscalculate, I will really die.
But!
The current situation is sufficient!
"System!" MEI said, entering the depths of her consciousness, "Now, explain this to me."
"Actually... I... um..." The system's voice finally changed from electronic to that of a little girl, sounding almost like she was about to cry, "Actually, I just didn't want you to abandon me~"
'Waaaah~ I know I was wrong~ I know...'
"Shut up!" MEI said. "Do you think you can get my sympathy by faking a few tears?"
One of the biggest advantages of MEI is that once a goal is set, it will not be swayed by emotions. No matter how pitiful the system tries to play the victim, it will not soften its heart, nor will it be easy to reason with.
"Have some compassion," the system's voice changed to a man's voice, "Don't be so heartless."
'We're, after all, two sides of the same coin.'
'...' MEI remained indifferent, coldly stating, 'I don't want to waste my breath.'
I don't want to waste my precious time.
"Alright." The system finally gave up, reverting to its androgynous, childlike, yet somehow hybrid synthesized voice. "Actually, my purpose is very simple."
'You cannot do without my help.'
Chapter 158 The System
You seem a little reluctant to believe it.
The system said in its strange voice, "I'm telling the truth, this is my purpose."
You have to believe it!
The system doesn't want to go through this again. Now it's playing the role of MEI, and a MEI with relatively high knowledge and personality.
Moreover, he raised this level of knowledge himself!
What does it mean to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot?
What does it mean to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot?! (Leans back tactically)
What the hell are you talking about?!
The system is waiting for MEI to speak. What if it happens again? If it happens again, we'll be in big trouble!
"Baseness is the passport of the base, nobility is the epitaph of the noble." MEI said, "System, do you know what this sentence means?"
"I know," the system immediately replied obsequiously. "That's a modern poem from Bei Dao."
This sentence can be understood in two ways.
"The first type is: the despicable person is rampant and invincible because of his despicable nature. In front of ordinary people, despicable nature is a kind of killing power; the noble person is unarmored and unarmed because of his nobility. He does not easily throw his fist. In this world, he loses his life because of his nobility."
The second interpretation is that "pass" and "epitaph" do not represent the literal meaning of the words. After all, "despicable" is not invincible, and "noble" is not always weak. It can be understood as "a despicable person will use despicable means in any situation," and "a noble person follows noble principles throughout their life."
"Yes," MEI said, "And my understanding is basically the second meaning."
"You think I'm despicable?" The system's voice immediately turned slightly displeased, saying, "Is that so?"
"At least you're not some noble system," MEI said calmly. "And not only are you not noble, but our cooperation is also fraught with intrigue."
"What?" the system said in a somewhat roguish tone, "You don't think I'm here to help the poor and needy, do you?"
"Is that so? If you think I'm here to help the poor and needy."
"You can continue to die."
"Don't think that threatening me with your own life means you've found my weakness." The system said, sounding bored and even more arrogant, "If you don't care about your life, neither do I."
"I don't think you're here to help the poor and needy," MEI said. "But I also don't want a exploitative person like Zhou Bapi to be part of my system."
"I'm not a shrew," the system immediately replied. "I'm not bad at all."
"I only agree with one of your statements," MEI said. "One prospers, all prosper."
"The world is bustling with activity, all for the sake of profit."