Meanwhile, in the Elysian Realm, the expert excitedly fiddled with all kinds of instruments. Ever since devising a method of reverse intrusion, the expert had been waiting for this day.
At the same time, in the Oceania base of House of Ciora, Flame Willow and Highmore also fell asleep.
In the Trial Realm's reception hall.
As the three girls appeared, Elysia broke into a radiant smile.
"Hi, did you miss me~"
Elysia Was Very Worried About You
Before the trial begins, I need to explain several special rules of the final trial to you, Host.
"There are special rules too? Isn't it basically the same as the usual weekly Danger-level trials?" Xia Ling asked curiously.
The difficulty may be somewhat higher, but its nature is completely different.
Put simply, the location of the final trial is not simulated data created by the system. Instead, the trial uses real-time data collected from the Elysian Realm.
"Ah?"
(Hmm? Does that mean Little Xia Ling will be undergoing the trial in the actual Realm?)
That may be a little hard to understand, so let me give you an analogy.
To ensure this trial is completely realistic, you can imagine the Realm as a large box filled with data of all sorts of classifications.
When I copied the Realm's data in the past, I left behind a set of special circuits and conduits within it. They are similar to the branching paths in your roguelike mode, with hidden access points among the discarded data of different Herrschers.
Your final trial will take place within this set of circuits. As you make different choices at the nodes, I will connect the pathways to different access points, then enhance those data monsters of varying strength with modifiers to create an effect similar to the usual trials.
"That sounds... like a lot of work."
It is. Therefore, during this trial, you will not be able to hear my voice.
"Hm? Did you really get muted?"
No... this is for the sake of secrecy.
The circuit you will use for the trial is completely sealed off, and I need to adjust the location of your access points in real time. Once I communicate with you, unnecessary information leakage may occur. That would greatly increase my workload.
Furthermore, the same applies to your two support slots. You will essentially be standing by in a small box connected outside the large box that is the Elysian Realm. You operate within the same system as the trial participant's circuit, so I cannot communicate with you either.
"That actually isn't much of a problem. We've done this so many times already. There won't be any issues with the process."
(Wait, I have a problem!)
(You're going to the Realm for the trial, and the system is also going to the Realm to maintain the trial circuits. What about adorable Miss Fairy? Is she supposed to wait all alone in the reception room?)
"Why does it feel like... Elysia has something she wants to say?" Xia Ling looked at Elysia, who stood beside them with a sweet smile.
(Yes, yes, Little Xia Ling really gets me~)
One of you probably triggered her voice line. Anyway, that is not important. Set it aside for now.
(System, you? Just you wait!)
So, for that very reason, I need to explain the rules and everything else clearly in advance.
That was the matter of communication. The following precautions concern the trial itself.
Since it involves realistic data of the Herrschers, clearing this trial does not require defeating the Herrscher Trial on the eighteenth floor. You only need to clear the seventeenth floor.
"Then can we leave after we finish the seventeenth floor?"
Uh, the answer is no. Due to the Realm's trial mechanism, I cannot let you exit directly, and you will automatically be transported to the eighteenth floor.
However, for the same mechanical reasons, you only need to hold out for five minutes before being removed from the trial due to time expiring.
"Then why not just..." Xia Ling was somewhat confused. "Wouldn't it be faster if we were simply taken out?"
Host, it is obvious you were not listening properly when I explained the rules earlier. This trial takes place in the Elysian Realm, not inside the system.
"Ah, I get it now. Then it looks like we really have to be more careful this time."
Xia Ling suddenly understood, and her expression immediately turned solemn.
(Mm, the system means... wait, does it mean that because this isn't inside the system, Little Xia Ling can't revive like she usually does?!)
In the Elysian Realm, Elysia suddenly sat upright.
(Come to think of it, Xia Ling never seemed to mention being able to revive in the real world during her usual training. She simply didn't care about death during the trials.)
(And judging from the plans they usually made, they always prioritized caution and stability.)
(That makes sense... Reviving casually in the real world is hardly possible. Doesn't that mean Xia Ling will be in serious danger this time?)
(No, no. The system just said the difficulty is only a little higher than the usual Danger-level trials. Flame Willow is very capable, and the three of them have worked together for so long without any major mishaps.)
A single sentence from the system instantly filled Elysia with worry.
However, if Xia Ling had heard Elysia's thoughts, she would probably have felt quite wronged. After all, reviving an Elite 2 character once in the system shop cost a full 60 Originium Ingots or 15 Hope. Even for Xia Ling, who had been saving for half a year, that was by no means a small sum.
With such an enormous cost, Xia Ling would naturally exclude revival as an option when making plans. That was precisely why Elysia did not know Xia Ling could revive in the real world as well.
Leaving aside Elysia, whose feelings were complicated, the system had already finished explaining the precautions in just a few words.
Alright, since you all understand the situation, prepare to begin the trial.
As usual, Flame Willow will take the trial slot, while Highmore and Xia Ling will take the support slots, correct?
"Of course. Highmore still hasn't fully mastered her abilities, and I don't have Flame Willow's endurance."
Alright. In that case, prepare to depart.
As it spoke, three flashes of white light appeared. Both the system's light screen and the figures of Xia Ling's group vanished from the system's reception hall.
Only Elysia remained, watching the empty reception hall with worried eyes.
(Please let everything go smoothly... Xia Ling.)
At that moment, in the Elysian Realm.
"Good, good, good. I've finally been waiting for you, you little thief!"
Vill-V watched the numbers on her instrument begin to surge wildly, a look like a fisher seeing a fish take the bait appearing on her face.
"Still, isn't its behavior this time a little different from usual?"
"It looks like it didn't directly steal data this time. Instead, it activated every node it left behind?"
As she watched densely packed points of light instantly illuminate across the screen, Vill-V immediately felt a trace of pressure.
"Whoa, that many... I really didn't know the Elysian Realm had so many loopholes."
"Still, someone capable of pulling off something like this... forget it. To be safe, I should find a helper."
After thinking it over, Mobius had been in a bad mood lately. Kevin possessed more than enough strength, but when it came to matters involving intrusion and counter-intrusion, he was a little too conspicuous.
"Elysia is still the best choice. I only need her to stand guard, anyway. If all goes smoothly, I probably won't even need her."
"I can also explain why I've been so busy recently. The Magician said she even came looking for me not long ago."
Having made up her mind, Vill-V tapped her finger lightly, and a message encoded as data swiftly traveled toward Elysia.
So This Is the Modifier You Added!
"Eh, someone sent me a message?"
Having just withdrawn her consciousness from the now-empty Trial Realm reception hall, Elysia had not even taken out the gift she had prepared for Xia Ling before sensing a message from Vill-V.
"This is... Vill-V? She finally came out?"
Turning the data into a sheet of letter paper, Elysia carefully read its contents.
"She wants me to go to her place later, because there's something exciting to see?" Elysia was rather puzzled. "And... she wants to tell me what she's been busy with lately."
"Mm... but the storybook I planned to give Xia Ling isn't finished yet." Elysia looked at the gift in her hands, which had mostly taken shape, and felt somewhat torn.
"Forget it. I'll go see what Vill-V is up to first. For her to shut herself away for so long, it must be something important."
"As for this pop-up book... I'll finish the part in my hands first. Vill-V can help me with it later, too."
Having made her decision, Elysia replied to Vill-V that she would see her later, then continued assembling the gift she was preparing.
Meanwhile, Xia Ling's group had arrived in a small dark room.
Yes, a small dark room in the literal sense.
It was like a movie theater. Aside from one large screen and three seats, there was nothing else.
This is your preparation room. Since Flame Willow has been chosen for the trial slot, are you ready?
"What, do I need to say something like 'Link Start' first?"
That will not be necessary. In that case, I will see you after the trial ends.
As it spoke, Flame Willow suddenly vanished, along with the system.
At the same time, Flame Willow's live feed appeared on the screen before the two of them.
"It feels a little like watching a movie."
Xia Ling found a seat and sat down, grumbling, "Too bad there's no popcorn or soda."
"If you want snacks, you can try my tentacles." Highmore sat beside Xia Ling and smiled. "I haven't tasted them myself, but according to the story, they should not taste bad."
"...I'll pass. I don't mind seafood, but eating something this fresh is a little hard to accept."
The moment they finished speaking, enemies from the First Floor appeared beside Flame Willow.
Without even giving her a chance to speak, two Schicksal Demi-human Machines appeared at her sides.
"Eh? Highmore, why is there a little triangular arrow beneath these two Demi-human Machines' names?"
"I don't know. Maybe it wants us to click it?"
As she spoke, a long tentacle extended from Highmore's sleeve and tapped the arrow on the screen.
Immediately, the Demi-human Machines' original status panel expanded downward several times over, packed at a glance with dense modifier descriptions.
Shield: Technical Upgrade: The Schicksal shield of the Demi-human Machine Mister T will become a permanent effect. When the shield is broken, it will remain as a damage-reduction effect. Energy Reserve: Vitality III: The Honkai Energy reserves of the Demi-human Machine Mister T will double, and its skills will no longer have cooldowns. Anti-Armor III: The armor defense of the Demi-human Machine Mister T will be greatly enhanced, and its shell material will gain increased resistance to Honkai Energy impacts. Fang Thrust: Counter: The charge-up windup before the Demi-human Machine Mister T uses Fang Thrust will be reduced by 50%.
"Seriously, man?"
Xia Ling leaned forward, staring wide-eyed at the familiar string of modifiers. "So when the system said it would add modifiers, it meant these modifiers? I thought it meant something like shield charges or bloodline buffs!"
"The value of clearing the final trial just went way up." Highmore gave a thumbs-up. "First clear of the Elysian Realm Contract 890 three-tier challenge, and it's a forced-kill strategy."
"Forget forced-killing for now. Looking at the strength of these modifiers, the regular floors might be manageable, but we'll probably need all three of us for the boss on the seventeenth floor. I originally wanted to save the last support use for the Herrscher floor, but it looks like Flame Willow will have to handle the pressure alone now."
"Hope she's okay."
While the two still had the mood to joke around, Flame Willow was under immense pressure on the other side.
Unable to see the specific modifiers, she was caught off guard for a moment.
"This shell is way too tough!" Watching the Demi-human Machines, which she could normally kill almost instantly, withstand five or six hits, Flame Willow looked at the gun-shaped staff in her hands in disbelief.
"I didn't pick up the wrong weapon, did I?"
Although the monsters were somewhat tougher than expected, once Flame Willow became familiar with their strength, even these enhanced monsters were still no real problem for her.
After taking down the two Demi-human Machines, four Thunder God Mechs descended from above.
However, these Thunder God Mechs did not seem particularly resistant to fire. Though their missiles had been heavily enhanced by the modifiers, they were just as easy to deal with.
"Huh? What are these..." Flame Willow bent down and picked up several strange coins from the ground.
"Why are mechs dropping gold... They look like Cat's silver coins?"
"But why are there so few? It's nowhere near enough."
The monsters on the First Floor seemed to have merely been a warning for Flame Willow. After she dealt with them quickly, three portals appeared before her.
Before you continue