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In a sense, Texas in the pure white space was even more dangerous than the girl in reality.

This was a virtual entity created by the system after it scanned Texas during that sparring session between Bai Ye and Texas. It possessed only the instincts to fight and kill, like a true killer of the Texas Family.

Bai Ye's guess had been correct. This was one of the system's hidden functions, meant to accelerate his growth.

As the saying went, "The North Wind forged the Viking warrior." For an ordinary person who had lived in peace all his life to become a true warrior, Bai Ye clearly needed to undergo far more trials and challenges.

Bai Ye knew none of this. He merely gripped the hilt of [Hagiri] and charged at the girl standing with her blade drawn not far away, like a moth flying into the flames.

Bai Ye understood very clearly that this was an excellent training opportunity. Just like the previous "after-school tutoring," no matter what happened in this nightmare-like pure white space, he would not die.

"I just need to overcome my fear of death."

The expressionless "Texas" stood like an insurmountable mountain, yet Bai Ye launched an attack against her for the first time.

[Mission Issued]

Mission Name: Viking Warrior Forged by the North Wind

Phase One: Survive for 30 seconds

Reward: Good Dream ×1, Weapon Enhancement ×1, EXP

Penalty: None

"Ugh! So you really were behind this!"

The sudden mission notification nearly made Bai Ye stumble. He stopped and began examining the task that had abruptly appeared.

"What do you mean, no penalty? If I don't complete the mission, I won't even get a chance to sleep properly!"

Bai Ye had nothing left to say to this extremely harsh and rigid system. After steadying himself, he stood before "Texas" once more.

The virtual entity created by the system possessed a certain degree of intelligence. If Bai Ye remained where he was without attacking, the virtual entity would raise her blade and charge at him on her own.

That was why Bai Ye had been inexplicably slaughtered unilaterally by "Texas" hundreds of times last night.

"Thirty seconds..."

Bai Ye gripped [Hagiri], drew a deep breath, and fixed his gaze tightly on "Texas."

His pupils constricted. The "Texas" who had been standing there blankly a moment ago vanished from Bai Ye's sight.

The next instant, the girl shot forward like lightning, swinging her blade at Bai Ye's neck.

"So fast!"

Bai Ye had not seen "Texas's" movement at all. The girl was even quicker than she had been in reality. All Bai Ye could do was instinctively raise Hagiri to block.

"I blocked it!"

With the passive skill [Blind Fighting], Bai Ye could use his perception attribute to catch an enemy's attacks. Although he could not see "Texas's" movements, he had still roughly grasped the path of her strike.

Thud—

But before Bai Ye could rejoice, "Texas" threw a left punch.

Bai Ye had clearly failed to catch the trajectory of that punch. He only felt something slam violently into his chest.

"Ugh!"

Bai Ye crashed heavily onto the ground. His entire chest had gone numb, and even breathing became extremely difficult.

The next second, darkness filled his vision again, and he lost consciousness once more.

[Synchronization Lost]

"So, Texas definitely held back in reality... No, it seemed like she held back by an entire Pacific Ocean!"

Having awakened once more, Bai Ye touched his chest with lingering fear. Although Texas said she "didn't know how to teach people," she had still suppressed her strength when sparring with him.

At least during that battle in reality, Bai Ye had barely been able to keep up with Texas's movements...

"Even with a weapon, lasting thirty seconds isn't going to be easy."

Bai Ye cast aside his earlier impatience and began seriously considering how to complete the mission.

"Putting aside the pain of injury and death, this is basically no different from some kind of Soulslike game."

Just like challenging a boss in a Soulslike game, Bai Ye's path of suffering had only just begun.

Forget thirty seconds—even lasting ten seconds against the "Texas" created by the system was incredibly difficult for Bai Ye.

After all, "Texas" in this space could be considered her complete form. She would never hold back just because Bai Ye was weak. Every attack she made carried her full strength.

Thus, Bai Ye's life became extremely busy. Aside from occasionally completing a few bounty hunter commissions, he spent all his time training in Blade Vine Style swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat.

Before Rhine Lab's traveling technology exhibition arrived, he had already saved up three chances to draw, while the experience accumulated from completing commissions was nearly enough to raise his Priest class to level five.

Moreover, under the pressure Texas brought him, he had finally mastered all forty-nine sword techniques of Blade Vine Style, pushing the skill to the proficient level. At the same time, the [Cold Weapons] and [Close-Quarters Combat] skills had also reached the proficient level through repeated use.

Yet even so, Bai Ye had still been unable to complete the mission of surviving for thirty seconds. "Texas" could still slaughter him with ease in the pure white space.

However, Bai Ye was in a good state of mind. Though dying still did not feel pleasant, he had truly begun treating the nightly battles as a holographic game.

"Though this game's realism is a little too high."

Even though he had no chance to rest in the pure white space, Bai Ye never felt fatigued when he woke each morning. The system offered no explanation for this, but Bai Ye believed it was surely some technology beyond his understanding.

"Considering it's a system of unknown origin and some strange god, I might as well spend my time figuring out how to complete this mission instead."

Apart from struggling to adapt on the first day, Bai Ye now seemed to have grown used to the "battles" every night.

"Texas" had become his best teacher. Though she was a virtual entity constructed by the system and lacked intelligence, Bai Ye had still learned a great deal from her.

After all, raising his skills from beginner to proficient in just half a month was no small feat, and "Texas" deserved much of the credit.

That afternoon, after completing another simple capture commission, Bai Ye finally had enough universal experience to raise his Priest class to level five.

Every five class levels brought a qualitative change. At Priest level five, he could unlock first-circle divine spells—a tremendous improvement for Bai Ye.

Sitting quietly in his room, Bai Ye opened his status panel and pressed the level-up button.