The aftermath of Qingqiu Ze's cheesy hype rap gradually subsided as Luo Li deliberately cleared away the dishes and wiped down the stove.
Only that maddening tune and those blunt lyrics still occasionally spun through his head against his will, making his ears feel unnaturally warm whenever he faced Castorice.
"I'm going downstairs to buy a few things at the supermarket. I'll be back soon."
Luo Li found an excuse to head out for some air, while also replenishing his nearly depleted snack supply and... a certain essential consumable for men living alone.
"Okay. Stay safe."
Castorice stood by the door and reminded him softly.
Seeing how sweet and well-behaved she looked, Luo Li felt his lingering embarrassment instantly give way to a strange sense of comfort.
Walking alone toward the supermarket in his residential complex, he watched the afternoon sunlight filter through the thick Cloud of Blood Erosion, casting hazy, dark red patches on the ground.
Luo Li habitually surveyed the passersby hurrying around him and the defensive fortifications faintly visible on the distant skyline.
In this apocalypse where strength reigned supreme, his C-rank ability, Super-Speed Reaction, was rather useless beyond showing off in games and occasionally dodging flowerpots accidentally dropped by the auntie upstairs.
Whenever he saw the patrol's ability users drive past in their specially made combat uniforms, their expressions solemn, or heard Yang Shan casually mention clashes with vampires, some corner deep inside him would always stir with an indescribable sense of... powerlessness.
If only I could be a little stronger.
I wouldn't need to be an A-rank elite like Yang Shan. Even a practical B-rank ability might give me a little more confidence in protecting myself, or even... the people around me, when unexpected danger struck.
Instead of being like this, with my greatest contribution being toying with opponents as Yuan Ge in a virtual canyon.
"Haah..."
He sighed softly and pushed open the supermarket's glass door.
Just as he bent down to choose a flavor of chips, the electronic voice that had been silent for quite some time suddenly rang out in his mind again. Its message struck like thunder, freezing him on the spot-
[Ding! Detected strong dissatisfaction with the host's own strength, along with a continually deepening bond with target 'Castorice' (Path: Remembrance). Special conditions met.] [Hidden advancement route unlocked: Path Awakening!] [A Path is a gift bestowed by the world's laws upon those who glimpse an Aeon's footsteps and put their ideals into practice. It is a power system above ordinary abilities. The host possesses the potential to awaken a Path.]
A Path?!
The bag of chips in Luo Li's hand fell to the floor with a clatter, but he didn't even notice.
It felt as though an invisible hand had clenched his heart, then abruptly tossed it into a boiling vat of oil!
The power of a Path?!
Wasn't that something from Honkai: Star Rail? In the game, Castorice wielded the Path of Remembrance.
I could awaken one in the real world too?!
That was leagues above his C-rank ability, which was only good for gaming and dodging flowerpots!
[Analysis indicates that the Path with the highest compatibility with the host is-Remembrance.]
The Path of Remembrance! It really was Remembrance!
Luo Li felt his breathing quicken as blood rushed madly to his head.
If he could awaken a Path, even its most basic application would absolutely transform him! He would no longer be that useless streamer who could only hide in the safe zone, preserving his self-respect by slacking off and talking tough!
[Prerequisites for Path Awakening:] [1. Target 'Castorice' must have an affection level toward the host of 70% or above. (Current affection: 52%)] [2. The host must share at least one intimate embrace lasting over 10 seconds with target 'Castorice'.] [3. The host must receive a heartfelt, voluntary blessing or acknowledgment from target 'Castorice'.] [4. The awakening process requires a large amount of energy. Please ensure the surroundings are relatively safe and the host is in good condition.] [Warning: Path Awakening carries risks directly related to the depth of the bond. Attempting it before the conditions are met may result in mental backlash or awakening failure. Please proceed cautiously and work to deepen your intimacy with the target.]
The string of system notifications poured over Luo Li's burning heart like a mixture of ice and water.
70% affection?! And an embrace lasting over ten seconds?! And Castorice's voluntary blessing?!
These conditions... weren't they way too demanding?!
His affection level was only 52% right now. Although it was rising nicely, there was still quite a way to go before 70%.
An embrace lasting over ten seconds? Thinking of how an accidental touch of their hands had left both of them embarrassed for ages, Luo Li felt his cheeks burn and his heart race at the mere thought of deliberately embracing her for ten seconds.
And that "heartfelt, voluntary blessing"... it sounded so nebulous. There was no way to force it.
This system was clearly determined to drive him down the path of "conquering Castorice."
But... the power of a Path...
Luo Li swallowed hard, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of intense longing and inner struggle.
That might be his only chance in this lifetime to touch a higher level of power.
If he successfully awakened, he would no longer be the Luo Li who could only rely on Super-Speed Reaction to find a sense of importance in games.
He might even... have a summon of his own? Just as Castorice could summon Pollux?
That raised a question. If he really awakened the Path of Remembrance, what would his summon be? Surely it couldn't be Yuan Ge's puppet?
The system gave no answer, leaving only endless room for speculation.
That unanswered question was like a feather lightly tickling the tip of Luo Li's heart, leaving him unbearably restless.
"I'm doing it!"
Luo Li abruptly clenched his fist, his gaze becoming firmer than ever.
For the power of a Path! To stop being a loser who could only play games!
He was going all out on this conquest!
Wasn't it just grinding affection? Wasn't it just hugging? Wasn't it just... finding a way to make Castorice sincerely bless him?
He refused to believe that his reasonably good looks, shameless sincerity, and the system's occasional god-tier assists wouldn't be enough to win over an innocent girl who had only just arrived from another world!
Bending down to pick up the fallen bag of chips, Luo Li took a deep breath and tried to calm his excitement, but he still couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.
He quickly bought everything he needed and practically flew home.
When he opened the front door, Castorice was sitting on the living room sofa with the tablet in her arms, apparently watching the documentary on this world's basic history that he had downloaded earlier.
Hearing the door open, she raised her head and looked over with her purple eyes.
Looking into those clear, pure eyes that seemed capable of reflecting the starry sky, Luo Li thought of the system's stringent awakening conditions and the "grand ambition" he had just declared. His cheeks couldn't help warming again.
He forced himself to look away, placed the shopping bags on the table, and said as naturally as possible, "I'm back-I bought that yogurt you said tasted good last time, and... some other things."
"Thank you."
Castorice gently set down the tablet, her gaze settling on Luo Li. She tilted her head slightly, looking puzzled as she noticed the change in his mood. "Luo Li, you... seem very happy?"
"Huh? Do I?"
Luo Li touched his face and gave a couple of dry laughs. "Maybe it's because... the supermarket had a sale today, and I got a bargain! Right, a bargain!"
His flimsy excuse only deepened the confusion in Castorice's eyes, but she didn't press him, merely giving a quiet "Oh."
Looking at her sweet, innocent manner, then thinking of the requirements for "embraces" and "blessings" in the system's task, Luo Li felt guilt and anticipation intertwine wildly within him, finally turning into a surge of fighting spirit.
He drew a deep breath and walked up to Castorice, his expression more serious than ever. "Castorice!"
Startled by his sudden solemnity, Castorice sat up a little straighter. "...Yes?"
"Starting today!" Luo Li declared, stressing every word. "I'll work even harder to take care of you! Help you adjust to this world! Make sure you live happily here! If there's... anything you want, or anything you want to do, you have to tell me! Don't hold back!"
His bewildering yet utterly earnest declaration left Castorice rather dazed. She blinked her purple eyes, then finally nodded gently after a long pause. "...Okay. Thank you, Luo Li."
[Ding! The host's sudden, solemn promise has left target 'Castorice' feeling slightly confused and a little warmth. Affection +1. Current affection: 53%.]
Hearing the system notification, Luo Li felt reassured.
Excellent! A strong start!
There was still a way to go before 70%, but at least he was heading in the right direction!
He looked at the girl before him, who seemed somewhat bewildered by his strange behavior, and felt filled with a sense of mission.
Castorice, oh, Castorice. For the sake of my Path power, I'll have to... "use" you just a little!
But don't worry. I'll absolutely treat you well! Twice as well!
Luo Li silently swore to himself, his gaze growing gentler and more resolute.
As for Castorice, looking into Luo Li's eyes, she didn't understand what had happened, but vaguely sensed that the man before her, who had taken her in, seemed to have become... a little different since returning from his trip outside?