97: Chapter 97 War Dungeon Settlement

Battlefield Intensity: 35%

Instance Influence: 30% (Altered Fate of Key Character)

Battle Merits: Mia, 10; Ryan, 7; Tuaner, 4; Loran, 2; (Non-Participant: Luo Xiaoya, 1)

Act I, NC Defense Battle, Completion: 200%

Altered History: Successfully assisted in defending NC City, shot down 5 enemy aircraft, killed 3800 enemy soldiers (via poisoning, explosions, and coordinated attacks with sick/injured troops), protected the wounded evacuation team, preemptively killed key enemy personnel from the Mount Mian battle, a giant club-wielding member of the Bihe Mountain Shinobi.

Act II, Mount Mian Battle, Completion: 175%. Two combatants lost on our side. One combatant suffered a mental breakdown.

Act III, Kulong Mountain Final Battle 10v10, Completion: 100%. Killed all Bihe Mountain Shinobi and Oni. Zero casualties on our side. Unlocked hidden side quest: 'Friends in the Mountains'. Unlocked special reputation: 'Mad Dog' Lv Ci's Eternal Friendship. Unlocked special reputation: Longhu Mountain Outer Sect Guardian. Unlocked special reputation: Tang Clan Honorary Elder. Score reduced due to special force intervention. Mia unlocked special title: Femme Fatale: Adventurers or NPCs infatuated with Mia have an increased chance of encountering danger.

Team Comprehensive Rating: SS

Team Affiliate (Luo Xiaoya) Rating: C- (Minimum passing grade for the instance)

Team 'under one person' World Fame: +2

Team Points Obtained: 120,000

Team level 10-20 unlocked. Individual character attributes level 20-30 unlocked. Level 0 War Instance Clearance Complete!

The Paradise Lost System's review of Act I froze on the tragic shot of Ryan waving the large flag and getting his kidney shot out. The Act II review paused at the moment Mia brought First Master Tang Jiaren back to the suspension bridge. The ending shot for Act III was quite interesting: a Japanese sword stuck in the ground of a mountain cave.

Tuaner and Mia returned to Mia's private space. Ryan and Sister Loran also returned to their respective private spaces. They agreed to meet later at the 'Come Back Next Time' bar.

...Mia stared blankly at the leather restraints on her wrists and ankles. She seemed to be lying on an offering table. With all her attributes completely stripped, her head ached slightly. She struggled to recall recent events and realized she had entered the [Nightmare Cathedral] again. The feedback from her soul made her keenly aware of how weak an ordinary girl's strength was. A slight struggle rubbed her wrists raw, drawing red blood.

'Yo! Good thing I'm not too fond of Japanese ninjas and sent them all to the graveyard. Otherwise, there might be quite a few people sitting around this table, waiting to eat your flesh and drink your blood...' The cathedral seemed to have grown larger again, thanks to Mia's diligent work (the more she killed, the faster the cathedral expanded). Last time's hellish experience was being locked inside the [iron maiden] torture device in the state of a completely ordinary girl. This time...

'You've become even more beautiful, haven't you? This time, there's still a faint trace of my previous appearance on your face.' The Original Owner of this body pinched Mia's beautiful chin with slender fingers, asking mockingly, 'Did you sell your entire soul to the devil? That shouldn't be the case. If you'd sold it all, you probably couldn't enter this cathedral.'

'Overthinking is just trouble. Shall we begin the show?' His evil gaze scanned Mia, who was wearing a black evening gown.

'You killed a [Deceiver] named Aoyama Yohei. I obtained his skill. That's fair, isn't it?' As his words fell, his entire appearance transformed into Tuaner's. The only difference was that the infatuated look in his eyes turned into hatred, disgust, and perhaps a hint of something else.

He lifted Mia's pure, lovely face. 'Vampires have an ability called the Embrace. Although it's ineffective against a devil of your caliber, I can use it to contaminate you. I'll Infusion all my former cowardice and kindness into your filthy soul and absorb your ruthlessness and decisiveness. This way, I can ensure you'll forever be trapped in the Nightmare Cathedral. Every time you come here in the future, you won't be able to fight, you'll have lost your cunning mind, and you won't be able to endure. Just thinking about it makes me happy. Don't worry, I won't let you die in the instance. Now, it's time for me to enjoy the sacrament...'

With Tuaner's lovely face, his sharp canine teeth pierced Mia's snow-white neck. Mia went from initial resistance to unconscious, convulsive twitching of her soul. With the sound of sucking, the light gradually faded from Mia's eyes, while the Original Owner's eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if gaining an indescribable power.

Outside the cathedral, the sky began to rain down endless thunderbolts—a warning that Mia's soul was on the verge of collapse. The Original Owner wiped the remaining blood from the corner of his mouth, reluctantly rose from his position leaning over Mia, and then snapped his fingers with a mad laugh. Mia's soul scattered like starlight, flying across space towards her body in Paradise Lost...

Because all the souls Mia killed were controlled by the Original Owner of the body, the [Nightmare Cathedral] he controlled became unprecedentedly powerful. In the Paradise Lost private space, Tuaner tried every method but couldn't breach the cathedral's defensive barrier. Only when Mia's torture ended and her body showed a reaction did Tuaner finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Tuaner noticed the fear in Mia's eyes as she looked at her. Unlike her usual self, she huddled helplessly in the corner like a girl who had truly suffered torture, weeping softly. Tuaner realized the situation was serious. She coaxed Mia and patiently inquired.

'So, he gave you the last bit of his humanity and took away your ruthlessness and decisiveness? This... this is really, really unfortunate...' Tuaner almost couldn't hold back her laughter. Also, did that guy possess qualities like [Kindness] and [Cowardice] when he was a woman? When push came to shove, he was fiercer than anyone. Weren't they more like [Deceit] and [Scheming]?

This is truly excellent. From now on, winning over Mia will be incredibly simple. After all, the Original Owner of the body doesn't dare to actually harm Mia and can even help me adjust... well, anyway, this isn't entirely a bad thing. Looking at Mia's pitiful little expression now is so evocative. Even if it's subconscious acting, it's pleasing to see. Tsk tsk. But I estimate this contamination is a one-time thing. From my understanding of him, the Original Owner doesn't have that much kindness and cowardice to spare. Pity, pity.

Tuaner, with a pained expression, gently embraced her. Slowly, Mia fell asleep in her arms...

(This survival maintenance system thinks there doesn't seem to be a single normal person around the host. Can she really manage to survive? Or should this system take over that cathedral?)

Paradise Lost also has a concept of time. Ryan and Loran felt quite sorry for Mia at the bar. Looking at Mia, who had become Tuaner's exclusive doll, Loran couldn't help but admire Mia's stunning beauty and Tuaner's aesthetic sense.

The outfit—a flaxen-colored halter maxi dress (with a waist drawstring design) paired with an oatmeal-colored knitted cardigan—combined with her pure, intellectual, and elegant face, perfectly embodied the visual effect of a gentle, forest-style girlfriend.

Supported by Mia's nearly 1.7-meter height, the brown flat Mary Jane shoes still showcased the lethal appeal of her manga-style legs. The rattan handbag beside her held various items needed for returning to the real world.

The lace-trimmed mid-calf socks revealed glimpses of her ankle skin. The nude-colored glassy lip gloss and Mia's natural eye makeup that hadn't faded yet (being bitten by a Vampire has some strange effects) made her appear serene, natural, and healing. Like a spring breeze, she made people relax...

[Demolitionist] Firing Pin skillfully carried five pitchers of beer to the table with both hands. After distributing them, he spread his hands helplessly. 'The beer's on me. War instances have been opening frequently lately, so stock is really low. You didn't use up all the ones you bought last time, did you?'