Chapter 77: Beginning

"Aisida,"

The system doll, according to the optimal solution, chose the most appropriate sentence: "Space Station management is tedious and complex; thank you for your hard work."

Those words were like flipping a switch; the sturdy shell Aisida had been holding up cracked instantly.

Her nose tingled sourly, and her eyes quickly reddened.

She hadn't expected the Black Tower Lady to notice her effort, to… acknowledge her dedication.

"I… this is what I should do…"

Aisida's voice was choked; she dared not return the hug, fearing it was just a fragile dream.

The system doll, following the emotional soothing protocol, maintained the hugging posture and continued in its steady tone: "You did well. With you in the Space Station, I am… at ease."

The word "at ease," spoken by the Black Tower, was almost the highest level of praise.

A few seconds later, the system doll released its arms, stepped back, and resumed its slightly distant stance, as if the hug had been merely a programmed reward mechanism.

Aisida remained immersed in the overwhelming emotion and shock; tears finally slipped down, and she quickly brushed them away with the back of her hand.

At that moment, the system doll, as if performing a trick, produced something from nowhere—a delicate Black Tower doll wearing a Mo Nu Mao, almost identical to the one that had exploded earlier, but with seemingly more perfect details.

"This,"

The system doll handed the doll to Aisida, its tone still flat yet with a hint of "gentle": "For you. The previous one was an accident. This one is… specially for you."

Aisida looked at the doll, then at the Black Tower Lady's face, which, though usually unchanged, now seemed incredibly "gentle"; the emotion in her heart surged like a breached dam.

She reverently took the doll, clutching it tightly as if holding the most precious treasure in the world.

"Thank… thank you! Black Tower Lady!"

Aisida's voice trembled with heavy sobs, yet her face shone with the brightest smile she had shown in days: "I will… I will take good care of it! I promise you!"

The system doll gave a slight nod and said nothing more.

Aisida clutched the doll like a little girl who had received a beloved gift, bowed deeply to the Black Tower Lady, then turned back repeatedly, lingering reluctantly as she left, her steps so light they seemed to bounce, the previous gloom swept away.

Until Aisida's figure vanished completely at the end of the corridor, the system doll's simulated "gentle" expression faded like erased code, disappearing instantly without a trace.

Its violet eyes returned to inorganic calm, containing only a steady flow of data light.

【Target emotional state: Stabilized. Sense of loss eliminated, sense of belonging and loyalty significantly increased. Task: Maintain the Space Station manager's emotional stability, completed.】

【Execution plan: Nonstandard emotional interaction (hug) + material reward (customized doll). Effect assessment: Excellent.】

【Record: This interaction mode has been archived as a reference template for future similar emotional‑need incidents.】

【System Space】

In the center of the oval arena surrounded by the dimly lit forest, the atmosphere was stagnant.

Heimu Lady sat gracefully on a spontaneously appearing audience seat, her violet‑black eyes calm and unruffled.

Chang Ye Yue stood quietly beside her, while Xi Lian nervously clutched her hem, her azure eyes unblinking, both hoping for her companion's success and feeling a pang of worry for teacher Ke Xia's current situation.

In the audience, Bai Hang and A Xing stood side by side.

Bai Hang held an energy longbow; her snow‑white hair and black robes fluttered slightly in the invisible gusts, her Fox Ears perked alertly, sensing every shift in the wind.

A Xing grasped the burning Flame Gun with one hand, the barrel angled toward the ground; the scorching heat warped the surrounding air, her golden eyes locked on the target, showing no emotion.

Opposite them, Ke Xia still wore the ill‑fitting blue‑white striped patient gown, squatting in the distance, head down, fingers absentmindedly digging at the soil, seemingly oblivious to the approaching storm.

"Are you ready?" Heimu's cold voice echoed through the arena.

"Ready at any time, ma'am."

Bai Hang inhaled deeply, and a shimmering white light began to flow along the bowstring.

A Xing gave no reply, but gripped the Flame Gun tighter, the flame on the barrel buzzed upward a few notches in response.

"Begin."

The moment the command was issued, A Xing moved!

She didn't rush forward; instead, she thrust her legs powerfully, her body dragged as if by the Flame Gun itself, turning into a ground‑skimming, scarlet meteor!

Where she passed, the soil blackened, the air ripped by the heat, emitting a piercing blast; specks of sparks trailed behind her, forming a dazzling, lethal light tail!

This sudden assault finally startled Ke Xia, who had been lost in his own world.

He jerked his head up, and the hollow eyes reflected the rapidly expanding Flame Gun tip!

Instinctively, Ke Xia's body launched to the rear‑side with an implausibly supple speed, narrowly evading the Flame Gun's frontal thrust.

However, the terrifying kinetic energy contained in the Flame Gun did not dissipate. The instant—Shana— the barrel struck the ground—

"Boom!!!"

Like a volcanic eruption, scorching magma mixed with a violent shockwave burst outward in a ring!

Although Ke Xia dodged the direct hit, the nearby blast hurled him harshly, sending him tumbling through the air several times before he barely managed to right himself and land, looking rather disheveled.

Before he could steady himself, A Xing flicked her wrist, the Flame Gun flinging a massive handful of still‑molten magma like liquid fire, swinging it like a whip toward Ke Xia!

Ke Xia's pupils contracted; just as he tried to dodge again, a sharp slicing sound surged from another direction!

It was Bai Hang!

She, at some point, had leapt into mid‑air; her energy bow blazed brilliantly, and in an instant dozens of arrows rained down like a sudden storm, precisely covering every possible escape route for Ke Xia, sealing all his exits!

Lava fire waves ahead, light arrows blocking behind!

With no way to evade, Ke Xia let out a low roar, crossed his arms to shield himself, and stubbornly endured the dual onslaught!

"Bang! Shh—!"

The magma and light arrows struck almost simultaneously!

The searing heat instantly ignited his thin patient gown, and the light arrow impact on his blocking arm burst into rippling waves.

The red Health Bar atop his head, symbolizing stability, plummeted at a visible speed, instantly clearing its first half!

Flame leapt across his body, scorching him, delivering constant pain, yet seeming to ignite something deeper.

In his once hollow eyes, murky darkness began to coalesce, and his numb expression was replaced by a beast‑like ferocity.

"Ho…"

He emitted a hoarse low growl, stopped crouching, and assumed a combat opening brimming with explosive power—precisely the "King of Fist" martial art!

His silhouette flickered, like a phantom, and he closed the distance to Bai Hang, delivering a swift side kick straight to Bai Hang's waist and abdomen!

The speed was so fast it left only an afterimage in the air!

But Bai Hang's reaction was equally astonishing!

Fusion of Xi Er's traits, she, at the instant the attack was about to land, her figure blurred as if merging into shadow, and the next moment she already appeared in Na Ke Xia's visual blind spot—his right rear!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"