Chapter 90: Unknown Being
[System Alert: Divine Favor Rising]
Artemis: 2% (Nie Ziyu)
Valkyrie: 3% (Ye Qingxue)
Tyr: 2% (Song)
Unknown Cosmic Entity: 1% (Fluffy)
Ling Yu allowed herself a faint smile. The favor percentages were small now, but with careful management, she could increase them exponentially. Each artifact was a bridge, connecting her companions to divine sponsors and powerful allies who could tip the scales in battles to come.
"Now," she said, voice firm yet calm, "All of you should start practicing with these weapons. Learn their limits as you learn your own. We have little time, and the next wave will come sooner than you think."
Nie Ziyu immediately began testing the bow, letting arrows fly with precision he didn’t think would be possible. Each shot was guided by Hunter’s Mark, revealing weak points in the ruined infrastructure and simulated monsters that Ling Yu conjured briefly with system illusions.
Ye Qingxue moved in fluid arcs, testing every reflexive movement of her gauntlets, her sword slicing through the air with radiant streaks of light. Song also practiced spear thrusts and spins, the Mantle of Guardianship subtly absorbing damage from the test strikes she simulated with phantom targets.
Fluffy chirped and hopped around them, testing elemental bursts on imaginary foes, leaving small craters of dirt and rubble wherever its energy landed. The creature looked joyous, and yet there was a glimmer of seriousness in its beady eyes, the kind of instinctual understanding only combat experience could teach.
Ling Yu watched them all quietly, noting the subtle adjustments each made. Their weapons weren’t just tools; they were extensions of their souls, divine and mortal elements fused into singular instruments of survival. And with her guidance, she could maximize their potential without leaving any room for mistakes.
The shop interface hovered faintly, still offering additional upgrades. Ling Yu contemplated whether to invest some of their coins into further enhancements, but she decided against it for now. She had learned from the first wave that patience was just as vital as power. The real test was still ahead, and she would not waste resources on vanity when strategy required restraint.
Fluffy chirped again, brushing against her cheek affectionately. Ling Yu reached out, ruffling its feathers. "Yes, yes, I know. You’re already terrifying now. But that’s a good thing. You need to be ready for what’s coming."
The companions practiced late into the night, each move carefully monitored by Ling Yu, their skills growing in tandem with the artifacts’ divine power. Outside, the apocalypse waited, unyielding, but inside that ruined train station, a small pocket of hope, precision, and strategy had begun to take shape.
This night would be remembered, Ling Yu knew, not just for the artifacts they have obtained, but for the meticulous foundation laid for survival— a foundation that could withstand the next wave, and the countless battles beyond.
And as the dawn approached, Ling Yu’s calm gaze swept across her companions. None of them fully understood the magnitude of the powers now resting in their hands, nor the subtle threads of fate binding them to ancient, divine entities. But Ling Yu did. She had prepared for this moment, and now, her companions were no longer just survivors; they were players in a game of gods, destiny, and catastrophe, guided by her foresight.
Fluffy chirped again, snuggling against her arm as if sensing her thoughts. Ling Yu’s lips curved faintly. "Don’t worry. We’re ready. No matter what comes, we’ll face it together."
[System Update: Companion Weapons and Artifacts Bound. Divine Favor Established.
Combat Efficiency Increased by 42%. Survival Probability (Next Wave) Calculated at 87%.]
The soft glow of the Apocalypse System Interface shimmered in Ling Yu’s vision as she finished distributing weapons to her companions. For a fleeting moment, peace lingered, until the faint chime of new notifications rang in her ears, one after another, cascading in rapid succession.
[System Alert!]
[Unknown Cosmic Entity shows a favorable impression towards you.]
[Unknown Cosmic Entity wants to talk to you.]
[Unknown Cosmic Entity is grateful to you for taking care of the Unknown Entity.]
[Unknown Cosmic Entity says: Naming the Unknown Entity will grant you a special bonding.]
Ling Yu’s expression shifted ever so slightly, the cool mask of indifference giving way to the faintest flicker of surprise. Her crimson eyes narrowed as she reread the messages.
"...An Unknown Cosmic Entity?" she murmured.
’Isn’t his artifact the one she chose for Fluffy?’
She had expected Artemis, the Valkyries, or Tyr, sponsors who were tied to familiar mythologies, bound to humanity’s faith and stories. But an Unknown entity?
They were exceedingly rare, even in her past life. Unrecorded, unnamed, elusive, divinities that existed beyond the mainstream pantheons. They carried obscure, hidden powers that not even the gods themselves always understood.
’This can work in my favor,’ she thought sharply. ’If handled properly, this bond could tip the scales far earlier than before. If mishandled... it could destroy everything.’
On her shoulder, Fluffy tilted its round head and chirped with soft eagerness, as though it was aware of the notifications that showed up on her screen. Its small, glossy eyes gleamed with anticipation, reflecting an almost childlike excitement. It hopped down onto her lap, cooing insistently, rubbing against her hand as if begging her to comply.
The system chimed again, insistent.
[System Prompt: "User has the option to name the Unknown Entity. Naming will establish a Soul Bond and grant increased favor from the Unknown Cosmic Entity."]
Ling Yu’s brows furrowed. Her finger hovered over the confirmation panel, but she didn’t press it. She leaned back slightly, her gaze narrowing at the tiny creature.
"...Naming you would mean responsibility," she whispered under her breath, unheard by the others. "And responsibility... is a weight I’m not sure I can bear again."
The memories of her past life clawed at her mind, the comrades she had failed to protect, the innocent she could not save, the burden of leadership that had ended in betrayal and ruin. Naming Fluffy, binding it to her soul, was more than just a sentimental gesture.