A woman's voice, tolling like a doomsday bell, echoed through the shadowy tunnel, summoning the roaming monsters—the Whimperers.

Whimpers washed over Aelina from ahead and behind. She wanted to run, but her legs felt weak, tracing a ridiculous semicircle on the icy ground.

"Wow, Little X is here after all."

"Naughty Little X, running off again. Last time, I only got to touch his little doodle."

"Same here! Such a loss—I finally waited for 'Mom' to leave, just as my turn to flick his doodle came, she returned."

"Whimper whimper, this time I'll pinch it."

"Hurry up! Don't let EAA hog him all to herself."

Distant light stretched the Whimperers' shadows, slender silhouettes engulfing the helpless Citizen X. Now a little boy, sweat of fear dripped down his pale, trembling face. A cold fire seemed to lick his trouser legs as he stared wide-eyed at the wall—Whimperer shadows thickened by the second. What horror matched watching danger close in, utterly unable to flee?

The black-haired girl known as EAA's nightmare wore a playful smile. Her tiny black shoes clicked on the ground, step by step, awakening Citizen X's deepest fears. She crouched before the boy, stroking his cheek. "Little X, why not run?"

She tilted her head toward a pitch-black opening. "This way. I'll distract them for you."

EAA had always led the girls; she started the bullying trend. Fear choked the boy's throat. Without thinking, he scrambled on hands and knees into the dark passage. As an unmechanized minor, he saw only vague shapes in darkness—and realized too late it was a dead end.

He whirled around in panic. In flickering light, EAA's round eyes gleamed with wicked amusement. The Whimperers arrived, their numbers blocking the exit, shadows swallowing the light.

"EAA, where's Little X?" the Whimperers asked.

The boy pressed against the cold wall. If caught without his robotic mom, he'd be stripped bare, humiliated as they took turns playing with him. He spotted a trash can by the wall and squeezed inside without hesitation.

"Little X? I saw him nearby," EAA said. The boy felt her gaze pierce his hiding spot, his body trembling uncontrollably. "Let's search the area."

"Whimper whimper, okay, okay."

The girls' voices rose together, heralding the nightmare's peak terror.

The trash can was damp and icy. Outside, countless Whimperers roamed. The boy couldn't resist peering through a lid slit. Their faces glowed sickly green, eyes packed with luminous worms hunting prey. Some tapped vents, calling in soft, shrill voices: "Whimper, Little X, come out. Sisters want to play nicely." They bared triangular, blood-stained fangs. Others crawled, sniffing with rotting nostrils oozing maggots. "Oh oh oh, Little X, where are you?"

Suddenly, two worm-filled eyes loomed before him. Pale worms caught his scent, rising toward the slit. Thick black fluid dripped from their many legs, rustling softly.

The boy clamped his hands over his mouth, eyes wide, heart hammering to escape his chest.

"Little X, are you in there?" A grating voice scraped as triangular fangs clashed. Disappointed, the Whimperer left; worms retreated into their sockets.

The boy exhaled deeply. The trash can sheltered him—small, cold, but safe. He curled tighter at the bottom. The green-lit slit grew distant as he sank into darkness, fantasizing of a golden guardian at his side, punching Whimperers one by one.

He closed his eyes, imagining a strong protector behind him—golden, fearless, muscular, ever-watchful eyes guarding him. This false security stilled his trembling body in the cramped space.

*Creak.*

The lid opening jolted him awake. He snapped his head up. EAA's face loomed huge as a mountain, crimson tongue licking sharp teeth, drool dripping. "Little X, you're mine." Her giant hand reached down like pinching rice from a bowl.

"No... no! Don't come closer! Wah wah wah!"

Two fingers grabbed his collar, lifting him toward her gaping maw. He flailed wildly, a damp stench spraying his body. Below, triangular fangs hung with meat strands; a thick, scarlet tongue licked his belly and face. Sticky saliva coated him, reeking horribly.

"No no! Aaaaah!"

EAA dropped him. He flailed uselessly, falling into her giant mouth.

Darkness and falling vanished abruptly. Aelina snapped her eyes open. Pale golden dawn light filtered through a window; birds chirped outside.

"Dream ended. Wishing you a good mood."

Personal system notification.

"A good mood my ass! What nightmare was that—so terrifying! What bugs!" Aelina angrily checked the "Dream Virtual App" issue log.

"'Due to unknown bugs, dream elements replaced with 'artistically processed childhood trauma'? Seriously! Ordinary girls turned into worm-eyed monsters, EAA giant-sized!" At EAA's name, her body shuddered. "I'll complain! This malicious bug ruins user experience!"

"Lost internet connection. Please check network settings."

Aelina slapped her forehead. Damn—still on a primitive planet.

"Delete it."

She erased the app and all traces, watching it shatter. Aelina patted her ample chest.

"Just a dream," she comforted herself. "I've escaped that suffocating society that hated maid lovers. EAA, the Whimperers—they're gone forever."

Rallying, Aelina stood. No longer the bullied boy, touched in turns. She used the Molecular Reconstructor to build a ladder to the car roof. Climbing up, she gazed at the withered forests. Her pale golden eyes glowed with a conqueror's light.

"I came, I saw, I conquered."

Facing the morning breeze, hands on hips, she radiated boundless confidence. Why dwell on darkness? A pristine, untouched planet awaited her conquest. Just backward apes—they'd kneel at her feet after witnessing her tech, offering wives and daughters.

As she fantasized, sour-smelling brutes emerged. These bandits were ragged: iron-wrapped clubs in hand, stinking animal hides draped over them, some in ill-fitting corpse-stripped armor. Filthy as if fresh from pigsty wrestling.

They spotted the Silverhaired Maiden on the roof. Her slender figure, immaculate silver hair, and stunning face stunned them. Then lust crept into their eyes—dozens leered at her chest and legs. Aelina felt nausea rise.

Bandits were trouble. She could wield a sword, confident in primitive dueling—but her hands were sensitive. Any blade strike numbed them, leaving her helpless. Like dueling with a sword wrapped around her waist. If these filthy apes charged, they'd conquer her before she conquered this world.

Aelina decided to scare them first. She brightened her eye glow, voice ethereal and loud.

"Ignorant humans! You trespass on fairy land. Step further, and you'll end like this statue—" She raised the Molecular Reconstructor, blue light shooting out. Before their wide eyes, it formed a Golden Ape statue. "—shattered."

Her right hand mimicked crushing an egg. The statue cracked from its stride, fissures spreading, collapsing into rubble.

The Silverhaired Maiden's golden eyes, ethereal voice, and unearthly beauty were utterly convincing.

The bandits halted, crotches bulging. Their bald leader wore corpse-stripped armor, a food stain on his chest. Staring at the rubble, his mouth gaped in an O, yellow teeth packed with meat fibers. He raised a hand. "Stop!"

His force was too great—a mesmerized ape took a groin punch. Clutching himself, he stumbled forward several steps.

"Boss, didn't that beauty say she'd act after a few steps?"

Fear faded from the bald bandit's eyes. He slowly turned, greedily eyeing the Silverhaired Maiden. "She said one step."

The bandits checked their unharmed comrade. Then eyed Aelina's full chest. Unanimously, they stepped forward one step...