After a long hesitation, Bai Xia’s gaze finally settled on the assassin—the most unassuming figure of the lot.
Why? Simple. Compared to backline spellcasters, nothing beats the raw thrill of hack-and-slash… *ora ora!* That’s the true romance of manhood!
Sure, she wasn’t a man anymore—but losing certain parts didn’t mean losing that spirit.
Exactly. Today, I, Bai Xia, will either cut down everyone here… or fall by their blades!
A Warrior would suit hack-and-slash better, true. But born a loli? Even if it stings a little, you play to your strengths, right?
What defines the “loli” archetype? Light, soft, easy to topple—wait, no! I mean agile, nimble, petite… perfect for dodging!
That’s why Assassin felt right for her now. The victory of the loli! Tsk… So why did a faint, self-deprecating sorrow suddenly prick her heart?
“Confirm ‘Assassin’ as your starting class?”
The system’s voice echoed. Bai Xia nodded without hesitation. “Confirmed.”
“Class selection successful.”
The other statues shattered instantly, leaving only the Assassin’s form glowing faintly. It shrank rapidly to life-size, shifting from stone to flesh.
From her god’s-eye view, Bai Xia noticed the hooded, shadow-clad figure bore a faint resemblance to her current self.
“Bloodline selection available. Proceed?”
*Blink.* “Bloodline?”
“Explanation: Login sequence rated Tier-Special grants bloodline selection privilege during character creation. Proceed?”
Tier-Special? Must be the deluxe limited-edition login device. She’d wondered why it cost so much—privilege delivered instantly.
Yep. Money talks, even across worlds.
Still, Bai Xia stayed calm. “Will bloodlines alter base class attributes?”
“Explanation: Each bloodline offers unique development paths. Base stats and class skills will adjust accordingly.”
“I see.” As expected. “List all available options.”
Her avatar split cleanly into three identical forms, each transforming instantly.
【Human Bloodline】: Balanced speed and burst. Most versatile across attributes.
—The original hooded figure: sharp-eyed, flat-chested, wrapped head-to-toe in dark robes.
【Shadowcat Bloodline】: Enhanced movement and attack speed. Enables blindingly fast strikes and close-quarters assassination techniques.
—A catgirl with twitching fuzzy ears and a slender tail swaying behind her. Her outfit was far more revealing than the human’s, showcasing a toned, sun-kissed physique radiating energy.
【Dark Elf Bloodline】: Converts physical attacks to magical damage. Lower speed, but explosive burst potential. Base class skills will shift accordingly.
—Pale-skinned, pointed ears, a faint aura of shadow clinging to her. An ethereal yet melancholic presence.
Shadowcat favored speed. Dark Elf, raw power. Human sat neatly between them.
So… which?
Bai Xia’s eyes flickered between the three. Human was solid—but why waste a privilege? This was the gamer equivalent of a VIP badge: pure flex.
Then her gaze snagged on the Shadowcat’s ears—*twitch, twitch*—and that swaying tail.
Undeniably cute. Who wouldn’t want to reach out and pet them?
But…
“Yeah… no.”
Cute on others? Absolutely. Paired with a maid outfit? Maybe. On *herself*? Hard pass.
And in combat—wouldn’t that tail be a liability? Imagining herself yanked up by the tail, kicking helplessly with teary eyes… Bai Xia shuddered. *Too terrifying.*
“System. I choose Dark Elf.”
“Bloodline selection successful.” The other forms vanished. “Modify character appearance?”
Glancing at the pale, weary-looking elf avatar—more “all-night gamer” than mystical being—Bai Xia tweaked height and added a hint of warmth to her complexion. The face stayed mostly untouched; minor details adjusted only.
Body type? Left untouched. She wasn’t a “real” girl, and what reality lacked didn’t need virtual compensation. Busty curves felt even less acceptable than cat ears.
She’d barely made peace with her loli frame. No need to craft a mature *onee-san* avatar and stir discomfort.
Confirm.
Darkness swallowed her vision. When sight returned, she stood *in* the body—on the vast platform.
Curious, she clenched a fist, kicked a leg. Sensation felt startlingly real.
“Name your character.”
“No need to overthink it,” she murmured. “Bai Xia. Just… Bai Xia.”
Naming was torture for the creatively bankrupt. Better to dive straight into the adventure. She was ready.
“Name registered. Begin game?”
“Begin!”
***
***
*Otherworld*—true to its blunt name, the game unfolded across a realm woven with myth and legend.
Millennia ago, countless races flourished. Civilizations bloomed across continents, their golden ages blazing like constellations.
But expansion bred conflict. Faith clashed with power. Tensions simmered… then erupted.
A single spark ignited the prairie. And this world? A powder keg.
Skirmishes swelled into war. Fueled by rulers’ ambitions, flames consumed half the world in years—and kept spreading.
No race, no soul escaped the vortex. Struggle was futile.
A century of war. Civilizations turned to ash. Bones littered the earth, steeped in regret.
Heroes rose. Traitors fell. Kings crowned. Souls shattered.
The most chaotic era. The cruelest age. War nearly devoured the world itself.
When silence finally fell, survivors were broken. Some retreated into shadows to heal. Others stood defiant amid ruins.
Glory buried underground. People mourned the past… and prayed for tomorrow.
Yet an ending is also a beginning.
A thousand years healed the scars. New cities rose from ashes. Bloody history became poetry on parchment.
The world marched on. Only buried ruins and stubborn scars whispered of glory lost.
This was the players’ stage. *Otherworld* rejected rigid main quests. Freedom reigned.
Tasks triggered organically. Hidden treasures and forgotten ruins waited in every corner. Players could unearth lost civilizations with their own hands.
NPCs, guided by advanced AI under the central system, moved with lifelike autonomy—no robotic scripts.
Beyond adventure: homesteads, crafting, guilds, secondary professions, even weddings. Whether thrill-seeker or casual explorer, *Otherworld* held a path.
“Era-defining” wasn’t just marketing. It was truth.
