Seeing the outcome, Bai Xia quickly calmed down. Without even drawing her weapon, she turned to Qingcheng and asked, “If I accept your trial… even if I fail, it won’t end as badly as what happened up ahead, right?”

“Naturally,” Qingcheng replied, her voice warm with admiration. “I deeply respect those brave enough to challenge. Even if you fall during the trial, you’ll simply be teleported to the nearest checkpoint—zero losses. Not even a single level.”

*Oh? So my level won’t drop either?* Relief washed over Bai Xia. Still, something felt off. No matter how she looked at it, this strange woman was practically pushing her into the trial.

But… why?

Bai Xia double-checked the Lava Colossus’s stats. Honestly? Instant death. No contest. The gap was just too vast.

Watching Bai Xia’s resigned expression, Qingcheng—seated upon the throne—suddenly chuckled. In a slightly odd tone, she said, “What? You don’t think I’d deliberately set up a suicide trial for you, do you?”

“Isn’t this *literally* a suicide scenario!?” Bai Xia blurted out. Those arms thicker than her whole body? One punch and she’d be flatter than a pancake! Making her fight *that* was pure bullying.

As if reading her thoughts, Qingcheng smiled. “It’s a trial. I wouldn’t place you in an unwinnable situation.”

Bai Xia stayed silent, eyes locked on her.

Unbothered by the suspicion in her gaze, Qingcheng simply raised a hand and gave a gentle push. The purplish-black orb hovering above her palm drifted smoothly toward Bai Xia.

“For your current strength, the Lava Colossus *is* an unbeatable foe. So before we begin… I’ll lend you some aid.”

Bai Xia blinked, curiosity piqued. She leaned closer, examining the orb. Just an ordinary-looking glow. No system prompt. Instinctively, she almost poked it—but stopped herself.

“What… is this?”

“A fragment of the final reward. Borrowed to you, for now.”

*Final reward? Just this orb?* Before Bai Xia could react—*whoosh!*—the orb smacked squarely against her forehead!

Startled, she stumbled back and touched her brow—but the orb had already shattered on contact.

Countless dark-purple sparkles scattered like stardust, then swirled around her like a gentle storm, sinking softly into her skin.

A flicker of surprise crossed Qingcheng’s face. “Oh? It seems this little one… quite likes you.”

Bai Xia didn’t answer. A warm, drowsy haze spread through her limbs. Then she looked down—

“Eh?! EH?!”

No wonder she panicked. As the light merged, her clothes melted from the shoulders down like wax under heat—leaving her completely bare in seconds.

But before she could cover herself, a mist of black and crimson enveloped her. When it cleared… a brand-new outfit adorned her.

Yes. A sailor uniform.

Long sleeves flared at the cuffs and hem like blooming petals. Jet-black top with vivid red collar edges and tie. Subtle dark patterns traced the fabric. A pleated skirt—red and black—barely covered her thighs. Her legs were sheathed in deep-black tights embroidered with faint crimson motifs, smooth and strangely comfortable. Even her boots had transformed into black Mary Janes, topped with a mischievously bright red bow.

She now looked exactly like a middle-schooler. Claiming she was twenty? No one would believe it.

“Th-this… what *is* this?! A sailor uniform?! What the heck!”

Bai Xia froze, staring at herself. Sure, she was a legal loli now—but she’d *never* worn a skirt. This was mortifying! And… wait. No draftiness? Oh. Tights. *Ah, tights are a blessing—*

Yeah, right!

Damn it! A skirt alone was shame enough! Stockings? Pure heresy! Tights?! Just kill me now!

Clutching the fabric, Bai Xia crouched, head in hands, face pale with existential despair.

Qingcheng, utterly baffled, tilted her head. This outfit was undeniably cuter. Even if she disliked sailor uniforms… was *this* reaction normal?

She didn’t press. Calmly, she said, “Didn’t I say? This is part of the final reward. And your first aid.”

*Final reward is a sailor uniform?! Is this trial even legit? Can I back out now…?* Bai Xia’s mind short-circuited. How was *this* supposed to beat a Lava Colossus? Cosplay battle? Was the giant secretly a fan of Japanese schoolgirl uniforms?!

“Ew!” She shuddered, shooting a disgusted glance at the hulking monster. *A gentleman?!*

The Lava Colossus blinked innocently, utterly unaware of the label slapped on it.

While Bai Xia fumed over her outfit, Qingcheng raised a hand—and with a flick of her wrist, a glimmer shot from Bai Xia’s body into her palm.

It wasn’t the clothes. Those remained firmly (and shamefully) in place.

What Qingcheng now held was a dagger. Bai Xia’s eyes widened. *Shadowfang Dagger!*

She instinctively checked—gone.

Unfazed, Qingcheng glanced at the blade. “Since the armor is already yours… let’s upgrade your weapon next.”

*Armor?!* A sweatdrop slid down Bai Xia’s temple. How was this slightly suggestive sailor uniform *armor*?! And that skirt—battle-ready? One wrong move and—! Unless the battlefield was a *bed*, who’d use this to boost combat power?!

Bai Xia tilted her head back toward the palace dome. A headache was definitely coming on.