A Redo

"WHAT?!" Touya exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

"I agree," Kate said casually, giving Yumina a thumbs-up.

"HEY!" Touya shouted again. "That's pretty out of character for you!"

Kate smirked. "Stop being a wuss. A girl's proposing to you, so...good luck!" She waved nonchalantly before disappearing in a flash.

"WAIT! GET BACK HERE!" Touya yelled after her, but Kate was already gone.

In the bustling market, Kate wandered among the vendors, her thoughts turning inward.

"I'm slowly losing my World Force every time I use magic," she thought, furrowing her brow. "I thought I could keep magic separate, but my World Force keeps consuming the Mana I collect. It's making my World Force lose its purity."

Pulling out a pen and paper, she jotted down notes as she pondered solutions.

Later, Kate stood atop the castle walls, gazing at the vast, beautiful landscape stretching out before her.

"Right now, I'm doing quests to lift every curse binding me," she thought. "But now that I think about it...if I could sacrifice everything to restart, I'd do it all over again. I'm not enjoying this as much as I did in the past."

Her gaze shifted to the horizon, her thoughts racing.

"If I'm right, the theory I developed in my original world is true. The Void Archives are working just as I predicted. Every universe exists as leaves on a massive, legendary tree. A tree so vast it can hold entire universes on its leaves."

Kate's hand clenched slightly. "I need to rewrite my research."

Just then, a new panel appeared before her, its black interface marked with floating orbs of various colors.

"Do you want to do a reset?" the panel asked.

Kate narrowed her eyes. "This isn't right. My usual panels match the color of my energy. This one…this is different."

As if in response to her confusion, another panel materialized.

"This is the Chaos Originator's Personal System. It is currently in development and lacks the sophistication of the Primordial's System."

"So, the panels giving me orders were created by the Primordials," Kate mused. "And this...this is a new system by the Originator. But aren't 'Primordial' and 'Originator' essentially the same thing?"

Kate said wondering.

"What will happen if I reset?" Kate asked aloud.

"Your progress will be locked, and you will start anew," the panel read.

"From when I was a kid?"

"No. You will start fresh in a world of your choosing."

Kate's curiosity grew. "How will I get stronger?"

"You will be placed in a leveling-type system," the panel replied.

"Like an RPG?"

"Yes. Once you reset, your Karmic Fate will be erased, and you will exist as a being with no attachments."

"A being that exists outside the system?" Kate whispered.

"Yes."

Kate's mind raced as she asked, "If my progress is locked, will I ever be able to use it again?"

The panel replied enigmatically: "Yesn't."

"WHAT?!" Kate exclaimed. "What do you mean by that?"

"It depends on you," the panel read.

"I see. Then, what compensation will you give me for restarting?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?!" Kate snapped, anger flashing in her eyes.

"It is a given. I am granting you the opportunity to restart."

Kate gritted her teeth. "What will happen to the worlds I've visited?"

"The universe leaves will wilt," the panel answered.

Kate's gaze hardened. "Fine. But at least give me starting items, and I'll agree."

Suddenly, her surroundings turned gray, time itself seeming to freeze.

"What's going on?" she asked, startled, as a new interface appeared—a status window vastly different from anything she had seen before.

"Whoa...this is very different," Kate muttered, examining the details.

She noticed a field for her name. "I'll keep it the same: Kate Apocalypse."

Her name lit up on the status window. Another panel then materialized.

"Choose your Element Attunement," it read.

"You can choose Higher Attunement every 100 Levels and Lower Attunement every 50 Levels," Kate read as another panel appeared.

"The Lower Attunements available are the four basic elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind," the panel explained.

Kate smirked and closed her eyes. "First of all, I must imagine myself at full power—in a beautiful castle, wearing elegant clothes, seated on a throne. HAHAHA!" she chuckled, envisioning the scene.

But then, a memory surfaced. She thought of Yang Kai and suddenly stopped. "That bastard," she muttered under her breath.

With a calmer demeanor, she declared, "I choose Water Element."

A new panel appeared. "You've chosen Water as your first element. Now, choose your Buff. You can also assign a Buff to a Locked Ability, but this requires completing an S-Rank Condition Quest."

"If that's the case, then I'll choose the 25% energy reduction buff," Kate decided.

Another panel materialized. "Lastly, choose the world."

Kate hesitated. "Can I just stay here?"

The panel flashed with a new message. "World has been chosen. Executing Plan B."

Suddenly, Kate felt a sharp pang in her chest, as if something vital had been cut off. Her expression turned somber.

"This feeling...it's the same as when I killed Alex, my best friend," she thought, her face now wearing a melancholy expression.

Gradually, the colors of her surroundings returned to normal. "Looks like time has resumed," Kate mused, snapping out of her thoughts as a voice called out to her.

"Kate, I'm going back. Do you want to come with me?" Touya said, approaching her.

When he saw her, his eyes widened in surprise. Kate stood there without her white hair, heterochromatic eyes, and White eyelashes. Her once colder, regal aura. is now gone. The only trait that remained from before was her pale, pearl-white skin.

"I-Is that you, Kate?" Touya stammered.

"Yeah, it's me," Kate replied calmly. "So, even my appearance has changed, huh? Looks like my original form has returned."

"Wh-What do you mean?" Touya asked as he stepped closer.

"My previous appearance was due to my evolution. Now that I've shed my powers, I've reverted to being a normal High Human again," Kate explained.

"You shed your abilities? Is this some kind of divine technique where your power doubles when you recover or fulfill certain conditions?" Touya asked, his excitement evident.

Kate raised an eyebrow. "You know about cultivation techniques? Are you a reader?"

"Well, I am a student. I have a lot of free time," Touya admitted sheepishly.

"No, this isn't some kind of cultivation technique," Kate replied dismissively. "I've shed my abilities to restart."

"WHAT?! BUT YOU WERE SO POWERFUL!" Touya exclaimed in shock.

"Of course, I'm confident that I'll grow even stronger," Kate said with a smirk. "Besides, my World Force was limited. I'd have been like a strong mage whose strength plummets once their World Force runs out. Starting over was the best choice."

"World Force?" Touya asked, intrigued.

"Yes. Since you've read some manhua back on Earth, I'll explain it simply. My previous realm was the Open Heaven Realm, 8th Rank second to the highest in the entire 3000 Worlds. All cultivators in that realm possess a Small Universe inside them, which generates their World Force. However, when I arrived here, my Small Universe was sealed, limiting my World Force. By resetting, I've freed myself from those limitations," Kate explained.

"I see," Touya said, nodding in understanding. Then, with a determined look, he extended his hand to her. "Then let's grow stronger together!"

Kate looked at him for a moment before clasping his hand with a serious look. "Right."

At the Silvermoon Inn, Kate sat quietly in her room, lost in thought. "The only thing we mentioned was that I lost my power to start over, but we didn't explain why," she reflected, her gaze fixed on the glowing Status Window in front of her.

"There are seven stats in total, and I have five points in each of them," she analyzed.

Her eyes scanned the screen as she muttered to herself.

"Strength determines raw power. Dexterity governs agility, reflexes, dodge rate, and hand-eye coordination. Constitution represents endurance and vitality it affects my health, resistance to poison and disease, and stamina."

She paused, her mind sharp as she dissected the remaining stats.

"Intelligence enhances my spellcasting ability and increases my mana or energy pool. Wisdom reflects awareness, intuition, and perception. It also influences perception checks and mental resistance."

Her finger tapped on the panel as she continued.

"Charisma governs intimidation and leadership, while Luck...well, Luck is self-explanatory, I guess."

Satisfied with her analysis, Kate reached for her smartphone, only to freeze in surprise. The device had turned to stone in her hand.

"I see... It seems I really can't use any abilities that were locked away," she mused, setting the now-useless phone aside.

She straightened up and addressed the black panel hovering ominously before her. "Right, what's the S-Rank Quest to unlock one of my Buffs?"

The panel shifted, displaying bold, ominous text. "S-Rank Condition Quest: Become a Duchess of the Brunhild Country."

Kate's eyebrows arched. "I see. So the Condition Quest requires me to meet a specific criterion," she murmured.

Her gaze drifted to the ceiling as she lay down on her bed, arms crossed behind her head. "Where is this Brunhild Country? And how do I even become a Duchess?" she wondered aloud, her eyelids growing heavier with each passing second.

As the comforting silence of the room enveloped her, Kate's thoughts faded, and her eyes slowly closed, the black panel dimming as she drifted into sleep.

The next day at the blacksmith shop, the familiar clang of metal greeted Kate as she entered.

"Oh, young lady! I already finished the custom sword you requested, but I got worried since you didn't show up," the blacksmith said, a hint of relief in his voice.

Kate raised an eyebrow. "You recognized me?"

"Of course! I won't forget a warrior like you, even if you've changed your appearance," the blacksmith replied with a confident grin. "The sheer amount of fighting experience radiating off you could intimidate even the highest-ranked adventurers at the guild."

Kate's eyes narrowed in curiosity. "So, you have something like an eye ability?"

"Yes, I'm fortunate enough to possess an Aura-type Mystic Eye," the blacksmith admitted, his tone humble yet proud.

"I see," Kate said with a nod, her gaze shifting to the table as the blacksmith placed a finely crafted sword upon it.

"This is the replica of the Twilight you requested," the blacksmith announced.

Finally seeing the blade, Kate's lips curved slightly. Finally, my sword.

As she ran her fingers along the hilt, a fleeting image of a smiling girl filled her mind a memory of her supposed daughter. Her hand stilled for a moment as a pang of melancholy crept into her heart. I wonder what happened to her...

Shaking the thought away, Kate reached into her pouch, paid for the weapon, and secured it at her side. She left the Harumachi Blacksmith with the sword and a renewed sense of determination.

"Let's go to the guild and start this endless XP farming," Kate thought, her steps steady as she made her way toward the bustling Adventurer's Guild.

Her sharp gaze wandered over the streets, reflecting her new appearance. "Since my hanfu doesn't work well with my current look, I had to switch it up," Kate mused. She glanced at her outfit a design Yumina had eagerly requested her help with. "I just gave her the coat design from Shin's universe a sleek high schooler-inspired look, but with a longer skirt and two-inch heels. Of course, the color palette is black and white with golden ornaments for that extra touch of elegance."

Kate's lips curved slightly, a rare show of amusement. "Even though it's hard to admit, I really am favored by the gods," she thought as her coat swayed with each step.

At the adventurer's guild, Kate approached the quest board, her eyes scanning through the various tasks. "I'm currently a green-ranked adventurer," she reminded herself. "With my abilities locked away, I should choose a quest one rank lower than my original—purple rank should suffice."

Her gaze settled on a quest: Clearing a Pact of One-Horned Wolves.

"Let's go," Kate thought to herself, plucking the quest from the board and heading toward the exit.

The crisp morning air greeted her as she stepped outside. "The southern forest is just outside the city," she noted. "It's still early, so I should be able to finish this today."

With her sword secured at her side and a focused determination in her stride, Kate started walking toward her destination, the promise of a new challenge ahead.

"Right now, my status says I can reach Level 1 by gaining just 5 XP," Kate thought to herself, her boots crunching against the soft earth as she strolled through the vast greenery of the plains. The sun filtered through the occasional tree, creating a tranquil scene. "It's good that the southern forest isn't too far," she mused, keeping her thoughts focused.

After some time, Kate entered the southern forest, the air cooling slightly as the canopy thickened. Suddenly, a voice echoed from the shadows.

"Hehehe, a new one has appeared," someone sneered as three men stepped out from hiding.

"Bandits," Kate muttered, her gaze narrowing.

The man in front grinned. "Little girl, you better leave everything you have and run away."

"Boss, look at her! This little girl's looks are leagues better than anyone we've seen in the streets," one of the bandits behind him said, leering.

"Of course! Women like her don't exist in the streets!" another added with a crude laugh.

An ominous panel appeared before Kate: Urgent Quest: Eliminate the Bandits.

"Looks like I have no choice but to kill them all," Kate thought coldly. She raised her hand toward the three men.

"She's a magic caster! Scatter!" the leader barked, and the three bandits darted into the trees like startled rats.

"Dang it," Kate thought, frustrated. "I forgot I'm weak as hell now. I can't even cast magic—I haven't studied it yet. Alright, prefrontal cortex, it's up to you."

Kate smirked, her mocking tone cutting through the tension. "Seeing you rats scurry like that... looks like you're not even worth using magic on."

"You!" the leader shouted, enraged, charging at Kate with a raised fist.

"I can see him clearly," Kate thought, her muscles tensing. "Looks like I can take them on."

She blocked the leader's punch with her sheathed sword, but the force pushed her a step backward.

"Hah, so you really are a magic caster you're weak," the leader sneered.

"Boss, let me help you!" the other two bandits called out.

Kate retreated, her hand gripping her sword. She pulled it from its sheath, holding the scabbard in her left hand. "Based on my calculations, one point in Strength equals the physical potential of a normal human. Right now, I'm five times stronger than an average person, but I don't know how that compares to those with mana."

She rushed toward one of the bandits hiding behind a tree. As she swung the scabbard, the bandit raised his arms to block, but the impact hurled him into the trunk, leaving him unconscious.

"Second Brother!" the remaining two shouted in alarm.

"He's surprisingly weak," Kate thought, momentarily puzzled. "That doesn't matter." She threw the scabbard at the leader, who deflected it—but not without breaking his arm in the process.

"WHAT?! This woman is extremely strong!" the leader exclaimed, alarmed, just as Kate closed the distance to the other bandit.

Something dropped in front of the leader. He stared in horror. "Huh? !!! T—THIRD BROTHER!!!" he screamed, seeing his ally's severed head.

"Pathetic," Kate said coldly. "With this kind of attachment, are you really bandits, or are you just faking it?"

"WHY DID YOU KILL HIM?!" the leader sobbed. "Yes, we're fake bandits! We're poor we had no choice!"

"No choice?" Kate repeated, her tone icy.

The leader rushed to his brother's corpse. "I—I—HEAL, SOMEONE PLEASE!" he begged.

Kate stared at the pitiful scene, her voice cutting like a blade. "Doing banditry because you have no choice? The same old, lame excuse of having no choice."

She grabbed the fainted second brother and dropped him beside the leader. "I've always ignored my emotions. Ever since I became a researcher, driven by curiosity, I did everything humans would call evil. Experimentation on infants, even unborn children... nothing was spared from my curiosity. This small thing shouldn't affect me."

She paused, her grip tightening on her sword. "But ever since Yang Kai made me feel something... I've started regaining these wretched emotions again."

"How many people have you stolen from? How many lives have you ruined?" Kate demanded, her voice like ice.

The leader didn't respond, only sobbing over his brother's body.

"It doesn't matter. You met me. Blame your luck."

Kate raised her sword, beheading the second brother in one swift motion.

"WHAT?! NO!!! YOU!" the leader screamed, lunging at her in rage.

Kate caught him by the head, her blade plunging into his heart.

As his life faded, she whispered, her voice low and menacing, "The world is colorless. What gives it color is the human eye. And humans they divide themselves into three groups: heroes, villains, and those who want to watch the world burn."

The leader's body slumped to the ground as Kate stood tall, her cold gaze lingering on the lifeless forms before she turned and walked deeper into the forest.

A new panel popped up in front of Kate.

"You've completed the Urgent Quest. Your rewards are: 5 XP and 3 SP," Kate read aloud.

Before she could dismiss it, another panel appeared.

"Congratulations, you've leveled up to Level 1! Your rewards are 3 Random Starting Cards," the new panel stated.

Kate shifted her attention to the next message. "You've killed 3 normal humans. You've gained 3 XP."

"Looks like a normal human without mana is worth 1 XP," Kate deduced. "Right now, I've leveled up to Level 1, and the experience required for Level 2 is 8. Since I already have 3, I need five more."

"Activate all of my Starting Cards," Kate commanded, and three cards materialized before her, glowing faintly.

"Weapons, Staff, or Auxiliary," the cards read.

"I choose Auxiliary," Kate said decisively.

The Weapons and Staff cards burned away in an ethereal fire, while the Auxiliary card burst into flames, spelling out words as it burned.

"The Enchanted Ring," Kate read, watching as the fire flew toward her right hand, enveloping her ring finger. The flame coalesced into a sleek, magical ring.

Another panel appeared. "You've equipped the Enchanted Ring. Your stats are increased by 2," it stated.

"Status Window," Kate said, and another window appeared before her.

"Looks like if I level up, all my stats increase by 3, and I get 3 SP," Kate thought, observing the new display. "These +2 beside each stat number are from the ring's effect, so now I have everything at 10."

Kate skimmed through her stats briefly. "My HP and Mana are both 100," she noted.

"I'll allocate my 3 SP to Strength," she decided, feeling the power surge through her as she finalized the adjustments.

"For now, let's eliminate that pack of One-Horned Wolves," Kate thought to herself, her determination unwavering. She resumed her walk toward the quest area, the forest path narrowing as she ventured deeper into the wilderness.

At the quest area, Kate surveyed her surroundings. "Looks like this is the place," she thought as she spotted a pack of One-Horned Wolves prowling in the clearing ahead.

Without hesitation, she rushed toward the pack, grabbing one wolf by the head and crushing its skull effortlessly.

"Huh?" Kate exclaimed, momentarily stunned by how fragile the creature was. "Did I miscalculate something?"

She didn't stop to ponder for long, methodically eradicating the pack with swift, decisive strikes. As the last wolf fell, a panel appeared in front of her.

"You've killed a total of 24 One-Horned Wolves. You've gained 48 XP," it read.

Immediately after, more panels popped up.

"Congratulations, you've leveled up!"

Kate skimmed through the information. "I leveled up three times! I'm Level 4 now, and the XP required for Level 5 is 64. I have 7 XP left," she calculated.

She paused, reflecting on the earlier encounter. "But still, it seems we've miscalculated something. One stat point being equivalent to the full potential of a human body doesn't seem accurate. I crushed that skull too easily," Kate mused, considering the implications.

"What if the basis isn't a normal human but a High Human? That would make sense. It looks like the stats are based on me as a High Human," Kate concluded, her analytical mind piecing together the mystery.

Satisfied with her deduction, Kate turned her attention back to the forest, ready to return to the guild and claim her reward.

After some time, Kate entered the Silvermoon Inn.

"Welcome back!" Yae greeted her warmly, approaching with a wide smile.

"What's the matter?" Kate asked, noticing Yae's excitement.

"Look at this!" Yae said, holding up a small white tiger cub.

"Hi, my name is Kohaku," the tiger said in a cheerful tone.

Kate ignored Kohaku and turned to Yae. "Where did you get this thing?"

Before Yae could answer, Yumina approached them. "He's the White Monarch, one of the divine beasts," she explained.

"I see," Kate replied nonchalantly. Yumina handed her a few papers.

"Look at what I drew!" Yumina said enthusiastically.

Kate glanced at the designs. "It's fine, but the design looks too hard to move in," she commented.

"Of course it's hard—it's a dress for nobles," Yumina clarified.

"I see. Then come with me to my room. I'll show you something," Kate said, turning and walking toward her quarters, with Yumina following behind.

Meanwhile, Kohaku watched them leave. "Did I just get ignored?" he asked, bewildered.

"Well, that's Kate for you. She's a pretty unique girl," Yae said with a chuckle.

At Kate's room, she handed some papers from her desk to Yumina. "Here," she said.

Yumina's eyes widened as she looked at the designs. "Wow, these are so cute and beautiful," she exclaimed.

Kate nodded. "These are dresses from the manhwa I've read," she thought to herself.

"Compared to my drawing, these are leaps and bounds better," Yumina admitted.

"Just continue to widen your horizons and draw. Eventually, since you've seen my work, you'll manage to break through your time constraints," Kate advised.

"Yeah, thank you!" Yumina said with a bright smile.

"Then go on. I still have something to do," Kate said, gesturing toward the door.

"Thanks again!" Yumina said, leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

Suddenly, the windows of Kate's room swung open, and Dr. Mei entered gracefully.

"Huh? Dr. Mei, how are you alright?" Kate asked, surprised by her sudden appearance.

"Milady," Dr. Mei began, "I'm here to report that my cultivation suddenly regressed to the Separation and Reunion Realm."

Kate sighed. "I see. So that's how it is."

"It's okay. I also lost my powers," Kate added, surprising Dr. Mei further.

"I exchanged them for an RPG-type power system," Kate explained.

Dr. Mei smiled faintly. "If it's Milady, I'm certain you'll be strong again in no time."

"So, what's the situation?" Kate asked, shifting to a more serious tone.

"Milady, since my cultivation regressed, I can no longer use my Manipulation ability. The production at the factories has greatly slowed down. With my current Yuan Qi reserves, I can only make one machine every half a year," Dr. Mei reported.

"I see. That's okay. Just continue," Kate reassured her.

Dr. Mei nodded. "As of now, we can produce clothes, shoes, and ornaments."

"I see. Then focus on the production of watches for now," Kate instructed.

"Yes, Milady," Dr. Mei replied.

"Where did you establish the factory?" Kate asked.

"I built it underground, between the Belfast and Regulus Empire's southern border," Dr. Mei answered.

"Got it," Kate said. "I expect a good profit from this. You're dismissed."

Dr. Mei bowed slightly. "Don't worry, Milady. Once we start selling, you'll be the richest woman in the world," she said confidently before disappearing.

"Status Window," Kate commanded, and a panel appeared before her.

"I still have 9 SP. I'll put all of that into Intelligence so I can increase the spells I know, understand them more easily, and, more importantly, boost my Mana," Kate thought as she allocated the points.

Satisfied with the adjustment, she pondered her next move. "Next, I should learn magic. I've earned quite a lot from killing those One-Horned Wolves, so maybe I can ask Linze to teach me."

Just as she finished the thought, a new system notification appeared.

"Informing the Host: We have a Shop, a system where you can buy almost anything with your currency."

Intrigued, Kate scanned the panel. "Search for Water Magic," she instructed, and a list of options materialized.

"The cheapest is Aqua Cutter for 2 Gold Coins," Kate noted, tapping the Buy button. A scroll materialized in her hand, followed by a new panel.

"Aqua Cutter: Mana Required - 10.

Description: The user fires at the target with a blade of compressed water."

"There's even a description," Kate thought, impressed. "Since I need real currency to buy spells and items, getting rich is really necessary."

She reflected on her current power level. "I must remember that my Mana is pure now—it doesn't have a hint of World Force in it, so it's tremendously weaker."

Determined, she began strategizing. "For now, I need to farm XP more efficiently. Sung Jinwoo's technique of using his summons to farm XP for him was brilliant. I want that Shadow Extraction skill," Kate mused, her ambitions growing.

With plans forming in her mind, Kate lay down on her bed, contemplating the next steps in her journey.

At the westernmost part of the Southern Forest, Kate surveyed her surroundings. "This should be the quest area," she thought as she stepped forward. "The task is to subjugate a minimum of five King Apes, but I'll take down any monster I encounter."

She activated her Status Window, a familiar panel materializing before her. "There's an Attunement option here," she noted. "It says 'Water Attunement' is at 0%. It seems I need to use water-based spells frequently to increase mastery. The higher my attunement, the more hidden spells I might unlock," she speculated, closing the panel.

A sudden movement caught her eye a King Ape lurking at the edge of her vision. "There you are!" she smirked, dashing toward the beast.

With her Dexterity at 19, Kate moved with astonishing speed. She leapt onto the creature's back, grabbing its fur to anchor herself. "Stop running!" she commanded as her fist slammed into its back. The force sent the massive ape crashing to the ground, creating a deep impact crater.

Kate dismounted, satisfied the creature had been subdued. But to her surprise, the King Ape roared and lunged at her. Its massive hand grabbed her body, but she didn't flinch.

"It doesn't hurt," she remarked, unfazed. "Looks like I'm still stronger than you."

She raised her hand to cast a spell, only to realize it wouldn't activate. "D-Don't tell me I have to chant it?" A blush crept across her cheeks. "Screw it!"

She shouted the incantation:

"Come forth, water! Feel my blade, both cold and clear: [Aqua Cutter]!"

A blade of compressed water materialized in front of her, slicing through the King Ape's neck and beheading it in one swift motion.

A panel popped up.

"You killed 1 King Ape. XP gained: 5."

"Five XP points?" Kate frowned. "That's disappointing." She glanced at her Water Attunement progress. "One use of Aqua Cutter increased my attunement by 1%," she observed.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the growls of more King Apes. She quickly counted them—eleven. "Looks like that ape's death cry attracted the rest of its pack. Perfect."

Kate darted toward the group, effortlessly dodging their attacks. "They're physically strong," she admitted, landing near a tree. She dug her fingers into its trunk, attempting to uproot it, but failed.

"Okay, that was dumb," she muttered, retreating to a branch. From her perch, she unleashed another Aqua Cutter. "Come forth, water! Feel my blade, both cold and clear: [Aqua Cutter]!"

The blade of water struck one of the apes, slashing it down. She continued spamming the spell as she leapt from tree to tree, whittling down the pack. After a grueling fight, the last ape fell.

"That should be the last one," Kate said, exhaling. A panel appeared:

"You killed 11 King Apes. XP gained: 55."

"Congratulations! You leveled up to Level 5. Rewards: 5 SP."

She checked her Water Attunement. "It's at 5.6% now. Looks like the first kill with Aqua Cutter gave 1%, but the rest is .9 to 0.1% per use."

Satisfied, Kate began heading back toward the guild. "I should report the quest and return to the inn to draw," she thought.

Midway, another panel appeared:

"Congratulations on reaching Level 5! You have been rewarded with 3 World Cards."

Three cards materialized before her, accompanied by a description:

Kenja no Mago World

Outer World

Divine Realm

Kate analyzed them carefully. "The Outer World is likely part of this realm, and the Divine Realm belongs to the gods. That leaves the Kenja no Mago universe—a completely separate world."

"I choose the Kenja no Mago Card," she declared.

The chosen card glowed and merged into her forehead, while the others disintegrated into ash.

Another panel appeared before Kate.

"It's the Shop," Kate muttered, but her attention was drawn to a new option at the bottom of the screen. "Kenja no Mago Skills?" she read aloud, pressing it.

"Hmm, the cost of these skills is double that of this world's average," Kate noted, a tinge of annoyance in her voice.

Suddenly, she froze, her sharp ears picking up a distant, rhythmic thumping. The ground trembled slightly beneath her feet.

"This kind of sound… something big is coming," Kate said warily.

Before she could react further, a gigantic golem tore through the forest, uprooting trees as if they were nothing more than weeds.

"Where did you come from?!" Kate yelled, narrowly dodging a colossal foot as it slammed into the ground, sending dirt and debris flying. With her agility, she leaped toward the golem, her fist glowing with energy as she struck its body with full force. To her shock, her attack only managed to crack its outer layer.

"You're tough," Kate muttered, gritting her teeth as she saw the golem's massive hand swinging toward her. She realized too late that she was still midair and had no means to evade.

"Crap! I can't dodge!"

The golem's hand connected, swatting Kate like a rag doll and sending her crashing into the ground with tremendous force. The impact left a crater, and Kate coughed up blood as she struggled to sit up.

"What's this ringing?!" Kate thought, her vision blurring. Her body ached all over, blood trickling from countless wounds. When she glanced at her hands, the sight of crimson smeared across them brought a bitter smirk to her face.

"It's been a while since I've seen my own blood like this…" she murmured, just as a massive shadow loomed over her.

Kate's eyes widened in horror as the golem's foot rose to stomp her into the earth.

"COME ON!" she screamed, forcing her battered body to roll aside.

Before the foot could descend, a familiar figure appeared in a flash.

"KATE! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?!" Touya's voice called out as he swiftly grabbed her and moved her to safety.

"Touya?" Kate murmured weakly, her consciousness fading.

Touya knelt beside her, placing his hand over her battered form. "Come forth, Light! Soothing Comfort: [Cure Heal]!" he chanted, and a gentle glow enveloped Kate, knitting her wounds and restoring her vitality.

Moments later, Kate's eyes fluttered open. "Thanks," she muttered, getting to her feet.

"Wait, don't-" Touya began, but Kate dashed off toward the golem without hesitation.

"HEY!" Touya called after her, watching in disbelief. "She's improved this much already? But compared to her past power… it's still a far cry."

Meanwhile, Kate launched herself at the golem once more, shouting, "HEY, BASTARD! YOU HAVE MY THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DID TO ME!" She struck the same spot she had attacked before, shattering the second layer of its exterior.

"Still not enough," Kate muttered, jumping off the golem and landing on a tall tree. Her eyes gleamed with determination as she turned to Touya, who was watching her from a distance.

"Do you need help?" Touya called out.

"NO! STAY AWAY!" Kate yelled, raising her sword.

Touya frowned but remained on standby, analyzing the situation. "This is the largest golem I've ever seen… Could it have evolved? Or is it a special variant?" he mused. "Kate's strength is comparable to mine," he added, glancing at the cracks Kate had made.

"Touya, let me borrow all of your money!" Kate shouted as she leapt from tree to tree.

"What?!" Touya exclaimed, pulling out his pouch and throwing it towards Kate.

"You must return it to me!" Touya shouted back.

"Shop!" Kate commanded, and a panel appeared in front of her. "The only thing I can think of right now is the Blue Flame skill," Kate thought as she circled around the Golem. "It's big, but it's pretty agile," she observed.

"Buy Blue Flame," Kate said. A scroll materialized in front of her, glowing before entering her forehead. She immediately launched herself toward the Golem's face.

"BLUE FLAME!" Kate shouted mid-air. A glowing blue magic circle appeared in her palm as she aimed it at the Golem. A concentrated stream of blue flames erupted, striking the Golem. To her surprise, it only left a hole in the Golem's body.

"Looks like I'm right. Blue Flame is nothing special, except for its astonishingly high heat concentration," Kate thought as she landed. She swiftly jumped back towards the Golem's head, casting Blue Flame again. This time, the intense heat melted its head, killing it.

A panel popped up in front of Kate as she landed gracefully on the ground:

"You killed 1 Golem Lord. XP: 50."

"Congratulations on killing a Lord-Type Monster. Rewards: 5 SP and a Fragment of Geo Orb."

Kate's status screen appeared, showing the Geo Orb fragment floating above her palm. "Looks like I have 10 SP now," she thought, examining the strange object.

"I wonder what this is," Kate murmured to herself as Touya approached her.

"Are you all right?" Touya asked.

"Yeah, thanks to you, I was able to defeat it," Kate replied.

"No problem. Just make sure to return the money you borrowed," Touya said.

"Don't worry," Kate reassured him, standing up.

"So, what's that in your hand?" Touya asked, curious.

"It's called a Geo Orb Fragment," Kate replied.

"Do you know what it does?" Touya asked, reaching out to touch it, but his hand passed right through the fragment.

"Huh?" Touya said, confused.

"This isn't a drop from the Golem Lord. It's a reward from the system," Kate explained.

"I see. So system rewards are non-transferable?" Touya speculated.

"I don't know," Kate admitted.

"Anyway, let's report what happened here. I also need to visit the capital, so this is a good opportunity," Touya said, opening a gate to the Silver Moon Inn.

At the inn, Touya turned to Kate. "Are you sure you're not coming with me?" he asked.

"You can handle it alone," Kate replied, walking into the inn.

"Then goodbye," Touya said, stepping through the gate and disappearing.

Inside the Inn, Kate opened her Status Window. "I have 10 SP right now. I'll allocate one to every stat," she thought as the panel displayed her updated attributes. She noticed the Skill Tab and realized SP could also be invested there. "I still have 3 SP left. I'll put them into Dexterity for now," Kate decided before closing the interface.

"Now I can still take on missions," Kate thought, stretching. "But first, let me take a bath."

After some time, as she was drying off, a panel popped up in front of her:

Urgent Quest: Eliminate the Adventurers that tried to cause harm to the Host's Residence.

"Perfect timing," Kate muttered, quickly dressing and heading downstairs.

When she entered the common area, she found several men unconscious on the ground. "Wh-What happened here?" Kate asked.

"These men tried to cause trouble, so we dealt with them," Dolan replied casually.

"I see. I'll take care of the rest," Kate said as a Gate materialized behind her. From it, Touya, Yae, and Yumina stepped out.

"Talk to Dolan. I'll handle this," Kate instructed, and Touya nodded in agreement.

Kate grabbed the unconscious men and threw them through the Gate without hesitation. Following them, she entered the portal, finding herself in a barren clearing where the tied-up men dangled upside down from wooden posts.

"Looks like I've got free XP," Kate said coldly, her gaze sharp. "Horrible men, planning on beating innocent people."

She began to chant. "Come forth, Water! Feel my blade, both cold and clear: [Aqua Cutter]!"

The spell released a compressed blade of water, cutting through the tied men in a single, clean strike. "Perfect. They were in line."

Kate inspected the bodies with an indifferent expression. "I need to burn these so they won't taint this world any further," she decided. With precise chants, she cast multiple Aqua Cutter spells to dismember and prepare the bodies. Once finished, she summoned a flame to incinerate the remains, ensuring no evidence was left behind.

A new panel popped up in front of Kate.

"Congratulations on completing the Urgent Quest," Kate read aloud.

"Rewards: 20 XP, 3 SP," the panel displayed. Another notification appeared immediately after.

"You've killed 32 humans. XP: 64," she read, her thoughts spinning.

"Looks like these people were quite stronger since they gave me 2 XP per head," Kate mused as yet another panel materialized.

"Congratulations! You've leveled up to Level 6. Rewards: 3 Bonus SP, 3 SP."

Kate glanced at her status window, her expression thoughtful. "Every level, my stats go up by three, along with 3 SP," she muttered.

"I'll allocate everything to Strength," she said decisively, as Touya stepped out of the gate.

"Kate, where are the adventurers?" Touya asked, scanning the area with a furrowed brow.

"They're gone," Kate replied nonchalantly, her gaze still fixed on her status window.

"Gone?" Touya repeated, disbelief coloring his tone.

"Like I told you, I like to root out potential problems," Kate said bluntly.

Touya sighed. "I'm not going to say anything this time. I know where you're coming from, and I know it's impossible to change your mind now. Besides, I'm also at fault for not keeping a closer watch on you."

Kate gave him a pointed look. "Don't worry. Just like in cultivation techniques, I'm a good cultivator. I don't sacrifice entire towns just to strengthen myself. I only kill those I deem unworthy of life."

"But that's God's job," Touya argued.

Kate cut him off sharply. "Alright, stop. I don't want to get into a religion talk. I'm not religious, so don't waste your time."

Touya sighed again, his resolve softening. "Then I'll go now," he said, turning away.

"Wait," Kate called after him. "Can you open a gate to the Adventurers Guild?"

"Yeah," Touya said, raising a hand to comply.

After some time, the two returned to the Silvermoon Inn.

"Touya, where were you? And why did you take so long?" Yumina asked, noticing Kate walking in after him.

"Oho?" Yumina raised an eyebrow. "So, you were with Kate?"

"Yeah," Touya replied casually.

"Anyway, it's almost sunset. How about we start dinner?" Touya suggested.

"If you say so, but let's wait for the others—they went out to buy sweets," Yumina said.

"I see. Then let's wait here," Touya said, sitting down while Kate took a seat opposite him.

"Do you have a pen and paper? Give me one," Kate said.

"Seriously, how about taking a rest?" Touya sighed, retrieving a pen and paper from his storage skill.

After a while, Kate stared at the blank paper. What should I draw? she thought. I'll just draw whatever comes to mind.

Suddenly, a panel popped up before her:

"World Event: Slay Your First Dragon. Rewards: 500 XP, 20 SP, and a Universe Key."

Kate's eyes widened in surprise. "U-Universe Key?" she muttered. Will that let me travel through universes again? Her heart raced with excitement.

"There are dragons here, right?" she asked abruptly, catching Touya and Yumina off guard.

"Dragons?" Touya repeated, confused.

"Yes," Yumina answered, "they live in the Mismede Kingdom."

"I... I must kill one," Kate declared, shocking the two.

"Is this a quest from the system?" Touya asked cautiously.

"Yes, a World Quest," Kate confirmed.

"I see. Then we must do it," Touya said with a resigned sigh.

"What is going on?" Yumina asked, still confused.

"I'm not rushing," Kate reassured. "Let's get stronger first."

"That's a relief," Touya said, visibly relaxing.

Yumina then pulled out a letter. "I received this from my father. He wants both of you to come to the capital tomorrow."

"What? Why?" Touya asked, puzzled.

"It seems Father plans to grant you a noble title," Yumina explained. "As for Kate, she'll be rewarded for her great deeds."

"I see," Kate said, nodding. "So that's why."

After a day of travel, Kate and the group arrived at a massive mansion.

"Woah! So big!" Touya exclaimed in awe.

"So this is the future house of Touya and Yumina," Elze teased with a grin.

"It's beautiful," Linze said softly, admiring the architecture.

Kate observed the mansion with a neutral expression, her mind already racing. Maybe I should start designing houses, mansions, or even castles using Touya's phone for inspiration.

Later, Kate sat in the garden behind the mansion, sipping her tea while poring over one of her sketches. She was designing a sleek pistol inspired by the "Time of Paradise" with a striking red-and-black color scheme.

"This design is based on Eden's weapon," Kate mused quietly to herself.

Touya walked out and noticed the drawing in her hands. "That's beautiful," he said, genuinely impressed.

"Once I get the materials, I'll have this made," Kate replied without looking up.

"That's just a regular gun, right?" Touya asked.

"Yes, for now," Kate said cryptically.

"What do you mean?"

"Once I'm strong enough and unlock some of my lost powers, I'll enhance it using the Creation and Destruction elements," she explained matter-of-factly.

"I see. Looks like you have a lot of future plans," Touya said with a smile.

Kate took a sip of her tea before continuing. "Right now, I'm a High Human. Age isn't an issue for me, but I'm weak compared to what I used to be."

"Wait... High Human?" Touya asked, confused.

"Did I not tell you?" Kate raised an eyebrow.

"There's been too much going on. I don't think I remember," Touya admitted.

"I see," Kate said. She set down her tea and turned to him. "First of all, my real name is Kate. My last name is a secret, but the one I'm using now is Apocalypse or Voidenmoon in this world."

"And then?" Touya urged.

"In my original universe, I was a gifted child born into an extremely wealthy family. We owned multiple planets and had a hand in almost everything, but our primary business was technological research. I was around 117 years old when I discovered the Universe Tablet."

"What's that?" Touya asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I can't explain it fully, but it led me to discover a part of the human brain that could influence the flow of information in the tablet. Using this knowledge, I created a new race called High Humans. For simplicity, we're an enhanced version of regular humans our bodies stop aging after reaching maturity."

"Does that make you immortal?" Touya asked, surprised.

"Not quite. I still age, but it's so slow that it appears as if we don't. We live long enough to outlast universes and witness their rebirth," Kate said, her tone even.

"Amazing," Touya said in awe. Then his expression grew serious. "But I thought you came from a cultivation world?"

Kate nodded. "I did. But originally, I lived in another universe. There, I created something called the Void Archives a device capable of replicating anything on its host planet. It could copy legendary skills, items, or technologies... but it couldn't replicate life or souls."

"Sounds powerful," Touya said.

"It was," Kate agreed, her voice tinged with bitterness. "But the government grew fearful of its potential. They tried to destroy it and me along with my planet. So, I stole it and used everything I had to cross a Universal Wall, arriving in a cultivation world. But someone likely the creator of all universes interfered and cursed me. Now, I can only replicate things once, and doing so costs me a portion of my lifespan."

Touya fell silent, processing her words.

"This world is much bigger and crueler than you think," Kate said, her gaze distant.

"I see... I'm just a grain of sand in the vast desert," Touya said, realization dawning on him. "And my strength is just a drop in the ocean."

Kate looked at him sharply. "Don't blame yourself. In this world, you're practically a demigod. But with your character, you won't be able to survive long-term."

"What do you mean?" Touya asked, frowning.

"Planetary wars will become commonplace the longer you live," Kate explained coldly. "If you're unwilling to kill, you won't be able to protect what matters to you. Sometimes, killing someone is better than letting them live to trouble you later. Remember that."

"Looks like he recovered. Now, I need to focus on the shop," Kate thought to herself. "For now, I better buy new skills." She was scrolling through the shop interface when she heard a voice.

"Are you always like this?" Touya asked.

"What do you mean?" Kate replied without looking up.

"You're indifferent. You kill people without batting an eye—"

Kate cut him off sharply. "It's the result of living far too long," she said coldly. "Your views on everything will change. You'll realize that, in the end, living an eternal life means you only have yourself. Anyone else doesn't matter. Everyone who has a heart can be wicked."

Touya hesitated, but she continued.

"You're still young, so you don't understand yet. One day, you'll see that in the end, you can only trust yourself not even your loved ones. Because the most damaging betrayal comes from the people you're trying to protect," Kate said firmly.

"But—" Touya began, only for her to cut him off again.

"And don't give me that naïve answer of 'they would never betray me.' I've heard it too many times, and I'm sick of it."

Before Touya could respond, Yumina approached and sat beside him.

"What are you two talking about?" Yumina asked, tilting her head curiously. "It looked serious, so I got curious."

"It's nothing," Kate said, her tone dismissive. "You don't need to know everything, right?"

Yumina frowned slightly but said nothing.

Kate added bluntly, "You're just engaged to him. You don't need to meddle too much in his personal life. What you should do is filter out the girls around him."

Yumina's shoulders slumped as she looked down, sadness flickering across her face.

Turning back to Touya, Kate continued, "Remember what we talked about: having too much power will inevitably draw you into serious situations. One day, you might need to protect the world, but don't overstep your boundaries."

Satisfied with her remarks, Kate turned her focus back to the shop. "All right, enough about that serious talk. What I need to focus on is my skills," she thought to herself, scrolling through the list.

"These are all Water-type skills. Is this because I only have an affinity for Water? What about the Blue Fire? Or is it because it came from another world?" Kate wondered, her mind filled with questions.

While staring at the shop and scrolling, something caught Kate's eye. "Babylon Key?" she thought to herself. Without hesitation, she purchased the key, and it materialized in front of her, falling into her palm.

"Hmm? What's that?" Touya asked, noticing Kate intently staring at the key. At that moment, another panel popped up in front of her:

Babylon's Key: A key to Babylon and its 100 floors.

Kate read the description silently, her curiosity piqued, and stood up with determination.

"Kate?" the two called out, concerned.

"I'll be away for now. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I promise I'll come back," Kate said firmly. Suddenly, an ancient-looking lock appeared in front of her, glitching slightly as it formed mid-air.

"It looks like it's attached to the air," Kate thought, examining it carefully. She inserted the key into the lock and turned it. Not long after, the space where the lock was split open, revealing a mysterious rift.

The sudden event left the others stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief. Without looking back, Kate stepped forward into the unknown, prepared and confident.

Kate looked around and found herself standing inside a huge, ancient-looking dome.

"This arena is dome-shaped and resembles the Demon Lord's arena," Kate thought to herself, her eyes scanning the vast structure. Suddenly, a massive panel appeared above her.

Level 1 of the Tower of Babylon

Kate read the words aloud as they began to shift.

Calibrating the Tower of Babylon's Multipliers.

She watched intently until the letters changed again:

The difficulty is set to Insane, the hardest in the Low Difficulty.

"Huh? What do you mean by 'the hardest in the Low Difficulty'?" Kate asked, confused. Before she could think further, the letters shifted once more:

In the Tower of Babylon, there are three levels of difficulty:

Low Difficulty: Divided into Easy, Intermediate, Hard, and Insane.

Middle Difficulty: Divided into Mythical, Saint, Demigod, and Godhood.

High Difficulty: Divided into High God, Primordial, and Chaos.

Kate read the explanation carefully, her eyes narrowing as she processed the information.

"I see... Looks like I'll be here for a very, very long time," Kate thought to herself, determination beginning to fill her expression.

As the letters changed again, a new message appeared:

"Once the level starts, you can't get out of here. Do you want to start the trial?"

Kate read the message carefully before responding. "Shop," she said, and the shop panel popped up in front of her. She navigated to the gear section.

"First, I need armor," Kate thought to herself. After scrolling for a while, something caught her eye.

"This one—the Armor of Scarra. It provides +5 to Constitution and +10 to Defense," Kate read. She hesitated for a moment.

"But I don't have a Defense stat," she muttered, puzzled, before deciding to buy the Scarra's Chestplate anyway. It materialized in front of her, and an option to equip it appeared.

After equipping it, the chestplate turned invisible.

"Whoa, it can turn invisible!" Kate exclaimed, letting out a sigh of relief. She tried to touch it, but her hand only met her stomach.

"Looks like it can't be touched either," she thought, intrigued. Suddenly, her status window appeared in front of her, surprising her.

"What? There's a new section called Equipment Stats? And it only shows Attack and Defense?" Kate thought to herself, examining the update.

"Looks like my stats can double with the right equipment," she mused, a grin forming on her lips. "For now, let's focus on preparing for Level 1."

She glanced at her remaining gold. "I only have 56 gold coins left. I can spend it on another piece of equipment, but..." Her eyes lit up.

"An accessory has already caught my attention," Kate thought as she navigated to the ring section.

"This is it—the Ring of Protection. It gives +5 Defense and a bonus attribute of shielding me once every day," Kate read.

"The shield will use my mana to block attacks, so I need to watch my mana carefully," she planned, mentally preparing herself.

After purchasing the ring, Kate checked her remaining gold.

"And with this, I only have two gold coins left," she thought, standing tall and looking forward with confidence and determination.

"I'm ready!" Kate said confidently, her voice echoing through the empty dome.

"Level 1 starting in 3, 2, 1..."

Kate watched as the countdown hit zero. Instantly, the surroundings transformed into a dense forest under a bright blue sky, catching her off guard.

"A forest?" Kate thought, scanning her new environment. Not long after, goblins began to spawn around her.

"Goblins?" she thought, observing them carefully. "They're tall—about half the height of an adult human."

She quickly hid behind a tree, her mind racing. "Alright, let's start this!" she thought with determination.

With a quick leap, Kate climbed to the top of the tallest tree, her eyes locking onto the goblin camp below.

"Hmph," she muttered under her breath before letting herself fall. Unsheathing her sword mid-air, she landed with a thundering impact, causing a small explosion that kicked up a cloud of dust, shrouding the area.

"This should hide me for a few minutes," Kate thought as she heard the goblins shouting in confusion. Without hesitation, she dashed toward them and began her killing spree.

After some time, Kate stood in the middle of the goblin camp, her body covered in blood. She swung her sword to remove the crimson stains before sheathing it. Suddenly, a large panel appeared above her.

"Level 1 Completed. Congratulations on completing Level 1. Rewards: 100 XP and 10 SP."

Kate read the message as another panel popped up in front of her.

"You've killed 30 goblins. 90 XP earned."

"Congratulations! You've leveled up to Level 7. Rewards: 3 Bonus SP and 3 SP," the panel announced.

"I have 13 SP now," Kate muttered. "I'll allocate 8 to Strength and 5 to my Barrier skill."

She summoned her barrier. "Barrier," she said, and a diamond-shaped blue barrier materialized around her.

"Hmm, it's still thin, but it'll do the job," Kate thought, examining it. She paused, her eyes narrowing as she considered something.

"The XP I earn from killing monsters and the XP rewards for clearing levels are completely separate. That's good to know," Kate mused.

Her thoughts were interrupted as new letters appeared on the huge panel.

"Would you like to start Level 2?"

"Yes," Kate answered, and in an instant, the surroundings shifted into a barren desert.

"Huh?" she murmured, squinting against the harsh sunlight as waves of heat bore down on her. Sweat trickled down her face.

"I hate this," she muttered, but her complaints were cut short as the ground began to tremble. In the distance, she saw movement.

"Is... is that an army?" Kate stammered.

The figures approached quickly, revealing themselves to be orcs.

"They're approaching fast. I need to thin them out," Kate resolved. Aiming her hand forward, she chanted, "Come forth, Water! Feel my blade, both cold and clear: [Aqua Cutter]!"

Streams of water blades shot out, slicing through the approaching orcs.

"After firing 32 Aqua Cutters, I've used up nearly half of my mana," Kate thought. "I'd better save some for defense."

She unsheathed her sword, gripping it tightly. "Twilight, let's go," she said, charging toward the orcs.

Kate hit the frontlines hard, cutting down three orcs with a single slash before retreating swiftly.

"Attack and retreat until their numbers are manageable. That's the best strategy for now," she planned.

After a while, Kate leaped onto an orc, plunging her sword into its head. She jumped from one orc to another, killing as she went.

But soon, she found herself encircled.

"There are still so many of them. Are they stronger than before, or is it just because I've gotten a little stronger?" Kate wondered, her body tense.

Surrounded, she gritted her teeth. "NO MATTER HOW MANY OF YOU THERE ARE, I'LL SEND YOU TO THE GODS! YOU FREAKING PIGS!" she roared, slashing furiously to break free.

By dawn, Kate's sword, Twilight, fell into the sand. She stood barely conscious, her body covered in wounds, staring soullessly at the remaining orcs.

"I... there are still some left. I... I can't give up," Kate thought, her dry lips barely moving.

"I don't even have the strength to lift a finger," she realized as an orc swung its club at her. The blow sent her flying, rolling across the ground as she coughed blood.

"This is the first time I've been this exhausted. So, this is how it feels," Kate thought bitterly. She glanced at her status window. Her health, once at 310, was now in the 40s.

"Am I going to die here?" she thought, staring at the sky.

"I haven't even felt love yet... the love of a man," she thought wryly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I probably smell like a rotting corpse, too."

The orcs gathered around her, their weapons raised, blocking out the sky.

"D*mn it... I'm really going to die at this rate," Kate thought as tears blurred her vision. Suddenly, a crack appeared in the sky above the orcs.

Pain unlike anything she had ever felt pierced through her body.

"This feeling... it's like I have a hole in my soul," she thought, her body paralyzed by agony.

Just as the orcs' weapons descended toward her, a powerful voice roared from above:

"YOU D*MN PIGS! HOW DARE YOU HURT MY MOM!"

One by one, the orcs exploded into pieces as Kate's vision blurred. Through the pain, she saw a beautiful girl with striking pure white hair, glowing crimson eyes, and pale white skin descending toward her.

"Wh-who are you?" Kate thought weakly.

"MOM!" the girl said cheerfully. "Let me heal you first."

She raised her hand, but the sky turned red as countless screens appeared, flashing "INTRUDER ALERT!"

Golden chains shot out, restraining the girl.

"What?! My World Force has been sealed?!" the girl shouted in shock.

A panel appeared before Kate.

"Someone forcefully emerged from the host's Small Universe, causing damage to the host's soul. As a result, the Originator's System will shut down temporarily for repairs. All functions will be disabled, and the intruder's power will be sealed. The intruder will now need to level alongside the host. Additionally, one of the host's original skills will be deleted at random as punishment."

Kate read the message, her heart sinking.

"The pain... it's unbearable," Kate thought as her surroundings blurred and she slowly lost consciousness.

Meanwhile, at the edge of the 3,000 Worlds, Yang Kai was inspecting a Universe World when a mysterious being suddenly appeared.

"Who are you?" Yang Kai asked cautiously, his gaze sharp.

"Who I am is not important. What's important is that Kate has chosen to reset everything," the mysterious being replied.

"Kate? What do you mean?" Yang Kai pressed, his tone growing more serious.

"Kate is the destined Conservator and Admin of this branch of the Universe Tree," the being explained. "Since she has chosen to reset everything, the events here will return to the very beginning and will only resume once she comes back."

"Why are you telling me this?" Yang Kai asked, suspicion evident in his voice.

"If you wish, you can select a point in time where everything will resume as it used to be when Kate returns. However, I have a task for you," the being said enigmatically.

Here's the revised version of your text with improved grammar, flow, and clarity:

Meanwhile, at the edge of the 3,000 Worlds, Yang Kai was inspecting a Universe World when a mysterious being suddenly appeared.

"Who are you?" Yang Kai asked cautiously, his gaze sharp.

"Who I am is not important. What's important is that Kate has chosen to reset everything," the mysterious being replied.

"Kate? What do you mean?" Yang Kai pressed, his tone growing more serious.

"Kate is the destined Conservator and Admin of this branch of the Universe Tree," the being explained. "Since she has chosen to reset everything, the events here will return to the very beginning and will only resume once she comes back."

"Why are you telling me this?" Yang Kai asked, suspicion evident in his voice.

"If you wish, you can select a point in time where everything will resume as it used to be when Kate returns. However, I have a task for you," the being said enigmatically.

A few days later, Kate opened her eyes, staring at the familiar ceiling of the Babylon Tower.

"Hmm, my body hurts so much," Kate thought, wincing as she tried to move. She forced herself to sit up, but her body felt powerless.

Looking around, her eyes landed on a replica of Twilight, her sword, lying nearby.

"I can use that as a cane for now," Kate thought as she began to crawl toward the sword.

After some effort, she finally grabbed it and used it to support herself. As she leaned on the sword, she suddenly heard a voice.

"MOM!"

Kate's head snapped toward the sound, her eyes widening. In the middle of the arena stood a huge golden chain connected to two massive swords. In the center of it all, the girl from before was bound, her hands chained to the swords.

"Her two hands are chained to the swords," Kate observed, her heart sinking.

"What happened? Are you okay?" Kate asked, her voice trembling with concern.

"Y-Yes, I'm okay. You don't need to worry about me," the girl replied, her voice steady despite her predicament.