– System Online: Initiation Begins.

["Welcome to the world of Beastmen, Nyxaria Duneveil."]

The ethereal voice lingered in the air, smooth and emotionless—yet not robotic. It was like a breeze brushing against her ear, leaving behind a trail of weightless confusion. Nyxaria blinked, her brows faintly twitching. That voice… it had come from nowhere, and yet it echoed as if whispered from within the depths of her soul.

Nyxaria Duneveil.

The name echoed in her mind—familiar like a childhood lullaby she couldn't recall the words to, and yet foreign, like a title carved for someone else. As if it belonged to her and didn't, like it's her but also not. Her lips moved without conscious thought, mouthing the syllables to herself in slow confusion.

Was it her name? Strange—she remembered everything else clearly, but her name… it was hazy. So, is this really her name.

Familiar, yet foreign. Like looking at her reflection in a distorted mirror. It was her name… wasn't it? Her memories as an assassin were razor-sharp, vivid as daylight. So why was her own name a blur?

It felt like something buried, something dormant.

Like it belonged to her, but only in part.

"Nyxaria… Duneveil..?" she whispered under her breath, tasting the name like a foreign fruit.

Before her thoughts could spiral deeper, she felt a gentle nudge at her back.

The purple bird.

It gave her a gentle nudge with its beak. The soft push jerked her from her daze, grounding her.

She blinked rapidly and looked up.

They were in what appeared to be a village square. The ground beneath her feet was smooth, and the air was rich with the scent of nature. A circle of curious faces stared at her. Not maliciously. No, they looked at her the way one might gaze upon an ancient relic or a rare jewel long thought lost.

Strangely enough, she noticed something else. There were very few women in the crowd. The ones she could spot were slightly Chubby, some with freckles and others without, dressed in simple, practical garments made of beast hides and furs. Their appearances weren't unattractive, but they were plain—solid, earthy.

The people around her seemed strange. Then her gaze dropped to herself.

Sleek black clothes, tactical fabric stitched for agility and stealth. Tight-fitting, form-revealing, lined with faint silver embroidery that shimmered subtly under sunlight. Maybe that's why they were staring.

A second nudge from the bird made her turn. Her gaze followed its beak to where an elderly woman was making her way toward them, supported by a wooden cane. Her steps were slow but steady, and she radiated a calm authority. Her graying hair was tied up in a simple knot, and despite her aged appearance, her eyes sparkled with warmth.

The woman stopped before her and looked up at the bird with a smile, then turned her gaze to Nyxaria.

"It's the first time Lioren has brought back a female," she said with wonder in her voice. "What is your name, child?"

She looked at the bird. "So, its name is Lioren," she thought.

Still unsettled by her surroundings and the lingering disorientation, Nyxaria hesitated. Then, almost instinctively, she said the name that had echoed in her mind moments ago.

"Nyxaria Duneveil."

The elderly woman blinked, visibly surprised. "Two names?"

Whispers spread like ripples through the gathered crowd.

Nyxaria's brows furrowed.

Is that so strange.

She glanced around again. Everyone was staring at her with widened eyes, like she'd just sprouted horns. Even some of them whispered among themselves, casting glances her way.

So surnames didn't exist here?

Another confirmation. This was definitely not the world she came from.

The old woman tilted her head, studying Nyxaria's strange clothing. Her voice remained gentle, but curious. "Which tribe are you from, child?"

She blinked and snapped out of her daze, her eyes flickering to the curious onlookers nearby. The people were still watching her from a safe distance, whispers fluttering like leaves in the wind.

Nyxaria didn't answer right away. Her instincts flared to life, sharp as ever. She had been trained never to give out unnecessary information. This place—this world—was unknown territory. She had to remain cautious.

Her sharp gaze scanned the people again. Many had animal features: furred ears, tails, claws, even scales. She'd seen them before, when flying above on the bird's back, but dismissed it as a trick of the wind and height.

It wasn't.

And plus what the strange voice said something like beastmen world.

They really were beastmen.

After a beat of silence, she spoke, carefully choosing her words.

"White Fox Tribe."

A fitting lie.

It aligned with her old codename: White Fox.

The elderly woman looked intrigued. "A fox tribe member? How rare. Especially this deep in the forest. And a female, at that."

There was clear surprise in her voice.

Nyxaria could tell she wanted to ask more, but then the woman's expression softened. She looked at Nyxaria's dirt-stained clothing and the weariness in her posture.

"You look tired. Come, you should rest first."

She turned and called to a nearby young girl. The girl, not much older than fifteen, hurried over. The woman instructed her to lead Nyxaria to one of the empty houses.

Nyxaria followed without a word.

She followed silently as the girl led her away from the curious crowd, the violet bird trailing behind like a silent guardian. They passed through wide streets lined with stone and wood buildings, the scent of herbs and fire-smoke hanging in the air. Beastmen of various type lingered in the corners—some curious, some indifferent, but none hostile.

Eventually, they reached a modest stone dwelling nestled near the edge of the residential area. The house was a simple structure made of smooth stone walls and a low thatched roof. It was simple, but sturdy. The door creaked open as the girl gestured her inside.

Inside, it was spartan but clean. A simple raised wooden bed covered with beast hide sat in the corner, next to a square table with matching chairs. A clay pitcher and basin rested on the side.

Once the girl left her alone, Nyxaria scanned the room, her assassin's instincts taking over. Her eyes swept across everything before she slowly sat down on the bed.

Her muscles tensed.

The memory of the strange voice returned, clear and sharp.

She spoke aloud, firm and cold: "Who was that? Show yourself."

For a moment, silence reigned.

Then—a shimmer.

Light shimmered like morning dew catching sunlight, a tiny figure appeared mid-air, as if conjured from light and smoke. A small girl, no bigger than her palm, floated before her. She smelled faintly of moonlight and stardust. She wore a dress of glowing threads and had hair like woven silver. Her eyes sparkled like galaxies.

She smiled cheekily.

"Hello again, Nyxaria! I'm Ari—your system."

Nyxaria narrowed her eyes. "System? What the hell does that mean?"

"I'm a unique multi-dimensional support system," the girl chirped proudly. "And your designated companion. I'm the one who brought you here."

Nyxaria's voice was flat. "Why?"

"Well," Ari said, spinning midair, "you met all the conditions I required in a host. Skilled, emotionally detached, strong and also you seem quite bored with your life, weren't you? I thought, hey, why not give her a second chance in a world that's exciting, mysterious, and dangerous?"

Nyxaria's tone turned frosty. "You thought?"

Ari cleared her throat. "Ahem. Anyway, now that you're here, you've been chosen for a very important mission."

A panel suddenly bloomed into existence before Nyxaria's eyes, translucent and glowing with golden letters.

[> Main Quest Unlocked:

Retrieve the Four Treasures of the Eternal Overlord.

— Status: Uninitiated

— Time Limit: None

— Progress: 0/4 ]

Nyxaria's expression turned colder. "And who exactly is this 'Eternal Overlord'?"

"Ah…" Ari wiggled her fingers mysteriously. "Can't tell you that. You'll have to uncover it on your own. It's part of your journey of discovery! Sounds fun, right?"

Nyxaria's gaze could have frozen lava.

Ari coughed lightly. "Well, no rush! There's no time limit. You can take your time. Explore! Build power! Make friends! Or enemies! Anyway, to help you settle in, I'll give you side missions and they come with rewards."

Another panel popped up.

[> Side Mission: Help A Injured Beastmen.

Reward: Veil Of The Serpent's Grace.

Time Limit: 1 day ]

Nyxaria stared. "What's this thing?"

Ari smiled sweetly. "It's a surprise!"

Nyxaria's voice turned icier. "Then what's the point of doing it?"

Ari floated in place, smiling like a guilty child. "Well… you'll know when you get it?"

Nyxaria leaned back slowly, crossing her arms and staring coldly at the glowing figure. The expression on her face was the same one she used before snapping a man's neck in the dark.

Ari pretended not to notice, her smile unwavering.