Star Rail Impostor! - 341 - 350

Star Rail Impostor! - 341

--+--

'Silver Wolf' watched as the girl clearly wanted to ask for her help, yet still insisted on playing hard to get.

With a playful smile, she beckoned Cipher over with a hook of her finger.

As the curious girl leaned in, Silver Wolf reached out and pinched her pair of feline ears.

"Still trying to keep secrets from me? Speak it out, or don't blame me when I turn you into a kitty and spend the whole day petting you."

"No... I surrender, meow!"

Cipher threw her hands up in honest defeat.

Cipher had already thoroughly inspected Bartholos's condition.

The fact that he had undergone a massive devolution while retaining all his data and abilities was nothing short of miraculous.

In the digital world, Digimon evolved by absorbing data. Usually, once a certain threshold was met, evolution happened naturally—like water overflowing once a basin is full.

But now, Bartholos was like a massive tank’s worth of water somehow being crammed into a tiny glass.

Neither Cipher nor Bartholos could wrap their heads around how it was done, so they ultimately chalked it up to the inscrutable power of an Aeon.

Cipher figured if she actually got turned into a cat, she’d likely receive the same treatment. The problem was, she didn't want to be a cat!

Being pampered by 'Silver Wolf' was one thing—she was the Savior, after all, and having a Savior or an Aeon pet you wasn't the worst fate.

The real issue was if she had to return to Amphoreus in cat form.

She didn't even want to imagine what the seamstress would do to her.

So, Cipher dutifully confessed her wicked little plan.

"Actually, I just want to snatch all the Aether Cartridges from those punks who dared to move against me. Then, I’ll use their cartridges to build a spectacle in Punklorde that they could never hope to crack. I’ve already got the design ready—I'm going to model it after Bartholos."

"..."

Well, well, Silver Wolf thought. She really plans on rubbing their noses in it. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Having an outsider steal a massive hoard of Aether Cartridges and then construct an Amphoreus-style monument out of them? Those cartridges and their former owners would be etched into the history books as a permanent mark of shame.

"You've certainly got guts."

"He-he~"

Cipher winked at 'Silver Wolf.'

"I mean, I've got you backing me up... Besides, those hackers knew perfectly well that Amphoreus is your turf, yet they still tried to target us. They need to be taught a lesson!"

"The idea is great, but whether you're teaching them a lesson or getting yourself caught is a toss-up."

Even though ‘Silver Wolf’ had boosted Cipher’s power, the girl was planning to take on an entire world single-handedly.

Especially since this particular thief didn't plan on using brute force, but intended to crush them using their own hacking methods. That raised the difficulty level significantly.

"Hehe~ Don't you worry. Once I've finished the design, you can give it the final 'Divine Certification.' I guarantee this monument will become a galaxy-wide sensation."

"..."

One had to admit, Cipher really lived up to her reputation as a thief. The girl had some serious nerve. Facing a world full of enemies, she didn't show a hint of panic.

"Well, good luck then. I won't be staying here for very long."

"You got it! Mission accepted. I'm off!"

With another wink, Cipher vanished from the basement once more.

Their conversation hadn't been hidden from the shop manager or little Silver Wolf at all.

To Cipher, standing next to the Savior was the safest place in the universe; there was zero chance of the information leaking.

As for 'Silver Wolf,' she could feel the manager’s mood shifting toward blatant curiosity after hearing the plan.

It seemed the manager didn't care at all about Cipher making a mockery of Punklorde’s hackers; in fact, she seemed delighted by the prospect.

However, just as 'Silver Wolf' was about to strike up a chat with the manager, little Silver Wolf dropped her game console and ran over.

The young girl stared up at her, eyes wide and a bit shy, but she summoned her courage to speak.

"Are you going back soon? If I make a wish in the future... will you still appear?"

'Silver Wolf' reached out and pinched the little girl’s cheek.

"Call me 'Big Sister.' I’m not leaving just yet, but I won't be staying forever. As for wishing... wait until you get a second chance to wish. That’s much harder than the first time."

"..."

Little Silver Wolf pouted but remained silent.

Yesterday, she hadn't cared much about this sister who appeared out of nowhere. But last night—though her memory was a bit fuzzy—the feeling of safety was something she found herself craving.

She was starting to loathe the idea of this strange sister leaving.

She wished this sister could stay with her in this fast-food joint forever.

Little Silver Wolf had been fantasizing about such a future, which was why she kept stealing glances at 'Silver Wolf.'

But unfortunately, her fantasy didn't last long before Cipher’s arrival brought the bad news.

The girl realized that this sister who climbed out of the Originium wouldn't be like a fairy companion in a game, staying by the protagonist's side until the credits rolled.

Forget the ending—she wouldn't even be there to finish the prologue.

Little Silver Wolf was not happy.

( ᗜ ˰ ᗜ )

Her small brain began to whir at high speed. It was unclear what kind of logical leap she made, but after a long silence, she suddenly spoke up.

"I want to learn Aether Editing. Can you teach me, Sis?"

"Why the sudden interest? Giving up on games?"

While Aether Editing was essentially a way to play with reality itself, the introductory phase was far more grueling than any game.

'Silver Wolf' had planned to introduce her to it eventually, but she hadn't expected the girl to ask for formal lessons so soon.

Faced with the question, little Silver Wolf bit her lip, refusing to explain her reasoning.

Compared to her firmness with Cipher, 'Silver Wolf' was far more patient with the child. Especially since this was the stubborn, "says the opposite of what she feels" Silver Wolf.

She didn't force the girl to talk.

"I don't mind teaching you, but the owner is your guardian. You need her permission first."

With that, 'Silver Wolf' looked over at the manager, who had been quietly watching from the sidelines.

The owner, who thought she was just a spectator, pointed to herself in surprise.

She was involved in this?

Truthfully, she didn't much care what decisions Silver Wolf made. Running this shop was busy enough; she didn't have the energy to micromanage a kid.

As long as the girl grew up in one piece, that was a win in her book.

--+--

Silver Wolf easily secured the manager’s consent.

And so, she naturally began her studies in Aether Editing under 'Silver Wolf.'

On the surface, this technology looked like a feat of scientific divinity, but at its core, it was the power of a Path.

From another perspective, using such a rigorous programming method to drive the power of Elation—wasn't that just an attempt to parse the greatness of the Path?

Then again, 'Silver Wolf' herself used "Elation Equations" to command that power. If anything, she was a walking, talking, super-upgraded version of Aether Editing.

Since she already relied on Path Equations to exert her influence, 'Silver Wolf' didn't just master the essence of Aether Editing instantly—she found the current methods so crude that she subconsciously gave them a bit of an "optimization."

The version she taught Silver Wolf was this upgraded Pro version.

At first, 'Silver Wolf' worried it might be too difficult. She debated teaching the original first and then the upgrade later.

But she soon realized that little Silver Wolf truly was the future's greatest genius hacker, handpicked by Elio.

That talent was no joke.

Despite her young age, she managed to get a basic handle on this upgraded Aether Editing within a mere half-day.

Project Bunny served as her Aether Cartridge.

Once Silver Wolf fully mastered the "Pro" version, such physical aids would become optional, but for now, the cartridge's functionality was vital.

Having used Aether Editing to rewrite reality for the first time, Silver Wolf was absolutely beaming with excitement.

She began to treat Aether Editing like a high-difficulty game, determined to clear every stage.

'Silver Wolf' acknowledged her passion but remained skeptical about her goal of mastering the Pro version in such a short time.

Little Silver Wolf clearly wasn't one to back down.

She poured almost all her energy into her studies. She even seemed distracted while helping out at the fast-food shop.

Luckily, Project Bunny was there to keep an eye on her, otherwise she might have caused a few accidents.

The adorable part was that despite her hard work, she never missed her bedtime.

Like clockwork, she would crawl into 'Silver Wolf's' arms every night, muttering about Aether Editing until she drifted off to sleep.

While things remained peaceful inside the shop, the world outside was getting rowdier by the day.

Cipher’s actions became increasingly bold. Now that her origins and identity were exposed, she began to openly provoke all of Punklorde.

One day she’d build a massive sculpture of a World-Ending Titan in the Oasis Zone; the next, she’d turn some corporate headquarters into a public bathhouse.

Her style was pure chaos—arrogant and utterly spiteful.

More and more hackers joined the fray, seeing it as a battle for Punklorde’s dignity.

But so far, every single one of them had returned in crushing defeat.

Simultaneously, the name of 'Hacker Zagreus' began to echo throughout the streets of Punklorde.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 342

--+--

Little Silver Wolf was incredibly hardworking over the next ten days or so.

Of course, it helped that she already had a natural fascination with Aether Editing. But even though ‘Silver Wolf’ praised her daily for her rapid progress, the girl had no idea where she actually stood. 

Without a proper opponent to use as a benchmark, she remained clueless about her own skill level.

Engaging in digital tug-of-war with her older sister felt like staring into the unfathomable reaches of the cosmos.

Invisible, unknowable, and immeasurable.

She could try whatever she wanted; she never felt any resistance or hit any solid walls, yet she could never succeed. 

It was the ultimate lack of feedback.

Naturally, Little Silver Wolf didn’t spend all her time playing only with her dear sister. She also had Cipher and Bartholos as sparring partners.

Compared to her sister, these two felt more like navigating a complex maze. 

While that was much better than the sheer aimless void she felt with ‘Silver Wolf’—at least she wasn't left feeling completely bewildered—she still couldn't win.

It was a cycle of very little positive reinforcement.

As a result, even though Little Silver Wolf was improving by leaps and bounds every day—and she knew it—she failed to build an ounce of self-confidence. 

After all, her original goal in learning Aether Editing was to close the gap between her and her sister. 

Looking at the results, it felt like no matter how much she grew, that distance remained an endless horizon.

Fortunately, Silver Wolf was never one to be easily discouraged. 

If comparing herself to her sister yielded no visible results, yet she was certain of her own progress, she simply needed a different point of comparison.

Beyond the walls of that tiny underground arcade, the world was crawling with hackers who used Aether Editing. Then again, Little Silver Wolf wasn't even ten years old yet. 

The idea of running off alone to challenge adult hackers was a bit daunting.

She didn’t want to discuss this with her sister, either. She was reluctant to let her sister know what she was thinking; it felt far too embarrassing. 

After mulling it over, Little Silver Wolf set her sights on that strange cat-person lady who dropped by the shop every couple of days to see her sister.

And so, when Cipher returned to the fast-food joint once more, Little Silver Wolf took her chance. She quietly sent her an encrypted email. 

Then, she sat there restlessly, pretending to study Aether Editing while looking exactly like a job seeker waiting for an interview.

The encryption on the email was decent, but to Cipher, it was paper-thin. Cipher’s eyebrows shot up. 

She spared a side-glance at the tiny girl, then looked toward ‘Silver Wolf,’ silently seeking her input. In a flash, she decrypted the message and saw the contents.

Oh-ho~

A smirk tugged at the corner of Cipher’s mouth. 

This little girl actually wanted to collude with an outsider like her to go stir up trouble in Punklorde, all for the sake of "training" her Aether Editing.

What a talent!

Every time Cipher had visited lately, she’d seen Little Silver Wolf buried in her studies, so she’d kept a loose eye on the kid’s progress. 

Since the girl was learning a version upgraded by ‘Silver Wolf,’ her actual strength—even if her learning speed wasn't totally absurd—was already formidable in Cipher’s eyes. 

She’d stolen from plenty of hackers who were far worse than this kid.

Taking her out to see the world wouldn't be a bad idea. 

Normally, she’d definitely need the green light from the boss and ‘Silver Wolf’ first, since one was the guardian and the other was the teacher. But the kid’s email explicitly begged her to keep them in the dark and conduct this "special training" in secret.

This left Cipher in a bit of a bind. Strictly speaking, she had no real tie to Little Silver Wolf, whereas her connection to ‘Silver Wolf’ was quite clear. 

It would be natural to just discuss it with the elder sister quietly; surely she wouldn't blow the secret.

Then again... Cipher glanced at the girl’s profile. She could see that despite her age, the girl was dead serious about this. 

More importantly, Little Silver Wolf wasn't some rowdy, bratty kid. Facing such a sincere child, Cipher didn't want to just treat her like a naive toddler and ignore her wishes.

After weighing her options, she decided to chat with the girl first. 

Besides, their "clandestine" activities likely wouldn't escape ‘Silver Wolf’ anyway. If the elder sister didn't speak up to stop it, it was as good as tacit permission.

With that thought, Cipher checked ‘Silver Wolf’ for a reaction. Seeing none, she finally replied to the message.

[Zagreus: You sure you want to follow me? I'm Punklorde's most wanted right now. Helping me means making an enemy of the whole planet!]

[Silver Wolf: You're with my sister, so you're with me.]

[Silver Wolf: Plus, you're amazing. You're the best hacker I can find besides my sister.]

[Zagreus: Heh, I like the sound of that. I've unilaterally approved your training plan!]

Seeing that ‘Silver Wolf’ had no intention of interfering, Cipher made the snap decision to recruit the girl into her little crew.

[Zagreus: One condition though: with me, you start as support. Don't even think about charging into the front lines.]

[Silver Wolf: Deal.]

Little Silver Wolf’s reply was curt and decisive. She knew she wasn't on the level of Cipher or Bartholos yet, so supporting was only right. 

Beyond the learning opportunity, if she kept this up, she would leave her own mark alongside her sister's legacy on Punklorde. It would be a masterpiece they technically finished together.

It might be a bit of a shortcut, but at least she could finally catch a glimpse of her sister's coattails.

Her heart raced at the thought. 

The idea of completing a work with her sister filled her with a surge of boundless energy. 

This was it! 

As the code began to flow more smoothly under her fingers, she got a bit ahead of herself. Riding that wave of excitement, she immediately took Project Bunny and launched a fresh challenge at ‘Silver Wolf’!

...And then, the fired-up Little Silver Wolf was instantly plunged back into reality by a familiar, crushing defeat.

(ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)

A classic "Bronya" expression formed on her cute face, making ‘Silver Wolf’ burst out laughing.

Of course the elder sister knew what they were plotting. 

She didn't know the exact "why," but she had actually planned to have Cipher take the girl out for some real combat experience against other hackers anyway. 

Since Little Silver Wolf was showing such initiative, she had no reason to step in.

Unaware that her cover was blown, Little Silver Wolf sat in the palm of Project Bunny and followed Cipher’s guidance to begin her hacking crusade.

At first, she was nervous. 

Since she didn't know her own level, she worried that a failure might expose the shop's location, forcing her to ask Cipher to clean up her mess. However, she soon realized something was off.

She had prepared for a "battle of the century," pumping herself up for a grueling fight, only to find that the enemy hacker was incredibly fragile. 

Their techniques were riddled with holes and looked hopelessly outdated. To her eyes, every move they made was an amateur mistake.

"...Are you really this weak?"

Hesitantly, she shattered the opponent’s layers of defense and sent that genuine question to their terminal.

The digital battlefield fell into an eerie silence for about ten seconds. 

On the other side, the hacker was absolutely devastated. He had caught Cipher’s signal and tracked her down, thinking he was about to make the catch of a lifetime. 

Instead, after a flurry of "masterful" maneuvers, the opponent had cracked his offense and defense as easily as an eggshell—and then had the audacity to send such a pitying comment.

He felt his dignity as a hacker being ground into the dust. 

Gasping for air and turning bright red with rage, he spent thirty seconds just trying to steady his breathing. Finally, for the sake of his pride, he launched one last, futile charge at Little Silver Wolf.

The result was, predictably, a total slaughter. His every move was pathetic. The defeat was so absolute it shattered the man's very soul.

By the time Cipher went to collect the spoils, the hacker just handed over the game cartridge voluntarily, looking half-dead and "done with life." 

Cipher just shook her head; this guy probably wouldn't be able to hack again for the rest of his days. But that was his own fault for stubbornly hunting down an "inexperienced" Little Silver Wolf.

The technology Silver Wolf used was a fully upgraded iteration of Aether Editing. 

To ‘Silver Wolf,’ it might just be a standard update, but one had to remember: this was something tweaked by an Aeon of Elation. 

A "standard update" from an Aeon created a chasm between a normal person and the girl that was comparable to the gap between a mortal and an Emanator.

Even with only half a month of study, she could easily steamroll these confident, veteran hackers. It was a case of pure, overwhelming stat-checking.

Ignoring the broken man, Cipher finished her routine looting and met up with Little Silver Wolf on a skyscraper under the moonlight. 

Standing on the edge of the roof via her holographic projection, Little Silver Wolf watched the Aether cartridges flipping through Cipher’s fingers and let out a huff of disdain.

"That guy was way too weak... I thought someone brave enough to follow us would at least have some skill. Turns out he was just bottom-tier trash."

"Ha! That guy wasn't bottom-tier," Cipher laughed. "Actually, he’s pretty famous in hacking circles. Definitely a high-level pro."

If that man ever found out he’d been swatted like a roadside fly by a girl who wasn't even ten yet, he’d probably pass out from pure shame.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 343

--+--

That first sweeping victory gave little Silver Wolf a much-needed boost of confidence.

However, because the win had been so effortless, she found it hard to believe Cipher when she claimed the opponent was a formidable hacker. 

She secretly suspected Cipher was just humoring her, perhaps spinning tall tales to keep her spirits up for the sake of her elder sister.

Watching Silver Wolf’s skeptical reaction to her debut triumph, Cipher was momentarily at a loss for words. She could only conclude that the blame lay squarely with 'Silver Wolf' for upgrading the Aether Editing technology to such an absurd degree. 

She hadn't the faintest clue what 'Silver Wolf' was thinking, boosting the tool to such god-tier levels of brokenness before casually handing it over to a kid like this.

Even as a Digimon and a Pathstrider of Elation, Cipher found this "Pro" version of Aether Editing quite a handful to wrap her head around. 

To the current world of Punklorde, this wasn't just a competitive edge—it was a full-blown dimensional strike.

Cipher shook her head, already imagining the sheer despair awaiting the local hackers.

Because the techniques of Amphoreus inherited Zandar's legacy and insights from Madam Divine Herta, they operated on a completely different logic than the hacking culture of Punklorde. 

Thus, even when Cipher was busy stirring up trouble and trouncing experts across the planet, the locals mostly saw it as a provocation from an outside faction.

By now, the struggle between Cipher and the hackers had evolved into a technical clash between rival schools of thought.

But Silver Wolf was different.

Silver Wolf was Punklorde through and through, and the tools she wielded were the direct evolution of their native Aether Editing. 

During an engagement, it was easy to sense that her methods shared the same roots. 

Yet, here was a hacker of their own blood, poised to bring a "little" high-tech shock to the old guard with overwhelming momentum.

It would be one thing if Silver Wolf had iterated this new tech herself. 

But if these hackers ever found out that this brand-new Aether Editing Pro originated from the Savior of Amphoreus... that with just a slight nudge, THEY could turn a girl under ten—with less than a month of training—into one of Punklorde’s elite?

Their "Dao of Hacking" would likely crumble into dust.

Cipher pursed her lips, fighting back a smirk. "Setting aside the strength of your opponent, how did you feel about your first op?"

Cipher wasn't in a rush to move to the next target. Instead, she sat on the edge of the rooftop, gazing out over the city where neon lights bled across the landscape.

Beside her, little Silver Wolf gave a small pout. "Not bad. It’s actually pretty interesting."

Though the actual confrontation had been underwhelming, the preparation, the planning, the waiting, and the execution—the whole process was genuinely fun. 

At the very least, Silver Wolf felt like she was having a blast. That was precisely why she’d been so disappointed when the "boss fight" she’d looked forward to turned out to be such a letdown.

Cipher let out a sudden laugh. "Well, I hope you still feel that way later."

"If the next bunch are as pathetic as the last, I probably won't," Silver Wolf replied. 

She had intended to nod in agreement, but remembering how hard that last boss had flopped, she hesitated and walked back her bold claim.

She didn't mean to look down on other hackers. She just wanted to protest to Cipher: Stop giving me these small fry. Constantly bullying noobs was a one-way ticket to stagnation.

"Ha~ I can't guarantee that. You have to realize that even on Punklorde, most hackers aren't as strong as you think they are."

"..."

Silver Wolf remained unconvinced. After all, it had only been half a month since she first touched Aether Editing. 

She still saw herself as a total rookie, unaware that she wasn't using standard Aether Editing at all, but a heavily optimized "Pro" version.

She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind for now. It didn't matter if she only ran into small fry at first. 

As long as she leaked enough data and displayed enough skill, the experts would come looking for her even if Cipher didn't seek them out. That was just how Punklorde worked.

"So, when does the next job start?"

"Oho, such passion! We start right now then. Keep up!"

With a light chuckle and the crisp chime of a bell, Cipher vanished from Silver Wolf’s sight. The duo resumed their operation.

As for Bartholos... it had always preferred acting alone and clearly had no interest in babysitting. Besides, in its current form as a Digimon-like "Koromon," it wasn't exactly equipped for childcare anyway.

In any case, once little Silver Wolf intentionally leaked her own intel to bait the masters into the ring, a massive shockwave ripped through Punklorde’s network.

"Did Punklorde just give birth to a traitor?!"

"Does it count? Her Aether Editing was taught by the boss of that Amphoreus thief, wasn't it?"

"Is this really the time to argue about being a traitor? The real question is whether the intel is true—did she really start learning half a month ago and then just start wiping the floor with us?"

"What else could it be? Are you suggesting a top-tier hacker has been living under a rock for years just to wait for an Amphoreus invasion to flip sides?"

"..."

When that conclusion was voiced, the entire hacking forum fell into a momentary, paralyzed silence. 

As ridiculous as the theory sounded, the facts were stubborn. 

Whether the culprit was a local or from Amphoreus, they had left zero digital footprint prior to the Phantom Thief's appearance. That meant they were a fresh debut.

A rookie had used Aether Editing to dismantle a whole legion of veteran hackers. 

Not only that, but the rookie's teacher was from Amphoreus. 

They had cracked Aether Editing in a staggering amount of time and apparently "tuned" the technology itself. This was a hard pill for the hackers to swallow.

"By the way, for those of you who actually fought her... did it feel off? The tech she’s using... it feels like there’s a generational gap."

"Yes."

"Absolutely!"

A flood of hackers, their confidence shattered, began to recount those crushing defeats.

Truth be told, everyone who had faced Silver Wolf felt the same way, but they had all assumed it was a hallucination born of losing so badly. 

Now that they were comparing notes—good grief! It wasn't just them.

Consequently, an even more terrifying theory began to circulate. 

Someone had modified, or rather, upgraded Aether Editing, optimizing it to an impossible height. So high, in fact, that a novice could effortlessly trample the old guard.

In an instant, the atmosphere among the hackers shifted entirely. Some were struck by fear, others by excitement, and some were driven to the brink of madness.

A mere hypothesis, unsupported by evidence, had completely ignited Punklorde. A generational leap in Aether Editing tech? To a hacker, that was nothing less than a Holy Grail.

Many hackers who previously had no interest now turned their eyes toward the wandering Amphoreus Phantom Thief crew. 

Thus, like a swarm of locusts, countless hackers—driven by a cocktail of conflicting emotions—surged toward the trail Silver Wolf had intentionally left behind, as she prepared to challenge the entire world.

On the other side, having sensed the brewing chaos early on, Cipher and Bartholos kept a close watch on the audacious brat. 

Bartholos roared with laughter, praising Silver Wolf's boldness and sincerely hoping she would flatten the whole planet. 

With 'Silver Wolf' as a safety net, Bartholos wasn't worried in the slightest—it just wanted to see if the kid actually had the guts to take on the world.

Cipher, however, wasn't quite as mischievous. "There are too many of them. I can't let you handle it all alone; your sister wouldn't allow it."

But more than that, Silver Wolf, realizing things had spiraled beyond her expectations, finally voiced the doubt she’d been harboring.

"...Is my Aether Editing really different from theirs?"

If she had known this from the start, she wouldn't have played it this way.

The problem was that every opponent she’d faced had shattered at a touch before she could even process the gap. Combined with her own shallow understanding of the "Pro" version, she hadn't been able to feel the nuances. 

Hearing the news now, Silver Wolf herself was the most bewildered of them all.

Cipher looked at Silver Wolf’s holographic projection and gave a soft laugh. "You'll have to ask your sister about that. How should I know?"

"..."

Silver Wolf didn't really want to ask. If she opened her mouth, her recent antics would definitely be exposed. 

Though, given her current strength, she suspected her sister had been watching her every move anyway.

But that was a separate matter. For a young girl like her, admitting it to her sister's face was still a bit too difficult.

Cipher saw right through her. 

She leaned down and said seriously, "Your dear sister might not be staying here much longer. If there's something you want to say before she leaves, you might not get another chance for a very long time."

"..."

Silver Wolf’s entire body gave a sudden jolt. She looked at Cipher in disbelief, her eyes searching for any sign of a lie. Unfortunately, it was the truth.

In an instant, the holographic projection beside Cipher flickered and vanished. Silver Wolf’s consciousness returned to her familiar underground arcade.

She looked around. There were a few customers in the arcade, but her sister wasn't there. 

Ignoring the patrons, Silver Wolf leaped down from Project Bunny's arms and sprinted out the door, desperate to find that familiar figure.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 344

--+--

Little Silver Wolf felt a mix of trepidation and a secret, fluttering joy.

She didn't quite understand why 'Silver Wolf' was teaching her a unique form of Aether Editing. In a child’s simple worldview, possessing something special that belonged to her and her alone was, without a doubt, a wonderful surprise.

On the other hand, she was terrified that this thing she held so dear might be utterly trivial in the other woman’s eyes. 

If she ran over all wide-eyed to confirm it, only to receive a casual, indifferent answer... that would be heartbreaking.

They had only known each other for half a month, after all. Perhaps 'Silver Wolf' understood the little one well enough, but to Little Silver Wolf, she didn't even know where this "big sister" had come from.

She only knew what she’d overheard from Cipher and Bartholos—that her sister was the Savior of Amphoreus, the one who had rescued the entire realm from a hopeless cycle of reincarnation and granted them all new life.

Little Silver Wolf didn't grasp the complexities, but she knew one thing for certain: her sister was someone very, very incredible.

And for someone so incredible, things that seemed priceless to outsiders might be worth nothing at all. 

This realization made the girl feel a nagging sense of inferiority. Not only was she not "incredible," she was just a kid without even a pair of parents to call her own.

Did she really have the right to stand by her sister’s side? 

Or rather, did she even have the right to call her "sister" at all?

The closer Little Silver Wolf got to 'Silver Wolf', the more she couldn't help but overthink. 

It wasn’t that she wasn't grateful for everything her sister had done; she was just anxious about whether the woman actually cared about her.

More than some legendary Aether Editing technique, what Little Silver Wolf truly craved was her sister’s gaze. She wanted her sister to care.

But then she’d think that a plain, ill-tempered kid like herself wasn't nearly as likable as other children. 

Maybe it was better to just pretend she didn't know anything—at least that way, she could keep the dream alive. If she got a flat "no," she knew she’d burst into tears right then and there.

Yet, every time she tried to stop in her tracks, Cipher’s words would echo in her mind, keeping her restless.

And so, harboring a heart full of conflict, Little Silver Wolf dithered and dawdled until she finally found where 'Silver Wolf' was lounging.

At that moment, 'Silver Wolf' had managed to find a reclining chair from somewhere and was lying by the window with her eyes half-closed. 

The flickering neon lights from outside washed over her—a scene that looked anything but restful.

'Silver Wolf' had actually been mulling over the Permanence Equation. 

Over the past ten days or so, her understanding of the Path of Abundance had improved significantly. 

With that segment of the Ambrosial Arbor root she’d taken earlier as a reference, she felt as though she could practically manifest a similar plant with her bare hands. Not that she actually would, of course.

Sensing Little Silver Wolf’s approaching footsteps, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at the nervous girl walking toward her. 

This little thing wasn't yet the stoic, poker-faced Silver Wolf she would eventually become; right now, her expressions were quite vivid.

"What's up? Hit a wall with something you don't understand?"

Little Silver Wolf was a natural-born genius for hacking. Even when faced with the "Pro" version of Aether Editing—which was effectively nightmare difficulty—the girl showed steady growth. 

Even if she didn't come asking for help, she could usually solve problems on her own eventually.

However, Little Silver Wolf often chose to run to her temporary sister with questions. It was obvious she just wanted an excuse to talk more. So, 'Silver Wolf' assumed she was here for another lesson.

But the girl stood before her and shook her head. "No, it’s not that."

"Then what are you up to?"

'Silver Wolf' blinked. Recently, Silver Wolf had been making quite a name for herself on Punklorde. 

By now, the whole planet knew a brilliant young hacker had burst onto the scene, a talent so dazzling she was almost certainly the next legend in the making.

Technically, few hackers on Punklorde could pose a threat to her. And even if they did, she had Cipher and Bartholos lurking nearby. 

With those three working together, they might not be completely invincible, but they were certainly a force to be reckoned with. Plus, it wasn't mealtime yet, Cipher’s plan showed no signs of ending, and her own "roleplay" time still had about ten days left.

After a quick mental scan, she couldn't think of any specific reason why the girl would seek her out right now.

After that brief exchange, Little Silver Wolf bit her lip and fell silent. She looked like she was fighting an intense internal battle, appearing utterly restless.

Though 'Silver Wolf' didn't know what was wrong, she had no intention of peeking into the girl's thoughts. She simply sat up with a quiet smile, waiting for her to speak.

After a few moments of quiet, seeing that it wasn't right to let the girl just stand there, she reached out and took Little Silver Wolf’s hand, pulling her closer. 

She’d intended to have the girl sit beside her, but the moment she was near, the little one suddenly blurted out:

"Sister, I have a confession. I’ve been secretly facing off against other hackers lately."

"Mm. So, did you win or lose?"

'Silver Wolf' had known all along, of course, but for the sake of the girl's pride, she had to play along.

"I won."

"Then it sounds like you’ve been studying well. Keep it up."

'Silver Wolf' smiled and ruffled the girl's hair, casually reshaping her ponytail into twin drills.

"......"

Little Silver Wolf was used to her sister’s habit of messing with her hair. She’d just change it back once she walked away anyway.

"You aren't mad, Sister? That I went off to fight other hackers on my own?"

"I'm not. You aren't a child who knows nothing; I trust you to have a sense of proportion. And even if you do get into trouble, I’m the adult here—I'll handle it for you."

"......"

Little Silver Wolf squeezed the woman’s hand tightly in return. Once again, the urge to never let her sister leave surged within her, stronger than ever.

It wasn't that she disliked the Shopkeeper. 

It was just that the Shopkeeper really didn't know the first thing about raising a child, and with the small shop to look after, she simply didn't have the energy to spare.

"Sister, I have one more question. Can I ask you?"

"What is it?"

"Is the Aether Editing I'm learning... different from what other hackers use?"

Silver Wolf finally worked up the nerve to ask. 

Of course, there was a follow-up question she was too shy to voice.

What she really wanted to ask was whether she held a place in her sister's heart, or if the woman was just passing through because she found the situation amusing. 

But that was a question she simply couldn't say out loud.

"It is a bit different. It’s a specially optimized version—quite a few steps ahead of standard Aether Editing techniques."

"Phew..."

Little Silver Wolf knew her curiosity wasn't fully satisfied yet. But the next question... honestly, she felt like she was being a bit too greedy. 

After all, they’d only known each other for two weeks. In such a short time, and being just an ignorant kid herself, she couldn't imagine she mattered that much to someone so great.

"Then, um... why did you go through the trouble of optimizing it, Sister? You could have just taught me the original version, right?"

The girl felt her wording was awkward and wanted to take it back, but 'Silver Wolf' didn't give her the chance. She explained with a smile:

"Because you're talented. It would be such a waste if your potential was held back by the limitations of the technology itself, wouldn't it?"

"......"

Little Silver Wolf’s face turned bright red in an instant.

Her sister called her talented! And the unique Aether Editing was modified specifically because of her extraordinary potential! 

Because she was different from everyone else, her sister had tailored the technique just for her.

She does care about me!

It has to be said, when someone is looking through rose-colored glasses, everything seems beautiful.

Strictly speaking, 'Silver Wolf' was just acting like a teacher who cherished a gifted student; her words weren't that extraordinary.

But to Little Silver Wolf’s ears, it sounded as if her sister was telling her she was special—that she was important.

She was happy, truly happy.

But at the same time, she grew even more reluctant to face her sister’s eventual departure. Thinking about their future separation made her current happiness feel like a limited-time trial voucher.

Little Silver Wolf looked down and let out a tiny sigh. "Sister, what will you do after you leave here?"

"Hard to say. I tend to wander the universe, and I don't really stick to one thing. Why the sudden question?"

"Nothing..."

The girl shook her head. This wasn't exactly good news for her right now. 

But looking at it from another angle, if she eventually gained the ability to travel the stars on her own, could she follow her sister and go on adventures across the universe?

Most people probably didn't wander like her sister did, and those who did usually didn't choose to travel in groups. 

So, if she became a legendary hacker quickly—clearing this "starting village" called Punklorde—maybe she could ask her sister to take her along when she headed into the cosmos.

The thought gave Little Silver Wolf a sudden, massive surge of motivation. 

She was going to become the new legend of Punklorde! And the sooner, the better!

But before that...

"Sister, can I tell people that you were the one who taught me how to be a hacker?"

"If it makes you happy."

'Silver Wolf' looked at the girl, who was carefully "validating her ticket," and shook her head with a chuckle. 

Lately, her "emotion points" had been rising a bit faster; it was likely because Silver Wolf had already started letting the secret slip.

Even though she hadn't mentioned a specific name, the girl had disclosed some of the connection between her and Cipher. 'Silver Wolf' didn't have much to say about being the hottest topic on Punklorde right now. She hadn't intended to make such a big splash.

But this little girl had gone all out, insisting she had a teacher from Amphoreus backing her up. 

Now, conspiracy theories were flying all over Punklorde, and she had been cast as the "shadowy mastermind" pulling the planet’s strings.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 345

--+--

More days drifted by, and Cipher finally managed to scrap together enough Aether Cartridges.

It wasn't quite enough to say she’d picked Punklorde clean, but a massive number of hackers had certainly fallen victim to her "poisonous touch." 

Even several long-renowned, top-tier hackers ended up biting the dust at the hands of Cipher and Silver Wolf.

Such an exaggerated streak of victories finally forced the recent hot-headed hackers to cool their brains.

At first, they just thought these newcomers were experts.

Then, the hackers who considered themselves experts were taken down with ease. 

Next, they figured Cipher and Silver Wolf had to be top-flight contenders at the very least, but those guys’ Aether Cartridges were swiped with the same indifferent efficiency.

Finally, once the very best hackers Punklorde had to offer were left broken and defeated, the crowd finally snapped out of their delusions of "hacker’s glory." 

They realized that these phantom thieves from Amphoreus could likely only be taken down if the legendary hackers of old made a move.

Unfortunately, no one knew where those legends were or what they were up to. All anyone knew was that they had all headed for the stars.

And so, without a legendary hacker to hold down the fort, Punklorde fell into an eerie, sudden silence after a certain point.

The hackers had finally realized one thing: they couldn't handle these phantom thieves from Amphoreus. This war of hacking—devoid of smoke or death—finally drew to a close with Punklorde's utter defeat.

The once-fired-up hackers finally behaved themselves, retracting the grand boasts they’d tossed around recently. 

Those who hadn't had their cartridges stolen went into hiding, terrified of being spotted by the phantom thieves. 

Those who had been robbed didn't dare utter a word, fearing that the elusive little "thief cat" might double back just to give them a thrashing.

Though they never said it out loud, the hackers reached a tacit understanding: they were surrendering. But they would never admit it publicly; they would simply wait in silence for the intruders to leave. 

At the very least, it would save them a final shred of dignity.

Cipher didn't care one bit about their silent surrender. As for whether it was public or not, it didn't matter to her at all. 

Whatever she was about to do next ensured these hackers wouldn't be able to just "let bygones be bygones" and pretend nothing had happened.

With enough Aether Cartridges in hand, Cipher was moving on to the final stage: the construction of a Great Wonder. 

She intended to erect a massive, iconic landmark of Amphoreus in both the physical and digital realms of Punklorde.

She’d already picked the spot—right in the heart of Punklorde's most prosperous district.

Of course, even though Cipher had bested Punklorde’s finest, she knew her strength wasn't exactly "unbeatable." If they relied solely on the three of them to build this Wonder, it would likely be breached and dismantled by the local hackers within days.

So, it was time to call in Cipher’s biggest backer and most loyal "savior," Madam Bai Ming. 

Using the power of Elation to anchor the twin Wonders in reality and data, she could ensure those hackers wouldn't be able to tear it down for centuries.

Naturally, Cipher didn't plan on becoming a permanent enemy of Punklorde. 

When she said "indestructible," she meant for everyone except Silver Wolf.

Cipher knew Silver Wolf wanted to become a legend quickly, clear the "starting zone," and head for the stars. Given the girl's talent and her newly enhanced Aether Editing techniques, that day wasn't far off. 

But a practical problem had surfaced.

Because of their recent, over-the-top spree, all of Punklorde had been severely drained of its vitality; its talent pool was withered. 

You could say Cipher had stepped on the head of every hacker in Punklorde to climb her way to legendary status. Her name was guaranteed a spot in Punklorde's future history books.

The consequence, however, was that the challenge level of Punklorde had plummeted. 

While the difficulty of "clearing the game" had dropped by two or three tiers, little Silver Wolf’s own skills had clearly surpassed the local ceiling.

Cipher knew that ‘Silver Wolf’ (the elder) didn't care if the girl cleared an "easy mode" version of her home world, but little Silver Wolf cared deeply. 

She was the type of gamer who played by her own rules; she loved the game, and she loved the challenge. Only a starting zone with a high enough difficulty was worth conquering to become a legend.

A version of Punklorde with the difficulty dialed way down would be tasteless. 

It might even become a lifelong regret. 

So, Cipher cooked up a plan: she would leave this massive Wonder behind specifically for Silver Wolf to crack.

This would not only raise the bar for "clearing the game" back to where it belonged, set by 'Silver Wolf' herself, but it would also make the little one happy. 

After all, Silver Wolf was a native Punklorder. Even if the local hackers didn't dare say anything to her face because of her strength, who knew what they were thinking behind her back?

But if Silver Wolf could later, by her own strength, dismantle this Wonder that represented "Punklorde’s total defeat," her reputation would surely soar. 

Even if she didn't care about her public image, Cipher felt it was only right to do something for her—they had fought side-by-side, after all.

Cipher hadn't told little Silver Wolf about this yet; she’d discussed it in secret with ‘Silver Wolf’.

As for the girl herself, after narrowly defeating a top Punklorde hacker in a thrilling match, she had temporarily ended her frantic training. 

She wanted to cling to her "sister" as much as possible before she left. She’d even paused her Aether Editing studies just to hover around "Silver Wolf." 

Even her daily shifts at the fast-food joint were handled by a holographic projection. 

She was determined not to waste a single second.

'Silver Wolf' didn't mind. She knew this was the girl's quiet, awkward way of expressing her heartache at their upcoming parting.

As Cipher's mission neared its end, her time "role-playing" was also running out. This brief period of living together was about to reach its final chapter.

Even if they could keep in touch through the network, Punklorders weren't Digimon; the boundary between reality and the net, however blurry, still existed. 

'Silver Wolf' wasn't her real family, after all, and couldn't stay by her side forever to watch her grow up.

And so, under Cipher’s deliberate stalling, the preparations stretched on for several days. Finally, the prep was complete.

"Heh heh heh... the final big joke is finally here! This Great One can’t wait to see the looks on those hackers' faces! Tee-hee~"

Bartholos wore a villainous smirk. 

Out of everyone, it was the most enthusiastic about pushing this plan forward. To keep it from nagging her, Cipher had even compromised and chosen Bartholos as the model for the statue.

"Alright, stow the chatter. Have you figured out that 'meditative' pose yet? If it isn't provocative enough, annoying enough, or lacks presence, I’m scrapping your image."

"Don't you worry, Boss! This is a masterpiece I spent ten whole days dreaming up. I guarantee it meets the requirements!"

Concerned for its own legacy, Bartholos was giving it 110%, terrified the Wonder's appearance would be swapped for that boring Kephale. As it spoke, Bartholos used a tentacle on its head to fish a small model out of its mouth.

The image was, of course, its own "clever thief" self. 

The statue depicted Bartholos with fists raised, looking like it was about to throw a punch. 

The pose itself was fine, but the expression on that round face was incredibly punchable. At first glance, it looked like it was saying to anyone watching: "Go on, hit me!"

That wasn't all. Floating above the statue's head was a line of text:

[Legendary Hacker of Punklorde—The 'Phantom Thief' Zagreus!]

Seeing this, ‘Silver Wolf’s’ lip twitched slightly. "...You’re calling yourself a legendary hacker?"

"Grand Boss! How can you say that? With the reputation we 'Phantom Thieves' have built in Punklorde, do we not deserve the title?!" Bartholos argued its case.

Cipher was just there for the chaos, while 'Silver Wolf' could only shake her head in resignation. 

Technically, it wasn't wrong. Given the name "Zagreus" had made for itself, it was legendary. But obviously, that fame was entirely negative. 

Every hacker knew their skills were legendary, but no one in Punklorde wanted to admit a "Phantom Thief" was one of them.

If Bartholos actually plastered that sentence over Punklorde, it would trigger a fresh wave of heat—the bad kind.

However, that just meant the reputation Silver Wolf would gain from dismantling it later would be even greater. 'Silver Wolf' wasn't sure if Bartholos had added the line to set the stage for the girl, or if it just thought it was funny. 

But seeing Bartholos looking so eager, it felt like the creature was actually looking forward to having a collective bounty placed on its head by every hacker in the world.

Cipher reached out and patted little Silver Wolf on the shoulder, smiling. "Let's go. This is our final operation. Nervous?"

"I'm fine."

"Then let's get to work!"

Cipher struck while the iron was hot, leading Bartholos and Silver Wolf toward the most bustling city in Punklorde's physical reality.

Cipher was in charge of using the massive hoard of Aether Cartridges to build the monument in the real world. 

Meanwhile, Bartholos and Silver Wolf took to the digital realm, mashing the data from those cartridges together to create a gargantuan "spaghetti code" Wonder!

Finally, 'Silver Wolf' would use her Pro-edition Aether Editing to reinforce it, setting the difficulty at just the right level to ensure the little girl could solve the puzzle within a reasonable, yet challenging, range.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 346

--+--

At first, the people of Punklorde were still buzzing about the recent "Great Defeat."

Even those who weren't hackers kept an eye on the scene; after all, if you really think about it, how could Punklorde not be considered a world of Elation?

In any case, while the entirety of Punklorde was keeping a low profile following the hackers' crushing loss, no one expected what came next.

A massive statue rose from the ground out of thin air, right in the middle of the Oasis Zone's most bustling street.

Those pampered power players, who usually looked down on everyone from their high perches, could only watch as Aether Cartridges fluttered through the sky like falling leaves, clicking into the giant structure one by one. 

They had no idea who was behind it. 

They wanted to step in and stop it, but they found themselves utterly powerless.

Meanwhile, within the digital world...

As each cartridge was embedded into the physical statue, the chaotic data within them transformed into exaggerated torrents of information, surging wildly through the virtual realm. 

In a sense, the statue in the real world functioned as a gargantuan server. It read the data from the cartridges and fed it directly into the simulated world.

Under Bartholos's hand, these unrelated bits of data from countless different cartridges were stitched together. 

Bartholos had zero intention of organizing any of it; in fact, they deliberately chose the most error-riddled, nonsensical arrangements possible.

It was the ultimate "mountain of sh*t" code—the kind designed specifically to make a hacker’s blood boil the moment they laid eyes on it.

"Does it really have to be like this?"

As a hacker herself, little Silver Wolf looked at the mess. 

It was devoid of any aesthetic sense, a hodgepodge of code so intentionally bad it bordered on clumsy. A look of pure disgust flitted across her face.

"Hehe! See? Even a pro hacker like you hates it," Bartholos chuckled. 

"Imagine how those guys we robbed are going to feel when they see their data being used like this. They’ll be even more livid, and that’s exactly the effect I’m going for."

"...That’s enough," Silver Wolf muttered, rolling her eyes. "I’m still a Punklorder, you know."

After spending time together, she had come to realize the true nature of the creature before her: Bartholos was just plain mean-spirited. 

Not necessarily evil, but if you couldn't keep them in check, they’d make your life a living nightmare.

Bartholos curled their lip. "Fine, fine, have it your way. Since you’re the brat the Big Boss lady took a liking to, I guess I’ll be a little 'gentler' with those hackers."

Despite the nasty personality, Bartholos was an expert at reading the room. 

Since Silver Wolf had spoken up, they knew when to quit while they were ahead, actively tweaking the "mountain of sh*t" code to make it slightly less offensive.

Watching the way Bartholos toyed with the data, Silver Wolf felt a familiar sense of awe. It wasn't the first time she'd seen it, but she always found herself thinking that Digimon were simply born to be hackers. 

While humans needed a terminal as a medium, these beings were data. They ate it, they lived by it, and they evolved through it.

Naturally, humans were a step behind.

I heard Big Sister created this race herself, Silver Wolf thought, adding another silent compliment to her mental list. 

Yep, Big Sister really is the greatest in the whole world.

Finally finishing her mental preparations, she began to give shape to the mountain of messy code.

"Project Bunny 19C—engage!"

That was the line her sister had given her. She’d even mentioned that she’d styled Silver Wolf’s hair into twin-tail drills specifically for this moment.

Silver Wolf’s job today was to ensure that anyone attempting to observe or analyze this digital disaster—no matter how hard they poked at the pile—would only ever see one thing: the image of the Phantom Thief, and the message they left behind.

It was Bartholos's wicked idea. 

This was Silver Wolf’s first time "carving flowers onto a pile of sh*t." If it weren't for her sister, she would rather jump off the highest mountain in Punklorde than do something so beneath her.

Of course, while shaping the mess, Cipher and Bartholos were also constructing a defensive line to ward off the hackers trying to break in.

Sure, the locals had been beaten into submission earlier, but the commotion they were making today was just too big to ignore. 

Especially in the real world—that thousand-meter-tall statue had been erected so quickly by Cipher that the image of the Phantom Thief and that provocative message were now exposed for all to see.

Yet, that wasn't even the part that made people the angriest.

Punklorde’s hackers weren't sore losers; a loss was a loss. 

At worst, they’d just tear the thing down later, treat it as a profound defeat, and use the shame to fuel their next breakthrough.

What truly made them see red—what made them toss their fear to the wind—was the sheer volume of Aether Cartridges embedded in that giant statue!

At first, the hackers didn't realize it. They thought the cartridges were just models or blanks. 

But soon, those who had been robbed noticed something was wrong. 

Those cartridges were their second lives, their second hearts. As they drew closer to the statue, they realized with a shock that their missing souls were pinned right there on the structure.

In other words, the Phantom Thief of Amphoreus had used their Aether Cartridges as mere building blocks for a damn sculpture!

The hackers whose cartridges were stolen felt the world go dark. Some of the more fragile ones fainted on the spot from pure rage.

But the nightmare wasn't over.

The cartridges weren't just physically stuck there. In the virtual world, hackers soon detected the "mountain of sh*t" code rapidly expanding and multiplying. 

When they saw that the information within this digital mess mirrored the physical statue outside, a terrible realization dawned on them.

"This code... it isn't made from the data inside our cartridges, is it?"

"..."

"..."

"No! Anything but that!!"

"Report! New info—the data source is definitely that statue!"

"My cartridge!! My life!!"

"Damn you! I’ll blow you to bits!!"

After a brief, stunned silence, the confirmation of their fears sent the hackers into a frenzy. Driven mad by rage, they launched a final, desperate charge against the digital mountain.

Most of the attackers were those who had lost their cartridges, while the survivors were generally more restrained. However, many joined the swarm regardless. 

They could see that the trio of thieves had split up—one was occupied with the physical construction in the real world. That meant the thieves’ strength was divided, down by at least a third!

If they didn't strike now, they never would.

And so, at the final hour, the hackers of Punklorde began their "Final Dance."

This put immense pressure on Silver Wolf. 

Usually, following Cipher's lead, they dealt with large-scale ambushes using agile movement and ghostly tactics to gain the upper hand. But today, because they were building a "wonder of the world," they couldn't hit and run. 

They had to hold the fort and tank the damage until completion.

This kind of direct, high-pressure defense was a first for Silver Wolf.

Fortunately, Bartholos was there. 

Even though they called Cipher "Big Boss," it didn't mean they were significantly weaker. Bartholos was a crafty one; with their assistance, Silver Wolf managed to hold the line, though she was exhausted.

But she couldn't hold forever. There were too many enemies, and as the tide seemed to turn in Punklorde's favor, even more opportunists jumped into the fray. The defensive line began to crumble.

If given just a little more time, the hackers might have actually broken through.

Unfortunately for them, Cipher didn't give them that time.

In the real world, every single stolen Aether Cartridge had been fitted into the sculpture. 

Simultaneously, the massive amounts of data within them had been blended together and fed into the virtual world, completing the digital masterpiece.

Knowing the battle in the data world must be reaching a fever pitch, Cipher didn't waste a second. She clapped her hands, rang her bell, and bolted toward the fast-food joint where 'Silver Wolf' was waiting.

"It’s done! Just one last step to go!"

Cipher skidded to a halt beside 'Silver Wolf,' her eyes wide and blinking rapidly as she stared at her.

"I know. You don't have to get so close," 'Silver Wolf' said with a sigh, sitting up from her lounge chair and opening her eyes just as Cipher’s face nearly collided with hers.

She was well aware of the situation. The physical statue was complete, and the people in the Oasis Zone hadn't dared to approach it yet. 

In the digital world, Silver Wolf and Bartholos were holding the line, and it looked like they could last a bit longer.

She was tempted to see where little Silver Wolf’s limits were. But then again, the girl wasn't even ten years old yet—she should be playing and learning, not undergoing high-stress endurance training.

Let's just end this, she thought.

Rather than using her powers of Elation directly, 'Silver Wolf' activated her upgraded Aether Editing Pro. She directed the edit toward the statue that existed across both the physical and virtual realms.

Flashy data-stream effects manifested out of thin air in reality. 

Like a waterfall descending from the clouds, the light crashed into the statue, wrapping it in a protective layer. Simultaneously, more data surged through the statue’s terminal and into the virtual world.

The crumbling defensive line instantly became an impregnable fortress. 

Layers of protection materialized over the mountain of code. 

Before Silver Wolf and Bartholos could even react, a force swept them up, pulling them away from the hackers' attacks and whisking them back to the fast-food shop’s basement in an instant.

"Gahahaha! This Great One is destined to leave a name that will go down in history!" Bartholos cackled the moment they returned.

"You mean a name that will live in infamy," Cipher corrected them bluntly. "You’d better watch your back when you’re out on your own from now on, or you’ll end up on a wanted poster."

It was a safe bet that Bartholos's name would be appearing on the IPC's Most Wanted list by tomorrow.

As for little Silver Wolf... she wasn't in the mood to celebrate. 

Instead, she ran to 'Silver Wolf's' side, her eyes full of reluctance. 

Now that the mission was over, it meant her dear sister would soon be leaving.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 347

--+--

Little Silver Wolf knew that today was likely the final day. Even if it wasn't, it was only a matter of a day or two.

Her big sister wouldn't keep lingering on this tiny planet just for her sake.

"When are you leaving, Sis?"

Looking at the young girl’s expression, which seemed on the verge of crumbling, 'Silver Wolf' reached out and ruffled her hair.

"Don't want me to go?"

Little Silver Wolf hesitated for a moment before nodding, but then quickly shook her head.

"I don't. But I don't want to make things difficult for you, either."

Silver Wolf was such a good kid when she was little, Bai Ming thought to herself, not for the first time.

Smart, sensible, and independent without being rebellious—aside from her natural deadpan expression, she was a top-tier child.

Bai Ming glanced at her own interface:

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming (Silver Wolf)]

[Lifespan: ∞ + 2 Days (Roleplaying)]

[Transformable Characters: Big Herta, Acheron, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Lord Ravager - Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, Cyrene · Fuli (Charge: 25.1%), General of the Yuque · Qingque (Charge: 40.2%), Silver Wolf (In-Progress)]

[Draws Available: 14 (15.2%)]

--+--

Aside from those first few days of obvious emotional turbulence, Little Silver Wolf had been providing a steady, continuous stream of Emotional Points over the last twenty days or so.

However, because she had been keeping a low profile lately, that steady income was inevitably starting to taper off.

Still, the overall haul was quite respectable—her draw count had increased by two.

As for her roleplay duration, the panel said two days, but in reality, she only had about a day and a half left.

It really was almost over.

She wondered if Little Silver Wolf would still consider her an older sister once the Silver Wolf character card was gone.

"Parting is only temporary. Once you've made up your mind to conquer Punklorde, come find me."

"Can I go now?" Little Silver Wolf suddenly asked.

"Why the rush?"

"Because I feel like Punklorde doesn't really pose a threat to me anymore. Besides, everyone online is calling me and Cipher the 'New Legends.' They’ve even set their sights on the Aether Editing technique you taught me."

What Little Silver Wolf said was the truth.

In the wake of the final chaos, all of Punklorde had been thrown into an absolute uproar within just a few minutes.

Whether it was the god-like skill required to erect massive sculptures in the physical world as if walking through an uninhabited land, or the sheer force needed to withstand the onslaught of countless hackers in the digital realm—the 'thieves' who had split into two groups had truly showcased the individual caliber of every member in their trio.

So, even as a group, some busybodies online had already begun referring to them as the new legends of Punklorde.

Silver Wolf, being a local, was naturally the hottest topic of discussion.

The other two were from Amphoreus and were bound to leave after this stint. But as for whether Silver Wolf would stay or go, people were still guessing.

Many hackers were ranting online, feeling that Silver Wolf, as a local, had the nerve to help outsiders suppress them. 

They demanded she make a public apology on the Punklorde network and release the upgraded Aether Editing technical details for free.

Of course, there were also hackers who felt these guys were just using morality as a shield to pull petty tricks. It was frankly shameless.

But even the hackers sticking up for Silver Wolf didn't hide their curiosity regarding the upgraded Aether Editing.

It was only human nature, after all. It was like a lecher seeing a world-class beauty, or a fisherman seeing a monster in the river.

In short, Little Silver Wolf felt there was no benefit to staying here—only the annoyance of being constantly hounded by those adults. She might as well just leave.

Though it would make her "Starter Village" completion feel a bit less than perfect.

But things had already come to this. 

She couldn't actually release the upgraded Aether Editing just to cultivate a bunch of rivals and increase her own difficulty level.

Silver Wolf didn't mind a challenge, but Aether Editing Pro was a technique her sister had specifically designed for her—a gift meant only for her.

She would never hand it over. No one was taking it!

"Well, you technically could leave with us, but if you leave now, your 'Starter Village' quest won't be complete."

"If you put it that way, then it’s your fault, Sis... the Aether Editing tech in my hands is definitely a bit overpowered. What’s the point of staying here just to stomp on noobs?"

Little Silver Wolf looked up at her.

'Silver Wolf' chuckled and shook her head. "Isn't there still one massive problem left unsolved?"

"What problem?"

Little Silver Wolf tilted her head, looking confused. If she were talking about a few top-tier hackers she hadn't faced yet, sure, they existed, but they hardly qualified as a 'problem.'

"The spectacle you lot just built on Punklorde, of course. If you don't tear it down, it might escalate the conflict between the two worlds later on."

"I built it, and now I have to tear it down?" Little Silver Wolf was baffled. She had participated in the design; tearing it down should be as easy as breathing.

But 'Silver Wolf' gave a mysterious smile. "You weren't the only one who built it. Why don't you go take a look for yourself?"

"..."

The corner of Little Silver Wolf’s mouth twitched as she suddenly realized something.

When they retreated earlier, she hadn't done it herself. She had watched the defensive line being strengthened in a way she couldn't yet comprehend, and then her sister had fished her out.

If that defensive line hadn't been deactivated...

Then right now, she would likely be stuck on the outside, just like all the other hackers.

Thinking of this, Little Silver Wolf puffed out her cheeks and glared up at 'Silver Wolf.'

( ᗜ ˰ ᗜ )

Her eyes launched a silent accusation.

But this time, 'Silver Wolf' remained unmoved.

She reached out, rubbed the girl's head again, and said, "This is the graduation thesis I'm leaving you as your teacher. Break through that defense, then dismantle that statue. Only then will your starter mission be officially over."

"Urgh..."

Little Silver Wolf knew her mastery of Aether Editing Pro wasn't actually that high. 

Her ability to win against so many hackers was purely due to the sheer technical superiority of the software.

So, while it felt like her sister was just making up an excuse to make her stay, the reasoning was perfectly sound. So sound, in fact, that she couldn't argue back.

Bartholos, who had been eavesdropping nearby, hopped over with a chuckle and patted Little Silver Wolf’s head with a tentacle.

"Hehe, work hard, kiddo. Once you've graduated, this Great One will take you to Amphoreus to play. I'll show you what real prestige looks like!"

"..."

Silver Wolf glanced at the zero-threat-level "In-Training Koromon" Bartholos. It was hard to imagine a round fur-ball having any kind of "prestige."

"Hey! What's with that look, brat?! Back in the day, I was the Great Trickery Titan, a demigod who once completed the Path of Flame-Chasing! This look is just a disguise to make people lower their guard!"

Bartholos was deeply wounded by that silent stare.

While it cherished the chance it had been given to become stronger, it was extremely dissatisfied with its current image. 

Forget being compared to the Great Trickery Titan of old; even compared to its previous form, it had zero intimidation factor.

And so, the zero-intimidation former Trickery Titan was easily suppressed by the active Trickery Titan. Cipher grabbed it by the head with one hand, cutting off its incessant babbling.

"Alright, now that things have settled down, it’s about time I headed back to Amphoreus to report. Little one, I’ll be waiting for you to come visit."

Cipher pulled out a cat-themed coin and gave it a light toss. The coin traced an arc through the air and landed right in Little Silver Wolf’s palm.

Little Silver Wolf carefully tucked the coin away and nodded at Cipher. "I'll be there."

"Ehehe, I'll be looking forward to it then. Bye-bye~!"

Cipher waved with a smile, then winked at 'Silver Wolf.'

With the faint sound of bells, Cipher vanished before them, taking Bartholos with her.

'Silver Wolf' knew that Cipher and Bartholos had already left Punklorde via the network cables.

As for Little Silver Wolf... she actually had more to say. She just didn't expect the woman to bolt so fast.

"They left so quickly..."

"You'll get used to it. They're Phantom Thieves, after all—always coming and going like the wind."

"What about you, Sis? Will you leave suddenly, too?"

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to say a proper goodbye."

Having received a definitive answer, the expression on Little Silver Wolf's face brightened significantly.

She called over her Bunny (Project Bunny) and sat down right next to 'Silver Wolf.'

"By the way, Little Silver Wolf, do you only have this nickname? No legal name to speak of?"

"No. Why?"

Silver Wolf looked up at her sister. Actually, she probably had a proper name, right?

But Little Silver Wolf wasn't even ten years old yet. She had lived in the fast-food restaurant for as long as she could remember. To her, 'Silver Wolf' was her name.

As for a birth name?

Sorry, she really couldn't remember. One shouldn't expect too much from the memory of a child whose brain isn't even fully developed.

"Well... I was just thinking that Silver Wolf is a nickname after all. How about I give you a name?"

Bai Ming had her own little schemes, but she genuinely suspected Silver Wolf’s real name was likely Bronya. She had a lot of faith in the consistency of names and faces for counterparts in this world.

Silver Wolf’s eyes lit up instantly. "Really?! You’re going to give me a name?"

"Why not? My name is Bai Ming, so I'll give you one of those words for a surname. As for the given name, let's go with Bronya. Bronya Bai, or Bronya Ming? Which one sounds better?"

"Can't I be called Bronya Bai Ming?"

Little Silver Wolf was a bit greedy; she wanted the whole thing.

"Are you sure? Using my full name as a surname... don't you think that’s a bit weird?"

"Not at all. I love it. It’s like we're connected through the name. Is that okay?"

Little Silver Wolf stared at 'Silver Wolf' with those adorable eyes.

If she were older, it might have been easier to resist, but at this age, the cuteness was a bit too much to handle.

"...Call yourself whatever you like, then. Bronya Bai Ming it is."

"Yay!"

Little Silver Wolf threw her arms open happily, dove into her sister's embrace, and planted a big kiss right on 'Silver Wolf's' cheek.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 348

--+--

Perhaps it was because it was the final day, or perhaps it was because her big sister had finally given her a name.

Little Silver Wolf had always been clingy, but now she was taking it to a whole new level. 

It got to the point where, come evening wash-up time, the little girl was blushing and tugging at ‘Silver Wolf’s’ hand, insisting that her sister accompany her for a "fragrant bath." 

She even babbled about soaking in the tub together.

Unable to withstand the little girl’s earnest pleas—and mindful of the fact that she really was leaving soon—‘Silver Wolf’ gave in to her selfishness.

While ‘Silver Wolf’ held the sweet, soft child in her arms as they drifted off to sleep, the storm outside was only intensifying.

First, there was the matter of that physical sculpture and the "mountain of sh*t" code in the digital world. 

No matter how you looked at it, the outer layers of protection resembled the unique Aether Editing used by Silver Wolf, yet the difficulty was on an entirely different plane.

Crucially, the code didn't feature overly complex encryption or heavy-duty firewalls. 

This implied one thing: there was a chance they could parse out some of the source code for this new version of Aether Editing from those protective layers.

But there was a catch. 

The imagery and materials were clearly designed by their opponent to humiliate them. 

Most hackers wanted to look away and pretend it didn't exist, but now they simply couldn't afford to. 

This new technology was sitting right there; if you didn't study it and someone else did, you were finished.

To study it, however, the hackers had to face that insulting sculpture and the garbage-pile code head-on. Those who had their Aether Cartridges stolen felt their blood boil just catching a glimpse of it from afar.

The problem was that having lost their cartridges, their strength had plummeted. 

These "losers" were exactly the ones who needed to bolster their skills as quickly as possible. 

Otherwise, in a place like Punklorde, staying weak for too long meant being eaten alive until not even the scraps remained.

Driven by threats from all sides, the hackers had to hold their noses and take a bite of this "delicacy." And it wasn't just a quick taste; they had to savor it, trying to glean every secret hidden within. 

They couldn't even use brute force, because if they violently tore down the firewall, their only source for "stealing" these new techniques would vanish.

It was the ultimate disgust: they hated every second of it, yet they had to give it a thumbs-up and call it delicious.

Of course, as to whether it was actually possible to learn something from it—‘Silver Wolf’ thought it was. 

When she set it up, she purposely left a small window of possibility. She hadn't locked it down completely; she’d left it for them on purpose. 

After all, one has to give them a little hope.

But to put it bluntly, while Aether Editing Pro was powerful, its difficulty was immense. 

Little Silver Wolf only learned so quickly because of her natural talent and ‘Silver Wolf’s’ personal guidance. These other hackers had no teacher and lacked sufficient talent; it was anyone's guess how much they could actually grasp.

While the hackers of Punklorde were displaying such a sudden, intense "academic atmosphere," the Interastral Peace Corporation arrived on the scene like sharks scenting blood.

As a world of long-standing fame, Punklorde naturally had ties with the IPC. 

However, the planet was relatively insular and xenophobic, and since it lacked significant mineral resources, the IPC hadn't done anything too drastic there.

That said, the IPC had been eyeing Aether Editing technology for a long time. Unfortunately, no matter how much they researched it, they just couldn't wrap their heads around it. 

It was as if the skill was hard-coded into the DNA of Punklordians, which was a constant headache for the Corporation.

Now, an upgraded version of Aether Editing had appeared with a verifiable, terrifying track record. 

The IPC figured that even if they couldn't understand it, they had to show up. What if they actually learned it this time? Even if they didn't, gathering more intelligence was better than nothing.

Thus, Pearl of the Strategic Investment Department was temporarily reassigned by Diamond to head to Punklorde. 

Her mission: investigate the recent chaos, verify the rumors of this new Aether Editing, see if anyone had mastered it, and find out who the creator was.

Lately, the Strategic Investment Department had been in an unrivaled position of power. 

For one, Diamond and Sparkle—the Head and Deputy—were both formidable in their own right, each with their own vast networks of influence. 

On the other hand, their rivals in the Marketing Development Department had lost two of their main pillars in quick succession, causing their influence to crater.

With no one left to annoy Diamond or block his path to a seat on the Board, and with his public status as an Emanator of Preservation, the Strategic Investment Department was entering a period of rapid expansion. 

The other departments weren't necessarily happy about Diamond’s growing power, but given his current momentum, no one wanted to be the first to stick their neck out and cross him.

If Pearl could secure that upgraded Aether Editing technology, it would be a massive achievement. 

Upon arriving in Punklorde, she had been wondering how to start her investigation, but she found a lead almost instantly. 

It wasn't even a lead—it was a blatant announcement to the world of who was behind the farce.

Pearl looked at the massive sculpture standing ahead and the plaza cordoned off by the private forces of various local power players. She tapped the communicator on her ear and requested a channel to Jade.

A moment later, Jade’s voice came through:

"Pearl? This is a surprise. If I recall correctly, didn't you just arrive in Punklorde for your mission? Why are you calling me?"

"Because I’ve found a lead, Jade. I found the person who issued the challenge to Punklorde."

"Oh? So fast? You should have only just stepped off the ship."

Jade couldn't help but marvel. 

Although Pearl, like Screwllum, was an Intellitron, the efficiency of finding a major lead the moment she arrived was staggering. 

"And besides, if you found something, shouldn't you report directly to the Head? Why contact me?"

Jade had been busy with investment projects in Amphoreus and its surrounding areas lately; she hadn't been back to headquarters in quite a while.

"That brings me to my next point," Pearl continued. 

"The person who challenged countless hackers and stole their Aether Cartridges calls themselves the 'Phantom Thief Zagreus.' Their appearance matches the description you once provided of the former Trickery Titan of Amphoreus."

As she spoke, Pearl sent a bundled file of data to Jade. It included visual records of the sculpture and relevant information filtered from the Punklorde network.

"..."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Pearl pressed on:

"According to the locals, the hackers were recently obsessing over how to catch a 'Digimon' from Amphoreus to keep as a pet.” 

“Then, not long ago, a cyber-intrusion occurred in Amphoreus, and someone followed the trail right back to their doorstep. Since you’ve been handling the Amphoreus project, I was hoping you could help me verify the truth of these claims."

"...I see. I’ll look into it for you."

After scanning the files, Jade recognized some very familiar elements. 

She was fairly certain she knew who had gone to Punklorde if this was the case. 

Still, to be safe, she decided to confirm the intel. 

If Amphoreus held the key to this upgraded Aether Editing, it would be a good thing. At least the people of Amphoreus were easier to deal with than those lawless hackers.

"Pearl, according to your data, besides the two 'Digimon' from Amphoreus, there is a local who has mastered the new Aether Editing, plus a 'Big Boss' and a 'Teacher' working behind the scenes. Who do you think they are?"

"There are too many possibilities. Any of those Geniuses, the last two Rational Titans of Amphoreus, or even that certain Aeon... any of them could be capable of this."

Pearl knew Jade had a hunch, but as an inorganic lifeform, baseless speculation was nothing more than noise to her. 

Since she didn't yet know the ceiling of this new technology, anyone she mentioned was a valid candidate.

"Besides, most of this is conjecture with no physical evidence. It is entirely possible this 'Teacher' doesn't even exist."

"Fair enough. You’re right. I’ll investigate on my end and let you know when I have news."

With that, Jade cut the call.

Pearl began a deeper investigation. 

As a specialized Intellitron with a unique origin, her technical capabilities in network security were exceptionally high—monstrously so. 

Combined with the IPC's resources, it was doubtful if a hacker could be found in all of Punklorde who could stand as her equal. 

Her only real "flaw" was her inability to directly interfere with reality the way Aether Editing could.

Yet, despite her prowess, as soon as she attempted to touch that firewall, Pearl realized something.

She couldn't learn it. 

She couldn't grasp the logic of this technology through self-study alone. 

After a few brief attempts, Pearl abandoned the tempting "wonder." While the hackers were still hyper-focused on the spectacle, she turned her attention elsewhere.

Soon, her persistence paid off. She found a few faint traces left by the "Phantom Thief." 

They were slight—not enough for a reverse-trace—but she could use them to create an early-warning program. The next time the Phantom Thief appeared, she would be the first to know.

"Compared to the illusions of the Oasis Zone, this upgraded Aether Editing is clearly superior. I truly wonder what kind of person created it."

Pearl paused. She dearly wanted to meet the creator of this craft. 

But she knew that if she couldn't even catch the rookie hacker, meeting the mastermind behind them was nothing but a pipe dream.

"One step at a time," she murmured. "I hope I can meet that creator one day."

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 349

--+--

On the other side, 'Silver Wolf' jolted awake from her slumber.

Little Silver Wolf was still fast asleep, so she took a moment to check her status panel and decided to pull a card to see what she’d get.

This time, as the golden radiance flared within the Express's cabin doors, a splash of green entered ‘Silver Wolf's’ vision.

It was a trembling Foxian girl with green hair, accompanied by a wisp of heliobus fire floating behind her.

"Huohuo? Is Mr. Tail automatically generated, or do I control him myself?"

'Silver Wolf' couldn't help but feel a flicker of curiosity. This was the first time she had encountered a character card where two independent consciousnesses existed within a single unit.

Well, once things wrap up here, I'll give the roleplay a shot.

Speaking of which, at this point in time, Huohuo should have already started her career at the Ten-Lords Commission.

I think I’ll go tease that cute little matcha cupcake when the time comes. 

Might as well drop by to see Qingque while I’m at it.

She hoped that after being gone for a month, Qingque hadn't burned herself out. 

Though, knowing her, that was unlikely—she was the undisputed Queen of Slacking, after all. Who on earth could ever work her to the point of exhaustion?

--+--

On the final day of the character card roleplay, 'Silver Wolf' said her final goodbyes to Little Silver Wolf.

Although the little girl still looked a bit disgruntled, at least she didn't throw a tantrum or burst into tears. 

When all was said and done, they could contact each other via comms whenever they wanted if they just needed to talk. 

Plus, Little Silver Wolf’s holographic projections were exceptionally lifelike.

She wondered, though, if Elio would still come looking for the girl to join the Stellaron Hunters. 

Given Little Silver Wolf’s current skill level, she would likely be able to leave Punklorde soon. But she was still so young; Elio might not be keen on hiring child labor.

As for Pearl, who had arrived on Punklorde...

'Silver Wolf' glanced at her own fortune and then at the girl’s. 

They were decent; it didn't seem like there would be any dire, life-or-death confrontation between them. She would just treat it as a new trial for Little Silver Wolf in her "starting village."

And so, she simply warned the girl that a professional from the Corporation was headed her way for the Aether Editing, telling her to tread carefully. Then, she stepped out of the fast-food joint.

With a casual flick of her mind, she deactivated the roleplay with the last few bits of time remaining.

Bai Ming glanced at the settlement rewards:

--+--

[Roleplay System]

[Name: Bai Ming]

[Lifespan: ∞]

[Transformable Characters: Big Herta, Acheron, Celenova, Jingliu, Ruan Mei, Sparkle, Hertatomb, Lord Ravager - Jingliu, Young Herta, Robin, Artoria, Cipher, Georios, Cyrene - Fuli (Charge: 25.1%), General of the Yuque: Qingque (Charge: 40.4%), Silver Wolf (Charge: 0.2%), Huohuo]

[Available Pulls: 13 (25.2%)]

--+--

[Reward Settlement: For becoming the uncrowned queen of Punklorde and broadening Silver Wolf’s strength and future, you are rewarded with all of Silver Wolf’s hacking talent.]

[Note: Considering the Host’s significant leap in power over the past several cycles, reward settlements will be optimized starting from this instance.]

[Supplementary Reward: The Host’s synchronization with the Life of Light has been significantly increased.]

--+--

At this stage, these roleplay rewards were getting a bit... subtle for her. 

She couldn't say they were entirely useless, but their effects were certainly reaching a plateau.

'Silver Wolf' had originally thought things would stay this way forever. 

To her surprise, the system was actually quite considerate, tossing in a supplementary reward.

Immediately, Bai Ming felt the light of Nexus—which had been merging with her at a steady, leisurely pace—suddenly begin to accelerate. 

Combined with her past experiences, her synchronization with the light was already high. 

Now, bolstered by the system’s reward, Bai Ming felt the connection cross a definitive threshold.

Her soul and the light merged into one, becoming inseparable.

What caught Bai Ming off guard was that after the fusion, the once-pure radiance seemed to undergo a qualitative shift. 

It was as if the properties of Light and the properties of a Soul had layered atop one another.

Then again, Bai Ming hadn’t deeply researched her own existence as a soul entity. While she realized the traits had been preserved, she couldn't immediately tell exactly what had been kept.

Sinking through the Nihility until she reached its very boundary, Bai Ming let the body she had manifested through her abilities dissolve, revealing her true nature as Light.

The dazzling radiance gradually coalesced into a physical form, eventually taking the shape of Nexus. 

However, compared to the previous form, new armor-like pieces—pauldrons and bracers—appeared on her body.

But they weren't the red or blue she remembered; instead, the silver had shifted to a brilliant white, and her form took on more pronounced, feminine curves. 

Her once martial physique had become elegantly beautiful.

Simultaneously, a pure power of Light—one existing outside of the Paths—began to erupt. 

Bai Ming even felt a connection; a tether forged by Light was drawing strength from every living being across the universe, channeling it directly toward her.

This power felt exactly like the strength of Light she remembered.

It was distinctly different from the Paths or Imaginary Energy, yet it wasn't entirely detached from the Imaginary system. 

It was more like the power of a Giant of Light had used the uniqueness of her soul to bring forth a special strength.

Could it be the "Emotion Points" the system has been collecting?

Bai Ming wasn't sure. 

To her, this felt more like the power of Light and Prayer rather than complex emotions. 

Regardless, her perception of the world underwent a subtle shift. She couldn't describe it in words yet, but the change was undeniable.

Then—VROOM.

A tide of Imaginary Energy rippled through this desolate void. 

HooH, the Aeon of Equilibrium, suddenly appeared.

Close behind was Nous. A single point of crimson light pierced through the cosmos, landing where Bai Ming stood. 

Beneath the shadows of these two Aeons, she could vaguely sense Mythus lurking as well. But since THEY were hiding, Bai Ming didn't pay THEM much mind.

A few other Aeons seemed to be watching the area, though they didn't make as much noise.

As for Aha... Aha made the least noise of all, because THEY popped out right next to Bai Ming, peering through a mask. 

Compared to the taciturn nature of the other Aeons, Aha didn't hesitate to speak to THEIR hand-picked second-in-command of Elation.

"Sister, this power of yours that's outside the Path system... how did you do it? Even that kid Noa didn't end up like this."

Aha saw right through it. 

The only reason this power could still hook into the Imaginary system was that the Giants of Light in this world originally relied on the Paths to manifest their strength.

The key wasn't the Giant of Light, nor was it Noa.

The key was Bai Ming herself.

Because Bai Ming had chosen the Giant of Light, the Giant had manifested a power distinct from the energy of the Paths.

"...Is that all? You lot are going to drop your actual business just to hold a meeting here?"

Bai Ming pushed away Aha’s face, which was practically glued to hers, and looked around. 

At this point, she could be considered a peer to the Aeons, so she was no longer as cautious or deferential as she once was.

But really, was this necessary? It wasn't like the world was devoid of powers outside the Path system.

"Sister, you've got it all wrong. Your situation isn't like the others. No one else has ever turned the prayers of all living beings in the universe into power quite like you."

"...Isn't that just like Memetic Lifeforms?"

In the face of Bai Ming's confusion, Aha leaned in again, grinning and swaying THEIR head. 

"Different. Completely different. They’re both 'wishes,' but yours are more 'real' and more 'existent.' There’s a fundamental difference. Of course, more importantly—with this power, Noa isn't going to be able to hold it back anymore! HAHAHA!"

Aha finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Bai Ming had changed the nature of the Giants of Light through her own strength. 

This change wouldn't spread to the entire race immediately, but Noa would certainly be the first affected. 

Once Noa mastered this power, given THEIR position, the strength THEY could gather would undoubtedly encompass the entire world.

The seal the Amber Lord had forged for THEM wouldn't be able to hold.

When that seal shattered, whether Noa wanted to or not, THEIR path to Aeonhood would restart. 

When that happened, all the Paths would be thrown into utter chaos. 

Unless, of course, Noa committed suicide.

But there was the catch: Noa's existence was beneficial for the eventual Finality. Unless absolutely necessary, the likes of Nous didn't want Noa to die. 

If THEY died, when the time came for that "light of hope" in the future, a new Aeon of Hope might not be born at exactly the right moment.

"Hahahaha! Sister, honestly, Aha doesn't respect anyone but you. You always bring the best surprises. I really think you should be the one playing Aha, and I’ll just be a loyal Fool in your service!"

"..."

Bai Ming followed Aha’s logic and observed the state of the Paths. 

It turned out things were exactly as THEY described.

The process was slow. If left alone, Noa’s true breaking of the seal would take tens of thousands of years. But for an Aeon, a few thousand years was a drop in the bucket on a cosmic scale.

Fine, now she understood why this "little thing" had caused every Aeon to look her way. 

She had nearly triggered a war between the gods again. If it weren't for her unique situation—where a real fight would turn into a chaotic free-for-all—they probably would have ganged up on her already.

Now that the problem was identified, it was easy enough to handle. 

Essentially, this power was created by Bai Ming and was spreading subconsciously. Since it was only just beginning, she could use the power of Elation to intercept it and stop the spread.

However, because this power was flowing "upstream" along the Path of Hope, no one could directly intervene except for Bai Ming, who already had a strong connection to that Path. 

They couldn't exactly team up to tear the Path of Hope apart at this stage.

Seeing that Bai Ming had already started addressing the issue, the other Aeons began to depart one by one. 

Except for Equilibrium... HooH stood there staring at Bai Ming, looking as if THEY had something to say.

--+--

Star Rail Impostor! - 350

--+--

Equilibrium seemed to have words to convey, but after much deliberation, THEY ultimately dissolved into a heavy sigh. 

With a final word of caution, THEY vanished from sight.

"..."

Bai Ming’s expression stiffened upon hearing Equilibrium's parting advice.

Just a moment ago, Equilibrium had told her with earnest gravity that she was "special" to this world. 

Therefore, THEY hoped she could be more composed, more serious, and stop fooling around with Aha to learn all sorts of nonsense. 

THEY suggested she spend more time learning from the likes of Qlipoth and Noa...

Bai Ming felt like she was being discriminated against.

When had she ever "fooled around" with Aha?! She was clearly a decent person!

Wasn't it just because she didn't count as a "proper" Aeon, so there were things that should have been common knowledge to an Aeon that she simply didn't understand? 

How could that be framed as being corrupted by Aha!

Actually, wait—she had never followed Aha’s lead in the first place, alright?!

As for Aha.

Upon hearing Equilibrium’s words, THEY had already collapsed into fits of laughter. Especially seeing Bai Ming’s aggrieved, puppy-dog expression, THEY were so amused THEY nearly doubled over, gasping for air.

If one were to ask what breed of Fool was the most entertaining...

In Aha’s view, a contestant like Bai Ming—who was clearly a Fool through and through yet remained completely oblivious to it—was the peak of comedy.

Moreover, because Bai Ming generally had good intentions and her "fun-seeking" usually involved harmless little trifles, some of the more... extreme Masked Fools didn't even consider her one of their own.

That sense of displacement was truly fascinating.

But Bai Ming didn't find it funny at all; she only found Aha incredibly noisy.

"Shoo, shoo! You’re way too loud!"

"Are you really not going to consider that last 1%? I wouldn't even mind letting you swallow me whole, haha~"

Aha never gave up, but Bai Ming never had any interest in becoming Aha.

"Not interested. Also, what did you do with that guy I threw at you earlier?"

Bai Ming, who had been seconds away from grabbing the mask and tossing Aha out, suddenly remembered she had previously evicted the Simulated Aha from the Simulated Universe.

She wondered how the real Aha had handled that fellow.

"Haha~ Not telling~ That’s Aha’s little secret... unless you become Aha."

"..."

Bai Ming couldn't help but roll her eyes at the guy.

Fine, keep your secrets; she didn't want to know anyway. 

Since the individual was directly related to Aha and clearly under THEIR special arrangement, Bai Ming truly couldn't track them down.

As for whether THEY were already dead... Bai Ming felt it was unlikely. THEY were probably wearing a new face and had been dumped into some god-forsaken world.

Whatever, she wouldn't worry about it. No matter how much of a headache that guy was, could THEY possibly be more troublesome than Aha?

So, this time, Bai Ming didn't say another word.

She reached out, gripped the mask Aha was inhabiting, and with a wave of her hand, opened a wormhole to who-knows-where. Then, she unceremoniously stuffed the mask inside.

Watching the wormhole seal smoothly, Bai Ming brushed off her hands. Only then did she turn to look at Acheron, who had appeared nearby a while ago but had refrained from approaching.

Seeing Acheron’s small frame, Bai Ming realized she was still in the form of a sixty-meter-tall giant.

Soon after, the dazzling light rapidly retracted. Her massive size began to shrink, eventually transforming into a standard human shape, her long, silver-white hair spilling over her shoulders.

Even without intentionally adjusting her appearance, she maintained her previous look. It was as if she were naturally meant to look this way. 

Or rather, in this world, this was the form that suited her best.

Thus, even though she now had the power to reshape herself at will, she chose not to. 

Now that she was an Aeon, honestly, once your perspective reaches that level, as long as it looks good, she didn't care much about being male or female anymore.

Landing in front of Acheron, Bai Ming reached out to give her a hug and greeted her with a smile:

"Long time no see. How have you been lately?"

Bai Ming looked directly into Acheron’s eyes with a smile. Although the light within her was restrained and quiet, it still radiated a very special aura.

Acheron felt this clearly.

While the Bai Ming of the past had always been approachable—well, at least to Acheron—this time was markedly different. Beyond the friendliness, there was a feeling like a little sun that could warm her soul.

Furthermore, what puzzled Acheron was that standing face-to-face with Bai Ming this time... she couldn't quite put it into words, but Bai Ming felt a bit more... real?

It was a subtle sensation, so much so that Acheron didn't know how to describe it herself.

"I’m doing well. But you—you seem to have changed."

"It is a bit different. I suppose I finally have a body that truly belongs to me now."

"The previous one didn't count?"

"I wouldn't say it didn't count, since it was a body after all, but... well, it’s like the difference between owning your own home and renting."

"..."

Acheron blinked, her expression a bit conflicted. 

While she understood the sentiment, the analogy was certainly... unique.

Setting the strange metaphor aside, Acheron asked, "So, what brings you here this time?"

"Just came to see you."

"You visit so often, I’m starting to feel like this isn't the Horizon of IX, but just some ordinary planet."

Acheron looked at Bai Ming with a faint smile. This person would drop by every so often and occasionally stay for a while. 

Plus, Bai Ming didn't have to worry about being eroded by Nihility. Her presence brought a few sparks of vitality to this otherwise deathly silent place.

"Though, if you had come a day later, I probably wouldn't have been here."

"Oh? How so?"

"A Sin Thirster appeared recently. I just finished guiding it. I was planning to head out and return a relic."

Bai Ming blinked at the news. "Does that mean I'm late? If I’d come a day earlier, would I have seen you guide a Sin Thirster?"

Acheron gave a helpless smile. If she had her way, she would prefer a world where Sin Thirsters never existed in the first place. Besides, what kind of sane person would be curious about such a thing?

"Their appearance is random, and I am only one person. I can't look after every one of them. If you want to see it, you really have to rely on luck."

"Speaking of which, is the frequency of Sin Thirsters high around here?"

"It’s alright. Most of them don't linger for long due to a single obsession. Generally, the process is quite fast."

"I see..."

Hearing Acheron’s words, Bai Ming thought of that massive group of Galaxy Rangers who became Sin Thirsters in the game—the countless Rangers who died at the hands of Zulo, and Tiernan, who wandered for centuries.

Currently, the Rangers were still active in the universe, so Acheron hadn't crossed paths with them yet, nor had she had the chance to "play" the role of a Galaxy Ranger.

"Want to head out together later? Where are you going?"

"The person came from a world struck by a Stellaron disaster. The location is very remote; I’m not even sure if that world still exists. And you?"

"I’m going to the Xianzhou for a bit. After that, I might stay here for a longer stretch."

Based on Bai Ming’s current understanding of the Permanence Equation, she figured she could fully decipher it quite soon. 

Her tentative plan was to have some fun on the Xianzhou first, then set a course for a Hysilens character card. After that, she’d return to Acheron’s side to delve into the Nihility Equation.

As for her goal...

She wanted to try establishing a system at the Horizon of IX that could autonomously process and guide Sin Thirsters to their rest. 

Once finished, Acheron wouldn't have to wander this place alone for countless eons.

--+--

Meanwhile, at the Stellaron Hunters' base.

Thump!

A black cat-paw punch slammed onto the screen of a laptop. It instantly turned the record documents—and the entire device—into scrap metal.

"Meow—!!!"

A hissing sound, completely uncharacteristic of Elio, startled Jingliu, who had just returned from a mission.

Exuding a murderous aura, Jingliu pushed open the door only to see Kafka calmly sipping coffee, while Elio was arched like a bow, hissing at the shattered machine.

"...?"

Jingliu shot a questioning look at Kafka, wondering what had happened while she was out following the script.

Kafka shook her head helplessly. "I don't know either. I assume the script needs another massive rewrite?"

"Haven't you gotten used to it yet?"

Jingliu replied instinctively, which only made Elio more frantic.

"Used to it?! How am I supposed to get used to this!! I just felt even Finality becoming unstable!"

"What?"

"The Path is unstable?"

Jingliu and Kafka exchanged a look. Although they had joined the Stellaron Hunters and thus embarked on the path of Finality, they hadn't been on it for long. 

Their understanding of this Path was nowhere near as deep as the ones they had previously walked.

As for the "instability of the Path" Elio mentioned, they couldn't sense it at all. But if Elio said so, it had to be true.

Except...

"Isn't that a good thing? If Finality disappears."

Jingliu looked at Elio. Though Elio might vanish entirely if Finality ceased to exist, from a macro perspective, the instability of Finality meant the universe's ending was no longer set in stone.

Wasn't that good news?

Elio bared his teeth at the broken screen for a good while before finally calming down to answer Jingliu’s question.

"Theoretically, yes. A future better than the previous ones has appeared. But the problem is, this future is extremely unstable, and it is heavily tied to that woman, Bai Ming!"

Elio’s tone was on the verge of a breakdown.

A glimmer of a good ending had appeared, which made Elio happy, but the fact that this good ending was bound to Bai Ming made Elio furious.

If it were just a path that intersected with Bai Ming, the interference she caused would still be somewhat manageable. But now, that path was essentially welded to her.

Considering the chaotic variables Bai Ming brought every few days...

Elio was truly about to lose it. 

It meant he couldn't select a so-called "correct answer" from that chaotic trajectory. 

No matter what he chose, a change—big or small—would occur once a cycle passed.

Then he’d look back and—whoops! 

All that previous work might have been for nothing, or worse, he might have accidentally made things harder.

It was pure, unadulterated torture.

--+--