Julius was breathing heavily.
"She is… she is really strong."
Just then, Serena came up beside him.
"Serena, thank you. If you hadn't come, we probably wouldn't have won."
"It's okay, Master. It was my duty."
Julius chuckled softly, then said,
"Can you help me stand?"
Serena reached her hand out to him, and Julius lifted his own to take hers.
TAP
Their hands touched.
In that instant, something like a surge of electricity shot through Julius's body. An unnatural sensation spread through him, and it felt as if something was trying to pull his very soul away.
His eyes shut tight as he felt the current coursing through him—and then, everything fell silent.
When he opened his eyes again, he blinked in confusion.
"Where the hell am I?"
He was no longer in the battlefield. All around him were nothing but clouds, an endless sky stretching in every direction. He seemed suspended in the air between the drifting mists.
"Welcome, programmer."
"Huh? Who is it? How do you know I'm a programmer?"
A figure began to materialize in front of Julius.
It was a woman—she looked to be in her mid-thirties and was stunningly, almost overwhelmingly beautiful, surpassing even Saya and Serena. She had a soft, slightly plump figure—though not overly so—with breasts larger than either Saya's or Serena's and wide, generous hips.
She was tall and elegant, her fair skin glowing. Her long, flowing blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders. She wore a revealing outfit of white and gold—ornate armor plates and sheer fabric that exposed much of her chest, hips, and thighs. Blue gemstones glimmered in the golden details wrapping her body like elegant filigree. She was barefoot, golden straps winding around her legs. In one hand, she held a tall staff topped by a golden balance scale. A white blindfold covered her eyes, giving her an aura both divine and unknowable.
"How do I know you're a programmer? Do you even realize the consequences we've had to face because of your mistakes? Do you have any idea what you've done to us, programmer?"
"I… I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Very well. Then let me explain."
She spoke in a calm, resonant voice:
"You created this game. We had no issue with that—because in a way, it gave us life. But what had we, the data packs, ever done to you that you included corrupted data in our world? Do you know how many of us died in these endless wars spawned by those corrupt fragments? And you—you people came here, played around, and left. We waited, all of us, hoping that someday, one of the programmers would become trapped here…someone who could help us. Because only a programmer has the power to annihilate those corrupted data packs. And now that fate falls to you."
"Falls to me? Corrupted data packs? But…what is all this?"
"Don't worry. You, too, must bear the consequences of your carelessness. Marcus Valley—return there. When you arrive, you'll see it has changed beyond recognition. There, you will meet my followers. All you must do is speak my name to them: Aurora Vermillion 1."
"Hu—"
But before he could say anything more, the world dissolved—and he found himself back on the same battlefield where he and the dragon had defeated Wilhelm.
"Master, take my hand."
Serena was there before him again, reaching out.
"…Oh… yeah… yes."
He grasped her hand and pulled himself upright. He was badly wounded, and so was she.
At that moment, another figure appeared nearby.
"Master!"
Julius turned his head toward the voice. Saya was approaching, limping badly.
"Saya, are you alright?"
"Yes, Master."
She could barely walk. Only a little of her mana had returned, but she was still alive.
And just then, the dragon descended toward them.
The moment she touched the ground, pink light began to radiate outward. Her entire body started to shift, her massive form shrinking and reshaping—she was transforming into a human.
Julius's eyes went wide in utter disbelief. Even Saya and Serena couldn't stop themselves from blushing; she was almost impossibly beautiful.
Lelena's hairstyle was striking and elegant. Her long, silky pink hair was gathered into a thick, smooth braid that coiled into a large, tidy bun resting high on the back of her head, almost like a polished rope neatly wound in a spiral. A few long sections were left free at the front, framing her face with straight strands that fell gracefully past her chin. Soft, feathery bangs swept across her forehead just above her eyebrows, blending seamlessly into the longer pieces and giving her a delicate, youthful contrast to the sophistication of her braided bun.
She wore a beautiful, elegant pink ball gown with a fitted, off-the-shoulder bodice and a large flower decoration adorning one strap. The skirt was voluminous and layered with cascading ruffles of sheer fabric, embroidered with delicate floral patterns. The material itself was a soft, shimmering pink, creating a romantic, princess-like look. The dress had a vintage, fairytale feel and flowed all the way to the floor.
Her skin was pale—almost luminescent—and flawless. Her eyelashes were long and pink, her eyes the same vivid shade of pink that matched her delicate lips. She was stunning, her beauty almost overwhelming. Her chest and hips were generous, her waist slim and graceful. Crimson horns curved elegantly from her head, glinting above her bangs. Even her nails were pink, gleaming with a glossy sheen.
On her feet were dainty pink heels.
"Thank you for saving me, Lord Airu."
Her voice was soft, almost musical.
Saya, Serena, and Julius simply couldn't stop themselves from admiring her.
She stood with a gentle smile, her hands folded gracefully in front of her thighs.
Julius stammered, his voice nervous and unsteady:
"Ah, yeah… oh… it's okay… haha… yes."