The Sword Princess Descends Upon Me

[Death Frenzy Sword Princess has completed a round of swordsmanship training. Swordsmanship faction experience significantly increased.] [Death Frenzy Sword Princess has completed a round of swordsmanship training. Swordsmanship faction experience significantly increased.] [Death Frenzy Sword Princess has completed a battle. Swordsmanship faction experience significantly increased. Talent triggered: an additional 10,000% experience gained. In battle, resonated with the Void Realm and summoned the sorcery spirit 'Wave Sword'.] [Wave Sword] [One-Winged Sorcery Spirit] [Restriction: Must use a sword.] [Basic Effect: Releases a wave of sword ki.] [Passive Effect: Normal sword attacks are more likely to knock the target off balance.] ['The sword is not trembling; it is merely thirsty.'] Perhaps this was the first time since starting university that Yaxiu had maintained a healthy daily routine—he had crawled out of bed at six in the morning to check on Death Frenzy Sword Princess's training progress in the Sorcerer Manual, waiting, full of hope. The game did not disappoint him. In just a single day, Death Frenzy Sword Princess had achieved a major developmental leap! [Death Frenzy Sword Princess] [Human · Female · 20 years old] [Bond Level: 0 (30% Experience Sharing)] [Class: One-Winged Sword Sorcerer] [Class Trait: 10% reduction in stamina consumption when using swordsmanship sorcery spirits] [Possessions: None] [Mastered Sorcery Spirits: Wave Sword] [Swordsmanship Faction: Silver Rank] [Void Realm Exploration: 0.000%] [Water Sorcery Faction: Uninitiated] Although he didn't know what a one-winged sword sorcerer was, Yaxiu recalled that the Bloodmad Hunter who had blown him apart with a single strike seemed to possess three wings. In other words, having wings meant one had become a transcendent. Now that the Sword Princess had become a transcendent, then as an exemplary player who had toiled through the night and spared no pains to cultivate her into a talent, wasn't it time for him to receive the return on that thirty percent shared experience? Yet Yaxiu waited and waited, refreshing the game's log again and again. Still, he received none of the divine epiphany, experience transfer, or knowledge infusion he had imagined. There wasn't the slightest change on the operator interface for [End Watcher] either. Yaxiu's current mood was like that of a gullible elementary schooler who had paid a shady online merchant for a lifetime QQ VIP membership only to get instantly blocked—the hopes sparked by greed were thoroughly swallowed by crushing disappointment. However, after giving it some serious thought, he suddenly realized he might have missed a step: "Could it be... because I haven't topped up any cash?" His company's games were infamous for offering zero gameplay experience if you didn't spend money—though spending money didn't guarantee you'd have one either. If a portion of the gameplay experience had been gutted because he hadn't spent real money, that would be entirely par for the course. If it was just a matter of not paying, that was fine; at least there was room to make up for it. If certain functions were broken because modules were lost during his transmigration, then this game system he was relying on really could only be played like Princess Maker... [Dear Mr. Yaxiu Heath, Shattered Lake Prison has completed your life certification. You may move freely within designated areas. For details, please see the attached Shattered Lake Prison Life Handbook. Note: Meal delivery service will no longer be provided. Please proceed to the dining hall on your own for meals.] At the same time, a green light illuminated above the fist-thick door, displaying a little walking figure icon for "Passage Permitted." Melodious singing drifted in from outside: "If hurt enough, then use your pair of hands to cleanly cut away yesterday's curse. Awaiting dawn as night descends, only scars remain..." Priceless. What kind of song was this? Was it meant to mock the prisoners? Stunned, Yaxiu couldn't quite fathom the situation. He tapped open the Shattered Lake Prison Life Handbook. Every line he read made him suspect this message was an April Fools' prank designed specifically to troll new inmates: [1. Free activity hours are from 07:00 to 22:00. Accessible areas include: Central Hall, Reading Room, Gymnasium, Audiovisual Room, Sea-Viewing Terrace, Couples' Room (supplies provided), Workshop, Dining Hall...] [2. Dining hall hours are: 07:00–09:00, 11:00–14:00, 17:00–20:00. If you wish to eat outside of service hours, please use the room-service order system.] [3. Reading Room: Please register missing titles with the administrator. They will be restocked within three business days at the latest.] [4. Audiovisual Room: Currently provides only audiovisual programs purchasable through official licensed channels. Films currently in theaters will only be available after their theatrical run ends.] [5. Couples' Room: Please place used items into the recycling bin; do not wash them yourself and return them to their original spots.] [6. ...] The long list of miscellaneous guidelines consisted almost entirely of instructions on how to use the prison's various amenities, making Yaxiu feel as though he were just a tourist on a one-day prison sightseeing tour. What surprised Yaxiu most was that while the handbook laid out all the rights the prisoners enjoyed, it didn't list a single prohibition they had to observe. It was as if nothing were forbidden, and anything went. When things are abnormal, something must be amiss. Still, since meals were no longer delivered, Yaxiu couldn't just stay in his cell and starve to death. Besides, he was deeply curious about what this prison was really all about. When he walked over to the doorway, the automatic door slid open on its own. Beyond lay a clean, quiet corridor, without a single prison guard in sight. On the wall hung a prominent sign: [Central Hall ← · → Equipment Gym, Sauna Room] Just looking at the sign, Yaxiu could already imagine that the neighboring cells were packed with muscle-bound hulks who spent their days pumping iron, bathing, and hitting the sauna... And thinking of the couples' room made his sphincter tighten. He decided he would just hurry, eat his meal, and scurry right back to his cell. Following the narrow corridor into the Central Hall, his view suddenly opened up. The Central Hall was an expansive space with a glass skylight ceiling. The morning sunlight poured freely over the benches, flanked by potted plants. A few people sat scattered across the benches—some chatting, some reading, and someone even sleeping... If not for the prison uniforms they wore, Yaxiu would have thought he had strolled into a public park. And most pleasant of all, there was a uniformed prison guard stationed off to the side. Although the guard seemed to be slacking off on duty, messing around on a light screen, his mere presence made Yaxiu breathe a sigh of relief—at least there was someone he could call to for help. Even though Yaxiu's mind was consumed with thoughts of how to escape, right now he was a bona fide, certified piece of deadweight with zero martial strength and all the mental fragility of an overworked corporate drone. Without law enforcement around to protect him, he wasn't even sure if he could defend his chastity—Heath's body was actually rather alluring. On the front wall of the hall, a light screen was broadcasting the news. It appeared to show a parliamentary debate; even just catching a few words sounded mind-numbing. Yaxiu couldn't make sense of what was being discussed on the screen, because the conversation between two people sitting on the front bench caught his interest far more: "Who would've thought Lorenzo would actually become a councilman? Looks like he joined the Wine of Immortality Club as well. Andere's faction has completely overshadowed the mayor now. The mayor will probably have to pack his bags the moment his term ends this year..." "I wouldn't say so. Mayor Financier has the backing of Bishop Enrico. Just you wait. Lorenzo taking office isn't a sign of Andere rising to power; it's Andere's death knell. Within three days at the earliest, or a month at most, someone important in Andere's faction is bound to drop dead." "Andere has been rooted in Kaimeng for decades. The Church wouldn't make a move if they want to maintain stability." "Did you forget the suicide of the Railway Bureau director fifteen years ago?..." Listening to two inmates discuss high-level political shifts inside a prison was already a strange experience, but what made it even stranger was that one was a green-skinned orc standing 2.2 meters tall, and the other was a short-legged goblin a mere 1.3 meters in height. "If you're interested in politics, I suggest heading to the Reading Room to chat with old man Renn. Before they got thrown in here, Godor and Ludodo were just an Administrative Office secretary and the Development Bureau director—middling positions at best. They only half-understand politics, and all they spout is useless nonsense." "Still, would the illustrious Four Pillar Gods cult leader, Yaxiu Heath, really care about Kaimeng's municipal politics?" Yaxiu turned his head to look at the blond man beside him. "You know me?" "Of course. After all, you were on the seven o'clock news, and you made the front page both yesterday and the day before. The news is the fastest way for us to get acquainted with new companions." The blond man smiled. "Pleasure to meet you. Perhaps you've seen me on the news as well—Igola Bogin." "Yaxiu." Yaxiu took two steps back. "Are people here always this friendly?" "Indeed," Igola said candidly. "We're quite welcoming to newcomers. After all, we're comrades who share the same ambition." "The same ambition?" "Yes." Igola glanced at the on-duty guard, reached out a hand toward Yaxiu, and lowered his voice: "Interested in joining our Prison Break Study Group and becoming friends who watch each other's backs?" Yaxiu was secretly overjoyed. Talk about a pillow right when he was getting sleepy! He was just trying to find a way to break out of prison, and to his surprise, there was already an established organization waiting for him. Delighted, he naturally reached out his hand. "Of cour—" "If I were you, I'd punch him in the face." A chilly female voice suddenly sounded from the side. Out of the corner of his eye, Yaxiu glanced over and was startled to see someone wearing a mink fur coat, a miniskirt, stockings, and tall boots, with a decorative sword hanging at her waist looking like nothing more than an erotic accessory—an exceedingly maturely dressed... young girl? Yet the very next second, he recognized her. Even though she was wearing a different skin, wasn't this face none other than Death Frenzy Sword Princess?! Death Frenzy Sword Princess descends upon me?! With hardly a second thought, Yaxiu whipped around and punched Igola right in the face!