"Alright, I've installed this laser cannon."
[Ms. Herta] clapped her hands, her movements as elegant as if she were adding sugar to a cup of black tea rather than installing a weapon on a three-meter-tall mechanical monster.
"But don't count on this thing."
She cast a sidelong glance at Stella, who was so excited she was practically jumping up and down.
"The core is too low-grade; I expect it will run out of energy after two shots. Have you heard of a 'three-second man'? This is that kind of junk."
Stella wasn't listening to the rest at all; she had already circled the galatron for the third time, her eyes shining like the rare mining lamps of the Lower District. "It's so cool! The streamlines! The metallic luster! This—"
"This will soon turn into a pile of scrap metal if you can't find a better energy core."
[Ms. Herta] mercilessly interrupted her hymn of praise.
"When you have time, find some good materials and cores, and I can build a mechanical creation that won't lose to a three-star character. Of course, that's assuming you stop staring at it with that 'kid in a candy shop' look; it's disgusting."
Stella reined herself in a little, though her mouth was still stretched ear to ear.
The appearance of a gray-haired girl paired with that obsessed expression was truly jarring.
"It is quite cool."
Natasha smiled gently from the side, though her eyes held a hint of resignation, as if to say, "This child is beyond saving."
"Natasha!"
A figure rushed over like a whirlwind, her short purple hair tracing a sharp arc in the air.
"Seele, you're here."
Seeing that the newcomer was Seele, Natasha's smile became a bit more genuine.
"I haven't been gone for long, so why are there so many strangers here!"
Seele had already gripped the scythe in her hand, her gaze sweeping like a blade over every humanoid and non-humanoid creature present.
"And what's the deal with this big hunk of metal and that puppet!"
The tip of her scythe pointed squarely at [Ms. Herta].
[Ms. Herta] raised an eyebrow. "'That puppet'? How rude, little girl. I am an exquisite puppet of Ms. Herta, possessing 100% of the original's sharp-tongued ability. Please treat me well."
Seele's mouth twitched. "Natasha, can you explain?"
"Er..."
Stella raised her hand awkwardly.
"I can explain."
Over the next ten minutes, Stella explained her abilities at top speed: transformation, summoning, a maximum of three, requiring cultivation, otherwise she could only bully ordinary people—
"Like this, for example!"
A flash of blue light shone on Stella, and she transformed from [Stelle] into [Clara]; the little red jacket and white hair instantly replaced her previous appearance.
Even more eye-catching was the [Svarog] that suddenly appeared behind her; the massive mechanical creation stood silently, the laser cannon in its palm flickering in and out of view.
Seele watched this scene, dumbfounded, her scythe nearly slipping from her hand. "You... you were just a gray-haired girl a moment ago!"
"This is one of my abilities."
Stella [Clara] scratched her head sheepishly.
"Do you want to test its combat power? But I'll say in advance, it's very weak."
"Sure."
Seele gripped her scythe again, took a deep breath, and aimed at [Svarog].
"Let me see what you, big guy, are capable of."
The ensuing scene could be summarized as a "one-sided lesson."
[Svarog] clumsily raised its arm, and just as the laser cannon gathered a bit of light, Seele had already ghosted to its side and slashed at its joint with her scythe.
"Clang!"
The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the space.
"Too slow!"
Seele shouted, then kicked [Svarog] in the back.
Stella [Clara] waved her little fists anxiously from the side. "[Svarog], come on! Left! No, right! Ah, above!"
Natasha couldn't help but cover her forehead. "Stella, you're not a cheerleader..."
"I know, but the atmosphere is right!"
Stella [Clara] replied righteously.
Three minutes later, [Svarog] was lying on the ground, with multiple dents on its body and one mechanical arm bent unnaturally.
Seele stood beside it, panting slightly, her expression complex.
"This is way too weak!"
She couldn't help but complain.
"I thought it could last at least five minutes!"
"I think so too."
Stella transformed back into [Stelle] form and sighed.
She opened the character system panel that only she could see:
[Stelle] LV.19 / 80 [Four-Star]
[Clara] LV.27 / 70 [Three-Star]
[Bailu] LV.21 / 70 [Three-Star]
[Ms. Herta] LV.23 / 70 [Three-Star]
[March 7th] LV.11 / 60 [Two-Star]
Remaining characters: All level-one newbies.
Reality is harsh: including herself, she can only field four characters at a time, and with the current lineup, she can indeed only bully ordinary Rift creatures.
"So your ability is to turn into others and then summon some... helpers that can't really fight?"
Seele summarized, her tone carrying obvious disappointment.
"Stop scolding me, stop it! Let me have some peace!"
Stella was on the verge of tears.