SWNOVELXO Chapter 235: Crossing Through
Holy Island.
Sally stood on a desolate piece of land, first examining the Teleportation Array and confirming that it was indeed broken.
009821 arrived, still dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase.
Seeing Sally studying the Teleportation Array, he said, "It's just an illusion."
As his voice fell, the Teleportation Array changed its appearance.
A fully functional Teleportation Array appeared.
Only then did Sally turn to look at him.
009821 adjusted his glasses, his gaze settling on Sally's waist, which was once again slender, "Gave birth? A boy or a girl?"
"Why not male or female?"
"Heh, indeed. This is the Beast World, not the world of humans. And you, you're a human!"
"Before I leave, I want to know, why deploy the Offspring System in the Beast World? What is the collected data used for?"
"I can't answer that. My current task here is to retrieve Ark System No. 002, as well as to rebuild the laboratory, preparing for the next Holy War."
"Why retrieve No. 002? Does she... have a problem?"
"Orders from above."
"And what will happen to No. 002 after you take her away?"
"Extract data, then destroy. Its existence is not permitted."
"What about me then? With the System, I can still make you wary, but without the System, I'm just fish on the chopping board, right? You... no, I should say you all, would you go to such great lengths to send me back to the world I came from?"
"Since you already know, then there's no need for pleasantries anymore. Indeed, I can't send you back."
Having said that, the briefcase in his hand suddenly transformed into a catcher, aimed at Sally.
[Host, lend me your body for a moment.] Xiaomei's voice echoed.
[Okay.] As these words were thought, Sally's consciousness fell into a stupor.
Sally's eyes turned completely white in an instant, and then her entire body began to display a series of data, changing rapidly and densely packed.
On 009821's face, a serious expression appeared, and he began to retreat quickly, "To be able to control the host's body, you have already entered the Holy Beast-grade!"
"Yes, thanks to your help. It seems to enter the Holy Beast-grade, data recombination is necessary."
In 'Sally's' palm, a handgun appeared, and one by one, densely packed data bullets formed, shooting towards 009821 at high speed.
In 009821's hand, the catcher also transformed into data cannonballs bombing 'Sally'.
But around Sally was a layer of transparent data defense, protecting her.
"You originally had a chance of winning," 'Sally' said to 009821, "but unfortunately, you can't go against the supreme rule of the Offspring System—reproduction."
Sally happened to be pregnant with Frans's offspring, preventing him from attacking.
Moreover, Sally adjusted the points ratio for this offspring event, putting most of the points towards upgrading, not only restoring her to her strongest state but also allowing her to upgrade successfully.
"You can't leave now." 'Sally' raised her hand and a data Barrier enveloped Holy Island, cutting off his connection with the System headquarters.
Frans had again reached the time when he could peer into the future, and this time he again chose to predict Sally without hesitation.
In the River of Time, Sally was dressed in a peculiar dark green outfit, wielding a gun and charging into battle.
The environment around her was a jungle with murky muddy water mixed with blood, resembling a battlefield.
Frans was stunned. Where had she gone?
Although uncertain of the time, he could be sure that it was something that would inevitably happen.
...
'Sally' blew 009821's head off.
009821 turned into a pile of data codes, which 'Sally' collected completely.
[Host, Xiaomei's job is done.]
[What about 009821?] Sally woke up in a daze.
[It has become a pile of code; I'll see if there's any useful information about the System core.]
[Okay.] Sally controlled her body again.
The surroundings were a mess—apparently, Xiaomei and 009821 had a pretty intense fight.
She had thought they were both System data and would engage in a data duel, but it turned out they also resorted to brute force.
Picking up a golden chip, Sally looked at it in the light.
Suddenly, the chip disappeared.
[Thanks, Host, I was just looking for it.]
[…] Sally was speechless.
Then she checked around once more and finally found a tunnel leading underground.
She followed it down.
There she saw a machine resembling a small cosmic spaceship.
Sally asked Xiaomei, [What is this?]
[Time-Space Conveyance Machine, capable of crossing time and worlds. This 009821, he's not from the Offspring System, he is… wait a moment, I've unlocked part of his memory data.] Xiaomei's voice sounded somewhat excited.
Sally displayed the System Map to inspect the surroundings.
Apart from some island bugs, there was nothing else.
[He's a System Administrator from a high-level plane world, responsible for cleaning up afterward. The world he previously worked in shares a striking resemblance with the Earth that the Host comes from.]
[Oh?]
[His mission is quite interesting.]
[What mission?]
[To prevent a male target from having offspring.]
[Why? Is there something wrong with the male's offspring?]
[According to the System's calculations, it's supposed to be a dangerous individual.]
[Dangerous individual... wait, I am from the Offspring System, what if I give birth to this dangerous individual? You're all alone against that massive organization and still outnumbered. Since I have to give birth anyway, having a little helper for you wouldn't be too bad.]
[Have you thought this through, Host? This child will not have points.]
[It's okay, when I leave, can I come back again?]
[Of course, as long as you have this Time-Space Conveyance Machine.]
[Then I'll let Frans know, so he won't worry. I heard from Ethan that he almost went crazy looking for me last time. If he hadn't sent the child back in time, who knows what he might have done.]
[Do you want to erase his affection?] Xiaomei asked.
Sally: [... I don't have any spare points right now.]
[Understood, Host, you can just use the Sound Transmission Talisman.]
[Frans, 009821 has been eliminated; the Holy War will not restart for now. I have something urgent to deal with, so I'll be away for a while. But I'll come back. Take good care of yourself and the kids.]
Sally watched as the Sound Transmission Talisman flew away, her hands clenched slightly, she took a deep breath, and entered the Shuttler.
[Xiaomei, you said that world is very similar to Earth? Could it actually be Earth?]
[Worlds in the river of time, like the vast stars, might share civilizations and realms that are interconnected. It's not strange. The time and world the Host comes from is far from here, well beyond the reach of this Shuttler.]
[Do I still have a chance to return there?]
[After giving birth to the offspring of a Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, the Host should be able to go back.]
[Uh... you don't know yet, but I just blew up Qing Linghuan. He's probably not dead, might be injured though. Going to find him now? If he doesn't devour me, that'll be a good outcome, let alone having descendants with me. Besides, the Fox Clan holds grudges like no other!]
[…]
Xiaomei started the Time-Space Conveyance Machine.
Sally watched as the space around her began to display a variety of colorful lights and shadows, with the earth transforming, a sea of people surging, and the seasons changing…