Space station 9: New Simulation - Demon Hunter

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[Current Simulation Location: Tianyi-5.]

[Overview: Tianyi-5, a planet plagued by Stellaron interference. The affected inhabitants here have lost the concept of fear, indulging their desires until they ultimately degenerate into demons.]

[Main Quest: Become a demon hunter and eliminate as many demons as possible.]

[Looking at the overview for this simulation's location...]

[Kafka leaned back in her chair, tapping her forehead lightly with a puzzled expression.]

[Firefly: @Kafka, do you still remember anything about this simulation?]

[Kafka: Not clearly, only that it is my place of origin.]

[Firefly: As expected.]

[Black Swan: As per usual to avoid spoilers, I will seal everyone's memories, including my own.]

[Stelle: Fairness! Truly fair!]

[Stelle: @Black Swan, could you secretly give me a hint about Kafka's simulation content?]

[Stelle: So curious! Just tell me a little, March 7th will do anything for it!]

[March 7th: Hey!]

[Black Swan (laughs): No, dear. You yourself mentioned fairness; just watch and find out.]

[Stelle: Tsk—]

Himeko put down her coffee cup, also becoming intrigued.

Despite having her memories sealed, she had a lingering feeling that her strained relationship with Kafka somehow connected to these simulations. She decided to pay close attention this time.

Su Qing was also reviewing the simulation overview.

Being able to preview the location and mission beforehand was advantageous; he didn't want to keep choosing talents blindly.

First, he examined the details of his previous rewards:

[Talent Quality Upgrade (Purple): At the start, adds two purple-tier talents for selection, allowing one choice.]

[Talent Effect Enhancement (Minor): At the start, can slightly improve the effect of one chosen talent.]

Su Qing was quite satisfied. These rewards were akin to permanent upgrades in roguelike games, providing immediate enhancements.

Additionally, there was the Talent inherited from the last simulation: [Photography lv2].

The simulation rewards didn't provide Credits, but this photography skill undoubtedly enabled earning money outside.

The issue lay in Su Qing's current location being limited to the space station, making photography inconvenient and restricted.

He still hoped for a more versatile, convenient, and anytime-anywhere profitable Talent...

That way, not only could he repay his debt, but also have extra funds to purchase ingredients...

[Stelle: Now it's time for, Fantasy Moment!]

[Herta: I'm impressed; he never forgets about cooking, no matter the situation.]

Su Qing shook his head, deciding not to dwell on this thought just yet.

With such a remarkable simulation unfolding, these benefits would surely accumulate over time.

He examined the Talents available for selection in this formal simulation:

[Choose two from the following Talents, with one purple Talent allowed.]

[Potential Liberation (Purple): You can unleash hidden potential within your body, but excessive use may lead to depletion effects.]

[Strategic Planning (Purple): You excel at devising strategies, enabling extraordinary effectiveness from the combat power at hand.]

[Stone Hat (Blue): Your presence is minimal, enhancing your ability to remain inconspicuous.]

[Vigorous Stamina (Blue): You possess excellent physical constitution, resulting in superior energy levels compared to others.]

[Loves Sweets (White): You have a fondness for sweet foods, particularly enjoying various desserts.]

[Impatience (White): Your thoughts are restless, lacking focus, but it slightly enhances your decisiveness.]

Su Qing tried each one individually and applied the enhancement to the two purple Talents.

[Potential Unleashing (Purple+): You can tap into deep reserves of untapped potential within yourself. After unleashing this potential, some will remain, but excessive use may lead to depletion.]

[Strategic Planning (Purple+): You excel at devising strategies, possessing uncanny foresight capable of securing victory from afar. The combat power under your control can be utilized far beyond ordinary limits.]

[Stelle: Wow! Retaining released potential? Securing victory from afar?!]

[Stelle: This isn't just a slight boost—it's skyrocketed!]

[Bronya: Incredible, I'm envious. If only Strategic Planning could have been my Talent.]

[Seele: ?? Now, once again, it's time for Fantasy Hour!]

[Bronya: ...What?]

[Silver Wolf: Getting heated.]

[Bronya: @Seele, you wait—once this simulation ends, we're having a talk!]

[Seele: Ah?? Are we taking this offline now?]

[Stelle: ?]

[Silver Wolf: ?]

[Sparkle: The smile hasn't vanished; it has merely shifted.]

As Su Qing observed the enhanced Talents, his eyes lit up. These effects were truly impressive.

With "Potential Unleashing" retaining a portion, it transformed from a short-term burst into a permanent enhancement—a significant qualitative change.

And "Strategic Planning" was even more direct, promising uncanny foresight and securing victories from great distances—not mere exaggerations.

Su Qing pondered briefly; both enhancements were undoubtedly excellent...

However, he ultimately decided to choose [Potential Unleashing].

Firstly, for Strategy Mastery to be effective, one needed their own established team and combat capabilities—a prerequisite existed.

Secondly, his previous simulation experience indicated that relying on personal power was more reassuring.

[Firefly: Reasonable.]

[March 7th: Reasonable.]

[Stelle: Beaver.]

With the two talent slots available, Su Qing finally selected [Potential Unleashing+] and [Vigorous Stamina], perfectly complementing each other.

Su Qing closed his eyes once more, preparing to commence the simulation.

The text reappeared before him:

[Protection Card Simulation System, at your service.]

[Warm Reminder: Moderate simulation is beneficial; excessive simulation can harm. Please manage your time wisely and enjoy the simulation experience.]

[Firefly: Hmm? Compared to my earlier simulation, does it seem like something is missing from these prompts?]

[Simulation starting.]

[Age 0: You are born. Your name is Su Lie.]

[Your parents rejoice at your birth but also feel some concern. The planet Tianyi-5 cannot be considered a favorable place.]

[Himeko: Starting from birth now. This simulation seems indeed more formal this time.]

[Age 3: You possess greater vitality than other children of your age.]

[Age 10: While playing catch with your father, you suddenly display extraordinary strength. A throw hits your elderly father's abdomen, sending him to the hospital.]

[Age 10: After your father's discharge, he promptly lands you back in the hospital as well.]

[Silver Wolf: What a heartwarming display of paternal love and filial piety.]

[Fortunately, after a thorough medical examination, no issues were found with your body, showing no signs of demonization. Your parents breathe a sigh of relief.]

[Age 12: You discover that you can harness the latent power within yourself.]

[Age 15: Overexerting your potential, you collapse on the spot.]

[Waking up, you find yourself once again in the hospital. Following a week of recovery, you are discharged, thankfully without any lasting complications.]

[Age 16: You begin exercising greater caution in controlling your strength.]

[You discovered that each time you unleashed your latent potential, a small portion remained with you. Although not much at each instance, through repeated use, you rapidly gained strength far surpassing ordinary humans.]

[At 17 years old, you experienced rapid growth and developed an interest in becoming a demon hunter.]

[Demon hunters are a unique profession specific to Tianyi-5. As the name suggests, they hunt the demons constantly emerging on this planet, facing both danger and rewards simultaneously.]

[At 18 years old, you enrolled for the demon hunter assessment. Your theoretical scores were average, but in the practical test, you achieved astonishing results.]

[Successfully passing the assessment, you became a trainee demon hunter.]

[At 19 years old, following tradition, a trainee demon hunter must participate in team operations under the guidance of a senior for at least three years before being eligible to accept solo missions.]

[However, just a few months later, the senior demon hunter mentoring you acknowledged that your abilities had surpassed his own. With unwavering confidence, he endorsed you, recommending you as a full-fledged hunter.]

[In truth, from the very beginning, your capabilities already met the requirements.]

[Obsessed with relentlessly pursuing demons, you initially failed to realize that your achievements were being claimed by your senior all along.]

[Upon realizing this one day, you temporarily abandoned fighting demons and focused on beating up your senior instead.]

[Soon after, you received the fabric shoulder insignia signifying your status as a Junior Demon Hunter.]

[At that moment, donning the shoulder badge, you understood: in Tianyi-5, fists or firearms were often the best solutions to problems.]

[By age 20, you became the youngest Junior Demon Hunter.]

[Within just a few months, through relentless effort, you successfully completed numerous missions.]

[When others asked why you worked so hard, suggesting it must be due to financial need, you would often smile without responding.]

[The answer was simple, reflecting your personality: you immersed yourself fully in any role you undertook.]

[For most people, being a demon hunter is arduous and dangerous, but for you, it boiled down to three words: combat, exhilarating!]

[Stelle: This episode aligns perfectly with his character traits."]

[Herta: Su Qing's mantra: Cooking, exhilarating!"]

[Firefly: Su Qing's mantra: Photography, exhilarating!"]

[Seele: Su Qing's mantra: Combat, exhilarating!"]

[Stelle: hhhhh exactly. Giving him access to these simulations feels like a waste; his personality is ideally suited to enjoy them thoroughly."]

["At age 20, your achievements continued to accumulate. Today, you receive a new mission."]

[The incident location is New Babylon, where a report claims demons have appeared, including a potentially dangerous demon with Stellaron's aura. Urgent assistance is needed.]

[You promptly arrive at the scene.]

New Babylon was situated on the eastern side of the city.

Su Qing had been here before; in his memory, it was once a tranquil and peaceful residential area.

However, upon his arrival this time, flames soared high into the sky amidst continuous screams. People rushed past him chaotically, creating utter disorder.

Sighing internally, Su Qing did not pause for a moment.

He had encountered such scenes numerous times already.

Due to the influence of Stellaron, demonic transformation seemed akin to a contagious disease under Tianyi-5. Individuals could become infected either after experiencing severe trauma or encountering demons bearing the Stellaron's aura.

Once infected, the first symptom was losing the sense of fear. Without fear, chaos ensues as its harbinger.

If, following the loss of fear, one succumbs to their desires unchecked, they will ultimately transform into a true demon.

Demons recklessly unleash their desires—destruction, annihilation, greed, hunger, and more... If not swiftly eliminated, they can cause immense devastation.

Su Qing hastened towards the epicenter of the incident.

Along the way, he encountered some slender, vicious-looking lesser demons with sharp teeth and claws. Unwilling to waste time, he swiftly dispatched them with his gun.

[Amidst the chaotic scene, a motionless figure catches your attention.]

Before a house engulfed in flames stood a young girl with short purple hair.

Her skin was fair, features delicate, and her violet shoulder-length locks framed her porcelain-like face. Strands of her disheveled hair draped over parts of her pale cheeks.

The girl's fragile frame swayed as heat waves billowed around her white dress. Amidst the burning ruins, she resembled a vulnerable flower dancing in the wind.

What drew Su Qing's notice was that while observing the fleeing crowd before her, the girl showed no reaction herself, appearing strangely detached and calm.

Su Qing halted, realizing that the location of the demon incident mentioned by the caller seemed to be right here.

[You survey the surroundings.]

[Apart from the distant demonic howls, there are people taking advantage of the chaos to loot, accompanied by cries, curses, and flickering firelight, transforming this place into a semblance of hell on earth.]

[Faced with this harrowing situation, you decide...]

[A: It's dangerous here; escort the girl to a safe location.]

[B: The fire is raging; immediately assist in extinguishing it.]

[C: The crowd is in turmoil; stop the looting and stabilize the situation.]

[D: Mission first, continue pursuing and slaying demons.]