Bronya's troubles

Belobog, the Everlasting City, humanity's last fortress.

Seven hundred years ago, the Antimatter Legion ravaged Jarilo-VI, flames engulfing the planet, turning the land to scorched earth.

In a life-or-death moment, the Eternal Freeze swept across Jarilo-VI, turning the vanguard of the Antimatter Legion into ice sculptures, bringing silence back to the world, with Belobog standing tall.

The Builders established this city, and under the protection of Klipper, the Aeon of Preservation, the isolated city, though plagued by the Eternal Freeze, still retained a bit of warmth.

...However, even though the Antimatter Legion was swallowed by the freeze, the mysterious phenomenon of rifts continuously appeared on Jarilo-VI, and has now invaded Belobog.

Strange life forms not belonging to this world extend their tentacles from the dim starry sky, consuming life and artificial creations, turning matter into twisted phantoms wandering the rifts.

Belobog, besieged by the Eternal Freeze and the rifts, is teetering on the brink of collapse. This last human fortress, after more than seven hundred years of war, is nearing its end...

Can humanity find a future amidst the Eternal Freeze?

Bronya could not find the answer to this question.

As the future High Guardian, Bronya had received strict education from Cocolia since childhood. With the best educational resources in Belobog, she gradually grew into an outstanding Builder.

In the foreseeable future, Bronya was bound to become a qualified High Guardian, protecting Belobog until the end of her life.

In fact, Bronya had already overshadowed the current High Guardian Cocolia, and recently there had been a surge of rebellious sentiments in the city, with many eagerly anticipating Bronya's succession. Almost everyone had high hopes and great expectations for Bronya—

Except Bronya herself.

Recently, she had been doubting herself, wondering if she could truly be fit for the role of High Guardian.

The Silvermane Guards in the upper district went to the front lines, their blood and fire forged defenses unable to halt the encroaching rifts, leaving only the wails of the dead and phantoms wandering within the rifts.

The lower district had been sealed off for a long time, and no one knew what life was like there, but it was likely no better than the inflation and judicial corruption of the upper district.

Life in the Eternal Freeze was becoming increasingly harsh. Bronya had tried to change things, submitting several proposals to her mother, the current High Guardian Cocolia.

Suggestions to withdraw the frontline guards, reform the logistics department corruption, and regulate the monopoly of daily necessities by old families... All these proposals were dismissed by Cocolia as "trivial jokes."

Out of respect for her mother, Bronya had always followed her commands— in her view, if Cocolia said so, then those ideas must be worthless.

Although she sometimes doubted Cocolia's decrees, more often she doubted herself...

After all, Cocolia had the advice of the Builders, while she only had her own ideas. How could one person's wisdom outweigh that of a group?

Thinking back to presenting those useless proposals to her mother now seemed ridiculous...

How could a foolish yet unaware self really bring a better life to the people of Belobog?

These doubts kept growing in her heart, leaving Bronya mentally and physically exhausted.

Although she still maintained her stern and efficient leader facade, she was, after all, just a young girl. Under such immense pressure, her spirit had long been stretched like a taut string, ready to snap at any moment.

...Until today, the strange light screen that appeared before her distracted her from endless self-doubt.

[Life Simulation Game has logged in.]

[Welcome, player Bronya Rand.]

[This game will use the player's personal experiences and character tendencies as references to simulate all actions.]

[At the end of each simulation, the player can receive rewards based on everything obtained in the simulation.]

[Would you like to start the game?]

[Yes/No]

She was initially puzzled by the screen, but once she confirmed its existence, she quickly calmed down.

Life simulation...?

Bronya couldn't help but ponder. The real Belobog was already on the brink, with no room for trial and error...

But in a simulation, there would be plenty of room for mistakes... If she could achieve something in the simulation, she could replicate it in reality.

Although protecting Belobog was not something she could do alone, in the simulation, she could always find help...

Then, she could finally see if she could become a qualified High Guardian.

With this expectation, Bronya awkwardly traced her finger across the screen in a secluded corner of Klipperfort, trying to figure out how to use it.

Over seven hundred years since the foundation of the Builders, the technological tree that should have existed on Jarilo-VI had completely regressed.

Bronya had never seen such advanced technology before, and it took her a while of fumbling to figure out how to operate it, finally tapping "Yes" on the screen—

[Please select a play mode:

Future Simulation, Past Simulation (available after reaching world level 15), Fantasy Simulation (available after reaching world level 35)]

Looking at the top right corner of the screen, UID1000000006, player Bronya Rand, she saw her world level was only a measly 1.

It seemed she could only play the Future Simulation...

Bronya selected Future Simulation, and the text on the screen cleared, new text appearing:

[In the 700th year of the Builder Era, the rift erosion became more severe, spreading completely into the administrative district of Belobog.]

[Faced with the rift threat, High Guardian Cocolia decided to mobilize the entire population, recruiting more guards to enter the rift-infested areas in an attempt to launch a counterattack.]

[As the acting leader of the Silvermane Guards, you know well the unpredictable nature of the rifts and the formidable strength of rift creatures.]

[You suggest to your mother to pull back the guards' lines, defend the peripheral routes, and avoid unnecessary sacrifices.]

[But Cocolia rebukes you for your lack of bloodthirst, insisting on the counterattack.]

[She strips you of your position as acting leader of the Silvermane Guards, forbidding you from going to the front lines, assigning you a few guards to watch over the armory.]

Seeing the text on the screen, Bronya couldn't help but feel a bit dazed.

Though she was used to her mother's stubborn nature, she still found it hard to understand her actions.

The rift had ravaged for over seven hundred years, with no successful counterattack against it.

Rift creatures were endless, and those who ventured into the rift were easily corrupted, losing their sanity and becoming rift monsters.

Holding the line against the rift creatures' assault was already challenging enough, how could they possibly launch a counterattack?

It was pure self-destruction...

Bronya felt a complex mix of emotions as she watched the text continue to update on the screen:

[You reluctantly accept the order and head to the logistics area to guard the armory.]

[A team of Silvermane Guards has become your direct subordinates, joining your squad—]

A row of character cards popped up on the screen, each depicting a guard's portrait, looking like simple sketches, not even colored.

Most of these character cards were white, with one or two emitting a blue glow.

Bronya carefully examined the introductions on these character cards, disheartened to find they were all idlers in the guard ranks, usually only doing guard duty.

A few blue character cards had some skills, having followed Captain Gepard to the front lines before, but their battle merits were unremarkable, of little use.

Facing such a dismal start, Bronya couldn't help but sigh.

She had a squad of Silvermane Guards, but not a single useful person... It seemed she had to rely on herself.

She was about to continue the simulation when she accidentally slid the screen, discovering a character card she had previously missed—

[Ron]

[Talent: Exceptional Genius—Possessing extraordinary talent and generosity, he can seize any opportunity with his remarkable strategies... Give him enough time, and he can solve any problem.]

[Description: A Silvermane Guard officer, formerly stationed at Klipperfort.

Currently transferred to the logistics officer Bronya's team, temporarily serving as the armory guard captain.]

On his character card, golden starlight shimmered around the edges, and the detailed illustration depicted him hurriedly adjusting his disheveled armor. Once properly attired, he saluted Bronya, his armor and axe gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.