Island (Rewrited Chapter)

Here's the rewritten version with the more natural tone:

Note: This fanfiction has a slow-paced build-up, so expect a lot of preparation before the main plot begins.

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Nayla's POV:

Oh, right—I forgot to ask Alice something important.

"Alice, what's the purpose of an Upgrade Card?" asks Nayla.

[Alice]: "As the name suggests, Nayla, you can use Upgrade Cards to enhance other cards. However, only cards with the 'Growthable' tag can be upgraded, and the target card cannot surpass the rank of the Upgrade Card.

For example, if you have an Upgrade Card of Rank B:

Upgrading a card from Rank C to B has a 100% success rate. Upgrading from Rank B to A has a 10% chance of success. Attempting to upgrade from Rank A to S has a 0% chance of success."

Nayla nods thoughtfully. "Hmm… I get it. I'll give it a shot by upgrading the Ara Haan Card. In most worlds, growth-type items tend to have incredible potential. Plus, anything growthable can eventually become OP."

Nayla gives the command. "Alice, please use the Rank C Upgrade Card to enhance the Ara Haan Character Card."

[Alice]: "Affirmative. Using Rank C Upgrade Cards to upgrade the Ara Haan Character Card."

[Ding! After using six Rank C Upgrade Cards, you have successfully upgraded the Ara Haan Card to Rank B.]

[Ara Haan: Little Hsien (Main Character Card Rank: B)]

Nayla's eyes widen. "Wait a minute—is this upgrade more like an evolution? I recognize that Little Hsien is one of Ara's subclass jobs in Elsword."

She sighs, realizing, "But… six tries to get it upgraded? Well, I guess that's still okay."

Now, she thinks, what should I do first in this second life? Honestly, I want to experience something thrilling. My previous life was boring, though I had anime and games to keep me entertained.

She pauses. "Come to think of it… where exactly am I?"

"Alice, do you know where I am?" she asks.

[Alice]: "Nayla, you're currently on an uninhabited island near Indonesia that has never been discovered."

Nayla's jaw drops. "Wait, what!? (ﾟДﾟ)"

"I mean, I did wish to be reincarnated far from any canon events—but not literally on a deserted island!"

But after a moment, she smiles, thinking, On second thought, this could be a good thing. I can establish a base here, train my skills, and hone my powers in peace without worrying about being discovered. Yeah, this actually works out perfectly.

"How far am I from the canon timeline?" she asks next.

[Alice]: "You arrived 30 years before the canon events."

Nayla freezes. Nayla.exe has stopped working

Rebooting…

"WHAT?! That means I'll be 45 by the time canon starts! I regret wishing to be far from canon now…" she groans.

(Note: Nayla's current body is 15 years old)

[Alice]: "No need to worry about aging, Nayla. Your current body is based on the character cards you use. Your original body will remain dormant, frozen in time."

Nayla looks intrigued. "Wait, seriously? Can you explain that in detail?"

[Alice]: "When you use a Character Card, your body transforms into that character's form, while your original body stays in stasis. This means time stops for your real body, but your soul is transferred to the character's body.

While your body won't age, your soul will—just like a Shinigami's soul in Bleach. So, while you can live a very long time, you're not truly immortal."

"So, as long as I stay in this character body, I won't age physically?" asks Nayla.

[Alice]: "Yes."

Nayla beams with excitement. "Oh, niceeee (≧∇≦)/"

"Since I have 30 years before canon, I have plenty of time to train. But before that..."

Nayla's stomach growls. She laughs. "Alice, why hasn't anyone found this island?"

[Alice]: "The island is surrounded by a thick fog. Any ship that comes into contact with the mist will lose visibility, and their electronic devices will malfunction. Additionally, no ships have survived after entering the fog—most sink after hitting sharp rocks that rise from the seabed."

She raises an eyebrow. "Unlucky for them, but perfect for me. I don't need to worry about any unwelcome visitors. Time to start grinding!"

Grumble

Nayla remembers, "Oh, right… I haven't eaten anything yet, not even before I died. Good thing I've got some Mapo Tofu in my inventory. I've always wondered what it tastes like."

"Hey, Alice, could you summon one of the Mapo Tofu dishes for me?" she asks.

[Alice]: "Certainly, Nayla."

A large bowl of Mapo Tofu appears in front of her, steam rising from the bright red dish. A spoon rests on top.

Nayla holds the bowl, gazing at the ominously red concoction. The dish looks intimidating—red chili oil coats everything, giving off a fiery, molten appearance. It's like staring into a cauldron of spicy doom.

"But… it smells amazing," she admits as her stomach growls again.

Nayla sits down, scoops up a spoonful, and cautiously takes a bite.

Her eyes widen. "Whoa! Despite its scary appearance, the taste is incredible! The rich, savory flavors hit immediately, followed by an intense heat that makes my tongue tingle. The soft tofu melts in my mouth, and the crispy pork adds a delightful crunch. The spiciness burns, but it's worth it."

She devours the bowl like someone who hasn't eaten in days. "Sure, my tongue is on fire, but that was the best Mapo Tofu I've ever had."

She wipes her mouth and grins. "Oh my god, that was amazing! I feel like I should meet Kirei and study under him just to learn how to make this dish!"

Feeling energized, she jumps to her feet, her spirit soaring.

"Yosh! Let's start grinding!"