After all, a high ranking and powerful woman can arouse a man's desire to conquer.
[Anyway, since you've decided to participate, make sure to take the time to improve your strength! You haven't used the simulator these past few days, and there are no distractions right now, so it's a good opportunity.]
"As expected, after all that talking, you're just trying to get me to play the simulator,'' Lucas said with a smile. ''Alright, then I'll play a round before bed."
[Please select three talents from the options below. One will be randomly retained as a permanent talent after the simulation ends.]
[Beastmaster (Green)]: You can easily tame wild animals as pets.
[Finance Manager (Green)]: You excel at managing finances and will seldom experience poverty.
[Charming Aura (Green)]: You naturally attract the attention of the opposite gender.
[Extraordinary Bloodline (Purple)]: You possess a unique bloodline with extraordinary gifts and physique.
[Innate Cuteness (Blue)]: During childhood, you easily earn others' affection.
[Calamity Star (Blue)]: Those around you are more prone to misfortune, but you're remarkably protected from disasters.
[Humble Origins (White)]: You are born into a poor family.
[Clever and Mischievous (Blue)]: You are highly intelligent but also quite playful.
[Forty and Wise (Blue)]: At 40 years old, your talents will significantly improve.
[Pure Lifestyle (Green)]: You naturally resist all bad habits.
Having used the simulator numerous times, Lucas had developed a strategy: selecting talents that complemented each other. Synergistic talents often yielded greater results, while conflicting ones proved ineffective.
After careful thought, he chose [Extraordinary Bloodline], [Innate Cuteness], and [Clever and Mischievous] to maximize his early growth.
[Talents Confirmed!]
[Simulation Starting...]
[Before Birth: On a fateful day in Liyue, the land was thrown into chaos when four legendary beasts—Chaos (Hundun), Gluttony (Taotie), Ignorance (Taowu), and Deviousness (Qiongqi)—emerged, wreaking havoc and causing widespread suffering. The citizens of Liyue fought valiantly, but the cunning beasts proved elusive. The Geo Archon, unwilling to see his people suffer, summoned his loyal followers to subdue the beasts. Chaos was sealed by Yaksha; Ignorance was destroyed by the adeptus Moon Carver; Deviousness was defeated by Mountain Shaper. As for Gluttony, the task was entrusted to the adeptus Cloud Retainer's foster daughter, Ganyu, as part of her training.]
(AN: They are some legendary beasts from chinese mythology but I am gonna use their english names)
[Age 0: You are born in a hidden cave. Your mother is none other than Beast of Gluttony herself. (Talent: Extraordinary Bloodline activated.) Due to your unique lineage, you gain awareness shortly after birth.]
[Although your mother is a fearsome beast, she loves you deeply. After your birth, she refrains from committing atrocities and devotes herself entirely to caring for you.]
[However, your peaceful days are short-lived. Your mother's whereabouts are discovered. Weakened from childbirth, she knows the fight ahead is hopeless. After feeding you for the last time, she steps out of the cave to face her fate. The sound of a fierce battle soon echoes outside. You huddle in a corner, trembling with fear.]
[After a long time, the sounds of fighting subside. Heavy footsteps approach the cave. Summoning your courage, you lift your head and see a blue-haired woman with horns holding a bloodstained bow. The scent of your mother's blood lingers around her.]
[Entering immersive mode...]
[Objective: Survive.]
What's going on? Lucas thought in alarm. Starting directly in immersive mode?
When Lucas opened his eyes again, he found himself in the dark, damp cave, inhabiting the body of a young Gluttony. He hadn't yet taken human form; his small, clawed hands were soft and chubby. Despite being the offspring of a legendary beast, he looked unexpectedly adorable, round and plump like a stuffed toy.
Standing before him was Ganyu, her bow raised, an icy arrow nocked and aimed at him. Unlike the Ganyu Lucas remembered—gentle and kind—this Ganyu exuded a chilling aura of bloodlust.
"So that's why the beast guarded the cave so fiercely," Ganyu murmured to herself, her voice tinged with melancholy. "Cloud Retainer always said to root out all evil. I'm sorry, little one, but you were born into the wrong bloodline."
Terrified, Lucas instinctively closed his eyes and shielded his head with his small claws. Was he about to fail this simulation at the very start?
After half a minute of silence, Lucas peeked through his claws. To his relief, Ganyu had lowered her bow. Her expression was conflicted as she muttered, "I can't do it. It hasn't done anything wrong. How can I kill an innocent child?"
Ganyu, inherently kind-hearted, could not bring herself to slay the defenseless cub, despite its lineage.
Turning her back to Lucas, she said quietly, "Without your mother, you'll never survive in this place. Still, that is better than me taking your life. Farewell."
As Ganyu walked away, Lucas felt a brief wave of relief. However, the moment was cut short by the sound of low growls. From the shadows, two large demonic wolves emerged, their glowing green eyes fixed hungrily on the Gluttony cub.
Without the presence of Gluttony, these lesser beasts saw her offspring as an irresistible feast. Saliva dripped from their fanged mouths as they advanced.
Just my luck, Lucas thought. Looks like this simulation is heading for a "failure speedrun."
One of the wolves lunged, its jaws open wide. At the last second, a brilliant blue arrow shot through the air, striking the wolf and pinning it to the cave wall. Ice quickly spread from the wound, freezing the wolf solid.
The arrow, powerful and precise, had killed the wolf instantly. Its body hung lifeless, encased in ice.
The second wolf whimpered at the sight of its fallen companion and quickly fled into the shadows.
Ganyu, who had returned unexpectedly, stood at the cave entrance, bow in hand. Her crimson-streaked face softened as she approached the trembling cub.
Kneeling, she hesitated before extending a hand toward Lucas. "Leaving you here is no different from killing you myself," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "Good and evil cannot be judged by lineage alone. I'll take you in and raise you properly. Even a beast can be taught to walk the path of righteousness."
Ganyu sighed, her lips curling into a faint, bittersweet smile. "Not that you understand anything I'm saying right now. Maybe it's for the best. Forget the past; from today onward, you are my child."
Ganyu, naturally unaware of the young beast's high intelligence, believed that if she adopted the cub while it was still too young to understand its past, it would grow up forgetting its origins and come to view her as its mother.
Carefully cradling Lucas' tiny form, Ganyu gently patted him. His small size, comparable to that of a tiger cub, fit snugly in her arms. The warmth of her embrace and the steady rhythm of her heartbeat gradually eased his earlier panic.
While Lucas was conscious that Ganyu was the slayer of his "mother," his emotions in this immersive simulation differed from his usual mindset in the simulator.
Lucas in the simulator will naturally have a grudge and even hatred towards Ganyu.
Lucas in the immersive mode, however, adhered to the principle of "if there's a chance, take it," and immediately enjoyed Ganyu's embrace.
Seeing the little cub so docile and adorable in her arms, Ganyu's unease began to subside. Adopting the child of a fearsome beast was a decision most people would neither understand nor accept. Moreover, as someone with qilin blood running through her veins, this secret was one she couldn't share—not even with her foster mother, Cloud Retainer.
"Waaah!"
Suddenly, the cub in her arms began wailing loudly. It wasn't a deliberate act on Lucas's part—his body, still bound by the instincts of a beast cub, was crying from hunger.
Caught off guard, Ganyu froze briefly but quickly composed herself. Though she had no experience as a mother, her 3,000 years of life gave her ample knowledge: an infant's cries usually meant it was hungry.
However, this remote cave offered no suitable food for the cub.
Lucas' cries grew louder by the moment. Gluttony, as a legendary beast of insatiable appetite, had offspring that instinctively viewed eating as a fundamental need. When unfed, they would cry ceaselessly.
A worried expression crossed Ganyu's face. If the cub cried too much, it might attract unwanted attention when they returned to Liyue.
"Food! Food!"
Desperately scanning her surroundings, Ganyu's gaze eventually fell upon her chest. A realization struck her. "Wait, perhaps… I could…"
Unlike ordinary humans, Ganyu's qilin lineage allowed her to absorb ambient energy and spiritual essence effortlessly. As a child, this uncontrolled absorption often led to the excess energy converting into additional body fat.
To address this, Ganyu had developed a method of expelling surplus energy by transforming it into a nutrient-rich liquid. However, since this substance came from an unconventional source, Ganyu had always poured it into her garden as fertilizer.
Her garden flourished beautifully as a result, a testament to its nutritional value.
"Well, since I've decided to raise you, I must fulfill my duties as a mother," Ganyu murmured, stroking Lucas's tiny head. "I hope this satisfies you."
Though her actions were somewhat clumsy, Lucas's instincts kicked in. He quickly nestled closer and latched on. Despite having no teeth, his gentle motions still made Ganyu wince slightly. A faint blush spread across her pale cheeks.
[Task Completed: Survive.]
[Reward Acquired: Ganyu's Qilin Essence.]
[Effect: Cryo Elemental Mastery +30%.]
What the…? Lucas's mind reeled. This reward is amazing!
One sip, and I get this much power? If I could drink this regularly, I might outshine even the Cryo Archon someday!
Of course, Lucas knew this was a fantasy. The system granted rewards only for the first time. Still, he found the process of obtaining the reward even more enjoyable than the reward itself.
Half an hour later.
"Mmm…"
Having eaten his fill, Lucas smacked his lips and dozed off in Ganyu's arms. Watching the sleeping cub's innocent face, Ganyu felt a strange mix of emotions: pity, worry, and a hint of maternal affection.
She had no idea if adopting a legendary beast's cub was the right decision. Yet, holding this little one in her arms awakened her innate sense of nurturing.
Suddenly, something extraordinary happened. The young beast's body began to transform at a visible pace. Its soft fur receded, replaced by smooth, baby-like skin. Its face also changed, taking on the features of a human infant—chubby cheeks, delicate features, and an undeniable cuteness.
The transformation was likely triggered by the powerful energy of Ganyu's qilin essence, granting Lucas the ability to take on human form much earlier than expected.
Examining him closely, Ganyu's cheeks flushed as she muttered, "So… you're a boy."
[Exiting Immersive Mode.]
[Entering Text Mode.]
[Ganyu brings you back to Liyue, claiming that during her battle with Gluttony, she stumbled upon a family devastated by the beast. You, as their orphaned child, were the only survivor. Out of pity, she took you in.]
[Wanting to guide you away from an dark path, Ganyu names you Lucas, meaning "light-bringer" or "man of light", hoping you will grow up to be virtuous.]
[As one of Liyue's few adepti and a senior envoy of Yuehai Pavilion, Ganyu's decision to adopt a child attracts widespread attention.]
[Despite Ganyu's explanation, rumors circulate. Some claim you're not an adopted orphan but her illegitimate child.]
[Even the Liyue Qixing advises Ganyu to send you to an orphanage, citing that her unmarried status and sudden adoption might tarnish her reputation and complicate her duties.]
[However, Ganyu remains steadfast, brushing aside gossip and firmly resolving to raise you herself.]
[Age 1: Under Ganyu's care, you grow up healthy and adorable, charming everyone around you. (Talent Activated: Innate Cuteness.)]
[Since adopting you, Ganyu's nutrient-rich essence is no longer wasted, as you consume all of it eagerly. However, you refuse to drink from a bottle and insist on feeding directly from the source.]
[Normally, Ganyu's essence contains immense energy—far too potent for most creatures, even young qilin. However, your Gluttony bloodline grants you unparalleled digestive power, allowing you to convert all nourishment into strength.]
[Unbeknownst to Ganyu, you retain your memories as a beast cub and still see her as the slayer of your mother.]
[Despite this, you understand that you currently stand no chance against her. To avenge your mother, you focus on growing stronger.]
[To you, Ganyu is a walking treasure trove of resources. You relentlessly consume her essence, both to increase your power and to deplete hers.]