Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1813: Floor 29, Codeveil
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"Okay... I am quite interested actually. Is there something you earn here?" Maria asked.
"It’s a good place to earn System Points through livestreaming..." Ferleen replied.
"Ahhh, that sounds like a pain. I’m not doing that, nope," Maria said, shaking her head.
However.
"What’s up everyone, Nyx here on my first ever livestream!"
Nyx had already started livestreaming...
"Children shouldn’t do livestreams!" Maria quickly shut down the stream.
"Eek! Mom, why?!" Nyx protested angrily.
"Lots of weirdos and perverts on the internet. I told you before, right?" Maria sighed. "So don’t do that."
"Hmm... okay... but let’s go play games!" Nyx furrowed her eyebrows. "Or I’m going to get mad at you!"
"Hahah... fine," Maria nodded. "So where to, Ferleen?"
"This is a safe portal. Let’s go," Ferleen guided them forward.
They stepped into a large cybernetic portal that carried them through an ocean of neon lights, programs, pixels, and swirling colors.
They glimpsed thousands of portals leading to all kinds of strange worlds within this internet.
As they traveled, Maria analyzed the composition of this world.
"When we entered, we were all turned into computer programs... so this is all inside a computer? Maybe it’s similar to Brickoria or that Canvas, where it’s a massive creation made by a god?" She wondered. "So is this giant computer floating somewhere? And the Tower deems it a world the Heavenly Father can somehow consume?! What?"
She checked a few things. Her stats and powers still functioned, as did her skills, though their effects felt slightly altered or perhaps weakened, much like in the painting world.
It was a realm that completely overwrote reality and forced every visitor to adapt to its rules.
Yet Maria could sense it.
Something "outside."
Perhaps she might encounter a figure like The Painter or The Toy Maker.
But she chose not to dwell on that for now.
They arrived at the Game Field, filled with games where players could wager System Points.
Victory brought more System Points and special prizes—items, programs, and add-ons.
Programs and add-ons had no effect outside this world, but within it they could make someone stronger, granting special effects and powers.
There were also skins that could completely overwrite and transform a person’s appearance into another being entirely.
Of course, those worked only here too.
It was simply a place to relax and enjoy games in peace.
Maria smiled as she played alongside her children and friends.
The area resembled a vast neon arcade.
Games ranged from shooters and racers to platform adventures, fighting games, co-op party titles, rhythm games, and more.
There was even a gate to "Online VR Games."
Entering there allowed players to create special accounts and dive into lifelike virtual VR worlds with their own lore, crafted by the gaming companies of this realm.
They featured their own micro-transaction systems, mostly powered by System Points.
Apparently, Ferleen and Melianna had played one called "Endless Adventure Online."
Whatever players accomplished in the game could help them master their skills or even develop new ones.
It was especially helpful for beginners. Stronger individuals, however, felt little to no change, so the games were mostly frequented by players still training while climbing the Tower.
Maria enjoyed many games, and Nyx, Celes, Arachne, and Melianna laughed endlessly.
Afterward, they grabbed some snacks—virtual food that tasted surprisingly delicious—and moved on.
"Hehehe, that was fun!" Nyx said. "Can’t we stay a bit longer?"
"I wish we could, but we have to go now, dear," Maria sighed, gently patting her daughter’s head.
"It’s an interesting world, honestly," Lucifer remarked.
As they headed toward the portal leading to the floor below, Maria decided to extend her soul and search for what lay "outside."
Her pixelated soul surged outward, gradually shifting back to its true form. The transition stung a little.
And what she saw beyond was...
A desolate, empty wasteland.
A lifeless planet.
The sky was dark, the world... flat.
Looking back, she realized the entire realm existed inside a gigantic computer buried underground.
The programs and people within... were perhaps the inhabitants of this world who had transferred their minds into this virtual existence.
"What...?"
She was stunned by the truth, one no one inside ever seemed to acknowledge.
Perhaps they had erased their memories of it, or only the oldest programs remembered.
Now that the Tower had arrived, these programs could materialize and even travel to other worlds.
In a bizarre twist of fate, these people could finally escape their prison, yet they had no desire to leave.
They were enjoying this world far too much.
"Hah..."
Maria couldn’t help but chuckle softly before returning to her program form, a dimension of its own.
Once they reached the portal, they stepped through.
Their digital bodies reverted to normal as they landed on fresh soil.
The sun was already setting on the horizon, but the world around them was strikingly beautiful.
It was a vast, endless field filled with crops and fruit trees.
In the distance stood forests of towering corn, while the mountains were enormous pineapples.
"What is this world? A plant world?" Partner wondered. "Ugh, there’s no blood for me here either..."
"This is a nice one—lots of veggies around!" Ferleen said cheerfully. "It’s called Verdelore!"
"There are two types of veggies though, so be careful!" Melianna added.
"Huh?" Maria walked slowly through the crop forest with her family, noticing that the animals and beasts were all made of vegetables or fruits.
Or chimeras of many things...
They looked formidable but died quite easily and tasted delicious once eaten.
"Oh wow! I can see myself hunting to my heart’s content here, haha!" Maria laughed.
"They’re tasty!" Nyx was biting apples straight from the trees. Then she spotted a very large one and took a big bite. "Nom!"
"EEEK!"
A cry echoed from the plants as the giant apple recoiled in horror.
It had tiny arms and legs made of vines and wood—and a face!
"Y-You bit me?! You monster!" it cried in terror.
"Ehh?! I’m so sorry! I didn’t know mister apple could talk..." Nyx swallowed what she had bitten. "You’re so sweet! Can’t I take another bite?"
"Nooooo!!!" the apple screamed, causing Nyx to step back.
"Okay, okay, let’s calm down," Maria sighed. "Emeraldine, can you heal him?"
"Of course..." Emeraldine nodded. A wave of healing nature magic washed over the apple person, mending the wound instantly.
"O-Oooh! Healing magic! So convenient..." the apple sighed in relief. "I am Appletun. Please don’t eat people! Okay? I know you’re from outside, so I’ll forgive you only this once! I could easily report you to the authorities!"
"Sorry..." Nyx apologized. "But what were you doing sitting there, mister apple?"
"I was synthesizing!" Appletun explained. "We do it by digging our roots into the ground and soaking up the sunlight! Normal things everyone does here, but you meat people don’t get it."
"I totally get it! But I also eat meat," Root said, floating toward him.
"Ah! A Plant Spirit from another world, huh?" Appletun wondered. "Not bad, you’re not half bad... So are you lost? I can guide you to Crop City. Come."
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