"I've finally returned to human form."
Bella stretched her arms upwards in a lazy yawn.
"Sure enough, human form is more relaxing, it's just…"
She extended her hand and clenched it; compared to her previous dragon form, her body now felt a sense of weakness and frailty.
This should be the 50% overall attribute reduction mentioned in the skill description, and also…
She grabbed the back of Paimon's neck, who, having been very curious since Bella transformed into human form, was flying around her, blocking her view and occasionally tugging at her hair.
With a look of disdain, she moved Paimon aside, who was flailing her limbs in her hand and shouting, "It hurts, it hurts, let me go, let me go, lawyer, I want to call my lawyer!"
Bella looked at the [Severely Injured] status displayed in the strength section of the system panel.
"It seems this is the source of the weakness. Thankfully, I'll recover in about three months, which isn't a long time."
Bella then squinted at Paimon, who had finally quieted down beside her.
Although they hadn't been together for long, she had already seen Paimon's true nature—one word: trash.
And for such trashy emergency food, she couldn't be indulged, or else give her an inch, and she'd take a mile.
Bella pinched the back of Paimon's neck, lifted her up, shook her in front of herself, and then released her.
"Host, you can't do this! Do you know how much harm this action can cause to a young system?!"
Paimon, now free, quickly flew to the side.
She rubbed the spot Bella had just pinched while protesting to Bella.
Bella looked at Paimon, who was grimacing beside her, with an amused expression.
"Alright, alright, come here quickly, I have something to ask you."
Bella waved Paimon over.
Paimon hesitated for a moment, then resignedly flew towards Bella, muttering as she flew,
"Fine, who told you to be my host? I'll forgive you this time, hehe, Host, I finally have a host for my system, hehe."
Looking at Paimon, who was still giggling foolishly in front of her, Bella smiled and shook her head.
She pointed to the last section of skills on the system panel and asked,
"Paimon, do you know what this is?"
Hearing Bella's question, Paimon looked carefully, then crossed her arms and pondered for a while, finally spreading her hands.
"I don't know either."
Looking at Paimon in front of her, Bella inexplicably felt her hands itching again.
"Maybe I should make a Paimon-brand kite next time."
"Just tie Paimon with a kite string; not only can I experience the joy of childhood, but it's also self-powered."
Bella thought wickedly, staring at Paimon in front of her.
Paimon shivered involuntarily.
She turned her head around, confused, not knowing what had happened.
"The main reason is that my encounter with you, Host, was originally an accident."
"Originally, after I was born and left headquarters, I embarked on a journey to find a suitable host, but I didn't find one until I met you."
"I had already given up hope and was preparing to return for my duty report, but on the way back, I discovered this unique dimensional universe."
Paimon said excitedly.
"Host, did you know that outside this world is an enormous tree, and the world we are currently in is just one leaf on that tree?"
"And like this world, there are countless leaves on that tree, and beneath the tree, there's an endless sea."
A giant tree, each leaf a world, countless worlds on the tree, and an endless ocean beneath the tree—why does this setting sound familiar?
Bella felt as if she had heard such a world setting somewhere before.
"You see, unlike other systems with hosts, I don't need to accompany my host and grow with them in their universe."
Paimon continued to explain.
"Without a host, I have been traveling through various universes and worlds searching for one, so I have seen many universes and worlds, but this is my first time seeing such a dimensional universe."
"I originally planned to just look around and leave, but I unexpectedly ran into you, Host."
Saying this, Paimon spread her small hands.
"So, actually, like you, Host, I'm also new to this world and don't know much about it."
"However, my system panel can clearly display your current abilities and status, Host."
"So, although I don't know what this unknown garbled section is, it must be one of your inherent powers, Host; it might require certain conditions to be triggered if it's not showing."
After listening to Paimon's explanation, Bella raised an eyebrow.
"So that's how it is. Then I won't worry about it for now; things will sort themselves out. The most important thing now is how to leave here."
Closing the system panel, Bella looked around.
She wondered if anyone lived nearby. Also, does this body need to eat?
Although she hadn't felt hungry since waking up, it was safer to find food just in case.
Thinking this, Bella chose a direction and began to walk forward.
"Hey, Host, don't walk so fast, I can't keep up!"
Seeing Bella start to leave, Paimon quickly followed.
"Host, I'm so tired. Why don't we rest a bit before continuing?"
"Which muscle does magical flight use? You're clearly trying to be lazy."
Bella retorted.
"No! I'm! Not!"
Paimon stomped her foot angrily in the air.
"My phantom limbs are clearly very tired from flying! Ah, Host, wait for me!"
Their voices faded into the distance, slowly disappearing from sight, leaving only footprints on the snow, proving that someone had been there.
In the sky, goose-feather-like white snow slowly fell, gradually covering the footprints in the snow.
Finally, the last trace was erased, and darkness once again enveloped the land, restoring its former silence.
After an unknown amount of time, a crisp cracking sound echoed from this place.
Durandal looked at the broken branch under her foot, the ice crystals that should have been intact but were now shattered on the ground, and…
The mortal enemy of humanity, who was born with the Herrscher during the Second Great Honkai, sealed here after being defeated, but was now nowhere to be found.
The only Judgment-class Honkai Beast currently existing in the world—Benares!
Durandal looked at the mess in front of her, remained silent for a moment, then took out her communicator and dialed a number, speaking in a clear, cold voice:
"Your Eminence, it has been confirmed that the Judgment-class Honkai Beast codenamed Benares has revived. Should we pursue immediately?"
"Oh, that's not very good news. Hmm…"
The man on the other end of the communication pondered for a while, seemingly considering something.
"Pursuit is definitely necessary, but you don't need to worry about this. I've decided to hand this matter over entirely to the Far East Branch. You can come back first."
Listening to the busy signal from the other end, which had already hung up, Durandal silently put down her communicator.
She glanced in the direction Bella had left, then turned and departed from the location.
On the other side, Otto's face curved into a mysterious smile as he looked at the disconnected communicator in his hand.
"The Honkai Beast that should have been dormant has suddenly revived at this moment. Has it sensed something? Then let me see what you can bring me."
Otto murmured, then dialed his communicator.
The illuminated screen of the communicator showed the contact: Theresa, the cutest in the world!