The bustling city streets were ablaze with light.
A car, completely out of control, came hurtling forward at terrifying speed. Yue Ling—who had just turned twenty-three—was standing in the middle of the crosswalk. The harsh glare of the high beams struck her eyes, leaving her dazed for a split second.
Before she could react or dodge, an overwhelming pain tore through her body, as if she were being ripped apart.
Her soul was violently wrenched free from the mangled, blood-soaked body lying on the asphalt.
When she opened her eyes again, she found herself lying atop a massive slab of smooth cobblestone.
Beside her, a stream murmured softly as it flowed past. Lush green grass spread in every direction, thick vegetation flourishing unchecked. Everything radiated a raw, untouched beauty, and the air—so different from the city—was refreshingly clean and crisp.
Where… am I?
"This crazy female—where has she gone off to sleep now? Isn't she afraid a ferocious beast will eat her?"
A clear, youthful voice rang out nearby. At the same time, a small stone struck the rock beside Yue Ling with a sharp clack.
"Hey! Why are you throwing things at her? She's a female! Aren't you scared the Beast God will punish you if you hurt her?"
"Oh, come on. I didn't actually hit her. Besides, she's just a crazy female."
The young beastman who had thrown the pebble puffed out his cheeks in grievance. He had aimed carefully—there was no way he would really hit that mad female.
"No matter what, you're not allowed to lay a hand on a female," said another beastman, slightly older, frowning in disapproval.
"Hmph. She's just a crazy female no one wants anyway," the younger one muttered stubbornly under his breath.
Following the sound of their voices, Yue Ling turned her head and saw several children who looked about seven or eight years old.
They were dressed strangely—bare-chested, with only crude skirts wrapped around their waists, made from brightly colored animal pelts. Their clothes were primitive and rough, unlike anything she had ever seen before.
They spoke in an unfamiliar way, their pronunciation odd to her ears—yet somehow, she could understand every word they said.
When the children noticed the gaze of the "crazy female" resting on them, they instinctively shrank back. Memories flashed through their minds of being chased all over the mountains by her.
When this crazy female lost control, she truly dared to hit anyone.
The thought alone was enough to make them panic. Without hesitation, the young beastmen turned and ran toward the direction of the tribe.
Yue Ling frowned in confusion.
Was she really that terrifying?
[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully awakened the Life-Extension Romance System.]
A cold, mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside her mind, startling her badly.
"Who's there?"
Yue Ling twisted her head sharply, scanning her surroundings with vigilance—but there was no one in sight.
The vast valley was empty. Only she sat alone on the cobblestone.
[Host, I exist within your consciousness. I am the Life-Extension Romance System bound to you. You may attempt to communicate with me using your thoughts.]
The electronic voice sounded again. Seeing nothing amiss around her, Yue Ling suppressed her unease and cautiously asked within her mind.
Are you there?
[I am here.]
Yue Ling hadn't expected that there was actually a system inside her body.
What exactly is the Life-Extension Romance System? she asked.
The entity calling itself a system had already mentioned it twice, and her curiosity was thoroughly piqued.
[Host, you should be aware that you have already died in your original world.]
Yue Ling remained silent.
She had died—and died horribly.
The sensation of her body being torn apart was something she never wanted to recall. She motioned for the system to continue.
[This is a parallel dimension—a minor world known as the Beast World Continent.]
[Among countless small worlds, we selected the female beastman body that was most compatible with you. Unfortunately, the condition of this body is far from ideal. If you wish to survive, you must seduce—court and win over—the highest-quality beastmen in this world. Once you reach an affection level of 95%, you will gain an additional ten years of lifespan.]
Yue Ling: ...
[I am System 999, specifically created to assist you.]
What's wrong with this body I'm in now? Yue Ling asked. And what happened to its original owner?
She truly didn't want to bear the burden of another person's death.
[This body was destined for early death. The vessel was extremely fragile, so the host will also be heavily affected. Under normal circumstances, systems are not allowed to intervene directly. However, the main system detected severe irregularities with this body and therefore created System 999 to assist you in achieving a long life in this world.]
Yue Ling: ...
[When you arrived, the original owner of this body had already died of starvation. You do not need to feel any psychological burden.]
System 999's explanation eased Yue Ling's heart somewhat, though it also made her feel a trace of pity for the girl who had starved to death.
She continued questioning.
Then where did the original owner go after she died? Which world did she reincarnate into?
[She truly died.]
Why?
Yue Ling couldn't understand it. She herself had died, yet she was able to come to another world and live again. Why didn't the original owner receive the same chance?
[That is because only citizens of the main world are granted the privilege of transmigration after death. Beings from small worlds do not possess such rights. They may only enter reincarnation. If they are fortunate enough, they might eventually be reborn as part of the main world.]
System 999 explained calmly.
The laws of reincarnation were not something a minor system could fully comprehend—nor something that could be explained clearly in just a few words.