About a quarter of an hour passed, and Stelle was still wandering aimlessly around "Muyun City."
She had been walking for a long time, yet she still hadn't seen a single soul.
"There really isn't a single person here."
Stelle scratched her head in frustration, looking at the streets before her that were almost identical to Muyun City, feeling a little depressed.
This world seemed no different from Muyun City in terms of layout and distribution.
So now the question was, how should she leave this place and return to the real Muyun City?
Stelle rubbed her chin with her delicate hand, her fingertips lightly brushing against her skin as her brain began to whir into action. She muttered to herself,
"If we exclude the possibility of a hidden exit within the city, then the methods would either be to defeat the final boss in one go, or to destroy all the Blood Arrays in the city... Just those two ways, I suppose..." she said, pacing back and forth in place.
At this thought, Stelle's expression suddenly brightened, and she slammed her right fist into her left palm.
"Since that's the case, I've decided to just deal with the final boss!"
After all, while the second method sounded easier, this massive Muyun City had Blood Arrays hidden in who knew how many nooks and crannies; it would take forever to find them all!
It was simpler and more straightforward to just take out the mastermind, which also fit her bold personality of always pursuing a "one-life clear."
"It's just a pity that in this 'Muyun City,' the phone doesn't seem able to connect to the original world."
Stelle sighed helplessly, looking at the "No Signal" prompt on her phone screen, feeling full of frustration.
She tucked her phone back into her pocket and continued forward.
After walking for another ten minutes or so, the streets were still empty, with only the sound of Stelle's footsteps echoing through the vacant streets.
However, along the way, Stelle keenly heard some slight movement, like the sound of some animal crawling in a corner.
But after walking for a long time, she still found nothing.
"Strange?" Stelle stopped, frowning, her heart full of confusion. "Did I get lost? But I didn't log into the wrong account, did I?"
As she stopped moving, the faint, almost imperceptible noise in her ears gradually faded away, and the empty street returned to a deathly silence once again.
For a moment, Stelle was in a dilemma again.
Should she continue forward, or take a rest here?
Feeling the anxiety that had inexplicably built up along the way, Stelle decided that preserving her stamina was quite necessary.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, her gaze drifted unconsciously toward the buildings along the street, and she suddenly thought, "Come to think of it... aside from that initial abandoned warehouse, I haven't explored any of these shops, have I?"
At this thought, Stelle's heart couldn't help but stir again.
She rubbed her hands together, her eyes full of curiosity.
Since she couldn't decide whether to move forward or rest, she might as well check out the shops nearby and see how well the interiors of the buildings in this "replica" Muyun City were recreated.
If the recreation was good enough, combined with the fact that there was no one else here...
Stelle's eyes suddenly lit up, and a bold idea popped into her mind: she could seemingly experience the feeling of "shopping for free" in broad daylight!
Hiss—
Wait.
I'm alone.
Alone.
By myself.
I'm the only person in the entire Muyun City...
Stelle ( ✪ ω ✪ ): "Doesn't that mean I can go wherever I want and do whatever I want right now?
Even the trash cans in the entire city belong to me alone starting today?!!"
Thinking this, her gaze was quickly and unconsciously drawn to a trash can in front of a shop.
The trash can sat there quietly, as if hiding some secret, making one unable to resist wanting to dive into it.
Suddenly feeling... like there was no need to be in such a hurry to leave...
Stelle stroked her chin, a flash of cunning in her eyes—after all, a limited-time plot scene like this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; if she didn't achieve 100% exploration, wouldn't it be a wasted trip?
She didn't know how much time had passed, but the negative emotions in Stelle's heart had increased rather than decreased.
Before long.
After a major investigation.
Stelle looked dejected, curled up and sitting beside the trash can, her whole being radiating a black-and-white aura.
Her head leaned powerlessly against the cold wall of the bin, and those golden eyes that once held infinite energy were now just hollow, devoid of any luster.
It was hard to imagine what could have happened in these few short minutes to turn that excited girl into this pitiful, unsatisfied, and abandoned-looking mess.
Perhaps the "sage time" had ended; Stelle glanced at the trash can beside her and sighed helplessly.
That sigh was long and heavy, as if it contained all the vicissitudes and frustrations of her life.
"Truly, even the wisest mind has its moments of folly." Stelle covered her forehead with one hand and smiled self-deprecatingly. "It's actually all show and no substance!"
After the sigh, Stelle patted her bottom and slowly stood up, looking at the trash can beside her with a complex gaze.
She hadn't thought much of it before, but now she faintly sensed a feeling of intimacy and familiarity.
If the "Muyun City" of this world was a replica of the real Muyun City, a substitute in some sense, did that mean... the trash can before her was actually a "stand-in" for the real thing?
Stelle shook her head with a lonely expression and lightly replaced the trash can lid, as if comforting a disappointed old friend.
"This isn't your fault; the world is at fault. This so-called reality is indeed just a fake world."
At this moment, the fighting spirit in Stelle's eyes was like a wildfire being ignited, burning higher than ever before!
She suddenly raised the metal baseball bat in her hand, pointing it at the bright full moon, her voice filled with desperate resolve.
"If this sky blocks my vision, then I shall shatter this sky! If this world deceives me, then I shall destroy this world!"
Stelle hoisted the bat onto her shoulder, standing tall and straight, looking just like a great general about to set off on a campaign.
"When I return in triumph, I will surely take you and all your brothers and sisters into my possession!
And for now..."
I need to see if this shop can help me realize my dream of a zero-dollar shopping spree.
"Hehehe!!!"
After saying goodbye.
Stelle quickly wiped the "scumbag" smile off her face and vigilantly examined the shop in front of her.
[Daily Convenience Store]
Judging by the size and layout of the storefront, it was likely a small shop or a grocery store.
Stelle immediately held her breath and focused.
This would be the first shop for Stelle to rob... investigate.
So, the next second.
Bang!!!
Accompanied by Stelle's violent kick, the door shattered upon impact.
As for why she didn't just push the door open?
Of course, it was because she didn't have the key, not because it felt more like the "vibe."
Stelle examined the interior of the shop with a strange look, asking in confusion, "What is this place?"
What met her eyes was a perfectly normal... toilet?
Stelle's small eyes revealed great confusion.
She looked at the small cubicles inside with a strange expression, then poked her head out to look at the storefront.
"Wait, no? What kind of toilet decorates its storefront so fancy, let alone specifically names itself [Daily Convenience Store]?"
Still unwilling to give up, Stelle clung to a last shred of hope and tentatively opened the cubicle doors one by one.
Well, that was that; it wasn't the owner's eccentric decoration style—it was a genuine, authentic toilet.
Returning empty-handed, Stelle stomped her feet in annoyance and turned around to leave, fuming.
...
Stelle ( ｢ ･ ω ･ ) ｢: "Since I'm already here, I might as well use it before I go."