When the plot-skips players into the game world

As the ritual progressed, the air around them began to blur into a hallucinatory haze.

A faint aroma wafted through the air, quickening the heartbeat, causing faces to flush with excitement.

Everything around became more colorful, as if drenched in the hues of flowers. Colors, shadows, tastes, and scents all turned vibrantly dazzling.

It was as if the reality they'd grown tired of had suddenly transformed into a beautiful scroll of art; or as if under the influence of an alchemical potion inducing visions, the entire world had morphed into a more fantastical dream.

Walls spread out from walls, colors bled from colors.

And at the intersection of countless illusions, they coalesced in mid-air into an incredibly resplendent butterfly.

It seemed to be here, yet not; merely an illusion, and yet everyone present could see it. Meanwhile, it continued to change—the patterns on its wings crumbling and reforming, each transformation altering the world around them.

"Your plea—"

The voice of the Butterfly Celestial Marshal chimed in.

It was the exquisite and light tone of a young girl.

"Offer the blood of Ouroboros—"

Meg spoke solemnly, "I beseech the sacred right to undergo 'Shedding Skin' on my own accord!"

"Promise—"

The Butterfly Celestial Marshal assented.

"I grant you the right of 'Shedding and Rebirth'—"

The next moment, the butterfly's illusion shattered in mid-air. It broke apart into numerous pink scales and fluttered like countless wings.

The purple liquid on the ground evaporated and dissipated... As purple rose from below and pink settled from above, for a moment, it seemed like Dreamland itself.

By the time the violet mists had entirely evaporated, Meg was engulfed within a chrysalis. Two tube-like structures, akin to blood vessels, connected into the symbol of infinity - one drawing out silvery illusions liquid, the other, an orange-red fluid, both whirling rapidly and merging within the ritual basin.

The profound pain of bodily dissolution wrung a scream from Meg she could not suppress.

The piercing cry shook both Lily and Isabel, huddled together beside the ritual, gripping each other's palms tightly in empathy.

Aiwass, meanwhile, stood with a grave expression before the ritualistic circle, intently observing each step of the process.

He wasn't too worried... Despite Meg's agonized screams, the hardest part was over. As long as she could endure without prematurely ending the ritual in pain, or being interrupted by others, she would be alright.

The agonized wailing persisted for a full twenty minutes, until the dichromatic liquids in the basin merged completely into a new, viscous liquid. It resembled mercury, and silver-white nail polish with glitter and mica.

Subsequently, the liquid was reinjected into another chrysalis.

—This was the ascension egg, crafted by the Serpent Celestial Marshal's power. It slowly absorbed the silver liquid until the purple shell turned entirely silver-white. Then, tranquility settled in.

"...Is it over?"

Isabel whispered after a considerable wait.

Aiwass exhaled a sigh of relief and turned back, shaking his head slightly: "Not yet... but it's basically a success."

—Meg had managed to hold on.

The increase in willpower gained from bathing in dragon blood kept her from crying; she completed the most painful first Ascension through loud outcries alone.

This was essentially a successful career change.

Shedding Skin belonged to the Butterfly Celestial Marshal, but She didn't hope for an "Infinite Shedding".

It was about changing one's body, race, and appearance completely through the Shedding ritual, just like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.

During the chrysalis stage, most of the caterpillar's innards melt into chrysalis fluid—a broth. Except for the 'Imago Components', which are present from birth but dormant. The Shedding ritual draws from this phenomenon.

But for the Butterfly Celestial Marshal, all She did was to collect the payment, then assist others in achieving Shedding and Rebirth.

In other words, She charged by the instance and the price rose each time, for the Butterfly Celestial Marshal disliked those of fickle hearts.

The Ascension Sorcerer, on the other hand, saw the "Shedding Ritual" as a tool to achieve continuous evolution—their strength deriving from self-devouring and the eternal cycle of Ouroboros, the Serpent Celestial Marshal.

To allow mortals infinite Shedding, the Serpent Celestial Marshal had to pay a price to the Butterfly Celestial Marshal and directly helped Meg "buy out" the rite of Shedding. If she called upon the Butterfly Celestial Marshal for help in Shedding, she wouldn't have to pay extra compensation from then on.

Because the concept of abandoning the past, self-devouring, and infinite evolution resonated with the Serpent Celestial Marshal, it not only pleased Him but also meant that Meg had a chance to become His Angel Envoy in the future—if the level of her "Ascension Sorcerer" surpassed her Path of Authority career, her soul would belong to the Serpent Celestial Marshal instead of the Silver-Crowned Dragon.

And this was considered an early investment.

If the Butterfly Celestial Marshal were dead, then the Ascension ritual would only need the Serpent Celestial Marshal to preside, making mass career changes possible - after all, the power of Shedding wasn't His and was an unclaimed Authority since the prior marshal had died.

But now, He had to offer additional compensation—Aiwass didn't know whether He valued Meg enough to find the transaction meaningful. That was the potential for the ritual to fail.

Fortunately, He eventually agreed to the deal.

Of course, it could also be because this was the first deal, and He saw some reason in it... so He decided to celebrate the opening with a loss-leader, paying up to attract attention.

The three of them waited there until The Sun completely separated from the horizon and rose. Finally, the eggshells before and behind the mirror cracked simultaneously.

First came the fractures, and then a sudden splitting—

The eggshell before the mirror shattered, leaving only bloodied garments.

Quickly after, the eggshell behind the mirror broke.

In the next moment, Isabel's eyes widened in shock.

The rite of rejuvenation was a success!

Emerging from within was not even a human—

Meg bore two silver-white dragon horns like ram's horns, some silver scales on her skin, and a dragon's tail. Her hair had turned silver-white, evocative of the Silver-Crowned Dragon, and her pupils held a refined moss green shade, even her facial features were entirely different from before.

Even though she had once slain a Green Dragon, she had now turned into a White Dragon resembling the Silver-Crowned Dragon. The only hint of her past baths in the blood of the Green Dragon was the hue of her irises.

——There was just one little problem.

At the moment, Meg only looked to be about eight or nine years old. She even seemed much younger than Yulia.

"It seems the ritual was a success."

Miss Meg wasn't wearing any clothes, but she carried herself with confidence, without any attempt to cover up or show embarrassment.

She glanced down at her own body, then admired herself in the mirror for a bit before raising her head to look at the three of them, grinning broadly: "Wow, you guys got so tall. Looks like I'm back in my childhood days—screw that, I was never this cute when I was a kid."

The newly reborn half-dragon girl spoke in a childish voice.

It felt strangely out of sync with her casual, almost domineering way of speaking.

Isabel rushed over, taking off her coat and draping it over little Meg.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

She knelt down and helped her button up, while Meg simply smiled, touched her hair, and pinched her earlobe.

"Good girl, thank you."

The young girl with the dragon horns spoke in a gentle voice.

She then turned to look at Aiwass: "Great debts are repaid without words, little fox. I'll remember this great favor—you saved my life and even turned back the clock for me.

"Such a young and vibrant body... Ha, those who have turned to the Path of Dusk would surely regret it for the rest of their lives."

"Don't forget... you can't be complacent. Once the shedding starts, you need to continually go through the next one."

"Ah, I will. Don't talk about such depressing stuff——"

Little Meg waved her chubby hands dismissively: "When the time comes, if I really fail, you don't have to worry about me. You've helped me a lot, and I'm very grateful."

She didn't care about the contract's requirement to "never stop evolving"; after all, she didn't dislike change.

If she can evolve, she will; if not, so be it.

For her, living an extra year was already a win, not to mention continuing to live in such a young and vibrant body.

She stood still for a moment, then suddenly strode towards the door.

Isabel hurriedly ran over to stop her: "Where are you going?"

"To show Sofia."

Little Meg grinned, her voice crisp: "She's definitely going to be jealous to death."

"Go change your clothes first."

Isabel insisted: "You can wear my childhood clothes first——"

"Tsk." Little Meg smacked her lips.

"Also, you can't drink alcohol now."

"——That's unacceptable," little Meg suddenly became unhappy. "The whole point of turning back the years was so I could do as I please without worrying about my body."

"But, Miss Meg..."

"Alright, [leave me alone]!"

Little Meg's authoritative voice rang out, resounding like the roar of a dragon and struck with formidable force.

Isabel stopped in her tracks, her face turning slightly pale from the more powerful Word Spirit than before.

But just as little Meg reached the door with a pitter-patter of footsteps, she suddenly stopped.

Aiwass went over to comfort Isabel, then smiled and walked over: "What's the matter, Miss Meg? Can't reach the handle?"

Hearing this, little Meg shot Aiwass a glare. Discover hidden tales at empire

"I was just thinking... Now that I am in this form, I can no longer truly be called 'Meg.' Even if I continue to use the name Meg, no one would think I am the same Meg from before. In that sense, 'Meg' is already dead in society."

Little Meg pondered: "Old death and new life... the reborn me, what should my name be?"

She thought for a while then gave up thinking: "Forget it, it's been a long time since I've had to think about such things.

"Little fox, you're young—help me think of a name."

"Me?"

Aiwass was a bit surprised.

"You performed the ritual that gave me this body. It is indeed appropriate for you to name me," little Meg said, nodding happily with her arms crossed.

...But now that you mention it out of the blue, I really can't think of a good name.

However, considering rebirth, the desire for life, and a strong will...

Aiwass thought of a short story by Edgar Allan Poe.

"How about Ligeia?" Aiwass asked.

"Then let's go with Ligeia Danai—I used Danai before I was married," the reborn little Ligeia said with a beaming smile: "Nice to meet you all.

"——From now on, I'm Ligeia."