Your First Encounter with Her

【You left the slums, but your legend continues to spread within them. You are hailed as the man of legend.】

【After your departure, some of the slum's underworld forces sought to curry favor with you, severely punishing the scavengers who had once crossed you. You became a figure of fear and respect, known as the invisible godfather of the slums.】

【You moved into an area closer to the city center.】

【The city center was beautiful, free from the foul stench and the chaotic sewage.】

【Your mood improved significantly, and your progress in studying magic accelerated. You triggered Elemental Perception, Mortal Wisdom, and Observer, mastering more attributes by the third year.】

【This year, you turned 17.】

【You became a composite elemental mage, proficient in earth, wind, water, fire, lightning, light, darkness, life, and death.】

【Except for the most difficult to control elements of time and space, you had no weaknesses.】

【Those were the domains of the gods, or more accurately, the Supreme Deities, far beyond the reach of mortal wisdom.】

【You felt no regret, believing that mastering so many elements was already a cause for great joy.】

【You focused your mind entirely on advancing your magical prowess.】

【The ranks of mages are divided into: Magic Apprentice, Formal Mage, Elite Mage, Grand Mage, Grand Magus, Sanctuary Magus, and Demigod.】

【Your talent was extraordinary, and your advancement speed was astonishing.】

【In the fourth year of the simulation, at the age of 18, you successfully advanced to the rank of Formal Mage.】

【In the fifth year of the simulation, at the age of 19, you mastered all basic spells of levels 1-3 across all attributes. You formed contracts with multiple elemental spirits, allowing you to draw mana from the elemental planes to replenish yourself. Your mana capacity was ten times that of an average person, a blessing from the unseen forces.】

【In the sixth year of the simulation, at the age of 20, you achieved another breakthrough.】

【You became an Elite Mage.】

【From this point on, you could master spells of levels 4-5. If you so desired, you could annihilate a town, and given enough time, even a city.】

【To maintain a low profile, you did not reveal your Elite Mage status, instead claiming to have just advanced to Formal Mage.】

【A new wave of sensation began. Despite your efforts to remain discreet, combined with your slum background, your name quickly spread throughout Alenson.】

【From the nobles to the beggars, everyone in Alenson knew of your existence.】

【A shining star that had emerged from the mud.】

【Your story was widely told, sung by bards to distant regions. You became a role model for many struggling people, and nobles began inviting you to their banquets. You were at the height of your glory.】

……

The simulation was going smoothly.

Logically, the first simulation was supposed to be a beginner's benefit.

But this second simulation provided Xu Xi with an unprecedented sense of exhilaration. The three traits complemented each other, creating an effect far greater than the sum of their parts.

At just 20 years old, he was already an Elite Mage.

Xu Xi was confident that by the end of this simulation, he would step into the realm of the Sanctuary Magus, or even catch a glimpse of the divine.

“If, after this simulation ends, I can replicate my achievements in reality like last time, I will truly be invincible.”

“If I recall correctly, the Demigod level in the magic system is equivalent to the Loose Immortal level in the cultivation system.”

“If I can become a Sanctuary Magus, that would be akin to… the Great Ascension stage?”

Walking alone on the street.

Xu Xi strolled slowly, chewing on a piece of bread absentmindedly while pondering the aftermath of the simulation.

To return home faster and dive into new magical research.

Xu Xi turned into a narrow alley.

His boots splashed in the muddy puddles, sending dark brown water droplets flying. His clean, neat clothes stood in stark contrast to the foul-smelling surroundings.

Occasionally, the impact of his boots would cause the crude disguises to collapse.

Beneath the broken tiles, dried bloodstains were revealed.

This city was far from beautiful. The high and mighty nobles engaged in power struggles, while the lower classes resorted to primal violence. Blood was a common sight here.

But it had nothing to do with Xu Xi.

After all, everyone in the city knew him, and no one would be foolish enough to provoke a Formal Mage.

“St…stop!”

“Hand…hand over the bread!”

A trembling voice came from ahead, stuttering and filled with fear, as if the speaker was already terrified.

Xu Xi stopped and looked at the small figure in front of him.

It was late October.

The weather was turning cold.

But the dirty figure wore a tattered short-sleeved shirt on top and an oversized, unattractive pair of dark green pants that were likely salvaged from the trash.

Her hair was matted with dirt and grime, with a scar faintly visible on her forehead.

Her eyes were a pale gold, but they held no joy, no sorrow—only emptiness and fear of the unknown, giving the illusion of black irises.

From any angle, she exuded a sense of hollowness and despair.

Xu Xi’s gaze lowered.

He saw the small knife tightly clutched in her hand.

Despite her trembling body and shaking hands, she still held onto her only weapon.

But—

Did she really think she could rob a Formal Mage with a small knife?

Xu Xi frowned. The Observer trait activated, revealing more about the small figure before him—peculiarities that set her apart from ordinary humans.

Like the broken horn hidden in her hair.

Or the scales beneath her skin, something no normal human would possess.

“I see. A hybrid of human and demon blood. Judging by her appearance, she must have been abandoned and recently fled to Alenson.”

“No wonder she dared to rob me—she doesn’t know who I am.”

Xu Xi took a few steps forward.

The girl’s scarred face, bruised arms, and trembling legs came into clearer view.

“…How pitiful.”

Xu Xi lowered his gaze, sighing softly in his heart.

In a world where gods ruled over all, it was only natural that there would also be demons who opposed them.

Most demons were large and grotesque, but a few races resembled humans, sparking peculiar interests among some.

Thus, hybrids were born—neither fully human nor fully demon.

These offspring were almost never acknowledged.

The moment they were born, nine out of ten were discarded.

Only a rare few, possessing great strength, were kept and trained as unconventional soldiers.

Clearly.

From the girl’s fearful trembling, she was one of the absolute failures—lacking the strength of a demon and the normal appearance of a human to blend into society.

She belonged to the most wretched category.

“D…don’t come closer!” The demon girl grew even more terrified as Xu Xi approached.