Su Mu lived on Blue Star—a planet similar to Earth, yet distinctly different.
Its culture, entertainment, and games didn't fully overlap with Earth's.
And its technology? Far more advanced.
But that progress came at a cost.
Resources were depleting at an alarming rate, forcing nations into a desperate search for renewable alternatives just to survive.
Tensions between global powers escalated.
Citizens lived in constant fear that one day, war would erupt over dwindling supplies.
But before war could break out—
The Forbidden Zone arrived.
A countdown appeared on every public screen, visible to all.
This wasn't a prank.
It was real.
The zone carried an unfathomable power—and it had descended upon Blue Star.
[Attention! You have been selected as one of China's National Fate representatives. Prepare to enter the Forbidden Zone!]
A beam of white light appeared before Su Mu.
She stretched lazily, her silhouette curving with elegance.
"Let's hope this place isn't too boring."
She reached out with a delicate hand, touching the light.
Energy surged through her fingertips.
No resistance.
She slipped her feet into her signature high-heeled boots, donned her magical hat, and stepped into the beam.
China's livestream chatroom:
—"Why's the screen still black?"
—"If it's random selection, maybe I'll get picked?"
—"Even if it's random, they'll choose someone strong, right? I heard we've got some hidden masters!"
—"It's on! It's live!"
As the countdown hit zero, the screen lit up.
Nervousness. Excitement. Dread.
A storm of emotions gripped the viewers.
The scene revealed a vast desert—windswept and desolate.
A lonely plume of smoke rose in the distance, the sun sinking behind a river of sand.
The sky was dull gray, the sunlight intense but not blinding.
The air shimmered with heat, waves rippling across the screen.
Wind swept across the dunes, revealing bleached bones beneath the sand.
A chill ran down everyone's spine.
Desert. Forbidden Zone. Skeletons. Black stockings… terrifying.
Wait.
Black stockings?
Viewers squinted.
In the middle of this haunting wasteland—
A girl?
No—two girls?!
And their outfits… looked straight out of a cosplay convention.
The one in black stockings wore a magical hat, violet eyes gleaming beneath gradient brown hair that made her pale skin glow.
Her shoulders were bare, collarbones catching the light.
Her backless outfit featured a mysterious key hanging at the front and back.
Her corset had a heart-shaped design with a keyhole at its center—provocative and puzzling.
Black mesh wrapped her waist, complementing her stockings perfectly.
Her long, slender legs stood in mismatched tall boots—one large, one small.
Odd, yet somehow… adorable.
—"Who brought a cosplayer into the Forbidden Zone?!"
—"That face is unreal… she's gorgeous!"