Chapter 10: Reflecting on the Battle Afterwards

Su Bai sat alone in the small rented room, surveying her surroundings as she began to meticulously take stock of her supplies. These essentials for daily life had all been stockpiled beforehand.

She walked to the corner, her gaze settling on the shelf neatly lined with several bags of rice, a few cans of preserved food, some dried provisions, and snacks. Counting quietly, she calculated in her mind, “The food will last only a few more days. If no solution arises, I’ll have no choice but to leave this city like everyone else.”

Since the outbreak of the digital crisis, the city’s supply lines had become wildly unstable. Following warnings in the news and the retreat of military forces from Wuhe City, many had fled this once bustling metropolis.

Su Bai remained, partly because she had nowhere else to go. Her parents' home? She sneered inwardly, having long given up hope in them.

Another reason for staying was her accustomed solitude. Humans are social creatures, and too long a period alone can be unbearable. Yet Su Bai had grown fond of this solitary life.

She recalled her days in the school dormitory, strained by various conflicts with roommates, which had led her to decisively move out and live alone. Though lonely, those days had brought her inner peace.

However, solitude only works when one’s basic needs are met. How could she live in peace when she couldn’t even fill her stomach?

Sighing, Su Bai moved to the window and gazed out at the empty streets. The city that once teemed with life was now desolate. A few hurried passersby appeared occasionally, their faces etched with anxiety and unease.

The digital threat unsettled everyone, and Su Bai was no exception.

As dusk deepened, she rose and went to the kitchen to prepare a simple dinner. Opening a can, she poured its contents into a pot to heat, the aroma slowly filling the room.

Though the meal was plain, Su Bai ate with relish.

Afterward, she sat at the table, took out her notebook, and began to log the day’s consumption.

“Tomorrow, I’ll explore the surroundings again—maybe I can scavenge some leftover supplies,” she wrote before closing the notebook and moving back to the window.

Night had fallen, and the city was shrouded in darkness. Where once neon lights had bathed the streets in color, now her small abode felt like an island amid the shadows.

“At least I still have Pearl; otherwise, I wouldn’t know what to do alone.”

Thinking this, Su Bai summoned Pearl.

Gradually, Pearl’s form materialized in the air, its feathers shimmering softly in the dim light, truly resembling a radiant pearl.

---

Once fully formed, Pearl chirped twice, a clear and pleasant sound that seemed to express its joy and reliance on Su Bai.

Warmth swelled in Su Bai’s heart as she looked at the creature.

Softly, she asked, “Pearl, are you hungry?” The creature seemed to understand, gazing at her with its bright, round eyes filled with anticipation.

From a bag by the door, Su Bai retrieved the carcass of a silkworm larva.

Since these bodies wouldn’t last long, she no longer felt reluctant to feed them to Pearl.

Pearl was her key to safety.

As a Beast Tamer, the beasts under her command were crucial to her survival.

Seeing the food, Pearl immediately pounced, swallowing the carcass in just a few bites.

Watching Pearl devour so ravenously, Su Bai felt a bit embarrassed and thought, “It seems Pearl’s appetite has grown after its mutation.”

It wasn’t only Pearl—Su Bai herself had noticed her own appetite increasing noticeably.

She rubbed her belly, feeling hungry again despite having just eaten. Seeing Pearl eat so heartily only amplified her own hunger.

It was as if her body was burning energy faster than before.

Puzzled, Su Bai wondered, “Could this be due to leveling up? Does my body now require more energy?”

Worry crept into her mind.

Food had always been critical to their survival, especially under these digitalized conditions.

Su Bai checked the news again.

Resources were growing scarcer by the day.

She sighed, silently planning how to solve the food shortage.

She knew that if she couldn’t find enough food in time, not only would Pearl starve, but she herself wouldn’t survive.

“I’ll have to find a way to gather more food,” she murmured.

Su Bai resolved to wait another day, then venture back into the Misty Forest with Pearl to seek out more food sources.

Of course, the priority was food she could eat; Pearl’s sustenance could be managed by hunting more silkworm larvae, feeding their carcasses to her companion.

Her thoughts drifted back to her recent foray into the Misty Forest.

“I should review that exploration carefully.”

Though they had managed to defeat the silkworm larvae, the process was fraught with difficulties.

---

Since the world had become digitalized, with professions and monsters, even level-ups and monster battles turning real, Su Bai realized future fights might become more frequent and perilous.

Not only monsters, but the fiercest threats might come from competition and conflict among humans.

Her heart grew heavy at the thought.

“So, I must reflect on my performance, identify my shortcomings, and improve to survive better in the future,” she resolved quietly.

Pearl stood by, attentively listening to her monologue.

Though it could not speak, its focused gaze revealed it was seriously considering her words.

Su Bai stroked her chin, recalling battle details.

“Fortunately, the monster we faced was the slow-moving, weak silkworm larva. If we had encountered something faster and stronger, like a wolfdog, Pearl and I might not have coped.”

A shiver ran through her at the thought.

Pearl’s “Song” skill could lull enemies to sleep, but only if it hit its target.

If the foe was too swift or alert, the skill might fail.

Turning to Pearl with a serious look, Su Bai said, “Pearl, you need to practice your Song skill more. Since it’s a sound-based ability, it should hypnotize the opponent simply by being heard—not only when the notes physically strike them.”

Pearl’s head dipped slightly, seeming a bit embarrassed.

Soon, it nodded firmly, its eyes shining with determination, as if saying, “I will work hard. To protect you, I will practice more!”

A faint smile touched Su Bai’s lips, comforted by Pearl’s response.

She then began to analyze her own performance.

Lowering her gaze, she muttered, “As a Beast Tamer, I currently have only Pearl. That’s too few. Against stronger enemies, Pearl’s power alone won’t suffice.”

A plan formed in her mind.

“Perhaps I should seek out more beasts and form a team of companions. With more beasts, my combat strength will increase greatly, giving me more strategies against various foes.”

“Plus, with my own talent reception ability, I can harness the talents of different beasts to handle unexpected challenges.”

“Pearl, let’s work hard together,” Su Bai whispered.

Pearl chirped twice, seemingly answering her call.