As the system's acquisition prompts echoed one after another, Luceris's system inventory quickly filled with new gear.
Three glowing orbs hovered in the air—each representing an outfit. With a single thought, she could wear any of them instantly.
"This is just like one-click dress-up in a game…"
A soft white light shimmered, slowly turning into a brilliant pink as Luceris accessed her system space. Dimensional divine equipment wasn't just cosmetic—it affected her attributes too.
When the light finally faded, her transformation was complete.
Standing in front of the mirror was a graceful, enchanting girl.
Luceris now had long, gently curled pink hair tied into a ponytail. Her delicate face radiated a mysterious charm, made even more striking by the inward-curled hair tips and prominently pointed elf ears.
Her eyes were mesmerizing—iris and pupil blending into a gradient of pink and sapphire blue, like intricately carved gemstones. It gave her an almost otherworldly beauty.
She wore a black aristocratic-style stand-collar shawl over a white tube top. A tassel design adorned her left side, while the side-waist's open design accentuated her curvaceous figure perfectly.
Her lower body was more practical—form-fitting hot pants paired with over-the-knee boots, all snugly outlining the elegant curves of her legs.
Subtle purple accessories and azure gemstones accented her outfit, connected by delicate metallic links. Every detail radiated a sense of refined uniqueness—almost impossible to look away from.
"This…"
Even though Luceris had mentally prepared for it, seeing herself now still left her speechless.
She was the spitting image of Elysia.
"It seems like wearing Dimensional Divine Gear does more than just change clothes…"
"These elf ears are real… and even my bust's bigger."
Luceris muttered, studying herself with an analytical eye.
She circled in front of the mirror, admiring the result—then finally flopped onto her bed, still in a bit of disbelief.
But as the initial amazement faded, a troubling thought crept in.
Damn it…
Without realizing, she'd started thinking like a girl again.
"I'm still a guy on the inside!"
Now dressed as Alicia, Luceris absentmindedly twirled a pink curl in her fingers. Even knowing the mirror girl was herself, she couldn't help but feel a bit smitten.
Lying back on the bed and staring at the ceiling, her thoughts wandered.
Not long after, the sound of the front door opening signaled Aria's return from her part-time job. She'd be heading back to university in less than a month.
"I need to find a chance to come clean…"
"I can't keep hiding this."
Luceris yawned, feeling content with the day's progress. Not long after, she drifted into peaceful sleep.
===
Qianhua City — Official Dungeon Material Laboratory
At that moment, inside a long room lined with research equipment, materials retrieved from the Forgotten Crystal Holy Land were neatly laid out across a table.
Most of these items didn't appear in the World Original Codex.
Leanne Vale and Selene stood quietly behind a row of scientists, ready to answer questions at a moment's notice.
"Crystal…"
A woman with long wavy hair and brown stockings stepped forward, inspecting a pink crystal. She was Grace Monta—a level 61 magic appraiser and enchanter, and one of the most experienced material researchers in the field.
Despite her modest rank, she held immense respect within the organization.
"The hardness is exceptional… and the mana it holds is massive. I'd estimate it's over five times more potent than the typical crystals dropped from other dungeons."
That caught everyone's attention. No one expected such an unassuming material to contain such vast magical energy.
"Not bad. Likely native to your new dungeon. What's its drop rate? If it's decent, we can request a full-scale extraction operation." Grace asked.
Leanne thought for a moment, then replied, "I'd say… around 60%."
"60%!?" A young researcher's voice cracked in disbelief.
Even Grace frowned.
Everyone knew that even the highest-difficulty dungeons rarely averaged over a 40% drop rate for valuable materials.
Sixty percent?
It sounded too good to be true.
Still, she didn't argue. Instead, Gu Shan moved on to inspect other materials.
"The Whispers of the Elves… Never heard of it."
She picked up what looked like a translucent wing and activated her Identify skill.
Almost immediately, her expression grew tense.
Her entire body stilled, though her eyes shone with sharp brilliance.
The other researchers noticed the change and grew uneasy.
Grace Monta was renowned for her composure—even mythical items rarely fazed her. But now? Something was different.
Leanne and Selene grew anxious. Was there a problem with these materials?
If so, it might mean they couldn't bring Luceris along for future expeditions.
Grace Monta slowly set the wing-shaped item back on the table. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to steady her breath.
Then, she continued her analysis.
"Divine Crystal…"
"Flawless Crystal…"
"Elven Sands…"
"Heaven's Ancient Jar…"
"Molted Husk of the Sky Spider…"
"…"
"These are… all unknowns. I've never seen any of these before."
Her voice trembled with awe.
Grace Monta—who had memorized tomes like The World Codex and was regarded as a walking encyclopedia of materials from ancient Eastern regions—was stunned.
At first, she hadn't given the table's contents much thought.
But now, after careful inspection, she realized:
Nearly every item here didn't exist in any previously documented dungeon—and their properties were incredible.
If acquired in sufficient quantity, they could revolutionize magical science or lead to the cultivation of powerful champions.
Taking a breath, Grace turned to Leanne and Selene, who watched her with wide eyes.
Her voice was serious and sharp:
"Where did you get all this?"
"Speak. Now."