The Dragon's Pact: A Princess for the Flame-Chapter 2 – Anna Hathaway

Su Nian stared blankly at the three different system notification boxes in his view.
But soon, he felt a sense of surprise.
A system! The golden finger every transmigrator needs.
Goodness, he was given three right off the bat! Could it be that he was the chosen dragon? He just didn't know what these systems were for yet. As the systems were currently merging, Su Nian didn't have time to ask questions.
After a moment, the system popped up a notification again:
[Ding! System fusion complete. Current system: Ultimate Invincible Self-Modifying Super Evolution Plunder War Evil Dragon System, abbreviated as Evil Dragon System!]
Su Nian: ╭(°A°`)╮?!
This system's name is ridiculously long!
"Roar roar roar?"
[So, Evil Dragon System, what can you do?]
[Ding! The host doesn't need to speak out loud. Just think in your mind to convey information to this system.]
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
[This system is incredibly powerful, integrating the functions of three major systems to provide comprehensive services to the host.]
[Function One: Special Enhancement Function: Originally named Special Female NPC Amplification System, renamed due to recent strict system audits.]
[This function requires the host to have various special female NPCs to trigger. Each female NPC will provide the host with a large number of system points and at least one enhancement or ability.]
[Function Two: Evolutionary Modification Function: The host can modify themselves in a directed manner, consuming system points.]
[Function Three: Evil Villain Function: The host will gain system points by killing characters or players from righteous factions, and half the points by killing adversaries.]
[Ding! Detected that the host has plundered an SSS-level special female NPC, activating Affection Subsystem, Status Panel Observation Function, and Inner Voice Listening Function.]
"Wait, wait, stop babbling!"
Su Nian was getting a headache from the system's barrage of pop-ups. He reread the system information and asked in confusion: "What NPC? What player? Am I in reality or in a game?"
[Ding! The world the host is in is a real world, but under the influence of a certain existence, it is about to become semi-gamified. This is a wager concerning the fate of the world. If the host cannot eliminate the players, the consequences will be dire.]
"Eliminate players?"
Su Nian frowned. What kind of international joke is this? Players are those who can respawn, right? The ones who play games?
But Su Nian had never heard of any country developing such a realistic game.
Currently, games in various countries are still in the early stages of VR. This kind of fully immersive game is not something planetary technology can produce.
[Ding! Players come from Aqua Blue Star, a world where the gaming industry is highly developed, similar to your home planet.]
"A parallel world?"
Su Nian murmured to himself. Well, that takes the psychological pressure off, since they're not his compatriots.
"But even so, how can I eliminate players? They can respawn, right?"
[Ding! Players can respawn, but each respawn time will double. The first respawn is 5 seconds, the second 10 seconds, the third 20 seconds, and so on indefinitely. When the respawn time reaches one year, theoretically, players will automatically exit the game.]
Goodness, Su Nian's dragon mouth twisted into a grimace. He remembered when his game account was banned for a year for cheating, and he instantly lost interest in playing.
And even if players stubbornly return after a year, dying again means two years, while he continues to grow stronger. As long as he doesn't die, players will only get weaker!
This might actually work?
It's not that hard, is it? After all, he's a dragon now, even if he doesn't have much to show for it at the moment.
Just as Su Nian was envisioning the future, the system's notification sounded in his mind again.
[Ding! Detected SSS-level special Lolita NPC. Would you like to view the relevant panel?]
Special Lolita NPC?
Su Nian glanced at the little girl huddled in the corner, feeling a bit puzzled.
This is SSS-level?
Though she is indeed very cute, much more exquisite than his figurine waifus, encountering an SSS-level right away made Su Nian feel like SSS-level isn't all that special.
"View it."
Su Nian nodded, feeling a bit eager, as this was said to be his chance to become stronger.
[Ding! Panel as follows (will not pop up next time)]
[Name: Anna Hathaway (Age: 18 Elf Years)]
[Rating: SSS-level]
[Personality: Timid, Weak, Docile, Kind]
[Race: Half-Elf]
[Strength: Frail (Can't even beat a chicken)]
[Status: Malady, Weak (Two days of life remaining)]
[Talent: Top-tier Water Element Affinity, Top-tier Light Element Affinity, World-Shaking Beauty (Activated), Delicate and Tender (Passive), Alluring Fragrance (Passive)]
[Current Affection: -80 (Fear)]
[Evaluation: The host is incredibly lucky, in two senses]
[Note: Affection too low to gain system points and abilities. Please raise affection to 0 to gain the first stage of special abilities.]
"Uh."
Su Nian was dumbfounded. He thought he would immediately gain abilities, but it turns out he has to raise affection to 0.
It feels like playing a galgame.
And if he wasn't mistaken, the SSS-level top-tier "card" he casually picked up is going to die of illness in two days?
What kind of start is this?
"System, let's make a deal. I can't even move right now, and I'm on the brink of death. How am I supposed to raise affection? Can't you give me a starter pack or something?"
Su Nian negotiated with the system in his mind.
[Ding! The host makes a valid point. Issuing starter pack: Temporary Body Recovery Card (Half-hour version)]
[Note: Temporary Recovery Card draws from the host's Life Essence. After half an hour of temporary recovery, the host will become even weaker and fall into a coma. Would the host like to use it?]
Su Nian: "..."
Why does it feel like this system is being redundant, rewarding him with his own stuff?
It's just that he doesn't know how to use this Life Essence.
Su Nian pondered for a moment. It seemed there was only one way now, as his body continued to weaken.
Expecting the girl to save him was unrealistic, as she was already shivering in fear.
Moreover, he guessed that the girl's condition might be even worse than his.
[So cold, so cold, the evil dragon is so scary...]
[Hungry... sob sob sob]
[Mom...]
Suddenly, a weak, soft voice of a girl echoed in Su Nian's mind. The voice was very pleasant, like a ball of cotton brushing against his heart, making it itch and tingle.
It seemed that the sometimes-functional Inner Voice Listening Function was working...
The system should really consider a career in tailoring.
He looked at the girl and found that she indeed wasn't speaking, just hugging her knees with her head down, like an abandoned kitten, shivering slightly in the corner.
Probably because it was too cold.
Su Nian surveyed his cold lair and came to that conclusion.
Time to take a gamble, nothing to lose. His dragon eyes shone with determination as he called out to the system in his mind:"System, I want to use the Temporary Recovery Card!"
[Ding! Temporary Recovery Card activated. Please cherish your life.]
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan