The Tentacle Suit and the First Shot

The ocean transformed into a cerulean shawl, tenderly enveloping the maiden’s delicate collarbones and accentuating her curvaceous, sensual, yet elegant figure.

A few wisps of errant white mist, in turn, formed a cascading veil and shimmering threads across the maiden’s chest, further enhancing the sculpted contours of her bust.

Upon the maiden’s naturally flawless legs, sculpted as if by a master from jade, frost and snow drifted down.

A pair of asymmetrically designed translucent white stockings were adorned with a scattering of azure ice crystals.

White frost extended from the soles of the stockings up to her thighs.

The patterns on the white stockings resembled the brilliant aurora, diffusing a mysterious, natural luminescence.

White strokes outlined the slender, well-proportioned contours of her jade-like legs.

A hint of blue-green structural color further accentuated the allure of her ‘absolute territory’.

Finally, a pair of pure black boots, seemingly from the boundless depths of space, emerged from the void, slowly supporting the maiden’s graceful figure.

The masterpiece was complete.

This exquisite beauty, paired with a pair of limpid, golden-yellow eyes that seemed untainted by the mundane world yet brimming with spiritual insight, a delicate nose, vibrant red lips, and a posture of eager anticipation, was utterly captivating, making one yearn to pluck her and savor the taste.

Only her exaggerated, sweeping gestures carried a touch too much chuunibyou flair.

Reluctant to admit her aesthetic bias, X had to concede she was utterly captivated by Gloria’s aesthetic vision.

Gloria knew exactly how to ‘dress up’ food, create enticing packaging, make it look more appealing, and boost sales.

The layer shimmering with silver light appeared incredibly bouncy and elastic; a rich, delicate silken material that might feel as irresistibly satisfying to squish as soft foam.

Gazing at herself, now akin to a moon goddess, X genuinely believed that even if this body were entered into Gloria’s ‘Starfield Culinary Competition,’ it would undoubtedly be considered one of the top beauties, and a top ten finish would be well deserved.

Whether in terms of quality, ingredients, or taste, it was a perfect match.

However, despite the garment’s perfection in every aspect and its seemingly inherent resistance to dirt—remaining untouched by even a speck of mist or dust, and requiring no maintenance as it seemed to clean itself automatically—one question utterly perplexed X.

‘Why did this outfit feel like wearing nothing at all!’

Though she could feel a delicate sensation on her skin, it had no discernible weight, floating as lightly as a phantom.

‘This was far too embarrassing!’

X couldn’t help but recall a similar scenario: an artist conducting a social experiment on the streets, wearing clothes painted onto their body, facing hurried passersby.

Making everyone believe they were clothed, when in reality, they were not.

Using this contradictory and provocative psychological effect to complete their performance.

‘How utterly shameless!’

Since this garment was designed by Gloria and suited her taste, X wondered:

‘Could she be the type who appeared cool and aloof on the outside, but was secretly flirtatious within?’

‘Someone who seemed prim and proper, yet indulged in untold wildness in private?’

At this thought, X’s doubts and shame dispersed with the cold wind that billowed her skirt, replaced by a strange, illicit thrill that only heightened her excitement.

‘Heh heh, it seems there’s much potential to explore in those directions.’

Unbeknownst to X, her every thought and desire, having made no attempt to conceal them, had been fully exposed within the mental space.

“Oh? Do you truly believe the Silver Touch is merely a weightless work of art?” The maiden, with pale flames burning in her eyes, curled her lips in disdain.

Gloria, at this moment, felt no offense at X’s thoughts.

As long as those thoughts remained mere thoughts and did not materialize into action, she was indifferent.

Instead, she was ecstatic over this body’s ability to express emotions.

Due to the damage to her facial expression mechanism caused by numerous chaotic seals on her soul, Gloria had been unable to form proper expressions for a long time, forced to maintain a default, impassive countenance.

This was why the Dustfolk held such a cold impression of her.

In truth, making faces, mocking, and insulting opponents were common tactics the Blasphemous Demon God used to provoke her adversaries.

X’s current body seemed to have allowed her to regain control over her expressions.

She was immensely satisfied.

“You have already discerned the truth of the Silver Touch through its silhouette.

What now covers your body is merely mass-less, ultra-dark matter.

Their true form is an extension of my mental body.

In other words, you are currently wearing a ‘tentacle suit’!

How about it? Are you scared yet?” To prove her point, Gloria exerted herself, conjuring several semi-corporeal, grayish-white tentacles from her back, which gently prodded the maiden’s soft waist.

“Oh!” The maiden cooperated, emitting a delicate cry, and tightly shielded her sensitive waist, as if struggling against the invisible, intangible tentacles.

For a moment, the body, controlled by two entities simultaneously, moved with a peculiar, distorted grace.

Upon realizing X’s Oscar-worthy acting, Gloria immediately lost all interest in teasing her.

In terms of perversion, she couldn’t possibly surpass X anytime soon.

Nor did she harbor any desire to outdo others in that particular aspect.

“Hey,” to steer the conversation back on track, Gloria reactivated the mental space and addressed the other soul within the body, “Little one, tell me, where should we fire our first shot?”

“Huh? Me?” X pondered for a moment, then quickly replied, “If it were up to me, I’d definitely choose to wipe out the remnants of the Earth Alliance, the root of all evil.

I’ve long been fed up with those despicable scoundrels.

Without their deliberate provocations, the Third World War, which devastated Earth’s ecosystem and scattered the souls of billions of humans, would never have occurred.

As long as we strike them first, everything will fall into place.”

As she spoke, she fiercely cursed a few times, though without using profanity.

“Your idea is sound, but its feasibility is low, its targeting imprecise, and its objective unclear.” Regarding the naive yet endearing X, Gloria gently shook her head, a hint of amusement glinting in her eyes.

Just as X was about to retort, Gloria added, “The remnants of the Earth Alliance have long been scattered throughout the solar system.

Their actual influence on Earth plummeted after the Third War.

To eliminate these pests, it would perhaps be better to employ a professional extermination team, rather than deploy an ultimate, one-hit-kill weapon like yourself, wouldn’t it?

If your first shot only serves to eradicate a few insects, it might not even warrant a pop-up on some minor websites.

It wouldn’t achieve the effect of a single strike that shakes the very soul.”

For some reason, X found Gloria’s words incredibly logical, yet she still yearned to refute them.

However, she couldn’t conjure a single reason to do so.

Gloria, meanwhile, assumed a dashing, debonair posture, her white hair fluttering freely, standing suspended in the air, leaning against aurora-lit clouds, with the moonlight reflected in her eyes.

“Gloria, are you suggesting I target the Moon, which the Heart of the Galaxy controls?” Sharing Gloria’s senses, X’s eyes transformed into astronomical telescopes, allowing her to perceive the anomaly on the Moon.

At the base of the Skyfire Phase Wave Cannon at the Larry Ring Station, the annular quantum accelerator device was already flashing with rhythmic blue light.

The Sword of Divine Retribution, poised to judge sin, had once again begun its operation.