Chapter 17 : The Esoteric Art of Crossdressing

The Esoteric Art of Crossdressing

System: Acquired Experience Gem (Tier 1) *1.

"Experience Gem?"

System: The Experience Gem can be used to level up. When used on a follower, there is a small chance of evolution. It can be used by both host and subordinates.

"Level up! Evolution! This is great! Am I suddenly this lucky?"

Serea was overjoyed, her excitement surging. With an Experience Gem, she could grow stronger quickly, control more undead, and establish her own undead army!

Just thinking about it gave her a small thrill...

System: Acquired Experience Gem (Tier 1) *1.

"Huh?"

Looking at the second flipped card, there was the same exp symbol—another Experience Gem!

"Since when have I gotten this lucky?"

While Serea pondered the question, the third card flipped over as well.

System: Acquired Experience Gem (Tier 1) *1.

Serea realized the seriousness of the problem and hastily waved her hand.

"Wait, I have a question!"

System: Acquired Experience Gem (Tier 1) *1.

"Damn, this is a big problem!"

System: ...

"Stop flipping, halt!"

System: Drawing temporarily suspended. Does the host have any questions?

"Of course! I want to ask, what prize tier is the Experience Gem in the prize pool?"

System: The Experience Gem is a key item for the host's growth. To expedite your progress, 90% of the pool contains Experience Gems.

Serea didn't know what to say. After holding it in for ages, she spat out a single word.

"Damn!"

System: Would you like to continue drawing?

"Continue! I don't buy it! Let's see if you can really give me nothing but Experience Gems!"

System: Acquired Experience Gem (Tier 1) *1.

System: Acquired Experience Gem (Tier 1) *1.

System: ...

The system's notifications kept appearing, the repeated contents ruthlessly shattering Serea's last vestiges of hope.

Looking at the eleven Experience Gems (Tier 1) in her hand, Serea remained silent for a long time.

But suddenly, as if she had grasped something, she shouted desperately and roared at the system.

"Wait, there's a problem! What about my guaranteed draw? Didn't you say guaranteed props and skills? Where's my guaranteed prize?"

Clinging to this final lifeline, Serea looked down at the eleven Experience Gems in her hands.

System: Please discard one gem to exchange for a random prop or skill card.

"Whatever, they're all the same anyway."

She carelessly tossed a card aside, and a green card with a '?' design fell into Serea's hand.

"Green?"

Upon seeing the unique card, Serea bottled up her excitement and flipped it over.

System: Acquired Novice HP Potion (Green, tier 2) *1.

"My mistake, can I have my Experience Gem back?"

System: Guaranteed rewards are non-refundable. This concludes the rewards for this round.

Looking at the eleven cards still in her hand, Serea clicked her tongue.

"Fine then."

With that, Serea stowed the cards away. Once stored, the Experience Gems turned into several fragments of black stone, and the HP potion became a small bottle of red liquid. Seeing this, Serea casually put it in her pocket.

Gazing at the results of her ten-draw, Serea felt a wave of exhaustion rise from the depths of her heart.

But as her gaze drifted, Serea noticed the last trace of black mist at the center of the Dark Main Altar.

101 points of Dark Power!

One more single draw left!

Seeing those 101 points of Dark Power, Serea seemed to clutch at her last thread of hope.

Single draws may be risky, but they're the stuff of miracles.

That's why ten-pulls are a scam—the single draw is the way to go!

With that thought, Serea shouted at the system.

"Use my last hope, one more time!"

System: Drawing reward...

The black mist was absorbed, and then a single card floated in the center of the Dark Main Altar.

Serea couldn't bear to look, covering her eyes out of fear.

"My last hope, system, for the love of god, don't mess with me! Whether it's crossdressing or py, just give me something good!"

For the sake of a rare reward, Serea had abandoned her last shreds of dignity. The art of crossdressing is great—maybe a little superstition could turn her luck around!

Holding onto that belief, Serea cautiously parted her fingers. A faint purple glow greeted her eyes.

"Hiss~"

Serea sucked in a breath, then opened her eyes wide to look at the violet card upon the altar.

"How rare is purple rarity?"

She didn't flip the card immediately, but questioned the system first.

System: Purple rewards are high-rarity rewards.

"Nice, flip it for me!"

System: Retrieving reward...

The card flipped over, letting loose a burst of dazzling purple light.

Once fully revealed, a purple skull-shaped icon appeared.

System: Death Altar Reward.

Then the card flipped again. The '?' turned into the icon of a piece of clothing.

System: Equipment reward.

"Equipment—beautiful!"

Hearing that it was equipment and not some useless potion or prop made Serea even more excited. The card flipped over a third time.

Upon seeing the skull icon again, Serea didn't dare look away for even a second.

As the skull faded, a black cloth armor appeared on the purple card.

System: Acquired Equipment—Death Chant Vestments (Purple Gear)

Once the reward was confirmed, the card transformed into motes of purple light and gathered in Serea's hands, then a black robe with a red lining and a dark evening dress drifted down into her grasp.

Death Chant Vestments (Purple): When worn, undead subordinates receive a 10% attribute enhancement. Death Altar abilities are increased by 10%. Damage taken is reduced by 20% (taking damage reduces garment durability; if durability drops to zero, all effects become null).

"These stats, they're exactly what I need."

Serea was extremely excited, and all the gloom from drawing nothing but Experience Gems before was swept away in an instant.

She held the black cloth armor, intending to don it immediately, but upon closer inspection, Serea's expression became troubled.

"A skirt armor design... Well, I was already wearing a formal dress before, but this skirt armor is a bit too short."

Careful comparison revealed that with her current height of 1.68 meters, the hem of the garment would only reach fifteen centimeters above her knees.

Although instinctively she was somewhat resistant to this kind of outfit, the equipment's effects left her conflicted. Such good equipment would be a waste not to wear.

"Forget it, a skirt armor is fine—as long as it boosts my strength. Besides, there's still a cloak, isn't there?"

In the end, Serea accepted the reality of the skirt armor with a sense of resignation.

"Anyway, let's give it a try."

Gathering up her equipment, Serea chose to exit the consciousness space.

Blinking her eyes, she returned to the real world, the Death Chant Vestments now in her hands.

Celia was still asleep, and Little Black was still leading the skeletons to search for the caravan's treasure. Unnoticed by anyone, Serea secretly took out the skirt armor.

(To be continued...)