[Jieshuo is a good person, with temporary one-on-one pairings]
[We will defend Jieshuo's beauty to the death. She is gorgeous, and no arguments will be entertained.]
[First paragraph hidden to avoid spoilers, to be restored later in "Whitewashing"]
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It shouldn't be like this.
Jieshuo looked at the tower's reflection of what her former kind had become. The intelligent machines of Yuchao had altered their bodies and minds, turning them into irrational, mindless beasts.
The intelligent machines kept her captive and threw her into the tower, even depriving her of the chance to die.
The intelligent machines said, "You must climb."
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"You must reach the top of the tower and see what you truly look like."
On the first floor, Jieshuo guided people in learning how to use fire and tools.
On the second floor, she foresaw the flourishing return of human civilization.
Then, on the third floor, she played a game of wits against Yuchao's intelligent machines, where victory might mean destroying everything she had achieved in the past.
On the third floor, she altered the intelligent machines' permissions and became their emperor.
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"You're always like this, reckless, refusing to make a choice, insisting on your own way," her guide said gently.
Jieshuo said, "I have nothing left to lose."
The guide smiled. "What about us? Maybe you could try having us."
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Defeat on the fourth floor, ascension to a higher dimension on the fifth, an audience on the sixth, the seventh...
Even though Jieshuo was used to seeing technology flourish across the star sea, the immense, unknown beings were on a level that no technological advancement could ever imitate.
The star sea was a lie, their game board.
They cared about nothing and kept themselves aloof, yet controlled the very threads of life and death across the star sea.
Jieshuo climbed the tower and finally saw her whole self at its summit.
Just like them.
"Join us, or be exiled."
2026/10/01. Saved
Theme: Never look down on the young and poor
