From swords, axes, and daggers, to guns, cannons, and ammunition.
From traditional armor to mechanical equipment.
The dazzling array of items made Sophia a little dizzy.
Emi put her hands on her hips and laughed:
"Although I don't know why you're so anxious, especially that Eastern boy.
"But in my experience, this feeling often comes from not having a handy weapon.
"Come pick a few; you'll definitely need them tonight!
"Oh, and also! That strange 'Domain' can vitalize creations. Before we set off, remember to receive the baptism of the Holy Bible from Anna."
Sophia was stunned for a moment, then nodded and asked curiously:
"Aya, where did you get these weapons? Didn't you say the aid from the General Church is very little? These... aren't cheap, are they?"
Emi explained:
"A small part was custom-made by workshops, but most were 'acquired' by Aya from kind sea merchants while she was out at sea... Uh, I mean, she asked for them! They were hard to sell, so they've been stored for quite a while. I usually maintain them."
Sophia raised an eyebrow, having still caught Emi's slip of the tongue.
Aya was really a pirate before?
But how does a pirate become a Sister?
"Ah haha..." Emi scratched her head, smiling awkwardly.
Seeing that the other party was unwilling to discuss the past, Sophia had no choice but to push her doubts back down and refocus her attention on the weapons.
The mechanical weapons with power slots were particularly eye-catching.
In the center was a pair of armguards and a large scythe.
Sophia bent down to try and pick up the scythe, but found it incredibly heavy; it was difficult even to lift.
Emi raised an eyebrow and said:
"It weighs two hundred pounds. You can't use it, unless..."
"Unless I become like you?" Sophia said.
Emi paused, then nodded:
"For people like us who can't escape the 'shadow,' borrowing non-objects means we won't live long, but at least we won't die so easily. I think it's worth it."
Sophia pursed her lips and released her hand from the scythe:
"I... I won't borrow it for now. I want to listen to him."
Emi shrugged and stopped trying to persuade her:
"It's good not to borrow it now. Maybe you can find a more suitable path in the future.
"Go choose over there. Anna's attitude doesn't seem like a joke.
"Although I'm not a legitimate Night Raven Sister, I know that from a novice Sister's vows to becoming an independent Night Raven Sister, the survival rate along the way is pitifully low.
"You all... take care of yourselves."
Sophia took a deep breath and nodded.
She would not borrow non-objects, but she also didn't want to become someone like Sister Mary, who barely survived in the nightmare of shadows.
After searching around, and with Emi's advice, she chose a gun and a sword.
The sword was a short sword, about half a meter long, entirely silver-white, with runes carved into its blade.
The gun was a revolver, also silver-white in color, with a cracked gem embedded in the grip. It looked much better than the old one Li Andy bought.
"These were Aya's things before. If you choose them, you can't just throw them away, okay?" Emi raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling with fire.
"Mm."
Sophia swung the sword; the blade hummed, feeling inexplicably smooth and fluid.
But to be honest, she felt the baseball bat had a better feel.
...
...
Night.
The land of New Continent had fallen into the other side of the world.
Li Andy, fully equipped, arrived at the main hall of the church.
Sister Anna had changed into her restrictive Sister's habit, standing beneath the statue, quietly praying.
Aya and Emi, nearby, were each checking their weapons.
Even Yuquan Youxi and Sophia had changed into special Sister's habits.
Li Andy slowly approached. His younger sister, Youxi, holding a Holy Bible, gave him a sweet smile.
The entire outfit was black with white accents, looking dignified and elegant when standing still.
But upon closer inspection, the side of the skirt had a cheongsam-like slit design for ease of movement. With a gentle hook of a finger, one could see the smooth, tender white thigh.
When running, it would probably have a subtly alluring beauty.
Looking a bit higher...
Youxi cooperatively pulled it up a bit.
Hmm, white, nothing too special.
Now, let's look at Sophia's...
"What are you doing!"
Sophia's small face flushed red as she pushed his hand down, glaring at him through gritted teeth.
Li Andy's mouth curved into a smile; he had still seen clearly.
Her legs weren't bare; she wore thin black stockings that went up to mid-thigh, with a garter belt that held a revolver.
On her outer waist, she carried a short sword.
He hadn't expected that even with his interference, Sophia would still, as if by fate, choose these two weapons.
He wondered when she would finally understand that a club was actually her true specialized weapon.
"Are you ready?" Sister Anna asked.
"Mm."
Li Andy stood in the shadow of the statue.
Sister Anna nodded and picked up a lantern from beside her.
The next second, her shadow overlapped with the statue, and endless darkness swallowed everyone.
"Step on my shadow and follow me..."
Anna held the lantern, leading the way.
Sophia held Youxi's hand, hesitated for a moment, then also grabbed Li Andy's arm.
Everyone followed in silence. When the darkness receded, they were already standing in front of the academy gate.
Anna held the lantern high. As the midnight bell rang, the world suddenly inverted.
In an instant, Sophia found herself inside the academy gate.
She looked at the surrounding scene, and an indescribable sense of strangeness arose in her heart.
She felt a little uneasy, recalling Andy's warning before they set off:
The Domain is abstract. No matter what you see, don't be surprised, don't be nervous, don't be afraid...
"Dong—!"
The bell rang again, and the academy gate slowly opened.
A group of strange shadows walked out into the moonlight.
Wooden basins, ceramic jars, dolls, stools, scissors... various common and uncommon items, like a group of students going to school, bounced into the academy.
In front of the fountain plaza, a pair of high heels impatiently tapped, and a ruler waved in the air above them.
"Welcome to this academy, you useless stones!"
"Here, you will become a true noble, a perfect lady!!"
"You must always maintain your composure. Any hint of indulgence will be an unforgivable mistake!!"
"You are the rough stones waiting to be carved, and we are the merciless artisans!"
"Here, there is no room for argument!"
"No room for resistance!"
"No room for a single flaw!!"