Chapter 287
The version of myself in the simulation had driven the Keybearer to madness, even pushing her to the brink of potion collapse, and ultimately, to suicide before that collapse could occur.
In reality, was it possible for the nemesis to disrupt her potion, causing a backlash against her?
If it were under the condition of overloading the "Nemesis" with the "Limitless Gear."
If I just glanced at her, would she go insane?
A possibility slowly emerged in Shaer’s mind.
**Chapter 164: Chewing Coffee.**
This plan was worth a try, and Shaer could easily simulate it first to see the effects.
As for the candidates for the overloading "Nemesis," Shaer had quite a few options.
Of course, the one most similar to the Keybearer was the 3rd-tier "Crown Guardian," Nia. If she were to experiment on her, the results would likely be the closest.
However, if that were the case, the real Nia might very well experience a mental breakdown upon seeing Shaer again... and using those around her for terrifying experiments was not in Shaer’s nature.
She needed a 3rd-tier extraordinary being, one she had instilled fear in or had directly killed in the simulation...
Two unfortunate names floated into Shaer’s mind.
3rd-tier "Fatebringer," Lucy, and 3rd-tier "Crown Guardian," Opode.
These two were also "old acquaintances" of Shaer. Although they didn’t know her in reality, in the simulation, she had taken them down numerous times, perfectly meeting the prerequisites for the "Nemesis" to activate.
If all else failed, she could also utilize the "Subverter" archive’s abilities...
After becoming a 3rd-tier "Subverter," Shaer had naturally learned all the basic abilities and methods of use associated with the "Subverter."
Upon her promotion, the abilities she had as a 1st-tier "Instigator" and 2nd-tier "Dream Thief" had undergone a qualitative leap.
When she was still a 1st-tier, using the "Instigator" ability to manipulate ordinary people or slightly weaker extraordinary beings required verbal communication.
In other words, what Shaer said would directly influence the effectiveness of her abilities.
But after her promotion to "Subverter," she didn’t even need to speak; a simple glance or a brush past someone could unconsciously influence their thoughts and ways of thinking, even modifying and distorting their common sense.
Even extraordinary beings, without any special sealing items, would be unable to perceive that their subconscious had been altered in a short time.
Moreover, the new abilities of the "Subverter" had somewhat overturned Shaer’s understanding of this path.
In addition to the original mind control, becoming a "Subverter" also granted Shaer the ability to distort the boundaries between dreams and reality.
This wasn’t about altering physical laws; it allowed her to use constructs from dreams in reality to inflict harm on others’ minds.
This directly created a qualitative change between the 2nd and 3rd tiers of the "Instigator" path, providing a means to directly damage the mind—after all, a 2nd-tier "Dream Thief" needed the ability of a "Blood Painter" to kill in dreams.
Shaer could pull out a firearm from a distorted dream and fire it, with the bullets actually causing harm to those affected—though there were limitations.
This ability could only be used on living beings with cognitive abilities, and the number of people it could affect at once was limited.
Even if Shaer simulated a nuclear explosion, only those she had influenced would see it and be harmed, and the damage would diminish the further she was from them.
Moreover, she had to ensure that the target had prior knowledge of what a "nuclear bomb" was, creating a concrete impression in their mind. Only after they fully believed in the potential devastation of a "nuclear bomb" could it truly inflict mental harm.
For instance, if she distorted a dream and pulled out an AK in reality, Shaer would need to fire at a construct, allowing the target to see the bullet's initial speed, the sound, and the terrifying damage after hitting the construct. Only then could she inflict harm on the target the next time she fired.
Otherwise, if it was just a shape and a "bang," the "bullet" might lead the target to believe it couldn’t even pierce the skin, rendering it ineffective in causing mental harm—this was the biggest shortcoming.
The "Subverter" ability was never suited for direct combat, but it had a knack for backstabbing, ensuring the target would meet an untimely end without understanding how.
Combined with the inherent abilities of the "Dream Thief," with a perfect plan in advance, it could even trap the target in a situation akin to a 3rd or even 4th-layer dream, blurring the lines between virtual and reality—this was the true use of this ability.
No wonder the Keybearer never revealed her true self; once a "Subverter" is known, they’ve already lost 90%.
Compared to the straightforward brutality of the "Crown Guardian" abilities, the "Subverter" abilities were complex and required various combinations.
Without talent and intuition, even if others gained the "Subverter" ability, they might not be able to unleash even a fraction of its power.
The upper limit was extremely high, but the lower limit was equally low; every use of the ability required meticulous planning, and each battle was a carefully crafted deception.
For Shaer now, just seeing the "Subverter" abilities made her head spin. If given a choice, she would definitely opt for a more stable path.
But if she used the "Subverter" archive, the version of herself under the influence of the "Subverter" potion would surely find it amusing, and she would immediately start selecting victims.
Moreover... Shaer suspected that the "Subverter" ability could genuinely affect her reality.
As a 2nd-tier "Dream Thief," she could easily counter her opponents because, in dreams, she couldn’t normally call upon the system panel.
Just by calling for the system and checking if the panel appeared, she could determine whether she was in reality or a dream.
But if it were the "Subverter," directly distorting the boundaries between dreams and reality...
The affected Shaer would still be in reality, still able to summon the system, even using its various abilities, yet she wouldn’t know if she had fallen into a trap woven by the "Subverter."
Even if some constructs appeared around her, she would have no way of knowing their authenticity.
For instance, right now, she wouldn’t suspect that a certain maid or an ordinary passerby on the street might be a dream construct.
Fortunately, the Keybearer was just a half-baked individual unable to fully digest the potion; otherwise, the results of Shaer’s last simulation could have been dire.
It was possible that after painstakingly drinking two bottles of potion and completing all tasks, believing she had perfectly navigated the 24 hours, the system would ultimately conclude that she was still an "Instigator," receiving a consolation prize of 3 fate points—this was not an impossible scenario.
But thankfully, Shaer had hidden herself deeply enough that no one would suspect that an ordinary girl like her could possess abilities far beyond imagination.
After becoming and understanding the "Subverter" abilities, Shaer had regained much of the awe she had previously lost for 3rd-tier beings, further solidifying her desire to remain hidden from the extraordinary world.
Shaer paused in front of Aivina’s desk, took a deep breath, and rested her left hand on the table, momentarily halting her thoughts.
Before tomorrow, she could try out her new idea in the next simulation, but before that, she needed to ensure she had ample rest to prevent her mental state from deteriorating further.
It was just right; she could use her rest time to continue refining her plans and consider whether to advance another archive or digest a new potion path in the next simulation.
A wave of hunger surged in her stomach, prompting Shaer to change into fresh shoes and socks before stepping out of Aivina’s room.
As soon as she exited, she spotted the maid who had been waiting at the door. Although Shaer didn’t remember her name, she knew she was one of Aivina’s personal maids.
"Where’s Aivina?"
Shaer asked curiously. She only knew that Aivina had left early for work but had no idea where she had gone.
"The young lady hasn’t left; she’s in the reception room meeting with several gentlemen and ladies," the maid replied, slightly bowing her head in respect. "Would you like me to prepare breakfast for you?"
"Please prepare a little for me," Shaer thought for a moment before responding. "Deliver it to the study."
Shaer had no intention of mingling with other nobles or wealthy merchants. While she still had some time left on the countdown, she decided to go read.
Now that she had accumulated so many fate points, she could consider how to use them in the study to maximize her potential. Even if she couldn’t enhance her immediate combat power, it was still necessary to prepare for the future.
For instance, there were foundational subjects she had never invested in before, such as medicine.
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