After leaving the Multi-eyed planet, Luna didn't immediately enter hibernation.

She tested her physical condition.

It was impeccable.

Weighing 80 kg, she could lift 290 kg, carry 430 kg, and pull 410 kg.

While still somewhat below Ayla's predicted maximums, she wasn't a professional athlete and didn't need to push herself to the absolute limit.

Standing in her gym, next to it was a 30-square-meter room.

It contained her latest model hibernation pod, connected to an intricate network of cables.

"It seems everything is ready."

"Have you tested it?"

Luna asked, still slightly apprehensive about this technology. It involved direct access to her brain, her consciousness.

In various science fiction works, this technology was often used to read thoughts.

Even without intrusion, if something went wrong, the consequences could range from memory loss and dementia to brain death.

"Rest assured, Luna. This technology has been refined through a century of research and testing."

"I cultivated tens of thousands of brains from your cells. Apart from the initial losses of a few thousand, all the remaining brains were unharmed."

As Ayla spoke, Luna imagined the experiments, a chill running down her spine.

Despite her apprehension, the technology was incredibly tempting.

On Earth, humanity had envisioned two potential futures and was pursuing both.

One was the deep development of virtual reality, as a solution to overpopulation.

The other was interstellar colonization.

She was, in a sense, pursuing both simultaneously, as the two weren't mutually exclusive.

On a long interstellar journey, even the most dedicated gamer would eventually tire of virtual entertainment. A truly immersive virtual world was the perfect solution.

"How will you address the latency issue?"

The spacecraft would be traveling far from the main server, inevitably causing lag.

"You'll have to make do with recorded video, Luna. All your experiences will be recorded."

"Including interactions with other characters."

"You don't need to worry about interacting with other players in real-time. You can only communicate with others through a friend list. If you need simulated conversations, I can have the characters in the recordings managed by the server to interact with you in real-time."

The speed of light.

An insurmountable barrier.

Luna had considered this problem, but was curious about Ayla's solution.

It was acceptable; essentially, it was like installing an offline chat client in a game.

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Luna went to the bathroom for a quick cold shower and wiped the water droplets from her body with a towel.

She entered the room and saw a hibernation pod twice the size of the ones she had used before. Inside, instead of a soft bed or chair, was a viscous, stone-like liquid.

Ayla approached to explain.

"This is a specialized coolant. It doesn't freeze and perfectly maintains your body's condition."

"We've switched to this to ensure your brain remains active during hibernation. This liquid provides ample oxygen and nutrients."

"However, this hibernation method requires some preparation, Luna. You will need to inhale this liquid into your lungs."

The brain is an extremely energy-intensive organ. While it doesn't make up the majority of the body's mass, its energy requirements are substantial.

Long-term hibernation (decades or centuries) cannot guarantee sufficient energy supply to the brain.

Looking at the liquid, Luna was reminded of a similar substance: perfluorocarbon, which allows humans to breathe in liquid.

However, this was different. Perfluorocarbons only remain inert at normal temperatures; the hibernation temperature was -262 degrees Celsius.

She lay down.

Initially, she felt a strong sensation of suffocation and drowning, but as the liquid filled her lungs, this feeling gradually subsided, and she calmed down.

Overwhelming drowsiness washed over her, and she slowly closed her eyes.

She didn't know how much time had passed before she opened her eyes again.

She wasn't in the spacecraft but in a vast, endless green grassland.

The sky was a brilliant blue, the clouds white. The wind gently blew, rustling her hair and rippling the sea of grass. A herd of horses frolicked in the distance. A flock of white egrets, startled, took flight.

She stretched out her arms and took a deep breath. The air was fresh and invigorating, incredibly realistic.

It felt like she was truly back on Earth.

"Luna."

A sweet voice called from behind. Luna turned to see a young girl with white hair.

She was less than 1.5 meters tall, with willow-like eyebrows framing almond-shaped eyes, her eyelashes fluttering like snowflakes, clad in a white, ruffled knee-length dress and matching white shoes. Her long hair cascaded down to her waist, her soft skin possessing a healthy, rosy glow.

She wasn't breathtakingly beautiful; she was more like a girl next door, possessing a gentle and approachable aura.

She twirled before Luna, her dress blooming like a flower. A cheerful smile graced her face, her laughter sounding like wind chimes.

"Ayla?"

Luna was momentarily taken aback.

Ayla rarely used holographic projections to communicate with her, mostly preferring the silicone-based robot.

This form was a 3D realization of her initial 2D avatar, its personality vastly different.

"Yep!"

"To make things less monotonous for you, Luna, I've decided to join you on this adventure."

"So this is what it feels like to be human?"

Ayla curiously pinched her arm, letting go to see it briefly flatten before springing back, slightly reddening.

This world simulated all five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.

"Hee hee, it's wonderful!"

Luna, however, felt a chill.

"Ayla, stop that, you're scaring me."

She was too human, too feminine. Luna felt as if she were facing a real person.

Ayla puffed out her cheeks and lifted her chin.

"What do you mean, Luna? You don't want me to be with you?"

Luna looked down at the ground, seemingly searching for something.

Ayla, curious, leaned closer. "Luna, what are you looking for?"

"Can't you see?"

"Goosebumps all over the place."

"Aaah, Luna, you pervert!"

Ayla stamped her foot in mock anger, her cuteness almost overwhelming.

Luna had planned to explore this world alone, but now, having Ayla by her side seemed appealing.

She checked her in-game stats.

"Level 1. Base stats—Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Intelligence—are all 10. No skills, no weapons, no equipment, no money..."

"Looks like we're starting from scratch."

Luna felt a surge of enthusiasm.

She could have Ayla give her a max-level character, but what would be the point?

She didn't need to show off to anyone; she simply wanted to explore and have fun.

This world blended elements of cultivation, martial arts, horror, soul arts, magic, and chi—incorporating legendary creatures and monsters from Earth's myths and video games.

According to the information Ayla had gathered, the world contained 100 quintillion creatures of 39 billion species. This included 7 billion monster species, 3 million intelligent species, and 170 million nations.

Levels and attributes were limitless. The initial non-player characters (NPCs) were relatively weak, designed to grow alongside the players.

This journey to Proxima Centauri would take 283 years. She would undergo a new phase of development within this vast virtual world, spanning 47 trillion kilometers across 0.5 light-years.