My Idle System-Chapter 342: Upgraded

Suspended in outer space, where there was nothing beneath his feet yet it still felt as if he were standing on solid ground, Christian quietly watched Anastasia, who at some point, had begun inscribing Runes upon Iris's body with calm, meticulous precision.

He stared intently at the markings — each one unique in shape and color — glowing vividly as Anastasia traced them in the air with her luminous finger.

The Runes floated for a moment before drifting onto Iris's form, where they vanished as though absorbed into her being.

Christian focused all his attention on understanding what she was doing.

He could instinctively tell that the way Anastasia handled the Runes was beyond anything he could hope to replicate anytime soon. It was clearer than ever that simply watching her work was a rare opportunity — one he might never get again.

This experience alone, he knew, could prove invaluable later when he began studying Runes more seriously. So he refused to waste it, absorbing every movement and every flicker of light she produced.

Yet, no matter how hard he tried to comprehend them, these Runes remained beyond his grasp. They felt as though they existed on an entirely different level — another dimension altogether — compared to the simple runes he had learned from the crystal Anastasia had given him before.

Not to mention, according to the knowledge he had now, one needed a medium to properly inscribe runes: a special pen, or a particular kind of brush. The ingredients used for the ink, too, would influence the rune's strength and potency.

But Anastasia used none of that. She used her finger as the brush and her power as the ink, weaving symbols that radiated with impossible grace. And to her, it looked effortless — almost natural.

Mesmerized, Christian found himself in a kind of trance as he watched her work. Time slipped by without him noticing, until her voice suddenly pulled him back to reality.

"Done."

At the sound of her voice, Christian blinked and gathered himself, taking a steady breath before stepping closer to Iris and examining her carefully.

Outwardly, she seemed unchanged. She still had the same petite frame, the same teenage appearance, her short platinum hair with its differently dyed edges, and those faintly glowing neon-blue eyes.

But even though her appearance hadn't changed, something about her presence had.

How could he describe it? Even Christian didn't know the right words. She simply felt... more. More complete, more defined — something subtle yet unmistakable.

He focused his senses on her, trying to feel the changes from within. It was a brief assessment, but even so, he could tell she was far stronger than before — ten times stronger at least… no, probably more.

Unable to determine the exact extent of her enhancement, Christian looked at her directly.

"So, how do you feel now?" he asked.

Iris, who had been quietly clenching and unclenching her hand, stayed silent for a moment. Her gaze was distant, her processing clearly struggling to keep pace with what she had become. Then, after a pause, she lifted her head and met his eyes.

"... More powerful than ever."

Christian chuckled softly at her words, amusement flickering in his green eyes.

"I know that already," he said lightly. "I meant — how much stronger have you become? Can you tell?"

For Iris to give such a vague answer was something new to him, and he couldn't help but marvel at what essence — or rather, what Runes — could do to transform someone so completely.

"Everything in my body has become countless times stronger," Iris replied, her tone calm yet tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "My limbs, the weapons integrated within me, even my main system... it was a comprehensive upgrade. But I can't accurately estimate the full extent of it yet."

Her apologetic tone lingered in the air as silence briefly settled among the three.

Christian, far from disappointed, only smiled brighter. Joy filled his expression as he admired the android standing before him — his greatest creation, now shining with an undeniable aura of strength.

He was lost in that quiet satisfaction, simply appreciating the result of all his work, when Anastasia finally spoke, her voice cutting through the stillness.

"If we're talking about firepower," she said, "then she should be able to defeat anyone below the sixth stage. But if it's purely about physical resilience, she should be able to endure up to two stages higher."

Christian blinking his eyes, uttered absentmindedly, "So... around the eighth stage?"

Anastasia tilted her head thoughtfully, considering his words before shaking her head."

Well, she could withstand most attacks from someone of that level without sustaining serious damage," Anastasia admitted. "But she still wouldn't be able to escape from a true eighth-stage opponent. So perhaps it's safer to say she's unbeatable against anyone below the seventh stage."

Christian's eyes lit up at her words, his gaze — already resting on Iris, his proudest creation — deepening with even greater appreciation. He was genuinely satisfied with the result, but he didn't let joy make him forget what mattered. Turning to Anastasia, he said sincerely, "Thank you very much for your hard work."

There was genuine warmth in his voice, and though Anastasia was tempted to grumble a teasing "Took you long enough," she held back.

In the end, she simply nodded, quietly pleased by his acknowledgment.

As he began to step closer to her, she seemed to already know what he was planning. So, before he could act, she reached out first and took his hand. With a graceful wave of her other one, space shifted around them — returning the three instantly to his forging room.

The transition happened so quickly that before he could even react, Christian found himself back in the familiar chamber. But that didn't stop him from doing what he had intended.

He raised his hand and began to gently ruffle Anastasia's hair, a small, heartfelt gesture of gratitude — at least, that's what he told himself.

Was this really how gratitude should be expressed? Perhaps not.

But for Christian, it was reason enough… a convenient excuse to close the distance between them, even for a fleeting moment.

And so, he didn't waste the chance. He ruffled her hair a little more, then pulled her into a soft hug, letting himself savor the quiet warmth that came with it.