The same alley with the different sky. It was dark when Jason woke up for the third time since his mysterious transfer to this Imaginary Universe based on Fate/Stay Night.
*Ting~♪* [Congratulation! Host's Physique has successfully transformed. Host obtained Cosmic Refining Godly Physique.]
System greeted Jason right after he opened his eyes. He wondered that how fortunate — or is it actually unfortunate? — he was since nobody discovered him in this alley.
Jason then raised his body to a sitting position and checked his body. He was surprised to find a significant change in his body. Now, he had a body similar to that of Adonis. He could feel eight packs abs instead of the pitiful four-packs he'd had previously. His chest also became more defined and hard, and his shoulders were broadened as his biceps became more muscular without looking excessively muscled.
Jason's new body still looked lean and slim, but it looked like a pro swimmer built. He was amazed when he found out about it.
"System, shows my status, please!" Jason soon asked the system to display his status. Afterward, he saw a white holographic screen once again. He discovered the change in his status—
— — — — —
Jason Vinson | Human | Male | 22 years old
Level: Mortal
Strength: 1.2 | Endurance: 1.2 | Agility: 1.2 | Energy: 0 | Control: 0 | Resistance: 0
Manual: Cosmic Refining Godly Body Manual (Godly-Pinnacle), Cosmic Refining Godly Spirit Manual (Godly-Pinnacle)
Physique: Cosmic Refining Godly Physique — First Stage (Godly-Pinnacle)
Techniques: -
Equipment: Ordinary T-Shirt (Mortal-Low), Ordinary Boxer (Mortal-Low)
— — — — —
He was speechless when he discovered the rank of his cultivation manuals and physique. He never thought that they would at the apex.
Somehow, he felt a complex feeling when he found about that. At one part, he was excited that he obtained something good. He couldn't help but wonder if this was the omnipotent Plot Armor that those protagonists from stories with crossing over trope felt.
'No wonder they would get bigheaded. It's good to know that you obtain the best. No, knowing that you obtained a system after crossing over is supposed to be good already. However...'
Jason stopped his musings. Another part of him felt uneasy because of his top-quality cultivation manuals and his physique.
He realized that humans are capable of doing bad things. Furthermore, humans who live in a society based on strength will desire for this cultivation technique to the point of insanity.
It reminded Jason of his current situation. That he was forced into this situation without his consent. And he started brooding for a few tens of minutes.
Some people may have no second thought to accept the deal that will give them a chance to be omnipotent, but Jason was a pragmatic and realistic young man who realized that everything is not free.
For example, being accepted as the successor of the system's creator. Although it sounds amazing, Jason was aware that his future will be filled with trials and tribulations. It won't be an easy and smooth path to reach the apex despite he received system's support.
'So, killing someone in the future is inevitable, huh?'
Jason felt down when he imagined his bleak and restless future. Honestly, he preferred to have a peaceful life than having this massive burden dropped on him out of nowhere. However, he'd lost his right to reject all of these. It was similar to boarding a pirate's ship. Once you joined, you cannot stop. He couldn't help but feel very depressed.
'Let's put aside what will happen in the far future. Thinking about it now is useless, anyway. For the time being, I need to focus on what's in front of me.'
Jason shook off his depression and started pondering about his foreseeable future. He knew that he was in Fuyuki City, the fictional location where Holy Grail War happened. He'd only read the anime adaptation of Fate/Stay Night ~Unlimited Blade Works~ and read some fanfictions about it but never checked fan base fandom to get a better understanding of this world.
'If I recall correctly, the fifth Holy Grail War happened, or will happen in this case, in the year 2004. Since today is the new year of 2000, I have four years before the war starts. Well, I'm not sure if I can enter the Transcending realm, but I'm going to do my best.'
Jason frowned when he tried to recall the 25 episodes of the anime adaptation of Fate/Stay Night ~Unlimited Blade Works~ and some fanfictions he remembered being faithful to the official materials.
His memory about the anime and those fanfictions were in an incomplete state. The harder he tried to recall them with clarity, the unclear the memory became. It was like the sand or water that slipped down from his finger.
Jason became frustrated by it before falling into depression. He felt his future in the short run was very bleak.
'Wait! If I remember correctly, those cultivators in the novel have eidetic memory as their cultivation rises, right?'
Jason's eyes lit up hopefully after remembering this small piece of information. He then asked the system to confirm his guess, "System, if my cultivation realm rises, will I get something like perfect memory recall?"
*Ting~♪* [Receiving Host's inquiry. Checking the database...] Jason sighed resignedly and waited until the process finished. After a few seconds, the system finally arrived at the point. [Answering Host's inquiry. Host will receive perfect memory recall after host entered Sublimating Soul of Spirit Cultivation.]
Jason became slack-jawed after he heard that. He then crumbled down in despair.
"Sublimating Soul Realm? Are you f*cking kidding me? How long until I get into that realm?!"
*Ting~♪* [Receiving Host's inquiry. Checking the database... ...Answering Host's inquiry. If Host cultivates diligently while disregarding everything else for 24/7, host can step into Sublimating Soul Realm after 10 years.]
"That's too long, you retard! I only have 4 years before the fifth holy grail war! Do you want me, the successor of your creator, to be a sitting duck without knowing anything because of my memory problem? Should I leave Japan and move to another country?"
Jason retorted madly. If only he knew that entering Transcending Body or Sublimating Soul in a short decade is considered monstrous and heaven-defying in the Boundless Immortal Realm. Alas, Jason didn't know about this at this moment.
*Ting~♪* [...Answering Host's inquiry. System advises Host to participate in the Holy Grail War because System has calculated that Host will meet a good fortune in that event.]
"Meeting a good fortune?" Jason became curious and forgot his despair for a moment. "Can you tell me about that?"
*Ting~♪* [...Answering Host's inquiry. Host's clearance level isn't high enough.]
"F*ck you!" Jason became extremely mad and almost spurted out blood when he heard System's cold answer.
Jason tried to calm down after falling angry at the system. He decided to think about something else before he lost control over his emotions again. His view landed on the wooden box where he got the blood vial and his cultivation manuals. He remembered about the thick envelope in it and became curious.
After taking out the envelope and checking the content, Jason's eyes opened wide in surprise.
"This is?"
*Ting~♪* [...Answering Host's inqu—]
"Shaddap! I know what are these, you shitty system!" Jason cut off the system's response angrily. He soon disregarded the system and took out the content of the envelope.