While bantering Adrian realized Sakura what he had heard before was real so he asked her what she was talking about.
Only for Sakura to respond the same way as Adrian saying, "It's ok, I'm fine."
With a dumbfounded look on his face, Adrian asked the same question Sakura had just moments before, "What does fine mean right now?"
Hearing this Sakura tried to say something before stopping herself and realizing her hypocrisy.
~Fine I'll tell you…~ With a sigh Sakura recounted how she felt during their separation
~... like you by fine I mean I'm- ~Just as she was about to finish talking Sakura was interrupted by the Nexus interfaces message
[Two mythical beasts, from an Unknown pantheon, sympathize with Sakura complaining about losing their links as well.]
Confused, Sakura wondered what the message instilled and whose pantheon the beast had come from.
Pouting, Sakura continued what she was saying before, ~As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted what I meant by fine was that I was confused and I'm not sure how to feel right now.~
Unlike before her tone had been uncomfortable while reiterating what she had tried to say.
After awkwardly laughing at Sakura's unnatural tone Adrian lovingly said, "I'll never leave you alone again as long as I have any say in the matter. You can always talk to me too…"
As he finished talking Adrian quickly added, "You could never bother me. Even if you can't feel our connection I will always come back I promise."
Touched, Sakura whispered, ~Thank you.~
Adrian started to feel embarrassed, so he jumped up and started his search for a place to stay and hone his skills before running into the theater once more.
******
Unlike before Adrian didn't run at his top speed and instead jogged at a respectable 60 miles per hour as he joked and talked to Sakura with the occasional message from Nexus.
After a few hours of looking, Adrian found a lone hollow tree, standing around 40 meters tall and 10 meters wide, to make a small shelter in.
To make this place feel like home unlike his small camps in the forest Adrian opened the Nexus shop for furniture.
As he called out the nexus shop's old faded gray window Adrian remembered the gacha wheel he had long forgotten. With Adrian's seemingly infinite 10% energy deduction taken from his body, he had almost unlimited coins.
Weirdly the gacha wheel now had a ten-pull limit per month.
Adrian bought ten tickets and attempted his rolls before being met with a nostalgic message.
[Searching for Luck Stat to alter the chances. Error no luck stat.]
This time as the wheel spun Adrian could visually see dust being kicked up as the wheel spun for the first time in many years. Just like before the now rusty wheel started to slowly spin before picking up speed until it looked stationary and only then did the pull lever appear so Adrian could stop the wheel.
Pushing the lever down ten messages flashed in his view.
[Failed Roll, Better Luck Next Time]
[500 Evo points added]
[Failed Roll, Better Luck Next Time]
[Failed Roll, Better Luck Next Time]
[Title - Absolute Zero Luck added]
[3x Horny Goat Weed added]
[Failed Roll, Better Luck Next Time]
[Cooking Man skill added]
[Failed Roll, Better Luck Next Time]
[Failed Roll, Better Luck Next Time]
Adrian was completely confused by the 60% percent fail rate but was even more surprised by the things he won.
Suddenly three bundles of odd-looking green specs appeared from the air and Adrian's Absolute System sent a notification.
[Cursed Writer Laughs at your "winnings"]
Seeing the message Adrian sarcastically said, "So, gambling is bad now. You gave me good stuff before what is this shit."
As Adrian continued to talk he fell into a tangent, "What does [Cooking Man] even mean? How is that a skill, shouldn't skills be ultimate final abilities! I can cook without a skill, asshole…"
After talking so much Adrian suddenly wanted to know what [Cooking Man] could even do, "Open Relevant System Information."
[Absolute System Status]
[Race: Lesser Okutiar]
[Bloodline: Mythos (Awakened)]
[Titles] (Wow I didn't even add this, that's impressive)
[Skills & Abilities]
[Evolution Points: 173,992]
Aggravated by the sarcastic comment Adrian had to point out, "Two things. One, then why is there a titles tab? Two, I meant, show me the new skill and title."
[Then say that…]
[Title]
[Absolute Zero Luck]
[Active effect: When attacking, cancel all luck-based variables.]
[Passive effect: When you experience bad luck nothing happens.]
[Skill]
[Beginner Cooking Man: lvl1]
[Active effect: Deal triple damage to targets designated as ingredients or food.]
[Passive effect: enhanced control and understanding of all components in cooking and preparation.]
Though the effects of [Cooking Man] still confused Adrian, seeing the bonus effects that came with the title alone was enough to send Adrian's previous words back into his throat.
Sakura's text buffered before exclaiming, ~... Adrian, what in the ever loving FUCK is that?!~
Embarrassed by his previous words Adrian tried to defend himself by saying, "I- uhhh, In my defense… I was still right about Cooking Man, though."
Hearing this Sakura desperately tried to point out, ~What do you mean, that skill is just as broken…~
Adrian, still clinging to the last ounce of pride in his body, asked with an uneasy tone, "How… How so?"
~Think about it, anything can be food, AND there are millions of different components in cooking.~
"..." After giving up Adrian could only say, "I guess, gambling has always been best?"
Suddenly, Adrian remembered the few small bundles that had appeared, "Well at least we can say the Horny Duckweed is useless… Right?"
But just as the words escaped from his mouth the passive effect of Cooking Man activated, showing him hundreds of uses for the duckweed in his hands, with one subconscious thought that said, 'I mean it could be used as a herb. Maybe.'
"Why can't you people let me be right?" Adrian said with a tinge of sadness in his voice
As Adrian spoke he couldn't help looking around seeing the surrounding mushroom walls had many odd properties and effects.
[Gluttonous Major sponsors 10 fate to comment Welcome to the true world of cooking wait till you see humans…]
Hastily changing the subject Adrian re-opened the Nexus shop while saying, "Ok… Moving on. Didn't I need to buy some furniture? Yeah."
******
Adrian spent a few thousand energy on a good quality bed, comforter, a small table, and two chairs, along with a one-time-use Nature Shaping Talisman to rearrange the hollow tree with odd mushroom growths into an almost livable house.
Full of the confidence of a newborn Adrian commented, "This'll work for now."
Sakura wanted to pick on Adrian for arguing with her earlier so she snidely commented, ~Whatever you say. But why did you buy two sets of chairs?~
Sniffing, Adrian quickly answered, "Shut up..;"