"Boom--!"
"Splash----!"
The force of his body surged with a strength he'd never known. Riku couldn't help but clench his fists, feeling the raw power coursing through him. With a sudden burst of energy, he punched into the water, and the impact sent a towering column of water into the sky, the river below churning in violent, whirling currents.
"This power... it's unbelievable," Riku muttered, his voice tinged with awe and excitement.
He stepped onto the river's surface, his body seemingly defying gravity as he rose into the air, completely breaking the boundaries of normal human limitations. No longer needing the aid of the Hermes Boots, he could now step on the air itself, moving with incredible agility. This was a power reminiscent of Dora, the previous Beast captain, a feat he had once admired.
After a while, Riku finally floated back to the shore, his exhilaration slowly giving way to a more practical concern—he was stark naked. The sudden realization brought an embarrassed grin to his face. "Alright, enough playing around... no point in streaking out here." With that, he set about washing his clothes in the river.
As he examined himself, Riku couldn't help but notice how his skin had changed. It was now incredibly soft and smooth, almost unnaturally so. He rolled his eyes, grinning to himself, "My skin's softer than even Couronne's now... maybe a little too much for a guy." He smirked at the thought, somewhat amused by the transformation.
Once his clothes were clean, he dried them using his energy and put them back on, feeling immensely refreshed. There was nothing like a bath—and a massive power boost—to lift his spirits. He glanced at the interface in his mind, checking his current balance of exchange points.
"6,000 points... It's tempting to save up for a better treasure chest," he mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "But I need to focus on getting stronger first. With more strength, earning points will be easier anyway." Having made up his mind, he decided to put all 6,000 points to use right away.
"System, exchange an ordinary treasure chest and an exquisite treasure chest," Riku commanded inwardly.
[Affirmative. After deducting 6,000 exchange points, the treasure chests have been successfully exchanged,] came the system's prompt.
Before Riku, two treasure chests materialized out of thin air. One was a basic, unassuming white chest, while the other gleamed a vivid emerald green, its craftsmanship hinting at the power it might contain.
"Alright... let's hope I get something good out of these." Riku's golden eyes gleamed with anticipation as he knelt by the white chest first, placing his hand atop it. With a soft click, the lid swung open, and the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for opening the ordinary treasure chest and obtaining an enhanced version of the Military Ration Pill.]
[Enhanced Military Ration Pill: Capable of restoring one-third of the host's energy and fully replenishing physical stamina. Effectiveness may vary according to the host's strength.]
Riku's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Not bad at all." A ration pill like this, when used wisely, could easily be the key to turning the tide in a desperate situation. He pocketed the pill, his attention now shifting to the more intriguing emerald green chest.
"Let's see what's in here." His heart pounded slightly faster as he reached out and touched the exquisite treasure chest. With a soft rumble, the chest opened, and the system's voice rang out once again.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for opening the exquisite treasure chest and obtaining the Physical Skill - Eight Inner Gates.]
[Eight Inner Gates Formation: Originating from the Naruto World, this skill allows the user to release the body's restrictions on chakra and unleash overwhelming energy. It is divided into eight stages: Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and Gate of Death.
Opening these gates can push the body beyond its original limits, amplifying physical power several times, or even dozens of times over. However, using this skill inflicts severe damage upon the user, making it a forbidden technique.
When all Eight Gates are open, the technique is known as the "Eight Gates Formation," granting immense power in exchange for burning away the user's life force, ultimately leading to death.]
"The Eight Gates Formation...!" Riku's eyes widened, a clear sense of joy crossing his face. This was the famous taijutsu technique used by Guy in the Naruto series—legendary for its power. During the Fourth Ninja War, Guy had opened all Eight Gates and nearly defeated the Sage of Six Paths, Madara. This was a skill of immense potential.
"For me, right now, this is like getting a lifeline in a blizzard," Riku thought, the old saying resonating deeply. He had acquired a hidden ace, a trump card to use when the situation called for it. If not for the dire side effects, this skill would have been ranked even higher—perhaps among the most valuable of treasures.
Given his current physical condition, having already surpassed normal human limits, Riku believed he could handle the Eight Gates without succumbing to the worst of the side effects, provided he didn't push himself to open all eight. His body was far stronger than Guy's had ever been, and as long as he used it wisely, he could avoid the fatal consequences.
"It's worth it. Getting these two items for 6,000 points is completely worth it." Even Riku, who prided himself on his calm demeanor, couldn't help but feel excitement bubbling inside. His strength had finally made a significant leap.
"Next up... the Beast Kingdom," Riku said, his eyes narrowing with a spark of determination as he glanced at the map. "I hope they won't disappoint me." He needed to test this new power, to truly know what he was capable of.
With a swift movement, Riku's form blurred, transforming into a dark silhouette before vanishing from the spot. His speed had more than doubled from before, though he held back somewhat, knowing he needed to become fully accustomed to this new power before truly unleashing it.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Disboard, the Flugel Jibril soared through the air, her expression a mix of frustration and annoyance. Just a day earlier, she had been chasing a prey, only for it to commit 'suicide' before she could claim victory. In a bid to release her pent-up irritation, she had challenged one of the higher-ranked species, the Giganto, only to be denied a proper one-on-one battle.
Instead, they had overwhelmed her as a group, a dishonorable fight that left her unsatisfied and seething. Jibril longed for a challenge, something—or someone—that would let her release this growing frustration. She needed a battle worthy of her strength
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