---
The basic game coin rewards didn't need much explanation, but the additional MVP rewards were listed as follows:
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[Reward 1: The Captain Ghost's Hidden Treasure]
'Description: By selecting this reward, you will randomly obtain a secret treasure from the ghost captain's collection.'
'Note: With enough effort, even a bicycle can become an aircraft. Keep dreaming big!'
---
[Reward 2: 100:1 Ghost Ship Model]
'Note: What's a plastic guy?'
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[Reward 3: Extra Large Octopus Tentacle]
'Description: Consuming this will permanently increase your attributes.'
'Note: 100% natural, no additives, chicken flavor, and crispy!'
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[Reward 4: Crew Recruitment]
'Description: You can randomly summon one or more ghost crew members to fight for you.'
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[Reward 5: My Captain, My Ship]
'Description: Upon choosing this option, you will receive a black magic spell from Davy Jones.'
---
Amamiya quickly scanned the options and let out a soft sigh.
"Hmm? What's the matter?" Umi looked up, her cheeks puffed with food, bits of octopus tentacle sticking out of the corners of her mouth.
Amamiya listed the five options briefly, shaking his head. "As expected, I want them all."
"Don't be too greedy, Amamiya-kun." Umi mumbled through her mouthful, "Just pick whichever gets you the most excited."
"Don't talk with your mouth full."
"...oh."
"…"
After a moment of thought, Amamiya made his decision.
"Of course, I'm choosing dark magic."
Skills were rare—many players didn't even have one yet. A powerful skill, like an SSR in a game, was something you stumbled upon by chance. At this point, Amamiya had only acquired three skills:
- "Lie down and you will become stronger."
- The "Repel Evil Spirits" aura.
- And a joint skill he could only use with Chika for eliminating outlaws—not exactly a combat skill on his own.
As ominous as the black magic sounded...
'So what if it's dark?' Amamiya figured he could be the Dark Lord if given the opportunity.
In truth, Amamiya's thoughts aligned with Kaguya's. Why follow the path of good when being an "evil capitalist" had its own allure?
---
After making his choice, new information appeared before Amamiya.
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[You have acquired the skill: Touch of Darkness]
'Type: Black Magic'
'Description: You can extract life and basic attributes from living beings to temporarily enhance your own strength.'
'Note: Teammates sacrificed to the heavens, mana becomes limitless!'
---
Amamiya's eyebrow twitched slightly.
'Well...'
It was indeed deserving of the title "black magic." Right out of the gate, it involved sacrificing teammates to gain boundless power.
'Why does it have to be restricted to living beings?' Amamiya wondered. 'Shouldn't evil spirits and monsters also count?'
Moreover, the power boost was only temporary. 'Why couldn't it be permanent?'
He sighed, calming himself down. What's done is done; there was no use in overthinking it now.
Skills themselves weren't inherently good or evil—although some certainly leaned toward the dark side—it was the user's intent that mattered.
Besides, the ability didn't specify that extracting attributes would kill the target. He'd learn the details soon enough.
---
"I'm done," Umi announced, setting aside her empty lunchbox. She picked up the ancient silver coin lying on the table and examined it curiously. "This coin looks like anyone can use it. Let me give it a try."
Amamiya nodded slightly, still focused on his own meal. Then, something caught his eye—the mermaid's tear.
According to its description, it was an excellent enhancement item, capable of boosting both equipment and skills. 'How about using it to strengthen the black magic?'
---
"Here goes…" Umi blew gently on the silver coin, then flicked it into the air with her fingers.
Then she clapped her hands and caught the coin mid-air.
"Let's see..." Umi opened her hand to examine the silver coin. "It landed on tails, which means I've got the 'Bad Luck' debuff. It'll last for about half an hour."
Umi glanced around, then stood up and stretched. "I don't feel anything, though."
Amamiya reached out his hand.
"Let me try."
"Here, it's yours."
Amamiya took the coin, intending to flip it to land heads-up, which would temporarily boost his luck attribute. With that, he could enhance the black magic he had just learned using the mermaid's tears. In short, he needed to increase the success rate of his magic as much as possible.
But then...
[Energy charging. Please try again in one hour.]
It seemed the coin couldn't be used consecutively.
Amamiya fiddled with the coin for a while before pocketing it. A sudden thought occurred to him, and he glanced at Umi.
"What's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head.
"It's nothing." Amamiya looked away. "It's already 10 PM. You should probably take a shower."
Even in the face of supernatural events, Amamiya firmly believed in the law of conservation of mass and energy—one of the universe's fundamental principles.
Energy doesn't appear out of nowhere, nor does it vanish into thin air.
The same applies to luck.
So, could the truth behind this coin be that it absorbs luck from others, stores it, and then releases it all at once?
"I do need a shower. I'm all sweaty," Umi said, rubbing her arms. "If I don't, I'm going to smell. Amamiya-kun, I'll go first."
Umi packed up her lunchbox and headed to the bathroom.
Amamiya poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it in the living room. While watching TV, his fingers suddenly twitched.
It could only mean one thing—Chika.
He picked up his phone and immediately saw a message from her.
"Amamiya-kun, do you want a surprise?"
"No thanks, I don't."
"It's a surprise coming right to your door!"
"I refuse."
After a bit of back and forth, Chika curiously asked, "By the way, two people just joined the player support group. Did you know that, Amamiya-kun?"
"Yeah, I know."
Amamiya took another sip of tea and briefly explained the game that had just occurred.
Chika responded, "Hey, I wish I had been there! We would've been unstoppable with our combined skills."
He couldn't say they'd be unbeatable, but with the pink-haired girl around, winning a game of hide-and-seek would be a breeze.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed from the bathroom, followed by the sobbing of a girl.
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts..."
Hearing this, Amamiya set his phone down and walked to the bathroom door. "Umi?"
"I slipped on the soap and fell..."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
As he turned to leave...
Another muffled thud came from the bathroom.
Amamiya paused. "...Did you fall again?"
"Who knew the soap was right next to my feet!" Umi whimpered like a hurt puppy. "My feet hurt so bad, I can't get up."
"..."
Falling twice in a row? Really?
Wait a minute.
Amamiya realized something.
"Could it be that the 'Bad Luck' debuff is kicking in?"
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