Shiro walked through the forest with an easy swagger, hands resting behind his head, fingers laced together like he didn't have a single problem in the world. The air was fresh, the sunlight peeked through the canopy, and every little detail — from the flicker of bugs to the ripples of heat rising off sunlit rocks — was crystal clear.
"I could get used to this," he said, tilting his head up to the sun. His glowing blue Six Eyes caught every shift in the light, every little twitch of movement. The world was in high definition, sharper and clearer than anything he'd ever seen before.
If not for the strain on his brain, Shiro wouldn't have minded having the [Six Eyes] constantly active.
For now, the best he could do was close his eyes. While it didn't completely shut off the [Six Eyes], it did reduce the overwhelming flow of information to a more manageable level.
If not for his peak human physique, his brain might have been pushed past its limits. Information overload wasn't just a headache — it was a threat.
After experiencing it firsthand, Shiro made a point to issue a command to the System:
"Ask for my permission before giving me any new abilities."
Better safe than sorry.
Thankfully, the [Crossover System] didn't have an ego of its own. It followed his orders without question and, so far, didn't seem interested in forcing him to do anything against his will.
"At least you're not one of those 'mysterious, all-knowing systems with a hidden agenda,' huh?" Shiro muttered with a smirk. "Good. Let's keep it that way."
Shiro glanced down at his arms, flexing them just enough to watch the muscle shift beneath his skin. His eyes scanned over his lean but powerful frame — the kind of physique that looked like it had been sculpted by the hands of a god. Way too absurd for someone who looked about 16 to 18 years old.
His gaze lingered on his skin, smooth and unblemished, somehow softer than a baby's yet durable enough to contain the raw power within. Power that, as he'd recently discovered, was enough to shatter a tree with a single punch.
Yeah, you heard that right. A tree.
Sure, it wasn't a massive ancient oak or anything, just a relatively normal forest tree — but a tree is still a tree. Breaking one with a punch wasn't something a "human" should be able to do. And yet, here he was, standing in front of the splintered remains of his handiwork.
He turned his hand over, flexing his fingers slowly, eyes filled with growing appreciation.
"Peak human physique, huh?" he muttered, tilting his head with a grin. "They really weren't kidding."
Shiro chuckled to himself, stretching his arms behind his head. "Yeah... I wouldn't mind a mirror right now." His grin widened as he glanced at his reflection in a nearby puddle. "I'd admire me too."
He paused at a puddle, likely formed by a recent rain, judging by the faint moisture clinging to the air and the droplets of water sliding off the leaves of trees and plants around him. The soft patter of falling drops echoed faintly in the distance.
Curiosity tugged at him, and he crouched low to inspect his reflection.
What stared back at him could only be described as perfection.
Flawless skin, smooth and unblemished, like it had never known a single scar or blemish. His features were sharp yet elegant, the kind of symmetry that artists spend their whole lives trying to recreate. His eyes were a hypnotic blend of golden amber and crystal blue, like two gemstones fused together to create something otherworldly.
And his hair — smooth, jet black, with just the right amount of tousle to look effortlessly stylish, like he'd spent hours perfecting it when, in reality, it had likely fallen that way naturally.
Shiro blinked slowly, taking it all in. "Well, that's just unfair," he muttered, tilting his head slightly to catch the reflection from another angle. His lips curled into a slow, self-assured grin.
"Yeah... I'd definitely fall for me too."
"It might illegal to be this good-looking?" he muttered, leaning in closer. He tilted his head left, then right, analyzing himself like a jeweler inspecting a rare gem. "I don't know if I'm an anime protagonist or a final boss. Either way... I'm a win win."
He stood up, stretching his arms with a loud sigh. "Alright, I've admired myself enough for one day. Time to figure out where I am."
He moved with confidence, weaving through roots and underbrush without a single misstep. His Six Eyes made it easy to see every uneven surface, every potential hazard. It felt like he'd lived in this forest for years with how smoothly he moved.
"Crossover System, huh?" he muttered, his eyes flicking to the faint blue system screen that hovered nearby. The functions were still fresh in his mind.
"Crossover aka reality hopping, huh?" he smirked. "Wonder if I can hop into one of those chill worlds where nothing ever happens. Just me, a small town, and a bakery, surrounded by a village of beauties. Sounds nice."
He chuckled at the idea. "Yeah, like I'd be that lucky. Maybe one day if I had a chance."
Then, everything changed.
The birds stopped chirping. The constant hum of insects died. Silence.
Shiro froze mid-step, his grin vanishing. His body tensed, his sharp gaze flicking around. Too quiet.
His eyes roved over his surroundings, the Six Eyes capturing every flicker of light and shadow with precision. Yet, nothing stirred—not a bird, not even an insect. The silence tempted him to expand the Six Eyes' range, to delve deeper into the stillness, but his mind was already nearing its limit. Pushing further might invite complications, and Shiro knew better than to court unnecessary risk.
"...Okay, that's never good," Shiro muttered, slowly lowering his hands. His muscles were coiled, ready to move at a moment's notice. His instincts screamed at him to pay attention.
CRUNCH. CRACK. THUMP.
Shiro's head snapped toward the sound. Heavy footsteps echoed from the trees ahead. Deliberate. Heavy. Closer. The faint vibrations in the ground reached his feet.
"...Alright," he said, eyes narrowing as he crouched low. "Big footsteps, big weight. Maybe a wild animal." He squinted at the trees ahead. "Let's hope it's not something that can—"
The trees parted.
A massive shape lumbered forward, pushing its way through the brush like a walking boulder. A bear.
Its body was a mess of matted fur, dried mud, and dirt. The beast sniffed the air, its black eyes locking onto him. Its breath came out as a low, guttural huff.
Shiro raised an eyebrow. His shoulders relaxed.
"Oh. It's just a bear."
Shiro clicked his tongue, a look of disappointment washing over him. "Seriously? I got all tense for this? Here I was, ready to dive into one of those epic, 'our fight will be legendary' moments. And instead, I get… this?" He gestured toward the bear with a lazy wave, smirking. "I could probably run laps around you, big guy. But hey, at least you're not one of them. So, congrats on that, buddy."
The bear growled, a low rumble deep in its chest, its eyes narrowing at the strange creature before it. While it didn't understand Shiro's words, it recognized the tone — taunting, dismissive.
Shiro rolled his eyes dramatically and began to saunter forward, his movements loose and easy, as though approaching an old friend. He crouched slightly, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You sure about this, big guy? I mean, we can call it quits now. No shame in it."
The bear instinctively took a step back. Its survival instincts screamed at it: This human is dangerous. Not prey. Not safe.
"See? You're smart. Smarter than you look." Shiro tapped the side of the bear's massive head with a light flick of his fingers.
The bear flinched, lowering its head slightly in a mix of fear and unease. But even as its body trembled, it stood its ground, unwilling to back away entirely.
"Alright, your funeral." Shiro's smirk widened, his legs tensing, prepared to run or fight. If it came at him, he'd outrun it. No contest. He was confident. Too confident.
But then, the forest flipped the script.
CRACK.
It came out of nowhere.
Shiro blinked.
The bear's body jerked sideways with a sickening crunch. Its ribs caved in, bones cracking like brittle sticks. Blood sprayed through the air in an arc, painting the nearby leaves. The massive beast's lifeless body smashed into a tree with a thundering crash, its limbs twisted in unnatural angles.
"...Huh?" Shiro muttered, eyes wide.
He didn't move. He barely breathed. The bear lay still, its body crumpled like paper. His Six Eyes scanned everything..
His nose twitched.
A chill ran up his spine.
"RRRRAAAAAHHHHHH!!"
A monstrous howl echoed from the forest, sharp and shrill like metal scraping against glass.
Emerging from the shadows was something far worse than a bear. A Curse Spirit.
Its grotesque limbs, twisted and unnaturally elongated, scraped against the ground with a sickening sound as it lurched forward. Its multiple heads hung at unnatural angles, and a dozen glowing eyes burned like embers in the darkness. A jagged grin, impossibly wide, split its malformed face, exposing crooked, razor-sharp teeth. The creature's entire form oozed a thick, inky mist that warped the air around it, distorting reality like a heat haze.
Shiro's gaze locked onto the monstrosity, his easygoing demeanor faltering for a fraction of a second. His breath slowed, sharp and deliberate. It was stalking him. Hunting him.
'Damn, that's scary!' he thought, a chill racing down his spine like an icy dagger.
Above him, the floating system prompt flickered into view, the faint hum of its appearance breaking the eerie silence.
> [Semi Grade 1 Curse Spirit]
"…Nope," Shiro muttered under his breath, already shifting his weight to make a break for it.
DING!
Another system prompt materialized, its sound crisp and jarring.
> [Emergency Quest Alert]
Objective: Survive or defeat the Semi Grade 1 Curse Spirit.
Failure Penalty: Death.
Shiro frowned, glancing at the text. His lips twisted in a mixture of irritation and disbelief. "Well, thanks for pointing out the obvious," he said flatly.
Although Shiro possessed inhuman strength — likely even greater than Episode 1 Yuji — it wasn't enough. His lack of Curse Energy and Curse Tools left him at a severe disadvantage against the monstrous Curse Spirit. Facing it head-on would be nothing short of suicide, a futile act.
Running wasn't a viable option either. Shiro's brow furrowed as he analyzed the situation, a sharp unease creeping into his mind. There was something unusual about this creature — something he hadn't noticed until now. It didn't move naturally. Its presence warped space itself, making it near impossible to track.
His Six Eyes, as sharp and unyielding as they were, had failed to detect the spirit until it was mere meters away. That realization sent a jolt of irritation and unease through him.
'So, it's got spatial powers too,' Shiro thought grimly, his mind racing for a solution.
"Use ×1 Crossover Gift." Shiro commanded.
> Use [1x Crossover Gift]?
"YES! YES, YES, YES!" Shiro swiped the prompt frantically. "Give me anything! A sword, a shield, a shovel — I'll make it work!"
> [Crossover Gift Denied.]
Reason: Crossover Gifts can only be used once per reality.
Shiro's face went blank. "...Seriously?" He pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes closed in frustration. "Who designed this system? Who looked at this and thought, 'Yeah, one per world is fair.'"
The Curse's heads slowly tilted toward him. Its eyes glowed brighter. Its smile grew wider.
Shiro's body went cold.
"Okay, okay," he muttered, hands slowly rising. "New plan. Big, smart plan." His eyes darted to the system screen. "Reality Travel, Crossover or whatever. Open it. Now."
> Reality Travel is locked.
Unlock cost: 10,000 System Points.
Shiro's head drooped forward. "How many points do I have?"
> 0 System Points.
"Cool, cool, cool," he muttered, eyes twitching. He raised a hand and waved it at the system. "Hey, how about a free trial? Limited-time offer?"
The system didn't respond.
The Curse Spirit moved.
"NOPE." Shiro ran.
His legs pumped like pistons, his Six Eyes calculating every movement, every turn, every possible escape route. He vaulted over logs, ducked under branches, and zigzagged between trees.
"WHY IS IT SO FAST?!" Shiro yelled, eyes darting for an escape. He could hear the thudding footsteps behind him, crashing like a freight train.
"Of all the worlds, I had to land in this one!" He jumped over a fallen tree, breathing hard, his eyes sharp as ever.
But even as his heart pounded, even as his legs burned, a grin crept onto his face.
"Alright, fine. You want a piece of daddy?" His eyes flickered with azure light. "Then catch me if you can."