After talking to that old hag of a god, I was unceremoniously dumped into a forest.
No weapon, no food, and not even a clue about what kind of creatures lurked around me. I should've asked more questions earlier instead of mouthing off.
The forest stretched endlessly, tall trees swaying gently in the breeze. Their gnarled branches twisted like claws against the dim, overcast sky. The thick canopy above blocked out most of the light, casting eerie shadows on the ground.
The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and occasional distant, unidentifiable noises—growls, screeches, or maybe just the wind playing tricks on me. Either way, it sent chills down my spine.
"Great. Dropped into the middle of nowhere, and I don't even know if this world has Wi-Fi," I muttered to myself, trying to lighten the mood.
It didn't work. My chest felt tight, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching me.
Then it hit me—oh, right! I have a skill!
Deus had said something about an incantation to activate it.
What was it again? I racked my brain, replaying the moment in that weird monochrome room.
"Entity summon: Gacha interface," I said, hesitantly waving my hand in the air.
To my surprise, a glowing, white, transparent screen appeared right in front of me. It floated mid-air, shimmering faintly like it was alive.
"Summon complete. What do you need, Shun?" the screen said in a calm, neutral voice.
I blinked. A talking interface? Okay, this might not be so bad after all.
"Well, for starters, Interface-san, can you explain to me where I am and what's going on?"
"I'm sorry, but my data only exists alongside your knowledge."
"What?! So you mean..."
"Yes," it replied cheerfully. "Like you, I also have no idea about this world."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Of course. Why am I not surprised?"
This skill might not be entirely useless, but it was definitely living up to the low expectations set by that cowardly god.
"Fine, whatever. Then just explain what you can do," I said, trying to sound less annoyed than I actually was.
"Understood. I will now explain the rules of your unique skill: Gacha," the interface chirped, its screen flickering slightly as it began listing the mechanics.
"Rule no. 1: This skill allows you to obtain any equipment, skill, or entity you encounter in this world. My scans will analyze their rarity and make them available for summoning."
I perked up. "Wait, wait. Did you just say I can summon entities? Like, living creatures or people?"
"Yes, my pervert owner. You can even summon 3D waifus."
I choked. "Oi! Don't call me a pervert! I'm not like that!"
"However," the interface continued, ignoring me, "this is not a harem story. Our creator, Tenka-sama, does not approve of harems. If you attempt to gather a harem, you will be immediately removed from existence."
"I'm not planning on gathering a harem!" I snapped. "I still prefer my 2D wives, thank you very much."
"Duly noted," the interface replied. "But be warned—summoned entities may not obey you. In fact, some may even try to kill you."
My enthusiasm deflated a little. "Great. Anything else I should know?"
"Rule no. 2: Rarities are divided into F, E, D, C, B, A, S, SS, Omnipotent, and Null classes. Higher rarities are more powerful but harder to obtain. Omnipotent-class items can destroy entire world, while Null-class items are so unique that even I cannot analyze their properties."
"That sounds... unsettling," I muttered.
"Rule no. 3: The pity system. You are guaranteed to obtain certain rarities after a fixed number of pulls. For example:
F: 5 pulls E: 30 pull D: 50 pulls C: 100 pulls B: 500 pulls A: 1,000 pulls S: 2,500 pulls SS: 5,000 pulls Omnipotent: 10,000 pulls
Null-class items, however, do not have a pity system. They can only be obtained in one pull, but it may bring either fortune or disaster."
"Wait," I said, holding up a hand. "How do I earn pulls in the first place?"
"Rule no. 4: You gain pulls by defeating entities. Their rarity determines the number of pulls you receive. For example, slaying a D-rank entity will grant you pulls equal to the pity count of the rarity below it—E rank, which is 10 pulls."
I exhaled, trying to absorb all the information. "So basically, I fight monsters, collect pulls, and use those pulls to summon items or skills to make me stronger. Is that right?"
"Correct. Any further questions?"
"Yeah. Do I get any freebies?"
"Yes, Shun. You have 100 beginner pulls," the interface replied cheerfully.
Finally, some good news.
"Shun," the interface added, "this forest is full of dangerous creatures. I recommend you explore carefully and obtain some skills or equipment before nightfall."
"Got it," I said, scanning the area nervously.
I began walking cautiously through the forest, every rustle of leaves making me jump. The air grew colder as the day dragged on, and shadows lengthened ominously. After what felt like hours, I spotted movement in the distance.
It was a wolf.
But not just any wolf—this thing was massive, easily twice the size of any wolf I'd ever seen. Its fur was dark and matted, and its glowing red eyes pierced through the dim light like twin flames.
"It's bigger than the wolves from my world," I whispered, clutching at a random stick I'd picked up earlier.
"Scanning..." the interface said. "New entity identified: Forest Wolf. Rank - E. Skills: Night Vision, Rage (both rank E)."
"So I can pull for its skills?" I asked.
"Yes. Would you like to pull now?"
"Yeah. Let's go for the Rage skill."
"Commencing pull..." The interface flickered, then displayed the results. "Successfully obtained: Rage skill (E rank) at 10 pulls"
"Yes!" I said, pumping my fist.
"Also obtained: Twig (F rank)."
I blinked. "...A twig?"
"Yes. It appears to be a sturdy twig, though I do not recommend using it as a weapon."
The wolf's ears twitched, and its head snapped in my direction.
Oh no. It had heard me.
"Shun," the interface said urgently, "Forest Wolves are known to hunt in packs. I recommend retreating or preparing to engage."
"Packs?!" I hissed. "Why didn't you say that earlier?!"
The wolf growled low, its teeth bared as it crouched, ready to pounce. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my hands were slick with sweat as I gripped the twig like it was some kind of legendary sword.
"Okay, Shun. Don't panic. You've got this," I muttered, trying to get myself up.
The wolf leaped.
And I swung the twig.