Arataki Itto was ecstatic.
The rewards were absolutely incredible!
"System, I take back what I said earlier. You're the most generous system ever," Itto thought to himself.
He eagerly scanned through the rewards, each one more impressive than the last.
First, there was Rokushiki (Six Powers), the Navy's signature techniques that pushed the human body to its limits. Each technique had its unique strengths:
- Soru (Shave): A burst of speed that allowed the user to move faster than the eye could see.
- Kami-e (Paper Art): A defensive technique that made the user as light as paper, allowing them to dodge attacks effortlessly.
- Geppo (Moon Step): The ability to walk on air by kicking it at high speeds.
- Rankyaku (Storm Leg): A technique that allowed the user to launch razor-sharp air slashes with their legs.
- Shigan (Finger Gun): Concentrating all their strength into a single finger to deliver a bullet-like strike.
- Tekkai (Iron Body): A technique that hardened the user's body to withstand attacks. (Though Itto wasn't too impressed with this one.)
Next was the Black Suit Set, a protective outfit that, despite its strange description, seemed to offer solid defense.
The Shapeshifting Mask was a bit underwhelming. While it could change its appearance, it only mimicked looks and didn't provide any additional abilities. Itto decided it might be useful for disguises but wasn't a game-changer.
Demon Back was a decent ability for now, but Itto suspected it would become less useful as he acquired more powerful skills. Still, every little bit helped.
The Bloodline Upgrade Card was intriguing. It could increase his bloodline purity, though Itto wasn't sure by how much. He checked the requirements for unlocking his first combat technique:
[First Combat Technique: Oni's Wrath (Unlocks at 50% Bloodline Purity)]
"Only 10% more to go," Itto mused. A few more draws, and he'd unlock it. He was curious about what unique abilities his bloodline held.
The Black Blade Shusui was a legendary sword, but Itto wasn't a swordsman. He decided to stash it in his system inventory for now, waiting for the day he might acquire a swordsmanship skill.
Finally, his attention turned to the two standout abilities: Expert Killer and Eight Gates (Modified).
Expert Killer was a game-changer. Reducing pain to 10% and increasing strength as injuries worsened? It was the perfect ability for someone who thrived in battle.
Then there was Eight Gates (Modified), the crown jewel of his rewards. Each gate unlocked exponentially increased his power, with the final gate allowing him to rival even gods. The modified version reduced the self-damage, making it far more sustainable.
But what truly excited Itto was the synergy between Eight Gates and Expert Killer. The former pushed his body to its limits, while the latter allowed him to fight through the pain and grow stronger with each injury.
Itto imagined the scene: after exhausting himself with the Eight Gates, his enemy would think they had won, only for him to rise again, stronger than ever, thanks to Expert Killer.
The thought made him grin.
[Ding. Host, would you like to claim your rewards?]
The system's voice snapped Itto out of his daydream.
"System, claim all rewards!"
A stream of light flowed into Itto's body as the rewards were integrated.
[Ding. Rewards claimed successfully.]
Itto immediately opened his status panel to check the changes.
[Host: Arataki Itto]
[System: Multiverse Lottery System]
[Gender: Male]
[Race: Oni (Red Oni, Bloodline Purity: 50%)]
[Strength Level: T5]
[Items: Basic Body Enhancement Potion x2, Black Suit Set, Shapeshifting Mask, Bloodline Upgrade Card, Black Blade Shusui]
[Abilities: Rokushiki (Six Powers) – All Techniques (Unlearned), Demon Back (Inactive), Expert Killer (Level 1), Eight Gates (Modified) – Unlearned]
[Elemental Power: Geo (Sealed)]
[System Points: 0]
Itto's panel had gone from barebones to stacked. He was particularly pleased with the Bloodline Upgrade Card, which had increased his bloodline purity to 50%, unlocking his first combat technique:
[Oni's Wrath: Active Skill. Increases strength, defense, and speed significantly. Duration depends on stamina. Note: Increases combat aggression.]
"System, you're the best," Itto thought, genuinely impressed.
As he marveled at his new abilities, a yawn escaped him.
"Already tired? Is it nighttime?"
He opened the door and peeked outside. The moon hung high in the sky, surrounded by stars. It was well past midnight.
"Guess I'll sleep now. System, we'll continue tomorrow."
With that, Itto collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
---
The next morning, the sun rose, casting its warm light over the land.
Shinobu stepped out of her room, dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't slept a wink, worried about Itto's strange behavior.
Atsu, Genta, and Akira soon joined her, all sporting matching dark circles.
"Morning, Shinobu," Atsu greeted, though his voice lacked its usual energy.
"Morning," Shinobu replied, her tone equally flat.
The three men exchanged glances, noticing each other's tired faces.
"Shinobu, what's wrong with your eyes?" Genta asked, concerned.
"Same as yours. I was up all night worrying about the boss," Shinobu said, sighing.
The trio quickly realized they were all in the same boat.
"So, what do we do about the boss?" Akira asked.
Shinobu thought for a moment before suggesting, "We need to remind him of who he is. Take him to do the things he loves—like beetle battles and Genius Invokation TCG."
The three men immediately perked up.
"Operation Save Arataki Itto begins now!" Genta declared, pounding his chest.
The group quickly devised a plan to help Itto reconnect with his old self, determined to bring back their lively and carefree leader.