"I have so many regrets about not cherishing my good old AK-47 a lot more…" Sitting on the floor in the corridor, Takeshi reminisced about the days when he was still a soldier. "If it were here, I wouldn't have gotten beaten to a pulp… speaking of weapons, I wonder if that would work."
Takeshi seemed to have a small idea, but he was far too exhausted to try anything now. He had to deal with his battered body first before thinking about anything else. And in moments like these, what could be better than having a cheat system?
Mostly because of the bald man's rushed charge into the room and the surprise attack which was apparently still ongoing at that very moment he hadn't had time to check his system interface.
"Interface…" Takeshi muttered, as the translucent window appeared almost instantly.
Only one section interested him right now: the rewards. A yellow exclamation mark was clearly visible in the slot, a sign that it wasn't empty.
'Hard work pays off, whether here or somewhere else…' Takeshi thought, a Machiavellian smile forming on his face.
[System] — You have obtained 50 MP for making the target climax.
[System] — You have obtained 50 MP for making the target climax.
'Hmm, interesting… on top of the 200 MP I already had, 100 more were added, bringing me to a total of 300 MP…'
Takeshi stared at the interface for a long time, thinking about what he should do next. Should he spend the MP now, or save them for future use?
"Let's start by seeing what there is to buy…" he muttered. "I should probably get a healing elixir or I won't get very far… but wait, what's that?"
Just as he was about to move to the shop section, another reward caught his attention. He immediately tapped the screen in front of him.
[System] — You have obtained Mukyoku. Does the host wish to begin the modeling process?
"What the hell?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. What was this Mukyoku? And since when had it been there?
"System, what is this Mukyo thing?" Takeshi asked, perplexed. It was the first time he had ever heard of it.
[System] — After the era of the Sage of Six Paths, chakra became fragmented…
"Hey, are you trying to get me killed?" Takeshi cut it off. "I'm stuck in some shithole I don't even know where, I almost got taken out, and God knows what kind of enemies are on their way here and you choose now to give me a lecture? Be brief, will you?"
[System] — Understood. Given that the host possesses the body of a mere mortal, using all types of chakra is impossible, making techniques that do not match the host's chakra nature less effective.
"So Mukyoku is some kind of perfect body that can master all types of chakra, kind of like the Sage of Six Paths?" Takeshi interrupted.
[System] — In a sense, yes. Mukyoku grants the host the following:
Tenketsu that remain open for longer
Chakra that circulates without elemental polarization
Cells that do not impose a chakra nature
"Interesting… I assume I won't get all the benefits at once?" Takeshi asked.
[System] — Correct. The progression occurs in three stages:
1. Elemental resonance, allowing the host to use the five chakra natures. However, the host will not be able to use them simultaneously, or risk chakra deviation.
2. Stabilization of Yin and Yang.
3. Awakening of Onmyōton.
Is this correct? Does the host wish to begin the modeling process?
'Well, that's pretty good… even more so since I'll need a lot more power later on… and also to avoid being hindered when using any technique…'
After thinking for a few moments, Takeshi decided to begin the process. He had nothing to lose anyway.
"Yes, I wish to begin the modeling," he said, preparing himself and sitting in a lotus position.
[System] — Choice confirmed. The host is requested to place a piece of cloth between their teeth to avoid biting their tongue. Modeling will begin in 3…
"Huh… a piece of cloth?" The message caught Takeshi off guard. He hadn't expected the process to be painful… Why couldn't it happen like in video games, damn it? A light surrounds you and bam you've got your Mukyoku.
But life didn't work that way. To gain power, you had to suffer… and Takeshi was about to learn that lesson here and now.
[System] — Modeling will begin in 2…
"Shit, shit… a piece of cloth, hurry"
[System] — Modeling will begin in 1…
"I'm screwed…"
[System] — Beginning modeling. We wish the host good luck.
"You piece-of-shit system…" As Takeshi cursed the system, he suddenly felt a searing pain spread through his body, as if every cell were exploding and regenerating at the same time.
It was the first time he had ever felt something so horrific. Even being burned alive didn't compare. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as all his muscles tensed.
"How long is this going to last?!" he bellowed.
He writhed in agony as he felt his consciousness slowly fading. In just thirty miserable seconds, Takeshi lost consciousness, collapsing heavily onto the floor, convulsing like a fish deprived of oxygen.