Chapter 95: A Refreshed Suzaku, My Turn to Draw Cards!
[New World - The Deck of the Pola - Late Night]
The banquet continued until the moon reached its zenith, casting a silver path across the restless waves of the New World.
The Giants, having consumed enough ale to drown a small village, had finally returned to their own ship, their snores echoing like distant thunder. The crew of the Pola had also dispersed to their quarters, tipsy and satisfied with the feast and the promise of a new era.
Suzaku stood alone on the deck for a moment, letting the cold sea breeze clear the alcohol from his head. His spirit was exceptionally high.
He tapped his fingers against the railing.
"One hundred thirty-eight thousand..." he whispered.
The 'huge sum' of Legend Points burned in his mind like a hot coal. He couldn't wait. He was about to return to his Captain's quarters to thoroughly study the [Multiverse Summoning System] and see what destiny had in store for him.
With slightly swaying steps, he walked down the steel corridor and pushed open the heavy door to his room.
Click.
However, the scene inside instantly made him freeze. The thoughts of gacha pulls and system menus evaporated like mist in the sun.
The room was not lit by the electric lamps of the ship. Only the cool, ethereal moonlight streamed in through the large porthole, painting the room in shades of silver and shadow.
The air was thick, heavy with a scent that made his heart race—a mix of rich, leftover wine from the party and a distinct, alluring floral fragrance.
A graceful figure sat quietly on the edge of his bed.
Hearing the door open, the figure slowly turned her head. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of silk.
"Suzaku... you're back."
In the moonlight, Albedo's exquisite face was flushed with a captivating blush. Her golden, heterochromatic eyes shimmered with a liquid intensity, as if they could draw his very soul out of his body.
She wasn't wearing her usual armor or white dress.
She wore a black silk nightgown, the fabric so light and smooth it looked like liquid shadow poured over her skin. It hugged her curves perfectly, outlining a devilish figure that would make any man's blood surge. The thin straps slipped slightly off her shoulders, revealing creamy, pale skin that glowed in the dim light.
Her black wings were folded tight against her back, trembling slightly with anticipation.
Suzaku swallowed hard. His mind, previously muddled by alcohol, instantly cleared.
"Albedo?" he choked out.
"I waited for you," she purred, her voice slightly hoarse and lazy. It echoed softly in the quiet room like an enchanting spell.
She stood up and walked toward him. Her hips swayed with a hypnotic rhythm. She stopped inches from him, her breath warm against his neck.
"The victory today... it made my heart race," Albedo whispered, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "To see you crush the Marines... to see you defy the world... I couldn't sleep. I needed to be close to you."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a naked, raw desire that burned hotter than his Vermillion flames.
"Will you... allow this servant to comfort her Lord tonight?"
A surge of heat rushed up from Suzaku's heart, flooding his veins.
He looked at the scene before him. The moonlight on her skin. The invitation in her eyes. The absolute devotion radiating from her.
His thoughts of 'gacha' and 'spending points' instantly vanished into thin air. Who cared about a system when a goddess was in his room?
What normal man could withstand such a test? Suzaku certainly couldn't.
He didn't speak. He simply reached out, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him.
Albedo gasped softly, her hands tangling in his hair.
Suzaku sighed silently, a sound of surrender to the inevitable. He reached behind him and closed the door with a firm click, completely shutting out the noise of the ocean and the rest of the world.
It seemed that the Legend Point gacha would have to wait until tomorrow. Tonight, he had a more pressing engagement.
[The Next Morning]
The sun rose over the New World, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple.
Creak.
The door to the Captain's quarters opened slowly.
Albedo leaned against the doorframe and walked out. Her movement was languid, slow, and incredibly satisfied.
Her beautiful face showed a hint of fatigue; the dark circles under her eyes were faint, but her skin glowed with a radiant vitality. Last night's 'battle' had clearly been intense, lasting until the early hours of the dawn.
As soon as she stepped out into the corridor, she saw Rem.
The blue-haired maid was standing quietly outside the door, holding a copper basin of hot water and a fresh towel. She had been waiting.
"Good morning, Albedo-sama," Rem bowed, her voice as gentle and polite as ever.
Hearing the greeting, Albedo seemed to be instantly infused with invisible energy. Her fatigue vanished.
She straightened her back. She smoothed her hair. A triumphant smirk curled her lips.
"Good morning, Rem," Albedo replied, her voice practically singing.
She walked past Rem with perfect poise, her hips swaying more pronouncedly than usual. The air around her seemed to carry the scent of 'victory' and 'showing off.'
Rem looked up, watching Albedo's retreating back.
Her azure eyes narrowed slightly. There was a hint of confusion, mixed with an almost imperceptible envy.
"Why is Albedo-sama walking like that?" Rem wondered silently. "Her legs seem... a bit weak? Did she injure herself during the battle yesterday?"
No... Rem thought, her cheeks turning pink. That's not it.
The maid bit her lip. Actually, last night, she had also tossed and turned in her own bed. She had agonized for hours about whether she should go and check on Suzaku, to see if he needed anything.
But just as she finally mustered her courage to leave her room, she had seen Albedo's graceful figure slip silently into the Captain's quarters. Rem had retreated, defeated.
Just as Rem was lost in her thoughts, there was movement from inside the room.
Suzaku appeared at the doorway.
Unlike Albedo's fatigue, he looked refreshed, invigorated, and practically glowing with energy. It was as if last night's exertions had not drained him, but rather recharged his batteries to 200%. His Vermillion Bird bloodline clearly came with high stamina regeneration.
"Oh, it's Rem," Suzaku smiled gently when he saw the girl. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Suzaku-kun," Rem quickly composed herself. She bowed respectfully, holding out the basin.
"Sister has already prepared breakfast in the galley," Rem reported dutifully. "Also... Captain Dorry and Captain Brogy already set sail to return to Elbaf at dawn. They didn't want to wake you, so they asked me to bid you farewell on their behalf. They left a barrel of ale for you."
"Understood," Suzaku nodded, stretching his arms. "I'll be right there. You go to the dining room and help Ram. I need a few minutes alone."
"Does Rem need to assist you with washing up?" Rem asked softly, gesturing to the hot water. Her eyes were hopeful.
Suzaku looked at her obedient demeanor, his heart warming. He knew she wanted to be close to him too.
He reached out and ruffled her soft, blue short hair.
"Thank you, Rem. But I can do it myself today. Go tell Ram I'm coming, don't let her wait too long. I'll be there in a moment!"
"Yes, Suzaku-kun!" Rem beamed at the head pat and scurried off down the corridor.
Only after Rem's figure disappeared did Suzaku pick up the basin of warm water.
He walked back into his room and closed the door.
He placed the basin on his desk. He splashed the water on his face, letting the refreshing heat dispel the last trace of laziness.
Then, with unprecedented reverence, he grabbed a bar of soap.
He meticulously washed his hands. Once. Twice. Three times.
This was not a compulsion for cleanliness. This was a sacred ritual known to gamers across the multiverse.
"Wash away the bad luck," Suzaku muttered, scrubbing his fingers. "Cleanse the RNG."
Mortals bathed and changed clothes before praying to gods. With over 130,000 Legend Points in hand, about to perform the most important 'gacha' session of his life, washing his hands was the bare minimum of respect he could show to the System.
After drying his hands on a fresh towel, Suzaku sat down on his bed.
"System. Open."
Ding!
The translucent blue interface materialized in the air.
[Host: Suzaku Yareon]
[Total Legend Points: 138,300]
Looking at this string of numbers, Suzaku felt a huge sense of happiness hit him, almost making him laugh out loud. It had been so long since he had been this rich.
"One hundred and thirty-eight thousand..."
He felt his back straighten.
"One Rare Grade Summon requires 50,000 Legend Points. Now... I can perform two! And still have almost 40,000 left for upgrades!"
He rubbed his hands together.
With a pilgrim-like excitement, he took a deep breath and clicked on the Summon Interface.
The wheel appeared. The icons for Items, Abilities, and Characters spun tantalizingly.
"No wonder people get addicted to this," Suzaku grinned. "The thrill of the unknown... it's intoxicating."
It wasn't his first time. He had summoned Rem, Albedo, Ulquiorra, and Pola. Each one had changed his fate.
But the tension mixed with anticipation still made his heart beat uncontrollably faster.
"Who will it be this time?" Suzaku wondered. "Another fighter? A mage? A strategist? We need a sniper... or a doctor."
He focused his will.
"Come on, my partner! Answer my call!"
Suzaku's eyes gleamed with golden light. He raised his finger and resolutely pressed the [Rare Summon] confirmation button!
[Points Deducted: -50,000]
[Remaining: 88,300]
BUZZ...!
The entire summon interface instantly burst forth with a dazzling, colorful halo. It spun rapidly like a nebula, full of mystery and cosmic energy.
"It's coming! It's coming!" Suzaku clenched his fists, leaning forward.
"Is it a character? Or a God-tier item?"
Almost simultaneously, the air in the room changed.
Hummmm...
A complex and ancient magic circle appeared out of thin air on the floor in the center of the room. It glowed with an eerie, crimson light, carving intricate patterns into the steel deck.
An indescribable energy fluctuation began to permeate the room. It felt sharp. Cold. Deadly.
"This aura..." Suzaku narrowed his eyes.
The next moment, the light shifted.
A pure, pitch-black pillar of light shot up from the center of the magic circle, piercing the ceiling of the room without damaging it.
It was the color of shadows. The color of assassination.
From within the darkness, a silhouette began to form.
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