"So... I am going to a gatcha world, with a gatcha cheat. After I died from a fat, unwashed monster smashing me in the head with a hammer. After pulling three copies of Ye Shunguang from the gatcha in a row?"
My sponsor, who was apparently a version of myself that became an elf after he reincarnated. Took a deep drink of his oddly gold glowing tea and said calmly with his voice a soothing song that honestly freaked me out deep down.
"Yes, that is to be your fate in the future. Your soul potential and body refinement is... At the top of the scale, you're getting the Chaos Gatcha. With it, if you are lucky, you can just become a god in the first month without any issues or rejection. You just need to be lucky."
I raised an eyebrow and said flatly. "And if I am unlucky? Woudn't I just be screwed?"
To which my sponsor shook his head and said softly. "No. As your soul grows, you will naturally get better things by the force of your will for your deeds. And while you are here... We might as well see what you get for the act of reincarnating to begin with."
With a crackle of power my sponsor created a swirling portal to the side of the room and then he flicked an orb of potential that made me taste the color purple as it slotted itself into my soul.
[Chaos Gatcha Online!]
I croaked out. "System? Menu?"
And my sponsor chuckled before saying. "It's... As barebones of a system, there is. It does not speak, and it only has an inventory and the gatcha ticket systems that reward you for doing interesting deeds."
He then waved his hand, and with a lurch, I was taken out of my seat by what felt like soft winds, and I idly noted he had a bunch of rings on his hand before I was shot into the portal to the side of my room.
-
With a groan, I was forced to jog as I came out of the portal with a grunt of annoyance as I had to catch myself on the brick wall ahead of me.
After NOT slamming face into a brick wall and killing myself with a concussion, as I learned I was very much in the middle of a random ass alleyway.
My mind was filled with a trio of dinging noises.
[Have your soul taken from the void.- Silver Ticket!]
[Have a new body formed for you and not go mad.- Silver Ticket!]
[Survive the implantation of the Chaos Gatcha- Platinum Ticket!
[Reincarnate successfully into a stable worldline- Gold Ticket!]
"Well... Let's see what the tickets are." I muttered as I mentally tore apart the two silver tickets at once.
[[Lucky Sukebe] |Uncommon Trait|
[You are a lucky fellow alright, just in ways you wouldn't expect. You often stumble into lucky, perverted or lewd situations. The chaos of all infinity and eternity is distilled into an ability to affect the composition of all of reality itself, and it makes you more likely to find a girl changing. Amazing.]
[Shrug It Off] |Rare Ability|
Allows you to shrug off your ailments and negative status effects. Blinded? Just shrug it off. Bleeding? Just shrug it off. Cursed? Just shrug it off. Allows you to cure your ailments like a cure spell that scales with your physical stats.]
The first 'trait' made my face twitch at how... Fucking weird that was, and my mind was filled with the 'glory' that was To-Love-Ru. I couldn't help but a curse and praise to the gatcha gods for such wonderful 'favor' that was shown to me from the very start.
As for the Shrug It Off. That was just completely broken, seeing as I had landed in Zenless Zone Zero. With it... Couldn't I just shrug off Ether exposure and such?
But still, all the ability to shrug off the corruption in the hollows was worthless if I couldn't actually defend myself.
I took a breath and then said. "Alright... Another double pull, let's gooo!"
With another mental tear, I pulled open the gold and platinum tickets and as the information filled into my mind. I considered the two drops that honestly worked perfectly off of one another.
[Cybele] |Epic Ability|
Fate Medusa - You possess unimaginably beautiful eyes that can turn anything in your gaze or anything that lays their eyes on you to stone. The larger the power level difference between you and a target, the slower they turn into stone.
[Noble Beastkin] |Epic Trait|
Race Change - You are a Noble Beastkin, a beast hybrid that has mystical blood running through their veins. You possess potent physical abilities and greatly enhanced senses depending on your race; your natural instincts are very potent. You possess a greater affinity towards Changer and Nature-based abilities, allowing you to utilise them to greater effect with more finesse. You also possess control over your beast side, being able to completely suppress your traits or completely transform into your beast side. It is easier to command respect from beast-aligned beings.
For a long moment, I almost denied and kept the second ability in storage... Because I fucking refuse to become a furry.
Until I considered it more and realized it would allow me to control my state of being anyway.
So with a sigh, I said helplessly. "Fuck it. I got handed a Noble Phantasm, basically, but even better. I can't pass it up, can I?"
So with a flex of my will, I accepted the change... And for a brief moment I tensed my hands as it felt like ants were crawling over and into my eyes. Which sucked beyond words and explanation.
And then loud popping noises rang out as I could feel my body gaining a couple more inches in height, along with my ligaments and other muscles becoming more flexible as I absorbed the bloodline of the Gorgon within myself.
I could feel a like... The second focal point in my eyes to activate the curse of Cybele in my eyes as I opened them.
"The fuck... Why did my hair grow, and why did it turn... Ah, it turned Medusa purple, I guess?" I muttered as I held my now waist-length purple hair with one hand and frowned a bit.
Not only that but I could also feel my body had also been greatly strengthened already so with a thoughtful hum. I blinked as I saw backpack was on the ground in front of me where there clearly wasn't one before my transformation.
A quick check through the bag gave me a bag filled with 'Dennies', the local currency. A prepaid phone plan along with a phone that could get on the local internet.
And lastly, and most importantly, my paperwork as a registered citizen of New Eridu. The Capital city of this dying world.
"Now what do I do?" I muttered with a frown as I knew that in order to get more Gatcha tickets, I needed DO interesting things and accomplish feats of note.
So that left becoming a Hollow Raider as the best way for me to do those things unless I joined a major organization... Which I wasn't exactly too partial in doing so.
But with a good bit of dennies on me. I had a bit of a leeway before I had to worry about becoming homeless or whatever.
-
"Fucking creepers... I know I have 'dreamy' eyes, but trying to follow me home is just too much." I muttered with a frown as I thoroughly locked my front door with a handlebar that would lock the door in place.
Apparently, my eyes and clearly enhanced supernatural appearance were too much to be walking the streets so casually in New Eridu. Still knowing the events of ZZZ, I managed to find Sixth Street which was where the 'protagonists' were based out of.
But now. With a small apartment paid up a couple months, I took out my phone and got onto the internet... And then got onto the 'Interknot' The deepweb equilvalent that was alot more structured then the deep web of my previous life.
And as for why it was so well structured... Well, this world was a tech apocalypse in waiting. The world had been covered in 'Hollows'. Giant spheres of darkness that went entered would take you into a twisted reflection of what that area was supposed to be.
Humans without ether resistance would quickly be mutated into monsters called Etherials that would roam the hollows and attack any humans in sight. And sometimes even leave the hollows themselves to attack people outside of the hollows.
The hollows themselves were on the other hand... Extremely valuable as the flooding Ether within the Hallows would seep into objects, creating anomalies that were highly valuable for their countless uses.
And the Interknot was the sorta/kinda illegal mega-site that allowed Proxies and Hollow Raiders to coordinate raids into the hollows for a variety of reasons.
"Hmm... Yup, I am marking myself as an Agent. Not a proxy for sure." I muttered before wondering if I needed to find a proxy for myself.
Due to my 'Shrug it off' ability. I was immune to Ether corruption, so I woudn't be turned into an Etherial and lose myself in the hollows. But also, Hollows were spatially twisted hellscapes at times.
So I could get lost in a hollow and just literally starve to death if I wasn't careful.
"Maybe I should register as an official Hollow Investigator as well." I muttered thoughtfully before I shook my head and went to the second most important part of being an 'agent/hollow raider'
A good W-Engine.
W-Engines were... Complicated and in the game of ZZZ it wasn't really explained all that well besides everyone knowing they were super important to an Agents strength. It was the equilvalent of both a passive and active noble phantasm for a Servant from Fate with how they worked.
They worked via the W-Engines themselves, attuning themselves to the surrounding Ether, and through sound waves that Ether was VERY susceptible to. They could use the surrounding ether to passively enhance their physical abilities, as well as giving themselves elemental attacks and such.
There was no conventional 'magic' in this universe as far as I knew. Only super technology that ran off the energy that leaked from the coming end of the world in Ether.
And that no magic rule, especially counted for the 'cultivators' of Yunkui Summit. They used specially treated papers to make talismans that were made from wood taken from Hollows. And likewise for the people who pretended to be mages and such, likewise still using ether.
I collected all this information through reading the basic infopages that weren't even locked and needed money, as it was all too clear that there was a shortage of agents/hollow raiders willing to go into Hollows.
"Hmm? Wait this infopage was made by Public Security with the hopes of getting Hollow Raiders to go legit as Hollow Investigator, Agents." I muttered thoughtfully as I was now wavering a bit.
Did I want to pay taxes? Not particularly. But as a newbie in all senses of the word, and without any connections to Proxies who could guide me in the hollow and the underground. I should probably go legit at the start at first.
As I had the body of a Gorgon. I already had a great head start in terms of combat ability... Even though I was lacking a weapon or a W-Engine and it's drives.
Still, it was only early afternoon at this point. So with a sigh, I said. "Fuck it. It's not like I can knock on Wise and Bell's door and demand them to be my proxy."
With that, I got up and left my apartment and I took a taxi as the nearest PubSec building that did Ether resistance testing was a good bit away.
As I got into the taxi, my face twitched as the rabbit Thiren driver that was... Full fur, squeaked and said quickly. "Haha... Please don't eat me! I don't taste good!"
My face twitched, and the rabbit Thiren, who I couldn't even tell the gender of. Nervously laughed and said. "Sorry, sorry, I just got lost in your eyes haha..."
I cleared my throat and said helplessly. "Take me to the PubSec building on Eleventh Street please."
The rabbit thiren hurriedly nodded, and after putting in my request to the GPS, I quickly paid while thinking. 'Am I going to need to get a blind fold or run around in sunglasses in public?
The rest of the ride went without incident besides me talking with the rabbit thiren casually.
Thiren's being the faunus/beastmen of the world who came in differing levels of furrydom. Some only had a cat tail/ears. Others were literal walking upright bears with the same intelligence as any human.
Though there was also the fact that Thirens as a whole were almost always stronger than baseline humans.
The PubSec building was a rather large and courthouse-like styled building and once I got in. I just walked up to one of the receptionists and asked politely, even as she twitched and blushed as she met my gaze.
"May I take the Ether Aptitude test as well as sign up as an independent Hollow Investigator?"
To which the woman nodded and said quickly. "Yes! We can get your ether aptitude test done with just a blood sample and the news can be handed to you in an hour. Uhm, the Hollow Investigation paperwork also requires a light run through PubSec's obstacle course, to make sure your physical fitness meets the bare minimum as well."
Seeing as Hollows were death traps filled with horrible monsters. Both humans and Thirens twisted into Etherials as well as just ether-born constructs. It made sense that they were testing me on this simple thing.
And with my physical form enhanced from my reincarnation and my Thiren nature... I wasn't worried about a little test either.
So I just nodded and took the paperwork to fill out my information... And there was just a little hiccup about the Thiren race section.
'I shoudn't just put Gorgon, as my Thiren race should I? Meh fuck it. I won't hide Cybel anyway, as it can be called a form of benevolent Ether mutation.' I mused to myself with a shrug.
As I knew also that my blood work was probably going to be wack as well.
Once I did the paperwork, turned it in and such. It didn't take long for a nurse to come out to take me deeper into the building where I gave a blood sample, and then that same receptionist that I spoke to first.
Seeing me come out, waved me over and said easily. "A PubSec officer is available to proctor your test if you are ready for the physical test."
I nodded and was then given an identity card and then directions to the back of the building.
Once I reached the building there was a small group of people, both human and thirens, who were clearly here to do the test and at the end was someone I actually recognized!
"You all will go through the Obstacle Course one at a time at the fastest speed you are capable of. The speed in which you accomplish this will heavily weigh in on your grade when you take the Hollow Investigation tests as well!" The beautiful officer spoke.
Said officer was an Agent in the game ZZZ I easily recognized her with her crimson streaked black hair and custom PubSec uniform she had altered to fit herself... Including that wonderful handle that was meant for helicopter cables to latch onto, right above her fat ass that shook with each step she took.
But with a couple of dozen people taking the test right now. It's not like I could walk up and talk to her. So I just got in line and for a change, she only blinked at seeing my square-shaped gem-like pupils of Cybel before she twitched her head at the obstacle course as the other guy in front of me went ahead at fairly decent speed.
I waited a moment longer to give him more space as Zhu Yuan looked at me with a raised eyebrow and then I hopped upwards a meter to jump over the concrete hump to get over and I shot forward through the obstacle course at much faster speeds than the other people.
Except for the monkey Thiren, who was a PubSect officer who showed us the path we were supposed to go through anyway.
Still, I came out of the obstacle course with my breath steady, with Zhu Yuan humming thoughtfully as she said. "You have a very solid fitness level and great agility. Are you sure you woudn't be interested in a job at Public Security? We have full health insurance, a great retirement plan, and pensions?"
That... Pitch to become what was basically a cop was certainly something. But I shook my head and said honestly. "I appreciate the offer. But I prefer more freedom as I come from the Outer Ring."
The Outer Ring, being well away from the protection of New Eridu, was flooded with unregulated Hollows and roaming bands of criminals and Etherials. It was basically the Wild West, and even the people there had a bit of a Mad Max vibe going on.
Zhu Yuan gave a nod before handing me a card with the phone number of the PubSec's hiring office, as she said proudly. "Public Security looks after its own. So when you are ready to be part of something bigger than yourself. Something that protects all of New Eridu, you can call our recruiters here!"
Taking the card, I helplessly nodded before I headed back, and by the time everyone else had taken the physical test. My bloodwork was already completed, and I was given a file that had my Ether Aptitude along with other blood-related information.
With that, I quickly left the PubSec building as... For some reason, I was feeling watched beyond just my very beautiful eyes and appearance, drawing attention.
"I need to get some shades... People walking into power poles as they get lost in my eyes is too much." I muttered helplessly as I saw someone walking their dog across the street do just that.
So I quickly made my way into a nearby convenience store. Bought myself a couple of sandwiches and such to tide me over for dinner and for an early breakfast tomorrow along with getting a pair of simple shades that weren't... Too huge or extreme, so people didn't think of me as much of an asshole wearing them indoors.
And it was only as I got home and got relaxed that the Chaos Gatcha dinged out.
[Become an official, Hollow Investigator without going through a backdoor or using connections- 1 Silver Ticket]
"The hell is about using a backdoor or connections? Was I supposed to seduce the receptionist or Zhu Yuan in the middle of their work?" I cursed before pulling the ticket mentally.
[Kubikiribochi] |Uncommon Item|
Naruto - An oversized cleaver-shaped curved sword revered as one of the blades wielded by the seven swordsmen of the Mist. This blade is incredibly durable and conducts energy well. In addition, no matter how damaged the blade is, it will repair itself as long as it absorbs blood.]
My face twitched as I muttered. "Wait... Does this also count as a cursed weapon like Ye Shanguang's sword box and Miyabi's cursed sword? It fixes itself off of drinking blood?"
Well, maybe if I got 'Lucky' enough to draw Samehada, I could definitely say I got a cursed weapon basically. But still... With a weapon in hand, all I needed was a W-Engine and a couple more things and I was set to get into Hollows.
"Goal for tomorrow Jake... Get a W-Engine, get a Carrot so I don't get lost in a Hollow. And try to make some money doing commissions." I said as I carefully hefted the heavy ass sword that was the Kubikiribochi and laid it on the ground beside my bed.
As I was honestly kinda scared the heavy blade would fuck up the thin walls and the floor itself if I set it upright, honestly.
And as I lay in bed... I got onto the Interknot to look for some commissions I, a newbie with no reputation, could take.
Then paused as an article caught my attention.
[Those damned Cunning Hares!]
[Putting this out there so nobody else gets burned like I did in the last couple of days
I hired the Cunning Hares for a straightforward Hollow retrieval job. Sensitive materials. Admittedly High risk, but decently high pay. A clear contract with all stated. They took the advance payment, went into the Hollow, confirmed recovery of the materials… and then vanished!
Turns out they sold the materials to one of my rivals' own crews... inside the Hollow not even five minutes after getting the materials! And left me with nothing but excuses and radio silence. No refund. No apology. Just that smug reputation of that bratty boss!
If you value your time, your dennies, your operational secrecy. Do not hire the Cunning Hares! They're competent, sure when they want to be—but they'll sell you out the moment someone waves a bigger stack of Dennies!
Learn from my mistake- Faraday]
Scrolling down from that post... I found a response from the Cunning Hares themselves.
[Cunning Hares- Biggest Boss Lady]
[The Cunning Hares does not participate in the trafficking of Outer Rim gangs who come into New Eridu to attack Hollow Investigator outposts in Hollows to take their W-Engines and Ether corruption medication.
We just sold the information of your gang goons to another gang from the Outer Ring who was much more interested in the goodies they stole from one of their trucks. Don't be a sore loser for playing in the big leagues and getting burned for being greedy!]
And my face twitched as another post just called Nicole the greediest of them all to begin with.