Flames dyed half the sky red.
Deadpool sat atop a towering clock tower, legs dangling in mid-air, swaying lazily.
Below, a dense horde of zombies, tireless as ants, scoured the island for the last living souls.
42,500 points…
Under the mask, Mordred's voice trembled with barely suppressed excitement.
These weren't just numbers; they were the ticket to invincibility.
System, stop playing dead hit me with something exciting.
Mordred snapped his fingers, his red-and-black gloved hand clawing at the air.
Fire up the advanced gacha, three times! All in!
It was a real fortune; every high-tier pull cost 10,000 Astonishment Points.
But to live the good life in this monster-infested world, the investment was mandatory.
A gigantic virtual roulette appeared before him, its golden radiance nearly blinding his eyes.
The pointer spun wildly, then slowed to a stop.
Ding! Congratulations, host: A-rank character fragment ×1 (collect five to randomly synthesize an A-rank character).
Mordred curled his lip.
Fragments? You're making me play a merge game? Did a mobile dev send you?
He endured it.
Second draw the wheel whirled again.
This time, the glow turned an eerie purple.
Ding! Congratulations, host: Ultra Divine Water!
Source: Dragon Ball universe.
Description: Legendary water of Korin Tower, highly toxic. Survive its poison and unlock all latent potential, skyrocketing in power. Fail, and die on the spot.
Mordred stared at the small, ancient pot that had materialized in his hand, the corner of his eye twitching.
Going this big? You want me to gamble with my life?
Though he complained, calculations were already forming in his mind.
The Blacklight Virus feared no poison.
As long as it was a physical substance, the prototype could adapt and assimilate it.
This stuff was practically a custom-made tonic for him.
Again! Last one!
The pointer spun a third time.
This time, golden light erupted, outshining Iron Fang Island's blazing fires.
A card crackling with a savage aura slowly emerged.
Ding! Congratulations, host: B-rank character card Bruce Banner!
Source: Marvel universe.
Description: A mild-mannered physics Ph.D.; when enraged, transforms into the infinitely powerful green monster Hulk. Strength grows with rage, boasting extreme physical defense and regeneration.
Mordred shot to his feet, the tiles beneath him crumbling to dust.
It's actually him!
Hulk!
Though the system rated him B-tier, his ceiling was sky-high.
As long as he stayed angry, he could smash everything.
In this pirate world ruled by Haki, Hulk's pure, ultimate strength and defense would be everyone's nightmare.
With this trump card, even an Admiral showing up wouldn't faze me.
Mordred drew a deep breath, steadying his excitement.
The remaining 12,000 points would just rot if left alone.
System, mid-tier gacha, ten-pull! Spend every last coin!
The mid-tier effects looked shabby blue and white lights mingling.
Congratulations, host: high-steel katana ×3.
Congratulations, host: tasty burger set ×2.
Congratulations, host: 5 million Berries cash.
…a string of junk notifications scrolled by.
Mordred rolled his eyes, about to close the panel, when the final two lines froze him.
Congratulations, host: C-rank character card T-800!
Source: Terminator universe.
Description: Cyberdyne Model 101, living tissue over a metal endoskeleton. A tireless, absolutely loyal killing machine. Comes with a heavy Gatling gun and infinite ammo box.
Congratulations, host: Mother-and-Child River Water (one barrel)!
Source: Journey to the West universe.
Description: Specialty of the Western Liang Women's Kingdom. Male or female, drink it and conceive at once; gives birth in three days. Note: Not just a miracle of life, but an ethics meltdown.
Mordred gaped at the huge wooden barrel that suddenly appeared in his hands, his mouth spasming.
What the hell?
System, are you for real?
T-800 was a decent fighter while not top-tier here, he was perfect for mowing down mobs or gatekeeping.
But this barrel… In his mind, he saw Akainu or Sengoku swelling with late-pregnancy bellies.
Too beautiful an image; he dared not dwell.
This stuff… it's a law-of-causality weapon.
Mordred chuckled, carefully stowing the barrel of diabolical water into his system space.
Next time someone pissed him off, he'd pour it down their throat.
Four Emperors or Admirals, you'll all be taking maternity leave!
After sorting his haul, Mordred sat back on the rubble.
He took out the small purple pot containing the Ultra Divine Water.
Then, let's evolve.
Without hesitation, Mordred tilted his head and drank the purple liquid in one gulp.
Gulp.
The fluid slid down his throat, ice-cold.
But the next second
Boom!
A terrifying surge of heat exploded in his gut, sweeping through every vein.
Pain!
Agonizing pain!
It felt like countless red-hot knives churning inside his blood vessels, every cell screaming and collapsing.
He coughed up a mouthful of black blood, curling on the ground, his veins bulging like serpents writhing beneath his skin.
An ordinary person would have melted into sludge by now.
But Mordred's Blacklight Virus was enraged.
Challenged by the foreign poison, the dormant virus surged; black-red tendrils burst from his pores, wrapping him in a huge, dark cocoon.
Devour!
Assimilate!
Adapt!
The tyrannical nature of the Blacklight Virus showed itself fully.
It would let nothing destroy its host not even so-called divine water.
The toxin was broken down and converted into pure energy.
Shattered gene strands reassembled in an instant, tougher and more perfect than before.
Minutes crawled by.
Above the ruins, the black-red cocoon throbbed like a heart.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Every beat quaked the surrounding air.
Half an hour later
Rip!
A crack split across the cocoon's surface.
A pale, slender hand brimming with explosive power extended.
Mordred, bare-chested, stepped slowly out of the shell.
His frame hadn't grown much, but his muscles were more defined, and his skin faintly glowed with a layer of black light.
He clenched a fist.
The air detonated with a sharp pop.
So this… is what it feels like to have potential unlocked?
Mordred felt the torrential power coursing within.
Before, he had relied on the virus's traits; now, his base physique had leaped at least tenfold.
His senses were sharper.
He exhaled stale air and glanced at the system panel.
Only 2,500 Astonishment Points remained.
He didn't feel a shred of regret.
Because next came the real main event.