The build was coming together.
Satisfied, I pulled out the Modified Compound V from my mental item storage.
The vial materialized in my hand, but instead of the blue liquid I remembered from The Boys, this was shimmering, almost glowing gold.
This could be a pivotal moment. The ability it gave wouldn't eat an ability slot and would stay with me forever. It could synergize perfectly with what I had, turn me into an actual threat. Or it could be complete trash that ruined my future plans.
But I'd never been good at playing it safe.
"All in," I said out loud, and downed the vial in one gulp.
The liquid hit my tongue first as expensive and smooth, like that 60-year Chardonnay I'd stolen from my father's personal collection years ago just to see what the fuzz was about. Rich, complex, with a burn that settled warm in my chest.
Then the notification appeared.
[Immunity System]
|Rare Ability|
While Immutable is an active ability slot, you are immune to poisons, diseases and negative biological effects.
My body felt light, like a burden I hadn't even realized I was carrying suddenly lifted. My immune system, which had been working overtime trying to adapt to this new universe with its unknown pathogens and unvaccinated diseases, finally rested.
This was a godsend. Especially in a multiverse with unknown diseases, alien biology, demon blood, and god knows what else. And it was permanent and didn't eat an ability slot. Just always there, always protecting me.
I was so overcome with gratitude that I bowed my head in the bath, brought my hands together in prayer, and started thanking my patron.
"Our Gambler, Thou in art in Casino, hallowed be thy RNG, thy gacha come, thy will be spun, on Earth as it is in-"
"Ahem."
A cough interrupted me.
I turned to see Nakime standing at the edge of the bath, her single eye filled with worried concern.
"Master, are you alright? Are you running a fever from being in the bath too long?"
I wanted to drown of embarrassment.
'All the Aura I built up…its gone.'
"Have you prepared the clothes?" I asked quickly, changing the subject.
She moved to the edge of the bath, sat in her proper seiza stance, and presented a set of clothes.
The first thing I notice is a long black coat draped loosely over the shoulders, falling like a cape with quiet elegance. Looking closer, I see a well-fitted vest over a light shirt, paired with a patterned tie, giving the ensemble a refined, aristocratic touch. My eyes finally settle on the clean white trousers and dark polished shoes, completing a look that feels dignified, composed, and effortlessly sophisticated.
I couldn't help but stare at the outfit.
"Master, all the clothes here are from Upper Moon quarters, but they are not suitable for your old style. These are from Lord Muzan's personal collection and looked similar to your previous attire."
I stood up, towel already wrapped around my waist. "Damn, I didn't know Muzan was a fashionista. Oh well, I guess I'll have to thank him if we ever meet." The Demon King had taste, I'd give him that. The suit looked expensive, well-tailored, the kind that screamed 'wealth' and deliberately being obnoxious about it.
After I dried off and got dressed, the suit fit perfectly, which was weird but I wasn't complaining.
I returned to the master bedroom.
"Nakime, are there any nichirin blades here? Or Muzan's blood?" I asked with reluctant hope.
She shook her head, her long dark hair swaying slightly. "Unfortunately, after a thorough search while finding your clothes, I only found mundane items such as clothing, footwear, furnishings, etc. All weapons, tools, even the gold and money we had stored in our treasury has disappeared from the castle."
"Please tell them there's something to eat and drink" as I felt my stomach protest for food after I burned it's energy to generate the blade.
"Forgive me Master! Since this castle was used to house demons, there used to be a storage of human body and blood but that too has disappeared."
I nodded. Made sense. The gacha wouldn't just let me fleece everything Muzan had accumulated over a thousand years by pulling Nakime as my familiar. That would be too easy and broken. At least the mundane items and facilities still worked.
"Nakime could you tell me about your abilities in detail," I asked as I sat on the black sofa.
Nakime bowed and began explaining. "I can freely manipulate the infinite expanse of this castle - rearrange rooms, change layouts and even create pathways. I can open portals in the shape of Tatami Gates anywhere my eye sees, though for now that's limited to within the Infinity Castle itself. I once could deploy lower demons from the barracks to overwhelm enemies with numbers, but seeing as there are none here, I cannot help you with an army anymore. Forgive me, Master."
"No worries," I said. An army would've been nice, but honestly? The spatial manipulation alone was incredible. Mobile fortress, instant escape routes, home base that was literally unreachable unless I let someone in. I was more then satisfied.
She continued. "I also possess detection abilities. In my former service, I could track Demon Slayers through my detached eyeball familiars, gather information across Japan. The range was limited to where Lord Muzan allowed me to place my eyes, but within those areas, nothing escaped my sight."
Information gathering combined with her portal abilities, she was basically a one-woman intelligence network.
I was really glad I'd pulled her before entering this universe.
"Nakime, I need to explain something to you," I said seriously. "I have a curse. A Severe curse called Mortal Enemy. The moment I fully awakened in this world, someone of strength greater than yours would be imbued with absolute hatred toward me. They're going to hunt me down and won't stop until I'm dead. The only way to break the curse is to kill or neutralize them."
Her single eye widened slightly, the most emotion I'd seen from her so far.
"I also need to explain the world we're in. It's called the Invincible-verse, and it's full of superheroes and supervillains, beings of powers equal or greater than Muzan even. But more importantly, there's a race called Viltrumites - alien conquerors who can fly, have super strength, super speed, and can punch through planets. One of them, Omni-Man, is pretending to be a hero while planning to conquer Earth for his empire. Things are going to escalate. Violence, death and planetary threats. But our job isn't to stop it or stay away from it."
I grinned, teeth and gums exposed in all their maniacal glory. "Our job is to bring more chaos, grow stronger, and most importantly - GAMBLE. That's our top priority. The gacha is how we survive and get powerful enough to deal with whatever's coming."
Nakime looked surprised for a moment - probably not what she expected from a master - but she nodded. "I understand, Master. I shall serve you in this endeavor."
"Good. Now, I need you to open a portal to a secluded space. Somewhere we can scout and get our bearings."
She picked her biwa, but hesitated. "Master, given this constitutes an entirely unfamiliar world, I haven't had the opportunity to explore and mark key locations. This first portal would be purely random, based on chance. Please, let me be the scout first. If there's danger-"
"I appreciate you worrying about me," I said, patting her shoulder. The gesture made her eye widen - probably not used to casual contact from her master. "But I'm not completely powerless."
I put my Mini-Map ability in one of my slot as a virtual map appeared in the corner of my vison. It showed the layout of all the places I've been inside the infinity castle, my room, the bath, even the hallway even to the last inch. With me being represented by blue dot and Nakime Represented in green.
"Nakime, open the gate."
She plucked her biwa, and a tatami door appeared, sliding open to reveal... complete darkness.
I walked toward the portal.
"Remain back," I told Nakime. "Be ready to pull me back at the first sign of something going wrong."
She nodded, biwa at the ready, her eye locked on me.
I stepped through the tatami door and felt metal beneath my feet. The air was different here. recycled and climate-controlled. The kind of air you get in secure facilities.
I was in a dark space, couldn't see much but my mini-map was filling in the details. It showed me the circular room I was in:its multiple entry points and electronics mounted on walls, ceiling. Security systems, probably littered with cameras and sensors. This wasn't some random location.
[Image Here]
And then I saw movement on my minimap as multiple yellow points came into the map's range.
They were neutral at least as I could see from the yellow color but it could soon turn red at a moment's notice.
Before I could even command Nakime to pull me back the bright lights suddenly turned on.
Flooding the entire space with harsh fluorescent glare.
And I froze like a deer caught in headlights.
I saw people emerging from the shadows and stepping into the light one by one.
After my brain caught up with what my eyes were seeing,
And I recognized them.
The Guardians of the Globe.
War Woman in her red and gold armor, the power of Zeus crackling around her mace.
Darkwing in his black suit with the cape, that Batman-esque aesthetic was quite apparent.
Red Rush in his red speedster costume, already vibrating with impatience.
Aquarus in his blue scaled armor, looking distinctly uncomfortable under the harsh light.
And standing in the center, arms crossed, was their leader- Immortal looking directly at me with suspicion.
My brain finally caught up with my situation.
I was in the Guardians of the Globe headquarters.
[Image Here]
"Oops... wrong base? I'll show myself out." I said eloquently.
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