Chapter 8: The System Awakens: Merge and Mastery
[Adam Yukimura POV]
The numbers on my system screen were like a siren song, a beautiful, digital symphony of progress.
[ CURRENT UNIQUE DEATHS: 100 ][ CURRENT RYO: 1,250,000 ][ UNIQUE DEATHS REQUIRED FOR NEXT UPGRADE: 100 ][ MONEY REQUIRED FOR NEXT UPGRADE: 1,000,000 RYO ]
"One hundred unique deaths! And over a million Ryo! Finally! The moment has arrived! The heavens shall part, the angels shall sing, and Adam Yukimura shall ascend to… Level 2! Take that, all you people who said I'd just die repeatedly for no reason!"
A new notification flashed, larger and more vibrant than the others.
[ SYSTEM UPGRADE AVAILABLE! ][ INITIATE UPGRADE? YES / NO ]
"YES! A thousand times, YES!" I practically screamed, slamming my mental finger on the 'YES' option.
The blue screen shimmered, the text dissolving into a kaleidoscope of glowing particles. A deep, resonant hum filled my mind, a sensation akin to my brain being gently massaged by a thousand tiny, benevolent robots. It was surprisingly pleasant.
[ SYSTEM UPGRADE INITIATED… ][ PROCESSING UNIQUE DEATH DATA… ][ ANALYZING SKILL ACQUISITIONS… ][ CALCULATING NEW PARAMETERS… ][ UPGRADE COMPLETE! ]
[ SYSTEM: IMMORTAL SYSTEM ][ STATUS: ONLINE ][ LEVEL: 2 ][ DEATHS REMAINING (PER PERSON): 2 ][ UNIQUE DEATHS REQUIRED FOR NEXT UPGRADE: 250 ][ MONEY REQUIRED FOR NEXT UPGRADE: 5,000,000 RYO ][ NEW PERK UNLOCKED: MERGE PERK! ]
My jaw dropped. "Two deaths per person! Oh, you beautiful, beautiful system! This changes everything! Now I can really annoy the heavy hitters! And five million Ryo? That's a lot of gambling. But I'm up for the challenge!"
But the real prize, the shining jewel in my crown of absurdity, was the Merge Perk.
[ MERGE PERK: You can now combine two or more related skills to create a new, more powerful, or versatile ability. ][ INITIATE MERGE? ]
"Oh, you bet your sweet digital circuits I'm initiating merge!" I cackled, rubbing my hands together. "This is where the real fun begins! Time to turn my collection of mildly useful, mostly embarrassing skills into something truly spectacular!"
My first target for merging was obvious: "Basic Animal Instincts" and "Basic Silent Killing." Individually, they were okay. Together? They could be something more.
"Alright, System, merge 'Basic Animal Instincts' and 'Basic Silent Killing'!"
The screen shimmered again. Two skill icons, one of a weasel, one of a shadowy figure, swirled together, merging into a single, new icon.
[ MERGE SUCCESSFUL! ][ NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: PREDATOR'S STRIDE (Passive) - Significant reduction in the sound of your movements, enhanced awareness of your immediate environment, and a subtle ability to blend into shadows. ]
"Predator's Stride! Yes! This is what I'm talking about! No more accidentally stepping on crunchy leaves! No more alerting the local squirrel population to my presence! Now I can be a ninja… a very sarcastic, very annoying ninja!"
I immediately had to test it. I slipped out of my apartment, moving with a newfound grace. It was like the world had muted itself around me. My footsteps were almost imperceptible. I could feel the subtle shifts in air currents, hear the distant chirping of crickets, the faint rustle of clothing from a passing civilian.
I decided to try pranking an ANBU. They were usually so stoic, so unshakeable. Perfect targets. I found one standing guard near the Hokage's office, still as a statue. I crept closer, my movements silent, my senses heightened. I could practically feel the air around him, the subtle shift of his weight, the slow, rhythmic beat of his heart. I reached into my pocket, pulled out a small, rubber chicken I'd bought from a novelty shop, and with surgical precision, placed it on his head.
Then, I silently retreated, watching from a distance. The ANBU remained still for a full minute, then slowly, almost imperceptibly, his hand reached up. He felt the rubber chicken. His head tilted slightly. I swear, I could feel his confusion radiating off him. It was glorious.
" Success! Predator's Stride is a winner! Now, what else can I combine? "
Next, "Basic Monstrous Strength" and "Basic Charge." These were meant to be together. The ultimate "punch-you-through-a-wall-and-then-some" combo.
"System, merge 'Basic Monstrous Strength' and 'Basic Charge'!"
[ MERGE SUCCESSFUL! ][ NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: IMPACT RUSH (Active) - A powerful, short-range burst of momentum combined with enhanced physical striking power. Requires a brief wind-up. ]
"Impact Rush! Oh, this is going to be so much fun!"
I needed a target. Something sturdy. Something that wouldn't complain. I found an abandoned training dummy in a secluded field. I wound up, focusing my chakra, feeling the familiar surge of power from "Monstrous Strength" combine with the kinetic energy of "Charge." I launched myself forward, a blur of motion, and slammed into the dummy.
The dummy exploded. No, seriously. It didn't just break; it disintegrated into a cloud of splinters. The ground beneath it cracked.
" Whoops. Maybe I overdid it a little. But hey, at least it works! "
I grinned. This was amazing. I could feel the raw power coursing through me. I tried it again, this time on a large boulder. The boulder shattered, sending fragments flying.
"This is going to be perfect for my next 'accidental' punch through Tsunade's office wall," I chuckled. "She'll never see it coming. Or rather, she'll see it coming, but she won't expect the sheer level of collateral damage."
And speaking of Tsunade, now that I could die twice to the same person, it was time for another "love tap." I found her in her office, buried under a mountain of paperwork.
"Tsunade, my dearest!" I announced, strolling in with a cheerful smirk. "Just checking in! How's the paperwork? Looking particularly… paper-y today!"
She didn't even look up. "Go away, Adam. I'm busy."
"Oh, but I have something important to ask!" I insisted, leaning over her desk. "Now that I'm a little stronger, I was wondering… if you'd consider punching me through a different wall? You know, for variety? Maybe the one with the really nice painting on it?"
That got her attention. She slowly looked up, her eyes narrowing. "You want me to punch you through a wall. Again."
"Well, yes! For science! And for love! Mostly for love, of course. It's our thing, remember? Our adorable little courtship ritual!"
A vein throbbed in her forehead. She stood up, her desk groaning under the sudden shift in pressure. "You are truly the most infuriating man I have ever met."
"It's a gift!" I beamed.
Her fist connected. This time, I didn't even pretend to dodge. The impact was immense, sending me hurtling through the wall, through the next room, and finally embedding me in the wall of the hallway beyond.
[ YOU HAVE BEEN KILLED BY: TSUNADE SENJU (UNIQUE DEATH!) ][ SKILL ACQUIRED: BASIC CHAKRA ENHANCEMENT (Passive) - A minor increase in your overall chakra reserves. ][ DEATHS REMAINING (TSUNADE SENJU): 1 ]
I peeled myself off the wall, dusting off my clothes. "Basic Chakra Enhancement! Excellent! Now I can annoy you for even longer, Tsunade! And my pranks will have more… oomph!"
Tsunade stood in the gaping hole, chest heaving, Shizune looking faint behind her. "He's… he's just going to keep doing this, isn't he?" Shizune whispered.
"Apparently," Tsunade growled, rubbing her temples. "Apparently, he is."
" She's so close to admitting she loves me. I can feel it. It's like a really persistent itch that she can't scratch, and that itch is me. "
My final merge attempt for now: "Basic Medical Ninjutsu" and "Basic Chakra Scalpel." I was hoping for something that could heal faster, or maybe even perform surgery on the fly.
"System, merge 'Basic Medical Ninjutsu' and 'Basic Chakra Scalpel'!"
[ MERGE SUCCESSFUL! ][ NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: PRECISION HEALING TOUCH (Active) - The ability to make incredibly precise and delicate repairs to living tissue, intricate mechanisms, and slightly mend broken objects. ]
"Precision Healing Touch? Interesting! Not quite what I expected, but potentially even better!"
I tested it on a broken teacup. Focusing my chakra, I touched the shattered pieces. A faint green glow emanated from my fingertips. The cracks slowly, almost imperceptibly, began to mend. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start. This wasn't just for healing; it was for repair. The implications for pranks, and for my future career as a chaotic problem-solver, were immense.
My system upgrade was a resounding success. I was stronger, more versatile, and had even more ways to annoy the Hokage. Life was good. And it was only going to get better.