Chat Group Crossover: My System Simulates Infinite Anime Worlds — Chapter 73

Chapter 73: It Pledged Fealty Out of Fear of Being Obliterated

A churning mass of black matter coalesced around his fist, a fist already the size of a sandbag. The very laws of physics he had mastered warped and compressed into that single point, concentrating the full, deliberate might of his 98th-level Magnetic Field Power into one devastating strike.

Just as he was about to deliver the blow that would shatter the strange, shimmering gate before him into oblivion, a sudden, unexpected message flooded his mind.

The gate was surrendering. It was pledging itself to him as its master.

Nagumo paused, his fist hovering inches from the portal’s surface, the raw power held in check causing the air to crackle. A flicker of suspicion crossed his face.

He muttered under his breath, “System, you there? Do me a favor and run a check on this thing. A small matter like this should be easy for you, right?”

As the words left his lips, the familiar system interface materialized before him. A single word glowed on the screen: [Detecting…].

A moment later, the text vanished, replaced by a triumphant emoji.

[ ( ˶ • ̀ ֊ • ́ ) ✧ No problem! Access is confirmed.]

With the system’s final verdict, Nagumo finally relaxed, allowing the terrifying concentration of energy around his hand to dissipate into harmless motes of light.

At last, he began to properly study the gate. According to the flood of information he had just received, this portal connected to another world entirely. Upon entry, a person’s body would shift into a semi-digitized state. It wasn’t a true game, however; fatal damage would still result in a very real death. By hunting the magical beasts within that world, one could absorb their life force to strengthen their own body.

, the first person to enter the gate would receive a unique, special enhancement.

Nagumo considered this and found it utterly useless for himself. The growth potential offered by this gate had a clear, defined ceiling. His current physical prowess, forged in the crucible of the Nexus simulation and amplified by his Magnetic Field Power, had long since surpassed any limit this world could offer.

He was certain that if he stepped through that gate and his body was forcibly semi-digitized, the sheer density of his existence would instantly crash the system, reducing his form to a cascade of garbled code. Even if he were to slaughter every god and creature in that dimension, the resulting boost would be negligible.

A better idea began to form in his mind. There was, after all, another person living in his house. Cecilia was the perfect candidate, though she would require a period of observation first.

With a flick of his wrist and a simple hand seal, three paper dolls shimmered into existence. They silently picked up a stack of books from his shelf and floated out of the room.

The next morning, Cecilia stared at the numerous books laid out before her on the infirmary’s main desk. Her eyes darted between the varied titles, a look of deep confusion on her face.

She looked up at Nagumo, her expression pleading for an explanation.

“Since you have nothing better to do while you’re idle in the infirmary, you’re to read all of these,” Nagumo stated with deadpan seriousness. “I want a review of at least two thousand words for each book. In one month, I expect to see the reports for at least ten of them on my desk.”

At that very same moment, in Kato Megumi’s room, a similar scene was unfolding with a much different tone.

Megumi stared with wide, lifeless eyes at the trio of paper dolls hovering at the foot of her bed. Her face was so pale that if she were cast as a ghost in a horror film, she wouldn’t need any makeup.

Could you imagine the sheer terror of waking up to find several paper shikigami floating in your room, their blank faces suddenly sprouting drawn-on eyes that stared at you with an unnerving, soulless gaze?

In front of the paper dolls was a thick stack of books identical to Cecilia’s.

Nagumo’s voice, flat and disembodied, emanated from one of the dolls, issuing the exact same demand: a two-thousand-word review for each and every book.

The following day, Hayama Hayato did not come to school.

A special notice was posted, announcing that Hayama had been given a major demerit. The specific circumstances were not disclosed, a small mercy to save him what little face he had left.

Nagumo estimated there was an eighty percent chance Hayama was currently at home receiving a “mixed doubles” beating from his parents.

How did Nagumo know this?

Because his divine sense had been active all afternoon the day before. He had watched with his own eyes as Hayama’s parents stormed onto campus, grabbed their son by the ear, and dragged him away. If things had gone as he expected, they were probably already discussing plans to “roll a new character.”

Time flew by.

Two days passed in a flash, meaning little to someone like Nagumo. The only event of note was running into the human ATM, Shinomiya Kaguya, near the restrooms during a break, with her usual gloomy shadow trailing behind her.

The first thought that crossed Nagumo’s mind upon seeing her was: ‘I wonder when she’ll get into danger again. It’s always a good opportunity to make a profit.’

As for everyone else, things were mostly back to normal.

Hayama Hayato eventually returned to school, his face a canvas of fading bruises. As for the other male student who had been with him that day… according to the gossip mill, he was still in the hospital receiving treatment for what sounded like a severe psychological trauma.

Friday night. After a satisfying meal, Nagumo lay on his bed, staring at the system interface floating in the air before him. He’d had a decent rest. It was time.

He reached out and tapped the option for a normal simulation. The gold-tier trait simulation could wait.

A list of available traits appeared.

[Danger Sense (Green)]: “Improves your reaction ability and allows you to predict the arrival of danger within a certain range. However, by the time you predict it, the danger is often already right beside you.”

Note: Has cooperation with traits such as Accumulation Over Time, Godspeed Reaction, Agility Boost, etc.

[Accumulation Over Time (White)]: “A day’s work for a day’s reward. A super low-end version of Heaven Rewards the Diligent. As long as you are alive and have enough time, you will become the strongest.”

Note: Has cooperation with traits such as Limit Breakthrough, Danger Sense, Chef, etc.

[Limit Breakthrough (Blue)]: “All people have limits. When you train to that limit, you can easily break through it.”

Note: Has cooperation with traits such as Chef, Sword Genius, etc.

[Chef (Green)]: “You are considered a genius in the culinary arts.”

Note: Has cooperation with traits such as Accumulation Over Time, Sword Master, Sword Genius, Super Five Senses, Super Taste, Super Smell, Limit Breakthrough, etc.

[Sword Genius (Green)]: “You possess extraordinary talent in sword techniques.”

Note: Has cooperation with traits such as Accumulation Over Time, Chef, Super Five Senses, Danger Sense, Limit Breakthrough, etc.

Nagumo scanned the five traits. A mix of blue, green, and white—a perfectly average selection. His eyes lingered on the [Chef] trait, and he thought about his own lackluster culinary skills. Since the option was right there, he might as well use this simulation to improve them.

The trait levels weren’t particularly high, but they should be sufficient. He could always put in some extra training on his own later.

He made his selections: [Accumulation Over Time (White)], [Chef (Green)], and [Limit Breakthrough (Blue)].

His logic was sound. [Limit Breakthrough] synergized with [Chef]. [Accumulation Over Time] also synergized with [Chef]. Although it was a “super low-end” version of Heaven Rewards the Diligent, and he wasn’t sure how much progress he’d actually make, any progress was better than none. What if that tiny bit of progress was all he needed to trigger [Limit Breakthrough]? Besides, since he retained some memories from each simulation, the learning process shouldn’t be too difficult.

[Host, the selected traits have generated a cooperation. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the title: “One Who Has began the Path of Culinary Arts (Blue)”.]

[One Who Has began the Path of Culinary Arts (Blue)]: “Those who possess this title will have a slight improvement in their sense of taste and will have gained a faint insight into the art of heat control. Physical fitness will also be strengthened to a certain degree; without a good physique, one cannot even hope to properly wield an iron wok.”