Disclaimer: I own nothing except the OCs.
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Ryuji and I were making our way out of this dungeon. At one point we were forced to hide behind some boxes as some guards came by. A couple of them met up with another group and they decided to update them on the situation, so Ryuji and I were forced to wait until they left. I took this opportunity to spend my stat points.
Name: Yuki Emiya
Age: 15
Race: Human
Sex: Female
Class: -
Level: 3
HP: 681/700 [Regen: 14/min]
MP: 1121/1368 [Regen: 27.36/min]
Stamina: 96% [Regen: 2%/min]
STR: 17
END: 14
DEX: 22
INT: 19
WIS: 19
LUK: 22
Stat Points: 0
Money: 3873 yen
"What? When did I unlock my magic circuits?"
"Oh, that was my doing," Merlin cheerfully answered. "I unlocked them shortly after you summoned me. What do you think that headache was?"
"Merlin?"
"That's my name! Don't wear it out," said Merlin.
"You're a lot more cheerful than I thought you'd be."
"Of course I am. I've been stuck in Avalon for quite a while until you came along. And now I reside in your soul. It's much more spacious than that lonely tower." Merlin said.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll tell you later when we have a quiet moment," With that said Merlin left my mind and a screen popped up.
[Your magic circuits have been unlocked. You have 24 A-rank Magic Circuits.]
Nice. This sounds really good
Quest Completed
[You're a Magus, Yuki]
To enter The Wondrous World of Magecraft you need to overcome this first hurdle.
Objective: Find a way to open your Magic Circuits. [x]
Rewards: Your mana is unlocked, Structural Analysis skill book, Reinforcement skill book, Alteration skill book, Projection skill book, 2 Gacha Tickets, 5000 Xp.
[Level Up!]
I'm using those books once we get out of here.
"Hey, they're finally leaving," Ryuji whispered over to me.
I gave him a nod and we moved through the staircase leading up. We kept going until we reach the raised drawbridge. So we went further down the hall.
"Hey, you two! Over here," said a voice,
Turning to our left, inside of a cell is the cat-like being known as Morgana.
"What is this thing?" Ryuji asked shocked at Morgana's appearance.
"You two aren't guards of this castle right? Get me out of here," Morgana said a bit desperate.
Ryuji was about to say something but I cut him off.
"Okay," I simply said.
"What!? He could be the enemy for all we know."
"He's locked in a cell," I deadpanned at him.
"But-"
"We don't know the way out," I said cutting him off. "This cat most likely does. Isn't that right?"
"Yeah, that's right. Let me out and I'll show you the way," Then he realized what I said earlier. "Oh, and I'm NOT a cat!"
But you look so much like one and it's pretty cute, though I didn't voice that thought out loud.
"Alright… fine. We'll take the cat," Ryuji gave in.
Morgana looked like he wanted to say something but decided not to. Probably about calling him a cat after saying not to. I grabbed the key on the wall and let him out.
"Ahhh… freedom tastes so great," Morgana said stretching his body out.
"Alright monster cat, where's the exit?" Ryuji said wanting to get out quicker. This caused the cat (?) to bristle at that.
"Don't call me a cat! My name's Morgana," he said. "Come on, let's head to the bridge."
So we made our way there. Morgana pointed out that I need pull the statue's mouth down. Don't know why he made me do it. It's probably he was too short to reach. We made our way across the bridge where a guard came out of a door right in front of us and we were forced to battle.
Morgana revealed his Persona, Zorro, and was giving tips for battle. Specifically, attacking weaknesses. Our opponents were a Jack-o'-Lantern and an Incubus. Morgana used Garu on the former while I used Kouha on the latter as that was what they were weak to. They were both downed so we finished them off with our weapons. It was another easy battle.
Moving forward Ryuji stopped in front of a cell that had an athlete in it. Ryuji was trying to figure out who he was but was too flustered to think straight while Morgana was urging him to keep moving. Unfortunately, they took too long and another guard lowered the bridge in front of us forcing us into a fight with a couple of Pixies.
Morgana summoned his Persona while I charged forward for melee combat as Pixie can resist bless attacks. They both shot Zio at me. I manage to dodge one but got hit by the other. Still, I managed to slash one a couple of times defeating it while Morgana defeated the other with his Persona.
[Sword Mastery] Level 1 [56%]
The sword is one of the most used weapons in history. The choice of weapon for both heroes and villains.
- Increase damage and attack speed when using swords by 3%
We finally made our way back to the entrance but the front door was locked. So we went to a room off to the side where escaped through a ventilation shaft. Morgana stayed behind.
~ Left the Metaverse ~
Now we're on the sidewalk, back where we first entered the Metaverse.
"Haah, did we make it? Ryuji asked.
I took out my phone. "You have returned to the real world. Welcome back."
"Returned? Does that mean we got away?" asked Ryuji.
"Yeah, I think so," I responded.
Ryuji let out a sigh. "I don't know what to think… What was all that anyway? That castle, an-and Kamoshida, and that weird cat? The hell's goin' on!" Ryuji was frustrated, trying but failing to wrap his head around all that happened.
"What's with the yelling? Are you students from Shujin?" two cops walked up to us having heard Ryuji yell.
"Cutting classes, are we?" I suppose that's a fair assumption.
"Huh? No. We were going to school and we ended up at a weird castle," Ryuji answered. I facepalmed as a result. As if they'll believe that.
"Haah, hand over your bag. You better not be doing any drugs," the cop said.
"W-why would you think that!?" Ryuji asked in disbelief wondering how they came to that conclusion.
As for me, on the outside my face is neutral. On the inside, I am trying very hard not to laugh at that leap in logic.
The other cop turned towards me. "Are you his friend?"
"Uh, something like that," I'm not sure if I'm his friend or not yet.
"Then you should go to school and take him with you."
"Look, I don't know what's goin' on here either, but there was a castle," Ryuji kept on insisting.
"Haah, we passed by Shujin earlier and there is no castle there," the cop said, already tired of this.
"C'mon, say something," Ryuji whispered to me as if anything I say will change their minds.
"Haah, let's get going," I said. There's no point in continuing this.
"That's not what meant…" But Ryuji realized I was already walking away.
"Wait a sec! Are you for real!? Ryuji started catching up.
~ Shujin Academy – Lunch Time ~
We arrived back at the school and Ryuji was surprised that it looks like how it's supposed to be and not a castle. The counselor was waiting for us and came out trying to figure out where we were. Ryuji half-heartedly said a castle, which caused me to facepalm once again. Then Kamoshida came out and pushed Ryuji's buttons by mentioning the track team. Predictably Ryuji was going to argue back but the counselor cut in taking Kamoshida's side cracking down on us even harder and taking Ryuji with him.
Now I'm out here alone… with Kamoshida. Haah, God, get me out of here.
"Have we met somewhere before?" He asked. "Miss…?"
"Emiya," I answered crossing my arms, wanting this to be over. "You drove up in a car to pick up a girl."
"Right, at the station," He replied. Looking me over, he smirked. "You know, it's not a good first impression, showing up a few hours late to school on your first day."
I said nothing and just looked at him with a blank face, revealing nothing.
"Tell you what, I'll overlook this for today. I am a teacher and it is my job to look out for my students," he said with a smile. "My name carries a lot of weight around here. So, just stay out of trouble and you won't regret it."
"I'll keep that in mind," I simply said.
"Good, good. You should head on in. I'm sure your homeroom teacher is tired of waiting," He started to head back inside the school but stopped and turned around. "Oh, if you plan on playing any sports, we can use more members on the volleyball team. You look like the athletic type so I'm sure you'll make it.
With a friendly smile, that creeped me out a bit, he went inside.
Haah, not even halfway through the day and I'm already tired. Being near Kamoshida is draining. Although I did complete the main quest so that's something.
[The Beginning of the Journey]
It seems you're in the center of the story. (Lucky you) April 9 marks the beginning of your journey.
Objective: Meet Sojiro Sakura on April 9 [x]
Head to school on April 11 [x]
Escape the Palace [x]
Rewards: The ability to use Personas, Nihil Sword, 2000 Xp, x2 Gacha tickets.
Once inside I got chewed out by my homeroom teacher for being late on my first day. I introduced myself to the rest of the class but their reaction was not what I expected. They all seemed… wary of me? Like… I don't know… like they should keep their distance.
~ Shujin Academy – After School ~
[For paying attention in class, +2 INT and +2 WIS.]
It was after school was over did I find out why everyone was kept looking in my direction.
"Hey, is that her?"
"Yeah, can you believe it?"
"She doesn't look like a yakuza."
…What? I stopped walking to listen in.
"But she was raised at the same orphanage where Haruka Sawamura was and she admitted to being raised by one."
"Hey, stop staring at her. We don't want to get on her bad side. Who knows who comes after us?"
I wanted to confront them but I had no idea what to think so I just walked off to gather my thoughts.
….
…What the hell is this? Am I being ostracized? How did they even find out about this? How do they know I'm an orphan and how do they know where I grew up? Where did this all even come from? Everything was fine when I came here on Sunday. What changed?
…I didn't expect this to happen. Is this to keep up with the story of being screwed by society?
Guess I'm not going to be making much friends in this school. Not that I mind, I had some friends in my past life but I need to have so many of them. On the plus side, this gossiping behind my back got me a new skill.
[Eavesdropping] Level: 2 [35%]
Hear conversations that you are not a part of or that may be going on in another area.
- 100% chance of hearing when within 4 meters.
- -10% accuracy per additional meter.
"Hey," turning my head, I saw it was Ryuji. "Meet me on the rooftop," he whispered to me. With that, he left making his way towards the stairs.
No sooner when he left the principal came walking by talking with Kamoshida. They stopped to talk by the stairs, so I hid around the corner to listen in.
"I'm surprised you let someone like her into the school. There's the fact she was raised by criminals as a kid. Did you know she's already hanging out with a delinquent like Sakamoto?" asked Kamoshida.
"Now don't be like that," Kobayakawa replied apologetically.
"At this rate, it won't matter how much I contribute," Kamoshida answered.
"The school counts on you, Kamoshida-kun. You're our star," the principal responded. "Anyway, she seemed like a very good choice. She has the highest grades from her previous school. You only told me of her past this morning so it is already too late."
"So Kamoshida was the one who spread the news about my past. How did he find out and why would he do that?" I thought towards Merlin.
Talking to my Persona was one of the first things I wanted to see if it was possible. I was not disappointed when I found out it is.
"I have some ideas, none of them good. Keep listening in," Merlin replied.
Kamoshida placed a hand on his chin in thought. "I guess you're right. Although, the fact she showed up late with Sakamoto of all people doesn't make me optimistic."
"Well, one mistake, and she's gone. What got her in here won't help her stay here. In the meantime, the volleyball rally is coming up in a couple of days. Perhaps you should focus on that."
"Understood," Kamoshida said with a smirk. "I'll do my best to answer your expectations."
With that, they parted ways. I should head to the roof now.
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Opening the door to the roof I can see Ryuji sitting on a chair located by several discarded desks.
"There you are," he said as he noticed me walking towards him. I took a seat on one of the desks.
"So…" he slowly tried to find what to say. "Heard you got raised yakuza. Everyone's talking about."
I narrowed my eyes a bit. "Not the best way to start a conversation," Ryuji had the courtesy to look a bit sheepish. "Haah, I heard Kamoshida was the one that spread that around. Don't know how he managed to find out," I said deflecting the topic away from me.
"Haah, yeah sounds like something he'd do." Ryuji's expression fell as he leaned forward. "…Just what was the castle? The way he acted in there is how he really is, he's just not that open about it. It doesn't matter what he does, no one was doing anything because he's an Olympic gold medalist who brought his team to the nationals," Ryuji gave a bitter laugh. "Yeah, I guess it makes sense he's the king of the castle…"
"He puts on a good act," I replied, crossing my arms. "He acted like he was doing me a favor by keeping me out of trouble. Even offered me a spot on his volleyball team."
Of course, he then goes behind my back to spread my past.
"Please tell me you didn't accept," Ryuji said with a small worried look on his face.
"I didn't. The look on his face told me everything I needed to know," I answered.
"Good, last thing you want is to be anywhere near that pervert," Ryuji said then fell silent.
"…Anything else you wanted to talk about?" I asked.
"Just wondering if there was a way to go back to that castle…" He shook his head. "But it had to have been a dream right?"
"Maybe…" I started to take out my phone.
"What is it?"
I opened up the Metaverse app and showed it to him. "I remember that I had this open when we were walking to school. If you look through the history it shows the castle."
"Woah…" He stared at it for a bit. "Maybe we could… no, let's do this tomorrow. I've had enough for today."
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," I said, also tired of today's events.
"Right then," Ryuji said, standing. "I'll see you tomorrow… uh… I don't think I ever got your name."
"Yuki Emiya"
"Right, and my name's Ryuji Sakamoto. See ya!"
I watched Ryuji leave and sighed. I wasn't looking forward to the lecture I'm going to get once I get home. Haah, no point in delaying this. The faster I get there, the faster it's over with.
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~ Café Leblanc – Evening ~
It was late when I got back. The trains were stupidly busy so by the time I got back the sun had set. Sojiro wasted no in showing his displeasure but lucky for me he was interrupted by a call and had to leave right away. So I headed to my room and sat down on my bed.
"Alright Merlin, time to talk" I have a lot of questions and Merlin could answer most of them.
"What do wish to speak about?"
"What are Personas?" the games sort of explained this but maybe with Merlin here she can give her own opinion. Also, I can ask all the questions I want. I would've asked Igor but the one in the Velvet Room is a fake.
"…That is a complicated question. Hmm… let's start with this. Do you know what the Root is?"
"It's… a place… outside of space and time. The place where all information on the multiverse is stored."
"That's simplifying it but yes that's what it is. But you forgot to mention souls. All souls come from the Root and that's where they all go when their die. The part of the Root where all the souls are from is known as the Sea of Souls. Sound familiar?"
"That's where I summon Personas from."
"Right. So you can simply say Personas are souls that are summoned from the Root."
"That sounds like something in the realm of True Magic."
"That's because it is. Congratulations, you're now a Magician. You know how to use a version of the Third True Magic," Merlin said cheerfully.
"…What?"
"Is it so unbelievable? Personas are 'the manifestation of the soul'. The Third Magic is 'the materialization of a soul'. That sounds pretty similar already.
"Can you go into more detail?"
"Ehhh… how about I don't. This is one of those things that sounds simple on the surface but once you get into the fine details it gets really confusing and hard to explain. Not to mention trying to combine the concepts of magic from two different universes is always headache-inducing. It's like trying to combine the magic of Overlord and the magic of Fairy Tail. Just accept it for what it is, it'll save you the trouble.
"…I still find it hard to believe I learned a True Magic so easily."
At this moment The Game decided to add its two cents.
Hidden Quest Completed
[True Magic]
Learn one of the five True Magic of the Nasuverse.
Rewards: A new Title, 5 Gacha tickets. 1 Legendary Gacha ticket.
A new Title has been unlocked
[Magician]
A Title that is given to those who have managed to learn one of the True Magic of the Nasuverse
Information on Titles: Whenever you complete certain actions or reach certain milestones you can unlock a Title. Titles are purely cosmetic and offer no additional bonuses. They are there for the prestige.
…Huh. Looks like The Game agrees with Merlin.
"Haah, great. How much attention am I getting by being a Magician?"
"I wouldn't worry too much about that. After all, this world is different from the one I remember."
"What do you mean?"
"The mana of this world… it's far more potent than I remember," Merlin took a pause here, probably to contemplate something. "Yes, I'm certain of it."
"Certain of what, exactly?"
"The Age of Gods in this world has not ended."
….
Haah, another world to consider because of my Multiverse Shuffle perk. It could be a number of worlds, High School DxD, Percy Jackson, none of them, all of them, or even worlds I have no idea about. Ugh, troublesome.
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Somewhere else in the multiverse.
A certain someone sneezes while he was in the middle of cloud watching.
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Back to Yuki
"Are you done with your monologue?" Merlin spoke up.
"Yeah, I'm good. I just can't deal with big surprises like that."
"With the news of the True Magic and now this. Hmm… we're going to have to fix that," Merlin muttered to herself. Though I'm pretty sure she meant for me to hear that. "After all, variety is the spice of life~."
"Do you know which worlds are also a part of this one?" I asked.
"I do."
…
"Are you going to tell me?"
"I could but where would be the fun in that? It would spoil the surprise," Merlin said playfully.
…I should have expected that answer.
"Anyway, since the Age of Gods is still here, magic has not declined to the point where there only a handful of Magicians left. That means there are many more Magicians here so you won't stand out as much
"Haah, going back a bit, are there any other differences you've noticed this world has from yours?"
"The mundane history is pretty much the same as my world but the moonlit world is very different."
"Will you tell me what those differences are?" I asked, even though I already know the answer.
"I'll leave that for you to discover~," she said.
As I thought, she won't tell me anything because it's, apparently, more fun for her if I figure it out myself. Probably wants to see my look of surprise. I wonder if a part of myself is like this. After all, she is my Persona, so she's a part of me. Speaking of Merlin…
"Hey Merlin, why is it that you look the way you do and not look like, for example, Morgana's Zorro?" Merlin looks like a regular person compared to Zorro's more fantastical look.
"I think that's more of your influence. For some reason, you can override humanity's perception and substitute your own. I have a theory but I think you should gain more Personas before I talk about it. I'm your only one right now and it's a bit boring being the only one inside your soul."
"Huh… Well, what do you think I should do now?"
"Maybe you should read those magecraft books you have, I'm both impressed and confused that you have a pocket dimension but don't know how to use magecraft. Also, those books just appeared in there from nowhere. This is most interesting…"
She's talking about my inventory but doesn't know what it is? Merlin is a part of me and already knows so much about me that I assumed she would know about the Game but it seems she doesn't?
No. She and any Personas you gain won't know about the Gamer unless you tell them about it.
Hey there SYSTEM, it's been a while.
You've been busy trying to get used to this world, so I thought I should keep quiet for now. You still are, so I'll still be in the background until things settle down.
Hmm, alright. I guess I should learn these skill books. I took out the three skill books and picked up the closest one.
[Would you like to use the Reinforcement skill book?]
Mentally hitting 'Yes', the book dissolved in to blue lights and entered my chest. When that was finished a screen popped up.
Skill Acquired
[Reinforcement] Level: 1 [0%]
A skill where the user circulates mana into their body or an item to increase the parameters.
- When used on the user's body, increase STR, DEX, and END by 5%.
- When used on a weapon, increase ATK by 5%.
- When used on an item, increase its effects by 5%.
"Well, that was an interesting light show," Merlin spoke up, intrigued. "A bit of a shame the book is now gone. Books on magecraft are hard to come by these days."
I decided to ignore Merlin in favor of learning the next book.
Skill Acquired
[Alteration] Level: 1 [0%]
A magecraft spell that gives an object a property or effect it didn't originally have.
Nice. Moving on.
Skill Acquired
[Structural Analysis] Level: 1 [0%]
Through the aid of mana, the user can analyze the components and layout of an object. While usually used through contact, the user can use this skill from a distance.
- Objects too high level to analyze will hurt the user.
Cool, onto the next-
Error-
What?
An error has been detected. The skills [Observe] and [Structural Analysis] are defined as redundant through previous Gamer data. Due to this precedence, the skills will be combined.
-Finding suitable composite skill… Skill Created…
[Due to certain actions, a new skill has been acquired]
[Mystic Eyes of Myriad Truths] Level: 10 [0%]
Yuki's special pair of eyes were given to her because of her connection to the Sea of Souls. This skill is a combination of the skills [Observe] and [Structural Analysis]. When using these eyes, Yuki will see the truth of anything and everything.
- Provides the description and information on any target you see.
- Allows you to see the history of an object.
- Allows you to analyze things at a glance.
- Using this on objects too high a level will hurt you.
- You will always see the Truth, no matter what.
…What. The. Hell.
I got [Mystic Eyes] for learning a basic magecraft spell? This is too OP, please don't nerf Game.
Merlin also seemed to notice this change in me. She wasn't saying anything but she was poking my mind as a way of saying she's interested and would like some answers if possible.
…Maybe I'll tell her later.
Still, I'm not sure what to think about that last line. "You will always see the Truth no matter what", what does that mean, exactly? Truth is a broad concept that can be very subjective.
To quote the Assassins on this, "Nothing is True", is a good way to describe this way of thinking. Truth usually changes from person to person. What one person sees as the truth, another could see as a lie or impossible. Does this mean I will always see what the pure, unadulterated, Truth is? If so, then what is Truth?
Haah, I didn't think I'd go on a whole philosophy tangent just by reading one line. Let's just move on to the last book.
Skill Acquired
[Projection] Level: 1 [0%]
The ability to materialize objects, based on the caster's imagination, through the use of magical energy. Projected items are weaker than the original and will slowly disappear over time.
- Mana cost varies based on the object being projected.
- Projected items are 75% weaker than the original.
Alright… this is the skill I have been looking forward to the most. I always liked Shirou's Tracing ability and I now have the chance to finally learn it. First I need to use [Structural Analysis] or my I guess my [Mystic Eyes] since I don't have that skill anymore. Pulling out the Nihil Sword I got for completing the main quest, I used my [Mystic Eyes] and learned everything about it.
Nihil Sword - The Sword of Beginnings
Rank: D
The sword that appeared in Yuki's hands when she unlocked her unique form of soul magic. The potential of this weapon is waiting, in anticipation, to be released.
ATK: 100
Hmm, according to the history of this sword, it's the one that appeared in my hands at the castle. It was sitting in the Gate of Babylon, of all places, until it noticed my awakening and latched onto me in the hopes of becoming a weapon of legend. Huh, that's interesting. Alright, let's get started.
But before I could a screen popped up.
[Nihil Sword has been added to ?]
...What the heck does that mean? What is it with these new mysteries popping up? The last hour is one thing after another. So many info dumps and surprises happening one after another! I just wanted to learn some magecraft damn it! Now I'm left with so many new questions!
…Ugh! Whatever, I'll just question the "?" thing later. I just want to learn Tracing so let's get right to it. Fortunately, I remember its seven-step process by heart now.
Judging the concept of creation
An empty sword wanting a soul in order to become something.
Hypothesizing the basic structure
A longsword that is colored in silvery blue and gold.
Duplicating the composition material
A combination of Mithril, Uru, and Goblin Silver.
Imitating the skill of its making
Forged as a physical conception of all the swords wanting a legend.
Sympathizing with the experience of its growth
There it laid, inside the greatest treasury waiting for a proper wielder.
Reproducing the accumulated years
It finally found its wielder and was used for a short time up until this moment.
Excelling every manufacturing process
This sword is connected to Yuki's soul allowing it to have great potential.
Now I just need a trigger word and I think it's pretty obvious what it is.
"Trace On"
And in a small flash of light, what looked to be a perfect copy of the Nihil Sword appeared. Of course with my Eyes I can tell that's not the case.
Nihil Sword (Copy)
ATK: 80
[Due to certain actions, a skill has been updated]
Projection has now changed to Tracing
[Tracing] Level: 2 [12%]
Tracing greatly differs from the normal [Projection] in the fact that not only does it reproduce the shape and substance of an object, but also its entire history as well. This is achieved through a 7-step process. Because of this Traced objects are incredibly more stable and can stay in the world indefinitely unless dismissed or destroyed.
- Mana cost varies based on the object being Traced.
- Traced items are 20% weaker than the original.
"Hehehe…," I started giggling to myself because this is officially the best skill I will have, not to mention I got it right on my first try. I am not being biased whatsoever.
…Okay, maybe I'm being a little biased. It also doesn't hurt that my last name is Emiya, to feed my fantasy. Ever since I saw the anime and saw Archer pull off the stuff he does, I always wanted to as well.
I guess I know what I'm training tonight.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~ April 12 – After School ~
"Hey, uh… you gonna' eat? Cause your food's getting cold," Ryuji asked as he sat next to me, inhaling his beef bowl.
We just got back from our second impromptu trip through Kamoshida's Palace. Everything went exactly as canon and Ryuji unlocked his Persona. As for me, I got some practical experience going through the Palace and ended up gaining a new skill too, so that's nice.
[Handgun Mastery] Level: 2 [34%]
A skill used to determine one's ability with handguns.
- Increase accuracy and damage by 6% when using handguns.
Ryuji invited me to a beef bowl place where we were talking about our plans to take down Kamoshida. There's a volleyball rally at school tomorrow, so afternoon classes are canceled. Ryuji wants to use this as a chance to talk the victims into speaking out against Kamoshida's tyranny and abuse. But… I already know it's not going to work because everyone is too scared of him and the other adults do nothing about it.
"Sorry if I'm distracted. Just thinking about tomorrow," I spoke up.
"What about?" Ryuji asked, still eating.
"I highly doubt anyone is going to talk to us," I said with a sigh.
Ryuji paused in his eating,
"Why not?"
"Haah, embarrassment, and pride. They believe allowing this crap to continue will help their future prospects that it's worth ignoring the abuse happening to them. If we try to get them to talk, they'll clam up. I'm pretty sure the principal knows what's going on and is bribing people to keep their mouths shut because he wants to maintain the school's reputation," I decided to tell him straight out. "Not to mention people who're abused by authority figures rarely speak out. The few that did were probably ignored and that discouraged the rest."
Ryuji was now staring at me with an odd look on his face.
"What makes you say that?"
"I knew a chemistry teacher who despised a man he went to school with and hates teaching children. When that man's son became the teacher's student he decided to take out his grudge on him. He was a vicious person who took a huge amount of pleasure in harassing his students, and despite the numerous complaints, the headmaster ignored them for reasons I'll never understand," I said.
Of course, who I'm describing is Snape from the Harry Potter books. Not sure if what I said is completely true since there is only so much you can infer from the books, so I decided to toss in my own head canon. Fortunately for me, the books don't exist in this world so Ryuji won't know who I'm talking about.
Due to certain actions, a skill has been acquired.
[Lying] Level: 2 [13%]
The art of having other people believe false information.
- +5% success rate when lying.
- -50% success rate if the lie is too unbelievable.
What!? I wasn't lying! I was giving an example from a book!
The head canon counts as lying.
What!? That doesn't make any sense!
It's a free skill. Just accept it. ;)
I gave SYSTEM a mental huff.
[Lie Successful]
Ugh, it wasn't a lie.
Ryuji seemed discouraged by what I said.
"So trying to get witnesses is impossible," Ryuji said, looking pissed.
"I didn't say that. It'll be like pulling teeth but it's still worth trying and if it doesn't work we can get our own evidence."
Ryuji perked up a bit.
There's also the Metaverse and the fact we can steal his treasure. But I decided to let Morgana be the one to bring that up because it will be more believable from him.
"And if nothing else we can always prank him," I brought up.
"Prank him?" Ryuji looked to be liking the idea. "How?"
"Hm, I need to toss some ideas around in my head but I'll come up with something good in a couple of days."
With that, I went back to my, now cooling, food. Ryuji seems to like the idea of getting back at Kamoshida in such a way. And that's when I heard the sound of glass cracking.
"I am thou... Thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new vow...
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Chariot Persona
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power..."
[Chariot Confidant (Ryuji Sakamoto) has reached Rank 1.]
Huh… neat.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~ April 12 – Late Night ~
Right now, I had just woken up from my forced sleep. I got dragged to the Velvet Room and the Fool Confidant went to Rank 1 which got me two new perks.
[Wild Talk]
Allows you to negotiate with shadows after a hold-up.
[Arcana Burst]
Earn bonus EXP when fusing Personas based on their Arcana's Confidant Rank.
The Game also decided to explain how Confidants work in terms of Reputation.
[Each time a Confidant goes up a Rank, think of it as if you gain +10 reputation with that person. So say you have a Confidant at Rank 5 that means you have a +50 reputation with that Confidant.]
I'm currently trying to figure out how to prank Kamoshida without getting caught. I have several ideas but the biggest obstacle in my path is the security cameras. Doesn't matter how good my stealth is, the cameras will catch me.
You know, I was going to do this after you start your first infiltration but now seems like a good time.
What are you talking about, SYSTEM?
I'm going to unlock a couple of new features in your menu to help you out. Mainly because I'm curious to see what kind of pranks you come up with.
New features have been added.
[Abyss Shop has been unlocked]
The Abyss Shop, the department store for all Gamers' needs. You can buy something as mundane as a Kit-Kat, to skill books, to even items and weapons from other parts of the multiverse.
(Please note that the most powerful items and skills are not listed as we do not want the Gamer's experience to be too easy.)
[Abyss Auction has been unlocked]
The Abyss Auction is an auction shop for Gamers. Gamers can participate in auctions to gain new items or they can auction off their items for a profit.
(Please note that if you decide to auction your items, the Abyss Auction takes 10% of the winning bid as a seller's fee.)
So… it's like a Gamers' version of Amazon and eBay and I'm not the only person with a Gamer System. Hey SYSTEM, what are the chances that I run into other Gamers?
Next to none. The Multiverse is an infinite place and we Systems tend to start Gamers far away from each other and try to make sure they don't cross paths. The only time you'll run into other Gamers is if you allow it.
That's good. I want to keep this a solo experience. Hmm, right now I have about ¥5000. Is there a way I can quickly get more money? I guess I can use the 12 Gacha tickets that I've never touched. I can auction what I don't want.
Finally, I was wondering when you would use those.
Had to wait 'til I got 10 of them. If I use 10 at once then I get an extra Gacha pull for free.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Can't wait to see what you pull with your luck.
Right. Here goes nothing. Pulling up the 10+1 Gacha option, I let it roll.
[Gacha Activated…]
[A block of Vibranium (Marvel)]
It's a 1x1 meter cube of Vibranium. I honestly have no idea what to do with this. I guess I'll keep it, for now. I can always auction it off later.
[Kit-Kat]
[1x bag of Lays Barbeque Chips]
[RWBY Volume 1-8 Blu-Ray DVD Set]
Interesting… in this world, Rooster Teeth and RWBY does exist but Volume 3 just ended. Probably should make sure this doesn't get on the internet.
[The Green Black Keys (Craft Essence)]
Oh, you've gotta be kidding me. Even with my luck, I can't avoid this damn curse.
Well, what this does is that I can equip this to raise my DEX by 10%. I can also manifest the Black Keys physically and use them like they are.
[Ebony and Ivory (DMC)]
[Beats Wireless Headphones]
[Rayfield Caliburn (CP2077)]
The fastest car in Cyberpunk 2077. Hell yes, I will gladly keep that.
+2 Reputation with SYSTEM [7/100]
Okay, now I'm jealous. I absolutely love cars and that one is one of my favorites in the multiverse.
Downside though, the minimum age to get a license in Japan is 18.
Actually, you don't have to wait that long. In this world, the driving age is 16.
So I can start driving around the car in my 2nd Year? Nice.
[Yaiba Kusanagi CT-3X (CP2077)]
Hell yeah! I love motorcycles!
Fastest motorcycle from the same game? At least you can get a license for this right now.
Let me guess, the age to get a motorcycle license was lowered in this world, as well?
Yup, it's 15 years. Though you won't see many people your age riding one. Costs too much money for a teen.
Well, guess I'm lucky I got mine for free. Let's hope I can keep that coming.
[Elucidator (SAO)]
Kirito's sword from Aincrad.
Elucidator (SAO)
Rank: D+
A long-sword that Kirito obtained from the Floor 50 boss. This sword became a part of Kirito's iconic Black Swordsman Design.
- ATK: 160
- When dual-wielding with Dark Repulser, increase the ATK of this sword by 50%.
[Elucidator has been added to ?]
Hmm… its stats are higher than my Nihil Sword but I think I'll hold off using it until I get Dark Repulser. Something inside me is telling me to keep using the Nihil Sword.
The last Gacha pull is next. Hope it's a good one.
[Perk: Ambidextrous]
Perk Acquired
[Ambidextrous]
Allows the user to use both their left and right hands equally well.
Huh, not bad for when I eventually learn to dual-wield. Well, that's done. I'm moving on to my nightly training.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~ April 13 – After School ~
So, today was a bust. Today was the volleyball rally and once again things went canon. We just finished trying to talk to Mishima, who confirmed everything that was happening and that no one can do a thing about it.
"Damn it. I know you said this would happen but I was kind of hoping you'd be wrong," Ryuji sighs out.
"I was hoping I'd be wrong too," I said.
"Haah, I'm gonna go around and try to persuade the others again," Ryuji says. The next part is almost a whisper. "It's all I can do, right now."
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS"
"That was Kamoshida!" Ryuji was surprised, wondering what Kamoshida could be screaming about.
"That sounded like it came from the teacher's parking lot," I said with a smile on my face. It's about time he noticed.
"Let's go check it out," Ryuji said, running off with me closely behind.
When we got to a window to see into the parking lot, there was already a bit of a crowd and Kamoshida was stomping around his car, fuming mad. The reason for this?
It looks like his car has been painted over. His previously white car was now this incredibly bright…
….
….
Orange.
I kid you not, Kamoshida's car is now this hideously bright orange color. It looked to be the same color as Naruto's "kill me now" jumpsuit.
Ryuji, upon noticing this, fell to the ground and started laughing his ass off. It looked like most people were doing this.
As for me? I still had a smile on my face as I was looking at a very successful prank. And the best part? Kamoshida will never know it was me thanks to a new skill I learned last night.
[Invisibility] Level: 12 [21%]
This spell works by using your mana as mirrors, reflecting light around you in a way that it conceals you.
- At your current level, quick movements and running will show slight visual displacement.
I asked Merlin if she could teach me this but she was very reluctant to do so. When I told her it was for a prank, she, suddenly, couldn't wait to teach this to me. As for turning his car orange, I simply used Alteration to add orange to the car's white paint. I think I'll let it stay that way for a few days, and have him deal with the embarrassment before I change it back. This also means he probably won't be driving around the female students in his car, so that's a nice bonus.
[Due to certain actions, the skills [Stealth] and [Invisibility] have merged together]
Skill Acquired
[Presence Concealment] Level 14 [0%]
This skill hides all traces of your existence. No one can see you, you leave no scent, and no sound, no footprints, and fingerprints, basically nothing that lets anyone know you are there.
- You can still be found if someone's [Presence Detection] is high enough.
…Why does it feel like the Game is just handing me skills now? You know what? Let's not question it, lest I tempt Murphy.
Ryuji was still on the ground, laughing at Kamoshida still freaking out when I decided to take my leave.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~ April 15 – Kamoshida's Palace ~
"…Is it just me, or do you guys, also, see a demon sitting on a toilet?" I mean, I saw this in the game but seeing it, in reality, is pretty weird, to say the least.
"…It's not just you," Ryuji answered, also weirded out by it.
"Who cares what it is? That thing is going down!" said Ann, launching an Agi at it, knocking it to the ground.
It's super effective.
"Look like it weak to fire," I noted. "Let's go everyone, All-Out Attack!"
To which everyone started jumping in and out, hitting it with everything. When the attack ended, the toilet demon major damage but recovered and started its retaliation. This went on repeat, with Ann using Carmen and myself using Jack-o'-Lantern, until it was finally down. None of us were really injured.
[Level Up!]
Shadow Kamoshida, upon seeing his guard defeated, decided to cut his losses and get out as quickly as possible.
"Hey, wait!" Ann tried to chase after him but fell to her knees since she was exhausted from her awakening.
"Why'd you come here?" Ryuji rushed in with questions. "And more importantly, how?"
"Hey, is that how you speak to a lady?" Morgana admonished. He's, already, quite taken with her.
I decided I want to quickly get out of here. "Listen, as much as I want to clear things up on this situation, I think we should follow Kamoshida's lead and execute 'Emergency Plan: GTFO'. His knights will, most likely, come looking for us."
"Joker has a point. Let's get out of here, then we can explain everything to Lady Ann."
"Rgh fine. Just when we gettin' fired up." Ryuji walked up to Ann's side.
"Here give me your arm." Ryuji then turned to me. "You take the other side."
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~ April 15 – Evening ~
So, we got out of the castle and the three of others explained to Ann what we plan on doing in the Metaverse. Of course, she agreed to help us and I got Rank 1 of her social link. We split and Morgana followed me (more like I carried him) home. The two of us came to an agreement where he'll teach me how to make infiltration tools in exchange for letting him live here.
He's also going to travel around with me. That might be a bit of a problem since he'll notice things that will cause him to ask questions. Like the fact that I don't sleep if I don't have to or my magic training. I'm also a bit worried. Isn't this where his social link pops up? Whatever, I'll figure all this out later.
I'm going to start my training now.
"Hey, Morgana, I need you to clear out for a bit."
"Hm? Why?"
"I need to get changed for my nightly training."
"Training? Don't you want to rest? I know I want to, the Palace was exhausting."
"No can do. I do this every night and I don't plan on breaking routine."
Morgana had an inquisitive look on his face… Well, as inquisitive as a cat can look. "Alright, if you feel like you're able to train, then go for it. Just don't overdo it."
"Great."
….
….
"Uh, Morgana?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to get changed."
"Right, you said that."
"Yeah, well in order to do that, I have to take off my clothes."
"Then go ahead."
Morgana still made no moves.
"…Do you plan on leaving?" I asked.
"Normally I would but I'm too tired from the Palace to go with you, so I'll just stay here."
"No… I'm not asking if you're going with me."
"Oh, then what are you asking?"
"I'm asking if you're going to leave the room."
"Why would I do that? I just found a comfortable spot on the bed."
"Because I need to get change my clothes."
"You said that already. Go ahead and change."
…I'm not sure if he's trying to peep on me or if he's seriously clueless.
"Morgana, I'm a girl."
"I know that."
"And I need to get changed."
"Then stop standing around and get changed already," Morgana said with a bit of exasperation. Looking like he's wondering why I'm not doing what I'm saying like I'm the weird one.
Okay, so he's really just clueless. How? He was practically flirting with Ann earlier so he shouldn't be dense. Well, I guess there's only one thing I can do that will maybe get through to him.
I start getting changed and it immediately has an effect.
"AHH! What the heck are you doing!?" Morgana quickly turns away with a cat's equivalent of a blush. (Whatever the heck that is.)
"I'm changing my clothes," I said, giving him a deadpan expression.
"…Ohhh, so that's what you were talking about," said Morgana, finally getting it. "I'm going to hang out downstairs."
"You go do that."
And with that, he finally left. What the heck was that? I never took Morgana as someone who is that dense. I guess he's only like that about certain things. Maybe he never had this problem with Ren since he's a guy.
"I am thou... Thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new vow...
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Magician Persona
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power..."
[Magician Confidant (Morgana) has reached Rank 1.]
Oh, now the social link shows up! Did I really have to go through all of that? I think I'm going to prank Morgana later for this. How about making his fur pink? Yeah, that sounds good.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~ April 16 – Evening – Café Leblanc ~
Today was a day of planning with the prospective Phantom Thieves. Basically talking about where to get weapons and medicine. I already have the latter secured and Ryuji is going to take me someplace tomorrow to handle the former. Definitely the airsoft shop. Meanwhile, when I got back Morgana had me clean the desk and taught me how to make some lockpicks. Which ended up getting a new skill.
[Due to certain actions, a new skill has been acquired.]
Skill Acquired
[Tool Crafting] Level: 2 [2%]
A crafting skill related to the creation of tools for combat.
I was getting ready for my training when I got a text message.
Ryuji: Hey, did either of ya notice Kamoshida acting strange today?
Yuki: What do you mean?
Ryuji: He seemed… extra pissed about something.
Ann: I noticed that too. I heard he was yelling a lot more during volleyball practice and he couldn't touch a volleyball, or anything else really.
Yuki: Oh, that would be my latest prank on him.
Ann: What did you do?
Yuki: Ghost pepper oil on his car door and steering wheel.
Ryuji: What!? How'd you get past the security cameras in the parking lot?
Yuki: Same way when I dyed his car orange.
Ann: So it was you who did that. That was pretty funny.
Yuki: I'm nowhere near finished. I got a whole lot more pranks to use on him.
Ryuji: Where do you even come up with these?
The texting stopped shortly after and I got on to my training. Though with Morgana watching me I couldn't train my magecraft as I didn't want to reveal that yet.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
~ April 17 – Evening – Café Leblanc ~
Today's Sunday so it's our day off from school. I just got back from the airsoft shop with Ryuji. We bought some new weapons and customized them a bit. For some reason though, I get the feeling that the guy behind the counter won't be one of my social links. Don't know why, it's just a feeling I get.
So here I am in bed, solving a Rubik's Cube, and trying to figure out what to do next. I'm probably not going to train today. I should take a break every once in a while, even with my new body and mind.
Hmm, almost done with the cube…
And….
….
There.
[Due to solving a Rubik's Cube (3x3), you have gained 1 INT.]
[Please note that you will not gain more INT for solving the Rubik's Cube (3x3) again.]
Huh, that's an interesting way of gaining INT. The 3x3 implies that I can gain more INT if the Cube is a different variation, like a 2x2 or a 5x5. I wonder if I get INT from crossword puzzles or Sudoku. Something to test later.
[Attention, Gamer.]
What's this now?
[The System will be undergoing an update for the next 10 hours. During this time, you will be forced into an unconscious state to ensure a smooth transition for the update.]
Huh, I guess the Game has decided I'll be sleeping the night away.
[The update will start after finishing this next prompt.]
….
Quest Completed
[A Whole New World]
Complete the prologue of Persona 5 [x]
Rewards: Class System, 3 Gacha Tickets.
I don't remember ever getting this quest. Not that it matters, I won't complain about the free rewards.
[You have now unlocked the Class System and can choose your first class.]
[Note: Once you choose a class, you will be locked into that class forever. However, it is possible to obtain a new class through completing very special requirements.]
[Saber][Lancer][Archer][Rider][Caster][Assassin]
*Ding*
[Due to completing certain requirements, you have unlocked two new choices.]
[Avenger][Faker]
Hmm, so 6 of the standard Servant classes, along with 2 extra classes. One of which I know nothing about. Why no Berserker?
[You have not fulfilled the requirements to choose that class.]
Eh, it doesn't matter. I don't think I would have chosen that class anyway. Still, all the choices are really good. I honestly have no idea which to choose off the bat. Though I have managed to narrow it down.
[Saber]
Knight of the Sword and Heroic Spirit of the Sword. A jack-of-all-trades warrior. Agile and powerful in close quarters; extremely adept at swordsmanship.
- Increase STR and END by 15%.
- Increase DEX by 10%.
- Increase attack damage and attack speed by 25% when using a sword.
- Gain the skill [Magic Resistance] started at level 20.
- Gain the skill [Riding] started at level 20.
- Gain +3 STR and END each time you level up.
- Gain +2 DEX each time you level up.
If there was a pure physical class to choose it would be this just because I prefer swords. I know I already have [Magic Resistance] but it's only at level 1. Choosing this would immediately raise it to 20. [Riding] means I don't have to relearn how to drive a car or motorcycle. (Finding out I had to relearn driving was incredibly annoying.)
The downside to this is that this is a pure physical class. I usually like a dual-class. A combination of both physical and magical skills.
[Caster]
Magus and Heroic Spirit of Spells and Sorcery. Adept in magecraft, being one of the few able to use sorceries of the highest caliber.
- Increase INT and WIS by 25%.
- Increase damage by 20% when using magic.
- Decrease mana cost of magical skills by 10%.
- Gain the skill [Potion-Making] started at level 20.
- Gain the skill [Rune Magic] started at level 20.
- Gain +5 INT and WIS each time you level up.
I'm mostly interested in this one because of the skills. The [Potion-Making] skill is more along the lines of what's in Skyrim. Just taking ingredients and combining them for certain effects. Of course with skill, the possibilities on the potions you can create are nearly limitless. I want [Rune Magic] for a similar reason. You can do a lot with[Rune Magic]. You can theoretically do whatever you want with runes.
Downside is that where Saber is purely physical, Caster is purely magical.
Still, I cannot understate how very powerful potions and runes are. While I know I can eventually learn them on my own, getting a jump start on the skills is really tempting. Also, the increase in magic damage and decrease in cost is always helpful. Especially how powerful magic really can be if you're dedicated to learning it. The free points in INT and WIS per level are also nice since those are harder to train than the physical stats.
All in all, if I had to choose either Saber or Caster, I'd probably choose Caster due to how versatile magic can be as opposed to being specialized with the sword with Saber.
[Due to accepting your shadow, you have unlocked the Avenger Class.]
[Avenger]
Vigilante and Heroic Spirit of Vengeance. Vindictive warriors that bear great hatred in the past, the embodiment of hatred itself. The dark side of the Holy Grail.
- Increase all stats (except LUK) by 10%.
- Allows the user to enter an "Alter" state, for a temporary time, which further increases all stats between 5% to 20% depending on the circumstances.
- Gain the perk [Avenger].
- Gain the perk [Self-Replenishment (Mana)].
- Gain the perk [Oblivion Correction]
- Increase all damage dealt by 5%.
- Gain +1 to all stats (except LUK) each time you level up.
Clicking on the perks shows what exactly they do.
[Avenger]
An avenger is one who can gather hatred and grudges onto oneself.
- For every 1% of missing health, increase MP regeneration by 1%.
[Self-Replenishment (Mana)]
One's magical energy endlessly surges until their revenge is complete.
- Increase MP regeneration by 10%.
[Oblivion Correction]
Avengers never forget.
- Increase critical damage by 20%.
I know I accepted my shadow and all but was that really enough to unlock this class? I know Avengers use their hatred to empower themselves but I don't know where I would draw that hatred from. There is nothing off the top of my head that can fuel that kind of thing. Also, I have no idea what "Alter Mode" does. Am I still in control or does my shadow take over?
Still, the stat boosts are the most average out of all of the classes so this kind of feels like a jack of all trades kind of class. This suits my dual-class style, so this class is high on my list.
[Due to your lineage and your knowledge of Tracing, you have unlocked the Faker Class.]
[Faker]
Heroic Spirit of Imitations. Masters of a very particular spell. The variation that was created by their forefather and passed down through the family along with… something else.
- Increase DEX and INT by 15%.
- Increase STR by 10%.
- Increase attack damage and attack speed by 15% when using a sword.
- Increase attack damage and attack speed by 10% when using a bow.
- Decrease mana cost of Tracing by 20%.
- ?
- ?
- Gain +3 DEX and INT each time you level up.
- Gain +2 STR each time you level up.
I'm not sure what to say about this class. Obviously, it's specialized towards Tracing and Shirou's fighting style. It's also a bit of a dual-class, leveling the important physical and magical stats. But there are two hidden skills I know nothing about and all the Game has told me is that I'll find out once I unlock the skills related to those skills.
This class is a mystery.
…
…Now, which one do I choose? All these classes give great effects, except for [Faker] which has standard effects with a couple of hidden ones that could be great. This is an incredibly hard choice.
…Decisions… decisions.
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Author's Note:
So, this chapter took forever to get out.
I got a full-time job in August taking away much of my free time. Then college started up taking the rest, meaning very little time to work on this story. However, slowly but surely, over the course of these months, I was able to finish it.
This chapter was focused on speeding past the first week of the game so I can finally get to the part where things started to open up and really start the good stuff.
As for an idea for when the next chapter will come out? I'm thinking somewhere around the time of Christmas break, maybe around New Year's.
Constructive criticism is appreciated.
(Preview)
"So, here we are, Fuyuki City."
"You really think you can find information on your family here?"
"I don't know, but this is the only lead I have."
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Apocalyptic was the only way to describe what I was seeing. It was as if someone had decided to set the whole world on fire.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
"Bring it on, Archer!"
"Hmph, I'll finish this now."
I am the bone of my sword.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
"I ask of you, are you my master?"