Leaving the room, this was definitely the land of the back door, that's for sure. I mean, what other place is styled with doors everywhere? As I left, I noticed a note directed at me.

Hello Outsider! If you would like an explanation on your current situation, come to the kitchen.

Floating aimlessly with my new flight ability, how was I supposed to find this kitchen? But after a while, I saw somebody I vaguely remembered, Mai Terireida, she was a cute girl with green hair and a bamboo plant stick thing in her hand. She noticed me and approached. "Hello, Outsider. Okina-sama has sensed great potential in you and has instructed me to bring you to her." She wordlessly grabbed my hand and dragged me away. I tried to rip my hand away from her grasp but she had a vice grip on me, seems like I'm still weak as hell compared to the Gensokyo natives. Actually... "Observe" I whispered

Mai Terierida, LvL: 72, Servant of the Secret God. Race: Human?

Well, makes sense she would be such a high level, a servant of one of the strongest Touhou characters would naturally be broken. After a bit of walking, I was led into a large room, this isn't a kitchen? Looking, I saw a frankly beautiful woman sitting on a throne, guess beauty is a theme in Gensokyo.

Okina Matara, LvL: ??? Observation skill not high enough level to observe this individual.

Welp, expected. I was going to introduce myself, but Okina talked first. "Human, my name is Okina Matara, though I'm sure Mai already told you that. As the secret god of the back door, I can sense hidden potential within people, and from you I sense potential the likes of which could put you on par with some of the heavy hitters of the land. So, why don't we put that to the test? Mai, engage this man in battle, keep it safe." Oh shit, the level 6 me vs the level 72 Mai? How is this fair? Without warning, the bamboo stick slammed into my side, sending me flying across the room.

New passive abilities unlocked, blunt force damage reduction, Reaction time, battle sense. New quest, survive the battle with Mai.

A little late for that isn't it? Standing up while she gave me some time to recuperate, this is a test after all, I tried talking to her. "Hey, we don't need to fight! AHH!"

She put the stick into a spear position and thrust it towards my head. Thankfully to my new reaction time skill, time seemed to slow down for both her and my own movements as I bent my head to the side and reached into my inventory, time to prove my strength.

Skill Unlocked, Fencing lvl 27.

You see, I had always enjoyed a good fencing battle, and as a frequent HEMA enjoyer, I quickly decided on the sword I liked most, a Spanish Rapier. This beauty made of hardened steel, with handguards and the grip that matched my hand perfectly, set me back almost 1000 but by God was it worth it.

Pulling it out, I thrusted it towards her myself, only to get her moving at ridiculous speeds to deflect my attack, she could have hit me instead, but I guess she wasn't gonna be that mean, this works. As she tried to hit me multiple other times, my years of practice kicked in as I deflected every single hit, this was surprisingly easy!

"For an outsider, you definitely are strong. But I think it's time to end this, Master is gonna finally be proud of me, and beating you is the first step!" Sensing what was coming, I grabbed the rapier with both my hands and put it in the way of where I expected her to hit me. Thankfully, I was correct. *SNAP* but my hands were NOT meant to handle that type of punishment.

Health depleted by 27%, relationship with Mai Terierida increased by 1.

She was not expecting that block. I went in for a thrust, only for my grip to give out as I dropped the Rapier, looking at it as it fell, the thing seemed to have been deformed by that hit. Why? I even ordered it extra durable! Quickly rushing down to grab it, I saw her with the stick over her head, and it didn't take a genius to know what happened next. *CLANG*

I had no time to move my rapier to block, so instead I went into my inventory with my left hand, and brought out a one armed shield quickly, one made of hard steel. With this distraction, I stabbed my rapier at her, but she easily moved out of the way. And thus begun a long series of her giving me massive attacks that I blocked, and me giving fast attacks that she deflected or dodged. But this couldn't last, something had to break. And with my rapier already having sustained permanent damage, it was only a matter of time before... *Shatter* my shield broke under the rediculous attacks.

She smirked at this. She quickly stabbed her bamboo stick at me... and I got out another shield from my inventory. What? I always bring backups.

throughout this multiple minute long battle, I felt myself getting a better read on Mai's battle style. She would do a couple quick jabs, followed by a massive strike once she knocked my shield far enough away to where she felt as if she had a good shot. Seeing that she was going for a chop, I blocked it with my rapier, somehow the hit bent my rapier in the exact opposite way as it had been deformed earlier, making it good as new.

"Gah! Accept your fate already!" Not a chance! Readying for another bout, I blocked her attacks, redirected them, and got myself in a good position, as she went for an overhead slam, I moved out of the way, grazing the attack. As the bamboo stick hit the ground, I stepped on top of it. When she brought her stick close to her body again, I was sent flying towards her. Sticking out my rapier, I was close. Just one more centimeter and-

My rapier was suddenly shattered into pieces by her stick, she never moved it that fast before! As I went to grab my backup knife, I suddenly collapsed.

Under effect from Vitality drain, exhaustion maxed. Relationship with Mai increased by one, new skill, prediction.

"I commend you, I hadn't expected you to fight so well, but this was always a simple test. Did you really think that you stood a chance against me." I wasn't gonna say it, but I almost forgot that her level was 12 times higher than my own. "I hadn't even used damnaku at all, well, this was fun, but let's give this a flashy finish.

Some sort of rainbow energy flashed within her weapon, was that the vitality she stole from me? Worst part was, I could see it all before it even happened with the new prediction skill. I had no defense as... the attack stopped an inch from my face.

"Enough, Mai, that is all the testing that I need." Mai looked annoyed, she was going to complain, before another woman shut her up. "Mai, you scatterbrain, did you forget this was merely a test? You have been taking it too far for a good minute by now." It was a nice looking girl with a pink dress and was that a leafy vine in her hand? "Satono~ stop bullying me!"

Satono Nishida. LvL: 71. Servant of the Secret God.

"Umm, I may not be in the best place to speak, but I REALLY would appreciate if you umm, let me live?" This may have been stupid of me, but I really didn't want to die, who'd have thought? Though, seeing her pouty face as she relented and let me stand up was kind of worth it~

Wack* Oww that hurt! Did she read my mind or something?

After I was brought to the dining room, I was treated to a feast as an apology for the test going too far.

"Thank you Miss Okina, this is very good! Don't worry about the battle, I'm fine now." I tried to elevate my point with a dismissive had wave, but that just caused me to wince in pain and Mai to blush a little in embarrassment. "My name is Jake, by the way." These three were nice conversation partners, though I was pretty scared of saying the wrong thing to Okina. About that quest I got, it said it was a "roll" so something random. As the two servants left the room, I rolled the wheel of fortune so to speak and got a message.

Seeing you battle, and your skill with a rapier, your reward is magic to summon weapons at will, though these weapons may not be newer than since the invention of the first gun, and must be handheld.

Nice! I was gonna celebrate when I noticed that Okina was gone, and I felt a hand on my back.

"You fought against one, and I'm sure you noticed it, my servants are not human anymore, though that was not the case always. Due to me giving them gifts, they have been turning into yokai. You thought, I'm sure that you are the answer I've been looking for."

now this is interesting, she wants me for something eh?

"I'm sure of it, you would make a great third servant." That frightened me, that was her plan!? I couldn't! Well, why not? Ahh! I don't need this on my mind! This is making me anxious, I need a distraction. Activating my new magic, I noticed a very customizable list.

"Servant? Why should I accept this?" Fiddling around with it, I created the weapon of my dreams, a light rapier, perfect grip, perfect guard, perfectly long reach, a thin enough blade, something I'd love to use myself. Checking the more magical part of it, I added some magical conditions to it. Namely, "Soul attached" and "Unbreakable"

298700053 MP needed. Current MP: 1000.

Welp, I tried. "Well, this position comes with benefits. Besides, you seemed to get along with Mai well enough~

Gamers mind has blocked mind altering effects.

What the hell is she trying to do to me? "I'm not sure..." I heard a grunt. "Oh, it also comes with benefits. I told you about the power I sensed in you, what if I told you I could draw it out?

LeVeL UP! 99999.9..9...988...99. L..Vl up.

My whole body felt as if it was sent on fire as immense power flooded my body. "I have brought out your full potential through your back door, you feel this power? This is what you could achieve with my help!" This was intoxicating! The power leaking off of me was enough to melt my surrounding even! "What? This- this is amazing!" The world looked clear to me, I was unstoppable!

"Though, this is too much for you now. If I keep your potential drew out for longer than 10 seconds at once you'd explode." As she shit my back door, I passed out.

Waking up, I saw Mai sitting in my guest room. "Okina-sama said you suddenly passed out. I can't believe you! I didn't want to watch you, but Okina told me to make sure you woke up." Her gaze on me was strong. "Don't do that again!"

I coughed. "Ahh, that was too much... I think I'll be fine. That spar was fun earlier, do you think we could have a rematch? Thanks for watching over me." Why'd I say that? She about killed me!

"W-well, I'm not opposed to the idea... I-i gotta go!* she rushed out of the room, weird.

I reached out my hand and a rapier appeared in my hand, glowing with power. The temporary level boost I was given by Okina... let's just say it gave me the MP needed to make that rapier... I'm starting to enjoy this place!

A/N: AND CUT! I had a lot of fun making this chapter! If it isn't obvious, Okina REALLY wants her grip on Jake to be unshakable, and she'll try everything, even manufacturing a relationship with and mind controlling Jake to fall in love with Mai for a more personal reason to stay.

please tell me if my characterization of any of these characters felt off, I don't really have the best idea of what the personalities of characters from after touhou 15 are, I just Used Okina because she's just a more scheming Yukari lol.