Ardi let out a deep sigh as he leaned against the wooden floor of his dojo. The structure, built with traditional Japanese aesthetics in mind, provided a sense of peace amidst the chaos of his new life. He had spent the day exploring, teasing Yui, and getting to know his new domain, but now, a moment of silence allowed him to collect his thoughts.
A faint flickering caught his attention—his HUD displayed a blinking notification. Furrowing his brows, he reached out and summoned the panel.
----------------------------------------
[Notification]
[Dimension Search] - Completed.
Cooldown: 30 Days Remaining
Matching Dimensions Found:
1. Warcraft Series (Warcraft III)
2. Resident Evil Series (RE 2 & 3)
3. Attack on Titan Series (Season 1)
4. Konosuba (Season 1)
5. Fate Series (Fate Zero)
----------------------------------------
Ardi's eyes widened in surprise.
"Three out of five worlds… are directly linked to my gacha pulls?"
His mind raced as he recalled the past 24 hours. Among his rewards from the Dimensional Shop, he had received firearm-related skills, swordsmanship techniques, and reinforcement magic—all things that perfectly aligned with the dimensions now within his reach.
His chest tightened slightly. Was this just a coincidence? Or was there some unseen force guiding his progress?
Before he could dwell further, a familiar warmth enveloped him.
Yui, now in her Young Girl form, had silently moved behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her head rested gently against his.
"Master," she whispered softly, her voice laced with both comfort and amusement, "you're overthinking again."
Ardi blinked, momentarily pulled from his thoughts.
Yui chuckled, sensing his surprise. "Maybe this is a sign, don't you think? You might get the chance to meet your favorite characters if you visit those worlds."
A wry smile formed on his lips as he sighed. "That… would be a dream come true."
She hummed in agreement, her fingers lightly tracing circles on his arm. "Then don't be so tense. Just take things one step at a time."
Feeling a bit more at ease, Ardi reached up and ruffled Yui's soft hair. "Thanks, Yui. Really."
Her wings fluttered slightly in response, and she leaned in closer. "Mmm, I like hearing that."
They shared a quiet moment, the bond between them growing more natural. Even though they had only met today, their connection felt deep—almost as if something beyond their understanding had already tied them together.
Yui pulled back slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. "By the way, Master, you haven't used your Talent Awakening Ticket (Blue) yet. Or any of the skills from your gacha pulls."
Ardi stiffened. "Wait… I completely forgot about that."
A mischievous giggle escaped her lips. "I figured as much."
She swiped her hand, and a virtual panel appeared in front of him, listing all his unclaimed abilities.
----------------------------------------
[Inventory: Skill Acquisition]
Gunsmith D (Blue):
Description: Grants unique proficiency in assembling, maintaining, and modifying a variety of light firearms on level dedicated guns enthusiast.
Clairvoyance D (Blue):
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Description: A passive ability enabling detailed observation of objects up to 1 km away, thereby enhancing long-range attack precision with accurate calculations.
Reinforcement Magecraft D (Blue):
Description: Reinforcement Magecraft D is a skill that can temporarily boost one of the attributes of objects or the user by injecting magical energy. It requires knowledge of the object's basic concepts and structure. 1 MP / 15 Sec.
Sword Mastery D (Green):
Description: Enhances proficiency in swordsmanship and Rank up Sword talent.
Calm Mind E (White):
Description: Helps maintain unwavering focus during high-stress scenarios, elevating concentration and mitigating panic.
Keen Eyes E (White):
Description: Improves vision in low-light conditions and boosts the accuracy of ranged attacks.
Adaptable Combat D (Green):
Description: Passively enables rapid adaptation to enemy attack patterns, refining combat strategies in real-time.
Battlefield Awareness C (Blue):
Description: Heightens spatial perception to sense the presence of foes within a 10-meter radius, enhancing defensive readiness.
Appraisal D (Green):
Description: Provides immediate access to basic information about objects or adversaries, with a cooldown of 10 seconds.
Close Combat Mastery D (Green):
Description: Significantly improves melee combat prowess, increasing damage output, defense, and the potential for devastating combo strikes..
----------------------------------------
Ardi exhaled, feeling both impressed and slightly embarrassed that he had neglected these. "Damn… I really should be paying more attention."
Yui smiled knowingly. "Better late than never."
Without hesitation, Ardi selected all ten skills and pressed [Confirm].
A confirmation screen appeared.
----------------------------------------
Are you sure you want to acquire these abilities?
[YES] / [NO]
Ardi tapped YES.
----------------------------------------
The moment he did, a faint glow surrounded him, but… nothing else happened.
He blinked. "Uh… Yui?"
The fairy girl burst into laughter. "Oh Master, did you think the system would just make you overpowered instantly? You need to actually train those skills to fully utilize them."
Ardi scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… I guess that makes sense."
Yui grinned. "You're cute when you're clueless."
He rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at his lips.
Taking a deep breath, he moved on to the final item—Talent Awakening Ticket (Blue).
"Alright… let's see what this does."
The moment he pressed USE, searing pain erupted through his entire body.
His muscles burned. His bones ached. His very soul felt like it was being torn apart and reconstructed at the same time.
"Argh…!" He gritted his teeth, clutching his chest as he doubled over.
Yui, now serious, knelt beside him. "Master! Focus! Meditate and regulate your breathing!"
Through sheer will, he followed her advice, forcing himself into a meditative state.
Sweat poured down his body—thick, dark, and reeking of impurities. His skin felt like it was shedding years of accumulated filth.
Time lost meaning. The agony stretched on.
Hours passed.
When the torment finally subsided, he collapsed, gasping for breath.
----------------------------------------
[HUD Notification]
Notification 1:
Congratulations!
Unique Trait Unlocked: [Ultimate Adaptation] (Golden)
[Ultimate Adaptation]
Physical Adaptation: Your frail body transforms; muscles optimize, and excess fat vanishes without loss of strength. Your skeletal structure becomes sturdier, reflexes sharpen, and your organs function with newfound efficiency.
Mental Adaptation: Your mind achieves crystalline clarity, organizing every memory and experience, enabling rapid, precise thought.
Abstract Adaptation: You now wield Void Energy—a chaotic, universal force that allows you to endure conditions once thought impossible.
----------------------------------------
Notification 2:
Congratulations!
New Skills Acquired:
[Mind's Eye B] (Purple) and [Photographic Memory C] (Blue)
All existing skills have been ranked up through the awakening process.
----------------------------------------
Notification 3:
System Notice: Similar skills detected.
Auto-merging completed.
Mind's Eye + Adaptable Combat + Close Combat Mastery + Battlefield Awareness + Calm Mind
New Unique Skill Acquired: [Tactical Insight B ] (Red)
[Tactical Insight B]
Limited Attack Prediction: Anticipate upcoming attacks with recognizable patterns.
Rapid Situational Analysis: Quickly assess combat scenarios to identify weaknesses and opportunities.
Trained Adaptive Response: React swiftly and effectively through honed instincts.
Efficient Tactical Decision-Making: Make logical, rapid tactical decisions.
----------------------------------------
Ardi stared blankly at the notifications. Then, realization hit.
"HOLY SH—!!"
His shout echoed through the entire Daimyo Manor.
Later that night, after washing away all the impurities in his private onsen, Ardi finally saw his reflection.
His chubby, overweight body was gone.
What remained was a lean, well-proportioned physique—not overly muscular, but strong, flexible, and refined. His skin was smoother, his face sharper, his posture more natural.
He looked… like his ideal self.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
Yui, watching from the doorway, gave him a teasing smile. "Master, do you like your new body?"
Ardi smirked. "I think I just fell in love with myself."
She giggled. "Just don't forget about me, okay?"
He turned to her, stepping forward.
Gently, he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Never."
Yui's cheeks flushed pink, and for once, she was the one speechless.
And in that moment, they both realized—this new world was truly their second chance.