A bone-deep chill snaked down Riku's spine as he read the second result. Pre-Amnesia Dokutah. His mind, a strange fusion of Riku's pragmatic logic and Rio's vast, chaotic database of fiction, immediately accessed the relevant information. Doctor. The Ghost of Babel. Why, in the name of everything impossible, was he in the B-Rank gacha pool? This felt fundamentally, utterly wrong. Based on Rio's scattered knowledge, the Doctor should have been an S-Rank pull, maybe even EX-Rank.
It wasn't because the Doctor possessed immense physical strength. Far from it. In the world of Terra, filled with Catastrophes, powerful races, chimeras, and beings that skirted the line of deity or even divinity, the Doctor was, physically, weaker than an average human. He possessed no magic, no inherent special abilities, no superhuman strength or speed.
And yet, the Doctor was arguably the most feared being in his world. Rio's knowledge, gleaned from anime clips and sprawling comment sections, painted a picture of a strategic genius unparalleled across the entire anime verse. Not just cunning, but capable of tactical and logistical feats that bordered on the impossible. Even Sora and Shiro, the infamous gamer duo known as Blank from another of Rio's remembered series, were theorized to be unable to defeat him in a pure battle of strategy, given equal resources and knowledge.
Terra was a world of overwhelming power, but the Doctor was feared because he wielded the most terrifying weapon of all: absolute strategic mastery applied without apparent emotional constraint. Rio hadn't played the Arknights game, only seen the anime adaptation and read extensively about the lore and fan theories. This lack of complete knowledge left gaps, but the broad strokes were terrifyingly clear. The Doctor viewed every person, ally or enemy, as a piece on a grand chessboard. He was capable of sacrificing his own soldiers, not out of malice, but because the calculation demanded it for the greater victory.
In that sense, he was like Riku – dedicated to the survival of his people – but at a terrifying, amoral pinnacle of ability and charisma. Rio's fragmented understanding couldn't definitively say why the Doctor was the way he was, but the consensus was that he was utterly unpredictable, uncontrollable. If he could be controlled, he likely would have died or been exploited in the brutal world of Terra long ago.
Objectively, in Riku's current situation, the Pre-Amnesia Doctor would be the perfect summon. Rio's memories indicated the Doctor possessed the intellect to potentially win the Great War, the conflict between the races in this world that Rio knew was coming, without the need for Riku and Shuvi's specific, painful sacrifices, potentially even without significant loss of life among his own side.
But the terrifying asterisk remained: whether the Doctor would do as they say. He couldn't be controlled. If summoned, would he dedicate his genius to protecting R the village, or would he view them as just more pieces to be maneuvered, perhaps even sacrificed for some inscrutable larger game only he understood? The unpredictable nature, the cold calculation, the reputation for viewing people as mere tools... coupled with certain fragmented, "haunting facts" Rio had gleaned about the Doctor's past actions and personality, Riku felt a deep-seated alarm.
The potential was immense, but the risk was too great. He couldn't gamble the fate of his people on the whims of a genius who treated lives as disposable pawns. Not after everything.
With a heavy heart, acknowledging the strategic masterpiece he was potentially letting slip away, Riku tapped [SPIN AGAIN?]. There was only one pull left for a character. It had to be the right one.
The wheel spun a third time, the kaleidoscope of images a blur of potential destinies. The silence in the empty village square seemed to press in, the weight of Riku's decision amplified by the eerie quiet.
It slowed. The image settled. A tall, imposing figure clad in dark, segmented armor, a helmet obscuring its face, radiating an aura of silent, unwavering loyalty.
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[You have pulled: Igris the Bloodred from Solo Leveling]
[System: Igris is bound by absolute loyalty to his Liege and will follow every command, even commands that would result in his own destruction.]
[System: Igris can be converted into a Card item for convenient storage and summoned/unsummoned at will.]
[Cautions: Igris is not immortal. If he suffers a death that cannot be healed or resurrected by external means available in this world, he will be permanently lost. Use him wisely.]
[TAKE PRIZE]
[LEAVE]
Amazing. A genuine sense of relief, followed by exhilarated awe, washed over Riku. Absolute loyalty. Follows every command. Card storage. This was precisely what he needed. Power, significant power according to Rio's knowledge, but entirely controllable, without the moral or existential hazards of the previous two pulls. It made him wonder briefly if the system had deliberately offered Keyaruga and the Doctor first, testing his principles, seeing if he'd prioritize power over safety. Or maybe it was just the 'gamble' aspect of the gacha at work.
He tapped the [TAKE PRIZE] icon.
The floating window dissolved, replaced by a shimmering point of light that condensed in his outstretched hand. When the light faded, he held a card. It was sleek, black, with faint red lines tracing an intricate pattern, and the image of the armored figure of Igris embossed upon it.
Holding the card, a strange impulse prompted him. He gave it a small shake.
In a swirl of dark, ethereal energy and faint red lightning, the figure from the card materialized before him. Tall. Incredibly tall. Igris stood silent, imposing, easily three meters in height, almost twice as tall as Riku himself, his dark armor gleaming faintly in the twilight. He radiated a palpable aura of disciplined strength and unwavering focus directed solely at Riku.
"Hmm," Riku muttered, looking up at the silent sentinel. "Okay, so... this is incredible. The last two were... complicated. Did the system try to check my patience or something?" He shook his head, pushing the thought aside for later analysis. He needed to figure out the mechanics. "Okay, so how do I... unsummon you?" he asked the silent knight.
Igris didn't speak, but his armored head dipped slightly, and he extended a gauntleted hand towards Riku's, where the card still rested. Gently, the metal fingers brushed against the card and Riku's skin. The same dark energy swirled, and Igris dissolved back into the shimmering light, which was absorbed into the card.
"That's amazing," Riku breathed, looking at the card in his hand. Instant summoning and dismissal. Incredible tactical flexibility. He could bring Igris out when needed, and dismiss him instantly to protect him or conserve energy (assuming summoning cost something, which he'd have to check). But then, he felt the lingering echoes of Rio's knowledge about the true scale of power in this world, the beings capable of shattering reality itself. "But..." he trailed off, looking out at the empty village, the vast, dangerous world beyond. "In this world, even this Igris... he's nothing compared to the real threats out there. I'll need much, much more than just this."
His gaze drifted back to the system interface, which hadn't fully disappeared. Below the Gacha tab, the Mission log was updating. He checked the next task.
[MISSION: Second Step Forward]
* Objective: Play a game of Chess with one individual from an opposing race.
* Difficulty: C Rank
* Time Limit: 1 Day
"What?" Riku exclaimed, surprise overriding his fatigue. A C-Rank mission? After an S-Rank (turned B) character summon? And a time limit of only one day? That was incredibly short for having to locate, approach, and engage with another race peacefully enough for a board game. "Okay, fine. It's going to be tough to pull off in a day, but I'll complete it." The pressure was back on.
With a new surge of determination, Riku hurried into his empty house, found his well-used chessboard from the days before endless conflict consumed his life, and tucked it under his arm. He stepped back outside into the deepening twilight. He held out the card and shook it. The familiar swirl of dark energy, and Igris stood silent and ready.
"Alright, Igris," Riku said, looking up at the towering figure. He pointed towards Igris's broad back. "Hope you don't mind. We've got a tight deadline."
He climbed onto Igris's back, settling between the armored shoulders. It felt awkward, undignified. "This is embarrassing," he muttered to himself, hoping the quiet of the empty village meant no one, not even distant animals, was watching him perched atop a giant knight. "I hope no one sees me like this!"
He steered Igris with subtle nudges, guided by Rio's knowledge of the surrounding territories and potential race locations. The demons were relatively close, but after his earlier detours and the memory of Ivan, he had no intention of approaching their territory for a friendly game of chess. Instead, he directed Igris towards the borderlands of the werebeast territory, a race known for their physical prowess and pride, but who sometimes engaged in limited interactions with other races if approached cautiously.
They travelled swiftly under the cloak of dusk, Igris moving with silent, inhuman grace. Soon, a low growl echoed through the trees ahead. Igris stiffened slightly, his head turning towards the sound. He shifted, subtly gesturing with his hand towards the direction of the growl.
"Werebeasts," Riku confirmed quietly, dismounting quickly as Igris came to a halt. "They've sensed us." He issued his order to the silent knight. "Igris. Engage only if necessary. Protect me. Kill anyone who attempts to harm either of us."
Igris gave a silent nod of understanding, his form radiating a low, contained power.
Three figures emerged from the treeline, shifting from their quadrupedal patrol stance to powerful, bipedal forms. Muscular, covered in thick fur, with lupine heads and sharp claws. They approached cautiously, their eyes wide with wary surprise at the sight of Riku, but particularly fixated on the towering, silent figure of Igris. Their instincts, finely honed for survival and recognizing threats, screamed caution. They didn't immediately attack.
"Who are you?" one of them growled, his voice rough. "Why have you come into our territory?"
Riku held up his hands placelessly, keeping his expression open, the chessboard held visibly under his arm. "Easy, friends. Don't worry, harming you guys was never the plan. We're not here for a fight."
The werebeasts exchanged glances, suspicion clear on their faces, but the silent, unmoving threat of Igris kept them hesitant. "Then what do you want?" another demanded.
"I just want to play chess with one of you," Riku said, stepping slightly forward and beginning to carefully place the chessboard on a flat rock, opening it up. He gestured towards Igris. "You can, of course, try to run away, or try to kill us, but my friend here is quite powerful, you see." He let the silent threat hang in the air.
The lead werebeast's ears twitched. Their predatory instincts urged caution, screaming that challenging the silent giant was suicidal. Playing a strange game with a strange human seemed infinitely preferable to a fight they couldn't win.
"What do you want exactly?" the first werebeast repeated, his voice losing some of its aggression, replaced by confusion.
"A game of chess," Riku repeated calmly, finishing setting up the board, the black and white pieces stark against the rock. He looked up at them expectantly.
The werebeast who had first spoken looked at the board, then at Igris, then back at Riku. The raw instinct for self-preservation, amplified by the clear power difference, made the decision for him. "Fine," he huffed, clearly bewildered but resigned. "We'll do it. But... will you go away if we played with you?"
"Yeah," Riku promised, offering a small, genuine smile. "You won't get so much as a single scratch, assuming that you won't try to hurt me either."
"Alright." The lead werebeast sighed, transforming back into his quadrupedal form briefly to settle himself onto the ground before partially shifting back to reach the board. He sat awkwardly opposite Riku, peering at the unfamiliar pieces with grudging curiosity.
Riku suppressed a sigh of relief. Mission accomplished. He reached out and touched one of the pawns on his side, sliding it forward two spaces.
Just as his fingers left the piece, a familiar notification popped up in his vision.
[MISSION COMPLETED]
Excellent. He kept his focus on the chessboard, pretending to study the layout and his opponent, but in his peripheral vision, he was already scrolling to the next mission requirement. He needed to know what was coming.
[MISSION: Test of Resolve]
* Objective: Kill ten individuals of any sentient race.
* Difficulty: C Rank
* Time Limit: 1 Day
Riku's hand froze over a knight piece. Kill ten individuals? A C-Rank mission? After his entire existence had been defined by protecting people, by avoiding unnecessary death? The contrast with the previous mission, a peaceful game, was jarring. And another one-day time limit. The system was relentless.
He looked up from the board. The werebeast opposite him was still trying to figure out how the pieces moved. Riku felt a flicker of something – empathy, maybe? He couldn't kill these guys now, even if the system demanded death. Not after they'd agreed to play his bizarre game.
"Alright," Riku said, standing up abruptly. He started gathering the chess pieces back into the board. "That was fun playing with you."
The werebeast looked up, startled. "You're... You're done?"
"Yeah," Riku confirmed, closing the board. "Thanks for playing." He gave a slight nod. "Okay, we're leaving."
He mounted Igris again, and the silent knight turned, beginning to move back the way they came. Riku kept an eye on the werebeasts as they retreated. Part of him, the strategic, calculating part, half-expected them to try and attack his back now that the game was over. It would have given him a perfectly justifiable reason, system mission or not, to eliminate them. But they simply watched them go, their wariness of Igris clearly outweighing their suspicion of Riku.
He wasn't planning to kill them anyway. Not really. Even if they had attacked, killing all three simultaneously was unlikely. One would almost certainly escape, race back to their territory, and raise the alarm, turning the entire werebeast tribe into hostile enemies – a strategic disadvantage he couldn't afford right now, especially with an S-Rank mission looming.
Once they were a safe distance away, deep enough back in neutral territory that the werebeasts wouldn't pursue and the demons weren't close enough to sense Igris, Riku pulled out the system interface again. He had completed two missions. The Chess game was C-Rank. The Kill Mission was C-Rank. He had one more character pull left from the B-Rank reward, and now, presumably, a new gacha pull available from the Chess mission.
He opened the Gacha window. The character gacha pool was still visible, but it only showed the [LEAVE] option under the last spin (Igris). The B-Rank pull was used. However, a new spin option was available. This one specifically indicated it was for a 'Passive Skill'.
He tapped the [SPIN] button for the Passive Skill gacha.
The wheel appeared again, but this time the images weren't characters, but abstract symbols and icons representing different abilities. It spun for about a minute, the symbols blurring into indecipherable streaks.
It slowed. Resolved. A simple, rectangular icon appeared, like a box opening.
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[You have pulled: Inventory]
[TAKE PRIZE]
[LEAVE]
Inventory. A staple of countless games and anime, allowing for item storage in a spatial void. Simple, practical, incredibly useful in a survival world. Not flashy, not a power-up like Igris, but a fundamental convenience. Given the chaotic nature of the gacha so far, getting something so straightforward felt almost anticlimactic. But Riku knew its value. It meant he wouldn't have to carry everything, could store resources, mission items, perhaps even Igris's card safely. He tapped [TAKE PRIZE].