He opened the system interface and immediately navigated to the Inventory's description.
[System: Inventory is a dimensional storage system that allows the user to store items collected. This Inventory contains 30 spatial slots. Each slot can hold objects or materials equivalent to approximately 1 cubic meter (1m³). Items stored within the Inventory are preserved indefinitely, immune to spoilage or decay, are undetectable by standard magical or mundane means while stored, and their weight becomes zero.]
A genuine, wide smile spread across Riku's face, pushing back the weariness. "You really know what I need, System," he murmured, a touch of real pleasure in his voice. While Rio's knowledge considered an Inventory a 'basic' skill in many fictional worlds, its utility in this reality was immense. He had often discovered valuable minerals, rare herbs, or ancient artifacts during his expeditions, only to have to leave them behind or take only a fraction due to weight, bulk, or the fear of being detected by other races who could sense foreign items being carried. Now, he could store anything instantly, making his future expeditions vastly more efficient and less risky. Beyond personal gain, the Inventory was a strategic game-changer for the village. If the predicted conflicts between other races occurred near their home, he could now swiftly and undetectably move vital resources – food stores, medical supplies, historical records – to safety, a task previously impossible on such short notice.
The thought galvanized him. He had two C-Rank missions active now: the chess game (completed) and the killing task. He decided to tackle the latter immediately. It felt morbid, a stark contrast to the peace he sought for his people, but the system demanded it, and he needed the next gacha pull.
He directed Igris, still in his materialized form, towards the outskirts of the area where he had detected the demon patrols earlier. He stopped well short of their probable location, staying hidden behind a ridge overlooking the area.
"Igris," Riku commanded softly, pointing into the distance. "Kill ten of those demons. But do it quickly, and don't leave my sight if possible."
Igris didn't respond verbally, but simply vanished. Not like unsummoning, but like a flicker of impossible speed. Riku's eyes, trained for tracking movement, couldn't even follow the blur. When his vision refocused on the distant patch of terrain where the demons were likely gathered, Igris was already there, a dark, deadly silhouette moving with terrifying efficiency. Two demons were already down.
Within the next two minutes, the brutal ballet was over. Igris, a whirlwind of dark steel and absolute precision, cut down ten demons. He reappeared before Riku just as suddenly as he had left, silent and still, as if he had simply been standing there all along.
Riku waited for the notification. Nothing. He checked the active missions in the interface.
[MISSION: Test of Resolve]
* Objective: Kill ten individuals of any sentient race.
* Difficulty: C Rank
* Time Limit: 1 Day
* Status: Active
"It's still the same," Riku muttered, a frown creasing his brow. Igris had just killed ten demons, surely sentient beings. Why hadn't the mission updated? "Do I have to kill individuals of powerful races?" That didn't seem right for a C-Rank. Or perhaps...
A chilling possibility occurred to him, one born from the phrasing and the typical mechanics of games Rio knew. "Kill ten individual." Not just oversee their deaths. What if he had to be the one to deliver the final blow? The thought was unsettling. Riku, as Riku, had never taken a life directly, not even in battle. Rio had only experienced death in fiction. This would be a first, and against a demon.
He pondered for a moment, the ethical implications warring with the system's cold demand and the potential reward. He needed that next pull. He needed power. And this was a task the system forced upon him.
"Okay, Igris," Riku ordered, his voice tight with resolve. He pointed towards the pile of fallen demons. "See that one? The one still twitching?" He swallowed hard. "Cut off its limbs. Pin it down. Leave it alive, but unable to move. I will... I will deal the killing blow."
Igris moved without hesitation, a dark flash. He reappeared next to a disabled demon, its limbs severed with surgical precision by Igris's blades, pinning it firmly to the ground with his foot. He then held out one of his own daggers, offering the hilt to Riku.
Riku approached the demon, his heart hammering against his ribs. Up close, the creature was grotesque, terrifying, even in its helpless state. A cold, visceral chill ran down his spine. He had never been this close to one of them, not outside of chaotic battle where they were just targets to be avoided or driven back. His hand trembled slightly as he took the dagger, its surface cool and smooth.
Neither Riku nor Rio had ever killed. The moment felt immense, horrifying. But then, another thought solidified his resolve. Demons. The race that had killed his companions during the telescope mission. The race that likely included the demonia who took Ivan. This wasn't just a system task anymore. This was a chance, however grim, to strike back, to avenge his fallen brothers. A strange sense of grim satisfaction, a dark relief that the system's cruel task aligned with his grief, settled over him.
Maintaining caution, keeping an eye on Igris who held the demon immobile, Riku raised the dagger. He aimed for the demon's neck, a vital point. He stabbed down, then again, and again, a brutal, messy act fueled by fear, adrenaline, and a desperate need to finish it. The demon thrashed weakly against Igris's hold before its movements ceased entirely.
A notification immediately popped up.
[Individuals killed: 1/10]
Riku pulled the dagger out, his hand slick with dark blood, breathing heavily. The system's rules were clear now. He had to be the killer. "So that's how you play?" he asked the silent interface, wiping the dagger on the demon's fur before handing it back to Igris. No reply came.
He repeated the process nine more times, selecting disabled demons from the pile, approaching them, and delivering the final, messy blow while Igris held them fast. Each time was difficult, the act itself alien and disturbing, but with each count increasing on the notification, a grim determination solidified. By the tenth kill, his initial terror had been replaced by a cold, focused intent.
Finally, after the tenth demon lay dead by his hand, the message appeared.
[MISSION COMPLETED]
Riku stood amidst the gruesome scene, the silence broken only by his own ragged breaths. The air hung heavy with the coppery scent of demon blood. He felt... different. Not triumphant, but grimly satisfied. He had completed the task, paid the system's price in a way that also honored his fallen comrades.
Without wasting a second, he opened the Gacha window. He had earned a spin from the C-Rank mission. He needed something powerful, something that could help him protect his people against the threats Rio's memories warned of.
He tapped the spin button. The wheel of symbols and images spun for about a minute.
It slowed, focusing on a single, elegant icon depicting a long, thin needle-like object.
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[You have pulled: Black March]
[TAKE PRIZE]
[LEAVE]
Black March. Rio's knowledge provided instant recognition, a name associated with incredible power in the 'Tower of God' series. But Riku, trusting the system's descriptions more than fragmented fictional memories, clicked the description icon anyway.
[System: Black March, from Tower of God, is a sentient Ignition Weapon and one of the legendary '13 Month Series'. It is currently owned by Princess Yuri of the Ha Family. The weapon possesses a powerful spirit entity residing within it. When ignited, Black March is capable of unleashing extreme levels of power, far exceeding normal weapons. Its physical form is that of an extremely thin, jet-black needle with a slightly thicker, simple handle. Black March can be summoned and unsummoned by user will.]
"Whoa, that's a lot of information," Riku thought, impressed by the detail. Sentient? A powerful spirit? Ignitable for extreme power? This wasn't just a weapon; it was a legendary artifact. He tapped [TAKE PRIZE].
A slim, jet-black needle, about a meter in length, materialized in the air before him, radiating a subtle, humming energy. He reached out and grasped the handle. It felt light, almost impossibly balanced, and strangely warm. He gave it a mental command, and it vanished, presumably stored within his new Inventory or perhaps just dismissed to a pocket dimension the system controlled.
"I'll examine it later," Riku decided. The weight of the past hour's events – the kills, the gacha pulls – was starting to catch up to him. He unsummoned Igris back into card form as well. "For now, I should check the description of Igris. Learn more about my new... subordinate?"
He navigated back through the system interface, finding the rewards section and clicking on the Igris card icon.
[System: Igris the Bloodred, from Solo Leveling, was a high-ranking shadow commander in the army of the Shadow Monarch, Ashborn. He was initially positioned as a test and potential subordinate for Ashborn's chosen successor. His swordsmanship was considered godlike, bringing him immense wealth, honor, and popularity in his previous existence, but he considered these external accolades as merely annoying accessories. Igris was driven by a desire to achieve something more, to prove his worth beyond mere reputation.]
"Interesting," Riku mused, reading the description. A commander? Tested by a monarch? Disdained fame for self-improvement? This added depth to the silent, loyal killing machine he had just summoned. It implied Igris was more than just a summoned entity; he had a history, a motivation. A 'desire to achieve more' could be useful.
He closed Igris's description and checked the final mission displayed in the interface. He had completed two C-Rank missions. What would the next challenge be?
[MISSION: The Highest Trust]
* Objective: Cum inside Couronne's pussy.
* Difficulty: A Rank
* Time Limit: 2 Days
[This is a Special Mission, reflective of a deep personal connection and trust. While seemingly simple in action, its 'A Rank' difficulty stems from the intimate nature and the requirement of genuine consent/circumstance. Failure of this mission will result in a Severe Penalty: All benefits gained from the Gacha System thus far will be revoked. This includes all acquired items, summoned entities, skills, and access to the Gacha feature itself.]
Riku stared at the text, his blood running cold. Couronne. Couronne, who had always been like an elder sister to him, a pillar of strength and warmth in his life. He had always respected her, never seen her as anything other than family, a protector. The objective... the raw, vulgar demand... contrasted so violently with his feelings for her and his general view of women. An A-Rank mission about that? And the failure condition... losing everything? Igris, Black March, the Inventory, access to future powers... everything he'd risked his life and compromised his principles for in the last day would be gone. It wasn't just a mission; it was a terrifying, deeply personal violation presented as a task, tied to the most severe penalty yet.