After pushing those thoughts aside, Shido decided to check the rewards he received for completing Quest 4.
"Receive," Shido said, and the system interface immediately appeared in front of him.
[Quest 3 Completed: Kill 100 Undead Knights]
Rewards:
Ultra Balls 10x
Senbonzakura (S Grade)
620,000 EXP
30,000 SP
Shido raised an eyebrow when he saw the Ultra Balls. They were items from Pokemon, known for their high capture rate. What made him wonder, though, was whether they worked only on Pokémon or if he could also use them to capture other monsters, or even entities in other world.
If possible, Shido had been hoping for a Master Ball, a pokeball with a 100% catch rate that could capture anything without fail. But even so, Ultra Balls were still great, since it was just a level below Master balls.
"Nice!"
His excitement didn't stop there. After checking the first reward, Shido's eyes lit up as he spotted the second one. Unable to contain himself, he pumped his fist into the air and let out an excited exclamation.
Senbonzakura (S Grade) - A Zanpakutō from Bleach, wielded by Byakuya Kuchiki. Its Shikai scatters the blade into countless petal-like fragments that cut with precision and grace. When released into Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, it summons thousands of blades that dissolve into a blinding storm of steel petals, overwhelming enemies with both beauty and lethality.
"I finally got it." A wide grin spread across Shido's face as he let out a burst of laughter he could no longer hold back. He was so excited he nearly started jumping around his room. But his reaction wasn't unreasonable, after all, this was the sword admired by countless boys, especially when Byakuya unleashed its Bankai. No matter the world, there was always something cool about a weapon like this.
With a single thought, Shido pulled the Zanpakutō from his inventory and held it carefully in his hands, his eyes gleaming as he examined its appearance.
"It's beautiful."
Even in its sealed state, the sword's elegance was undeniable. Though it currently resembled an ordinary katana, the refined craftsmanship shone through. It featured a crossguard with a distinctive open-frame design, resembling a four-pane window. The guard had a bronze hue, the hilt was wrapped in lavender, and it came paired with a pristine white sheath making it look simple, yet beautiful.
Shido drew the sword and performed a series of fluid slashes, his advanced swordsmanship turning each movement into a graceful display, like a master swordsman performing a deadly dance. His steps were elegant yet precise, each swing carrying both beauty and lethality. After a few moments, he came to a stop and exhaled slowly.
He then raised the katana in front of him, admiring its seemingly ordinary yet majestic appearance. Right now, Shido was incredibly tempted to unleash its Bankai, but he knew better. The release would summon thousands of blades, and the overwhelming force would surely reduce his entire residence to rubble. That was the last thing he needed, causing a scene would definitely attract unwanted attention.
A quiet sigh escaped his lips. He sheathed the blade with care and returned it to his inventory.
Shido was satisfied with the rewards he received from Quest 4. Although there were no new skills included, he gained useful items like Ultra Balls and a powerful sword that excelled in area-of-effect combat.
In addition, he received a generous amount of EXP and SP, along with a considerable number of Soul Fragments (SF) from defeating the undead summons. However, Shido noticed that the SF he earned this time was far more than he had calculated. Puzzled, he decided to consult the system.
"System."
[Yes, Host?]
"Why did I receive more SF than I calculated this time."
[This is because the Host killed a strong being. Stronger beings possess stronger souls, which yield more fragments. While the quantity may appear as a single unit, the higher quality of the soul causes it to convert into a greater value. Regarding the undead summons, each soul is equivalent to two, which is why Host received more Soul Fragments overall.]
"...I see."Shido placed a hand on his chin, sinking into thought. The system's explanation made sense, and he found no reason to doubt it. But then, a memory surfaced, the monstrous Zy'tl Q'ae he had defeated earlier. He hadn't had the chance to check how many Soul Fragments he had earned from that creature since he'd passed out immediately after the battle.
He quickly asked the system.
"What about that evil tree I fought before?"
[Host should see for yourself.]
"..." Shido.
Shido was left speechless by the system's evasive reply, but he decided not to argue. Instead, he opened his status and checked his Soul Fragment count.
What he saw made him gulp.
"512,771 Soul Fragments!"
That was Shido's current total, including the massive 100,000 SF he had earned from defeating the evil tree. With that amount, he could summon a powerful anime girl with strength equivalent to a level 70 or 80 character. Still, since he had just acquired Frieren and Rumia, he decided to hold off on using it for now.
In addition to that enormous Soul Fragment haul, Shido also gained 1,000,000 EXP and 128,000 SP, a substantial reward, even by his standards. With the combined experience from battling the evil tree and completing the latest quest, he had finally reached level 50.
While this rank-up didn't excite him as much as before, Shido was still satisfied. Progress was progress, and he was steadily getting stronger.
"It would've been better if I had also completed Quest 6 when I defeated Demiurge… but I guess defeating a Floor Guardian doesn't count as subduing them."
Shido shook his head, slightly disappointed at the missed opportunity. For a moment, he thought he could've cleared another quest with minimal effort, but fate clearly had other plans. Still, he knew he couldn't afford to be greedy. The rewards he had received today were more than enough.
Shido flopped onto his bed, lazily stretching his limbs across the mattress. A lot had happened today, and while he wasn't physically exhausted, the mental toll was undeniable. He closed his eyes, deciding to get some well-deserved rest, only for a knock at the door to interrupt him.
A bulging vein almost popped on his forehead as irritation crept in. Still, Shido held back his annoyance. Instead of lashing out, he stood up with a sigh and walked to the door, wondering who dared disturb him at this hour.
When he opened it, he froze, stunned by the last person he expected to see.
"Can we talk?"
A virgin succubus has come.