"That means.... that it is I who is still trash!"
Kenji slumped forward, defeat washing over him. "Useless!" he hissed, slamming a fist onto the mattress. "Born into a crap life, died like an idiot, reincarnated into another crap life in a useless body! Given a legendary technique I can't even practice! Given a mountain of gold I can't even spend! What's the point?!"
He was back where he started. Powerless. Trapped. A failure in two worlds.
The brief flicker of hope ignited by Malakor's appearance and the cache of wealth sputtered, threatening to die out completely. He cursed his luck, cursed the body, cursed the blonde girl who'd killed him, cursed Malakor for giving him hope only for it to be useless.
As his despair reached its peak, a sound, completely alien and unexpected, cut through his frustrated thoughts.
Ding!
It was a clear, crisp, mechanical sound, like a small bell, echoing directly within his mind. Kenji froze, his rant cut short. 'What was that?'
Ding!
[Most Reliable and Honest System Initializing...]
A calm, synthesized voice spoke in his head, accompanied by a faint blue glow that seemed to overlay his vision.
[Detected Host Soul exhibiting extreme negative emotional resonance and possessing significant untapped financial resources. Compatibility confirmed. Welcome, Host!]
Kenji blinked, bewildered. 'System? Like in those web novels?'
[Affirmative, Host! You have the supreme honor of binding with the unparalleled, the omnipotent, the Most Reliable and Honest System! Your path to greatness, paved with gold, begins now! Ask me anything! With sufficient funds, there is nothing this System cannot achieve!]
The voice sounded incredibly smug and self-assured.
A surge of desperate hope, tinged with suspicion, shot through Kenji.
"Anything? Okay, System, what can you give me right now? Can you make me the strongest in this world? Can you give me god tier artefacts that can flatten mountains?"
[Analysing request...]
There was a pause, filled with faint whirring sounds in his mind.
[The Most Reliable and Honest System can currently provide the Host with... absolutely none of those things.]
Kenji's jaw dropped. "Nothing?! You just said you were omnipotent! You said ask anything! What kind of useless System are you?!"
[Host misunderstands the fundamental principles of value exchange,] the System replied, its tone still infuriatingly calm, almost lecturing.
[This System operates on a premium model, much like the finest establishments in your previous world, Host. Does Bugatti offer test drives to just anyone off the street? Does Rolex grant access to its limited editions to those who haven't proven their purchasing power? Of course not! True value requires investment. Access requires commitment!]
'So... I have to pay you? To use you?' Kenji asked, incredulous.
[Precisely! Wealth is the ultimate measure of potential in this System's paradigm. The more you use the system, the more features unlock, the greater the services rendered. It is the most honest transaction – pure, unadulterated power for cold, hard cash!]
Kenji thought of the fortune in the ring. 'Okay... how do I start? What can I buy at this point?'
[Calculating Host's current financial standing with the system...]
Another pause.
[Based on preliminary assessment, the Host qualifies for the Introductory Tier. The System graciously offers a foundational service: Guided Energy Sensing Enhancement. This will temporarily boost the Host's affinity and perception, allowing rudimentary interaction with specific energy types, such as the 'Shadow Energy' required by the 'Codex of Souls'. Daily Limit: Two hours. Cost: 10,000 Gold Coins per day.]
Ten thousand gold coins per day. The amount seemed astronomical, but compared to the mountains in the ring, it was still affordable. More importantly, it offered a solution to his immediate problem. After all, where was he supposed to spend his money?
[Sensing is the first step, Host. One must perceive before one can grasp. Continued investment will unlock further enhancements. Do you wish to activate the Guided Energy Sensing Enhancement for today's session? Cost: 10,000 Gold Coins.]
'Yes! Activate it!' Kenji thought desperately.
He felt a faint draining sensation, as if something intangible flowed from the ring hidden in his tunic. Simultaneously, the System's voice announced:
[10.000 Gold Coins deducted. Guided Energy Sensing Enhancement activated. Duration: 120 minutes. Please begin your practice, Host.]
Taking a deep breath, Kenji closed his eyes and once again attempted the Shadow Connection technique from the Codex.
This time, it was different.
As he visualized, he felt a faint, cool, greyish energy respond to his mental call. It was subtle, almost imperceptible before, but now, amplified by the System, he could clearly sense it drifting towards him from the shadows in the room, distinct from the vibrant motes of life energy.
He guided it carefully, following the Codex's instructions. The grey energy flowed sluggishly, resisting his pull, but it moved. It trickled into his body, a cool, soothing sensation that contrasted sharply with the vibrant life energy. It felt alien, yet strangely compatible. As the energy circulated, he felt the aches in his body lessen further.
For two hours, Kenji remained immersed, slowly drawing in the faint wisps of shadow energy, guided by the System's subtle enhancement. He was finally practicing the Codex.
There was a subtle strengthening occurring deep within his bones and muscles. It wasn't dramatic, but it was progress. Real, tangible progress.
The grey energy kept nourishing his body, making him slightly stronger.
Just as Kenji felt that he was getting into a rhythm, the enhancement abruptly cut off. The connection to the shadow energy became faint again, almost impossible to grasp.
Ding!
[Daily session quota reached. Guided Energy Sensing Enhancement deactivated. Please continue your investment tomorrow for further progress. The Most Reliable and Honest System reminds you: Consistent investment yields exponential returns!]
Kenji opened his eyes, feeling a mixture of elation and frustration. He had made progress!
Though it had cost him a lot of gold, it was a start. A path forward, funded by Malakor's legacy and facilitated by this strange, shameless System.
He had a long way to go, but for the first time since waking up in this world, true hope ignited within him.