The sky had begun to shift. Not visibly, not yet. But Ren felt it—like a scent in the air before a storm. He walked through the city's inner sector, his posture calm, gaze detached. To the civilians around him, he was just another silent passerby.
But behind that facade was a god of war in hibernation.
> [System Alert: Atmospheric Contaminant Level +0.003%. Virus Seed detected in outer district. Projected outbreak begins in 6 days, 11 hours. Mutation: Proto-Parasite Class.]
He stopped in his tracks.
"Six days..." he murmured. "It starts earlier than last time."
> [New System Directive Available: Establish Primary Stronghold. Recommend: Strategic location near natural barriers and resource zones. Bonus Reward: Fortress Function Tree Unlocked.]
Ren's lips curled.
That was the key.
In his last life, humanity's first fortresses were built too late—reactive, not preemptive. This time, he would be the architect of survival. No debates. No councils. Just command.
But before he built his kingdom, he needed a queen.
---
He entered the campus district—Ayaka's school. Future sanctuary site #1. Right now, it was full of students with no idea they'd be corpses in a month.
He scanned.
> [Beauty Scan Activated. Targets Above 90 Detected: 2]
> Ayaka Fujihara — Beauty: 92. Loyalty: 12% → 14%. Mika Hanabira — Beauty: 90. Status: Isolated. Target of bullying. Potential for rapid Loyalty Bonding via rescue.]
A flicker of memory hit him.
Mika.
The quiet girl who unlocked a rare support-class ability when cornered. Her shields had saved dozens—until she burned out from exhaustion and betrayal.
He wouldn't let that happen again.
> [Optional Mission Generated: Rescue Mika Hanabira from Active Hostility Encounter. Bonus: +1 Relationship Tier + Emotional Anchor Bonus.]
Ren's eyes narrowed.
---
It didn't take long.
A narrow hallway near the music building. Three girls, well-dressed and cruel, had Mika pressed to the wall.
"You think you're special because of your hair? Freak."
A slap.
Ren's footsteps echoed like a blade being drawn.
The bullies turned. One tried to puff up her chest. "What do you want—"
He didn't speak.
He moved.
His hand grabbed the ringleader's wrist before it struck Mika again. His grip was iron.
"Let go!" she screeched.
He leaned in, voice icy. "You'll walk away. Now. Or I'll break something that won't heal right."
> [Intimidation Triggered. Social Authority Override. Targets fleeing. Emotional Spike in Mika: Fear → Awe → Attachment.]
The hallway emptied.
Mika stared at him with wide, teary eyes. Her lip bled slightly.
"W-Who are you?"
Ren reached into his jacket and pulled out a clean cloth. "Someone who doesn't want to see you waste your potential."
She blinked. "My... potential?"
> [Bond Initiated: Mika Hanabira. Beauty: 90. Loyalty: 5%. Emotion Route: Devotion/Gratitude. Subclass Potential: Shieldbearer — E-Rank (Upgradeable).]
> [System Bonus: Passive Unlocked — Shielded Proximity. Allies within 2 meters receive +3% damage resistance.]
Ren smiled. A real one, this time.
With every piece falling into place, the future was already bending to his will.
He turned. Ayaka stood at the far end of the corridor, eyes hard.
"You're collecting girls now?" she asked.
"Not collecting," he replied, brushing past her. "Recruiting."
"Right... and this has nothing to do with those weird blue screens I saw hovering around you earlier, huh?"
He froze. Slowly turned.
"You saw them?"
Ayaka nodded. "You're not the only one who can see strange things, Ren Kurozawa."
> [Hidden Variable Discovered: Ayaka's Awakening Potential - Unknown Class. Probability of Synchronization Event: 34%.]
Ren's pulse spiked. So she was more than he remembered. The future wasn't just repeating—it was evolving.
And so was she.
> [Chapter Complete. System Progress: 11%. Fortress Directive Active. Bonding Routes Established: 2. New Function Unlocked: Strategic Planning Grid. Host Mental Sync: 98% Stability.]
The storm was coming.
But this time, Ren wasn't preparing to survive.
He was preparing to conquer.