The smile on his face gradually disappeared. Rod took a deep breath, slowly clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to adapt to the feeling of his body weakening.
Just as he was about to open the system panel to execute his planned actions.
The system's notification sound suddenly rang.
[Due to Silent Suzuka reaching the highest bond with you, and having shared unforgettable experiences with you, she has left you a special gift~]
[Special Ability: Domain · Silent Meteor.]
[Effect: In the preparation phase, achieve full mental concentration in True Self state. In the activation phase, maintain rationality in Passionate state. In the burst phase, reach the final domain through three levels!]
[Evaluation: This is an ability that allows one to exert all their attributes and capabilities beyond 100% to reach the divine limit! This is the aspiration born from Silent Suzuka's wish to run alongside you, even if she is in a different world.]
"!!!"
Rod's eyes widened, and he straightened up instantly.
"A Domain skill?!"
The Domain skill in Uma Musume, also known as the legendary Zone, is a technique that only the strongest Uma Musume can master.
Simply put, it's an ultimate, explosively powerful boost in strength, capable of defying fate and creating miracles even in desperate situations!
Rod murmured in disbelief.
"But I remember Silent Suzuka never activated a Domain in her entire life?"
Even in her final dance of her original career, where she ran at her absolute limit, it should have only approached the power of a normalized Domain.
Rod suddenly remembered Silent Suzuka mentioning that she had become stronger, and he instantly understood, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
"So that's it, did your training in this world finally awaken your Domain?"
"Heh heh, perhaps the Phantom Pegasus might have a chance to become a true Pegasus. I'm really looking forward to our next meeting."
After smiling and sighing, he immediately carefully examined the instructions for using the Domain.
After activating the skill, the first mode entered is called the True Self state.
At this time, his mind would be highly concentrated and continuously produce a sense of excitement, and the surrounding time would seem to slow down, similar to a weakened state of unity with nature!
When the excitement accumulated to a certain threshold, he could enter the Passionate state.
In this state, his aura would greatly increase, and his entire being would gradually be liberated.
And if the emotional threshold further erupted, he could enter the Domain!
That is the true realm of unity with nature, where all stats burst comprehensively for a short period, unleashing power beyond physical limits!
But this power was not without its cost.
Muscle damage, physical depletion, and in severe cases, even self-sacrifice.... It was equivalent to opening the Gate of Death in the Eight Inner Gates.
"Wait!"
Rod suddenly thought of a key point, quickly flipped through his panel, found the Authority section, and examined it carefully, his eyes lighting up.
"I knew it!"
"EX · Perfect Synchronization effect, my and my subordinates' all abilities, techniques, and items will have the same effect in any world, and all negative effects will be excluded!"
"This means that even if I use this Domain with full power, there will be no cost whatsoever!"
Rod was excited for a moment, then subconsciously touched his eyes, belatedly muttering.
"No wonder I've been using Kamui so frequently lately without any signs of ocular power weakening. I originally thought of testing the limits of frequent use... but it turns out I was overthinking it."
Rod shook his head with a wry smile; the string of good news instantly put him in a great mood.
"Haha, if I can solve the mana problem, then I can truly use Kamui freely!"
Just as Rod thought it was over, a new message box popped up before his eyes again.
[Silent Suzuka's growth was noticed by the Three Goddesses, and they happily sent you their gentle blessings.]
[Special Ability: Blessing of the Three Goddesses · True Manifestation.]
Effect: After an Uma Musume receives a blessing, she will gradually unlock her body's hidden potential.
All physical attributes will rapidly grow to their current limits and temporarily maintain their peak.
This process will last for three years, and after the full-fledged development ends, her physical attributes will gradually decline.
Rhodes directly ignored the final flaw, his eyes gleaming as he stared at this gift, unable to help but gasp.
"Absurd...!"
If the 'Domain' was a temporary burst skill, then this 'Full-Fledged Development' was undoubtedly a permanent passive!
Full-Fledged Development is not a rare thing in the Uma Musume World; every Uma Musume goes through such a period.
But perhaps even the Three Goddesses would not have imagined that this skill, applied to Rhodes, would undergo such an incredible evolution!
When [Full-Fledged Development] and [Perfect Synchronization] are stacked, all its inherent negative effects and restrictions disappear!
The true effect of this ability on Rhodes can be summed up in one simple, blunt sentence.
[Physical attributes rapidly grow to their current limits and permanently maintain their peak!]
To compensate for his shortcomings, Rhodes had long set his sights on certain physique-enhancing talents and skills.
However, maintaining his physical condition still required daily exercise and even medicinal baths for recovery as assistance.
But with [Full-Fledged Development], he would always be at his peak, no matter when!
"!!!"
A hot sensation suddenly spread from his chest, like a warm current flowing deep within his blood vessels.
Goosebumps uncontrollably rose all over his body, and his breathing became deep and powerful.
The heart within his chest suddenly accelerated its beating, each thump carrying abundant strength, like a drumstick beating a war drum!
Rhodes looked down; his once slender fingers were visibly thickening and strengthening, veins subtly appearing, and the skin on the back of his hands seemed to become firmer.
Beneath his somewhat weak and powerless limbs from his otaku days, tendons sprang and swelled, muscles bulged like rapidly growing vines!
Rhodes tentatively jumped, each muscle coordinating to tense and relax, and his height seemed to have increased slightly, broadening his field of vision.
The feeling of bodily exhaustion vanished, and strength seemed to surge endlessly from the ground.
He closed his eyes, spread his arms, and felt the gushing heat flow within his body.
"Hahahaha, fantastic!"
It was not reliant on the assistance of others, but rather deeply rooted in his own attributes.
Although far less than Silent Suzuka's blessing, it made Rhodes feel even more at ease and exhilarated!
The mutation from Full-Fledged Development quickly ended.
Rhodes slowly opened his eyes, his spine straight, his lower back strong, his posture natural and upright.
"Suzuka, Three Goddesses, thank you for your gifts."
"However, these are just pleasant surprises, far from enough to relax."
His excited expression returned to calmness.
Rhodes' eyes revealed determination.
"Now for the main event, System, open the Myriad Worlds Prayer Panel!"
Myriad Worlds Prayer is a brand new feature after the system upgrade.
For every thousand Prayer Points consumed, it can randomly anchor the coordinates of a world.
And every week, a random prayer will refresh from that world.
Currently, only three world coordinates can exist simultaneously.
In the past few days, while Rhodes was busy drawing power from the girls, he was also constantly refreshing the coordinates of the Myriad Worlds Prayer.
However, he didn't know if it was because his luck had temporarily run out.
The worlds he had drawn these past few days indeed contained extremely powerful prayers, some even EX-level!
The rewards that could potentially drop were enough to make him ascend on the spot!
But Rhodes ultimately forced himself to suppress his agitated heart and painfully refreshed those worlds.
Otherwise, it wouldn't work...
Because those worlds were, for example, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Demonbane, and Dies irae!
In short, they were not worldviews that he could forcefully micromanage with his current combat power and wisdom; he would likely be instantly annihilated without resistance upon arrival.
If he were to forcefully use his only unrestricted Prayer Ticket, not only might he not be able to summon a suitable target to complete the prayer, but even if he did, it would definitely not be considered a profit, and he would also lose a life-saving charm that could turn the tide at any time.
It seemed like a huge loss no matter how he thought about it.
Rhodes, being cautious, always politely declined such choices that completely entrusted his life to external factors.
However, through Rhodes' efforts (and good luck), he eventually refreshed three of the most suitable worlds and prayers.
Myriad Worlds Prayer:
Ajin World - Suzuki Jun: I hope someone can help me live in this world without affecting my family... (A-rank Prayer)
One Piece World - Koby: Waaah, please, a kind person save me from Alvida's ship! (B-rank Prayer)
Solo Leveling World - Cheng Xiaoyu: If my mother can recover, I am willing to pay any price. (A-rank Prayer)
Rhodes scanned the three worlds and finally focused his gaze on the first one, which was his predetermined target.
"The Ajin with infinite resurrection ability... what a tempting ability. Let's start with you."
"System, accept Suzuki Jun's prayer."
Coordinates anchored, transmission beginning.
Time: The moment the first Ajin was born in Japan.
Location: San Francisco, USA.
Note: Time in the Danmachi World will be suspended for seven days. If you stay in other worlds for more than seven days, the time flow rates of the two worlds will tend to equalize, unless Prayer Points are consumed to maintain it.
Dark storm clouds, accompanied by lightning and thunder, poured down heavy rain.
In weather like the end of the world, even the bloodiest crimes would be concealed.
"Fuck, isn't the sniper in position yet?!"
Inside the police car, a white police chief angrily slammed the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the entrance of a small theater not far away.
A nervous voice came from the passenger seat of the rookie.
"They said the weather conditions are too bad, they can't find a clear view... Should we just storm in?"
The white police chief frowned deeply.
Fifteen minutes ago, the police station received an emergency call, claiming that a criminal was randomly killing people inside this theater.
As of the report, two people had already died.
After urgently contacting the theater manager, they confirmed that there were currently only five people inside the theater.
Due to the weather, there were only three guests, and the remaining two were staff members responsible for the screening.
This was the only good news.
But the police chief was not sure how many criminals there were or if they had firearms. Storming in recklessly in this weather could lead to casualties among his own men.
Disregarding one's own safety to rescue trapped individuals?
Don't be ridiculous, being a police officer is just a job. How much money do they make in a month to risk their lives like this?
"B-boss!"
The passenger suddenly looked terrified, trembling as he pointed at the door.
"I think I just saw a ghost walk in!"
"What?!"
The door creaked open, and Rhodes, having traversed worlds, stepped into the dim theater, casually picking up a pencil from the empty front desk to fiddle with.
Not far in, a terrified woman, clutching her bleeding arm, stumbled out of the shadows, her expression panicked.
When she saw Rhodes appear, her eyes immediately lit up with surprise and relief. She hurried over, almost in tears, and whispered a warning.
"Are you here to save us...? Be careful, there's a terrifying murderer inside!"
Rhodes expressionlessly stepped aside, and their figures brushed past each other.
In that instant, the woman's grateful gaze suddenly turned sinister, and she sneered, swinging her knife directly at Rhodes' vital points.
However, Rhodes merely tilted his head slightly, his body rotating with the movement, skillfully evading the opponent's blade like flowing water.
A cold glint sliced through the air, and the woman's astonished eyes widened. Rhodes, with a backhand motion, drew out the pencil, its tip stopping less than an inch from her throat.
"W-wait, wait, I was just too emotional..."
"Heh."
The pencil tip cleanly pierced her throat.
Blood spurted like a fountain. The woman clutched her neck, her eyes wide with shock, confusion, and fear, mumbling for mercy with a choked voice.
"N-no—don't kill me—"
Rhodes expressionlessly stomped on the woman's head, stepped over her corpse, and walked away with unhurried steps.
"Next life, remember to practice your acting a bit more."
He walked directly into the theater's projection room.
The room was already littered with dismembered limbs, and the smell of blood was so thick it was like a slaughterhouse.
Standing before a pile of body parts, Rhodes, with his hands in his pockets, spoke calmly.
"Come out, I've dealt with that murderer."
The projection room was eerily silent, as if devoid of any life.
"I believe these people weren't killed by you, but the cuts on their bodies are directly related to you, aren't they? Do you think the police here will believe you're innocent?"
"Even if you have extreme faith in this country's legal system, you must have heard the term [Ajin]."
"An immortal, non-human being. What do you think any country would do if they knew such an existence appeared on their territory?"
Less than two seconds after his words fell, the pile of body parts slightly wriggled.
A blood-soaked woman crawled out.
Her slender hands tightly clutched the outer garment at her chest, her eyes looking at Rhodes with unease, and she spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Who... are you?"
Rhodes bent down, extended his right hand, and showed a gentle smile.
"My name is Rhodes. I heard your prayer and came to save you."
"Rhodes... Are you an angel?!"
"If you mean a flawless creation glorified by people, then I'm afraid I'm not the being you imagine."
Rhodes said with a calm expression.
"But if you mean a religious order maintenance device from the Bible, then my actions are pretty much the same as its."
"I will fulfill your prayer, and you will pay the price."
"I will help you live freely, without being subjected to various cruel experiments, and without affecting your family, but you must become my possession."
"How about it, will you make a contract with me?"
Like the gentle persuasion of a legendary demon, as if just by taking that hand, one would be pulled into the abyss.
But at this moment, it was the woman's only salvation in her despair.
"...."
The woman pursed her lips, the fear of the unknown in her heart preventing her from immediately agreeing, but the cold reality of having no choice forced her to give the inevitable answer.
She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and gave a tragic laugh.
"As long as my family isn't affected by my situation, you can ask for any price you want!"
Rhode's smile remained unchanged on his face.
"So... can you make it stop for a while? Stop constantly waving its claws at me."
Seeing the gentle smile on Rhode's face, the woman felt an inexplicable palpitation, her gaze shifted, not daring to meet his eyes, and she quickly spoke in a low voice.
"You can see that guy too? I, I don't know what that is!"
From the woman's perspective, a black monster with wings was roaring and constantly attacking Rhode!
But each attack passed through his body, as if he didn't exist in this world at all!
If not for that, she probably wouldn't have so quickly accepted the words of this suspicious-looking guy.
"It's alright, I appreciate your vigilance and rationality."
"This black ghost is called an IBM. It's a black ghost that a few demi-humans with high concentrations of IBM particles awaken. You can directly give it commands."
The woman inexplicably felt a sense of joy from the bottom of her heart at Rhode's praise, and her previously tense and uneasy emotions were soothed by his confident and calm tone, gradually becoming calm.
More, she wanted more praise....
Was it because she was about to bid farewell to this normal life and be pulled by him into another abnormal world?
In any case, just being obedient would be enough, then she wouldn't have to worry.