Two months passed in a blur of warm milk, soft blankets, and whispered family secrets.
Ashreign's understanding of his new world grew with each passing day. He learned that the Khain estate sprawled across hundreds of acres on the outskirts of the imperial capital, with hidden training grounds, underground vaults, and even a private forest where the family raised shadow beasts for guardianship and combat. He also learned that his "fever" had been no ordinary illness. The healers spoke in hushed tones of awakening flames and bloodline resonance, signs that the Khain Darkline ability was stirring in him far earlier than usual.
But more importantly, Ashreign had been busy mastering his connection to the Infinite Gacha System.
The screen now responded to his thoughts alone. There was no need to focus hard or make dramatic gestures. He could pull it up with a simple mental command, flipping through tabs like he was browsing his old laptop. He had already used his daily free pulls every morning, though the results had been underwhelming.
[DAILY FREE PULL COMPLETE]
[RECEIVED: F-RANK ITEM: STALE LOAF OF BREAD]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "Congratulations. You have received disappointment. Maybe sacrifice a better loaf to the gacha gods next time?"]
[DAILY FREE PULL COMPLETE]
[RECEIVED: F-RANK ITEM: EMPTY WATER SKIN]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "At least it's clean? Small mercies."]
[DAILY FREE PULL COMPLETE]
[RECEIVED: E-RANK ITEM: DARK STEEL BUTTON]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "Fashion upgrade pending. Or you could use it as a really tiny weapon."]
Still, every pull earned him a little EXP, and after twenty days of consistent daily pulls, a notification popped up that made his tiny heart race.
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: DAILY DEVOTEE]
[REWARD: 200 GACHA POINTS + 1 FORCE SUMMON DISCOUNT COUPON (50% OFF ANY FORCE UNIT)]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "You've proven you're willing to grind for what you want. Now let's get you some real power."]
Between the newbie pack's 500 GP and the achievement reward, Ashreign now had 700 GP to work with. Add the 50 percent discount coupon, and he could afford something he had been eyeing since day one. The A-Rank Elite Assassin Squad, Black Fang Unit, ten elite operatives with specialized dark magic skills, priced normally at 500 GP. With the coupon, it would cost just 250 GP, leaving him plenty for future pulls.
But first, he needed to find a place to summon them without being discovered.
That night, when Elara and Garren had retired to their chambers and only the soft footsteps of night guards patrolled the halls, Ashreign used his Basic Shadow Sense to locate the perfect spot. It was a forgotten storage room in the basement, sealed behind a wall of stacked crates and hidden by a thick curtain of shadows.
Using every ounce of strength his ITEM month old body possessed, he rolled out of his crib, scooted across the floor, and pulled himself up using the edge of his changing table. He managed to push open the nursery door just enough to slip through, though he got stuck halfway and had to wiggle like a worm to free himself.
Note to self, being a baby is way more work than being a college student, he grumbled mentally as he scooted down the hallway, using the wall for support.
The storage room was exactly as his Shadow Sense had shown him. Dark, dusty, and shielded from the estate's magic wards by layers of old stone and shadow cotton tapestries. Perfect for a system summon.
He pulled up the FORCE TAB with a thought, his tiny fingers gripping the edge of a wooden crate to keep steady.
[INFINITE GACHA SYSTEM, FORCE TAB]
[FORCE SUMMON OPTIONS AVAILABLE]
[SELECT UNIT TO SUMMON:]
A-RANK ELITE ASSASSIN SQUAD: BLACK FANG UNIT
[COST: 500 GP now 250 GP WITH COUPON]
[REQUIRES: 10% OF MAX MANA (100 MANA)]
[FATE LOAD: MINOR (5% INCREASE)]
[DESCRIPTION: Ten elite assassins trained in shadow manipulation, silent movement, and tactical infiltration. Can be disguised as household staff, messengers, or commoners. Absolute loyalty guaranteed.]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "Ten killers at your beck and call. Finally, something useful instead of bread."]
[CONFIRM SUMMON? YES / NO]
Ashreign did not hesitate. He selected YES and felt 100 mana drain from his body, leaving him lightheaded but focused. The room filled with a soft blue glow, and ten shadowy figures materialized in a circle around him, dropping to one knee as soon as they fully formed.
They were all dressed in dark gray robes that blended perfectly with the shadows, their faces hidden behind masks shaped like wolves' heads. Each stood at least six feet tall, moving with a grace that spoke of years of training. The air around them hummed with dark magic, subtle, controlled, and deadly.
"Lord Ashreign," the tallest one said, his voice like gravel and silk mixed together. "We are the Black Fang Unit. We live to serve you."
Ashreign gurgled in response, then pointed at the crates and made a sweeping motion with his hand, hoping they would understand he wanted the room returned to its original state.
The leader nodded immediately. "As you command. We will establish cover identities within the estate by dawn, servants, stable hands, and messengers. We will report to you alone, using only shadow channels to avoid detection."
One of the assassins stepped forward, holding out a small black gem. "This is a Shadow Communication Stone, bound to your soul and ours. Speak to it, and we will hear you anywhere within the capital. It will also alert you to any threats detected within the estate grounds."
Ashreign took the stone with his tiny hand. It fit perfectly in his palm. The system immediately recognized it.
[NEW ITEM IDENTIFIED: SHADOW COMMUNICATION STONE]
[RARITY: C-RANK]
[BOUND TO USER, CANNOT BE REMOVED]
[DESCRIPTION: Allows secure communication with summoned FORCE units. Also detects hostile magic and physical threats within a 1 mile radius.]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "Finally, a way to text your minions. Welcome to villain management 101."]
[OBJECTIVE UPDATE: SURVIVE AND THRIVE]
[UNLOCK AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL SKILL: PROGRESS: 1/1]
[REWARD: 100 GP + 50 EXP]
[LEVEL UP CONFIRMED]
[CURRENT LEVEL: 2]
[UNLOCKED: 5 STAT POINTS TO DISTRIBUTE FREELY]
Ashreign distributed his points immediately, adding two to Intelligence, two to Willpower, and one to Agility. His profile updated in an instant.
[INFINITE GACHA SYSTEM: MAIN TAB]
[PLAYER STATUS]
[Name: Ashreign Khain]
[Level: 2]
[Age: 4 Months]
[Affiliation: Khain Family]
[Bloodline: Khain Bloodline (Unawakened)]
[Ability: Magic Swordsman (Dark), Unlocked at Level 5]
[Mana: 1,200 / 1,200]
[Stamina: 800 / 800]
[STATS]
[Strength: 24]
[Agility: 31]
[Defense: 22]
[Intelligence: 40]
[Luck: ??? (Hidden stat)]
[Willpower: 50]
[Charisma: 18]
[CURRENCY]
[Gacha Points (GP): 450]
[EXP: 50 / 200]
[World Gold: 500]
[FATE MANAGEMENT]
[Current Fate Density: LOW]
[STATUS: Minor story interference possible, some NPCs may now take notice of your activities]
[ACTIVE FORCE UNITS]
[BLACK FANG UNIT: A-RANK ELITE ASSASSIN SQUAD (10 MEMBERS)]
[COVER IDENTITIES: Being established, ETA: 3 hours]
[CURRENT MISSION: Estate Security and Information Gathering]
As the Black Fang Unit melted into the shadows to begin their work, Ashreign heard footsteps approaching the storage room. He quickly tucked the communication stone into the pocket of his Shadow Swaddle, where it vanished into shadow storage, and scooted back toward the doorway just as the door swung open.
It was Captain Riven, head of the Khain family guards, an imposing man with scarred cheeks and a loyal heart, though in Elyndor's Fall he had been portrayed as a blind enforcer of the family's tyranny.
"Little lord?" Riven said, his gruff voice softening as he saw Ashreign sitting by the door. "What are you doing down here? You gave us all quite a scare when we found your crib empty."
Ashreign let out a series of innocent gurgles and reached up toward him, making sure to look as cute and helpless as possible. Riven chuckled, scooping him up in his massive hands.
"Looks like you're already exploring every corner of the estate," he said as he carried Ashreign back toward the nursery. "Just like your grandfather used to do. He always said the best leaders know every inch of their home, and every secret it holds."
As they walked, Ashreign felt the communication stone warm in his shadow storage. A message appeared in his mind, delivered directly from the Black Fang leader.
Lord Ashreign, we have discovered a hidden room beneath the eastern training grounds. It contains documents and artifacts we believe are related to your grandfather's work. We will begin investigating at once and report our findings tomorrow night.
A smile tugged at the corners of Ashreign's tiny mouth.
So the first secret of the Khain family is already within reach, he thought. And with ten assassins at my back, I will uncover every last one of them before fate or the hero can stop me.
Back in his crib, Ashreign pulled up the GACHA TAB and looked at his remaining 450 GP. He still had his free ten pull coupon waiting, and with the Black Fang Unit already working for him, it was time to see what else the system could offer.
He selected the BEGINNER BANNER and activated the coupon.
[FREE 10 PULL COUPON ACTIVATED]
[PULLING FROM BEGINNER BANNER]
[FEATURED ITEM: S-RANK SHADOW DAGGER]
[PULL 1: E-RANK ITEM: 5 DARK MAGIC POTIONS]
[PULL 2: F-RANK ITEM: 20 FEET OF ROPE]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "For when you need to tie things up. Literally."]
[PULL 3: D-RANK SKILL: SHADOW STEP (LEVEL 1/10)]
[DESCRIPTION: Allows short range teleportation between shadows. Cost: 50 mana per use.]
[PULL 4: F-RANK ITEM: 100 LOAVES OF FRESH BREAD]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "Okay, now we're just mocking you."]
[PULL 5: C-RANK ITEM: IMPERIAL CURRENCY POUCH (10,000 WORLD GOLD)]
[PULL 6: E-RANK ITEM: SHADOW COTTON SCARF]
[PULL 7: F-RANK ITEM: EMPTY INK VIAL]
[PULL 8: D-RANK ITEM: DARK STEEL KNIFE]
[PULL 9: C-RANK SKILL: SHADOW MANIPULATION (LEVEL 1/10)]
[DESCRIPTION: Allows basic control over shadows, can create distractions or simple shapes. Cost: 30 mana per use.]
[PULL 10: S-RANK ITEM: KHAIN'S SHADOW DAGGER]
[DESCRIPTION: Forged by the first Khain lord, absorbs dark magic to increase damage. Grants +5 Agility and +3 Dark Magic Potency. Unlocks at Level 5.]
[SYSTEM COMMENT: "PITY ACTIVATED. THE UNIVERSE OWES YOU ONE. FINALLY, SOMETHING WORTH SHOWING OFF."]
[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: LUCKY BEGINNER]
[REWARD: 300 GP + 1 S-RANK PULL COUPON (VALID FOR ANY BANNER)]
Ashreign stared at the screen in awe. An S-Rank item on his first ten pull, and two new skills to boot. As the system dimmed, he felt a surge of confidence he had not felt since he first held his new laptop in his old world.
The hero Mai Lumina was still just a child somewhere in the empire, years away from picking up her spear. The imperial court's corruption was still hidden behind smiles and treaties. The Khain family's fate was still written in ink that could be erased.
And Ashreign had just taken his first real step toward rewriting it, with ten assassins, a legendary dagger, and a gacha system that was proving to be far more powerful than he had ever imagined.