Chapter 1: The Road to Seiryuu and the "Helpful" Infiltration
The walk toward Seiryuu City was a masterclass in physical disorientation. Every time I pushed off the dirt path, my new [Leg Strength] kicked in with the subtlety of a hydraulic press. I wasn't just walking; I was practically bouncing.
'Calibrate, Kaito. Deep breaths. You're a human, not a pogo stick,' I muttered, trying to steady my gait.
The afternoon sun was high, baking the Shiga Kingdom countryside in a golden hue. I needed more than just rabbit legs if I was going to survive. I needed eyes that could see a threat before it saw me.
I spotted my first "patch" sitting on a crooked wooden signpost. A Messenger Hawk was preening its mahogany feathers, its head twitching with predatory precision. I reached into the pocket of my jeans and found a stray almond from a trail mix pack—the last relic of my office desk.
"Hey there, buddy. Long flight?" I pitched my voice low, walking up with a casual air.
The bird froze, its golden eyes locking onto me. I held out the nut. As the hawk leaned down to snatch the offering from my palm, I let my thumb graze the soft down on its chest
[COPY] Initialized.
Target: Messenger Hawk.
Select Trait: [Sharp Sight - Rank 1] / [Aero-Dynamics] / [High-Speed Flight].
'Sharp Sight. Definitely.'
[COPY] Successful.
The hawk shrieked, buffeting me with its wings as it took flight. I didn't mind. I opened my Menu UI and dragged [Sharp Sight] into the [SYNTHESIS] window, combining it with my own vision.
[SYNTHESIS] Result: [Hawkeye (Passive)]
Cost: 2 MP.
The world snapped from a blurry 480p to a startling, crystal-clear 4K. I could see the individual veins in the leaves of trees fifty yards away. The horizon, once a hazy line, now revealed the shimmering heat waves rising off the city's stone walls.
Further down the road, the sounds of straining wood and shouting broke the silence. A Merchant Caravan was listing heavily to the left, its rear wheel buried deep in a muddy divot. A group of Lizardman Slaves were harnessed to the front, their muscular, scaled tails lashing in frustration as they heaved.
This was it. My first big "upgrade."
"Need an extra shoulder?" I called out, stepping off the path.
The merchant, a portly man wiping sweat from his brow, looked at my thin frame and my coffee-stained t-shirt with pure skepticism. "Unless you've got the strength of an ox hidden in those spindly arms, lad, you're just in the way!"
"I've got better than ox-strength. I've got leverage," I lied, stepping up beside the largest lizardman.
I took a deep breath, braced my back against the muddy wagon frame, and let my bare shoulder press firmly against the lizardman's cool, pebbled skin.
[COPY] Initialized.
Target: Lizardman (Male).
Select Trait: [Physical Power - Mid] / [Hardened Scales] / [Heat Resistance].
'Give me the power. I'll worry about the scales later.'
[COPY] Successful.
With my rabbit-boosted calves and the lizardman's borrowed raw power, I let out a guttural grunt and shoved. The wagon groaned, the mud hissed, and with a sudden pop, the wheel cleared the divot.
"Hah! Look at that!" the merchant cheered, though he looked more confused than anything. "You've got a hidden engine in you, boy!"
As he stepped closer to inspect the wheel, he stumbled over a loose stone. I reached out, ostensibly to steady him, and caught his forearm. My skin hit his, firm and direct.
[COPY] Initialized.
Target: Human Male.
Select Trait: [Haggling] / [Basic Arithmetic] / [Robust Constitution].
'I don't care about your math, old man. Give me that constitution. I need to be able to take a hit.'
[COPY] Successful.
The merchant thanked me profusely, but I was already looking toward the massive gates of Seiryuu City. I had no permit, no gold, and I looked like a homeless person from the future.
'Time to put the "Beast of Burden" build to the test.'
I reached into the wagon and hoisted a massive wooden crate—easily a hundred pounds of ironwork.
[SYNTHESIS] Internal Alert:
[Physical Power] + [Robust Constitution] = [Beast of Burden (Temporary Buff)]
Effect: Carry capacity increased by 500% for 10 minutes.
The weight became nothing. I felt like I was carrying a box of feathers. I fell into line with the regular porters, kept my head down, and marched straight through the cargo lane. The Seiryuu City Guards barely glanced at me. They saw a high-strength worker with a heavy load and a focused expression; they didn't see the Level 1 glitch in their reality.
I walked ten steps into the city, ducked into a shadowed alley, and set the crate down. My lungs felt great, my eyes were sharp, and I was finally inside the walls.
"Phase one complete," I whispered, my [Poker Face] finally relaxing into a grin. "Now, where is that guy in the black suit