An idle seed, planted on a whim, had taken root.
Thanks to a bit of mischief, Hanabi had left a "hook" in the SEED world.
"Wonder if I can leave even more 'marks.' Ara?"
Right on cue, the Stage delivered another notification.
[Negotiations with the production team complete]
[The production team has given an extremely high evaluation]
[Performance pay distributed. Reward list as follows:]
[1. Targeted 1-Affix Character Inheritance Card (5-Star): A 5-star gold-quality targeted character card. You may specify a character theme (including magic, sci-fi, urban, superpower, etc.). Guaranteed 5-star gold-quality character card.]
[2. Targeted 1-Affix Character Skill Card (5-Star): A 5-star gold-quality targeted skill card. You may specify a character theme (including magic, sci-fi, urban, superpower, etc.). Guaranteed 5-star gold-quality.]
[3. Custom Stage Outfit (4-Star): A custom-made 4-star purple-quality stage outfit, tailored to your specifications.]
[4. Targeted 1-Affix Destiny Card (5-Star): For use only when entering a new world. Adds a random destiny-based ability, skill, or background to the character. Warning: may produce side effects. Use with caution.]
No ten-pull this time—but the rewards were straight 5-star.
And not just any 5-stars. These were targeted gacha cards. Three of them.
But that wasn't all.
[Client request: Destined Duel — Complete. Naruto and Gaara engaged in combat. Naruto had multiple highlight moments.]
[The production team has once again given an extremely high evaluation]
[Bonus reward distributed]
[You have received: Box Garden Studio ×1]
"Ara, ara ara ara."
"What's this studio?" Hanabi asked the Stage.
[The studio can be used to produce films, games, and other media.]
"Oh? What does it look like right now?" Hanabi asked.
A blank room appeared on Hanabi's screen.
The studio was completely empty inside.
"How do I get there?" Hanabi asked.
[Same method as accessing the various training grounds.]
"Looks like the studio's not much use yet."
[You may choose whether to have studio-related items appear in the Popularity Points Shop and random gacha pulls.]
"Mm, let me think. The Destiny Card's pretty self-explanatory—best to use it when entering the SEED world. Anyway, gacha time."
Character Inheritance Card first.
Not for the Naruto world—this one was prep for the new production.
"Specified affix… sci-fi."
Golden light swept across the screen.
After the blinding flash, a single card materialized before Hanabi.
A card bearing the image of a black coffin.
Since Hanabi hadn't activated this card in the current world, the inheritance item was still stored in card form.
Can't go unwrapping gear from a different set—once opened, it wouldn't transfer.
"Ara ara, no wonder it's a coffin. So it's her."
[Character Inheritance Card]
[Hollow Box Humanoid — Lacia LV1]
[Rarity: 5-Star]
[Talent/Skills:]
[Bonus: +10% attention when wearing fashion or sci-fi styled outfits]
[Keepsake: BLACK MONOLITH]
[Keepsake function: Concealable quantum computer. Additional functions unlock as level increases.]
[Invest Popularity Points to level up. Unique abilities are granted at certain level thresholds.]
[When Character Inheritance level reaches LV10, you may enter a dimensional world using this character as a template.]
The heroine of BEATLESS: The Girl Without a Heartbeat—Lacia.
(Lacia)
(Hard to find reference images)
(That's her!)
(During the fashion competition)
Called the "heroine," but she was actually an android.
In her home world, super-AIs far beyond human comprehension had emerged—entities known as "things beyond human reach," or "products mankind has yet to attain."
Lacia was one of them.
And that BLACK MONOLITH was no joke either. In a sense, it was Lacia's true body.
Its built-in quantum computer enabled massively distributed computation—interfering with electronic devices, constructing barriers, devising strategy through hyper-calculation, rendering itself transparent using metamaterials, and even firing electromagnetic cannons.
In a manner of speaking, with this thing, going one-on-one against a Gundam wasn't out of the question.
At Character Inheritance LV1, though, only the quantum computer was available.
But Hanabi was sitting on several hundred thousand unspent Popularity Points. Once she was on set, she could level it up immediately—no problem.
"With this card, the mission just got a lot simpler."
The weight on Hanabi's chest finally lifted.
"What a coincidence, though."
Inori Yuzuriha and Lacia—designed by the same artist.
This character was even called "Inori Yuzuriha's alternate-universe counterpart" by fans.
Giving Inori a Lacia inheritance card? Perfect fit.
"Hmm, so the 5-star skill card should go to this side."
Not all the rewards could go to the Second Studio.
The Akatsuki was on the horizon right here.
She was good with dual blades, but didn't have a real killer technique for them yet.
"If I could pull Starburst Stream, that'd be great. The Eclipse would be even better."
Speaking of dual wielding, Kirito, a.k.a. Kazuto Kirigaya, was the obvious reference.
If she could pull skills from that franchise, all the better.
"Let's crack open the skill card. Specified affix: dual-blade weapon."
Affix set. Hanabi pulled.
Another flash of gold.
"Hm?"
Not the Starburst Stream she'd hoped for. Not The Eclipse either.
But this skill—Hanabi knew it well.
[Rokudou Gorin: Kurikara Tenshou]
"Isn't this Miyamoto Musashi's Noble Phantasm from TYPE-MOON's FGO?! Wait—this counts as a skill?"
[Dialing support hotline]
[Transferring to live customer service]
[Inquiry in progress]
[Live customer service is responding]
[A Noble Phantasm that has been elevated from pure technique or craftsmanship can be classified as a skill. However, mastering the related skill requires the user's own capacity for understanding.]
[Note from Shiki Ryougi: When learning this type of Noble Phantasm ability, please pay close attention to the compatibility between the skill and yourself. These skills are not usable upon acquisition—they require extensive dedicated training. Learning the skill itself is the equivalent of lighting a lamp on an otherwise unknown road.]
"Ryougi-sensei's note? That's a huge help."
Hanabi turned her attention to the skill.
[Skill Card: Rokudou Gorin: Kurikara Tenshou]
[Rarity: 5-Star]
[Description text varies depending on the world]
[The ultimate anti-personnel secret blade. A Niō figure manifests behind the user, and through the swords of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind, the ultimate secret blade is unleashed.]
[At high levels, it can affect demons, spirits, sages, Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, and more.]
[Upon full comprehension, the wielder will be able to sever bad karma, lingering attachments, curses, and ill fate.]
"A 5-star skill that auto-adapts to different worlds? Incredible."
Say no more—learn it first!