No way... a new route, and Itachi's above else. Awesome! I need to take a look at this right away. System do your thing and let me see a summary of Itachi's route.
[ Route Unlocked: Itachi Uchiha
Earn Route Points by:
Making calculated, self-sacrificial decisions.
Acting with foresight and strategy in all situations.
Protecting others from the shadows, even if it makes you the villain.
Prioritizing duty over personal desires.
Remaining calm and composed, regardless of circumstances.
New Passive Skill Acquired: Uchiha Bloodline Model Itachi Uchiha – Enhances perception and reaction speed. Slightly increases mana efficiency and mental resistance. ]
Hmmm... This is kinda disappointing actually. Well, I guess it is to be expected that I won't be getting Sharingan right off the bat. Nevertheless, this is still awesome as hell! Call me edgy all you want, but don't deny the appeal of these types of characters. Always had a thing for the cold and mysterious cliche, they never fail to deliver what they are supposed to in the coolest way possible.
I can't wait to just...
"Mangekyou Sharingan!" I said, doing my best impression of Itachi—which isn't very good... I will spare you the details.
But wait a minute, isn't Mangekyou acquired by suffering a great deal of emotional damage? Actually, Sharingan itself is acquired by suffering emotionally now that I think about it. Sigh... I'm screwed then. Eventfully, who knows, right?
First, let me see my Skills.
[ Skills:
Yõki Detection - 1
Passive Skills:
Shinso Bloodline - (equipped)
Uchiha Bloodline Model Itachi Uchiha ]
I can't equip or unnequip it, so I'm guessing the passive only works if the route is equipped as well. A pity, two passives can't be working at the same time. It seems like I'm in for a tough choice then. First, Shinso Bloodline is infinitely better than Uchiha Bloodline right now, would be an overwhelming win if not for its weaknesses—seriously, having to drink blood and having to deal with a second personality is not so nice. On the other hand, the rules to earn points with Itachi are much safer and easier, which means farming points with it would be far better—and more importantly, it doesn't come with any apparent weakness, at least for a while. It might be worth trying.
[ New Route Equipped ]
[ New Route Quest acquired: Eliminate a known criminal who is secretly protected by a noble family.Reward: +100 Points ]
[ Passive skill equipped: Uchiha Bloodline Model Itachi Uchiha
The next skill requires 400 Points
Current amount of Points: 20
Current amount of mana: 100 ]
Wow... just by unequipping Shinso Bloodline my body feels better already, the need for blood and the uncomfortable atmosphere of the day are both gone in seconds, impressive. A considerable amount of martial arts knowledge is also flowing into my brain. Trying a few attacks in the air, it comes to me as naturally as breathing—I may not be as strong as Moka for now, but I can undoubtedly handle myself pretty well.
I'm recognizing some moves from the show, this must be Taijustu. Seeing how Itachi is one of the best Taijutsu users on the whole show, fighting won't really be a huge problem, and actually, it might be even better deeming that Moka's route doesn't give me any knowledge of how to fight—Although, the brute force was enough to overrun most normal threats.
Itachi's route seems pretty good overall, but damn! Skills aren't very cheap, 400 points is beyond anything I would have imagined. Well, at least I got some points from regaining control as Moka.
Now, it appears those humans left a cloak behind, it isn't much but it will do to cover myself. I tap on it a few times to clean the dust from the material after grabbing it—because of the difference in size, I'm looking a little silly wearing it, but it doesn't really bother me. Besides, it is a pretty cool black cloak with some yellow lines adorning the fabric. Feels good to be covered, I was starting to feel like a pervert.
I stretch a little with a relieved sight, thinking about my next course of action. The road goes left and right, so heading toward the previous direction of the carriage would logically lead somewhere. However, before getting near any town, I should look out for a river or something on my way, it may cause unnecessary commotion to walk around stained with blood.
...
"I... I'm thirsty as hell!" I yell, my face engraved with distress after walking for hours without finding a single thing.
There is no food, no water, nothing anywhere! Why?! Stupid road. I was practically fuming, kicking the dirt under my feet—until a spark of hope appeared on the faraway horizon.
A sign, finally! Running with excitement toward it, soon my vision falls on a few people seemingly having a pleasant chat. They seem friendly enough, some of them carry swords but they appear more like adventurers—hopefully, I'm right. All things aside, I killed a few people back there, which might count as self-defense, however doing it while in plain control of my own body might be complicated for me in multiple ways.
The group seizes their conversation as soon as they perceive my alone presence coming up the road while staring daggers at me. With each step my confidence manages to lower even more, cold sweat begins to drip from my forehead, and an odd but familiar feeling appears like bubbles on my stomach—ugh... dying doesn't cure shyness it seems. Communication is a strong weakness of mine, always has been. But can anyone judge me?! Look at them... they are staring at me so fiercely!
When close enough to be heard, I speak with a timid tone, my voice cracking, and my eyes trembling exactly like my legs, too shy to meet their gaze from up close—"Eh- He- hello..." My cheeks are almost turning into tomatos with embarrassment.
The first to speak was a man, tall and very muscular, with tanned skin, holding an iron shield double my side, "We have nothing to spare for you, beggar, leave us be" He said with a subtle hint of annoyance.
"Eh... But I'm n-" I was about to say until the same man cuts me abruptly—"I said to leave us, now!" His tone is dominant, filled with unspoken promises of violence. I flinch at his words, squeezing my eyes shut.
I can't! Impossible! Impossible! I froze in place, too scared to move, too scared to look, too scared to even form a logical train of thought—I was lost in the traumatic scenarios in my head, all from which I suffered at the hands of my previous bullies. But then, an older woman steps forward among them. She has beautiful brown short hair, white skin, taller than me too.
"Blyard, don't be a fucking asshole," She says angrily. Unexpectedly, the man simply clicks his tongue in annoyance but refrains from any other comment. The kind woman puts her hand on my head, smiling kindly she says, "Sorry kiddo, he is not a bad person, just a little temperamental. Anyway, are you okay? You seem a little rough on the edges"
I suddenly melt in tears, sobbing as I speak, "I- I ju- wanted som- inf- mation, I'm lost"
"Ow... don't cry don't cry. See the sign? There is a small town just down the road, we were just heading there, why don't you come with us?" She says, her tone full of motherly warmth.
I use my cloak to wash my tears while humming a timid "mhmm" in agreement. With this, I began my short travel to Saint Hein, the town nearby. Blyard was very inclined to intimidate me along the way, but Fasha, the woman who helped me always kept close enough to make him unable to do anything other than stare. I kept to myself most of the time, turns out roleplaying is difficult as heck! Why did I even think it would be easy? Speaking normally is already a problem for me. All things considered, I made a new friend! Fasha is a little bit old and somewhat vulgar, but still, she is a cool sorceress, she even showed me her magic tome—which, by the way, is written in a confusing language, because even though I know the letters, I'm unable to read it. Quite the mystery, Fasha was even a little bit surprised by it. My knowledge about this world increased vastly by talking to her too, I'm very grateful she offered to walk with me.
After a brief walk, we arrived at Saint Hein. For a 'small town,' I find it kinda big, honestly thought it would be smaller. They even have walls, but I guess every medieval town usually has walls so whatever. There was a huge line to pass through the gates, but other than waiting, Fasha called me alongside her group and we skipped the whole line.
"Licensed adventurers don't need to wait in lines," She said with a playful smirk before heading out to have a private chat with the gate guard for a few minutes—and boom! We were inside just like that! I feel so popular, it is like I'm hanging out with the cool kids now! But the town itself is kinda lame though, what one would expect of a medieval town. Although, it seems cleaner than the average medieval town from my previous world. Oddly, I only see humans, no elves. Perhaps there is truly some kind of war going on between them.
"Kiddo, want to hang out at my friend's inn? There is fresh food, water, and shelter too" Fasha asked casually, as if we were long-time friends. Of course, I quickly accepted it without putting much thought into it.
...
"Hah? This is truly an inn? Wow, it looks so luxurious..." I said, impressed with my surroundings. Fasha took me to a building, a vast and expensive-looking place. "Friends in high places, kiddo," she replied proudly, laughing a bit.
She guided me to an office-like room, and inside, an unknown man was waiting. Fasha is friendly with him, so I believe he must be at least a decent person, but for some reason, he keeps ogling me... It's uncomfortable.
"This one is going to fetch a nice price," I overheard Fasha saying.
My vision suddenly darkened and I fell into a deep slumber.
...
In my slumber, I feel soft hands petting me while speaking in a girly voice, with a monotone tone yet with a hint of concern. "Hey... wake up... you need to wake up or else people will eat your food"
I practically jump off the floor like a scared cat, my face expressing all my astonishment and fear as my eyes wander around my unfamiliar surroundings. Where? Where am I? A cell... why? I find myself in a dark cell, with bars made of metal with a cold stone floor—but, I'm far from being alone here, there are a lot of people inside with me, and even more in other cells among this weary place.
"You should eat..." The same girl who woke me up hands me a bowl with a strange white jelly. I take a good look at her for once, perceiving something very disturbing—she looks like a copy of me. Black long hair, pale skin, and a small frame. Then I look around once more just to find out that everyone in my cell is exactly like this too.
"The cells are divided by our looks... makes it easier for them to browse," She said sadly. My eyes widened once the meaning behind her words struck me. I watched far too many isekai anime to not know where am I right now—a slave market!? No! It can't be! Why?!
"It is no use... just sit down" I heard a few of the other girls saying, with not a hint of hope in their tones.
What the actual fuck!?! That traitor bitch Fasha! My fear morphs into murderous anger in a heartbeat as I walk back to speak with the one who woke me. The girl, wearing rags, was still holding my bowl as if she had already seen this scene countless times before—I grabbed the bowl, leaning against the wall beside her.
"Thank you... for waking me up, my name is Yuki" I said, my anxiousness still lingering on my words.
"Mine is Karol, and, don't worry about it, I try to keep the morale at a bearable level around," She replied with a weary tone. "So, what does your system do?" She proceeded casually.
Dumbfounded by her question, I stumble upon my words, "How... how do you know I have one?"
Her eyes widen in surprise, "Wow... a fresh one. To summarize, outsiders have no rights in this world, so we are used as slaves. We all appear with a system, but most systems are essentially useless. So, what's yours do?"
That is a plot I most definitely never saw in any anime ever... but anyway, I'm not going to stand around and wait to be sold to some fat fuck. With a smirk, I answer, "Basically, everything," with enough points of course, but better if I keep this part hidden, learned my lesson on trusting people too quickly.
Karol laughed and said sarcastically, "Yeah right..." proceeding after seeing my serious face, "Bullshit, they always kill any with useful systems,"
They never checked mine. Well to be fair, they did find me in a pretty horrible shape—I was hungry, thirsty, and scared. These are definitely not traits of someone strong... so they might have assumed that my system was weak by default. Anyways, fuck this place.
[ Route changed: Moka Akashiya
24 hours have passed - Route Quest
Objective: Befriend a misunderstood or feared monster or outcast, treating them kindly despite their reputation.Reward: +30 Points ]
I feel my body change immediately, once again, morphing into a vampire. My change is noticed by the other captives as if the whole place suddenly felt colder, and the few lit torches scattered across the facility were stirring—heralds of my transformation. At this very moment, the rage inside me was enough to make me completely forget any kind of shyness I once had, and so, I stepped forward to the middle of my cell, surrounded by hopeless people lying on the floor simply waiting to be sold. Their eyes were locked on me, even those from other cells were curiously staring.
"Who the fuck they think they are?! Our world is far more advanced than this medieval shit hole! They don't want to treat us as human beings, fine! I say we pay on the same coin" Rage, discontent, revolt—all these things are filling me to the brim with an unshakable resolve I honestly never knew it lived inside me. Some were inspired, with hopeful eyes and yelling in agreement, while others were still skeptical of how they would even survive outside.
I was about to proceed when a yell alongside a loud noise coming from the door cut me off. "Shut the hell up down there!" We all hear, some even flinching from traumatic encounters with the man yelling. He came down, now standing in the hallway between cells with a torch in his hand, a wooden stick, and an angry expression—it appears that he is some kind of guard to keep us in check.
He stood close to my cell, staring at me with disgust through the solid metal bars. "Seems like the newcomer is in dire need of a good beating to learn her place," He said, his tone completely immersed in dominance. His arrogance is enough to make me laugh because he will soon realize who is going to learn a lesson today. Seeing me laugh as I walk closer to the bars, he becomes even more arrogant, eager to beat me up for his own amusement. At least until he saw me bending the bars with my bare hands and grabbing his face with my palm—his arrogance is nowhere to be seen now.
"I came to this world thinking of having nice adventurers, maybe falling in love, saving people... but not anymore. These people deceived me, tried to kill me, and even enslaved me..." I said with a cold angry tone as the guard squirmed and bent his knees under my tight hold.
[ Protecting an outcast group: 30 + points ]
[ Route changed: Itachi Uchiha ]
My strength might not be as inhuman while with Itachi's route equipped, but my technique though...
He is realized when my grasp leaves his head, but it is short-lived by my right sidekick smacking him across the face like a tornado, making his whole body follow the impact and fainting on the spot. Sheesh... was that a bone I heard? What was that thing about Batman again? Don't kill, just give severe brain damage.
The facility emerged in cheers, even those who were among the skeptical ones were erupting with joy from this petty revenge. Was then that something came to mind—a way to achieve my desired routes.
I lower myself, reaching for the keys hanging loosely on the guard belt. "Everyone, today we are free... but what about tomorrow? Where should we go in a world that rejects us?" I raised my voice while walking up to each cell. My statement put a worried look across their faces, but soon I proceeded once more.
"If they don't want to make space for us, then let's make a space for ourselves"
[ Acting with foresight and strategy in all situations: 30 + points ]
The facility once again erupted in cheers, everyone gathering around me to praise their new leader. And I stood there, with a smirk.
"Those Who Do Not Understand True Pain Can Never Understand True Peace," I mutter in a whispery tone, as we all go up the stairs to freedom—an unspoken promise of my desire. The hopeless eyes were nowhere to be seen anymore, all that was left were eyes filled with rebellion. Every one of us, leaving alongside each other with the same intentions in our minds—to carve a place for ourselves.