The street outside the alley was quiet, washed in the bluish hue of old neon and vending machine lights. A breeze carried the scent of damp concrete and fried snacks, oddly comforting.
He followed the system's ping with his hands in his pockets, his long shadow stretching behind him in the lonely early morning hours.
The convenience store stood exactly where the map said—bright, humming, and half-stocked with everything from microwavable meals to overpriced manga.
The automatic doors slid open with a cheerful ding, and he stepped inside, barely acknowledged by the sleepy-looking cashier behind the counter.
Grabbing a cup of instant tonkotsu ramen and a can of cola, he paid with exact change that just happened to be in his pocket, 'thank you, System', and took a seat by the window.
Slurping the noodles lazily, he blinked and called up the shop menu again.
[SHOP: OPEN]
Browsing: Tech | Enhancements | Weapons | Bloodline Mods | Systems | ???
He scrolled. Past mythical blades, ancient grimoires, interdimensional pets, even a planet-sized golem on clearance.
Then something stopped him cold.
[NANO SYSTEM: "Y-TECH GENESIS CORE" (Origin: Lower-Tech Plane)]
Type: Sub-System
Status: Compatible
Cost: 0 (System Fusion Eligible)
He stared. "Nano Machine…? Like that Nano Machine?"
He didn't even hesitate.
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED]
Installing...
The air shimmered around him—nano-particles flooded from the system interface, like a glittering digital swarm, crawling up his arms, sinking beneath his skin.
[PROMPT DETECTED]
A lower-plane system has been detected: Nano System – Autonomous AI-Based Enhancement Framework.
Would you like to fuse this system with your current unrestricted framework?
Fusion will:
– Remove system redundancy
– Integrate only high-tier protocols
– Optimize compatibility with current Abilities
– Create: [HYBRID MASTER SYSTEM] – Exclusive to User
Warning: Once fused, this cannot be undone. Proceed?
He finished the last sip of cola and smirked.
"Obviously. Do it."
[SYSTEM FUSION INITIATED]
Extracting Core AI: [Y-Tech Nano AI: Activated]
Integrating adaptive nanotechnology protocols…
Synchronizing with user's blood-based control system…
Enhancing internal regeneration, combat calculation, physical augmentation, data interception…
Merging command pathways...
Fusion Complete.
[NEW SYSTEM INSTALLED: HYBRID MASTER SYSTEM – "EXO-NANO CORE"]
Welcome, Master. All functions at full readiness.
Would you like a tutorial?
(Voice interface online – AI name: [You may choose])
He exhaled slowly, feeling the subtle shift under his skin. Everything was sharper. Lighter. Stronger. Even his thoughts moved cleaner, faster.
"Not bad," he muttered. "Not bad at all."
With the ramen cup finished. He tossed it, stood up, and cracked his neck.
Love how grounded yet chaotic this world's becoming — realistic logic blended into a power-crazy multiverse? Chef's kiss. Let's walk with our guy through Tokyo's early morning energy as the city stirs and his next destination comes into focus.
He stepped out of the convenience store, the early morning breeze ruffling his hair, ramen and cola still warming his stomach.
"System, activate full scan overlay," he said casually.
[Overlay Active]
Target Waypoint: Dungeon Gate – 2.4km South – Category C – Status: Unexplored
"Nano," he said, already testing the new name, "run passive scans, update me on environmental and threat data every 30 seconds."
[Acknowledged, Master. Passive scanning online. Displaying route with minimum civilian exposure.]
The faint glimmer of digital markers danced before his eyes—no HUD visor, no AR contact lenses. Just raw visual projection through the system's interface. Seamless. Smooth.
He walked with calm purpose, hands in his pockets as the city slowly came to life.
Streetlights clicked off. Trams rattled awake. The sidewalks gradually filled with the buzz of school uniforms, salarymen, sleepy shopkeepers opening shutters, and vending machines announcing hot drinks with robotic cheer.
But not all pedestrians were ordinary.
Up ahead, a wooden creaking sound echoed above the buildings—Kamui Woods, vine-limbs flowing like a tree dancing in the wind, patrolling rooftops.
And near the corner of a bridge, standing tall with his crimson spear propped over his shoulder, Stinger, an A-rank hero known for wild duels, casually yawned as he looked out over the still waters.
"Interesting mix," the protagonist muttered. "This city's got more hero variety than a gacha game."
As he moved along the route, he slipped into a small electronics shop and casually walked out with a brand-new smartphone—registered, network-ready, thanks to the system patching into local ID infrastructure.
[Device Synced. Network Access Unrestricted.]
He flipped it open and immediately created a media account:
@NullUser001
Bio: "Just a guy with time, power, and no rules."
He chuckled at himself and began scrolling.
It wasn't long before something caught his eye on a trending thread:
[WHY HERO ACADEMIES START AT 18 – A Breakdown]
The age minimum for hero and ability academies was changed two decades ago. Studies and tragic incidents from the early "Awakening Era" proved that teens under 18 couldn't mentally or physically handle high-risk combat training.
[...]
Now, aspiring heroes may either:
– Enroll in a Hero or Hunter Academy at the age of 18.
– Apply directly to the Hero Association Entrance Exam to earn a provisional license.
Performance during the exam determines your starting score. High-scorers often get scouted by elite agencies. Low-scorers may go freelance or join smaller firms.
Of course the article continue but to him the rest was pointless, so he nodded, thoughtful about what he read.
"Well, that actually makes a hell of a lot more sense than letting teenagers fistfight criminals with trauma issues. And now even more extreme, killing monsters for a living"
[AI Nano: Observation logged. Systems calibrated to anticipate Hero Association assessment format. Optimal strategy ready upon request.]
"Noted."
His destination drew closer.
The streets were thinning now, fewer cafés and more chain fences. Industrial zones loomed ahead. The faint shimmer of a spatial distortion—barely noticeable to the average eye—twisted just beyond a construction site.
[Target Approaching: Gate – Category C – Energy Signature Stable]
He rolled his shoulders and grinned.
"Let's see what kind of welcome committee this world's got hiding in there."