The chance encounter with the Legendary Wolf, Terry, hit Cloud like a shot of pure adrenaline straight to the heart.
That night, he couldn't sleep.
His brain kept replaying—not some dancing idol video—but Terry's clean, devastating Burn Knuckle, and that eye-searing "trash-tier combatant" rating on his system panel.
"No! I can't keep being this useless!" Cloud lay on the bed of the rundown apartment he'd rented for twenty bucks, staring at the ceiling fan that looked ready to fall at any moment.
He planted his first flag since transmigrating.
"If I don't get my act together, forget challenging Geese—I won't even be able to see Terry's back!"
A man should never say he can't do it.
Over the next week, Cloud transformed into South Town's most industrious "scavenger."
During the day, he prowled the streets, specifically hunting for clueless punks trying to rob or extort people.
The moment he spotted a target, he'd strike with lightning speed—unleashing his Holy Sword of Physics, the brick, in a "righteous sneak attack" from behind.
His signature three-hit combo of "Stun—Plunder—Escape" flowed like water, executed with flawless precision.
An urban legend began circulating through South Town's underworld: a mysterious "Brick Vigilante" had appeared. He came and went like a ghost, specialized in robbing robbers, showed no mercy, used extremely primitive weapons, and every victim woke up with a splitting headache, disheveled clothes, and empty pockets.
For a time, South Town's petty criminals lived in constant fear. Before going out to mug someone, they'd have to check if anyone was standing behind them with a brick.
Meanwhile, our "Brick Vigilante" Cloud was in his shabby little room, gleefully tallying his spoils.
...
[Host: Cloud]
[Constitution: 5.5](All that running away has improved your cardio.)
[Strength: 4.5](Swinging bricks daily has built some arm strength.)
[Agility: 6.5](Your escape speed keeps improving.)
[Spirit: 12](Still your strong suit.)
[Source Points: 1,250]
[Overall Assessment: Slightly buffer trash-tier combatant. Congratulations—you can now probably beat 0.6 geese.]
...
"Damn! This system still has zero chill!" Cloud spat, but seeing that four-digit Source Point balance made his heart bloom with joy.
In one week, he'd completed several randomly-issued [Punish Evil, Promote Good] mini-quests and built his little treasury into the thousands. Way faster than working a regular job!
"Time for some whale spending to change my fate!" Cloud rubbed his hands together excitedly and opened the [Gacha Wheel].
The starter pack draw had given him a taste of success. Now, with 1,250 Source Points and draws priced at 100 each, he could do an exhilarating ten-pull plus two singles!
"System, give me two singles first to prime the luck!" Cloud was well-versed in gacha game superstitions.
[Source Points -100. Single draw initiating.]
The wheel spun rapidly. Cloud's heart rose to his throat.
The pointer slowed to a stop...
[Congratulations, Host! You received: 'Thanks for Playing.']
"..." Cloud's face went dark.
"It's fine. First one's always like this. Standard procedure." He consoled himself. "System, again!"
[Source Points -100. Single draw initiating.]
The pointer spun again. This time, it stopped on a decent-looking segment.
[Congratulations, Host! You received: 'Yuri Sakazaki's Homemade Bento' x1.]
[Item Description: A boxed lunch handmade by the young lady of the Kyokugenryu Karate dojo. Restores a small amount of stamina when consumed, with a miniscule chance of triggering a 'Diarrhea' debuff. Note: Please mentally prepare yourself before opening. The contents may display... astonishing creativity.]
Cloud stared at the pink bento box now sitting in his system storage, deep in thought.
Was this... a buff item or a biological weapon?
Whatever. Something was better than nothing.
Two singles done. Cloud felt his luck had bottomed out. According to the principle of "fortune follows misfortune," the next pull was guaranteed to be legendary!
"System! Ten-pull! ALL IN!" Cloud's eyes were bloodshot, like a gambler who'd lost everything.
[Source Points -1,000. Ten-pull initiating!]
The wheel spun at unprecedented speed. Golden light burst forth. The BGM even intensified dramatically, as if heralding a miracle.
A cascade of system notifications exploded in Cloud's mind.
[Congratulations, Host! You received: 'Vita Lemon Tea' x5 cases.]
[Congratulations, Host! You received: 'Thanks for Playing' x3.]
[Congratulations, Host! You received: 'Benimaru Nikaido's Autographed Photo' x1 (Slightly attractive to females).]
[Congratulations, Host! You received: 'Athena Asamiya Concert Backstage Pass (EXPIRED)' x1.]
By this point, Cloud's heart had gone cold. What the hell is this? I'm here to get stronger, not open a convenience store! And an expired backstage pass? What kind of sick joke is that?
Just as he was about to curse out the system's entire family tree, one final notification arrived—glowing with a distinctive dark-gold light.
[CON! GRAT! U! LATIONS! Host has triggered a low-probability event! Special reward obtained—]
[[Marvel Universe • Bootleg Super Soldier Serum (Trial Version)]!]
Cloud's breath stopped.
Marvel Universe? Super Soldier Serum? The magical stuff that could turn a scrawny kid into a muscle-bound titan who could arm-wrestle aliens?
Sure, there were two annoying prefixes—"Bootleg" and "Trial Version"—but this was an actual bloodline-modification item!
He immediately checked the details.
...
[Item: Marvel Universe • Bootleg Super Soldier Serum (Trial Version)]
[Quality: Special (Blue)]
[Origin: Created by an unnamed HYDRA researcher attempting to replicate Dr. Erskine's formula. Accidentally produced when said researcher spilled coffee into the mixture.]
[Effect: After use, Host will temporarily gain Super Soldier physique for 24 hours. Constitution, Strength, and Agility will temporarily rise to human peak levels (approximately 20 points). Additionally grants 'Basic Regeneration' ability.]
[Side Effect: After the trial period ends, Host will enter 72 hours of 'Sage Mode'—all attributes reduced by 50%, accompanied by muscle soreness, mental fatigue, and loss of appetite. Use with caution.]
[Note: It may be a knockoff, but the effects are legit! One shot and you'll go from trash-tier to America's Ass! You deserve it!]
...
Cloud read the description, his emotions riding a rollercoaster.