"A fight? Sure." Cloud smiled—the smile of a cat preparing to toy with mice. "But one at a time is too slow. How about this: all of you come at me together. I'll stand here without moving. If any of you can make me take even half a step backward, I'll give up this Alliance Leader position. Deal?"
The entire crowd erupted!
Arrogant! Too arrogant!
This wasn't confidence anymore—it was naked contempt!
"Outrageous!"
"You're looking down on us!"
"Let me at him!"
The hot-headed warriors were ready to draw their swords on the spot.
"Everyone, stand down!"
The commanding voice came from Yagyu Jubei. His single eye fixed intently on Cloud. "Sir, do you mean what you say?"
"A gentleman's word is his bond." Cloud spread his hands. "Of course, you could also choose to trust Haohmaru and Ukyo's character. They surely wouldn't stake their reputations just to con you."
Jubei fell silent.
Indeed, both Haohmaru and Ukyo were proud men who would never lower themselves to play the role of a shill. Which meant this young man's strength was likely... truly unfathomable.
"Very well." Jubei finally made his decision. "We'll tentatively accept your strength, sir. However, to become Alliance Leader, mere brute force isn't enough. What can you offer us? Why should we stake our lives on you?"
This question struck at the heart of the matter.
Being a leader meant you needed more than fighting ability—you needed "benefits." Otherwise, why would anyone follow you?
"Good question." Cloud snapped his fingers. "Seems like showing off muscle isn't enough. I'll have to demonstrate my 'money power.'"
With that, he walked over to Ukyo.
"Ukyo, come here."
Though puzzled, Ukyo complied.
Cloud looked at him and said, "The medicine I gave you last time only temporarily suppressed your condition. It treated the symptoms, not the root cause. Today, in front of everyone, I'll give you a bigger gift."
With a thought, he opened the system shop.
This time, he didn't exchange for pills. Instead, he searched through the "High-Tech Medical" category for something he'd had his eye on for a while.
[NESTS Nano-Repair Robots (Basic Version)]
[Effect: Can repair most non-standard physical damage and cellular deterioration. Particularly effective against pulmonary fibrosis. Single-use item, effects last three years.]
[Price: 20,000 Points (painful price)]
Exchange! Cloud gritted his teeth. To win hearts, this investment was worth it! Go big or go home!
The next instant, a sci-fi-looking silver injector appeared in Cloud's hand.
Inside the injector was a pale blue liquid that seemed to flow with a life of its own.
Every warrior present stared in amazement.
What kind of hidden weapon was this?
"What is that?" Ukyo was stunned too.
"Something good." Without further explanation, Cloud grabbed Ukyo's arm and aimed the injector's needle at his vein.
"Don't move. It's just an injection. Over in a flash. Endure it—think of it as a mosquito bite."
He pressed his thumb down, injecting the entire vial of nanobots into Ukyo's body.
Ukyo felt a slight coolness in his arm, followed by an indescribable sensation spreading through his entire body!
He could clearly "see" countless microscopic "bugs" (nanobots) flowing through his blood toward his disease-ravaged lungs.
Then these "bugs" began working frantically—repairing his damaged alveoli, clearing away necrotic tissue, even strengthening his lung cell structure!
An unprecedented feeling of relief spread from his chest!
He couldn't help but open his mouth and take a deep breath!
This single breath was the deepest, smoothest breath he'd taken in over a decade! No pain, no obstruction—just cold, fresh air filling his entire lungs!
Pfft!
He exhaled a breath of turbid air—but this time it wasn't black. It carried only a grayish, stale quality.
When he opened his eyes again, everyone was shocked to see that Ukyo's perpetually sickly pale face now showed... a hint of healthy color!
His entire aura had become more stable and powerful than ever before!
"My... my illness..." Ukyo touched his chest in disbelief, his eyes filled with wild joy and shock. He felt as if he'd been reborn!
This scene impacted everyone present even more than Cloud catching blades barehanded!
If overwhelming martial prowess was something they could still comprehend...
Then this "resurrection-from-the-dead" sorcery was completely beyond their understanding!
"So, how's that? Satisfied with this benefit, everyone?" Cloud waved the now-empty injector, smiling amiably.
Haohmaru was the first to rush over, grabbing Cloud's shoulders and shaking him vigorously. "Cloud! What... what kind of divine treasure is this?! Got any more? Give me a shot! I don't need to cure anything—I just want to feel what getting stronger is like!"
"Get lost! This is medicine, not performance enhancers!" Cloud kicked him away.
Yagyu Jubei's single eye was now wide as a saucer, fixed on Cloud. His voice trembled slightly: "Sir... this... this is truly divine power!"
The other swordsmen now looked at Cloud with gazes completely transformed from scrutiny and doubt into reverence and fervor!
A man who could cure Ukyo's terminal illness—could he also heal the hidden injuries they'd accumulated from battle? Could he help them break through long-standing plateaus?
Following such a "divine being" as Alliance Leader meant benefits beyond imagination!
Ahem. Cloud cleared his throat, basking in the worshipful gazes, and continued to raise the stakes. "That was just an appetizer. If you all sincerely follow me to subjugate Amakusa, I guarantee that after we succeed, everyone here—if you have injuries, I can heal them. If you've hit a bottleneck, I can guide you through it. And even..."
He surveyed the crowd and dropped his bombshell.
"I can also provide everyone with better weapons and armor than what you're currently using."
Saying this, he casually pulled from his system space a katana forged from KOF world high-tech alloy and tossed it to a nearby dazed ronin.
"Try this out."
The ronin fumbled to catch the blade, immediately noticing its weight and quality far exceeded his own sword. Instinctively, he swung it at a massive boulder nearby, taller than a man.
Slash!
No resistance whatsoever.
The hard stone split in two like tofu, silently and cleanly.
The cut surface was smooth as a mirror!
...
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