I stood in the room, the blue screen still hovering obediently in front of me.
But, soon the screen changed.
[ SYSTEM: SECRET ISLAND SYSTEM
NAME: HARLAN COLE
AGE: 19
ABILITIES:
COPY: COPY THE POWER OF A CAPTURED TARGET FOR 1 DAY, ONE AT A TIME
GOLD COINS: 15 (EACH EQUALS 10 GRAMS OF PURE GOLD) ]
Fifteen coins. It felt like a fortune until I opened the Shop. Lifespan extensions, skills, weapons, upgrades, everything I wanted sat behind prices in the hundreds or thousands. I sighed heavily.
The Travel Portal glowed quietly in the corner: a sleek circle of black stone etched with blue runes.
The Travel Portal glowed quietly in the corner: a sleek circle of black stone etched with blue runes.
[ TRAVEL PORTAL (BASIC)
COST TO ACTIVATE: 1 GOLD COIN PER TRIP
DURATION IN TARGET WORLD: 24 HOURS (AUTOMATIC RETURN AFTER)
LIMIT: 1 PERSON PER TRIP
RETURN PORTAL: FREE (BRINGS HOST AND HIS SYSTEM-GIVEN ITEMS)
UPGRADE TO CARRY MORE: 500 GOLD COINS ]
One coin to travel. I'd return with fourteen left. But then a question hit me.
"Then how will I bring the person back with me?" I asked the System.
The screen flickered and opened a new item listing.
[ ISLAND BALL
FUNCTION: CAPTURES THE TARGETED FEMALE INTO A POCKET SPACE. ONCE THE HOST SUCCESSFULLY SUBDUES THE TARGET, BY KNOCKING OUT, WILLING, OR IN A STATE OF NO RESISTANCE, CAN PLACE HER INSIDE. THE BALL WILL SEAL AND SUCK HER IN. HOST CAN THEN UNLOCK SEVERAL OTHER FEATURES LATER.
COST: 1 GOLD COIN ]
One coin. I sighed. So I need to spend 1 coin here too.
Perfect.
I scrolled further and froze at one ridiculous listing.
[ GOLD MINE (LEVEL 1)
PRODUCTION: 1 GOLD COIN PER DAY
PRICE: 100,000 GOLD COINS ]
A hundred thousand. I almost laughed. If I wanted a huge personal harem with no sharing, I'd need an army of those mines.
With a sigh, I muttered, "I really don't like the idea of sharing them."
The System replied at once, its voice strangely soft.
[ HOST SHOULD THINK OF THE COUNTLESS LONELY SOULS ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE. MANY HAVE NOTHING. NO WARMTH. NO TOUCH. YOUR ISLAND COULD GIVE THEM HOPE, EVEN IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT. ]
It sounded almost good for others, so I shook it off.
Ignoring the pang, I pushed open the TRAINING ROOM door.
The space hit me like a punch. Massive, dimly lit in red, walls covered in polished restraints, chains, padded furniture, cages, shelves packed with toys and tools I recognized, and plenty I didn't. It was every dark fantasy made real.
I swallowed. "System, you're really a pervert."
No response.
Suddenly, my stomach growled hard. "Grrrrrr..."
No food. No water. Nowhere proper to sleep.
"System, I'm starving. Where's food? Water? A bed?"
[ BASIC FOOD PACK (3 MEALS + WATER FOR 1 DAY): 1 GOLD COIN
OR
MATTER SYNTHESIZER (UNLIMITED FOOD AND WATER GENERATOR, PRODUCES ANY MEAL OR DRINK ON COMMAND): 50 GOLD COINS
BASIC BEDROOM UPGRADE (COMFORTABLE BED, PRIVATE BATHROOM): 2 GOLD COINS ]
My jaw dropped. Even survival costs money.
Fifty coins for that synthesizer felt insane. But unlimited food and water forever? No more daily packs, no starvation worries. It was tempting.
I stared at my fifteen coins.
One for the portal. One for the Island Ball. One for today's food. Two for a bed.
I'd have ten coins left when I stepped into another world.
Although one thing was good: once I earned more, I could grab that synthesizer and never worry about meals again.
For now, though, I had to budget like my life depended on it, because it kind of did.
I took a deep breath.
"System, buy me 5 Island Balls."
The screen flashed red immediately.
[ ERROR: PURCHASE LIMIT
HOST CAN PURCHASE ONLY 1 ISLAND BALL PER 24-HOUR CYCLE
TO REMOVE LIMIT AND INCREASE PURCHASE CAPACITY, UPGRADE THE SYSTEM.
COST: 100,000 GOLD COINS ]
I stared at the message, frustration spiking. I had pictured heading to the other world and capturing a dozen at least. With a sigh, I shook my head and settled for less.
"Fine. Then buy one Island Ball. I'll sleep and eat in the other world. Save the rest."
[ PURCHASE CONFIRMED: ISLAND BALL ACQUIRED
REMAINING GOLD COINS: 14 ]
A small sphere materialized in my hand with a faint shimmer. It looked almost exactly like a Poké Ball, smooth metal surface, a central button, but instead of red on top, the upper half gleamed deep purple.
I slipped it into my pocket.
My heart pounded harder as I walked toward the glowing portal platform.
Twenty-four hours in an unknown world. Random place, random time. Whoever I found first, strong, beautiful, alone, that would be the one.
I stepped onto the stone circle.
"System, activate the portal."
[ PORTAL ACTIVATION INITIATED
COST: 1 GOLD COIN
REMAINING BALANCE: 13
TRANSFER COMMENCING... ]
The runes flared bright blue. A low hum filled the room, rising to a roar. The air warped around me, twisting like heat over pavement.
Everything went white.
Then darkness swallowed me whole.
When I opened my eyes, I was on a wide rooftop under a moonlit night sky. The city sprawled below like a sea of neon.
Cool wind rushed past, carrying the distant roar of traffic and the faint smell of rain on concrete. Towering buildings surrounded me, but this one was high and isolated.
I asked the System, "Where am I exactly?"
The blue screen appeared in my vision, calm and precise.
[ LOCATION: ROOFTOP, SHIBUYA DISTRICT, TOKYO, JAPAN
TIME: 11:52 PM
WORLD: MY HERO ACADEMIA WEATHER: CLEAR WITH LIGHT WIND, 18°C (64°F) ]
I barely steadied myself when something landed behind me with a heavy thud.
"Hey, creep," came a female voice, rough and confident. "This ain't a tourist spot. Explain yourself before I kick your ass off this building."
--<>--
Note: I don't know much about her personally. I just picked her up because of how popular she is, so yeah, if any mistake tell me I will correct it.