The power surge had been staggering. Five times Saeko's stats, flowing directly into his own framework.
[Character: Saeko Busujima]
[Potential: S]
[Loyalty: 80]
[Strength: 3.0]
[Agility: 3.1]
[Endurance: 2.9]
[Skill: Beginner Swordsmanship Mastery]
[Evolution Progress: 18%]
[Status: Recovering...]
Five times this panel. The math was simple, the implications profound. Akira's fingers trembled slightly as he willed his own status into view.
[Host: Akira]
[Class: Trainer]
[Strength: 21.8]
[Agility: 21.5]
[Endurance: 21.2]
[Skills: Trainer Basic Skill LV1 (Proficiency 13%)]
[Combat Proficiency (Proficiency 60%)]
[Language Mastery (Proficiency 15%)]
[Congratulations, Host. Swordsmanship Mastery (Grandmaster) acquired.]
Grandmaster.
The word echoed in his mind. This was what Saeko's Beginner skill looked like when magnified fivefold and integrated into his own being. He had reached a level where a katana would feel like an extension of his own arm—where blade and body moved as one.
His gaze fell on the wooden practice sword resting against the dojo wall. Three strides carried him there. His hand closed around the familiar grip. He breathed. Centered. And moved.
Shing—
The dojo filled with the sound of air parting. The wooden blade, blunt and harmless in ordinary hands, became a weapon of lethal precision in his. Each strike was perfect—form, timing, distance, all aligned in flawless harmony. He flowed through kata after kata, a living demonstration of martial perfection.
Minutes later, he stopped.
The sword hung at his side. His breathing was unchanged. But his expression was... dissatisfied.
Not enough.
Grandmaster was exceptional—beyond what most swordsmen could achieve in a lifetime. But he could sense the ceiling above him. The realm of Perfection, of creating one's own path, remained frustratingly out of reach.
My talent in swordsmanship has limits.
The realization should have stung. Instead, it clarified.
If talent isn't enough, the system will compensate.
Saeko would grow. Her swordsmanship would deepen. And as she progressed, her gains would flow back to him, pushing him incrementally toward that unreachable peak. Grandmaster was enough for now. Enough to teach. Enough to guide.
Enough to win.
He summoned the Platinum Capture Ball with a thought. It materialized in his palm, warm and pulsing with gentle light. He tossed it lightly.
The ball opened. Light spilled forth. And Saeko Busujima reformed from the glow, more vibrant than before.
Her eyes widened. She raised her hands, flexing fingers, rotating wrists. The fatigue that should have lingered for hours was simply... gone. Her skin glowed with renewed health. Even her hair seemed silkier, her eyes brighter.
"Akira..." Wonder filled her voice. "This is..."
In the next instant, she launched herself into his arms, her expression blooming into unrestrained happiness. The cool, composed kendo prodigy was nowhere to be seen. In her place was a woman utterly, joyfully claimed.
"Akira, you're amazing. You're truly amazing."
"Mm mm." He chuckled, steadying her as she squirmed against him. "Don't get too excited. If you keep wiggling like that, you'll suffer the consequences."
She felt the evidence of his words pressing against her—and instead of maidenly shyness, her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Let's go to the bathroom. I'll wash your back."
"Alright."
He lifted her easily—so easily now, with strength that would have seemed superhuman just hours ago—and followed her through the dojo to the bathroom beyond.
The space was vast. Tiled in pale stone, with a deep soaking tub in one corner and an open shower area with multiple sprayers, it rivaled a small public bathhouse.
"So spacious," Akira murmured, genuinely impressed.
A flicker of nostalgia crossed Saeko's features. "When my father was alive, the dojo had many students. This bathroom was built to accommodate everyone after training." A pause. "Later... it became just me."
"What happened?"
She smiled—a soft, slightly sad expression that held no bitterness. "Nothing important. I'm happy today. I don't want to speak of unhappy things."
She slipped from his arms with fluid grace and moved to the controls, starting water flowing into the deep tub. Steam began to rise, scenting the air with subtle minerals. Then she crossed to the open shower, testing the spray with one hand.
"Akira?" She looked back at him, a small smile playing at her lips. "What are you standing there for? Come here."
Akira didn't move immediately. His gaze traveled over her—the elegant lines, the subtle curves, the way the steam caught in her silver hair and made it gleam.
"I'm standing here appreciating something beautiful."
A faint blush touched her cheeks—but she didn't look away. Didn't hide.
He joined her under the warm spray, letting the water cascade over them both. Even now, even after everything, a thought surfaced with clinical appreciation:
This mouse is substantial. Good weight. Excellent for FPS gaming.
The absurdity of the thought, juxtaposed against the reality before him, almost made him laugh.
"Akira, wait—I haven't washed your back yet—"
"Let me wash yours first."
"Oh!"
A brief, playful struggle ensued—water splashing, laughter echoing off tile—before Akira settled onto a small plastic stool, conceding victory to her insistence.
Saeko's hands, so skilled with a blade, proved equally adept with soap and cloth. She worked methodically, her touch firm yet gentle.
Akira's curiosity surfaced. "Saeko, how do you know how to do all this?"
A pause. Then, softly: "I learned from you, Akira."
Ah.
Trainer Basic Skill. The knowledge transferred through their connection, settling into her mind as naturally as breathing. She was talented—gifted, even—in ways that transcended mere swordsmanship.
Beautiful, skilled, and loyal, Akira mused. At this level, even if she made mistakes, they'd be forgiven. After all, she's well-endowed, highly attractive, and everything she says is right.
The foam built as they worked—first on his back, then on hers. Bubbles multiplied with each pass, sliding over skin, gathering in interesting places.
Akira's hands began to wander. "Saeko. Come here. Like this... and then like this."
She cupped her hands as instructed. "Like this?"
"Yes. Exactly."
"There's more and more foam."
He chuckled, low and warm. "Time to rinse."
He reached for the showerhead, directing warm water over them both, washing away the bubbles and leaving clean, sensitized skin behind.
Saeko gathered her wet hair, twisting it into a loose knot atop her head. Then, with the unhurried grace of someone who had all the time in the world, she walked toward the waiting bathtub.
Steam curled around her form, obscuring and revealing in equal measure. She stepped into the hot water with a soft sigh of pleasure, then turned to look back at him.
The invitation in her eyes was unmistakable.
Akira rose and followed.
[Bond Level: Saeko Busujima - Strengthening]
[Loyalty: 82 (+2)]
[Evolution Progress: 19% (+1%)]
[Time Remaining: 31:38:45]
But the next second, she was pulled back.
"Don't rush." Akira's voice was warm, amused. "There's still one spot that hasn't been washed."
Saeko glanced back at him, understanding dawning in her eyes. A small smile curved her lips—not the cool, composed expression she wore in public, but something softer. More intimate.
"Then I'll trouble Akira."
"No trouble at all." He gestured to the small plastic stool. "Come. Stand here."
She obeyed without hesitation—the obedience of complete trust, of someone who had surrendered control and found freedom in that surrender. Her bare feet found the stool's surface, and she stood before him, water still beading on her skin from the earlier rinse.
Akira rose and began her training.
The Platinum Capture Ball's benefits were already manifesting: 20% increased training efficiency, 20% increased training limit. Saeko still had room to grow today—room that would be filled in this session.
"Mmm!"
Her breath caught as the training commenced. Each movement was more demanding than before, pushing her beyond the boundaries she'd known just hours ago. But her body responded eagerly, muscles adapting, coordination sharpening. The Beginner Swordsmanship Mastery in her skill set resonated with each new position, each novel application of physical principles she'd never considered.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump—
The sound of water filling the bathtub had been a constant backdrop throughout their time in the bathroom. Now, finally, the flow ceased—the tub full to its brim, steam rising in gentle clouds.
Akira completed the training round. Saeko's breathing was deeper, her skin flushed with exertion and something more.
[Training Complete - Saeko Busujima]
[Strength: 3.3 (+0.3)]
[Agility: 3.4 (+0.3)]
[Endurance: 3.2 (+0.3)]
[Evolution Progress: 22% (+3%)]
Satisfied, Akira released her. Together, they sank into the waiting tub, hot water enveloping them in liquid warmth. Saeko leaned back against the tub's curved wall, Akira beside her, the space just large enough for two.
"It seems..." Saeko murmured, her voice drowsy with contentment, "...not as intense as last time."
"Every training session has diminishing returns," Akira explained, his hand idly tracing patterns on her submerged shoulder. "If there were no limits, I could create gods at will. Endless training, endless growth—the world would bend to my whim."
"I was wrong, Akira." She nestled closer, tucking herself against him like a small bird seeking warmth. Her smile was soft, utterly unguarded. "This is perfect as it is."
Akira glanced at his internal panel, confirming what he already knew.
[Swordsmanship Mastery (Grandmaster): No Change]
The skill gained from Saeko remained static. Only her growth could push him further now. And with the Platinum Capture Ball's dynamic 5x multiplier replacing the previous 2x from their temporary connection, any progress she made would amplify his own power fivefold.
This growth is already abnormal, he acknowledged. Without capture balls, I wouldn't acquire skills from target characters at all. And the increased limits and efficiency...
The math was simple. Capture balls were superior in every way to simple physical connection. This also sharpened his strategic calculus: Which characters should be bound? And to which level of capture ball?
The Normal Ball offered 2x gains with an 85 loyalty threshold. The Platinum offered 5x with an 80 threshold. Both were valuable. Both required careful consideration.
[Ding!]
[Chain Quest: Absolute Loyalty]
[Objective: Raise any target character's Loyalty to 100.]
[Reward: Platinum Capture Ball ×1, Normal Capture Ball ×2]
Akira's lips curved into a smile—slow, satisfied, almost predatory.
The temporary quest reward is Saeko's absolute loyalty. Complete that, and this chain quest settles simultaneously.
Chain quest indeed. Every link connected.
Gurgle~!
The sound was unmistakable—his stomach, protesting the day's exertions. Training, capture, more training... he'd burned through significant energy.
Saeko stirred against him. "Akira." She pulled back slightly, meeting his eyes with a warm expression that held no trace of her former reserve. "You soak a little longer. I'll go downstairs and make you something to eat."
She moved to rise, but his hand caught her wrist—gentle, but firm.
"Saeko."
She paused.
"After everything tonight..." His voice was soft, sincere. "You don't have to wait on me. We can figure it out together."
She looked at him for a long moment. Then she leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead—a gesture so tender, so natural, it felt like they'd been together for years rather than hours.
"I want to," she said simply. "I've spent years taking care of myself. Taking care of this dojo. Taking care of my father's memory." A pause. "Let me take care of you too, Bai. Please."
[Saeko Busujima - Loyalty: 84 (+2)]
He released her wrist. "Then I'll gratefully accept."
She smiled—that soft, unguarded smile that belonged only to him now—and rose from the tub. Water cascaded down her form as she stepped out, reaching for a towel.
At the door, she paused and looked back. "Don't fall asleep in there, Akira. Food will be ready soon."
"I'll be waiting."
The door slid shut behind her. Akira sank deeper into the hot water, steam curling around his face, and allowed himself a moment of pure, uncomplicated satisfaction.
Saeko Busujima. S-rank potential. Loyalty climbing toward 100. Bound permanently with a Platinum Ball.
And tomorrow night... the Gang. The Zombie Devil.
He flexed his hand under the water, feeling strength that would have seemed impossible just twenty-four hours ago.
They don't know what's coming.
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