Chapter 3 : Conquest Gacha
Then, before I could even think of what to do next, glowing text appeared again — hovering right above my field of vision like some AR interface straight out of a sci-fi movie.
[System configuration complete.]
[Welcome to the Conquest Gacha System.]
I squinted at the name. Conquest Gacha System… Okay, let's think logically. Conquest could mean missions, battles, world domination. Gacha… random loot. So maybe this is some kind of system where I do quests and get rewards? Sounds convoluted, but maybe manageable.
The interface pulsed again and displayed the main menu:
— Status
— Quests
— Inventory
— Gacha
[Tip: As a newly awakened User, you are advised to review your current status.]
"Yeah, sure," I muttered. "Let me just 'review my status' while I finish having an existential meltdown."
Still, curiosity won. I selected Status. Another holographic panel blinked to life.
[Name: Alexander Orzat]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 18]
[Abilities: — None —]
[Template (In Progress): —]
[Template (Assimilated): —]
I stared at it, blinking.
"Human… age 18… abilities none… template in progress… template assimilated…" I muttered aloud. Spoiler: it didn't make any more sense.
"Yeah, great. Totally normal. Nothing terrifying here. Just me, a blank slate in a world that may or may not try to kill me."
Next, my eyes landed on Quests. The word glowed softly, almost beckoning me. With a sigh, I selected it.
[No active quests.]
[Tip: New Users are encouraged to explore their environment to trigger their first quest.]
I groaned. "Exploring my new life, huh? Oh sure, why not start with something potentially life-threatening right out of bed?"
Despite my sarcasm, a small spark of excitement tingled in my chest. Maybe this wasn't just chaos. Maybe it was… a chance to figure out what the hell I was capable of.
Curiosity nudged me again, but this time I tried to be practical. I hovered over Inventory. Surely, any self-respecting transmigrator would start with a beginner pack, right? Something to make life a little less… apocalyptically unfair.
The panel flickered to life. My eyes scanned it, and I almost laughed. A classic RPG-style grid appeared — neat little squares for weapons, items, consumables, templates… all empty. Not a single icon, not even a starter potion.
[Inventory: Empty]
I stared at the grid, dumbfounded.
"All these neatly labeled slots… empty. Not a damn thing in any of them," I muttered.
For a moment, I thought about testing the slots, seeing how the system worked. But the emptiness was discouraging. I closed the panel. Better not think about it.
I sank back, letting out a long, dramatic sigh. "Okay, universe. Message received. You're here to mess with me."
And with that disappointment fresh in my mind, I turned to Gacha. My only hope for not being completely useless.
"Gacha? Really?" I muttered, squinting.
A tiny burst of sparkles appeared, followed by a cheerful chime. A small text floated before my eyes:
[Gacha allows Users to randomly acquire Templates, Items, or Abilities from any world across the Omniverse.]
[Note: All rewards are temporary until assimilated.]
[Tip: Use Gacha to improve your progression.]
[Pulls require Conquest Points.]
[Welcome gift: 10 free Gacha pulls available.]
I froze. Conquest Points? Great. So now I needed currency just to gamble on random multiversal loot.
I rubbed my temples. "Of course. Nothing's ever free in this universe."
Then I noticed the ten free pulls. My lips twitched into a reluctant smirk.
"Finally," I muttered, "the system actually gives me something useful… or, you know, totally useless, because it's a Gacha."
I glanced around, half-expecting some invisible tutorial voice to explain how to earn more points. Nothing. Just the panel floating there, smugly silent.
I leaned back, groaning. "So basically, my life is a slot machine with multiversal loot… and I'm broke. Fantastic. Just fantastic."