"The Meta-Morph Factor within the Host is currently still dormant."
"Huh?"
Fuli, who was busy shoveling canned beef into his mouth to stock up on nutrients while planning his next move, froze.
Prometheus continued, "The Meta-Morph Factor is a recessive inheritance existing within [REDACTED] DNA fragments. Theoretically, every human in the current era possesses the potential to awaken it under the right coincidental circumstances, just as the Host did prior to regression."
Key phrase: Prior to regression.
Since it was based on genetics, Fuli—who was currently just an ordinary human after his rebirth—naturally didn't meet the requirements yet.
"Having detected this, the Key of Domination should have remained dormant."
The little girl paused there, glancing methodically at her host.
Seeing that he wasn't the least bit nervous, she continued her explanation with a deadpan expression. "However, since the Key of Domination had already registered 'Fuli'—who awakened the Meta-Morph Factor in the previous timeline—as its highest authority holder, after considering multiple variables, the Key decided to bind itself to the Host's soul despite the loss of its physical vessel. In accordance with the Fire Moth MANTIS Management Regulations, it transformed into the current Finality Coordinator System."
In short: Bound before death, activated after rebirth.
"Additionally, due to the strong binding nature between the System and the Meta-Morph Factor, the Factor awakened by the Host in the previous timeline has been assimilated by the System, converting it into a part of its auxiliary functions."
"Well, that's great news. My awakening from the last playthrough wasn't wasted, and I can still awaken it again in this one." Fuli beamed. "So, as a legendary System, what functions do you have, Prometheus?"
There is a saying in the world of novels: Locals are inferior to Transmigrators, and Transmigrators are inferior to Regressors.
Memories of the future are the ultimate cheat code for a regressor to dominate the world. The arrival of the Finality Coordinator System was just the icing on the cake.
If the timing weren't so inappropriate, Fuli would have raised both hands in the air and shouted, "Stonks! We're taking off! What a beautiful start!"
Don't ask! A real man pops the champagne at halftime! With Prom-ya (Prometheus-Bronya) having the high ground, how could I lose?!
Then, a virtual light screen only visible to Fuli appeared before his eyes.
True Name: Fuli
Passive: N/A
Status: N/A
Active: N/A
Armament: N/A
Items: N/A
Overall Evaluation: N/A
He blinked, then looked up at Prometheus, who stood there looking pretty in her solitude. "...What does N/A mean?"
"Pending entry," the little AI replied concisely.
"Who enters it?"
"The Host enters it."
"I enter it?"
"Correct. You enter it."
"I enter it? My System is telling me that the Host has to manually fill in his own personal data panel?!!"
Fuli gave a vivid demonstration of what "pupils quaking" looked like. Thinking of a certain possibility, he asked tentatively, "Then, assuming I let you scan my memories earlier—"
"Even after scanning memories, the Host would still have to fill it in manually."
Prometheus ruthlessly shattered his fantasy.
"Since the System's growth level is bound to the Host's strength, the current Finality Coordinator System has not yet evolved the super-duper powerful feature of automatically filling in the attribute panel."
"..."
Question: Where is the most Zen place in the world?
Some might say Buddhist temples, some might say the Pure Land of the West, and others might say it lies within one's own heart.
Fuli, however, would say the most Zen place is a bubble tea shop.
No matter how well a person disguises themselves, the moment they walk into a shop, the server will kindly ask if they want a Medium Bei, Large Bei, or Extra Large Bei. (A pun on Bei meaning 'Cup' and also 'Tragedy/Sorrow').
Amitabha. This old monk would like an Extra Large Tragedy.
And as if feeling Fuli wasn't tragic enough yet, the little AI spoke again in her kuudere mechanical voice, which was as flat as her figure:
"The manual entry function will also only be available after the System's next upgrade. The only parts of the Character Panel that can currently be registered are skills and items obtained through the Exchange/Gacha functions."
"Say no more. Let me have some peace... and don't ask me who Peace is; she's a distant great-aunt I haven't married into the family yet."
Fuli's expression wasn't so much devoid of the will to live as it was someone who had seen through the vanity of the mortal world. He waved his hand, signaling the little brat flickering on his retina to scram—
"Wait a second! Tell me more about this exchange function?"
The moment he heard "Gacha," Fuli popped back up like a spring. Boing! Just like that. Fast.
"I wonder who was just complaining about the System's lack of features," Prometheus remarked, acting a bit petty.
Facing the machine spirit's displeasure, Fuli quickly comforted her like he was coaxing a little girlfriend. "I was just joking! Prometheus, you are actually extremely important to me!"
"How important?"
"Imagine you're wandering outside and suddenly realize your phone has less than 2% battery left. You search everywhere and finally rent a power bank just before it shuts down. Is that power bank important?"
"Important."
"You are even more important to me than that!"
"That is indeed very important."
Perhaps feeling a sense of camaraderie with the mobile phone—a fellow technological product—the little AI actually nodded seriously.
She then explained, "The Finality Coordinator System's Exchange/Gacha mechanism is not complex. The System possesses two draw modes: a Ten-Pull Gacha available every 30 days, and a Single Pull available every 7 days."
"Whether it is a ten-pull or a single pull, the Host must submit items that meet the System's requirements. The higher the quality of the submitted items, the higher the probability of drawing high-quality prizes."
Fuli put down the empty can of his eighth beef ration. "Sounds... reasonable?"
These cans were stockpiled for emergencies; ordinarily, he wouldn't bear to eat them.
But considering what was about to happen, failing to eat and drink his fill—leaving him with no energy at the critical moment—would be the definition of losing his mind.
The little AI was surprised. "You aren't complaining with a disgusted face, asking 'Why do I have to pay stuff to pull the gacha?' The Host's behavior just now scored relatively high with Prometheus."
She had been prepared to tell him that the System's gacha function was derived from his 'Fuli' Meta-Morph Factor from the previous timeline if he started mocking it.
It felt quite unsatisfying to punch empty air and deny someone a taste of their own boomerang.
"Probably because your beta-test version of a character panel set my initial expectations for the System extremely low. Once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up."
Fuli had figured it out: this brat liked to refer to herself by name when she was happy or unhappy.
She said others were easy to read, but she was actually pretty easy to read herself.
Prometheus cast a side-eye at his sneaky expression. "The Finality Coordinator System is a growth-type armament that evolves alongside the Host. It is currently unsightly only because the Host is currently equally unsightly."
"Perhaps that could be translated as 'relying on each other for survival, in the same boat, forging ahead together on the path of growth'?"
"Premised on the fact that the Host does not die halfway through his venture."
Damn, this little duck's tongue is toxic!
"By the way, due to the massive amount of imaginary energy with space-time attributes absorbed while regressing with the Host, the System has met the conditions for the initial Ten-Pull."
"Hell yeah!"
Toxic tongue? What toxic tongue? My AI is clearly a little angel who fell from the heavens!
"So, Host, do you wish to pull now?"
"Yes, start it up."
"Meta-Morph Factor 'Fuli' activated. Multi-Dimensional Otherworld Resonance 0%—100%. System searching..."
As soon as her voice fell, a brilliant white light overtook Fuli's vision.