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Inside the Herta Space Station, in an unnoticed corner.
Hiroshi, who was planning to draw items, suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Something seemed to occur to him, so he asked the system in his heart. "System, can I draw the rewards first and then decide whether to upgrade the quantity after seeing the results?"
For Hiroshi, this was a very crucial question. If it were possible, he could save 2,000 Emotion Points if he was dissatisfied with the draw, prioritizing his existing abilities instead.
[The lottery can only be successfully opened when the host has space available.]
The emotionless system notification sounded, dousing the small spark of anticipation in Hiroshi's heart. Sigh... So it's not allowed? Replacing abilities or items at random involves a huge element of gambling. He looked at one of his three skills, the ability to perish together with the opponent: "Heaven and Earth Share Longevity."
Hmm... This one can probably be replaced. It only activates upon death—if I'm imprisoned or unconscious, it's useless. Determined, he opened the item draw wheel. Item names whirled by under high-speed rotation until the speed gradually slowed to a stop.
Universal Key: Capable of opening or locking anything in the world that symbolizes a so-called "lock," provided one must come into contact with the "lock."
[Note: Things locked by this can only be opened with this key.]
Huh??? Hiroshi felt bewildered. Opening any "lock"? What use is that... Then, a thought struck him like lightning. Wait! The Gene Lock is also a lock! I wonder if my guess is correct?
With this thought, Hiroshi immediately activated the item's effect on himself. As the "click" of a lock opening rang out in his mind, an unprecedented warm current erupted from every cell, surging through his limbs.
He felt a pure, primitive, and explosive sense of power filling his muscles. He clenched his fist, his knuckles popping like crackling beans. His five senses underwent a qualitative leap; the quiet room was suddenly filled with the hum of electricity from instruments in the next room and the slight disturbance of airflow in the distant corridor. Even his sense of pain became dull.
"Is this... what it feels like after opening the first Gene Lock?"
Even though Hiroshi had only opened the first stage, his strength was enough to beat at least three of his former selves. He was confident he could now mow down ordinary Divergent Realm Monsters like wheat. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should open the second stage, but decided against it. The first stage already made him no weaker than an ordinary Pathstrider in terms of raw power.
He closed the Gene Lock, letting his body return to normal. In the next second, an indescribable wave of fatigue swept through him, making it difficult to stand—it felt as if he had just fought three hundred rounds with Herta.
"Whew... Thank goodness. If I had opened the second or third one, my body would have broken on the spot. It seems I can only sustain the first stage for a short time."
He realized that fighting while keeping the first Gene Lock open would be the best way to improve his constitution over time. After drinking a Nutritional Potion prepared by Herta, he headed to the Main Control Module.
Herta and Screwllum were already waiting. A gentle smile appeared on Herta's face. "Oh, you're here. Are you ready?"
"Ready anytime, Madam Herta."
"Very well. You just need to remember to defeat every enemy you encounter with all your might."
Hiroshi stood on the teleportation platform. As the parameters were adjusted, his body turned into data and was sucked into the core. When he opened his eyes, he was back on that familiar snowy street. Looking at the two Divergent Realm Monsters, he no longer felt pressure—only anticipation.
"Whew... Here again? I wonder how much stronger I am now?"
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