────────────────────────────────
Him:
"Good, good."
"The next update will include a couple things, and because you asked it so early on, I will tell you everything, hehe."
< Waiting >
────────────────────────────────
After Senzo saw those two messages appear on his screen, he couldn't help but clench his fist with satisfaction as a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Nice!"
He waited, eyes on the three bouncing dots, knowing 'Him' was typing a response.
And after a minute or two the message had finally arrived.
────────────────────────────────
Him:
"The next update will include all the following:
First, a completely new element will be added to the phone called the theme shop, in that shop you can buy abilities related to themes.
Secondly, I will be updating the world jump interface to make the missions harder, more interesting, and mandatory instead of voluntary. And you can only return from that world after clearing all the missions.
Third, mission rewards will include theme shop points so you can farm those to buy new powers.
And lastly that update will happen after you ask all your questions, hehe."
< Waiting >
────────────────────────────────
"???"
"Another update so soon after the 1.1 update?" Senzo muttered to himself, a frown forming on his face.
Why? It feels like he's either acting like a dickhead on purpose and granting me more ways to grow stronger, or he just loves contradicting himself.
Senzo was having trouble understanding 'Him'; he acted like an edgy teenager sometimes, and at other times he seriously answered his questions. It did not make any sense.
"Is he schizo?"
The moment that thought entered Senzo's mind, he couldn't help but chuckle slightly. Well, even if he was, he's currently the only one that can help him learn more about this phone and his current predicament.
"Let's quickly go over everything I currently know then and try to come up with the remaining two questions."
Just like that, Senzo recomposed himself as he scrolled back up to the start of their conversation and carefully read over everything, keeping in mind what he currently knew about 'Him's' erratic and wildly unpredictable behavior.
"So in conclusion, he loves weird questions? Or like questions that he technically hasn't answered yet even if I don't believe everything he has already stated..."
"This situation might be mildly infuriating," Senzo grumbled as his eye twitched.
He really wanted to slap 'him' even just once for putting him through all this, but that was probably impossible right now and in the near future as well.
Would he ever meet 'Him'? He had no idea, but he truly hoped he would, even if only he could give him a piece of his mind.
"Calm down, calm down. I still need to do my best for these next two questions; I can't just waste them because I don't like him."
Senzo slapped himself then, trying to get in the right state of mind to formulate his next question. After going over everything and trying his best to get into 'Him's' headspace, he was ready to formulate his next question.
────────────────────────────────
Senzo Kazuko:
"Thank you for the detailed reply, and here is my next question."
"What did you mean by: 'And I will add some more flavor to that world as well after all'?"
Him:
"Hooh, that's rather impressive. Good job."
"I will also answer that one. What I meant is this:
I will be adding non-canon enemies that are completely ridiculous and overpowered into those worlds as missions for you to kill.
So don't slack off on your training, or you might just get cooked, hehe."
< Waiting >
────────────────────────────────
"..."
"What the fuck?"
But before Senzo could continue his rant, he suddenly felt the phone vibrate.
"Huh?"
────────────────────────────────
Him:
"Also that question counts for two, so now I will forcefully activate the next update."
"See you in a bit."
< Waiting >
────────────────────────────────
After Senzo read those messages, he saw the phone's screen turn black and a small white bar in the middle indicating how close the update was to finishing installing.
"..."
But Senzo couldn't really focus on that at all as he kept repeating the answer to his last question and what he had said after that.
He was speechless. Why did that question count for two? Or how does he decide that? Does he need to follow rules, or does he make his own?
After carefully considering everything, he thought he had finally figured 'him' out a little, but it seems like those were just his own delusions.
"No use in crying over spilled milk. I guess I'll just focus on that theme shop he said would come with this update, and hopefully there are some useful powers then for those broken enemies he will be adding..."
Thinking about what he had said gave him a headache, like it wasn't hard enough already and now every mission was going to be mandatory as well.
"Well, at least I know now when I'll return; in this world it was kind of vague."
Ding!
That's when he heard the phone, and with just a glance, he saw that the update had finished.
"Let's see what's new."
Filled with anticipation, he quickly unlocked the phone and attentively went over everything.
***
[ Multiverse Navigation OS – v1.2 ]
Welcome, User: [Senzo Kazuko]
───────────────
> Start World Jump [New]
> Inventory
> Shop [New]
> Background Information
> Abilities
> Mission Log
> Chat (1)
> Theme Shop [!!!]
> [Locked Function – OS Upgrade Required]
> ───────────────
Tap an option to proceed. Hold to access Advanced Settings.
────────────────────
Legend:
- [New] = content added to an existing feature during the update
- [!!!] = entirely new content added in this update
***
A couple things had changed, but the most important was that the three question marks had turned into chat.
"Well, it makes sense; it's literally a chat."
And below it he saw what he had been talking about, the theme shop. Senzo was very curious what kind of powers and abilities he would be able to find in there, but he didn't want to make 'Him' wait. You never know; he might just give bonus points for replying fast or give punishments for replying slow.
So he quickly entered the chat once more to see what message he had sent this time.
────────────────────────────────
Him:
"What do you think? (Don't answer that).
I've even added a legend for a dummy like you so you can understand everything; you're welcome :).
Now then, onto the most important part: because I am very satisfied with your questions, I will give you a choice. Normally when you reach this update, you can choose 1 power from the theme shop's beginner tier, but for you I will make that 2, or you can choose to leave it up to Lady Luck and randomize your powers.
(Tip: randomizing makes it so you can get powers from the higher tiers as well.)"
< Waiting >
────────────────────────────────
"Dickhead," Senzo grumbled, but his message was very interesting.
"So I can gain 2 from the beginner tier of my choice or leave it up to fate with the chance to get a power from a higher tier as well, huh?"
Senzo was scratching his chin carefully considering both options; at first glance the second one was much more advantageous, but it all depended on what kind of powers the theme shop contained.
"Let's take a look at the powers first, and then I'll decide."
Then he quickly navigated to the theme shop, and after hesitating just a moment, he pressed on it.
***
╔══════════════════╗
Theme Shop
╚══════════════════╝
── Beginner Tier ──
Qi Life Force Yin/Yang Body Tempering Meridian Forging Qi Refinement Movement Dao Fist Dao Sharpness / Cutting
── Intermediate Tier ──
Five Elements Array Formations Alchemy Weapon Dao Confucian Virtues Taoism Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches The Nine Muses The Eight Immortals
── Advanced Tier ──
Space / Dimensional Manipulation Life / Death Order / Chaos Destruction / Chaos Void / Nothingness Cardinal Virtues Soul of the Four Riders Zodiac Archetypes—Cycle of Eternity The Four Symbols The Nine Circles of Hell The Sephirot
── Expert Tier ──
Norse Pantheon Greek Pantheon Egyptian Pantheon Tarot / Archetypes The 72 Demonic Pillars
***
"Damn, that's insane..."