At Kaito's apartment
Kaito was currently relaxing on the sofa in his living room with a can of soda and the kikufuku he bought yesterday.
Kaito reflected on his fight with Kotori and Kurumi. He didn't expect him to defeat them both without using his weapon, Yamato.
This made him wonder if the spirits were truly weak or if he was just too strong. "Never mind, there's no point in thinking about that. I'd better check the reward I got from the mission," Kaito said.
Then Kaito opened the system interface to check his mission reward.
[Ding! Main mission completed]
[Mission: Defeat Nightmare and Efreet
Status: Completed
Reward: Conqueror's Haki (Perfection) (S), 1x Legendary Ticket, 10,000 XP, 2,000 PS]
[Ding! Reward has been equipped and stored in inventory]
His crystal blue eyes reflected the interface's light. A faint, satisfied, and somewhat dangerous smile formed on his lips.
"Conqueror's Haki… and the Perfected version right away? Huh… this is a worthy reward," he said, his voice filled with the satisfaction of someone who has just discovered a rare gem.
He leaned back further into the sofa and began explaining to himself the habits he adopts when acquiring new abilities.
Conqueror's Haki, or Haoshoku Haki in his home world, is one of three types of Haki in the One Piece world. Unlike the other two, which can be trained by anyone, Conqueror's Haki is a rare innate ability, possessed by only one in a million people. Its ability? Exuding an aura of dominance that can subdue the will of others, striking down mentally weak opponents with just a glance or the pressure of his presence.
But this version he received… Perfected… is a pinnacle level that only a handful of legendary figures in the world have ever achieved. It not only knocks people unconscious but also infuses Conqueror's Haki into physical attacks, weapons, and even body armor, amplifying its destructive power to truly brutal levels.
Only a handful of people in the world where this power originated could achieve it: Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King; Red-Haired Shanks; and Monkey D. Luffy at his peak. Each was capable of combining their Conqueror's Haki with attacks to crush even opponents with superhuman defenses.
Kaito straightened his body, raising his right hand.
"Alright… let's try."
He closed his eyes and took a slow breath. His body felt calm, but within him a pulse of power began to rise, like a storm swirling beneath a clear sky. When he opened his eyes again, the blue glint in his irises felt even more piercing.
An instant later, an invisible pressure exploded from his body. The air in the living room trembled, the chandelier swayed, and the soda can on the table rattled gently. It felt as if the entire room was being pressed down by a giant, invisible hand.
Kaito stared at his palm. Focusing, he let the power flow into his skin, then condense around his fingers. Faint cracks, like flashes of black and gold, appeared in the air around his hand, radiating a hair-raising energy.
"Here it is… Conqueror's Haki infusion," he muttered softly, his smile widening.
He clenched his fist and punched the empty air in front of him. BOOM!
An invisible wave of pressure slammed into the apartment walls, but thankfully, Kaito held back the force, preventing any damage.
Kaito exhaled, letting the aura slowly dissipate.
"…Yes. With this, even those who rely on absolute defense will think twice before challenging me."
He slumped back down on the sofa, picked up a piece of kikufuku, and took a bite casually, as if he hadn't been testing a power that even in his home world was only possessed by a handful of legends.
A satisfied smile never left his face.
Kaito then checked his latest status. "Status," he said in a firm and confident voice.
[ding!]
[STATUS]
Name: Arashi Kaito
Age: 17
Race: Human
Level: 45
Strength: S+
Speed: S
Defense: S+
Intelligence: EX
Charm: S
Skills:
-Photographic Memory
-Rokushiki (Perfection)
- Dante Sparda Physique
-Omnicore
-Cold Heart
-Observation Haki (Perfection)
-Vergil Battle Experience
-Armor Haki (Perfection)
-Conqueror Haki (Perfection)
Weapon:
-Captain Kaizo's Mask
-Yamato
System Points: 7000
A faint smile appeared on his face. Her crystal blue eyes reflected the text arrayed in the air like an artist admiring her own masterpiece.
"Beautiful," she murmured softly, almost as if whispering to herself.
She shifted her gaze from attribute to attribute, noticing the letters S+, EX, and the word Perfection appearing repeatedly in her ability list. Each word was like a golden stamp announcing to the world: this was the power that lay beyond.
He shifted his gaze from attribute to attribute, noticing the letters S+, EX, and the word Perfection that appeared repeatedly on his ability list. Each word was like a golden stamp announcing to the world: this was a power beyond the reach of mere mortals.
His index finger lightly tapped the empty air, opening and closing menus to confirm that it was all real. And it was—every stat, every skill, belonged to him.
Kaito lifted his soda can, downing the rest of his drink. The cold sensation awakened a competitive spirit that had long been a part of him.
"This system…" he said, lowering the empty can to the table. "…will take me to the top. Not just in this world, but in all the worlds I will ever set foot in."
Visions of other worlds began to flash through his mind: futuristic cities with unimaginable technology, interplanetary battlefields, and dimensions filled with magic that could devour reality itself.
Every world had its own ruler. Every world had its legends whose names were etched in history. But Kaito knew that with this System, he wouldn't just be a part of history. He would become history itself.
He leaned back, his fingers intertwined behind his head. His gaze gazed beyond the apartment ceiling, as if gazing at an infinite horizon.
The smile now wasn't just one of satisfaction; there was a glint of eagerness for challenge within it.
The journey was still long, but each mission he completed was just another step toward the pinnacle of power in the multiverse. And Kaito had already decided: he would be the one to sit atop it.
Then Kaito inadvertently remembered his main mission in this world.
[Ding! Main mission has been released]
[Mission: Fight Itsuka Shido when he's at his peak condition
Status: Uncompleted
Reward: All kido spells (SS), 3x legendary tickets, 50,000 XP, 20,000 PS]
Kaito's initially relaxed gaze immediately turned serious. The blue light of the system interface reflected in his eyes, but this time there was no satisfied smile. There was only a heavy silence.
He closed the interface slowly, then leaned back, staring at the ceiling. His breath came out long and hard.
Itsuka Shido…
Since he first arrived in this world, thrown unceremoniously into Raizen High School as a reincarnator, Shido was the first person Kaito considered a close friend in this world. They even spent some time together, exchanging light stories.
And now… the system was asking him to fight Shido at the peak of his powers.
The mission's reward was incredibly tempting. All Kido Spell—a complete set of magic spells from the Shinigami world, including high-level forbidden techniques. Three Legendary Tickets, a large amount of system points, and enough experience to significantly jump in level. For anyone, this was a golden opportunity impossible to refuse.
But Kaito felt something like a thorn pricking his chest.
He raised his hand, staring at his lightly clenched fingers.
"If I complete this mission… it means I have to face it seriously. Without holding back," he muttered softly.
He was silent for a moment, his thoughts reeling.
On one hand, he knew this was the path he had to take. The system never gave him missions without a reason. All the missions he had undertaken before had brought him one step closer to the top. Refusing the mission would mean missing out on a great opportunity to grow, something he had never experienced before.
But on the other hand… Shido wasn't just a mission target. He was a friend. Someone who didn't know that Kaito had been hiding his identity and powers. And when the time came, this fight would expose all the lies he had been harboring.
He rubbed his face gently, then closed his eyes.
Shido… I can only hope you'll understand. That I'm not doing this because I see you as an enemy. This is just… something I have to do.
The image of Shido smiling casually flashed through his mind, making the guilt even more pressing.
He knew that after that fight, their relationship might never be the same again. Shido might hate him. And worst of all… Shido might never forgive him.
Kaito opened his eyes again, staring intently at the ceiling.
"When the time comes… I'll make sure to give you a proper fight. And if you hate me afterward…" he took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. "…I'll accept that."
He grabbed the empty soda can on the table, twirling it between his fingers. His mind was already preoccupied with that moment, the fight against Shido, who had reached the peak of his powers. A clash that would determine not only the outcome of the mission, but also the fate of their friendship.
Time passed quickly.
Without realizing it, a week had passed since Kaito last intervened.
During that time, he chose to relax. No Noir Blade emerged from the shadows. No footsteps followed the story.
Kaito knew exactly what was going to happen… and he let it happen.
That day, the weather was clear. At Raizen High School, Shido was busy with a rather troublesome mission: stabilizing Kotori's spirit energy through a pool date. Tohka and Yoshino joined him, making the atmosphere a mix of serious mission and a relaxed picnic.
Kaito, on the other hand, spent his time on light things like eating breakfast slowly, reading a book, or simply walking around town. There was a sense of calm he rarely found amidst his life of battle.
But that tranquility was short-lived.
As evening approached, booming sounds and flashes of light began to dominate the sky. Origami Tobiichi, fully armed, charged at Kotori. The girl soared through the air, her machine wings spread, her heavy weapon spewing energy projectiles relentlessly.
Kotori, in Efreet form, retaliated with a burst of fiery red flames. Tohka and Yoshino rushed to their aid, forming a fierce battle in the city sky. Explosions, screams, and flashes of energy combined into a chaotic symphony that only a clash between humans and Spirits could produce.
Clash after clash lit up the sky: Tohka's lightsaber sliced through projectiles, Yoshino's ice shots smashed into Origami's energy shield, and Kotori's flames scorched the air.
Finally, as Kaito knew, Origami was being pushed back. Her weapon was broken, her defenses crumbling. And in that moment, Shido managed to break the distance, speaking to Kotori in words only he and Kotori understood. The smoldering flames slowly died down. The sky returned to calm.
Kaito wasn't there. He didn't need to be.
Not because he couldn't, but because he chose not to change the course of events. Some things should be left as they were, at least for now.
Later that evening, he sat on his apartment balcony, enjoying the breeze and gazing at the city lights. Today's battle was just one small part of a larger story. And he… still had his own path to follow.