Chapter 7 : The Shape of Conquest
[Ninth draw in progress…]
The holographic lights dimmed slightly, casting a faint purple glow that felt… intimate. Almost invasive. The chime this time was slower, deliberate, like it was savoring the moment before revealing the result.
[Ability Acquired: Pleasure Lock]
I froze. "…Oh. Ohhh no."
A tooltip slid into view:
[Ability Description: Pleasure Lock — The user can set a maximum threshold for the physical pleasure others can feel. Any pleasure beyond that threshold is suppressed and stored, then can be released all at once if the user allows. Effective for influencing motivation, obedience, or emotional states in situations involving intimacy or desire.]
I stared at it, blinking, trying to process the implications. "…Wait. So, I can literally… control how much pleasure someone experiences… and even release it later?"
The realization hit me in waves. This wasn't just flirtation or charm anymore. This was manipulation at a deeply personal, even… intimate level. And yet, some part of me couldn't deny how dangerously… useful it sounded. Terrifying, sure — but useful.
A grin tugged at my lips despite myself. "Well, that escalated quickly." I leaned back, still staring at the floating text. "Harem King… Seed of Potential… and now… this." The pattern was undeniable. Every ability intertwined, building a toolkit to dominate, manipulate, or… conquer.
My stomach twisted in a strange mix of thrill and unease. "Okay… so the Gacha's name isn't just thematic. Conquest. Not just fighting or leveling up. Strategy. Social dominance."
I let out a short, almost mischievous laugh. "And here I thought this was just a fun multiversal loot machine. Apparently, it's a… comprehensive relationship simulator with potentially terrifying consequences."
[Ability stored.]
[Remaining pulls: 1]
I shook my head, letting the implications settle. My hand hovered over the interface, part of me hesitant, part of me… curious. The more I understood, the more this Gacha felt less like a game and more like a blueprint — a roadmap for chaos.
I smirked. "Alright, Conquest Gacha. You've officially piqued my interest. Let's see how far down this rabbit hole goes."
A long breath later, I braced myself. One final pull. One last chance to reveal the system's true intent.
[Tenth draw in progress…]
The lights swirled, now with a subtle violet shimmer, almost imperceptible but charged with intent. The chime that followed was low, deliberate, savoring the moment.
[Ability Acquired: Mind Whisper]
I froze, blinking at the floating text. "Mind… Whisper? Oh boy."
A tooltip slid into view:
[Ability Description: Mind Whisper — Allows the user to plant subtle suggestions into the minds of nearby individuals. Effects are non-obvious but can influence thoughts, decisions, or emotions over time. Requires careful calibration to avoid detection. Perfect for strategic social influence.]
I blinked again, processing the description. "…Wait… so I can basically… nudge people to do what I want without them realizing it?"
The realization hit me like a punch in the chest. Harem King, Seed of Potential, Pleasure Lock… and now this. The pieces fell into place.
"This isn't just a Gacha," I muttered, voice low, a mix of awe and disbelief. "It's… a Conquest Gacha. Every single thing it's handed me is about influence, persuasion, manipulation… social dominance."
I leaned back, letting the weight of it sink in. The system wasn't giving me random powers. It was building me into… something. Someone who could bend the multiverse socially, if not physically.
A grin slowly crept onto my face, equal parts excitement and nervousness. "Alright… Universe. You want me to be some sort of puppet-master of romance, biology, and psychology? Fine. Let's see how far this rabbit hole goes."
[Ability stored.]
[Remaining pulls: 0]
I stared at the hologram, the faint hum of the system filling the room. Ten pulls. Ten chances. And somehow, it had orchestrated the perfect combination of chaos and control.
Ten pulls. Ten perfectly calculated steps toward something I didn't ask for… but maybe, deep down, I wanted.
"Conquest, huh…" I muttered, smirking. "I get it now. This thing isn't just a slot machine — it's a social war simulator. And I'm apparently the general."