In truth, Kenmyo Isayama didn't need to shout; with a mere thought, the [Warhammer Simulator] interface would automatically manifest.
He felt like a bit of a fool for a moment, having shouted with such dramatic flair for the system to appear. Perhaps it was because only in front of his sister could Kenmyo act like a child and feel truly at ease.
Even though her gaze toward him now contained nothing but boundless resentment and a gluttonous appetite, devoid of even a trace of familial affection.
Still, things would eventually get better. Regarding his sister's "illness" and how to cure her, Kenmyo had a hypothesis that required further experimentation.
Before that, increasing his own strength was the truly important matter. Kenmyo looked at the display on the screen:
"You have 3 free attribute points to allocate."
"Please select the attributes you wish to strengthen."
His Psionic level increased via experience points earned in the [Simulations], but his base physical data relied on the allocation of attribute points.
The Astartes of the Thousand Sons possessed not only surging, terrifying Psionic power but also immense physical capabilities. With such examples as his guide, Kenmyo would not abandon physical strength. With 3 points available, he allocated 1 point to Strength and 1 point to Intelligence. He left the final point unused for now and pressed the confirmation button.
A notification chimed: "Strengthening in progress..."
Sharp pain radiated through his body as his muscles and bones began to harden and densify. The pain came quickly and left just as fast; suddenly, Kenmyo was enveloped in a bizarre, kaleidoscopic beam of white light—the repair state. The process was instantaneous.
[Strengthening Complete]
"That's it?"
Unsatisfied, Kenmyo clenched his fists. He felt slightly more powerful, and his thoughts felt sharper. Looking at the fresh data on his information page, he thought that perhaps raising a single attribute by three points at once would be more exhilarating.
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 9
Charisma: 7
Luck: 2
His Mana cap had increased to 90 points. Furthermore, as his Intelligence attribute increased, his drained Mana was instantly restored to 90, putting him at full capacity.
This was due to Kenmyo's Psionic Talent:
[Psionic Affinity]
Level: Lv.1
Effect: When the host's Intelligence attribute increases, Mana is instantly restored to full.
Given Kenmyo's 80 points of Mana, recovering from empty to full at a rate of 9 points per hour would normally take nearly 9 hours—a sluggish process. However, by allocating points, he could refill it instantly. He was effectively a Mage in a game; his Mana was the blue bar, and attribute points acted as a mana potion. This was why he kept one attribute point in reserve.
It effectively gave him a second blue bar. This greatly alleviated his "stamina anxiety." He was the type who felt uneasy leaving the house if his phone wasn't at 100% charge, let alone facing the world with a mana bar that hadn't even reached triple digits. He had no sense of security.
There was another feature built into the [Warhammer Simulator] that Kenmyo found extremely practical: the Inventory function. He started with thirty slots, each with a volume of five cubic meters. Expanding the quantity and size would cost points. It could only store inanimate objects, not sentient living beings.
Besides the reward that was automatically bound to him upon receipt, his other reward from the second [Simulation] was stored in an inventory slot. The beast lurking in the depths of his shadow when Sakura had moved against him earlier was the effect of that automatically bound equipment.
It was a blood-red, token-like object engraved with the terrifying phantom of a massive wolf's head in a roaring pose.
[Eternal Hunt]
Origin: Realm of Khorne
Quality: Silver
Type: Medal
Durability: N/A
Equipment Effect: Can summon a legion of Flesh Hounds to follow the host's command at any time.
Maximum Summon Limit: Five
Effect: Upon use, up to 5 Flesh Hounds can be summoned to fight. Summoning consumes Mana.
The first Flesh Hound consumes no Mana for the first ten minutes (if recalled, it enters a 24-hour cooldown). Thereafter, it consumes 10 points per minute. Summoning a second Flesh Hound requires 60 points, the third requires 120 points... cost doubles per unit.
Note: Flesh Hounds are absolutely loyal, possess independent consciousness, can act alone or in a pack, and can execute complex instructions.
Rating: 500 points (Silver-tier equipment/materials are rated between 300–500 points).
Description: They are the most loyal servants of the Lord of Blood and War, hunting hounds that seek death. Plundering life is their tireless instinct.
"Trust me, no one wants to face these most brutal creations of the Blood God." — From the missing Chief Librarian, Agape Marcus.
Kenmyo was quite surprised to receive this, especially since the [Warhammer Simulator] had delivered it with what looked like a gift card. Written in terrifying, ominous Demonic script was:
"A blessing from the Blood God for your slaughter."
Kenmyo was stunned. He didn't expect such a "good" thing.
"I kill his children, and I get a reward?" He thought. "I'll have to do more of that next time."
During the [ASH-3 Planetary Defense War], Kenmyo, as a "Gore Hound," had slaughtered a total of 120 different units of the Blood God's Chaos Legion. This equipment had a high affinity with him because the Gore Hound he had [Simulated] was a leader species, having mastered leadership over the pack.
Thus, Flesh Hounds had a natural affinity and obedience toward him. Normally, the mana cost for this equipment would start as soon as the first hound was summoned, but the equipment effect had been modified: the first ten minutes were free.
Otherwise, summoning one Flesh Hound would cost 60 points, leaving Kenmyo with only 30. Now, within the first ten minutes, he could summon two for a total cost of only 60. As for summoning all five, that was a problem for future Kenmyo.
$0 + 60 + 120 + 240 + 480 = 900$ points.
This Flesh Hound, which he could use for free for ten minutes every day, lurked in his shadow, ready to tear apart anything that threatened its master.
It was a windfall. Otherwise, the greatest gain from this [Simulation] would have been the brass collar currently bound around his sister's neck.
[Collar of Khorne]
Origin: Realm of Khorne
Quality: Bronze
Type: Functional Equipment
Durability: 98/100 (Can be repaired with points)
Equipment Effect: Suppresses Psionic/Cursed power (Below Theta grade), Immune to Psionic attacks (Below Theta grade).
Rating: 270 points (Silver-tier equipment/materials are rated between 100–300 points).
Description: Infused with the blood of Psykers, the Blood God's fury provides the heat for the forge beneath the Brass Throne. The resulting Collar of Khorne absorbs energy from the Warp, granting immunity to various forms of Psionic attack.
This thing could even suppress Kenmyo's Psionic power, let alone Cursed Energy. Obtaining two pieces of equipment from the Realm of Khorne in a single [Simulation] meant Kenmyo's luck was at a "Gacha King" level.
Just as Kenmyo was about to head up, he suddenly heard his doorbell being pressed incessantly.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
It was a continuous, frantic ringing, as if saturated with resentment, threatening to break the button. Something occurred to him; he checked his phone and was instantly gripped by panic.
"I'm dead! I'm dead! I'm dead!"
Kenmyo said a quick word to Sakura and rushed out of the basement.
"Sister, I have to go!"