Three days passed.
Not long. Not short.
Thankfully, nothing unusual happened during that time.
Ryan finally recovered enough to move around normally.
But that same night, the system delivered news that made him want to scream.
"What do you mean I can't transform for half a month?"
Ryan rubbed his forehead.
"This useless system…"
The system responded calmly.
"Host should not worry. In this world, monsters normally appear with intervals longer than fifteen days."
Ryan narrowed his eyes.
"And if something unexpected happens?"
"Then the host must rely on their own fortune."
Ryan stared at the ceiling.
"…You're unbelievable."
In a world like this, unexpected disasters were basically the norm.
The system continued.
"There is also good news."
Ryan sighed.
"What now?"
At this point, his expectations were extremely low.
The system helped him transform.
It allowed Overclock.
And it had that emergency protection mode.
Actually…
When he thought about it, those abilities were pretty useful.
Ryan's mouth twitched.
Still, something about the system always felt suspicious.
"Because the host successfully activated light particles," the system said, "you have unlocked access to Leo's basic combat skill training."
Ryan blinked.
"Wait. What?"
"The system has opened a Combat Training Space. The host can learn Leo's basic fighting techniques there."
Ryan frowned.
"Another 'permission' unlock?"
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Hold on."
"There's a catch, isn't there?"
"You're hiding something again."
"This time, there is no additional cost."
Ryan shot upright.
"You liar!"
"So you were hiding things before!"
His shout echoed through the room.
Outside the door, someone froze.
Ayumi had been walking past Ryan's room.
Hearing his voice, she stopped.
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
She leaned toward the door and pressed her ear against it.
"Hmph."
"He's always acting mysterious."
"There's definitely something shady going on."
She clenched a fist.
"And the way he looks at Momoko sometimes…"
"For Momoko's sake, I'm going to expose whatever secret he's hiding!"
She nodded to herself.
"Yes. Totally for Momoko."
But after listening for a while, her expression changed.
"…Wait."
"No one went into his room."
"Who is he even talking to?"
Inside the room, the system continued like nothing had happened.
"The host must enter the system in a location where no intelligent lifeforms can observe the process."
Ryan blinked.
"Right now?"
"Any time is acceptable. However, the host must not be seen."
Ryan thought for a moment.
"If it's Leo's combat skills… sooner is better."
Especially with Dan's upcoming training.
Still, doing it inside the club would be risky.
Ryan remembered a nearby location.
A garbage dump a short distance away.
Hardly anyone ever went there.
"Alright."
"Let's do it now."
The Tokyo streets were cool and quiet at night.
Streetlights cast a warm orange glow over the sidewalks.
The city felt strangely peaceful.
Ryan walked down a narrow alley near the dump.
The smell of rotting trash filled the air.
He stepped around scattered junk until he found a relatively clean patch of ground.
A black cat sat nearby on top of a pile of old boxes.
Ryan ignored it.
Alright.
"001. I'm ready."
"Confirmed."
"Entering Combat Training Space."
Not far away, Ayumi had secretly followed him.
She crossed her arms.
"Hmph."
"So he did sneak off somewhere."
"And this place smells awful."
"Definitely suspicious."
She marched toward the alley.
"I'm going to catch him red-handed this time!"
Just as she stepped closer—
FLASH.
A burst of bright light exploded from inside the alley.
"Ah!"
Ayumi covered her eyes.
"What was that?"
When the light faded, she ran inside.
The alley was empty.
Ryan was gone.
Only the black cat remained.
The cat calmly licked its paw.
"Meow."
Ayumi covered her mouth.
"…What?"
She crouched down slowly and stared at the cat.
After a moment, she cautiously asked,
"…Ryu?"
"Meow."
Meanwhile, Ryan had already entered the system.
This time felt different.
There were no swirling lights.
No strange tunnel.
One moment he stood in the alley.
The next moment he stood in the middle of a ruined city.
Ryan looked down at himself.
His body was enormous.
Red armor.
Silver patterns.
He had transformed.
Ultraman Leo
Ryan flexed his fingers.
"Wait."
"I thought you said I couldn't transform."
The system replied.
"That restriction only applies in the host's real-world environment."
"This location is a simulation space."
Ryan looked around.
The city was devastated.
Broken buildings stood everywhere.
Not a single structure remained intact.
"So this is the Combat Training Space?"
Before he could examine further—
Another figure appeared.
Another Ultraman Leo stood across from him.
Ryan blinked.
"Uh…"
The second Leo raised a hand.
"Time is limited."
"Training will begin immediately."
The voice was unmistakable.
It was the system.
"001?"
Ryan stared.
"You look like Leo now?"
"This is only a temporary form."
"I can appear as anything."
The system paused.
"For example, I could appear as Momoko, who the host frequently dreams about."
Ryan nearly choked.
"I—That's not—"
His face turned bright red.
"Forget it!"
"Let's just start the training!"
The system nodded.
"First exercise: Leo hand combat techniques."
"I will demonstrate once."
"Then you will repeat the movements."
"This process helps activate Leo's combat instincts."
Ryan tilted his head.
"Combat instincts?"
"All battle data is stored within the light aura."
"In theory, transformation should automatically unlock those abilities."
"But the host's condition is unusual."
"Therefore, the system must provide basic training to activate them."
Ryan sighed.
"Of course my situation is unusual."
The training began.
"Leo Punch."
The system demonstrated the move.
"Concentrate all body strength into the fist."
"Deliver a high-speed straight punch to the monster's abdomen."
Ryan copied the movement.
"Leo Chop."
"Use the hand like a blade."
"Strike the enemy's weak points repeatedly."
Ryan followed the sequence.
"Reverse Chop."
"When your back faces the opponent, strike backward with both arms to hit the enemy's weak point."
Again and again.
Punch.
Chop.
Strike.
Ryan practiced every technique.
Individually, the moves looked simple.
But they mattered.
Right now, Ryan barely knew how to fight.
His few karate lessons were almost useless when controlling a giant Ultraman body.
But as the training continued, something changed.
Ryan began moving more naturally.
His control improved.
The techniques flowed smoothly.
It felt like memories were waking up inside his body.
Ryan smiled.
If I had to learn this alone…
It would take years.
Maybe the system was more useful than he thought.
Once he mastered the basics…
And added Dan's brutal training on top…
Ryan might one day unleash Leo's full power.
"Training complete."
"Host will exit the system in five seconds."
Ryan raised a hand.
"Wait."
"Can I come back here often?"
"Not recommended."
The system answered immediately.
"Physical entry into the system produces noticeable disturbances."
"To reduce the risk of exposure, the host should not enter frequently."
Ryan sighed.
"…Figures."
Back in the real world.
Ayumi sat cross-legged on Ryan's bed.
The black cat rested in front of her.
She looked at it sympathetically.
"You poor thing."
"Being turned into a cat must be rough."
She gently patted its head.
"You know… you weren't that bad of a person."
"Maybe I should forgive you."
"Why don't you turn back already?"
At that moment—
The door opened.
Ryan stepped inside.
He froze.
"…Ayumi?"
Ayumi blinked.
She slowly turned her head.
Her hand still rested on the cat.
She looked at Ryan.
Then at the cat.
Then back at Ryan.
Ryan pointed cautiously.
"…Why are you talking to a cat?"
The room went completely silent.