The legendary God of War once said that the reason Ryoji's Device remained nameless was likely because it had yet to awaken its true form.
Once that happened, he wouldn't just learn its real name, his own abilities might evolve as well. In other words, he would awaken his true potential.
At the time, Ryoji had dismissed it as mere speculation, something unlikely to happen. But now, standing in his dormitory, holding his newly transformed Device, the Vrring Blade, he realized the truth of those words.
Without a doubt, this was the power he had been waiting for.
This wasn't an evolution of Absolute Divine Speed. No, this was something entirely new, a second ability, separate and distinct from his first.
Such a phenomenon was unheard of.
Blazers only possessed a single special ability. That was an ironclad rule of the world. No one had ever defied it.
But Ryoji's new ability transcended even that.
After all, the power to travel between different worlds wasn't just beyond a Blazer's capabilities, it was beyond the very laws of reality.
It wasn't merely another ability within the existing framework of the Rakudai Kishi world. It was something on an entirely different level.
In this world, no one had ever crossed into other dimensions. So why had he gained this power? And why now?
Ryoji had no answers. The only explanation he could think of was his identity as a transmigrator.
Maybe this was his true cheat, his ultimate power.
"Well, no point overthinking it. First, let's figure out how to use it..."
Focusing his mind, Ryoji examined the mechanics of his newfound ability.
The first thing he noticed was its limitations.
He couldn't simply travel anywhere at will. His ability required a Dark Gate to lock onto a world's coordinates. Only when a world's name appeared on the gate could he step through and enter it.
For example, he couldn't just jump into Dragon Ball or One Piece on a whim. Right now, the only available destination was the world of Danmachi.
As for things like time flow discrepancies between worlds… he would have to test that himself.
"Still… Danmachi, huh?"
A surge of excitement ran through him. After all, Danmachi was famous for one thing,
The Divine Blessing known as Falna.
Even though he couldn't recall every detail about the world, he still remembered its core mechanics. And as a web novel writer, he had a rough grasp of what mattered most.
In Danmachi, gods bestowed Falna upon mortals, allowing them to convert experience into tangible growth. This accelerated power progression made it an ideal world for someone looking to get stronger quickly.
If he could receive a Falna, his physical abilities would skyrocket. He might even progress faster than if he trained with that "legal loli"…
But more importantly,
"I might finally find a way to increase my Magic Power!"
That was the real game-changer. His abilities demanded an immense amount of Magic Power. The more Magic Power he had, the stronger his abilities would become.
But in the world of Rakudai Kishi, there was no known way to increase one's Magic Power.
Now, however, he had a chance.
A real, undeniable chance.
Ryoji was confident that he could become one of the world's strongest through swordsmanship alone. After all, even Edelweiss, the strongest swordsman, had reached the peak without relying on magic.
However, reaching that level would take years. He would need to refine his techniques, strengthen his body, and endure the slow, steady process of physical growth.
Ryoji had never been the type to fixate on any single path to power.
Rather, he was willing to do whatever it took to become stronger.
If he could rely on Magic Power, he would. If he could rely on swordsmanship, he would. If he could rely on sheer physical prowess, he would. The only reason he had devoted himself solely to the sword was that, until now, it had been the only thing he had.
But now, he has had an opportunity to enhance both his physical abilities and his magic power.
There was no way he was going to pass that up.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, I can't waste it!"
Ryoji clenched his fists as his resolve solidified. However, before he did anything, he needed to make the necessary preparations and inform both Senior Sister and the academy.
Would this affect the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival?
That thought weighed on him. He had promised Senior Sister that they would stand on that stage together. But this was her final year, her last chance to compete.
He couldn't just break his word and disappear.
"...Alright, I need to step out for a bit."
Ryoji got up from his chair, letting the Vrring Blade fade back into his body.
Wait.
He suddenly realized something.
"I still don't know this blade's true name!"
A frown crossed his face.
If he had truly awakened his deeper self, shouldn't he already know the real name of his Device? Yet, despite the flood of new knowledge he had just received, that crucial piece of information was still missing.
Did that mean… he hadn't fully awakened yet?
"Then I might not be a pervert after all!"
Ryoji's mood instantly improved.
Maybe all those accusations were just surface-level misunderstandings!
He considered himself a serious person, there was no way he would accept such an absurd label!
That afternoon, Ryoji met up with Kanata, the heiress of the Totokubara family.
"I need to stock up on some gold and gems."
He got straight to the point.
Kanata, standing in a remote forest clearing, responded without hesitation.
"How many kilograms?"
The Totokubara Foundation was so wealthy that it practically only had cash left.
"Uh... not too much, just enough for travel expenses."
After thinking for a moment, Ryoji added,
"Also, can you prepare a full set of survival gear for me?"
Since he was about to cross into another world, he had to be ready for anything.
"That's simple enough. But what exactly are you planning?" Kanata asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The legal loli wants me to undergo survival training in the wild." Ryoji casually made up an excuse.
That was the same story he planned to tell the school and Senior Sister.
It wasn't that he didn't trust them. It was just that the idea of world travel was so ridiculous that even he hadn't fully grasped it yet. How could he explain it to others?
"...What a bizarre training regimen."
Kanata found it odd, but since it wasn't anything major, she agreed without pressing further.
With that settled, Ryoji moved on to the rest of his preparations.
That evening, he also informed Senior Sister. While she was reluctant, she didn't question his explanation. Instead, she simply reminded him to be careful, then dragged him off to sing with her for half the night.
As for the "legal loli," she had already agreed to cover for him at the academy. The price?
Ryoji had to model several different outfits for her amusement, something that made her laugh uncontrollably.
On Monday.
As usual, Ryoji skipped class.
Leaving Hagun Academy, he boarded the maglev train bound for Hiroshima.
There, he planned to meet an old acquaintance, a doctor who had once saved his life.
And as for what "singing" had really meant over the past two chapters…
Well, let's just say that the "home runs" had been loud enough that no further explanation was needed.
(End of Chapter.)
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