200 - Survival of the Fittest (Part 2 End)
Google Earth – Open World (.jp)
Tokyo, Setagaya Ward, Japan. I woke up in a quiet residential neighborhood a short distance from the bustling streets and immediately climbed to the rooftop of a nearby building.
Before parting ways with I Boreum, I'd asked her about the medicine Haru had been taking.
"That stuff? It was from way back when we all went on a family trip to Japan. Mom brought it home."
Boreum explained their family situation.
"Our mom got hooked on a cult."
Fear of death had apparently hit her hard, especially since she wasn't the strongest-willed person to begin with.
Japan's cult Aleph. It had branched off from the infamous Aum Shinrikyo, only to disband soon after, but in recent years, it had started operating again. The number of followers, branch locations—everything was shrouded in mystery. The only media-exposed info was one regular meeting spot, and even that had been abandoned after a police tip-off. Another dead end.
"I have no idea how Mom even got connected to them. Anyway, that supplement was kinda weird. It did make my head feel refreshed like she said, but the next day I'd wake up with killer anemia, so we tossed it all."
In any case, the rebellious Boreum had refused the meds, and her mother's fixation shifted from the older sister Boreum to the younger one, Haru.
"Is your sister okay?"
"Me? What's wrong with me?"
"Hold still, lemme check your head."
"Hey hey hey, Nami! That tickles, heeek!"
Back home, I spent a good while staring down at the frozen world from Google Earth 3D's open-world view.
"Why the hell did I even open the map?"
When I looked up again, the clouds and birds under the sky were all frozen like specimens in a museum.
If there was even a hint here, I'd consider flying to Japan myself. But reincarnation aside, this body couldn't handle it yet. This was the real world, not some game where a magic circle and MP auto-triggered spells. Especially for offensive magic, you needed a body to match: enough mana capacity to sustain spells, mana sensitivity for casting speed, and mana resistance to stabilize circles amid turbulent mana flows. My Aura Heart lacked every single one.
"Do you really need combat power to survive in the modern world?"
"Not necessarily."
Theoretical mages got top treatment, but most jobs had zilch to do with magic. And no matter how strong you were personally, a well-organized group could neutralize you. In this modernized world, true power demanded more than knowledge or brute force—money, position, connections.
The world was better to live in, sure, but also way more complicated. You couldn't just yell "Bad guys over there!" and have the emperor roll up with his knights like in some medieval tale.
Take the US right now. Thousands of civilian casualties daily in Africa. It wasn't that America lacked the power to end the war; it was tangled alliances keeping them sidelined.
"It's daunting."
"What's daunting? Hee hee."
I turned to see Adella pinching my cheek with a bright smile.
"Adella, when did you get here?"
"What do you mean 'when'? You can't just bail mid-party like that! I looked everywhere. So, what's up? Got some worries?"
"Just... thinking about how to live from here on out."
Truth be told, the burden of great power was part of it. With strength came the urge to step up, and if things went south, you'd blame your own limits. Rinse and repeat, vicious cycle. Part of me regretted not staying a sheltered flower from the start.
"Do what you're good at, sis!"
"Not what I like?"
"These days, they say do what you're good at, not what you like!"
"Picked that up from VTube?"
"Yup! You're great at it, sis—smashing stuff and beating people up. Just do that!"
"What job is that? You want me to go pro fighter? With this body?"
"Kyahaha! That'd be fun too."
"Jeez."
My mistake asking Adella for advice.
For now, wait on the government's announcement. They mentioned contacting the UN commander, so whatever they dig up might spill Walpurgis intel too.
While refreshing news sites, the front page updated with a massive headline.
"What's this? They said there was no way they'd join the war."
The article was shocking.
"Why? That big a deal?"
"Obviously. It means breaking alliances with Russia and the UAE first."
I already knew the US was obsessed with wiping out Walpurgis. Ten years ago, their attacks hit America hardest. But was it enough justification to shatter alliances and fight abroad?
I wasn't sure.
"Not giving a damn—classic superpower move! Kinda like, 'If force doesn't work, maybe we don't have enough force?' Spot on. So sis, don't overthink—just live free. America's got 400 million people, right? Their big boss just drops bombs like this. What's got you so worried?"
Our eyes met. Adella's cheerful tone hid real depth.
I stood on tiptoes, patted her head approvingly, and closed Google Maps. Buildings vanished into infinite white void.
"The war'll be over soon."
"Huh? Why? They just joined."
"Eh, just a hunch."
"But when will you make my body? I wanna go outside ASAP!"
Adella stomped and hopped, then flopped onto the floor. I lay with my head on her legs, staring at the blank ceiling. I stretched my fingers wide, right into her view.
"To bring you out in that form, we need three spells total."
"Uh-huh."
"First, 5th Circle Akashic Record. The base for crafting your body."
"5th Circle? Piece of cake!"
What? Akashic Record wasn't some wish-granting snap. You had to pre-model molecular blueprints into the transmutation circle. The only human blueprint I had was my past life's self. Who'd even attempt that insane grind? Enter Blood Dragon Tsrevis Austin, hobby bio-experimenter. He spent 100 years in a cave perfecting it on himself, then tried sacrificing me. Gave me priceless data, though.
"Next, 7th Circle Persona Phaesi. Converts your digitized personality to fit the body."
Adella's eyes bulged at seven fingers.
"7th Circle...? N-no way..."
"Finally, another 7th Circle Dragonia Nasentia. Merges body and mind. Originally optimizes for environment. Your mind's tuned to your old body, so it tweaks the Akashic base into yours. Bridges the VR gap."
"Basically impossible... Hiiing... Guess I'm stuck here forever?"
"I'll work harder so we can live together outside."
"Sorry... Feels like I'm just whining..."
Adella's voice drooped. Her perky ears and tail sagged today.
"You hurting right now?"
"What would hurt me...? Just feel lonely sometimes. Wanna be with you. Like today's party..."
"Our Adella's feeling left out, huh? Wanna pull an all-nighter, just us?"
"For real? But tomorrow's Monday—academy?"
"Staying home this week. Only finals."
"Whoa, total delinquent!"
Adella snapped her fingers, flicking my forehead.
"Ow!"
"Always thought it—you're such a delinquent!"
"Hah, and you hate it?"
"Nah, love it! Oh right! How'd I forget?"
She smacked fist into palm.
"I got official account approval from Capsule Corp! I can game now!"
Long rainy season finally ended. Cicadas, bloated with summer sun, wailed their mournful song, heralding the heat.
Amid folks bored by routine, the extraordinary girl always stirred buzz.
In a Gangnam alley, fresh-out elementary kids bounded with energy. Amid the chaos, a twintailed girl strolled slowly, ice cream in mouth.
She squinted against the glare, but even that looked cute to others.
"Whoa, it's really NoName...!"
"Huh? Mister, you know our friend?"
"Nami! Someone's calling you!"
"Gotcha! You're it now!"
"Hey, that's cheating! Time out, time out!"
Friendly kids dragged Nami's wrist, forcing her face-to-face with a young man. She shaded her eyes and grinned up at him.
"We meet again. How'd that protest go?"
Vacation breathed life into semester-weary students. Hell for stay-home parents, heaven for kids—one summer day.
Good finals scores earned a boy a capsule. Heart pounding, he logged into VR. He'd seen this somewhere:
If you wanna test your luck, hit Channel 4 lobby at 3:30 PM. Look for the stunning blonde lady and cute silver-haired cat beastkin.
World of Arceria, Channel 4. The boy in ragged leather armor clapped a hand over his mouth.
Game industry's elite—arm-in-arm, deep in convo. As he rushed to speak, they flashed into light and warped to battle.
'Five seconds earlier...'
His luck ended there.
Every meeting brings parting; the departed return.
But how that reunion happens? Even the heavens hesitate to say.