Yui frantically picked up her phone.
"…"
She kept her eyes shut, wanting to look yet not daring to. Her mind was a jumble of emotions. In the end, steeling herself, Yui's eyelashes trembled as she slowly opened her eyes. The haziness cleared, and she could finally see the text on her screen.
"!"
She stared in wide-eyed amazement, and a surge of joy blasted through her body like a rushing current, washing away her feverish headache.
Tatsuki: "Yui, I want you to know…I like you too. But my situation is a bit special. Let's talk properly next week at school."
'Tatsuki-kun likes me too!'
So happy! So very happy! It felt like she'd just tasted the sweetest honey in the world, euphoria leaking out of her petite form. Hugging her phone as if it were priceless, Yui simply wore a silly grin, her lips curling into a lovely smile from time to time.
"…"
Seeing her daughter, Mrs. Yuigahama guessed that Yui was experiencing love. 'Ah, she's reached that age,' she thought quietly. She was prepared for something like this—she wouldn't interfere but knew she had responsibilities. After a moment's thought, she said to Yui, "Dear, wait for me here a bit, I'm going to the supermarket."
Still all smiles about Tatsuki, Yui absentmindedly replied, "Okay."
…
At lunchtime, they decided to cook at Tatsuki's place. He personally wasn't very good at cooking—anything edible was fine by him—so it's not like he had any teaching material to "transmit" to them. So he had Sayuri teach them about modern seasonings and ingredients for preparing food.
The four girls clearly were very keen on cooking. Tatsuki inwardly marveled, 'Truly wife material types—good. At least I'll have great meals in the future.'
Interestingly, Sayuri and Kie plus Tamayo got along splendidly, as if they were best friends after a single day. Meanwhile, the idle Tatsuki was relaxing on the sofa. Feeling bored, he opened the chat group.
He glanced at his stats.
….
[Human]: Tatsuki
[Points]: 164000
[Apocalypse]: Spiritual Apocalypse (12 stars), Abnormal Apocalypse (12 stars), Uncertainty Apocalypse (12 stars)
[Abilities]:
B-Rank: Physical Enhancement (lv 4), Lightning Dharma: Yin Lightning (lv 3), Rokushiki (lv1), Armament Haki (lv1), Observation Haki (lv1)
A-Rank: Intuition (lv 4)
S-Rank: Gemstone - Vector Manipulation (lv 5), Zanpakuto: Dominator (lv 5)
….
He'd learned Rokushiki and Haki in no time just by reading manuals—likely due to his elevated "life essence." Possibly that "life essence" was akin to a dimensional tier or something.
Thinking it over, he spent 122,000 Points to raise Rokushiki and Observation Haki to max (lv4). Rokushiki's techniques would help him control his body more deftly, changing up his fighting style. Full-level Observation Haki gave him short glimpses into the future. Paired with Intuition, it'd have immense combat synergy.
He decided not to upgrade Armament Haki with Points. For one, he didn't think he'd use it much. Secondly, he wanted to see how quickly he could train it on his own, given his current condition.
Once the upgrade finished, he closed his eyes briefly.
As knowledge of Rokushiki merged with his body, he felt a big jump in his physical control. Opening his eyes, a faint red glow flickered across them—a sense of sharpened clarity. Even though his back was to the kitchen, he could "see" each person's actions and overhear their chatter, even foreseeing their next moves.
"!"
Kanae stiffened slightly, a blush coloring her ears. She stood up straighter and more properly to continue learning how to cook. Through their shared mind, she realized Tatsuki was "observing" like a teacher watching over them.
'How is it? Nice ability, right?'
Kanae's gaze flicked around, confirming the others hadn't noticed, and mentally replied, 'Master, please don't spy on me, i-it's too embarrassing!'
'Tsk, you did that in front of Shinobu and Kanao, not to mention in my spiritual space too—aren't you the one who should be used to embarrassment?'
'Ngh! Don't, don't mention that again!'
Kanae recalled that scene, and her sense of shame soared once more.
"Heh."
Still leaning away from the kitchen, Tatsuki smirked. He found messing with pretty girls to be terribly fun—addictive, even.
He turned off his Observation Haki and reopened the group chat interface. Just as he was about to read, a prompt resounded in his mind.
[Second Apocalypse Game Loaded!]
[Map: Space Battleship!]
[Number of Players: 5!]
[Game Objective: Survive 7 days, or kill all hostile life!]
[Failure Penalty: The Game Manifests in Reality!]
[Game Start!]
[You have encountered a factor of an "Abnormal Apocalypse."]
[Apocalypse Chat Group has established a link; rewards will convert to Apocalypse Points!]
No more options to pick this time, it seemed. His vision flickered, and he found himself in unfamiliar surroundings—a cramped, white capsule-like chamber. A fluid-like substance surrounded him, sloshing about.
Whoosh!
The door in front of him opened, the liquid draining swiftly. Stepping out, Tatsuki stood atop the flowing fluid.
"What's this place?"
Someone else spoke up at that same moment. Turning to look, Tatsuki saw four other people emerging from pods like his.
He recognized them all—and stared in dismay.
Yukinoshita Yukino, tense with caution.
Megumi Kato, calm and stoic.
Fujiwara Chika, brimming with curiosity.
Kitagawa Marin, trembling with fear.
They were the five "players" in this new game?
'Is this game messing with me by choosing only acquaintances?'
Even more flustering—they were all naked!
Oh, and so was he, apparently.
No sooner had he realized that than they also noticed, simultaneously noticing him.
"Eek!"
A classic anime-like squeal rang out.
"Roaaar!"
Mixing with the girls' scream came a sharp, vicious snarl. Standing at the doorway was a creature—jet black in color.
Tatsuki had already sensed something approaching, but seeing it in person, he confirmed it looked identical to the xenomorph from Alien!
"Chika!"
Closest to the door was Fujiwara Chika. She saw the xenomorph-like creature—only a few meters away—and was so terrified her mind went blank. She toppled backward to the floor, sitting there completely naked, utterly frozen.
Even the others, standing farther away, felt an instinctive chill at the alien's horrific visage.
"Ice!" Kanae shouted.
Several sharp ice lances formed and shot out, seemingly about to pierce the alien. But, halfway there, they froze in midair, suspended.
"Don't worry—it won't attack," came Tatsuki's calm voice.
When the girls turned to look at him, his eyes had changed, shimmering golden with star-like patterns. As though hearing Tatsuki's summons, the giant alien—standing a few meters tall—walked around Fujiwara Chika rather than lunging at her. It padded over to Tatsuki, then crouched by his legs like a puppy, gently nuzzling him.
Tatsuki paid no mind to the others' stunned expressions. Instead, he glanced at the pink-haired girl who was sprawled on the floor, legs splayed in front of him, and said with polite gravity.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
"!"
A few seconds later, in a mild state of confusion, the five found a set of one-piece full-body suits hanging in a locker in the corner—resembling futuristic leather bodysuits. Busy with dressing, the girls insisted that Tatsuki turn away. Having no choice, he opened the group chat.
…
March 7th: "We're about to set off on another journey!"
Nami: "Where to?"
March 7th: "From what Himeko told me, it's a place called Jarilo-VI, apparently under the effect of a Stellaron."
Saeko Busujima: "Interstellar travel sounds so romantic."
Ainz: "Romantic, huh? Doesn't the vast emptiness of space feel lonely?"
March 7th: "I have companions, so it's not that lonely."
Tushan Honghong: "What does the starry cosmos look like? Is it all sparkly like our night sky?"
Glancing around, Tatsuki observed the surrounding metal walls and those capsules—like hypersleep pods from a sci-fi movie. Through a nearby window lay an endless starry void. Clearly, from the interface's earlier text, this was a space battleship in outer space.
Tatsuki: "(Image) The starry universe looks something like this."
Tushan Honghong: "So pretty, but it does seem a bit lonely."
Exusiai: "It's so mysterious. Suddenly our sky at home seems unreal, never looking like that."
Tatsuki fell silent a moment. 'Ah, Exusiai, you're quite the prophet…'
Ainz: "Wha—Boss, how'd you get out to space?"
March 7th: "Is Tatsuki traveling among the stars like me?"
Tatsuki: "No, I'm in my second apocalypse game again, this time on some giant space warship."
Emilia: "Apocalypse game? What's that?"
Tatsuki: "In my world's abnormal apocalypse, the chosen must partake in these 'games.' If we fail, the horrors in the game manifest in reality."
He attached an image of the alien-like creature. By dominating that xenomorph's mind, he'd gleaned some basic info.
The warship was massive, akin to a city, with a labyrinthine interior.
It had become a full xenomorph nest, hosting possibly 70,000-80,000 aliens.
There was also a roaming Alien Queen.
That presumably spelled out their enemies.
Nami: "They look kinda scary, but also a bit cute the way it snuggles up to you."
Tatsuki: "Only because I'm controlling it."
Nami: "Ooh, that's how!"
Emilia: "Our world also shows as an 'abnormal apocalypse.' Could it involve such a 'game' too?"
Reinhard: "I'd also like to understand more."
Tatsuki: "I'm not sure. Only way to know is to keep investigating."
Emilia: "Then I'll do my best to find out."
Reinhard: "I'll help too."
Esdeath: "Tatsuki, does that creature have any special abilities?"
Tatsuki: "Nothing major—just parasite-based reproduction, fast growth, and super-corrosive blood. Probably weaker than your world's Danger Beasts."
Esdeath: "…"
Tatsuki himself was a bit puzzled. If it's just aliens, they might be simpler to deal with than actual zombies, so maybe something else lurked on the warship?
Aqua: "They don't look undead."
Tatsuki: "They're just typical monsters."
Shinobu Kocho: "Tatsuki, about my sister… Is she doing okay?"
Tatsuki: "Oh, she's…fine."
(Yes, quite spirited—especially after that mental-space incident…)
Shinobu: "Alright, thank you for caring for her."
Tatsuki: "No big deal. Before long, she'll be the one caring for me."
Shinobu: "?"
Tatsuki didn't elaborate. He intended to find time to truly claim Kanae for himself. Having a beautiful girl in spiritual synergy but not taking the final step felt like a waste…
In their shared mental space, Kanae's cheeks blazed with embarrassment, while outside in the real world, four embarrassed girls were also rushing to get dressed. The bodysuits had no undergarments—just zip and go. Hence, Tatsuki got quite an eyeful of four bare, pearly bodies, each slender but still endowed with softness. They all had smooth, radiant skin. On finer details:
Yukino wasn't exactly "flat," there were at least some gentle curves.
Megumi was a pleasant medium—"just right."
Marin and Chika definitely boasted "abundant," snow-white assets.
Yukino, Fujiwara, and Kato were "smooth-shaven," so to speak.
Especially Fujiwara, with her delicate pink… cough.
At present, she cowered on the ground in a ball, not daring to lift her head…
***
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