When Luck Runs Out
When it's started to be a nonchalant day, Ruko goes to the guild in order to get money, while checking the board he muttered. "Seriously all these quest are low rated money, when will there a big harvest to collect millions since I'm getting broke by the day!"
Then a adventurer barge in shouted. "There's a cabbage stampede everyone prepared for harvesting," !that's interesting when his luck came but he went to Kazuma and the others and state some harvest.
"What's a cabbage stampede and why does everyone excited about it," Aqua explain. "It's a harvest to earn money of course for me to buy more booze," I started to lost interest and decided to go out of Axel to clear some thought.
>[Aura Farming Unlocked: 0.50% Sync Rate Achieved]
Ruko shocked at a new skill that's unlocked when there a cabbage stampede. "Wait if my skills are unlocked when in certain scenario, that's I can unlock my other skills as well?"
Ruko think about trying it out and started meditate?
Ruko sat cross-legged on a grassy hill just outside Axel, hands resting on his knees as faint wisps of energy circled him like glowing smoke.
He exhaled slowly. The wind shifted, rippling his clothes and stirring the blades of grass around him.
> [Aura Stabilization – 1.2% Sync Rate Achieved.]
[Warning: Power Output Still Limited to 1%.]
He cracked an eye open. "So this is aura farming, huh? Looks cool, but feels like trying to cook rice with a candle."
The ground trembled. Birds scattered from the trees.
He opened his eyes fully, seeing faint golden threads weaving around him — his aura responding to his focus.
It wasn't just power; it was rhythm, like breathing in the heartbeat of the world.
He raised a hand and smiled. "Not bad for one percent."
A familiar voice cut through his peace.
"Ruko! There you are!"
Aqua came running up the hill, tripping over a rock and face-planting right next to him.
He sighed. "You again. What now?"
Kazuma, panting, followed close behind. "You're sitting here farming aura while we're getting mobbed by cabbage monsters!"
"Bomboclot…" Ruko muttered, rubbing his temple. "Can't a man meditate without vegetables declaring war?"
He stood up, his aura fading as he brushed the dust off his coat. "Fine, fine. Where are they?"
Kazuma pointed toward the fields. A rolling tide of angry, flying cabbages was heading straight toward town.
Ruko blinked. "...You weren't kidding."
Megumin raised her staff in the distance, shouting, "Explosion magic is ready!"
"NO!" Kazuma yelled. "Not near the town again!"
Ruko cracked his neck, smirking as his eyes glowed faintly red. "Guess it's time for my entrance."
He dropped into a loose stance, aura flickering around him like firelight. The cabbages began spinning faster, slicing through the air like blades.
"Alright, you leafy demons," he said, smiling as energy gathered in his palm, "let's make salad."
The first wave hit him—he sidestepped, grabbed a cabbage midair, and threw it into another, bursting both apart in a puff of green mist.
Every movement looked almost lazy, but sharp — controlled. His aura pulsed in sync with each motion.
> [Skill Activation: True Copy (Passive Adaptation).]
He copied the spin of a flying cabbage and kicked it back like a homing missile, smirking as it crashed into the swarm.
The crowd gasped. Even Aqua stopped mid-scream.
Kazuma blinked. "He's… actually stylish."
"Stylish and broke," Ruko shot back, still moving. "Someone better pay me for this!"
One particularly massive cabbage launched toward him.
For a moment, he lowered his guard, exhaling.
The ground shook beneath him — his body instinctively stiffened.
"...Bomboclot."
He smirked, cracked his neck, and crouched. "This'll be interesting."
The cabbage slammed down. The impact sent dust flying. But when it cleared, Ruko stood above the broken stalk, his foot buried deep in its core. His aura flared around him like a storm before fading again.
The sky cleared. Silence.
Kazuma walked up, still holding a basket. "You know… if you put that energy into actual farming, we'd be rich."
Ruko gave him a tired look. "If farming paid in power levels, I'd already be a god."
Aqua held out a single coin. "Here! Your pay!"
He stared at it blankly. "Aqua… I'm gonna start charging you interest for breathing near me."
Kazuma sighed. "You're hopeless."
But in that moment, his Dimensional Core flickered quietly.
> [Progress Update: Core Alloy Stabilized.]
[Aura Synchronization improving.]
[Warning: The Sealer has detected growing imbalance.]
Ruko looked up at the sky, a faint chill running down his spine.
"The Sealer again… huh. Guess she doesn't like me glowing too much."
He sat back down, eyes closed, trying to suppress his aura.
Kazuma raised a brow. "You meditating again?"
Ruko smiled faintly. "No. Just… keeping my soul quiet before the next storm."
As the party walked off toward town, the Core Alloy on his wrist pulsed once more—quietly, but alive—like it was waiting for the next chapter to unfold.