His father's grip was strong, rough, and stank of cheap tobacco and stale alcohol. The calloused fingers dug into Kian's small arm with unnecessary force, pulling him through the cobbled, muddy streets of the Liberio Internment Zone. The morning sky was a dark gray, a perfect reflection of the sadness that soaked the entire place. The people around them walked with hunched shoulders, eyes fixed on the ground, as if the simple act of looking others in the face was a punishable crime. Everyone wore the armband with the star on their arm, the mark of their supposed cursed blood.
Kian didn't complain about the pain. His eight-year-old face remained a mask of empty calm, an expression that didn't fit a normal child at all. His grip hurts, not gonna lie, he thought, feeling how his father's fingers were almost cutting off his circulation. A normal kid my age would cry or complain about being hurt. But it's not worth the effort. I'd just earn myself a hit on the head or a yell about how I need to be a tough man for the army.
However, behind that calm facade, something dark and bothersome writhed in the depths of his mind. It was a constant itch, a whisper that crawled up his neck and made his skin prickle. His curse: Sadism. As uncomfortable as the curse that he now liked hurting people was, it hadn't been that bad. Sure, it was a trait that might disturb some people, but at least it was something he could deal with.
He wasn't going to lie that it was a bit annoying, because every time his father pulled him in that brutal way, a disgusting part of his mind suggested very clear images: Trip him on the next step. Make him fall face-first onto those broken stones. Watch him bleed. It would be really fun to watch. He deserves it.
Kian closed his eyes for a second and slowly let the air out through his nose, pushing that thought deep into his head, locking it away. He was selfish, yes. He wanted to survive at all costs, he didn't care about the fate of this nation or his race, and he was willing to use others to ensure his own life. But he wasn't a cruel monster. He logically knew he shouldn't enjoy that. But his mind told him it wasn't a bad thing to be a little sadistic, and ignoring it could become a mental problem he would have to endure like a parasite. Because the more he ignored those impulses to hurt, the more restless, anxious, and achy he might feel, at least according to the Gacha information.
As they walked, dodging puddles of mud, Kian began to mentally review his only real advantage for surviving this crazy world: his Epic rank ability, the Geass. The power to give an absolute command. A simple meeting of eyes and the victim would be forced to obey him forever, as long as the order was something their body or mind could do.
An incredible power, he reflected, looking at the gray streets while his mind worked at full speed. But it has rules I can't break. Only once per person. You have to look them directly in the eyes. And if the one receiving the order is someone with too much willpower, they might resist or ignore it. I'm still a weak child. If I try to use it on someone important right now, it might fail and I'd waste my only chance with that person.
But it wasn't like there were people with such powerful minds in this world. So he wasn't very worried; he absolutely believed that, besides an Ackerman right now or a Pure Titan, no one could resist. Although he still had the doubt if the Coordinate would be strong enough to counteract his Geass.
It was then, while looking at his own blurry reflection in a puddle of dirty water on the street, that the idea hit him suddenly, as clear as lightning in the darkness. His steps almost stopped from the surprise, but he forced himself to keep walking at the same pace so as not to upset his father.
A reflection. Looking at myself... The Geass works with eye contact. The rules say "anyone you make eye contact with." It doesn't say it can't be myself if I use a mirror. If I give myself an order looking into my own eyes, the power should work.
Kian's heart beat a little stronger, filling him with cautious hope. He had found the solution to his curse. The system had clearly said he needed to acquire a superior or unshakable mental discipline to get rid of the sadism.
If I look into a real mirror and order myself, with all the magical force of the Geass, to have perfect mental discipline... If I order myself to erase and destroy these impulses to hurt others, the Geass will force my mind to obey. It's a mental order, something my own brain can comply with since I control my own mind.
A great relief tried to show on his face and relax his tense muscles, but Kian quickly hid it. I can't do it now. I need a clear mirror, not a puddle full of mud. And I can't just stop in the middle of the street and start giving orders to the air in front of the guards patrolling the area. If anyone sees my eye change color or shine with that weird mark, they'll know I'm abnormal and I'll most likely end up dead for witchcraft or something worse before I can blink. Besides, if I speak and my father interrupts me mid-sentence, it could ruin the order and I'd lose my only chance with myself. I have to wait. Be patient. Tonight, when I get home and this man is completely asleep from the alcohol, I'll use the bathroom mirror. There's no rush.
Enduring the urge to hurt someone for one more day was nothing if in exchange he gained his mental peace forever. He could hold on.
Finally, they arrived at the large gates of the Army Barracks. The contrast between the poor, rotten-wood houses of the ghetto and the clean, tall, solid stone walls of the barracks was enormous. There was barbed wire atop the walls and armed guards with gleaming rifles who looked at the arriving people with boredom and evident disgust.
The square in front of the gates was full. Hundreds of children between seven and nine years old, accompanied by their parents, crowded the area. Everyone wore worn but very clean clothes, a last attempt by families to make their children look "presentable" to become chosen soldiers. Many nervous murmurs were heard. Parents giving last-minute advice in urgent whispers, mothers crying a little while hugging their children, children trembling with fear or puffing out their chests trying to look brave.
Kian's father stopped abruptly and let him go, pushing him slightly forward. Kian discreetly rubbed his arm to get the blood flowing again.
"Listen to me carefully, you useless brat," his father said, crouching down to his level. The strong smell of stale alcohol almost made Kian stop breathing. "This is the only chance we have. If you get into that program, they'll give us a better deal. We'll have real food and a house that isn't falling to pieces. If you fail, if you give up and embarrass me in front of the officers, I swear it will go very badly for you when we get home. Understood?"
Kian looked him directly in the eyes. There was a lot of sadness, desperation, and selfishness in that man. Someone begging for his son to become cannon fodder so those above would give them the scraps from their table. Kian didn't feel rage towards him, only deep pity and contempt. You're a coward, Kian thought, keeping his face like stone, but I won't waste my power on you yet. You're not worth my Geass. When the time comes, I'll find a way to make sure you don't bother me anymore.
"I understand, father. I'll do my best and I won't give up," Kian said, using a childish and empty voice, completely hiding what he really thought. It was exactly what the man wanted to hear.
His father grunted what sounded like approval, stood up dusting off his coat, and turned away, heading into the ghetto streets without even saying goodbye or looking back. Kian stood there, a child completely alone in the middle of a sea of scared applicants. He adjusted his collar and moved towards the center of the large group.
Good, he thought, scanning the crowd. Enrollments start today. Most are my age. The game begins.
Kian moved very carefully among the children who were crying or trembling, observing everyone around him. He wasn't looking to make friends, he just wanted to locate the key pieces on the board. Thanks to his knowledge from his past life, he knew perfectly well who would end up being the chosen ones, and it didn't take him long to recognize them.
Near the large metal entrance, he saw Reiner Braun. The blond boy, slightly broader in the shoulders than the others, stood very firm, almost stiff, trying to look like an adult soldier. There's Reiner. That look of desperation is noticeable from miles away, Kian analyzed. His posture screams he wants to please his mother. His need for approval makes him incredibly easy to influence.
A bit further on, he recognized Bertholdt Hoover. He was quite tall for his age and very thin, and he was sweating profusely even though the morning breeze was cold. He looked terrified, staring at the walls as if they were going to crush him.
Next to him, touching his shoulder to encourage him, was Marcel Galliard. And behind them, with arms crossed and a deep frown, glaring at anyone who came near, was his younger brother, Porco Galliard.
Bertholdt is scared to death, as always. Marcel is the thinker who keeps the group together, he has leadership qualities and a good head on his shoulders... too bad his fate is to die in such a stupid way to save Reiner. And Porco is just trying to look tough to hide his own nerves and inferiority complex.
Then, Kian's gaze shifted elsewhere. Apart from everyone, leaning against a stone wall away from the noise, was Annie Leonhart. She had her blond hair pulled back and an expression of total coldness; her light blue eyes seemed lifeless, as if she didn't care about anything happening around her nor was she scared of the soldiers. Kian felt something akin to empathy seeing her. Annie. She already knows all this talk of glory is fake. She doesn't care about this place or winning these people's favor. She just wants to do her job and go back to her father. We're somewhat alike. I don't want to be here out of loyalty to Marley either.
And finally, sitting on a small stone wall near the row of water barrels, watching the crowd with droopy eyes that seemed about to close from sleepiness, was Pieck Finger. Her shoulders were hunched and she looked like she didn't have the energy to stand for another minute. Tilting my head, honestly I thought her lack of energy was because she stayed too long in her Titan form... or maybe she was just pretending, after all she was good at that.
Kian stayed in his own space, looking for a place where he wouldn't get pushed. He wasn't going to talk to them yet. Approaching out of nowhere, knowing who they are but pretending not to in order to act friendly, would be weird and suspicious. And he wasn't very good at socializing given his history; not that he was bad at it, but he preferred an opportunity to arise rather than forcing one.
Anyway, he first needed to pass the initial test without standing out or drawing attention. He knew this wasn't a normal school for children; it was a brutal training camp designed to break them and see who could serve as weapons... also, according to his new memories, the Warrior program was the best program to be in compared to the other programs made for Eldians like him.
A loud grinding noise echoed in the square as the enormous iron gates opened fully. The noise and the children's crying immediately ceased, replaced by a silence filled with fear. A line of adult soldiers marched out, their boots stomping in unison. Among them, a tall man, with a hard face, a well-trimmed beard, and eyes that evaluated the children, walked to the front. It was Theo Magath, the officer in charge of training.
"Attention, you scum!" shouted one of the support soldiers, making many children jump in fright and stand awkwardly at attention.
Magath stepped forward. His gaze swept over the children from side to side. When he spoke, his voice wasn't a shout, but it was so cold and cutting that it was scarier than the soldiers' yelling.
"Look at yourselves," Magath began, in a tone full of disgust. "Hundreds of you. Hundreds of brats with dirty blood running through your veins. The whole world hates you. The world wishes you didn't exist. And they are absolutely right. You are descendants of monsters who destroyed and devoured innocent people. Your very existence is a mistake."
Kian kept his face serious and his gaze forward, but in his mind, he snorted annoyed. So this is the cheap, manipulative speech they give. Blaming Eldians and brainwashing children for things that happened hundreds of years ago. And then offering them to be front-line soldiers to use in their own wars. What disgusting hypocrisy.
"But," Magath continued, raising his voice a little so everyone could hear, "our great Empire offers you an opportunity you don't deserve. An opportunity to clear your name and your families' names. The chosen Warrior program. If you prove to be strong, obedient, and useful, you will have the honor of becoming true soldiers and your family will be treated as real citizens."
If Kian didn't know better, he'd almost think the man believed everything he spewed... or maybe Magath did at the beginning; honestly, he couldn't remember when he started caring about the warriors he trained.
The man made a heavy pause. Kian saw out of the corner of his eye how Reiner clenched his fists tightly, his eyes shining with naive and desperate determination.
"However," the officer's voice turned threatening, "we don't need the weak here. Of the five hundred useless kids standing here, I'd be surprised if fifty manage to last the first month of training. Your tests begin right now."
Magath pointed with a riding crop towards a huge field of dry dirt located behind the barracks walls. Around the field was an extremely long running track that seemed to have no end.
"Run," he ordered, simply. "Run around that track. Do not stop until I blow the whistle. If you stop to rest, if you start walking, or if you fall to the ground, you're out of the program. You'll go home as failures. Move now!"
Panic exploded in the square. The soldiers started shouting insults and pushing the children towards the field. Everyone started running and shoving each other out of terror of falling behind or being disqualified in the first minute. Kian didn't get carried away by the panic; he moved carefully, dodging a child who tripped in front of him to avoid falling. He kept his arms close to his ribs to avoid being hit by elbows and started jogging towards the track.
An endurance test running without a time limit, Kian thought as he stepped onto the dusty ground, feeling the crunch of small stones under his worn boots. They want to see who can endure physical pain and who has the mental strength not to give up. But my current body is that of a small child. I don't have the lungs or the leg strength to run at full speed. If I panic and run fast like most of these fools, I'll run out of air in ten minutes and pass out.
Kian saw how many children shot off, running almost at their maximum speed. Reiner was among the first, running hard, but his face was already turning red from the excessive effort. Marcel and Porco ran at a slightly more normal pace, staying together. Annie, on the other hand, simply jogged at a very slow and steady pace on the outer edge, breathing calmly, conserving energy. She knew exactly how this was done. It wasn't a speed race; it was about survival.
Kian found a smooth, steady pace, staying in the middle of the group, away from those running too fast and those already falling behind. Controlling breathing is key, Kian told himself. Breathe in slowly through the nose over two steps, release through the mouth over two steps. Keep your back straight so the chest opens well. Don't force the leg muscles, just lift your feet enough. I just have to survive today. I don't have to win or be first, just not be the last to fall.
The first part wasn't so difficult, just monotonous. But when the sun fully came out and rose in the sky, a heavy heat began. The dust from the dry earth kicked up by hundreds of running children formed a low cloud that made breathing hurt in the throat and stung the eyes.
After a full hour of continuous jogging, the real suffering began. Lack of air and extreme exhaustion took their toll. Children started falling. Kian jogged past kids lying on the ground, coughing up dirt, crying profusely, or vomiting from the effort, while soldiers approached, grabbed them by their shirts, and yanked them off the track, yelling that they were out. The fear of failure felt as thick in the air as the dust.
Kian felt his chest burning with every breath. His legs hurt a lot, as if they weighed twice as much. But Kian knew how to ignore pain. He had suffered horrible things in his past life, pains that slowly destroyed the body. This is just normal tiredness, he forced himself to think, separating his mind from the discomfort of his childish body. Nothing serious is wrong with me. I'm not sick. I just have to keep moving one foot in front of the other. One, two. One, two.
Soon after, the huge initial group had reduced to less than half. Kian maintained his slow but steady pace, like a clock. It was then that his eyes noticed an erratic movement a little ahead on the track.
Reiner was failing. He had started running too fast and was now paying the price. He was breathing very poorly, taking short, rapid gasps of air through his mouth that did nothing to calm him down. He staggered from side to side and moved his arms clumsily, as if about to trip over his own feet. Near him, Bertholdt was sweating profusely, his face pale and seeming about to faint, but he kept running purely out of terror of the soldiers.
Kian sped up his jog a little to get alongside Reiner. He wasn't doing it out of being a good person or pity. Kian was only thinking about his long-term convenience. Reiner will be an important piece later, and I couldn't let myself be carried away by the script; I've read several fanfics where that brings unwanted consequences for the protagonist. If he faints here and gets expelled, things in the story will change in ways I don't know and I'll lose my advantage of knowing what will happen. Besides, helping him costs me nothing, and with how desperate he is to fit in, he might owe me a big favor later.
Kian positioned himself right next to him. Reiner didn't even look at him; his eyes were almost rolled back from exhaustion and he was very pale.
"Close your mouth," Kian said. His voice sounded calm and firm, with no trace of panic or excessive tiredness. He wasn't going to call him by name; they didn't know each other yet.
Reiner was startled by the sudden voice and almost tripped over his own feet, but Kian gave him a firm nudge with his shoulder to help him regain balance, without stopping his jog forward.
"W-What...?" Reiner panted, sounding like he was choking.
"You're swallowing pure dust and air isn't getting into your lungs," Kian looked ahead, speaking simply and directly. "Breathe in slowly through your nose. Let it out through your mouth. You're wasting your energy on being scared. Watch my feet. Follow my pace. One, two. One, two. If you don't calm down right now, you're going to fall in a few minutes and the officers will send you home. Is that what you want?"
The words 'send home' scared Reiner immensely. The fear of failing his mother seemed to give him one last push of strength. He clenched his teeth tightly, nodded sharply, and closed his mouth, forcing himself to inhale through his nose. He started trying to step on the ground at the same time as Kian, copying his rhythm and breathing pattern. It was very hard for the first few laps, but little by little his face regained some color and he stopped staggering dangerously.
Bertholdt, who was right behind them listening to everything, also closed his mouth and straightened up a bit, trying to breathe slower to calm his own fear and tiredness upon seeing that the advice worked.
Kian said nothing more. He did his job. He moved away a bit from them and continued jogging in his own space.
Suddenly, a small, bright, translucent blue text appeared floating in the corner of his vision.
[Feat achieved: You helped Reiner Braun. +1 Silver Ticket]
[Feat achieved: You interacted with Reiner Braun. +1 Silver Ticket]
[Feat achieved: You helped Bertholdt Hoover. +1 Silver Ticket]
[Feat achieved: You exceeded the initial physical endurance limit expected for your age and condition. +1 Gold Ticket]
Kian blinked a couple of times and the text disappeared without a trace. I see, so the Gacha not only rewards me for talking to important characters, but also gave me rewards for helping them, not to mention the test for exceeding the normal endurance of an average child.
By the time Magath finally brought the metal whistle to his lips and blew hard, the sun was already high in the sky, marking noon. Of the five hundred children who had started, about one hundred and sixty were left standing on the track. When they heard the order to stop, almost all the children threw themselves face-down on the dusty ground, crying loudly from pure relief, coughing, or simply lying motionless from extreme exhaustion.
Kian didn't throw himself on the ground. He knew stopping suddenly was bad for the heart. He gradually slowed down, moving from a jog to a slow walk for a few meters, so his body could cool down properly. Then he stopped, leaned forward slightly putting his hands on his own knees, breathing very hard and deep, but remaining steady on his two feet.
He looked up and saw Magath watching him from a distance. The man didn't smile or seem impressed, but Kian noticed him writing something in his small notebook with a pencil. Kian wasn't the fastest child nor the one at the front, but he was among the very few not on the ground crying and writhing.
"Everyone up, you scum!" shouted a soldier, kicking the dirt near the fallen children. "You have exactly five minutes to get water from the barrels and form up in the warehouse area! The day is just beginning!"
Complaints briefly filled the air, before everyone complied with the orders.
The afternoon was another series of brutal tests designed purely to tire them out and see who would break first. Kian felt that every muscle in his body, from his back to his calves, complained with sharp pains, but his clear mind and strong will kept him moving without hesitation.
The next major test was moving heavy supplies. They had to carry sandbags and wooden boxes (which probably didn't have weapons, but weighed the same due to the solid wood) from one side of the large dirt yard to the other, over and over again.
Kian stood in front of the piles of things and looked at the bags. They were big. They weighed almost as much as he did. Watching the other children try to lift them using only the strength of their thin arms and pulling with their lower backs was painful to see. Marcel and Porco worked together intelligently, carrying a heavy box between the two of them, each grabbing one side. Annie, being alone, simply grabbed the fabric of a bag by one end and dragged it across the dirt using the weight of her body leaning forward, without complaining even once.
They didn't explicitly say you had to lift it, just that it had to be moved.
When it was his turn, Kian approached a lone sandbag. I have to use my head, Kian thought. My child's arms are weak. If I lift it with my arms and bent back, I'll hurt my shoulders or break something and they'll kick me out. Instead of doing that, Kian crouched down low, bending his knees well, brought his body close to the bag, hugged it tightly against his chest, and used the full weight of his body to lean back slightly, lifting the bag until it rested on one of his shoulders. Better for my straight back and the strength of my legs to carry the full weight. Keeping his body straight and his knees only slightly bent to absorb the load, he started walking steadily.
He wasn't fast at all, looking like a turtle, but by using his legs he didn't tire as quickly. While other children dropped their bags halfway, crying because their hands or backs hurt a lot, Kian made the complete trip without stopping to rest.
Porco, who had just dropped his wooden box with Marcel, watched Kian pass by with the bag on his shoulder and frowned angrily. Porco always wanted to be the best and didn't like that someone he didn't know seemed to be doing well without help. Wanting to prove he was much stronger, Porco ran to grab a sandbag by himself. He tried to do the same as Kian, lifting it to his shoulder, but instead of using his legs and lifting it slowly, he yanked the bag very hard using only his back. Since the bag was so heavy, the sudden movement overpowered him and the weight yanked him back violently.
Porco let out a yell of panic, losing his balance, about to fall backward onto the hard ground with the heavy bag crushing his chest or face.
Kian, who was walking back empty-handed to get another bag, let out a long mental sigh. How foolish and proud this kid is. Without looking weird or using supernatural strength, Kian simply stretched out an arm while walking and pushed one side of Porco's sandbag just a second before it fell, shifting the weight to one side. The bag slid and fell to the ground kicking up dust without crushing anyone, and Porco, freed from the weight, fell forward onto his knees, scared but safe.
Porco stayed still on the ground, his face completely red from the mix of shame and anger at having failed in front of the officers and in front of his perfect brother. He looked at Kian, opening his mouth ready to yell some insult at him for interfering.
"You leaned back too far and too fast," Kian said in passing, in a totally bored voice, without even stopping to look him in the eyes. "Bend your knees more and lift it slowly next time, or you'll really fall backward and hurt your neck."
[Feat achieved: You had an impact on Porco Galliard. +1 Bronze Ticket]
[Feat achieved: You interacted with Porco Galliard. +1 Silver Ticket]
He left Porco there on the ground, not knowing what to say or whether to get angrier. Kian didn't want to get into useless fights with the future Jaw Titan, but it was better to help him quickly with a simple push than to let him break a bone, cause a medical commotion, and maybe ruin the formation of the future Warriors.
The blue text shone again before his eyes.
[Feat achieved: You used tactical ingenuity to overcome a heavy physical test and avoided an accident without using excessive force. +1 Gold Ticket]
Seven tickets, Kian thought, satisfied. I was worried about not getting tickets, but if I had known they were so easy to get, I wouldn't have spun the curse... although it's good I didn't know how easy tickets were, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten the Geass. So it's good that I gambled.
The afternoon continued its slow and painful course until the sky began to turn orange and purple. The children still standing looked like zombies; they were covered in dirt, dried sweat, and scabs. Finally, the commanding officer gave one last long break before ending the day and forming the final line.
Kian dragged his feet slightly towards the wall of one of the large wooden storage buildings and let himself slide down to sit against the wall. His legs trembled a bit from all the weight carried. He closed his eyes for a moment to enjoy the short rest. In his mind, he was still silently fighting against the dark part that asked him to laugh out loud at the suffering of the other children crying over their blisters. It was incredibly hard to ignore that annoying voice telling him to bring out his Sadism curse out loud.
At least for now his Sadism was satisfied with the children's suffering, even if it was in silence.
A couple of meters to his right, he heard a soft noise. Someone else had let themselves fall against the wall, almost hitting their head on the wood from how exhausted they were. Kian opened one eye and looked to the side.
It was Pieck. She had a military wooden canteen in her small trembling hands, but seemed to have not an ounce of strength in her fingers to remove the cork stopper. She was breathing very short and erratically, her shoulders totally slumped forward and her chest compressed from sitting curled up hugging her knees. She looked completely defeated, pale, and on the verge of fainting.
Kian looked at her in silence, evaluating her. Pieck isn't physically strong at all, he thought. She has very low endurance. But I know she's incredibly intelligent and calculating. If she keeps breathing that badly, she'll faint right here before the break ends and they'll kick her out for weakness.
Again, Kian thought purely of his own future convenience, he told himself, and not of possible tickets. That girl would be very useful. It would be good not to have Pieck as an enemy and for her to owe me a small favor. Kian stretched a bit along the wall, sliding until he was close enough for her to hear him without having to raise his voice.
"If you sit curled up like that, your chest gets compressed and air doesn't get in well," Kian said, in a low and very calm tone, without sounding bossy.
Pieck opened her dark eyes, which looked very heavy and tired, looking at him with a little surprise, although her face barely moved.
"I don't... have the strength... even to straighten my back," she murmured, her voice sounding very soft and drawling, as if it hurt to speak.
Kian didn't smile, keeping his neutral mask, but he adjusted himself and leaned his own back completely straight against the wood to show her.
"You don't have to force yourself to straighten up. Rest your head well against the wall behind you, stretch your legs out on the ground, and let your arms fall to your sides. That way your chest opens on its own without using muscles," Kian explained calmly. "And give me that, you're going to drop it."
Kian reached his hand out for the canteen she could barely hold. Pieck hesitated for a second, her eyes quickly analyzing Kian despite being almost asleep from exhaustion. Seeing no malice in him, she slowly passed him the canteen.
Kian used both hands to twist and pull at the cork which was a bit stuck from the dirt. It wasn't that he was a strong kid, but he knew how to pry by twisting the edge. He opened the bottle and carefully handed it back.
"Drink water slowly. If you gulp a lot at once, your stomach will hurt a lot and you'll vomit everything you ran," he warned.
Pieck took the canteen with both hands, drank a few small, slow sips, and then did exactly what Kian advised. She stretched her legs out in the dirt and let her head fall back, resting it on the wooden wall. She took a long, deep breath. The change was noticeable; her shoulders seemed to relax and she stopped gasping.
"Thanks..." she said, half-closing her eyes, enjoying the rest. "You're a very strange boy. Almost everyone else here is crying from the pain or very angry about being dirty. You're... very calm. Like nothing hurts you."
"Getting angry or crying doesn't take away the tiredness in your legs," Kian replied simply, looking straight ahead at the yard. "It's a waste of energy. We need the energy to walk home."
Pieck let out a very slight, nasal chuckle, still sounding very tired, but as if she found that answer very logical and curious.
"You're right. You're very right," she murmured, closing her eyes completely to rest, looking much more peaceful. "What a good idea... not wasting energy foolishly. I'll try to do that."
[Feat achieved: You made a good impression on Pieck Finger. +1 Gold Ticket]
[Feat achieved: You interacted with Pieck Finger. +1 Silver Ticket]
Kian read his rewards and couldn't help but smile with joy. He looked at Pieck one last time and let her rest in silence. Despite the ticket reward, he had planted a good impression, a very subtle one, on someone as highly observant and astute as Pieck. It was more than enough for today.
The officer's shrill whistle sounded soon after, startling several. The soldiers shouted at the children to stand up and form a single line. There were very few now. Of the initial five hundred, less than eighty children remained. Magath looked them up and down, nodded his head slightly, which was a great achievement, and told them in a harsh tone to return early tomorrow at sunrise. Anyone arriving a minute late was out, no matter how well they did today.
[Feat achieved: Survive the first day of brutal training and avoid being expelled from the program. +1 Gold Ticket]
The walk back home through the ghetto streets was slow, silent, and full of pain. The sky was completely dark now, barely lit by the few poor streetlights. Kian felt the soles of his feet burning and that every step was a huge effort not to limp. But inside, his mind was very awake and calculating. He had survived the first brutal day without drawing negative attention, didn't show who he really was, didn't get into fights, and had obtained a total of ten tickets: 5 silver, 4 gold, and 1 bronze.
But the worst part of the trip home was the incessant itch of his curse. Seeing so many children fall, cry, and suffer throughout the day had greatly fed his Sadism. The voice in his head roared, demanding he do something cruel, push someone on the way back. He had used all his willpower not to crack a macabre smile all day. He felt a cold, clammy sweat on his forehead just from holding back the urge to be bad so much.
Almost there, he promised himself as he dragged his boots along the street. Just hold on until you get to the bathroom. Almost there.
He arrived at his miserable-looking building, where the wood creaked in the wind. Pushing open the main door of his small house, the strong, unpleasant smell of cheap alcohol immediately hit him in the face.
The whole place was dark. In the small, old living room chair, his father was asleep, snoring loudly with his mouth open. There was an empty glass bottle on the floor by his foot. He had gotten drunk to "celebrate" in advance that his son was doing the dirty, dangerous work for him.
Kian stood at the entrance, looking at him in the darkness. The dark part of his mind, amplified by the day's stress, shouted loudly: Grab the empty bottle. Hit him on the head with all your might. Make him pay for treating you badly this morning. He deserves it. Just do it. Kian clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms until they hurt. No, he ordered himself, his face hardened with determination. I'm not going to let some stupid curse control what I want or don't want to do. I command myself, no one else.
He walked on tiptoe very carefully, passing by his father's sleeping body, and went straight to the small, damp, dirty bathroom of the house. He entered and slowly closed the door so it wouldn't make noise. The only light illuminating the room a little came through a small high window facing the street lamp.
Kian stood in front of the old, rusty sink. Above it hung a small mirror on a nail, the glass stained at the edges and with a huge, ugly crack right in the middle.
He leaned with both hands on the edges of the sink and moved very close to the glass, looking at his face covered in dust and dried sweat. His own red eyes returned his gaze; they looked very serious and mature in the darkness, nothing like a child's.
First, he was going to spin his tickets and pray that one of his rewards would remove the curse that way; it wouldn't be necessary to use his Geass, and he could save using it on himself for another occasion. He just hoped to be lucky with what he got.
First, he had the Gacha system spin the silver ones.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[View Air]
|Uncommon Ability|
[Allows you to share your senses with the air around you, allowing you to map the world around you through the wind. The base range is 1km but it can be improved with training and base stats.]
The information on how to use the ability came to him immediately. I can see that the ability is quite useful, especially in this world. Gathering information and avoiding ambushes is something that will help me a lot.
Seeing through the air... Well, I guess it's useful for spying on Magath's offices and hearing information or knowing if a Titan is breathing down my neck. A personal radar is never a bad thing in enemy territory. Kian thought, nodding slightly.
Kian could also see other uses, like eavesdropping on conversations in the girls' bathroom, and although he didn't consider himself a pervert, it was a thought that came to him. Leaving that fleeting thought aside, it could also be a good ability to search for people via voices.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Intermediate Medicine]
|Uncommon Skill|
[You are as skilled as a doctor, possessing a variety of medical knowledge and skills in treating injuries, illnesses and problems as well as familiarity with the body and medicine as well as its applications.]
Perfect, now I'm a certified combat medic with an eight-year-old body. At least I won't die from tetanus for scraping my knee in this ghetto pigsty. Kian thought, rolling his eyes, seeing this ability as somewhat ironic; after being treated by several doctors in that stupid hospital bed, now he would be the one who could treat people.
He briefly wondered if the Gacha was trying to tell him something with this.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Intermediate Cooking]
|Uncommon Skill|
[You are as skilled as a seasoned chef, your cooking is better than most people with you being able to make complex dishes without much problem and most of the food you cook tastes pretty good.]
Intermediate chef. Excellent. If the master plan to survive the Titan apocalypse fails spectacularly, I can always open a café in Paradis. I heard a certain potato girl loves good food. Although of course I'd have to avoid a certain other girl killing her.
Kian sighed; the good side of this is that now he can cook his own meals and won't have to eat the crappy food his father gives him. Honestly, now that he thought about it better... this passive skill was pretty good, he just needed to find a few ingredients to eat much better than the garbage he was eating now.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Intermediate Math]
|Uncommon Skill|
[You are very good at math, enough to be considered somewhat of a savant. You can rapidly calculate numbers in your head very accurately, faster than most people. You can also keep track of numbers and variables especially well.]
How was advanced math going to help him right now? Kian sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Sure, because calculating the exact area and mass of a Titan while it's crushing me requires top-level algebra. I guess at least I'll be able to do homework easily... and in case someone leaves it for me or I have to handle paperwork when they put me in charge of the weapons vault or doing inventory.
It wasn't worth thinking about it further. Sooner or later this ability would help him, or at least he believed so.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Venomous]
|Uncommon Trait|
[You are venomous, and your bite contains paralyzing venom. The power of the paralysis scales with your physical abilities.]
Paralyzing bite? I've literally just turned into a human viper. Great. If Magath yells in my face again, I'll bite his ankle and see what happens, or if someone corners me, I can use my bite to get out of the situation.
It wasn't that bad, actually. It was a secret trump card; he didn't think it would work on Titans, but Titans weren't the only enemies; who knows when this might get him out of a tight spot.
Now he was going to roll the gold tickets.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Shield]
|Rare Ability|
[Allows you to create translucent barriers in the shape of domes and walls that act as physical barriers to defend against attacks.]
Energy shields. Kian's eyes lit up a little. Finally something purely defensive. I can see so many uses for this ability, like making myself immune to bullets, preventing a titan from eating or crushing me, taking a human or shifter opponent by surprise.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[The Mimic]
|Rarity: Rare Familiar|
[Five Nights at Freddy's - an endoskeleton with advanced artificial intelligence created by Edwin Murray to give his son David a playmate due to his own lack of time. After his son David died in an accident, Edwin struck him with a metal bar in a fit of rage and grief, encoding and corrupting violence into his core. The Mimic can adjust every part of its body to fit inside any animatronic suit, perfectly mimicking the voice, behavior, and personality of any being it has observed for long enough. This ability allowed it to impersonate Gregory to manipulate Cassie and secure its freedom. It possesses enough strength to rip limbs off steel endoskeletons and crush human bodies. As Glitchtrap, it can transfer its digital consciousness to computer systems, manipulate people through telepresence, and control networked animatronics from hundreds of meters away. It is the main antagonist of the Steel Wool era of FNAF.]
The Mimic? Seriously? Kian blinked, totally incredulous. He knew FNAF pretty well. *A murderous robotic endoskeleton with artificial intelligence that mimics voices... Too bad we're in the year 840 and the most advanced technology that exists is the steam train and bolt-action rifles. There are no computers or security cameras for you to hack here, my steel friend.*
Kian reviewed the information added by the Gacha system; it was possible there was nothing technological for the Mimic to infect at the moment, but that didn't mean it was useless. Infecting people and manipulating them with telepresence is something very useful to pass up; he just had to look for an opportunity to infect them and be able to control them through the Mimic. Furthermore, the default body the Mimic comes with isn't useless, since its strength could easily tear humans apart, and in this world, there was little that threatened the Mimic.
Maybe if he gained a passive skill in robotic engineering, he could make the Mimic much more useful; it wasn't bad at all. Honestly, he was satisfied with this.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Krav Maga]
|Rare Skill|
[You are an apprentice of Krav Maga, a brutally efficient martial art made for military use, it emphasizes instinctive movements, rapid strikes, and efficient takedowns to neutralize threats as quickly as possible. Krav Maga incorporates techniques from boxing, wrestling, judo, and street fighting. With sufficient mastery, you can enhance your strikes with your internal energy.]
Kian could feel the knowledge flowing into his body and smiled with satisfaction.
Eh... not long ago I complained about not having proper training and only being hit by my useless father; now I'm an expert in brutal immobilization fighting. And not only was I good at immobilizing, but all the styles it uses would help me fight, although that will make me stand out.
Anyway, it didn't matter; he was already planning to stand out in a certain way. So let's continue rolling.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Hydrification]
|Rare Ability|
[Allows the user to turn their body into water at will, allowing them to slip away, be immune to physical attacks and gain increased mobility. But turning into water also makes the user vulnerable to weaknesses water has.]
Turn into water... Absolute immunity to physical attacks. Kian almost smiled. Goodbye to Marleyan bullets and the risk of being crushed by debris. Not to mention I could sneak into areas I couldn't before, and it seems good for escaping and running. There's also nothing in this world that could weaken me when I'm in liquid state. Of course, there's the steam from the Colossal Titans, but as long as I avoid it, almost nothing could harm me, and finally I could drown people as my own mass of water. Not bad.
Now he was going to roll the bronze ticket.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Novice Taming]
|Common Skill|
[You know how to tame wild creatures, but not very precisely. With trial and error, you can probably tame a creature but it won't be easy, though you can easily tame and train mundane animals.]
Novice taming... Eh... not all prizes could be good, it seems. Maybe I can train a stray dog to bite the ass of one of those idiots if they bother me enough.
He looked back at the mirror and, although it wasn't a bad roll at all, none of those abilities or skills had removed the curse as he hoped. So it was time to eliminate the curse with his original plan.
The power of my Geass is absolute and undeniable, Kian reviewed in his mind one last time. There is no possible resistance if I myself am completely willing to receive my own order. I just have to formulate the right words in my head. There cannot be a single error or loophole in what I ask for.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air to calm his heartbeat. He concentrated absolutely all his attention and will on his left eye. He remembered how his power worked. It didn't require magical energy, it didn't tire the body; he just needed to stare into the eyes and give the order with intention.
Kian opened his eyes wide and looked directly into the center of his own left pupil reflected in the broken mirror.
Suddenly, he felt a strange, heavy pressure in his head, as if something very ancient and powerful was awakening inside his skull. A bright, unnatural red light ignited deep in his left eye. A complex red mark, shaped like a bird in flight, appeared engraved in his eye, shining so brightly it illuminated the darkness of the small bathroom with a crimson tone.
Eye contact was made. He was looking at himself. The power was ready to be released.
Kian didn't murmur a single word out loud to avoid risking waking his father. He only thought the order, but he thought it with all the force, conviction, and severity of his being, as if he were a king dictating a law that could never be broken by anyone.
«I order you. From this moment on and forever, your mind will have perfect and unshakeable discipline. You will erase, destroy, and block any thought that is not from pure will; you are the master of your mind and no intrusive thought can manipulate you. Your mind will be a strong iron wall that no curse or instinct can break. You will have total and absolute control over your emotions and thoughts.»
The instant he finished thinking it, the power took effect with overwhelming force. The red Geass mark in his eye shone intensely in the mirror, sending the absolute command directly into the depths of his own brain.
Kian let out his breath suddenly, stepping back in surprise and holding onto the sink tightly when he felt his head spin for a few seconds. It was as if someone had submerged his entire brain in an ephemeral pleasure overnight. The change in his way of thinking and feeling was immediate and painless.
Since he had awakened in this world weeks ago, he had felt that dark, constant anxiety, that sick desire to see others suffer. It was background noise that exhausted him day by day.
But now...
Silence.
An incredibly calm, peaceful, and perfect silence in his mind. The compulsive need to hurt others simply disappeared completely, as if it had never existed. The bad thoughts about hitting his father with the bottle, or the internal mockery towards the children suffering in training, vanished into thin air. In their place, Kian felt immense tranquility, a cold clarity, and an incredible mental strength that a normal child could never have.
Kian blinked a couple of times, coming out of his astonishment. The magical red light quickly disappeared from his eye. His reflection in the mirror was again that of a normal, dirty child, but now his gaze looked much clearer, deeper, and more self-assured.
He touched his chest, feeling his heart beating calmly. He tried to force himself to imagine hurting his father asleep in the other room. Before, that thought would have given him a strange sensation of excitement and pleasure. Now, he felt absolutely no pleasure. He only thought logically that it would be stupid, that it would make noise and wouldn't serve his goals. The impure sadism had been eradicated at the root by his own mental order.
Kian smiled for real, a small smile but full of genuine relief, finally feeling at peace with himself in the darkness of the dirty bathroom. He had been smart. He had used the greatest weapon the system gave him to destroy the worst weakness imposed on him.
Suddenly, a bright, majestic golden text appeared floating before his eyes, illuminating his vision with a warm tone.
[Condition Fulfilled: You acquired Absolute Discipline and total control through unshakeable mental manipulation over yourself.]
[Curse Resolved: Sadism (Severity 11) has been removed and cured forever.]
[Reward obtained: +1 Platinum Gacha Ticket]
[Feat achieved: Break the gacha curse in record time. +1 Gold Ticket]
Kian let out a long, heavy sigh of relief, feeling that he could finally breathe freely. He looked at his own hand, knowing that now, in his invisible inventory, he had something extremely valuable.
Two more tickets to the list, Kian thought happily, his head working better and clearer than ever. One Platinum for resolving the curse and one Gold for breaking it in record time. I hope this time I get something much more impressive than what I got recently.
He took a deep breath and told the Gacha to roll the gold ticket first.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Intermediate Charisma]
|Rare Skill|
[You have an aura of charisma around you, it is less of a skill and more of something that is just around you. People of note feel themselves more attracted to your presence, it's subtle things like people paying more attention to you, taking you more seriously etc.]
An aura of charisma... Well, maybe the Marleyan officers will stop looking at me like trash, or at least it will help me manipulate my future warrior comrades with less effort.
Now he asked for the Platinum ticket to be rolled.
[Rolling Ticket...]
[Adept Massage]
|Rare Skill|
[You are as skilled as a seasoned masseuse, being able to give a variety of massages that help get rid of exhaustion, recover stamina, revitalize the body and mind and even invoke sexual pleasure. Few would leave the massage bed unsatisfied.]
Kian's left eye twitched violently. Of all the things the platinum ticket could have given me. This is what I got?
Massages that revitalize and... what? Kian clenched his teeth, feeling a sudden vein pulse in his forehead. I'm eight years old, damn it! This is definitely going to gather dust at the bottom of my knowledge for at least a few more years, because in my situation, I doubt I can use it anytime soon.
Honestly, he wouldn't know who to massage, and he didn't know an adult woman with whom he could feign innocence. Leaving those thoughts aside, Kian extended his hands. He turned on the rusty sink tap and let the cold water run. While wetting his hands, Kian closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated. With his mind now crystalline and free from the sadistic fog, he could notice a strange sensation inside him, a structure of his own system that he hadn't been able to fully understand before.
He could "feel" the slots of his system. It was like perceiving invisible compartments attached to his soul.
I have a single active Ability Slot by default, he mentally analyzed, opening his eyes to watch the water run. And right now it's occupied by Geass−Command.
An instinctive understanding, which hadn't required a manual, flooded his brain from the moment he obtained his first ability, only he hadn't had time to analyze it. He understood that changing the ability in that main slot would put the newly removed ability into a forced five-minute cooldown.
That means, he thought, frowning and turning off the tap, that I can't instantly use the Geass again, after activating my ShieldShield or turning into water with HydrificationHydrification in combat. If I remove the Geass from the slot to put the shield on in a fight, I'll have to wait five eternal minutes to use the power of obedience again. It's a pretty dangerous limitation if I'm taken by surprise.
He couldn't let himself be taken by surprise, so he deactivated Geass and activated View Air, and instantly he felt at one with the air; he could sense everything easily, the smells, the noise, the people, the buildings, the ground... everything within a 1 km radius.
The noise and smells were a bit annoying because he wasn't used to the sensation and they came in a flood, but he simply ordered the air not to bother him with the noise and smells, and the air obeyed, making Kian sigh with relief.
Kian did a quick count in his head. Geass, View Air, Shield, and Hydrification. Only these four had the 'Ability' tag in the system. The Gacha dictated that a new slot was gained for every five abilities held in the inventory.
I have four abilities in total, Kian concluded easily, drying his face with a worn towel. I'm just one ability short of unlocking a second slot and being able to use two powers simultaneously without worrying about cooldown. I need to get another ticket soon and pray it's an 'Ability' and not another blessed massage technique.
He washed his face vigorously one last time, removing the remnants of track dust and the sweat from the day's difficult trials. Tomorrow at sunrise would be another hard day. Tomorrow he would have to run more, carry heavier things, and try to survive the officer's madness to avoid being expelled.
But Kian was ready now. He no longer had to fight on two fronts; he no longer fought against his environment and his own broken mind. His head was healthy and safe, and his arsenal was beginning to be ridiculously advantageous. From now on, it was just him against the horrors of this world. And with his mind finally clear and focused, Kian knew perfectly well that no one, neither Marley nor any Titan, would stand in the way of his sole objective: to survive until the end.
He turned off the water tap completely, left the bathroom in total silence, and went to his small room to sleep on his hard bed. Rest was vital. Tomorrow, the tests would continue, and he would be ready to win.
.
.
.
AN: By the way, the wooden boxes weren't that big. An average adult could easily carry them; the boxes were only heavy enough for most average children... Leaving that aside, let's move on to the scrolls. Honestly, I was surprised that a scroll was one of the modifications I made... Honestly, what are the possibilities among all the familiars? I'm not going to complain. I can see several uses for it, and the skills obtained are not bad at all, all very useful for what I'm planning. Honestly, those will help me a lot. And apparently, Kian has a lot of knowledge and is now a professional masseuse with a platinum ticket. Well... let's see where this Gacha takes us. Sometimes I feel like it knows what I want to do.
.
.
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FEATS:
1- You helped Reiner Braun. +1 Silver Ticket
2- You interacted with Reiner Braun. +1 Silver Ticket
3- You helped Bertholdt Hoover. +1 Silver Ticket
4- You exceeded the initial physical endurance limit expected for your age and condition. +1 Gold Ticket
5- You had an impact on Porco Galliard. +1 Bronze Ticket
6- You interacted with Porco Galliard. +1 Silver Ticket
7- You used tactical ingenuity to overcome a heavy physical test and avoided an accident without using excessive force. +1 Gold Ticket
8- You made a good impression on Pieck Finger. +1 Gold Ticket
9- You interacted with Pieck Finger. +1 Silver Ticket
10- Survive the first day of brutal training and avoid being expelled from the program. +1 Gold Ticket.
11- You acquired Absolute Discipline and total control through unshakeable mental manipulation over yourself. +1 Platinum Gacha Ticket
12- Break the gacha curse in record time. +1 Gold Ticket
CURSE:
Sadism (Severity 11) has been removed and cured forever.
ROLLS:
[View Air] |Uncommon Ability| (Silver Ticket)
Allows you to share your senses with the air around you, allowing you to map the world around you through the wind. The base range is 1km but it can be improved with training and base stats.
[Intermediate Medicine] |Uncommon Skill| (Silver Ticket)
You are as skilled as a doctor, possessing a variety of medical knowledge and skills in treating injuries, illnesses and problems as well as familiarity with the body and medicine as well as its applications.
[Intermediate Cooking] |Uncommon Skill| (Silver Ticket)
You are as skilled as a seasoned chef, your cooking is better than most people with you being able to make complex dishes without much problem and most of the food you cook tastes pretty good.
[Intermediate Math] |Uncommon Skill| (Silver Ticket)
You are very good at math, enough to be considered somewhat of a savant. You can rapidly calculate numbers in your head very accurately, faster than most people. You can also keep track of numbers and variables especially well.
[Venomous] |Uncommon Trait| (Silver Ticket)
You are venomous, and your bite contains paralyzing venom. The power of the paralysis scales with your physical abilities.
[Shield] |Rare Ability| (Golden Ticket)
Allows you to create translucent barriers in the shape of domes and walls that act as physical barriers to defend against attacks.
[The Mimic] |Rarity: Rare Familiar| (Golden Ticket)
Five Nights at Freddy's - an endoskeleton with advanced artificial intelligence created by Edwin Murray to give his son David a playmate due to his own lack of time. After his son David died in an accident, Edwin struck him with a metal bar in a fit of rage and grief, encoding and corrupting violence into his core. The Mimic can adjust every part of its body to fit inside any animatronic suit, perfectly mimicking the voice, behavior, and personality of any being it has observed for long enough. This ability allowed it to impersonate Gregory to manipulate Cassie and secure its freedom. It possesses enough strength to rip limbs off steel endoskeletons and crush human bodies. As Glitchtrap, it can transfer its digital consciousness to computer systems, manipulate people through telepresence, and control networked animatronics from hundreds of meters away. It is the main antagonist of the Steel Wool era of FNAF.
[Krav Maga] |Rare Skill| (Golden Ticket)
You are an apprentice of Krav Maga, a brutally efficient martial art made for military use, it emphasizes instinctive movements, rapid strikes, and efficient takedowns to neutralize threats as quickly as possible. Krav Maga incorporates techniques from boxing, wrestling, judo, and street fighting. With sufficient mastery, you can enhance your strikes with your internal energy.
[Hydrification] |Rare Ability| (Golden Ticket)
Allows the user to turn their body into water at will, allowing them to slip away, be immune to physical attacks and gain increased mobility. But turning into water also makes the user vulnerable to weaknesses water has.
[Novice Taming] |Common Skill| (Bronze Ticket)
You know how to tame wild creatures, but not very precisely. With trial and error, you can probably tame a creature but it won't be easy, though you can easily tame and train mundane animals.
[Intermediate Charisma] |Rare Skill| (Golden Ticket)
You have an aura of charisma around you, it is less of a skill and more of something that is just around you. People of note feel themselves more attracted to your presence, it's subtle things like people paying more attention to you, taking you more seriously etc.
[Adept Massage] |Rare Skill| (Platinum Ticket)
You are as skilled as a seasoned masseuse, being able to give a variety of massages that help get rid of exhaustion, recover stamina, revitalize the body and mind and even invoke sexual pleasure. Few would leave the massage bed unsatisfied.