Ch. 16: Want some fish?
The forest gradually grew quieter as evening approached.
Golden sunlight filtered through the towering trees, stretching long shadows across the forest floor while the distant cries of spirit beasts slowly faded into the background.
Near the riverbank, a small campfire crackled softly.
Bai Rouyue sat beside it, occasionally turning several skewered fish over the flames while muttering something under her breath.
The rich aroma of roasting fish gradually spread through the surrounding area.
Not far away, Lu Sheng sat atop a large stone while casually watching the river flow past.
The events from earlier continued replaying inside his mind.
Particularly, the system notification.
And the existence of the two potential reincarnators beside him.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked toward the blue-haired girl.
"Hikari is not your real name, right?"
The words came without warning.
The blue-haired girl paused slightly.
"Why do you say that?"
Lu Sheng shrugged.
"It's a very strange name. I've never heard of anyone named that."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
He nodded seriously.
"It was pretty obvious."
"..."
A brief silence followed.
The girl stared at him.
He stared back.
Eventually, Hikari let out a small sigh.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"Nothing."
Lu Sheng answered immediately.
"It's not like I care if you pretend to be someone special by changing your name."
The corner of her eye twitched.
'What a rude brat!'
Without saying anything further, she simply pouted and turned her head away.
Soon afterward, she stood up and walked toward the campfire, carrying the basket of fish she had caught from the river earlier.
Now taking over the task of roasting them herself.
Watching the two girls become occupied with their own activities, Lu Sheng finally shifted his attention elsewhere.
More specifically—
Toward the changes occurring inside his system.
A few minutes earlier, another notification had suddenly appeared.
Apparently, the Game System had successfully devoured a fragment of an Unknown Law hidden somewhere inside the strange reincarnator status window, which had activated just now.
As a result, a small update had become available.
The notification still floated quietly before him.
[Desolve Skill 'Instinct' to enable the update?]
Lu Sheng thought for a moment.
Then nodded.
After all, the skill was practically useless.
Even after all these days, its experience growth was slower than sleeping.
Sleeping!
Don't look at how lousy the name sounds, its effects are undeniable, letting his 1 hour of sleep be more meaningful than that of 6 hours, and in the same duration drastically increasing his body's soul power, stamina, and healing to a whole new level.
All that at no cost while being only at level 4.
It was a skill that gained experience by literally doing nothing.
Compared to that, Instinct had almost no visible effect whatsoever.
It hadn't even gained 1 point of experience till now, and had not provided him with any perks at all!
Rather to use it than waste time trying to find its potential use.
'I will let you have it.'
The moment he agreed, the notification vanished.
Soon afterward, a familiar interface appeared before his eyes.
Only this time...
It looked far more comprehensive.
{STATUS}
[Name: Lu Sheng]
[Soul Power: 17]
[Martial Soul: Deoxys, Rayquaza]
[Trait: (Synchronized with Martial Souls)]
[Bloodline: (Synchronized with Martial Souls), Human]
[Physique: None]
[Special Talent: None]
[Skills: Eating Lv. 4, Breathing Lv. 5, Sleeping Lv. 4, Meditation Lv. 2]
[Soul Bones: Spirit Soul Prism (External)]
...
[Deoxys]
[Grade: Divine Grade]
[Domain: Pressure]
[Type: Psychic, Fighting, Normal]
[Trait: Adaptation, 3 Forms, Max Stats]
[Soul Rings: Purple]
[Soul Skills:]
[1: Ultimate Affinity Body]
[Effect: Affinity and control to all energy systems innate to the body are raised to Ultimate-level.]
[Drawback: Extremely slow cultivation, slower than the ultimate element martial soul]
...
[Wishes]
[Wish 1: Maximum possible luck.]
[Wish 2: Maximum positive probability toward favorable outcomes.]
[Wish 3: Complete memory retention.]
[Wish Drawback: Luck Backlash]
[Cycle Duration: Once every 6 years]
[Time Remaining: 11 Months 17 Days 8 Hours 5 Minutes]
...
"So, the data I can see became more precise?"
Lu Sheng stared at the panel.
Then sighed.
Honestly speaking...
That was slightly underwhelming.
Still, it wasn't entirely bad.
At least now he knew exactly how long remained before the Luck Backlash arrived.
And he could see more detailed information regarding abilities, spirit skills, and future progression.
That alone was already useful enough.
While thinking about it, Lu Sheng casually pulled something from his storage soul tool.
A large chocolate-covered protein bar.
The moment it appeared, a small information panel surfaced automatically.
[Name: Protein Bar]
[Effect: Rich in protein and vitamins necessary for daily consumption. Possesses minor energy and stamina recovery effects.]
[Description: Chocolate-flavored protein bar produced in Kanto City. Can be consumed by both Pokémon and humans.]
[See more...]
"..."
'Is this also part of the update?'
Lu Sheng blinked.
Then took a bite.
Crunch.
A pleasant chocolate flavor spread throughout his mouth.
Immediately afterward, another realization surfaced.
As long as he held something in his hand...
The system automatically considered it his property.
And therefore he could view its description.
'That's actually pretty convenient.'
Not only that.
He could see the last line written saying see more.
If he clicks on that, he can even see the precise analysis of recipes, construction methods, materials, and production processes.
All down to the materials used to make the paper wrapper and all.
If he wished, he could actually remake the product, even make it better than the actual one.
But...
What use did he have for that?
He possessed an entire warehouse full of snacks, drinks, and consumable products obtained from years of sign-ins.
Whenever ordinary products appeared as rewards, they always came in absurd quantities.
As he continued chewing through his oversized chocolate bar—
Someone suddenly sat down beside him.
Or rather...
Practically jumped at him.
Shoved him halfway off the stone.
"So~"
A familiar voice sounded.
"What's going on with you, lil bro? Sitting here silently while making such an emo face."
Bai Rouyue casually occupied more than half the rock while looking down at him.
'Not this again.'
Lu Sheng immediately frowned.
"I am not making an emo face."
"Really?"
She sounded genuinely shocked.
"Really!"
Lu Sheng replied equally loudly.
"Then..."
Bai Rouyue stared at him.
"...you seriously don't know how emo you actually look?"
This time, she even added a trace of pity to her voice.
"..."
Lu Sheng slowly took a deep breath.
Then another.
And another.
Eventually, he gave up.
"Fine."
"What do you want?"
"Oh?"
Her eyes immediately brightened.
"You caught on pretty quickly."
Though even while saying that, she still maintained the infuriating posture of looking down at him.
"How about a deal?"
"What deal?"
Bai Rouyue pointed toward the protein bar.
"You have more of those things, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"What about it?"
She immediately grinned.
"Share some with us."
Then she proudly pointed toward the campfire.
"And in return, I shall grant you the opportunity to feast on the most delicious roasted fish in the entire world!"
She raised her voice, her posture exaggerated, like making a grand announcement, which was akin to a charity.
At those words...
Lu Sheng slowly turned his head.
Then looked at her as though she had lost her mind.
"Heh."
The undisguised disdain in his eyes was impossible to miss.
"You!"
Bai Rouyue immediately exploded.
"What is with that look?!"
"Nothing."
Lu Sheng chuckled, turning his head back as if nothing had happened.
"I just heard something funny."
"What funny thing?!"
"The fact that someone wants to exchange exotic snacks for local roasted fish."
He took another bite.
Crunch.
"And make it sound like they are being magnanimous at that, it's so funny when you think about it."
"That sounds pretty funny when you think about it."
"What?!"
Bai Rouyue nearly jumped up.
"Local fish?!"
"So you don't believe me when I say it's the most delicious roasted fish in the world?"
"No."
"I don't."
The answer came instantly.
"What if it really is?"
Lu Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"If it really is..."
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"...then you can have this deal for the entire duration of our travels together. And not only one, but I will also let you guys have a box full of chocolate bars for both of you each."
"Heh."
Bai Rouyue crossed her arms.
"Do you even have enough supplies?"
"The same question goes to you."
Lu Sheng looked her up and down.
Then shook his head as if disappointed.
His expression was very similar to the one parents give their children when they compare them to their most competent cousins.
"Do you even have enough skill?"
"You!"
The dark-skinned girl immediately hissed like an angry cat.
Watching her reaction, Lu Sheng couldn't help but think that she really did resemble one of those stereotypical dark elves from fantasy stories.
Unfortunately.
She was currently six years old.
Which completely destroyed the effect.
"Hah~"
He let out a regretful sigh.
Unfortunately—
That sigh was once again misunderstood.
Bai Rouyue's forehead darkened with tick marks appearing all over her face.
Just as she prepared to jump directly onto his head—
A calm voice interrupted.
"Rouyue."
The blue-haired girl stood nearby.
"Calm down, don't cause trouble."
"But, Young Miss—"
"It's okay."
Hikari said expressionlessly.
"The more you speak, the angrier you will get. Let me take over this time."
Bai Rouyue took a long breath, "Okay, you handle it."
Then she turned and glared at him, giving him a look which said, 'I spare you this time.'
After that, she left.
After she left, Hikari turned to Lu Sheng, "So."
"Do you really mean what you said to Bai Rouyue?"
"Sure."
Lu Sheng shrugged.
"But you'll have to convince me that your fish are actually the best in the world, like she claims."
"Oh, then be ready to be surprised,"
Hikari said, her smile widening slightly.
"It's a deal then."