In the screen, Najenda, Akame, and the others were gathered, seemingly for a meal.
Everyone was chatting and laughing, looking very happy, and even Akame's younger sister, Kurome, was there.
Not only had she reconciled with Akame, but she also seemed to get along well with the members of Night Raid.
Najenda, having matters to attend to, only had one drink and stayed with everyone for a while before leaving first.
The remaining people continued to eat, drink, and make merry.
However, not long after Najenda left, Akame, who had eaten the most, suddenly collapsed onto the dining table without warning. Black blood flowed from her seven orifices, and she immediately fell unconscious.
Next was Leone, who had drunk the most. She also collapsed without warning, just like Akame, and then blood started flowing from her seven orifices.
The others realized something was wrong, but it was already too late. One by one, they collapsed as well.
After everyone had fallen, a team dressed in uniform and wearing masks entered.
These individuals not only took away the Imperial Arms of the Night Raid members, but also delivered a finishing blow to each of the fallen, finally severing each person's head.
The sight made Naruto clench his fists, biting his lips until they bled.
Just seeing this much was enough to confirm that it wasn't Akame who assassinated Naruto, but these mysterious people who took away the Imperial Arms of Night Raid.
At this moment, the scene in Naruto's eyes shifted, revealing a familiar sight: his last conversation with Najenda.
On the screen, Najenda suddenly vomited black blood and collapsed, followed by him being impaled from behind on the Supreme Throne by Akame's Murasame, and then it ended.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Naruto finished watching the rewound scene. Knowing that he was not assassinated by Akame in the end, the anger in his chest not only did not disappear but became even more turbulent, as if his entire being were about to explode.
"System, why didn't you show me who did it?!"
Naruto questioned furiously in his mind, because until the very end, he didn't see who was behind the entire incident.
From the poisoning and beheading of Night Raid's members to Najenda collapsing in front of him, and finally his own assassination—
Throughout the entire incident, only people wearing unified uniforms and masks appeared, making it impossible to distinguish who they were. He didn't even see the face of the mastermind.
How could Naruto possibly accept this?!
[Sorry, world rewind can only proceed until the Host's return. Because after the Host returns, that world will immediately reset, and there will be no subsequent plot.]
"I don't accept it!"
Naruto was seething with anger, gritting his teeth and saying, "At least tell me—who exactly did that?!"
[Sorry, the Host's request is not within the scope of the system's service and cannot be answered.]
"Ah!~"
Hearing the system's reply, Naruto couldn't help but roar loudly. Infinite anger filled his chest, yet he had no way to vent it.
The only thing that could make him feel slightly relieved was that the people he trusted had not betrayed him.
But recalling the scene of Akame and the others being poisoned and then beheaded, Naruto felt as if his chest were about to explode, filled with anger and, even more, a sense of injustice.
Because according to the system, not only could he not return to that world to avenge Akame, but he also couldn't even figure out who was behind the entire incident.
However, this time, Naruto didn't continue to complain to the system. Instead, he felt that he was a complete failure.
He thought to himself that if he had been a little smarter, a little stronger, that outcome wouldn't have happened.
This cruel lesson without a conclusion was destined to be remembered by Naruto for a lifetime.
At the same time, it made him secretly vow in his heart that he must never let such a thing happen in the present world.
No—not just in reality. Even if he were to enter a virtual experience again, he would absolutely never let the same thing happen again.
"Naruto, what's wrong?"
At this moment, Nine-Tailed's voice rang in his ears, asking with concern and a hint of curiosity.
"Nothing!"
Naruto replied angrily, "Just had an annoying dream, that's all. Leave me alone—I'm really mad right now!"
"???"
Nine-Tailed found Naruto's answer a bit baffling. It was just a dream; did he need to take it so seriously?
However, Nine-Tailed could sense Naruto's emotions, so it didn't press further.
Next, the system's life evaluation continued:
[In this virtual experience, the Host single-handedly ended the cancerous corruption that led to the empire's decay, bringing new vitality to the soon-collapsing empire as a Heavenly King, accomplishing an unprecedented feat in a short life.
Life Experience Evaluation: Excellent + (Additional Evaluation: Heavenly King).
Evaluation Reward: Choose three of the following rewards.
National Defense Machine God · Supreme Throne: A legendary Imperial Arm said to possess power comparable to gods, usable only by those with imperial blood (If the Host chooses this reward, it will be modified to be usable only by the Host and those with the Host's blood).
Demonic Manifestation · Demon's Extract: An ice-type Imperial Arm that allows free creation and control of ice.
Demon Armor · Incursio: An armor-type Imperial Arm made from the dangerous species of a ferocious dragon. Once activated, it transforms into self-wearing, sturdy armor with iron-wall defense. Wearing it comprehensively enhances the wearer's physical abilities and comes with an auxiliary weapon.
Lightning Speed · Susanoo: A biological humanoid Imperial Arm with its own consciousness and meticulous personality. Not only is its combat ability strong, but its domestic skills are also very proficient; it can do cleaning, laundry, and more than 1,000 kinds of delicious dishes.
Cross Tail: A thread-type Imperial Arm. Its threads are made from the body hair of a super dangerous species, not only tough but also incredibly sharp.
Lion King: A belt-type Imperial Arm. When activated, it allows the user to beastify, greatly enhancing physical abilities, recovery power, and sensory capabilities.
Five Sights · Spectator: A crown-type Imperial Arm. Wearing it grants five abilities: insight, farsight, X-ray vision, future sight, and illusion vision.
March of the Dead · Yatsufusa: A curse-type Imperial Arm that can control people who have been slain through a curse. It can control up to eight corpse puppets, and the puppets retain their strength from when they were alive. After the ability is deactivated, the controlled puppets revert to ordinary corpses.
Murasame: A curse-type Imperial Arm. If cut by this blade—even a mere scratch—the wound will rapidly lead to death due to the curse's poison, and there is no antidote.]
[Due to your additional evaluation of 'Heavenly King' in this experience, you have gained one use of the 'Dimensional Forging Furnace' permission.]
Naruto wasn't in the mood and ignored the system.
One minute later—
[Please make your selection as soon as possible, Host.]
"Got it, so annoying!"
Naruto heard the system's urgent reminder and began to check the life experience evaluation and rewards.
When he saw the life experience evaluation he received in this virtual experience world, he couldn't help but complain,
"This kind of experience can actually be considered an unprecedented feat—how ironic!"
System:
"I choose 3, 6, and 9."
Naruto looked at all the options, hesitated for a moment, and then made his choice.
He chose Demon Armor Incursio - because he wanted it and thought it was cool.
He chose Lion King and Murasame because Akame and Leone were the two people he was most familiar with besides Najenda. Choosing their Imperial Arms was a form of commemoration.
As for why he didn't choose Najenda's most familiar Imperial Arm, it was because he didn't know how to face Susanoo, who had self-awareness.
After all, for Naruto, this world experience was truly too terrible.
[Tip: The Host has completed the reward selection. Reward items have been stored in your system backpack. Please check.]
[Tip: You have received a very rare evaluation reward in this experience. Please remember to check.]
"Dimensional Forging Furnace?"
Naruto heard the system's prompt and curiously clicked on the introduction of the "Dimensional Forging Furnace."
[Dimensional Forging Furnace: Rare-grade permission.
Function:
Smelting: Can smelt any equipment.
Forging: Can forge any equipment.
Enhancement: Can enhance any equipment.
Introduction: Can perform smelting, decomposition, re-forging, and enhancement on any equipment, with no upper limit!]
Naruto was speechless when he saw the introduction of this "Dimensional Forging Furnace."
What was the difference between this introduction and no introduction at all?
"System, can you explain in more detail?" Naruto asked in his mind.
[The explanation for this permission is its literal meaning.]
Naruto was speechless, then asked again, "Then how do I use this permission?"
[The Host only needs to consume the 'Dimensional Forging Furnace' usage permission to activate it. Subsequent steps will have detailed prompts when the Host uses the 'Dimensional Forging Furnace.']
"Then activate it!"
Naruto thought for a moment and directly activated the "Dimensional Forging Furnace" permission.
Although Naruto still didn't fully understand the detailed uses of the Dimensional Forging Furnace, from the brief introduction it was clear that this permission was mainly used for crafting equipment. The Imperial Arm rewards he had just received should also count as equipment, so it was perfect to try out this permission.
[Ding. Detecting that the Host has chosen to use the 'Dimensional Forging Furnace' permission. Now activating—activation successful.]
The system's voice ended.
Naruto felt his vision blur, and then he saw an exquisite furnace, only half a person tall, appear before him.
The furnace had three legs, and each leg had a symbol: a flame, a hammer, and a fist.
This time, without the system's explanation, Naruto could clearly understand what the three symbols represented.
The flame represented smelting and decomposition.
The hammer represented forging.
The fist represented enhancement.
Boom!~
Suddenly, the lid of the furnace automatically opened, and crimson flames rose from within. Immediately after, Naruto heard a prompt:
[Dimensional Forging Furnace activated. Please place the equipment to be smelted, forged, or enhanced inside.]
Naruto thought for a moment and, with a thought, opened his system backpack.
There were five items in total: the Perfect Demon Bloodline and Alternate Space Castle - Infinity Castle Seed from the previous virtual experience reward, and the three Imperial Arms from this reward: Demon Armor - Incursio, Lion King, and Murasame.
Naruto looked at the items in his backpack, first took out the Perfect Demon Bloodline, which was a red orb of light, and directly put it into the Dimensional Forging Furnace.
This thing would turn him into a demon if used, and Naruto didn't like it at all, nor would he use it. He wouldn't feel bad if it got damaged, so it was perfect for testing. He just didn't know if this thing counted as equipment.
Sure enough, as soon as the red orb of light representing the Perfect Demon Bloodline was put into the furnace, Naruto received a rejection prompt.
[Tip: This item is not equipment and cannot be used.]
"So this thing isn't equipment after all?"
Naruto looked at the returned Perfect Demon Bloodline, put it back into the system backpack, and then took out the Alternate Space Castle - Infinity Castle Seed, which was a black seed surrounded by a silver orb of light.
Naruto looked at it curiously for a while, then directly put it into the furnace in front of him.
After it was placed inside, the silver orb of light surrounding the seed immediately disappeared, and Naruto heard another prompt:
[Rare space-attribute equipment. Three forging methods can be chosen:
Smelt into pure spatial power.
Add spatial power for enhancement.
Smelt and combine with other materials or equipment for re-forging.]
"Pure spatial power?"
Naruto looked at the three options given by the Dimensional Forging Furnace, hesitated for a moment, and then chose "3," because he didn't even know what spatial power was.
Rumble!~
After Naruto made his choice, the flame symbol on the Dimensional Forging Furnace immediately lit up, and a rumble came from inside.
He could see the flames surging, instantly melting the black seed into a black viscous liquid. Then another prompt sounded:
[Smelting complete. Please input the equipment to be re-forged with this item.]
Naruto listened to the prompt, thought for a moment, then took out Lion King from his system backpack and put it into the furnace.
This time there was no prompt.
After Naruto put Lion King into the furnace, he saw the hammer symbol light up. The previously melted Infinity Castle Seed began to fuse with the Lion King belt.
Soon, the black viscous liquid integrated into the belt amidst the intense flames and invisible hammering.
[Re-forging complete. This equipment can still be further enhanced or forged. Please choose to input new materials to continue enhancing or forging, or take it out to view equipment information.]
"It can still continue?"
Naruto's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing the prompt.
After a moment of hesitation, he chose to continue, then took out Demon Armor from his system backpack and put it into the furnace.
Again, there was no prompt.
Naruto saw the hammer symbol light up once more. The two Imperial Arms fused together amidst the intense flames and invisible hammering, transforming into a long sword with the Lion King symbol imprinted on it.
[Enhanced re-forging complete. Please choose to input new materials to continue enhancing or forging, or take it out to view equipment information.]
"It can still continue?"
After hearing the prompt, Naruto didn't hesitate and directly took Murasame out of his system backpack and put it into the furnace.
---
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