Chapter 10: The Otaku Gets an Upgrade (And Make an Unexpected Admirer)
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The morning after his vampire-demon-Watcher triple feature, Meliodas woke to the sound of his theme song playing in his head.
It was dramatic. Orchestral. The kind of music that played when a protagonist was about to level up.
He toggled it off and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
'Note to self: Theme song knows things.'
Tandy was already gone—early training, probably. Miguel was at the common table, surrounded by his usual chaos of papers and coffee cups. Mama Rose was knitting in her corner, needles clicking in that hypnotic rhythm.
Meliodas grabbed a pancake and sat down.
"You look like you didn't sleep," Miguel observed.
"I fought a vampire horde and talked to a demon."
"Sure you did."
'If only you knew.'
Before he could respond, the system pinged.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[CYOA UPDATE DETECTED]
[NEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE]
Meliodas blinked and opened the menu.
His jaw dropped.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[PERK UPDATE: ADORABLE]
Previous status: Toggleable on/off
Current status: PERMANENT (System error during update)
Note: The toggle function has been disabled due to a coding conflict with new Haki integration. The perk is now permanently active at all times. We apologize for the inconvenience.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: The perk's effects have been recalibrated for optimal social interaction. Female observers will find the user overwhelmingly adorable. Male observers will find the user strikingly handsome/pleasing to the eyes. Enemy combatants may experience hesitation, second thoughts about their life choices, or existential career crises during confrontation.
Meliodas stared at the notification.
'Wait. WHAT?'
He tried to toggle {Adorable} off.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Nothing.
'No. No no no no—'
He looked at Miguel. Miguel glanced at him, did a double-take, and raised an eyebrow.
"Dude, did you do something to your face? You look... I don't know. Model-y."
Meliodas put his head in his hands.
'This is a nightmare.'
---
The system continued loading new options, oblivious to his existential crisis.
[NEW POWERS — HERO SHARD PURCHASES]
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[MYTHICAL ZOAN: WESTERN DRAGON — Cost: 25 Hero Shards]
A mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that lets the user turn into a giant western dragon. Fly even in partially transformed form. Breathe fire. Strength increases with the size of your dragon hoard—a den full of gathered treasures like gold and gems.
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[SUN FRUIT — Cost: 25 Hero Shards]
A Paramecia Devil Fruit that grants the ability to manifest miniature suns. Immune to fire and heat. Under direct sunlight, your overall strength increases several fold—maximum at noon. Create an artificial sun in the sky for attack or empowerment. Endless stamina under sunlight. Injuries heal more rapidly.
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[REWIND FRUIT — Cost: 25 Hero Shards]
A Paramecia Devil Fruit that grants the ability to rewind people or objects you've touched by several seconds. Make dodging opponents rewind back into your attacks. Need to make contact again after each rewind. With training, can increase to several minutes or work through indirect touch. Can be used on yourself to undo damage—invulnerable during the rewind.
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[CONQUEROR'S HAKI — Cost: 20 Hero Shards]
A rare form of Haki that allows the user to exert their willpower over others. Cannot be attained through training—only one in several million are born with it. Strength increases as the user becomes physically stronger. Advanced control allows targeted release to avoid affecting allies.
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[ARMAMENT HAKI — Cost: 15 Hero Shards]
A form of Haki that allows the user to create an invisible armor around themselves, providing incredible offensive and defensive capabilities. Can injure Devil Fruit users who are otherwise immune to physical attacks.
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[OBSERVATION HAKI — FREE]
A form of Haki that grants a sixth sense—allowing the user to sense presence, strength, and emotions of others, as well as gain limited precognitive abilities.
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[FUTURE SIGHT — Cost: 10 Hero Shards] (Requires Observation Haki)
A rare advancement of Observation Haki that allows the user to see brief glimpses of the future. Starts at 2 seconds maximum. With training, can eventually reach the level of seeing several seconds ahead.
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He grabbed Observation Haki immediately, desperate for a distraction. The knowledge settled into him like something he'd always known, a sixth sense awakening.
He could feel people now. Their presence, their emotions, their intentions. Tandy in the gym—determined, focused. Miguel at the table—curious, amused. Mama Rose in her corner—calm, watchful, warm.
And outside, on the street...
Hostility. Dozens of sources. Moving toward the safehouse.
{Danger Sense} screamed.
"TANDY! MIGUEL! WE'VE GOT COMPANY!"
---
They came at noon.
Men in dark suits, moving with military precision. Armed with weapons that hummed with energy. Leading them, a woman with white hair and eyes that glowed like embers.
Meliodas stepped out to meet them, Tandy beside him with light daggers ready.
The woman stopped twenty feet away.
And froze.
Her crimson eyes locked onto Meliodas, and something strange happened to her ancient, cold expression. Her lips parted slightly. Her eyes widened. Her entire predatory stance... melted.
'What's happening?' Meliodas thought.
{Observation Haki} fed him her emotions. Confusion. Surprise. And an overwhelming wave of something warm, almost... adoration?
The woman's internal monologue was chaos.
'What is this? Who is this? Why do I want to—no, focus. I'm here on a mission. I'm an elder vampire. I've killed hundreds. I've survived centuries. I don't—'
She looked at him again.
'HE'S SO CUTE. WHY IS HE SO CUTE? This is unacceptable. I'm supposed to threaten him. Capture him. Maybe kill him. But look at those eyes. That hair. That slight confusion on his face. I want to pinch his cheeks. I want to protect him. I want to—'
She forcibly composed herself, her mask of cold professionalism slamming back into place.
But her eyes kept flickering to him.
{Observation Haki} caught it all.
Meliodas had no idea what was happening.
---
Behind her, one of the suited men—a burly vampire with centuries of experience—stepped forward.
"Lady Anastasia, shall I—"
He got his first clear look at Meliodas.
And stopped.
His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
"I... uh..." He lowered his weapon slightly. "He's... he's very..."
"Focus, Marcus," Anastasia snapped.
"I am focused! I'm very focused! It's just... have I chosen the right career path? Serving a vampire lord for three centuries... is this really what I want? Or do I want to... I don't know... open a bakery?"
"What?"
"Look at him! He's so... aesthetically pleasing! It's making me question my life choices!"
Another vampire stepped forward, took one look at Meliodas, and nodded slowly.
"I understand, Marcus. I understand completely."
Anastasia whirled on them. "Both of you, shut up and remember who you work for!"
But even as she said it, her eyes drifted back to Meliodas.
'So cute.'
---
"The anomaly," Anastasia said, forcing her voice to remain steady. "You killed seventeen of my lord's children."
'Stop looking at his face. Stop it. You're a professional.'
"They attacked me."
"They were following orders." She circled him slowly—and found herself circling closer than necessary. Just to get a better view.
'What is wrong with me?'
"Your lord?" Meliodas prompted.
"Right. Yes. My lord." She cleared her throat. "Vladimir Tempesta. Vampire Lord of New York. He's curious about you."
Tandy whispered to Meliodas: "Vampire Lord? Is she crazy?"
'If only you knew.' "Just roll with it."
Anastasia continued, forcing herself to focus. "He sent me to extend an invitation. To a conversation. About your future."
"To what? Dinner? I don't drink blood."
The words hit her like a physical blow.
'He doesn't drink blood. He's not a vampire. He's... he's something else. Something new. Something beautiful.'
She shook herself mentally.
'Get it together, Anastasia. You're four hundred and fifty years old. Act like it.'
"My lord offers protection. Resources. Answers. In exchange for your cooperation."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then I'll have to be less polite."
She hoped he refused. Not because she wanted to fight—because she wanted to see more of him. The way he moved. The way his eyes narrowed in focus. The way his jaw tightened with determination.
'This is pathetic. You're pathetic. He's a target. A mission. Nothing more.'
Meliodas drew Reflection and Moonsing.
"Then let's skip to that part."
---
The fight was brutal.
Anastasia moved with centuries of experience—fast, fluid, deadly. But every time she looked at him, every time she saw that determined expression on his unfairly attractive face, her attacks softened. Just slightly. Just enough.
'Why am I pulling my punches? I never pull my punches.'
Behind her, her vampires were... not helping.
"He's so graceful," Marcus murmured, watching Meliodas dodge. "Like a dancer. A very handsome dancer."
"Shut up, Marcus."
"I'm just saying! Look at that form! That's the form of someone who could make me reconsider my entire existence!"
Another vampire nodded sagely. "I'm with Marcus. If we lose this fight, I'm definitely opening that bakery."
"You don't even know how to bake!"
"How hard can it be?"
Anastasia ignored them and focused on Meliodas.
He was good. Surprisingly good. His movements were raw, unrefined, but his instincts were incredible. And he kept getting stronger as the fight went on.
{Rampage} activated, and she felt his power growing with each exchange.
'He's getting stronger. That's not possible. Nothing gets stronger during a fight like this.'
She should have been alarmed. Should have been worried.
Instead, she was impressed.
'Look at him go. So determined. So focused. I want to see what he becomes in a century. In two centuries. If he lives that long.'
The thought of him not living that long sent a spike of something through her chest. Protectiveness? Possessiveness?
'What is WRONG with me?'
She backhanded him across the street—and immediately regretted it.
'Too hard. That was too hard. Is he okay? He got up. Good. He's tough. I like that.'
He crashed through a car and came up fighting.
'He's so resilient. So strong. So—'
He hit her with a combination that sent her to the ground.
She lay there, stunned, and looked up at him standing over her, breathing hard, sword still raised.
And she thought: 'Magnificent.'
Behind her, Marcus whispered: "I'm definitely opening that bakery."
---
"Tell your lord something for me," he said.
She barely heard the words. She was too busy memorizing his face.
"I'm not interested in his 'invitation.' I'm not a weapon. I'm not a tool. I'm not anyone's experiment." He met her gaze. "I'm just a guy who woke up in this world a month ago and decided to help people. If your lord has a problem with that, he can come talk to me himself."
'Woke up a month ago. He's NEW. He's barely existed and he's already this strong. This beautiful. This—'
She realized she was staring.
"You knew," she whispered, buying time. "Before I even attacked, you knew my fighting style. You anticipated moves I haven't used in decades. How?"
"I'm good at reading people."
"No one is that good."
"And yet, here we are."
She studied him—not for information, but for pleasure. The way the light caught his hair. The slight flush on his cheeks from exertion. The determined set of his jaw.
'I need to leave. Now. Before I do something embarrassing.'
She stood slowly, backing away, her eyes never leaving him.
"I'll deliver your message. But know this—my lord doesn't take rejection well. He'll come for you himself." She paused at the edge of the shadows. "And when he does..."
She hesitated. What could she say? 'I'll be watching'? 'I'll be hoping you survive'? 'I'll be thinking about your face for the next century'?
"I'll be watching," she finished lamely, and vanished.
---
The suited men retreated with her—though Marcus paused to give Meliodas one last, longing look.
"Remember," he called out. "If you ever need a baker, look me up!"
"Get moving, Marcus!"
"I'm going! I'm going!"
They disappeared into shadow.
Tandy appeared beside Meliodas, breathing hard.
"What the hell was that? Vampire Lord? Is she insane?"
"Probably not. There's a lot in this world you don't know about."
"Like vampires being real?"
"Like that."
Tandy stared at him. "Vampires are REAL?"
"Apparently."
"And you didn't think to mention this?"
"It didn't come up?"
She punched his arm—lightly. "You're impossible. Also, why were all those vampires staring at you like you were a five-course meal?"
"I don't want to know."
---
In the shadows, Anastasia watched.
She should have left. Should have reported back to her lord. But something kept her there, watching the boy on the street, talking to his friend, smiling at something she couldn't hear.
Her lord was watching through their connection—a magical link that let him observe through her eyes when he chose. She had to be careful. Had to maintain her cold, professional demeanor.
But internally, she was screaming.
'He's so CUTE. Look at him laugh. Look at his smile. I want to see that smile every day. I want to—'
She cut off the thought.
'Focus. The lord is watching. He can't know. No one can know.'
She would play her part. She would report the mission as a failure, describe the anomaly's abilities, warn of his strength. Everything a loyal lieutenant should do.
And she would watch. Wait. Learn.
When her lord came for him—and he would come—she would be there.
Not to help her lord.
To help him.
'Meliodas,' she whispered to herself, testing the name. 'What a beautiful name.'
She melted deeper into shadow, her heart—cold for four centuries—beating with something it had long forgotten.
Marcus sidled up to her. "So... we're betraying the lord for the cute one, right?"
"What? No. Of course not."
"Because I'm totally on board if we are. Just so you know."
"Shut up, Marcus."
"Shutting up. But I'm still thinking about that bakery."
---
That night, Meliodas sat on the rooftop, checking his system.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[COMBAT EFFICIENCY: A+]
[ENEMY DEFEATED: ANASTASIA (ELDER VAMPIRE) — TEMPORARILY]
[REWARD: 8 DESTINY SHARDS]
[NEW QUEST: THE VAMPIRE LORD'S RESPONSE]
{The Vampire Lord will not ignore your defiance. Prepare for his arrival.}
Reward: 15 Destiny Shards
Time Limit: Unknown
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He looked at his remaining shards, then at the {Adorable} notification still glaring at him.
'Permanent. Fantastic.'
Tandy climbed up beside him.
"You're brooding."
"Thinking."
"About what?"
"About the fact that I'm now permanently cute and a vampire lord wants to kill me."
Tandy snorted. "The cute thing is new? I thought that was always there."
"It was toggleable before. Now it's stuck."
"So you're stuck being cute forever?"
"Apparently. Also, apparently, men just think I'm 'aesthetically pleasing' and it makes them question their life choices."
Tandy laughed. "That vampire who wanted to open a bakery?"
"Exactly."
She bumped his shoulder. "Could be worse. You could be stuck being ugly."
"Thanks. That helps."
They sat in comfortable silence.
"Meliodas?"
"Yeah?"
"That vampire woman... she looked at you weird."
"Weird how?"
"Weird like... I don't know. Like she wanted to eat you but also protect you?" Tandy shrugged. "Vampires are weird."
'If only you knew how weird.' "Yeah. Vampires."
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[END OF CHAPTER 10]