I stared at the new Gacha banner, "Nyx's Embrace," transfixed by the shadowy woman with dual daggers. Two hundred SP for five pulls. That was a lot of my hard-earned points—points I'd gained through sweat, manipulation, and some genuinely embarrassing moments with my stepsister.

"Two hundred points for five pulls?" I muttered, shaking my head. "That's almost half my stash. Highway robbery, even with a rate-up."

As if summoned by my complaint, a small, golden pixelated avatar popped into existence in the corner of the interface. The tiny chibi version of Apollo wore ridiculous sunglasses and had the most punchable smirk I'd ever seen on a digital face.

\[Worried about the price, little mortal?\] A text bubble appeared next to his smug face. \[Greatness isn't cheap! This is a VIP, limited-time offer, curated by yours truly for a rising star. The normal Pity Protocol is for plebeians. This banner? This is a Sovereign's Welcome.\]

I snorted. "A Sovereign's Welcome that drains my treasury. What's the catch, Apollo? The last 'guaranteed' banner you gave me ended with an immortal snail and a baseball bat."

The chibi Apollo waved a dismissive hand. \[Details, details! This time is different. I'm feeling generous. The Audience demands a spectacle! So, for this one-time-only pull, I'm personally guaranteeing every. single. draw. will be GOLD rarity or higher. How's that for divine favor?\]

My eyebrows shot up. Five guaranteed Gold+ pulls for 200 SP? That was an insane bargain—like a drug dealer offering the first hit for free, knowing you'll be back for more. I knew it was a hook, designed to get me spending, but it was a hook I couldn't afford to ignore.

"Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "You've got a deal, you little golden loan shark. But if I get another gastropod, I'm coming for your temple."

\[Excellent! Let the Fates sing your name!\]

The chibi threw a shower of pixelated confetti before disappearing. I took a deep breath and hit the purchase button, watching my SP counter drop from 285 to 85.

Instantly, my vision was consumed by a swirling galaxy of stars. This wasn't the usual Gacha animation. My entire field of view became a cosmic nebula, billions of stars spinning around me. Five motes of light broke away from the cosmic dance, four blazing with brilliant gold, and one—impossibly bright—shining with the cool, hard light of platinum.

The first golden star streaked forward, slamming into my consciousness with the force of a physical blow.

\[Congratulations! You have obtained: SHADE CLOAK (Gold Active Ability)\]

Knowledge flooded my mind—cold and elusive, like trying to grab smoke with your bare hands. I suddenly understood how to manipulate the light around me, how to bend shadows to conceal my presence. Not true invisibility, but the next best thing—the art of making others' eyes slide right past me as if I weren't there.

Before I could process this, the second golden star hit.

\[Congratulations! You have obtained: SEVER (Gold Active Ability)\]

This one was a razor's edge pressed against my mind—the kinesthetic understanding of shaping my energy into an invisible, cutting blade. I could extend my will outward, creating a blade of pure force that could slice through nearly anything. I felt my fingers tingle with phantom energy, already knowing exactly how to form the deadly edge.

The third golden star approached, and this one felt different. Instead of flooding my mind with new knowledge, it seemed to target something deeper—my very essence.

\[Congratulations! You have obtained: RIVALRY (Gold Trait)\]

A burning sigil felt like it was being branded onto my soul. My personal aura shifted, gaining a sharp, challenging edge. It wasn't knowledge or power, but a fundamental change to how I existed in the world. I now radiated an energy that invited confrontation, that commanded respect through the promise of conflict. It was the aura of someone who could and would fight back—and win.

The platinum star hurtled forward next, outshining all others. When it crashed into me, I nearly fell backward onto my bed.

\[Congratulations! You have obtained: PROTECTION FROM ARROWS (Platinum Passive Ability)\]

My senses exploded outward. It wasn't just seeing or hearing; it was a new, primal awareness. The air in my room was no longer empty; it became a space filled with vectors, potential trajectories, and silent threats. My brain processed incoming projectiles before they were even launched, calculating angles and speeds with supernatural accuracy. It was like gaining a sixth sense dedicated solely to keeping me alive.

The final golden star drifted forward slowly, unlike the others. Instead of slamming into me, it unfolded like an origami creation, revealing itself as an ancient, shimmering golden scroll.

\[Congratulations! You have obtained: FAMILIAR CONTRACT (Gold Item)\]

This wasn't a power, but a tool. A key to a door I hadn't known existed. The knowledge of how it worked—what it was—settled into my mind with the weight of ancient law. A contract that would bind another being to me, making them my familiar. They had to sign willingly, knowing what the contract entailed, but once signed...

The cosmic display faded, returning me to my bedroom. I sat still for a moment, letting the new abilities integrate with my consciousness.

Acting on pure instinct, I grabbed a pen from my desk and, without looking, threw it hard against the opposite wall. As it ricocheted back toward my head, my body moved before my mind gave the command. I tilted, the pen whistling past my ear by a millimeter.

"Holy shit," I whispered, staring at the pen now lying on my floor. "I didn't even think about dodging. My body just... knew."

I walked to the mirror on my closet door. I looked mostly the same—the improved physique from my training was there, the darker expression I'd cultivated since arriving in this world—but something was different. My reflection seemed sharper, more dangerous. The RIVALRY trait wasn't visible, but I could feel it radiating from me, turning the man in the mirror into a challenger sizing me up for a fight.

I opened my inventory and pulled out the FAMILIAR CONTRACT. It materialized in my hands as a weighty scroll made of some golden material that wasn't quite paper, parchment, or metal, but something in between. Ornate script decorated the edges, and when I unrolled it, the writing shifted and changed, as if alive.

I read the description carefully:

\[FAMILIAR CONTRACT (Gold Item): A binding magical agreement that transforms the signatory into the contractor's familiar. The subject must sign willingly and with full knowledge of the contract's purpose. Once bound, the familiar gains enhanced abilities but must obey direct commands. The bond can only be broken by mutual agreement or death. Note: Contracted beings cannot harm their master directly or through inaction.\]

My mind raced through the possibilities. Could I make anyone my familiar? Like a pet?

Could I force a monster to sign this? A Gate boss? Tame it and turn it against its own kind?

But why would I want a pet monster when I was building a harem of human weapons?

Wait... a human? Could a human sign this? What would that even mean? To be bound to me not just by loyalty or manipulation, but by the fundamental laws of the System?

I thought of Natalia, already mine in nearly every way that mattered. I thought of Emi, the sweet, naive healer who was next on my list.

This went beyond even the Ensemble system. This wasn't just giving someone powers or gaining their loyalty—this was ownership at a fundamental level.

I carefully rolled the contract back up, storing it in my inventory. This wasn't something to use lightly. This was an ace in the hole, a weapon of last resort.

I checked my updated status screen:

SATORI NAKANO

Level: 1 | Title: None | Class: None | Schema Points: 85

ATTRIBUTES:

Strength: D-277 Endurance: D-291

Dexterity: D-208 Magic: F-110

Agility: D-231

ACTIVE ABILITIES (2/2):

Ember, Freezing Breath

PASSIVE ABILITIES (2/4):

Mysticism, Protection From Arrows

SKILLS & TRAITS:

Charming Eyes, Intermediate Kama Sutra, Basic First Aid, Consort's Touch, Rivalry

My ability slots were now nearly filled with a terrifying arsenal of Gold and Platinum skills. But my SP had plummeted to 85—not even enough for another five-pull on the regular Gacha. I was broker than a college student after textbook season.

The chibi Apollo avatar popped back up, giving me a thumbs-up and a final, smug wink.

\[Pleasure doing business with you! Enjoy the toys. Try not to die before you can afford your next purchase!\]

"Smug little bastard," I muttered as the avatar disappeared.

I flopped back on my bed, staring at the ceiling and processing everything. From pathetic Zero to stealth assassin with supernatural reflexes in less than a month. Not bad.

Bartholomew the immortal snail had finally reached his lettuce. I watched him munching away with the slowest, tiniest bites imaginable.

"Well, Bartholomew," I said to my glacial pet, "looks like I'm broke, but at least now I'm dangerous. What do you think? Should I use the contract on someone?"

Bartholomew continued his eternal feast, unconcerned with my ethical dilemmas.

The entrance exams were approaching fast. Natalia was mine. Emi would be next. My arsenal of abilities was growing more powerful by the day.

The pathetic, fat Satori that everyone had overlooked was dead and buried. In his place stood a Sovereign in the making.

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