Kaito lay on the sofa, fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, his mind racing.
"Attribute enhancement is tempting… but going from Level 1 to Level 2 might just be a quantitative boost. Not a game-changer."
No matter how much his stats increased, without a qualitative leap, they'd still fall short against real threats—Demon-level, maybe even Dragon-level monsters.
But the Emperor Engine…That was different.
"It's a force field type of skill. If I raise it high enough, the pressure and sound waves could make low-level monsters prostrate themselves instantly... and even rattle stronger ones."
A passive aura of fear—an invisible armor.
"When the enemy doesn't know the truth, that kind of spiritual intimidation is way safer than swinging punches that barely tickle them."
More importantly... it matched the persona.
"This is the King brand. Scaring monsters stiff with a single roar? That's how the 'Strongest Man on Earth' is supposed to act. Charging forward like a meathead just ruins the illusion."
The logic was clear now.
"The essence of deterrence... is fear."
So investing in the Emperor Engine meant reinforcing the source of fear.
Build the legend first. Survive long enough... and the points will follow.
Without hesitation, Kaito summoned the interface.
[Do you want to spend 200 Deterrence Points to increase the proficiency of the skill "Emperor Engine"?]
"Yes," he affirmed silently.
The moment he confirmed, something indescribable surged through him—Not physical strength, but something deeper.
A profound understanding of sound, pressure, and presence flooded into his brain and chest like a breached dam.
[Deterrence Points - 200][Skill: "Emperor Engine" proficiency increasing...]
His heart contracted—then expanded sharply.
Not pain—more like his heart had transformed into the core piston of an engine.
Each beat now reverberated with weight, pulsing with invisible momentum that radiated outward like sonic ripples.
["Emperor Engine" proficiency has increased to: Minor Achievement (0/600)][Skill Effect Update:]Monarch's Might: First Manifestation – Tangible soundwave impact is significantly enhanced. Causes strong mental pressure on ordinary people.Aura Solidification – The red aura darkens and condenses into a more oppressive, flame-like presence. High visual intimidation.Deterrence (Passive) (New) – When sensing strong hostility or killing intent, automatically emits a deterrent soundwave and faint malevolent aura. May disrupt sneak attacks and provide early warning.Slight Increase to Spirit Resistance – While Emperor Engine is active, slightly enhances resistance to spirit-based effects (e.g. fear, confusion).Minor Achievement!
Kaito sat upright, eyes gleaming.
He pressed his palm against his chest.
Thump... thump... thump...
It wasn't even activated, yet his heartbeat had changed—slower, deeper, like a war drum.
Not just sound. Power.
He could feel it—subtle ripples in the air around him with every beat. The engine was there, dormant but potent.
"A passive effect... This is a life-saver."
He clenched his fists, exhilarated.
The 200 points weren't just well spent—they were transformative.
The passive deterrent alone could buy him critical seconds in an ambush.
And the Spirit resistance?
"That means it's not just offense anymore—it's defense too."
A grin tugged at his lips—his first genuine smile since arriving in this world as King.
"This feeling… is really good."
His gaze drifted to the guest room door.
Behind it... a bound, unconscious Demon-level monster. Soft, dangerous... and still radiating Deterrence Points.
The next day.
Afternoon light filtered softly through the blinds of the guest room, casting long slats of sun across the floor.
Mosquito Girl's long lashes fluttered.
Her crimson eyes blinked open, slowly adjusting to the unfamiliar ceiling overhead.
Then—pain.
A constricting pressure wrapped around her waist and thighs, biting into her skin.
She struggled, only to realize—
She had no limbs.
Her torso twisted in vain, her wounds burning as she pulled against the ropes.
Like a butterfly pinned to a board.
"Ugh..."
A low, pained groan escaped her lips.
Then the memories returned—A terrifying man. Pressure. Crushing fear.
A ramen shop...A presence that made her heart stop cold.
And now—this.
Bound, broken, and at his mercy.
The memory hit like a flashbang.
The crimson swarm of mosquitoes blotting out the sun. That cyborg, Genos—throwing everything he had at her. Scorching flames, exploding streets...
And then—
Him.
That man. In a cheap yellow jumpsuit. Bald. Ordinary. Bored-looking.
He strolled into the battlefield like someone checking his mailbox.
And then—With the faintest hint of impatience—He raised his hand...
Splat.
That casual slap didn't just hit her face—it warped space. Her proud, hardened proboscis shattered like candy glass. Her skull felt like it had been knocked into orbit.
The sheer force of it hurled her across the city like a meteor. She crashed through buildings—one, two, three—until her shredded body finally hit the ground.
Her blood sac ruptured. Her power—gone. Her life essence—drained like air from a popped balloon.
"Hoo..."
Mosquito Girl's body trembled.
A full-body, uncontrollable shiver.
Her crimson pupils contracted into tiny pinpricks, the image of that bald monster burned into her soul.
That slap. That disaster. That despair.
It was no longer just a memory. It had become a genetic scar.
The mere thought of him—The possibility of him—Made her feel like he was about to tear through the wall at any second.
And then—
Creak—
The guest room door opened slowly.
That subtle sound slammed into her brain like a detonation.
Her body locked up. Her breathing halted.
Her eyes—wide, glassy—were fixed on the door like it was a portal to hell.
Kaito stepped in.
Still in his plain home clothes.
But his demeanor had changed.
Gone was the slight hesitation.In its place was a deliberate stillness—an eerie calm—an aura of controlled dominance that mirrored the legend he was forced to play:King.
He said nothing.
In his hand, he held a glass filled with a dark red, viscous liquid.
Blood.