[BleachxMultiverse] - Conquering Worlds After Death

In the training grounds, an unrelenting barrage of arrows rained down from all directions. At the centre stood a bare-chested figure, unmoving as the iron arrows struck his body with the sound of clashing steel, only to be deflected powerlessly to the ground.

The ground was littered with a chaotic sea of arrows, yet the figure in the centre remained steadfast, unyielding.

His physique was a masterpiece, like a sculpture crafted by an ancient Greek artisan with muscles chiselled to perfection.

A greyish-black metallic sheen covered his body, making him appear as if he were a living statue forged from steel.

As the final wave of arrows ceased, the 'statue' moved. With a subtle shift, the metallic sheen on his body faded, revealing his original skin tone.

"Phew—"

Ren let out a long breath, releasing the stagnant air from his lungs. His Haki training for the day was complete.

Today marked the twenty-fifth day since his arrival in the Endspace. During this time, his routine had been straightforward: honing his skills in the training grounds and indulging in anime during his rest periods.

He had meticulously watched every show related to derivative worlds that a low-tier explorer might encounter. The vibrant culture of the old world left him deeply impressed.

His attributes and skills had improved steadily. Armament Haki had risen to Level 4 through relentless effort, his physical stats had each increased by one point, and his mental attribute had seen a significant boost of two points.

To his surprise, the Reiatsu Enhancement Technique he learned in the Shin'ō Academy of the Bleach World worked even outside of it. He discovered that the EndSpace also contained spirit particles.

Ren theorized that these so-called spirit particles were merely one form of energy. In cultivation worlds, they might be called spiritual energy, while in the Naruto World, they could be referred to as chakra.

Viewed universally, this energy directly enhanced mental attributes, increasing the upper limit of his soul source value. He speculated that mental attributes were closely tied to the strength of one's soul.

[System Notification]

An Origin Seed has been detected. Following EndSpace protocols, a Pioneer will be dispatched to the target world to retrieve it. Please prepare yourself for deployment.

Ren had just finished showering when the notification from the Endspace echoed in his ears. He froze for a moment before bursting with excitement.

After idling in the Endspace for over half a month, his Shūkonrasetsu was itching for action. To his delight, a mission had arrived sooner than expected.

The special nature of this mission intrigued him further. His exceptionally high luck stat was clearly at work again. [T/N - Are you sure about that?]

[System Notification]

[As Pioneer 008, you are granted the privilege of knowing the target world 24 hours in advance.]

[Target Derivative World: Kengan Ashura]

Hearing the follow-up, Ren's enthusiasm surged. He had always been a fan of martial arts manga, with Baki and Kengan Ashura topping his list of favourites.

The prospect of entering this world and crossing fists with its combatants thrilled him.

However, as the excitement subsided, a sense of unease crept in. Based on his knowledge of Kengan Ashura, while its fighters boasted superhuman physiques, their stats still seemed inferior to his current level.

Given his understanding of the Endspace, it wouldn't send him to a world he could easily overpower. The real challenge likely revolved around the mysterious 'Origin Seed.'

"EndSpace, what is the Origin Seed?"

[System Notification]

[Checking permissions... Pioneer clearance confirmed. Accessing available data.]

[Nine unique Spirit Seeds exist across all worlds, with the Origin Seed being one of them. These seeds randomly descend upon a world and influence it during their stay.]

[Retrieving a Spirit Seed grants the retriever a unique ability.]

The system's response was succinct, with no additional details. Likely, his current clearance level was insufficient.

Still, even this brief explanation was enough for Ren's mind to grasp the significance of the Origin Seed. This object....was extraordinary.

"EndSpace, what abilities does the Origin Seed confer?"

[System Notification]

[Insufficient Pioneer clearance. Details will become accessible upon retrieval of the Origin Seed.]

Ren's curiosity burned fiercely. The anticipation of entering the Kengan Ashura world and locating the Origin Seed left him restless.

"EndSpace, upgrade my Armament Haki by one level."

With a new world on the horizon, Ren decided to spend his resources without hesitation. He used a Small Inheritance Crystal and EndCoins for the enhancement.

Though he had trained his Haki to Level 4 himself, levelling to 5 still required only one Small Inheritance Crystal. However, the coin cost had increased from 400 to 500.

He had little surplus left, mainly because of his recent indulgence in a premium training mode offered by the space, which had cost him another 500 coins.

[System Notification]

[Sufficient time remains. Beginning enhancement process…]

Several hours later, the enhancement was complete. After inspecting his gear, Ren sat cross-legged on his bed to meditate.

In the EndSpace, every mission world was a new adventure—and a new danger. He needed to enter each one in peak condition to handle any unforeseen threats.

[System Notification]

[Initiating transfer...]

Bathed in the radiant white glow of the spatial corridor, Ren felt the familiar sensation of being transported. Everything around him blurred, except for the crystal-clear notifications echoing in his mind.

[System Notifications]

[World located successfully. Target Derivative World: Kengan Ashura.]

[Explorers deployed to this mutated world: 19.]

[Universal language adaptation granted.]

[Initial identity arranged for the Pioneer in this world.]

[Global communication channel enabled. Please monitor for updates.]

As the disorienting sensation of weightlessness faded, Ren felt his feet touch solid ground. He had arrived.

Ren tried to stand up and get a sense of his surroundings but quickly realized he was tightly restrained by a straitjacket.

His hands were also cuffed behind his back.

All around him was pitch black—so dark he couldn't even see his own hands. This environment, this state of confinement, was all too familiar to him.

Damn it! EndSpace, is this the 'starting identity' you arranged for me?!

This is the 'premium treatment' you promised?!

This is a total scam! Refund! I want my money back!

The urge to rant was almost unbearable, but Ren decided to hold back for now. First, he needed to check the mission details and world information.

Fine, being locked in a prison cell wasn't the worst scenario—at least the isolation provided some temporary safety.

[Mission World: Kengan Ashura (Undergoing Mutation)]

[Mission World Type: Special Derivative]

[World Difficulty Level: Lv. 3–7+]

[Warning: Due to the presence of a 'Seed,' this world is undergoing mutative growth. The difficulty will continue to escalate over time!]

World Description: Money and profit, power and desire—bloodthirsty violence and life-or-death competition!

The world of martial arts is in turmoil—the Kengan Association is teeming with hidden currents. Numerous powerful contenders rise to claim their place, striving to shine on the stage of ultimate life-and-death battles.

A mysterious 'Seed' has fallen into this realm, gradually unlocking the physical and mental limitations of its fighters.

Kengan Matches: These are bare-handed fighting competitions where corporations and merchants wager enormous stakes by hiring fighters to represent them. Originally established in the Edo period as a means to resolve disputes among merchants, the tradition has endured into the modern era.

[Current World Exploration Progress: 0%]

[Current Location: Executioner's Prison (Facility for High-Security Inmates)]

[Current Identity: Death Row Inmate at Executioner's Prison]

When Ren saw the words death row inmate listed under his identity, he couldn't help but feel utterly disgusted. He scrolled down to check the details and discovered that his in-world identity matched his real name—he was still Ren Hoshino.

According to the setting crafted by the EndSpace, he was a somewhat renowned martial artist before he got into a deadly conflict with the smugglers' syndicate, killing 28 people bare-handed.

After his trial, he had already undergone four executions by hanging, but his body refused to die. As a result, he was transferred to Executioner's Prison to be held indefinitely.

___________

End of Volume 1: The Monster of Shin'ō