Multiversal Manifestation System

After his impersonation on Rengoku, Wang Zi didn't bother checking the virtual world, and got back into eating his heart out.

"Now a good supply of SP should be secured. I'll probably get a few more spikes once the anime ends, but what I wanted from that world is already mine" Wang Zi thought to himself.

"The freshman competition should be coming soon... I remember the principal saying he would give us some more info a week or so before it started."

"I've got a pretty good grasp on Flame Breathing, now to update it to Sun Breathing, and see if it can be used as a replacement for my normal Mana Breathing method. After that I should start preparations for the competition. Using swordsmanship is okay. But flame breathing is probably a bad idea, I'm sure somebody will eventually find out..." Wang Zi was troubled.

Even though exposing Rengoku's flame breathing to the world would no doubt boost his anime's popularity, and thus his SP gains, but if he actually used it as himself, there was a very high chance someone could connect him to the virtual Rengoku.

"I'm not sure if flame breathing is a revolutionary thing or not... But I don't wanna be bothered by some idiot either way. That just leaves the Rinnegan's Asura Path. I just have to draw something akin to the asura path from Naruto and say that my class allows me to bring what I draw to reality... There was some guy who did that i think."

"Or I could actually draw a swordsman and say I got inspiration from Demon Slayer? Sun breathing is similar to flame breathing, but not quite the same... I'm quite the fatty right now, and since the V.B. has a limit of 1 account per person, there should be no problem as long as I log in by myself, not using the system. After all, I look quite different from Rengoku right now."

"Decisions decisions..." Wang Zi kept thinking about his plans.

"Hua'er, show me my status."

Name: Wang Zi

Age: 18

Gender: Male

Class: Artist

Rank: SSS (Compatibility: 100%)

Level: 13

System Level: 1

System Points: 28,883,109

Talents:[Inhuman Reflexes]: Reaction speed increased by 50 times.

[Ultra-Mind]: Grants perfect memory, enhanced comprehension, and control over the body.[Elemental Affinity]: Able to control mana of the five basic elements.

[Uzumaki Blood]: Increases the host's physical stats, with an emphasis on stamina.

Basic Stats (average human = 10):

Strength (STR): 105

Agility (AGI): 71

Stamina (STA): 102

Intelligence (INT): 136

Wisdom (WIS): 141

Luck (LCK): 20

Wang Zi was pleased, his SP skyrocketed.

"Hmm. Gotta get me the Sun Breathing technique. That will leave around 13M SP... There's nothing left for this world huh. I could use Combat Deployment with SP but their power... Is just not good enough. If this was my old world sure, but mana being a thing just makes them seem weak."

"Wait couldn't I upgrade the system and the Rinnegan with points? There's still quite a few paths left, even if I don't plan on using the Rinnegan just yet, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to upgrade it. Alright, its decided."

"System, I'm buying the Sun Breathing technique, and using... 1 million points on the Rinnegan."

"Affirmative Host. Manifesting..."

Wang Zi felt a familiar rush of information to his head, "Ugh. It doesn't hurt but its still uncomfortable!"

"Sun Breathing manifested. Improving the Host's Rinnegan..."

But for the Rinnegan, there was no noticeable improvement.

"Sigh I had a feeling... Fine, use 9 million more system, I don't believe it won't eventually unlock another path!" Wang Zi gritted his teeth and said. He didn't have much use for SP at the moment anyways.

"Affirmative Host. Improving the Host's Rinnegan..."

This time, Wang Zi actually felt the pain, but despite this, he was still smiling. If there was pain, then there was a chance of getting something new!

And he was right, the system soon confirmed his guess

"DING!

Rinnegan improved. Unlocked Animal Path.

Rinnegan (Partially Unlocked):

The power of the Rinnegan has been manifested. Unlock more abilities through System Points or through self-discovery. Use System Points to accelerate development.

Current Abilities:

The ability to see mana and its flow within the body.

The ability to see otherwise invisible barriers.

Human Path: Extract and absorb souls and mana from others to strengthen yourself.

Preta Path: Absorb most mana-based attacks and abilities. Absorption limit is based on the host's stats.

Asura Path: Manifest mechanized limbs, weaponry, and armor on the host's body. Not permanent.

Animal Path: Allows the user to summon a wide variety of creatures."

"Animal Path! Now there's just Naraka, which is kinda useless, and the one I want the most, the Deva Path! Hehehe... soon!"

"System, does the animal path have all of Nagato's summons?"

"Yes Host. Giant Drill-Beaked Bird, Giant Multi-Headed Dog, Giant Snake-Tailed Chameleon, Giant Panda, Giant Ox, Giant Rhino, Giant Crustacean, Giant Centipede are all part of the Animal Path. The host can capture creatures and imbue black receivers into them and have them as summons aswell."

"Oh. I didn't even try creating receivers. They're supposed to be the trademark of the Rinnegan aren't they" Wang Zi was eager to try. He focused his mana and his eyes suddenly turned purple, the Rinnegan showing itself.

And after just a little bit of focusing, and using a miniscule amount of mana, he managed to get a receiver to pop out of his hand.

"That feels weird as hell," he said while swinging the weird metal rod around, "it seems pretty durable though. I'll give it a try at the competition."

"With the Animal Path and the Asura Path, there's no need to worry about the competition anymore. I'll draw the summons and bring a book, just to make sure I have an excuse for them, shouldn't be a problem fooling everyone." Wang Zi was very satisfied.

Even though he didn't fully unlock the Rinnegan's abilities yet, what he had was enough to get him a good spot at the coming competition.

"Now all I need to do is start using Sun Breathing instead of Mana Breathing to see if its indeed better... My stats are getting harder to raise so there won't be much change in 2 weeks, I'll just use the rest of the time on getting fatter and practicing sun breathing and getting better with the Rinnegan then."

And so he dived back into stuffing his face. His classmates on the other hand...

Alicia Frost stood in her family's private training grounds, frost mana swirling around her hands as she practiced conjuring an ice barrage.

Despite choosing the magician route, she was determined to prove that she could achieve a top placement. Sweat dripped from her brow as she gritted her teeth, her resolute face reflecting her inner determination.

"I'll show them that even without a blade, I can stand on top," she muttered to herself as she launched another icy spell at her target. "I won't let you down, mother!"

Meanwhile, Bea was lying in her plush bed, her holographic butterfly display fluttering serenely around her.

In stark contrast to Alicia's intense training, Bea had her holo-watch projecting the Demon Slayer anime in front of her, watching intently with a relaxed smile. She had mana around her as well... but her focus didn't seem to be training.

"Wow, this Rengoku guy is amazing!" she exclaimed, completely engrossed. If Wang Zi knew she was watching Demon Slayer, he would have probably been amused.

At the same time, Xian Mei sat cross-legged in the center of her quiet room, a thick book on psychic ability control resting in her lap.

Her calm demeanor betrayed the power she exuded as her glowing purple eyes reflected the symbols in the book.

All around her, furniture floated gently in the air, the delicate movements a testament to her incredible control. This serene yet intense environment was her unique way of training for the competition.

Ji Min and Kain had chosen a more direct approach. In the Virtual Brain's Colosseum, their avatars clashed in a fierce sparring session.

Ji Min's warrior class focused on heavy strikes, while Kain's knightly defense techniques parried each blow with precision. Despite their competitive spirits, both boys cheered each other on between rounds.

"You're improving, Ji Min!" Kain said with a grin as he launched a calculated counterattack.

"You're not bad yourself, but don't think I'll go easy on you during the competition!" Ji Min responded with a laugh.

Everyone was hyped for the competition. And a few days later, everyone in Wang Zi's class got a notification: "Everyone is to meet in the classroom in 5 hours. Details about the competition are going to provided. Be absent at your own risk!"

No one was stupid enough to not be there. The competition was a big part in deciding their future after all. So even the latest person was 30 mins early.

Excitement, curiosity, and a hint of anxiety hung in the air as they gathered in the classroom. Whispers filled the room as everyone speculated about the tournament.

Bea Might leaned toward Alicia Frost, her usual bubbly demeanor evident even in her hushed voice. "Do you think we'll have to face each other in the first round?" she asked, a teasing smile on her lips.

Alicia, always the calm counterpart, replied quietly, "It doesn't matter. I'll be ready."

On the other side of the room, Kain Arclight and Ji Min shared an animated conversation.

"This is what we've been training for," Kain said with a grin.

"I just hope we get to show off what we've got." Ji Min nodded enthusiastically.

"Let's make sure we dominate. No holding back!"

Chen Kai, meanwhile, sat back in his chair, arms crossed, a smug smirk on his face as he scanned the room. His eyes lingered on a few classmates, as if measuring their worth. Arrogance radiated from his posture, as if he already considered himself the victor.

At the back of the room, Li Na and Xian Mei remained quiet. Li Na leaned against her desk, her sharp eyes focused on no one in particular, while Xian Mei's calm expression was as serene as ever. Her attention seemed to drift, her thoughts a mystery.

The room quieted as the door swung open, revealing Teacher Zhou. His stern expression immediately demanded silence.

"Follow me," he instructed.

The students quickly stood and filed into line, their murmurs fading as they realized the gravity of the moment.

The group walked in silence to the auditorium, where rows of seats faced a large stage. At the center, the imposing figure of Principal Anton Wanderer stood, his presence filling the space with authority.

The students settled into their seats, their attention fixed on the principal as they prepared to hear about the tournament that would shape their futures.

He started out:

"Students."

"Today marks the beginning of a challenge that will shape your futures. But before I speak of the tournament itself, let me explain something important - a truth about the universe, one that mirrors the competition you are about to face."

The principal's eyes swept over the crowd, ensuring every student was listening. "You may have heard of the Law of the Dark Forest," he said. "It is a grim but enlightening analogy drawn from the universe itself."

He raised his hand, gesturing as he spoke. "Imagine the universe as a vast, dark forest. In this forest, every civilization is like a hunter, creeping silently through the undergrowth. Each is armed, watchful, and wary. The reason for this silence, for this secrecy, is survival.

For if a hunter reveals themselves, they risk being discovered by another - a potential threat. And in the forest, threats are not reasoned with. They are eliminated."

A chill ran through the room as the principal's voice grew heavier. "Now, apply this analogy to yourselves. In this tournament, each of you is a hunter. Every other student is a potential rival. Like the civilizations in the dark forest, you cannot afford to trust blindly, only the strong and the cunning will succeed. But unlike the forest, your competition is not a matter of life and death - it is an opportunity to prove yourselves, to grow stronger, and to shine."

He paused, his tone softening but his gaze unwavering. "Use this opportunity wisely. Just as civilizations in the universe must balance caution and ambition, so must you. Fight with honor, strategy, and determination, what you achieve here may shape your paths in the future."

The room remained silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Principal Wanderer straightened, his voice regaining its commanding tone.

"Now, Teacher Zhou will explain the rules of the tournament. Prepare yourselves, hunters... The forest awaits."