300% Base Reward — Three Zanpakuto!
Nate grinned, realizing the task had been easier than anticipated. The system had transformed the three Zanpakuto into magical items similar to his 'Sode no Shirayuki.'
Among them, the powers of 'Kyoka Suigetsu' were truly fearsome. Its ability, "Perfect Hypnosis," allowed him to control an opponent's five senses, making them perceive whatever he desired—appearance, texture, even scent. Nate intended to keep this blade for himself.
As for 'Murciélago' and 'Senbonzakura'—both potent, yet more complementary than essential for him—he decided they'd be more useful to strengthen his companions.
"Murciélago could go to Mira. And Senbonzakura..." After a moment's thought, he decided to give it to Erza, whose Requip magic relied heavily on both weapons and armor. This blade would be the perfect boost to her abilities. Having recently received a magical armor set from her, this could serve as the ideal gift in return.
Just then...
A deep rumble sounded from below. Nate looked down as the ground heaved, and a disk-shaped city emerged from beneath the surface. Massive legs extended from its edges, lifting the city like a colossal, crawling creature. The livestream chat erupted with countless comments:
[What is THAT?!]
[An underground city? It looks almost... alive!]
Jenny, ever the professional host, took note of the intense viewer curiosity and explained, "This is 'Nirvana', what the Oración Seis has been seeking—an ancient, forbidden magic that can shift the balance between light and darkness."
[Magic? It looks like a whole city—is it really magic?]
[Light and darkness shifting? What does that even mean?]
Jenny, glancing at the rapid-fire comments, clarified, "Nirvana has the power to transform the virtuous into the wicked and vice versa. In simple terms, it can turn good people bad and bad people good." She explained that it was developed by the Nirvit tribe four centuries ago as a way to maintain balance in a war-torn world. After 400 years, it has resurfaced.
...
At the tower's pinnacle, in Nirvana's central control room, 'Brain' stood with his staff on the platform, gazing over the ancient city before him. He didn't turn around as Nate materialized behind him in a burst of golden light. Arms outstretched, Brain declared, "Behold, Nate! This is Nirvana, a city of ancient civilization."
Brain activated the control system, lighting a circle of golden hexagons around the platform, which culminated in a giant sigil resembling a phoenix at its center.
Nate pushed his Six Eyes to their limit, rapidly analyzing Nirvana's core as he asked, "Are you planning to conquer the world with this?"
Brain chuckled, turning to face Nate. "First, I'll destroy one guild: Cait Shelter."
Nate internally rolled his eyes, amused at Brain's confidence. Did he really think that Nirvana was unstoppable?
"You think you'll succeed?" Nate challenged.
Brain sneered. "Not long ago, I made a pact with Hades, the master of Grimoire Heart." The arrangement was simple: Grimoire Heart would assault the Magic Council, seizing what they wanted while the Oración Seis would take control of Nirvana. With the council in disarray, they wouldn't risk launching an Etherion strike on Nirvana."
He extended his hand. "Nate, I value your skill—join me."
Beneath them, Nirvana began to stride toward the northeastern part of Worth Woodsea, each step spanning an incredible distance.
Nate couldn't help but laugh softly.
"What's so funny?" Brain's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Without a word, Nate focused magic power into his fist. One star... two stars... three stars!
"Earthquake!"
A thunderous crack resounded as his punch hit the ground, sending tremors like white spiderwebs racing through Nirvana's six massive legs.
"Stop!" Brain shouted, panicked.
But it was too late. The city shook violently as all six legs shattered, causing the disk-shaped metropolis to plummet back to the ground with a resounding crash.
Brain stumbled, nearly falling, and glared at Nate, his eyes bloodshot with fury. "You... you wretch!"
"Time's up for you," Nate said, retracting his Six Eyes, having finished analyzing Nirvana's core. "Thanks—I've gained a bit of new knowledge about magic."
"Requip!"
With a flash of light, Nate summoned a katana into his hand. "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."
Brain, cautiously observing, realized that Nirvana wouldn't be damaged so easily—it had a self-repair mechanism. He still believed he could fend off the assaulting forces and proceed with his plan.
But then...
'Squelch!'
A blade pierced his chest, and only then did Brain's eyes widen in disbelief, pain flooding through him as Nate appeared right in front of him, blade embedded in his torso.
A clone?
Brain looked past Nate, back toward the spot where he'd been standing moments before, now dissolving like burnt paper into ash.
"A... A hypnotic illusion!" he spat, blood trickling from his mouth. This illusion magic was far stronger than anything he had used—there was no hint of it until it was too late.
Nate withdrew Kyoka Suigetsu, flicking the blood from its blade. Brain clutched his wound, his staff clattering to the ground as he staggered back and collapsed.
In the livestream chat:
[???]
[What just happened?!]
[Why did Brain just stand there, waiting to get stabbed?]
[Illusion magic?]
[Is he dead? Is the Oración Seis completely done for?]
Nate paid no attention to the flood of comments. His mission was complete, so the broadcast no longer mattered.
He glanced at Brain's fallen staff, chuckling. "It's common knowledge that whenever there's a 'Four,' there's always a fifth, right? So why wouldn't the Oración Seis have a seventh?"
With that, Nate raised his foot and stomped on the skull at the top of the staff.
'Bang!'
Startled, the staff jerked back, hovering in the air as its green crystal eyes glowed nervously. "Wait! Wait!"
In a panic, the staff's voice echoed from its skeletal head, "Nate-san, I'm innocent! I swear, I'm not some hidden seventh member!"