"One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines Unit 001 initializing…"
A faint hum rose, followed by a blue glow.
"Initialization complete. Running self-diagnostic."
"Self-diagnostic complete. All functions operational. Power at 30%, energy reserve at 98%↑, waste crystal storage at 0.2%, data storage at 2%. Connecting to Wisdom of the Ten Thousand as One."
"Connection established. This is the One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines user agreement. Sign contract?"
"Yes," Kawakawa Kotarou replied, voice shaky.
"Identity confirmed: Teyvat—Inazuma—Tenryou Commission—Ritou Shrine—Subordinate Samurai Clan: Kawakawa—Kawakama Kotarou. Contract signed. Certified by Geo Archon Morax, empowered by Morax's divine authority. Oathbreakers face the Wrath of the Rock."
[One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines]: Skill Evaluation, Skill Selection, Logs, Library, Data Transmission Center.
[Power Boost Options]: Default (30%), Godlike Aid (50%), Forbidden (Locked, 80%).
[Communication]: Contacts, Calls, Messages.
"Now, choose what to train," Reisen Riou said to Kotarou. "First, check your skill level. Select Skill Evaluation."
"Yes." Kotarou, still nervous, relaxed when the device didn't attack him.
He picked [Swordsmanship] for assessment.
"The evaluation works for anyone, not just contractors, except for power boosts," Reisen Riou explained. "Let's spar to gauge your level."
They sparred, constrained by the small space, but data collection finished quickly.
Contractor: Low-Rank Samurai Kawakawa Kotarou—Life Level LV21, Swordsmanship LV3
Shrine Guardian Reisen Riou—Life Level LV51, Swordsmanship LV3
Reisen Riou clicked his tongue. The One System's precision was off—his level was LV50, not LV51. Close enough, though.
"Now, activate the boost. That's the real test," he said.
Kotarou, less tense, followed his lead and enabled the boost.
"Practice your swordsmanship. Your clan uses Shogunate Swordsmanship, right?"
"Yes. Our ancestors earned the right to pass it down. Later generations tweaked it for Ritou's environment."
Reisen Riou nodded. Shogunate Swordsmanship targeted Hilichurls and Slimes, rare on Ritou. Adapting it for humans made sense.
With Swordsmanship Theory LV5, he knew Shogunate Swordsmanship's framework, even with Kawakawa tweaks.
Kotarou received guidance from Wisdom of the Ten Thousand as One and the One System. He sensed every flaw in his form, instinctively knowing how to refine it for better training.
It felt like a master guiding him hand-in-hand.
For an hour, Kotarou swung his blade, movements growing smoother, more precise.
The One System pinged, urging rest. Kotarou leaned on his sword, satisfied.
Reisen Riou pondered. Kawakawa Tarou and Kozirou, not daring to interrupt, quizzed Kotarou. Hearing it felt like a swordmaster's tutoring, they were thrilled.
They tested too:
Kawakama Tarou—Life Level LV25, Swordsmanship LV4
Kawakama Kozirou—Life Level LV24, Swordsmanship LV4
Standard for low-rank samurai clans—no surprises, the limit without rare opportunities.
They called more clan kids to test:
Kawakama Kozirou (19)—Life Level LV13, Swordsmanship LV2
Kawakama Kosaburou (18)—Life Level LV10…
A red glow flickered on the blue-lit One System.
"Trash bin's full. Needs emptying," Reisen Riou said.
He'd been mulling feedback. Transmit could share his experience; logically, it could take others' too. Crowdsourced cultivation was his goal.
Issues remained: transmission mechanics and scan precision needed work.
He dumped the near-full crystal debris, adding a data extraction device.
He called Kosaburou over, having him place his hand on the One System. It projected a humanoid silhouette, red zones highlighting exercised areas.
"I added a function to track muscle use," Reisen Riou said. "Post-training, it shows what's worked and what's not."
"The Library has massage techniques and skills. Study them—massage aids muscle recovery and growth."
He didn't mention the One System copied their strengthening memories during scans—experience.
Testing it, he found losses. As a youkai, human experience wasn't fully compatible, but it worked, losing only a fifth. Crowdsourcing was viable.
Then he thought of Ritou's other youkai, diligently training…
Unlike him, whose past-life body limited gains except in archery and forging, Reisen Anko was a training fiend. If he gave her a One System…
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