Tokoyo Walker

What is this "[Enter Tokoyo]" that suddenly popped up?

Uesugi Tetsu examined the option with great interest.

[Tokoyo Rift detected. You may now choose to enter Tokoyo for exploration.]

There was no further explanation beyond that.

He nodded thoughtfully.

Yeah, I don't get it.

Then, Uesugi Tetsu clicked on the shimmering "[Enter Tokoyo]" option.

Overthinking is useless. Game mechanics that are hard to understand become clear once you start playing.

In an instant, Uesugi Tetsu's vision went black, and he collapsed onto the bed.

Cold, unmoving.

The smell of rotten thatch filled his nostrils. Uesugi Tetsu took a deep breath of the murky, cold air and sat up groggily, clutching his head.

Without hesitation, he chose to transform into the Laughing Brahma, and the chaos in his senses subsided significantly.

Uesugi Tetsu opened his eyes and saw a gloomy thatched hut and a large amount of semi-transparent text before him.

[The long, deep descent has ended. You have arrived in Tokoyo...]

[This land, once bordering the living world, has been forgotten by all over the long years and sunk into the deep abyss. To the point that the fall of the Lord of Tokoyo went unnoticed.]

[Tokoyo has lost its co-ruler. Different eras have fallen into one, and the decaying land breeds filth, with evil spirits running rampant...]

[This is a paradise for demons, a hell for the living.]

[A soul of the living who can only transform into a weak Laughing Brahma, the future Lord of Tokoyo.]

[Welcome to Tokoyo.]

Tokoyo?

In his memory, it seemed to be the world in mythology that was opposite to the "living world" where humans resided...

A world inhabited by ghosts, demons, and strange tales.

Uesugi Tetsu's eyes lit up.

So, Tokoyo would be filled with all sorts of yokai and wandering Soul Ash on every street?

--This is all valuable gacha resources for me!

He eagerly stood up, but his head accidentally bumped into something.

Clatter--

A faint light flickered to life within the dilapidated thatched hut. Uesugi Tetsu looked up and saw an old, dilapidated shrine covered in cobwebs.

[You have lit the Shrine of Edo Castle.]

[Shrine: Basic anchor point. Once lit, it can be used for transfer or resurrection.]

Uesugi Tetsu roughly understood. This was like the spring in an online game, except this was probably an online game where he was the only player.

With that thought, Uesugi Tetsu immediately prepared to go out and explore thoroughly, and to cut down every monster he encountered along the way to gather resources.

Soul Ash, here I come!

[Current Area Unlocked: Edo Castle (4-star)]

[Main Quest 1: Explore at least 80% of Edo Castle. Current Exploration: 0%]

[Main Quest 2: Exorcise Oni Warriors - Ten Thousand Killer · Fangxiang (4-star), Thousand Enemy · White Bone, Wax Figure (3.5-star).]

[Side Quest 1: The Peeping from Below - Ever since you entered Edo Castle, you seem to have felt a faint, intermittent gaze.]

Uesugi Tetsu, who was about to push open the door of the thatched hut, paused. He squinted at the two characters after "Edo Castle" and, after confirming he wasn't mistaken, stood frozen in confusion, silent.

No way, man?

Me, a 0.5-star juvenile Laughing Brahma, and you want me to explore a 4-star map?

Any random monster passing by on the street could probably kick me to death.

And this main quest... you want me, a 0.5-star scrub, to exorcise a 4-star Ten Thousand Killer Oni Warrior?

If that's the case, haha, then I'm truly invincible.

But then again.

Uesugi Tetsu pondered.

Risk often means opportunity.

In high-star maps, there definitely wouldn't just be monsters that could kill me with a single kick. There would surely also be high-star items and equipment that far surpassed my current level, obtainable in reality and from the gacha pool.

And from the information about the shrine just now, I don't have just one life; I can revive continuously in Tokoyo.

Thinking about it this way, it wasn't so unacceptable anymore.

And the prompt wasn't over yet.

[Weak Lord of Tokoyo, please choose one of the following three identities as your foundation to stand in this turbulent Tokoyo.]

Uesugi Tetsu glanced through the three identity options and immediately made up his mind.

[Hojo Remnant: Our clan has fallen. The Kamakura period was reduced to ashes in a great fire. Now, you are the only hope for the Hojo family. Effect: Charm +10, Reputation increased. Unlocks the unique special event "Revitalize the Hojo Family."]

[Walker: Since ancient times, Walkers have measured the history and land of Tokoyo with their feet, and so have you. Effect: Increases the probability of triggering hidden events.]

[Sengoku Ronin: A ronin lost upon the lands of Tokoyo. Effect: Physique +5, immediately obtain "Ronin Katana", immediately obtain 500 Soul Ash, slight bonus to Kendo cultivation speed.]

The Sengoku Ronin option needed no further consideration; it was immediately rejected.

Although the "Ronin Katana" shimmered with a deep blue light, likely a rare quality weapon, and he would immediately receive 500 Soul Ash to fill his current deficit.

But this was clearly a pure early-game hero, and he wasn't facing any urgent life-or-death crisis right now. The only late-game talent it offered, increased cultivation speed, was limited to "Kendo."

The development path was simply too narrow, pass.

As for the remaining two identities, Uesugi Tetsu pondered for a moment before ultimately rejecting "Hojo Remnant," which could increase charm and reputation.

Because if he guessed correctly, the clan mentioned in "Hojo Remnant" likely referred to the Hojo clan from the late Kamakura period.

Revitalizing the Hojo family was not an issue, and he might even gain unexpected rewards from this identity.

But the problem was that different eras in Tokoyo all existed on the same land.

Uesugi Tetsu didn't want to confront the behemoth that had destroyed the Hojo family the moment he entered Tokoyo. His half-star Laughing Brahma was probably weaker than their guard dogs.

Since that was the case, he could only choose "Walker."

Increasing the probability of triggering hidden events was indeed good, but how significant this "probability" actually was remained to be seen.

Uesugi Tetsu felt his luck had always been rather poor, otherwise, he wouldn't have transmigrated into a cold iron cabinet.

[You have chosen the identity "Walker."]

His hand grew heavy as Uesugi Tetsu saw a bronze token covered in rust and dust appear in his palm. It bore indistinct text and was likely the "Walker" token.

Uesugi Tetsu picked up a few strands of straw, tied a simple knot, and hung the token at his waist.

He stood in place for a few more seconds. After confirming no new prompts appeared, he took a deep breath again, put on the Laughing Brahma mask inlaid with the Hundred-Eyed Demon's eyeballs, and gripped his old sickle, ready to backstab at any moment.

In this state, Uesugi Tetsu even felt confident he could contend with a one-star evil spirit.

Then, he gently placed his hand on the door of the thatched hut.

He slowly pushed it open.