The very instant Uesugi Sasuke spoke his vow.
[Ding!]
That cold, emotionless mechanical notification thundered through his mind once again.
[Host's resolve for revenge detected as fully solidified. Main quest officially activated!]
As soon as the voice fell silent, a pale blue screen that only he could see slowly unfurled before his eyes like a scroll.
[Sasuke Template System] [Host: Uesugi Sasuke] [Current template: Young Sasuke (unlock progress: 2%)] [Mastered abilities: Basic Taijutsu, basic ninja tool throwing techniques] [Revenge points: 0] [Skills awaiting unlock:] [Tier 1 skill: Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (requires 100 revenge points to unlock)] [Tier 1 skill: Chidori (requires 300 revenge points to unlock)] [Main quest: Slay all demons and take revenge on the Demon King!]
Sasuke knelt before the graves, staring expressionlessly at the futuristic screen before him, without the slightest flicker in his eyes.
It was as though, overnight, every emotion in his heart called "shock" or "curiosity" had been burned to ashes by the flames of hatred.
He simply analyzed every word on it calmly.
Revenge points?
His gaze fell on an inconspicuous line of small print at the bottom of the panel.
[Note: Slaying demons grants revenge points corresponding to their strength.]
So that was how it worked.
To unlock greater power, he had to hunt those monsters.
This mysterious "system" that had suddenly appeared was practically tailor-made for his revenge.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
Chidori.
Merely looking at those two names, Sasuke could imagine, from the additional memories in his mind, the world-destroying power they contained.
As long as he obtained them, he would never again be forced to flee in disgrace like a stray dog, as he had last night.
He would possess the power to tear those monsters apart with his own hands!
Just then, the text on the system panel changed again.
[Introductory quest issued: Beginning of the Hunt] [Quest objective: Slay three lone demons (0/3)] [Quest description: The road to revenge begins beneath your feet. Start with the weakest prey, familiarize yourself with your power, and hone your claws and fangs.] [Quest rewards: Unlock the system shop and receive 100 revenge points.] [The approximate location of the nearest demon has been marked for the host.]
As the system notification ended, a faint red arrow that only he could see appeared out of thin air in his field of vision, pointing deep into the forest east of the village like the most precise compass.
His first prey was there.
And so was the first stepping stone on his road to revenge.
Slowly, Sasuke rose from the ground.
He took one last look at the two fresh graves behind him, then at the home that had been reduced to charred ruins.
The last trace of a child's warmth and bewilderment vanished completely from his eyes.
In its place were a coldness like ice frozen for ten thousand years and a resolve fierce enough to burn everything to nothing.
He did not look back again.
Nor did he linger or mourn for even a moment.
Because he knew that the best consolation for the dead was to offer their enemies' blood to their departed souls.
He tightened his grip on the cold, tangible Kunai he had held clenched in his palm ever since last night.
Turning, he began walking in the direction the system had marked.
His steps were not quick; he even staggered a little because of his injuries.
Yet every step was as firm as though it landed on a pivotal point of fate.
From this day onward, the mountain village boy Uesugi Sasuke, who had basked in his parents' affection and found happiness in a bowl of hot soup, no longer existed in this world.
All that remained was a departed soul walking through the darkness, feeding on the lives of demons, living only for revenge.
Before you continue