MMO: Chapter 1/5 [The Second Fic Selected]

Chapter 1: Security

In Manhattan, New York—the so-called capital of economics and finance, the most iconic sight was the towering skyscrapers, and among them, the most eye-catching was Vought Tower, adorned with massive superhero billboards.

Inside the employee building, on the left side of the tower, in Room 4027, a young man stared at his reflection in the mirror, utterly shocked.

"Shit, transmigration is actually real..." The man in the mirror looked nearly identical to him, like they'd been carved from the same mold.

But the extra memories in his mind made it undeniably clear to Silvain Nowak that he really had transmigrated into the body of someone who not only looked exactly like him but even had the same name.

But how did this guy die?

Silvain's gaze inadvertently fell on the shattered glass on the floor, and a flash of memory hit him. In the original owner's final moments, he had gulped water too quickly, causing it to flood into his trachea, which led to difficulty breathing—and finally, he passed out amid a violent coughing fit.

Choked to death... on water. A death that only seemed to happen in cursed jokes actually happened in real life.

While Silvain was still reeling from the absurdity of it all, he began sorting through the memories in his head. The original owner was also named Silvain Nowak. He had come to the U.S. thirteen years ago with his aunt and uncle, settled in Queens, attended a regular high school, and had been a huge fan of superheroes.

So after graduating from college, he applied to Vought International for a security position. Today was his first day on the job.

"Vought International… why does that sound so familiar?" Silvain frowned. Just as he tried to recall, a sudden jolt of sharp pain struck him, cutting off his thoughts. He raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, suspecting that time travel might've left some lingering side effects.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"Silvain, are you okay? I heard something break just now."

The familiar voice instantly conjured up a slightly chubby but honest-looking white guy in Silvain's memory. The person outside was Blitz, also a new hire starting today. A natural optimist, he smiled at everyone. Although they'd only known each other briefly, it was obvious he was a decent guy.

"It's fine. I just accidentally broke a glass," Silvain called back.

"Want me to call the cleaning staff?"

"Buddy, it's just a glass."

Silvain quickly cleaned up the broken glass and the spilled water, then opened the door and stepped out.

"Silvain, you look like you're in a good mood." Blitz, a few centimeters shorter than Silvain, looked stocky and muscular.

Silvain wasn't about to tell him that he had just regained control of his body after three years of paralysis, a miracle that filled him with unspeakable joy.

He glanced down the white corridor and replied, "Joining Vought International and working around superheroes has always been my dream. Now that it's come true, of course I'm happy."

Don't underestimate the job of a security guard. According to his memories, the monthly salary was a solid five thousand U.S. dollars.

Walking side by side, Blitz laughed heartily. "Buddy, same here."

"By the way, who's your favorite superhero? A-Train, with his train-like speed? Or Homelander, who's been making headlines lately? Personally, I'm still into Queen Maeve—man, she's so sexy. I used to jerk off to her in high school…"

Silvain quickly cut off Blitz's endless rambling. The names he mentioned flashed through Silvain's mind like lightning. Even though he'd been bedridden for three years, his eyes had still worked, and the nurse had often played TV shows or cartoons for him.

Those names were unmistakably from The Boys.

Recalling those superheroes who casually trampled human lives, Silvain felt a headache coming on. Traveling to this world wasn't just unsafe, it was downright dangerous. Especially now, as a security guard at Vought International, the danger level had skyrocketed.

"Tell me… is it too late for me to quit?" Silvain asked, rubbing his temples.

Blitz glanced over. "Buddy, that's not even remotely funny."

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and waved it in front of Silvain. "Our assignment for today just came in, we're handling set security. We've got to be there in twenty minutes."

"Don't worry, it's easy work. Just keeping crazy fans in line."

"Alright, I'll go wash up first." Silvain had signed the contract just yesterday. Resigning now would mean paying a hefty penalty, and he didn't have that kind of money.

After meeting up with the rest of the team, they headed out to the film set in a company vehicle.

The set had already been cordoned off with yellow police tape.

A large group of fans held up light boards and waited anxiously for the superheroes to appear. The atmosphere was electric, so much so that Silvain, getting off the car, couldn't help but think of the chaotic fan scenes from TV.

"Shit, could you guys be any slower? Some lunatic just snuck into the theater. If anything happens, you're taking full responsibility."

The one shouting was a white woman from Vought's security division, who looked sharp-tongued and sarcastic. Her spit nearly sprayed Silvain in the face.

"Asia, they're just rookies. I'll handle them," came a voice from nearby. A burly man walked over—it was Ol, Silvain's team leader.

Although Ol's position was equal to Asia's, there clearly was some friction between them.

"Then keep your rookies in check," she snapped. With a hair flip and a sway of her tight skirt-wrapped hips, she strutted toward the theater.

Once she was out of sight, Ol spat on the ground and cursed, "Damn bitch, always riding my ass."

After venting, Ol got serious and assigned tasks to the group.

Silvain was posted at the set's exit, in full security uniform, standing in front of the crowd.

He had to admit, the job was pretty chill. It wasn't until noon that Queen Maeve, clad in steel accessories and a leather skirt, stepped out of a sleek red supercar amid a frenzy of fans.

She posed enthusiastically with fans, flashing sultry smiles under the bombardment of media cameras.

Silvain wasn't assigned to escort the superheroes.

Queen Maeve didn't even glance at him as she passed by, but the moment she did, a searing, burning pain shot through Silvain's eyes.

Then, before he could react, countless colored lines of varying thickness appeared in his vision, quickly converging into a transparent panel.


---

[Main World: The Boys (Cannot be upgraded)]

[World Level: Two Stars]

[Player: Silvain Nowak]

[Fantasy Point: 100]
Fantasy Points can only be obtained from the Main World. Changing the original plot or killing major characters may yield Fantasy Value. Fantasy Points can be used to change the Main World or travel to other Fantasy Worlds, provided the Fantasy World's level is equal to or lower than the Main World.

[Talents: Analyze, Fuse]
Approach the selected target, choose an ability to analyze, and then fuse it with yourself.
Friendly reminder: The stronger the analyzed and fused ability, the stricter the conditions required.

Chapter 2: Playing the Robber
"What is this?" Silvain subconsciously looked around and quickly realized the panel floating in front of him was visible only to himself.

"This can't be a hallucination."

After a few quick tests, Silvain discovered that he could control the panel effortlessly with just his thoughts.

At that moment, Queen Maeve was still beside him, striking various poses for the cameras.

"Analyze." As Silvain issued the command, the panel immediately projected a 3D image of Queen Maeve. At the same time, a line of small text appeared.

[Please select the ability to be analyzed]

What powers did Queen Maeve have again? Silvain couldn't quite recall, so he randomly selected strength.

[Talent Ability: Super Strength]

[Analysis Condition: Touch Queen Maeve's skin for two hours]

[After fusion, the player's genes will gradually change. When the player's strength reaches a threshold, other abilities will be needed to unlock the limit]

Silvain was stunned after reading the conditions. Touching Queen Maeve's skin for two hours? Forget two hours, two minutes would already be impossible.

Soon after, Queen Maeve said goodbye to her fans and headed off to begin filming.

Today's shoot seemed to be a standalone episode for Queen Maeve. The plot was straightforward and a bit crude: a bus hijacked by robbers, with Maeve rescuing the hostages.

Unfortunately, Silvain couldn't see the specific scenes being filmed. Otherwise, he might have had the chance to analyze her other powers.

By noon, the sun over New York grew even hotter. Most of the fans who had gathered earlier had dispersed. Silvain glanced at the watch on his wrist. It was twelve o'clock—lunchtime.

Silvain followed Blitz and the others to a shaded patch of grass under some trees. They began eating fast food delivered from a nearby fried chicken joint.

"Queen Maeve looks absolutely stunning."

As a die-hard fan of Queen Maeve, Blitz even admired the image of her printed on the fried chicken bucket as he opened it.

"If you're not gonna eat it, don't waste it."

Silvain grabbed a chicken wing from his own bucket and stuffed it into his mouth. After surviving on glucose for so long, the sensation of real food in his mouth was almost overwhelming.

At the same time, a look of determination formed in his eyes. As the saying goes, people yearn for what they've lost.

Silvain's only goal now was to grow stronger, so strong that nothing could threaten or destroy him again.

He had endured more than enough during those paralyzed years.

"Damn, my chicken wing!" Blitz cried out, trying to snatch it back.

But Silvain wouldn't let him succeed.

After finishing the fried chicken, Silvain gulped down the cold soda in one go.

"Burp... So good." Silvain lay back on the lawn and let out a burp.

Just then, a round of applause sounded in the distance. Ol, tall and solidly built, walked over to the group.

"Guys, the set says they're short on robbers. Anyone want to volunteer? There's an extra 120 bucks in it."

Blitz had always dreamed of acting alongside his goddess. He was just about to raise his hand to volunteer when Hank, a veteran team member beside him, quickly pulled him back.

"Boss, are you sure Asia doesn't just want more punching bags so Maeve can show off her strength?" Hank asked, his face filled with dread.

"Exactly. That's why there's a reward."

"No way, boss."

Ol ignored Hank's sour expression, scanned the group, and picked out three people—including Silvain.

"Boss, I volunteer!" Blitz raised his hand with excitement.

Ol looked him up and down. "Wipe that creepy smile off your face. Honestly, I'm tempted to hit you myself. If Queen Maeve punches you, you'll be in a hospital bed for half a month."

"Getting hit by the Queen is actually one of my dreams."

The second Blitz finished his shameless remark, everyone nearby shifted their seats away from him in silence.

Ol sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I really don't know how you got into the security team. Fine, you're in. But once we're on set, keep your eyes in check. If something really goes down, I won't be able to protect you."

With that, the group followed Ol to the set and changed into the robber costumes.

They were decked out from head to toe. Goggles on their faces, daggers at their waists. Silvain weighed the gun in his hand, the heft told him it was real.

"Damn, this is too hardcore," Silvain muttered.

Once everything was ready, the group boarded the bus, weapons in hand. To Silvain's surprise, there were already over a dozen "robbers" inside, all in the same getup. The real passengers, including the driver, totaled just three.

Wasn't this a bit excessive?

With this much firepower, wouldn't it make more sense to rob an armored truck than a city bus?

There were so many things to complain about, Silvain didn't know where to start.

"Action!"

A little girl clung to her mother, her expression full of fear, trembling as she said, "When will the superhero come to save us? I'm scared."

An actor playing a robber sneered and said with a crazed laugh, "With so many of us, even Queen Maeve can't save you!"

Hearing this line and the over-the-top delivery, Silvain felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment.

Suddenly, the ground shook, as if something heavy had just landed.

Silvain looked out the window.

Queen Maeve was kneeling with one leg down, surrounded by rising dust and fractured pavement.

It was definitely a dramatic entrance.

"That's definitely superhuman-level physique," Silvain muttered.

He quickly attempted an analysis and saw that the conditions for this ability were even more demanding than super strength. Not only did he have to touch her skin for two hours, he also needed ten milliliters of her blood.

Silvain couldn't help but wonder, could an ordinary syringe even pierce Maeve's skin?

As Maeve appeared, the robbers inside opened fire. Gunshots rang out. Bullet casings clattered to the ground.

Queen Maeve didn't dodge. She walked calmly through the hail of bullets toward the bus.

This wasn't a movie special effect. It was happening right in front of Silvain's eyes.

But the next moment surprised him even more.

Queen Maeve raised the sword in her hand and sliced the incoming bullets cleanly in half.

Analyze that!

[Talent Ability: Swordsmanship Talent]
[Allows the player to be more adept at using bladed weapons. Possesses extraordinary sword talent. Slightly enhances the player's reaction speed.]

[Analysis Condition: Touch Queen Maeve]

The comparatively easier condition lit up Silvain's eyes.

All he had to do was touch Maeve, even briefly, to analyze and acquire the ability.

Of course, being able to slice bullets like her was another matter. That would probably require him to stack superhuman reflexes and physique on top of sword talent.

But acquiring those would be easier said than done. For now, he could only wait for a better opportunity.

Chapter 3: You Are Totally Hopeless

As the bullets in the robbers' guns were emptied, Queen Maeve seized the opportunity, tore open the bus door, and began engaging the robbers in close combat.

Soon, amid screams, the actors playing the robbers fell to the floor one after another, lying motionless.

Only Blitz struggled to get up after taking several punches. Seeing this, Queen Maeve glanced at the hidden camera in the corner. Since the director had not called "Cut," she slightly increased her strength.

Poof. Blitz was sent flying with a punch, crashing heavily at Silvain's feet.

"Why risk your life when we're all just trying to make a living?" Silvain said, moving his foot in disgust at Blitz' silly grin. This guy was beyond saving.

At that moment, Silvain was the only one left standing on the bus.

"Brothers, I will definitely avenge you!" Silvain instantly turned into a drama king. He pulled out the dagger from his waist, stomped on Blitz' right hand, and charged at Queen Maeve with a crazed look, completely embodying a desperate fugitive.

In front of the camera, the blond director nodded in satisfaction. After taking a puff of his cigarette, he pointed at Silvain on the monitor and praised, "This young man's acting is good. Give him an extra steak later."

Facing Silvain's attack, Queen Maeve stood still, not even trying to dodge.

Silvain used all his strength, but the dagger in his hand could not even scratch Queen Maeve's skin. It felt like trying to stab steel.

He looked up and met Queen Maeve's brown eyes. In the next second, she grabbed him by the neck and tossed him aside.

[Analysis conditions unlocked. Integrate Swordsmanship Talent?]

To be cautious, Silvain did not immediately integrate the skill but obediently lay on the ground pretending to be dead.

Three minutes later, the director gave the order, and today's filming officially wrapped.

Inside the bus, the "corpses" that had been lying still began to stir, groaning and massaging their sore bodies as they chatted.

"How was it? My acting was good, right?" Hank raised his thick eyebrows proudly at the others.

"Good? You were knocked out by one of your own. You're definitely an undercover agent among the robbers," Freddie grumbled, rubbing his shoulder where Hank had crashed into him.

"Speaking of acting, look at Blitz. That painful expression could win him an Oscar."

"Shit, I was stepped on by that bastard Silvain," Blitz grumbled, rubbing his red, swollen hand and hissing from the pain.

"I really don't know if he did it on purpose or not."

Standing to the side, Silvain raised his hands innocently and smiled. "I was actually deliberately careless."

...

At six o'clock sharp, Silvain clocked out, firmly believing that punctuality was a worker's virtue. He took his dinner back to his room and opened the system panel again.

This time, he discovered something new. In the upper left corner of the panel, there was a golden ladder icon.

When he opened it with his mind, a line of small text appeared.

[Choose to consume 100 Fantasy Points to enter a One-Star Fantasy World?]

"Is there a big difference between One-Star and Two-Star?" Silvain muttered, looking at the second glowing step. The ladder was divided into six steps, but only the first two were currently lit. The others remained locked.

He guessed that this restriction was tied to the Main World's level.

Curious, he clicked the plus sign next to The Boys, and a notification popped up.

[Detected that the player's Fantasy Points are less than 10,000. Unable to upgrade to a higher-level world.]

After some more research, Silvain confirmed that Fantasy Points only served two purposes and could only be earned in the Main World. However, with his current strength, it would be nearly impossible to influence major events. After all, he was not the protagonist of this world and could not stand against superheroes with an ordinary human body.

Especially after experiencing Queen Maeve's overwhelming strength firsthand.

This only made Silvain more convinced that he should avoid superheroes at all costs until he gained enough power. He had to remember that this was a world where you could literally be run over by a speeding superhero.

After carefully finishing his dinner, Silvain wiped the steak sauce from the corner of his mouth with a napkin. He double-checked the room and, finding no hidden cameras, prepared for the next step.

"Confirm integration of Swordsmanship Talent."

The integration process was not painful. Silvain only felt an itchy sensation spreading throughout his body, and his arms kept twitching with the urge to swing something.

[Swordsmanship Talent is being integrated. Current progress: 10%. (The player cannot perform another analysis until integration is complete.)]

Silvain was surprised to find that integration was not a simple copy-and-paste process. It required time for his body to adapt. However, he reasoned that with enough training, he could speed up the integration and eventually reach the level of swordsmanship Queen Maeve displayed.

After getting used to the changes in his body, Silvain took out his phone and decisively ordered three steel swords of different weights from Amazon. The purchase immediately emptied his meager savings, but luckily, his current job provided room and board. Otherwise, he would have ended up on the streets.

In the days that followed, life was relatively uneventful. As for the superheroes, Silvain had already seen most of them, including Homelander, who always smiled warmly for the media and fans. If Silvain had not read the original story, he would have thought Homelander was a perfect superhero.

"Fucking squid brain, are you playing a superhero trading card game? You already blew through the $1,200 I lent you? That money was supposed to be my girl-hunting fund." Blitz cursed as he transferred another $2,000 to Silvain.

Silvain had not expected swordsmanship lessons to be so expensive. One class cost $300, and it was not even one-on-one instruction.

It could only be said that this was a crazy world where people idolized the strong far too much.

"Stop whining, you damn capitalist. I'll pay you back after I get paid," Silvain muttered. Ever since Blitz had invited him to his room for a party, Silvain realized how terrifying an obsessive fan could be. The room was filled with at least twenty Queen Maeve statues and countless posters.

The craziest thing was a limited-edition statue worth over $120,000 online.

"If you ask me, you should stop pretending to be a security guard and go back to living as a spoiled rich kid. Maybe then you could really chase Queen Maeve."

Silvain joked.

"You don't understand the happiness of being a security guard by Queen Maeve's side. Watching those fanboys get blocked from approaching her... it's a pleasure beyond words," Blitz said with a perverted smile.

"Dude, you're completely hopeless," Silvain shook his head and left the building.

After a month of training, the progress bar on the system panel had reached 97%. At this rate, he would fully integrate Queen Maeve's sword skill talent after completing one more lesson.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 4: You Are the Real Hero

In New York, if you want to hail a cab, you basically have to flag one down on the street, and the fares are absurdly expensive.

Fortunately, Silvain was in the city center, so there were plenty of taxis. If he'd been in a more remote area, he might have waited half an hour without seeing a single one. That's one reason why most American families choose to own a car.

"A yellow-orange cab pulled up beside him.

"Take me to this address."

Silvain showed the driver the address on his phone.

"Got it, I'll get you there in half an hour." The driver clearly knew New York like the back of his hand.

Being chatty seemed to be a common trait among cab drivers, and this one was no exception.

The driver chatted away as he drove, which didn't bother Silvain.

"Wow, you work for Vought? My kid really loves Homelander. He's his idol. Hey, do you have Homelander's autograph? I can buy it for $200."

Silvain noticed superhero stickers all over the cab. He had to admit, Vought's marketing was incredibly strong. Across New York, superheroes were everywhere—on billboards, packaging, even beverages. They were truly omnipresent.

"I don't have Homelander's autograph, but I've got a ticket to one of his fan events."

It was an employee perk, usually given to relatives' kids. Since Silvain had no use for it, he handed the ticket to the driver. The man tried to pay, but Silvain declined.

He could get more of these every few days, especially ones for Homelander's events.

To be fair, Homelander treated his fans decently, assuming he was in a good mood. He seemed to genuinely enjoy the adoration.

"And you, my friend, you're the real hero," the driver said, mimicking Homelander's iconic line as he drove one-handed.

When Silvain got out, the driver didn't even ask for the fare. Instead, he gave Silvain his phone number and told him to call directly next time he needed a ride.

The swordsmanship master was an elderly man with a gray beard. His dojo was arranged much like a taekwondo gym, very clean and orderly.

After changing clothes, Silvain waited alongside a dozen other students for the arrival of swordsmanship master Johnson.

The next moment, surprised gasps came from the students around him.

"Queen Maeve!"

Many of them were die-hard fans. When they saw Queen Maeve walk into the dojo, several of them even screamed. Silvain, in contrast, remained calm.

Maeve, tall and poised, graciously took photos with the fans. She seemed completely at ease in this kind of small gathering.

"Master Johnson used to be my teacher. I came specifically to visit him," Maeve explained.

Behind her, camera shutters clicked nonstop. It was obvious this was a pre-planned promotional event. After all, Vought had significant investment in this dojo.

"Maeve, the noise of the world has dulled your desire to improve. I'm disappointed in you," Johnson said.

Though he was short, Johnson stood upright. Just his presence gave off a sense of intense pressure.

His blunt words made the smile on Maeve's face freeze. She awkwardly tucked back a strand of auburn hair.

Seeing this, her staff quickly guided people out of the dojo.

Silvain vaguely recalled that Maeve wasn't a bad person, but after spending so much time among superheroes, she had inevitably picked up some bad habits.

"Let me see how much of your swordsmanship you remember." Johnson tossed a wooden practice sword to Maeve.

Maeve caught it and thrust it toward a rubber training dummy.

The tough rubber mannequin was pierced instantly. The raw power of it made Silvain, who was watching from the side, genuinely envious.

"It's half an inch off from the heart. You only pierced it because of brute force. Your control is worse than a beginner who's trained for less than a month," Johnson said flatly.

"How is that possible?" Maeve frowned. She didn't believe that someone who'd only been training for a month could surpass her.

Crap.

As soon as Johnson finished speaking, Silvain, who had been trying to stay unnoticed, felt a sinking feeling.

Sure enough, Johnson's sharp gaze locked onto him.

"Silvain, come demonstrate your swordsmanship."

Compared to how he spoke to Maeve, Johnson's tone became noticeably kinder. His expression even softened.

With no way out, Silvain stepped forward reluctantly.

"Have I seen you somewhere before?" Maeve tilted her head slightly. She felt like the guy in front of her looked familiar.

"A month ago, during a short skit you filmed, I played one of the robbers."

"Oh, it was you." Still, even after Silvain explained, Maeve didn't really remember.

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Silvain understood immediately, she had no clue who he was.

He picked up a wooden sword, stepped onto the soft training mat, and, after twirling the weapon casually, slashed and stabbed at the mannequin several times in quick succession. His movements were so fast that most students couldn't even follow them. All they saw were streaks of sword light cutting through the air.

Only Maeve, whose dynamic vision was exceptional, was able to clearly track Silvain's movements.

"Eyebrows, throat, heart. All vital targets. His control is perfect," she muttered under her breath, looking serious for the first time.

"Not bad. Your movements are quick and precise. The only thing you lack now is real combat experience," Johnson nodded in satisfaction. Honestly, Silvain reminded him of a younger Maeve. His talent in swordsmanship was on par with hers from years ago—perhaps even greater. Silvain's lethality was better suited for real combat.

"Your swordsmanship is excellent."

Maeve extended her hand toward him.

"Are you interested in entering the superhero selection competition?"

Silvain hadn't expected Maeve to offer him an invitation. His scalp tingled, and an intrusive image flashed through his mind, someone praising his fast sword in front of Homelander, only to be vaporized by a laser beam seconds later with the line, "Nothing is faster than a laser."

"No thanks. I'm not considering that for now," Silvain said quickly, turning her down.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 5: Parasitic

After that, Johnson wanted to arrange a sparring match between the two.

However, Maeve refused. With her current speed and strength, fighting Silvain would be nothing more than bullying a child.

After the lesson, Silvain returned to his room from the dojo. At this time, the fusion progress on the panel had reached 100 percent.

Now, Silvain finally had some confidence to travel through the multiverse.

He clicked on the ladder icon, and a prompt quickly popped up.

[Do you want to consume 100 Fantasy Points to travel to a One-Star Fantasy World?]

"Confirm."

[100 Fantasy Points have been deducted. Please select the world you want to travel to this time.]

The moment the Fantasy Points were deducted, the panel in front of Silvain shattered, turning into a ball of countless radiant beams. Thin white rays peeled away, surrounding him and slowly drifting in the air.

"I hope I land in a familiar world." Silvain was dazzled by the swirling beams, unable to distinguish any differences between them, so he simply selected one at random.

Soon, the ray he chose plunged into his body.

The glowing sphere returned to the panel.

[Fantasy World: Parasyte]
[World Level: One Star]
[Player's Stay: 5 Months]
[Friendly Reminder: The time flow in the fantasy world is 150:1 compared to the main world.]

Inside the brightly lit room, Silvain's body dissolved into countless specks of light and vanished into the air.

...

On the way to Tokyo West High School, a sharp slap rang out.

"Izumi, you idiot!" A pretty girl stormed off angrily.

Silvain immediately recognized the scene. He looked at the flustered boy whose glasses had been knocked off and murmured, "So it really is the world of Parasyte."

After confirming, he checked the identity assigned to him by the panel.

His name remained the same, still Silvain. The original owner had transferred to Tokyo West High School half a month ago and was in the same class as the story's protagonist. A quiet, unnoticed figure in the class, silent and lacking presence.

"Izumi-san, this is harassment. I might have to call the police." Silvain raised his phone with a teasing smile toward Shinichi Izumi.

"No, no, it's a misunderstanding... My right hand just moved on its own."

Shinichi hastily tried to explain, but the more he spoke, the worse it sounded. Finally, he drooped his head and muttered weakly, "Okay, Silvain-kun, I know it sounds ridiculous."

"Hahaha, just kidding. You and Murano Satomi are dating, right? But even so, making a move like that in public will definitely make a girl mad." Silvain raised an eyebrow knowingly at Shinichi.

Shinichi's face flushed bright red, as if he had been boiled.

"Alright, alright, it's all my fault."

Compared to being mistaken for dating, it was better than being labeled a pervert who groped women on the street.

At that moment, a short-haired girl walked over and bent down to pick up Shinichi's glasses.

It was Tachikawa, another classmate who had witnessed the scene.

"How could you do something like that," she said disapprovingly.

Watching them interact, Silvain silently summoned the system panel and activated the analysis ability on Shinichi.

Just like with Queen Maeve before, a projection of Shinichi appeared on the panel.

[Please select the ability you want to analyze.]

Silvain's true target was not Shinichi himself, but the Parasite, Migi, inhabiting his right hand. When he watched the anime, he had been fascinated by the Parasites' unique combat abilities. Now that he had this opportunity, he would not miss it.

"Analyze all the abilities related to the Parasite."

[Analyzing. Progress 1 percent. Please remain within one meter of the target during analysis.]

Silvain had not expected that analyzing all of Migi's abilities would take time, unlike previous instant analyses. Perhaps it was because he was analyzing broadly rather than targeting a specific ability. The system panel had no manual, so many things still required exploration.

Fortunately, the analysis speed was fairly quick. The progress bar was visibly advancing.

"Go apologize to Satomi properly. I'm sure she'll forgive you," Silvain said, patting Shinichi's shoulder.

Shinichi nodded helplessly. He really had no other choice.

Compared to their previous mere acquaintance, their relationship now was clearly much closer.

Soon after, they spotted Satomi walking toward the next classroom. Upon seeing Shinichi, she turned her head sharply, but the redness at her ears was clear.

"Looks like you'll really have to apologize properly," Silvain joked as they entered the classroom and sat down.

Back at his seat, Silvain smiled at Shinichi, who sat in front of him.

Meanwhile, the analysis progress bar had reached 99 percent.

Ding ding ding... As the school bell rang, the previously noisy classroom quickly quieted down.

At the same time, the progress bar reached 100 percent.

[Target analysis complete.]

[Talent Ability: Parasitism]

[Analysis Condition: Swallow the corpses of five Parasites.]

[Effect: After fusion, the player's genes will undergo significant changes. The player can parasitize a host, devour the host's brain, and gradually assimilate from the head to completely control the host's body. During this period, the player's emotions will be suppressed, learning abilities will be enhanced, and the host's physique will be strengthened. However, the player must rely on the host's internal organs to survive. Leaving the host will result in immediate death. The player's food source will also become creatures of the same species as the host.]

The moment he read the description, Silvain firmly rejected this ability.

First of all, abandoning his own body to become a Parasite was out of the question. Second, one of his greatest joys in life was enjoying good food. If he turned into a human-devouring creature like Hannibal, it would be unbearable.

Thankfully, another talent was listed on the panel.

[Talent Ability: Transformation]
[Analysis Condition: Personally kill a Parasite.]

[Effect: After fusion, the player can freely alter the form of their body. It can become as hard as steel or as soft as rubber. Using this ability consumes a large amount of stamina, and the degree of transformation depends on the player's physical fitness.]

Upon reading the second talent, Silvain finally let out a breath of relief. This was the power he truly wanted. Despite its limitations, it was completely acceptable, and he sensed its upper limit might be higher than expected.

"Silvain-san, please concentrate."

The teacher walked over and knocked lightly on Silvain's desk.

"Sorry, I'll pay attention," Silvain apologized immediately.

In truth, the teacher's real target was not Silvain but Shinichi, who was sneakily playing on his phone under the desk.

Compared to Silvain, who was merely distracted, Shinichi's behavior was blatant disrespect.

It was not until Tachikawa, who sat nearby, whispered a reminder, "Izumi," that Shinichi finally realized he was being glared at.

(To be continued.)