Chapter 410: Night Raid's Game Experience
Tatsumi didn't give up. His eyes firm, he said, "It's okay, Arsh. You should still have a few more days. Once my death cooldown resets, I'll go hunt more corrupted monsters!"
Compared to helplessly watching his companion die,
this was at least a glimmer of hope.
Fang Yi reminded him, "Thousand Spider Ten Thousand Poison Hands is a martial arts skill from a wuxia world. It's trained using venomous spiders—but… it can also absorb other toxins."
As the fate-favored one right after Akame in the Imperial Arms world,
Tatsumi was exceptionally lucky.
To get a skill like Thousand Spider Ten Thousand Poison Hands from just a level 5 blue chest was remarkable.
If Tatsumi was willing, he could absorb the virus inside Arsh and train this poisonous skill.
"Martial skill?"
Najenda looked intrigued. "Do you mean a method of strengthening the body?"
After witnessing the healing potion, she was eager to learn more from this mysterious merchant.
In the Imperial Arms world, there was no concept of "martial arts." For her, that phrase only invoked physical training methods.
Though all supernatural power here centered on Imperial Arms,
humans could still strengthen themselves through sheer physical conditioning.
Just like Tatsumi, who could slay multi-meter-tall Danger Beasts.
And Esdeath, who could crush ordinary soldiers with her bare hands even before drinking the Demon's Extract.
Brand too,
having trained in the Imperial Royal Fist Temple, a place for mastering physical discipline—
its instructors could defeat dozens of average soldiers with ease.
No match for an Imperial Arm, of course,
but since those were rare and non-distributable, a good physical training method for the Revolutionary Army's tens of thousands would be even more valuable.
"Yes,"
Fang Yi nodded, though his version of martial skill was very different from what Najenda imagined.
Still, both were methods of self-improvement.
He didn't explain further—Najenda would soon experience firsthand how martial arts from a wuxia world differed from anything in the Empire.
Clap.
Tatsumi sat cross-legged, helping Arsh sit upright.
Their palms pressed together.
Arsh looked confused, wanting to ask questions—
when he suddenly felt searing pain coursing through his body.
The virus, suppressed by the healing potion, seemed to awaken,
and rushed through his arm toward their clasped hands.
Moments later,
Tatsumi collapsed to the ground, pale and exhausted.
Night Raid looked baffled.
This was supposed to be a method for strengthening the body? Just sitting and pressing palms?
None of them were ordinary people—
even the seemingly airheaded Sheele had once exploded in rage and killed a full-grown man before joining Night Raid.
To them,
true physical training meant relentless body-tempering and technique—
like what Brand or Akame had endured.
Tatsumi's method looked... ridiculous.
"This is… body training?"
Najenda's mouth twitched. She felt like she was being trolled.
Leone had said the merchant was a lecher.
She'd even considered using seduction to win favors for the Revolutionary Army.
But now?
This entire scenario—
and that naive Tatsumi actually believed it?
No wonder the latest intel suggested this merchant might wield a third Imperial Arm related to illusions.
"Tatsumi, a real man should be like me! Strong, durable… Wait—what's happening?!"
Brand had reached down to help the sweating Tatsumi—
already treating him like a new recruit of Night Raid.
But the moment his fingers touched Tatsumi's, searing pain shot through his arm.
In just one second,
Brand pulled away—only to see his forearm turning black and purple, as if snakebitten.
The mark rapidly spread, covering half his arm.
"Don't move! That's Elbra toxin drawn out by Thousand Spider Ten Thousand Poison Hands!"
Tatsumi, shaky and pale, pressed his finger to Brand's arm,
absorbing the spreading poison.
He then tore a strip from his linen pants and wrapped it around his hand.
"Martial skills are about strengthening the body—but not in the way you're thinking…"
Seeing Arsh's condition improve,
Tatsumi finally relaxed and explained,
"Martial arts from the wuxia world grant people all kinds of abilities."
[…]
That was the description from the Reincarnation Game after he trained the skill.
He didn't fully understand it yet,
but could explain enough for Night Raid to get the gist.
"Martial arts?!"
The entire squad was stunned.
Tatsumi claimed that with these skills,
even ordinary people could gain supernatural powers—without needing an Imperial Arm.
It was unbelievable.
Like overturning the very foundation of their world.
So… he really was a merchant from another world?
All eyes turned to Fang Yi, full of mixed feelings.
They'd never heard of any method in the Empire that let a normal person become superhuman.
But Tatsumi's Thousand Spider Ten Thousand Poison Hands was undeniable proof.
And strangely, the "otherworld game merchant" explanation—
as ridiculous as it sounded—was suddenly the most convincing.
Najenda stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Fang Yi… are you really not an Imperial Arm user?"
Everything the merchant had shown far exceeded what any Imperial Arm could do.
"I'm not."
"I see… please forgive Night Raid's suspicion. We've never encountered another world before. So… if possible, may I become a player too?"
She bowed slightly.
Though she wasn't sure if everything was real,
she believed in personal experience.
If she could join the Reincarnation Game like Tatsumi,
and face the so-called corrupted monsters herself, she could find out the truth.
"Commander!"
Even the usually expressionless Akame showed a trace of concern.
She didn't know if this merchant was friend or foe.
With so little known about him, Najenda's decision seemed too risky.
"It's okay, Akame."
Najenda patted her head, showing no hesitation.
Fang Yi opened his hand, smiling politely.
"5,000 contribution points. That's the cost of a game invitation."
He wasn't a charity.
Tatsumi had received a free invitation because of his sincerity—and, yes, because he had nowhere else to turn. That was fate.
But with Night Raid's doubt and caution,
the price naturally had to go up.
"I accept."
Najenda made her decision quickly. She wasn't acting impulsively.
She had already accounted for the missing 500 contribution points from the Night Raid vault.
So she knew: 5,000 was a steep price.
But facing the unknown and the mysterious—
a small price was worth paying.
"As you wish."
Fang Yi bowed slightly, and a black invitation card formed in his palm.
Najenda took it with a solemn face.
Her eyes widened.
Under the tense gazes of Night Raid—
She vanished,
just like Tatsumi before her.
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