Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

The rewards from quests were undeniably massive, they included random skills, items, and equipment, but they often required challenging objectives.

In comparison, grinding for points in battle was far more easier and thrilling. It gave him the feeling of being a character in an RPG game.

But as satisfying as it was, the memory of the danger he faced last night made the hairs on his neck stand up.

Specifically, the memory of her. That Spirit with a twisted personality, Kurumi.

A chill ran down his spine as her eerie laughter echoed in his mind.

"Shido, what's wrong?" Tohka asked suddenly, tilting her head curiously. She had noticed his body tense up.

Shido quickly shook his head, giving her a reassuring smile.

"It's nothing, Tohka. Just eat your bread."

"Mm!" Tohka nodded, returning to her snack.

She purred like a kitten as Shido patted her head, and for a brief moment, the thought of Kurumi vanished from his mind.

Shido exhaled and brought up his system menu once again.

'I need to get stronger. There's no way I'm ending up as a punching bag for Kurumi next time.'

With that resolve, he entered the store panel, navigating directly to the skill section.

He was greeted by a myriad of choices, categorized neatly into sections: Basic Skills, Everyday Life Skills, Magic Skills, Sword Skills, Summoning Skills, Taming Skills, and more.

There was even an Ultimate Skills section, which immediately caught his eye. The sight of it made him salivate, every anime fan knew the power of ultimate skills. The mere thought of visiting 'that' world made his heart race.

Shaking off his excitement, Shido redirected his attention to the Movement Speed Skills section.

A list of skills appeared before him:

Soru (Basic Level): 1,000 SP

Shundo (Basic Level): 5,000 SP

Blink Dash (Basic Level): 7,000 SP

Flash Steps (Basic Level): 10,000 SP

Instant Step (Basic Level): 11,000 SP

Scanning the options, Shido found himself in a dilemma. Each technique had its own appeal, but he decided to go with something familiar, 'Flash Steps'.

His experience with Bleach told him that this technique would be more than enough.

After all, who could forget Yoruichi's incredible speed, which had earned her the title Flash Goddess?

'I'm definitely going to try this out', he thought, his excitement growing.

Opening the mastery level options for Flash Steps, he was stunned to see just how expensive it was:

(Basic Level): 10,000 SP, (Intermediate Level): 20,000 SP, (Advanced Level): 70,000 SP, (Perfection Level): 100,000 SP, (Transcendent Level): 300,000 SP

"300,000 SP for Transcendent Level?!" Shido whispered, his jaw almost dropping.

As much as the idea of having a Transcendent Level skill thrilled him, Shido realized the cost of such indulgence.

A glance at the price 300,000 SP was enough to make his heart drop to his stomach. Sure, he had saved up a fair amount, but spending all of it on a single skill felt reckless, especially with potential battles looming ahead.

"So instead of the Transcendent Level..." he muttered, his gaze shifting to the next option.

"I'll go for the Perfection Level. It's still top-tier, just one step below Transcendent Level."

Though the price of 100,000 SP was no small matter, Shido could feel the value it brought. "With this." he thought excitedly, "I might reach the level of Yoruichi." A vision of the Flash Goddess herself darted through his mind, her lightning-fast movements almost mythical.

The mastery of Yoruichi's Flash Step, renowned throughout the Soul Society, was a testament to her speed and finesse.

Yet, it was not without its limits. Despite earning the revered title of "Flash Goddess," her skill did not reach the Transcendent Level. After all, there existed individuals capable of feats even faster than hers.

Just imagining the mastery he would gain with Flash Step at Perfection Level excited him beyond belief. "At this level, I'll be able to close gaps in an instant, ideal for offense and retreat. This'll come in handy against anyone... even Kurumi." he murmured, the memory of her ominous gaze flashing vividly.

Steeling himself, Shido pressed [Purchase], and a notification dinged in his head.

[You have purchased Flash Step (Perfection Level).]

[100,000 SP has been deducted.]

After finalizing his purchase of the Flash Steps skill, Shido shifted his focus to the Weapon section of the store.

He realized the need for a versatile blade he could use in his human form, Elucidator, though powerful, was bound to draw unwanted attention. It was too recognizable and deeply tied to his Spirit Form.

The AST and Ratatoskr were already watchful; wielding it might raise questions he wasn't ready to answer.

His eyes scanned through the array of weapons until they landed on the Gravity Blade, an A+ Grade sword priced at 150,000 SP.

It was an unassuming weapon at first glance, not overly ornate or flashy, but its abilities were exceptional.

The blade could manipulate its weight at will, allowing Shido to deliver bone-crushing heavy slashes or lightning-quick swift strikes.

A weapon with this level of adaptability was perfect for him, especially considering the variety of opponents he might face.

And if he turn this sword into a Noble Phantasm later, it might level up by a level and gain an specific skill like Excalibur or Enuma Elish.

Shido didn't hesitate long. "Buy." he muttered, confirming the purchase.

[You have purchased Gravity Blade A+ Grade.]

[150,000 SP has been deducted.]

The Gravity Blade materialized into his inventory, and with it, a sense of readiness grew within him.

To complement his weapon, he upgraded his Swordsmanship skill to Advanced Level, which cost him another 20,000 SP. With these upgrades, he felt confident that he could finally hold his own against Kurumi and maybe, just maybe, overpower her.

A mischievous chuckle escaped his lips, accompanied by a dark thought of how he would show her who was in control.

A sly grin twisted his face as he fantasized about the day he'd get to subdue her and give her a clear slap on her round butt. 

Tohka who was walking beside him and happily munching on her kinako bread, paused mid-bite. Her eyes widened slightly, and she tilted her head as if sensing something was wrong. "Shido, are you... okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine!" Shido replied, trying to stifle his laugh.

But Tohka wasn't convinced. She kept her eyes on him suspiciously, still a bit worried that Shido might have lost his sanity.

Shido shrugged off the strange feelings and returned to his quest for preparations. His next step was to purchase some consumables.

He selected Mana Potions (High Level) x2, which set him back 10,000 SP, followed by a Random Teleportation Scroll (Middle Level) for 7,000 SP.

The last of his spending spree had drained most of his SP reserves, leaving him with just 98,950 SP.

[SP Remaining: 98,950]

Shido sighed. "I'm broke..." he muttered, feeling an ache in his chest.

"But this will all be worth it." he said aloud, trying to reassure himself. Another chuckle escaped him, unbidden and slightly maniacal.

This time, Tohka stepped closer, her brows furrowed in concern. "Shido… are you sure your head isn't damaged?"

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Guess who's the first girl...😁