My Scumbag System Chapter 469: My Body Remembers a Life I Never Lived

Skylar was the next presence I detected. Her essence seemed like smoke and shadow, elusive and difficult to grasp even through our shared bond. She was still in bed, likely scowling at the ceiling, perhaps pondering the universe's futility while also strategizing which dessert shop to raid. I sent no direct thought her way, content to merely observe the gentle rhythm of her breathing, the languid satisfaction of someone content to let the world wait a few more hours. She was well. Alive. Untouched. That was enough.

Emi, in contrast, blazed within my awareness like a tiny sun, her presence radiating pure warmth and unadulterated joy. She was in the kitchen, conjuring something undoubtedly loaded with sugar, judging by the surge of excitement in her emotions. Her happiness radiated through our bond like sunlight through a pane of glass, coaxing a smile from me without conscious effort.

Akari was pure, unbridled chaos, her presence akin to a barrage of fireworks and crackling lightning storms—every conceivable metaphor for barely contained, explosive energy. She was engrossed in texting someone, probably Hikari, undoubtedly plotting something that would either be ingenious or lead to our collective demise. Or perhaps both.

And then there was Cel. Cel emanated a feeling like ice encasing a molten core. Composed and precise on the surface, her thoughts flowed in orderly, logical streams. Yet, beneath that crystalline facade simmered something fervent and desperate, something painfully, profoundly human. She was in the shower, the water likely set to a temperature just shy of freezing, which felt entirely in character for her.

I withdrew from each of them, allowing the connections to recede into a subtle background hum—a constant, ambient awareness of their locations and general emotional states, without the intrusive specificity of reading their minds. This was the gift of Sovereign’s Mandate. It transformed my bonds into a form of tactical awareness, a network providing intel on my people's whereabouts, their feelings, and most crucially, their safety.

And when they weren't safe.

Nel offered a remark laced with far too much amusement. "Useful," I countered.

The door slammed open with enough force to make me flinch. Soomin stood framed in the doorway, her body fully under her own control, her pink hair slightly damp as if she had just showered. Her gradient-blue eyes were clear and bright, devoid of the Fox’s predatory golden hue that sometimes lurked within their depths. "So sorry about earlier!" she blurted out, her hands clasped together in a clear gesture of apology.

"It's fine."

"The Fox gets possessive! She thinks everyone is trying to steal you!" The words tumbled out in a rush, as if she had practiced them. "She doesn’t grasp that you’re allowed to have other friends, and she shouldn’t try to claim you like property. I’m truly, truly sorry!"

"I know. It’s okay."

"I brought this!" She held up a small bag, her earnest enthusiasm making it impossible to feel annoyed. "Dried squid! From home! My mom included it in a care package!"

The peace offering was so genuine, it was almost difficult to look at directly. "Thanks, Soomin."

"You’re welcome!" She bounced lightly on her toes, her entire body practically quivering with barely suppressed energy. "Can I watch you train? The Fox wants to see what you’ve learned while we were away, and I promised I’d let her observe if she stayed quiet!"

Wonderful. An audience.

"Sure."

She settled onto the bench, crossing her legs and folding her hands demurely in her lap, like a diligent student preparing to absorb wisdom from a master. Her eyes meticulously followed my every movement as I executed my katas, testing my newfound limits and getting a feel for my body's current capabilities. My stats had surged to 6,250 across the board at Level 3, and the difference was profoundly noticeable. Each punch carried greater impact, as if I were moving through denser air that amplified rather than impeded my blows. Every kick was swifter, my legs extending and retracting with uncanny precision. My body moved as if recalling something I had never learned, a muscle memory from a life I had never lived.

Soomin observed with mounting intensity, her casual gaze gradually shifting into something far more focused. Her eyes began to emit a faint glow—a subtle yet unmistakable sign that the Fox was drawing near the surface, though not fully manifesting. "You've changed," she commented, her voice carrying a dual timbre, suggesting both personalities were speaking in unison. "How so?" I inquired. "Stronger. Faster." She tilted her head, a gesture distinctly non-human despite her human form. "You smell different too. More... dangerous."

"Good dangerous or bad dangerous?"

"Dangerous, the kind that’s good." She smiled, and it was the Fox’s smile gracing Soomin’s face—a display of teeth and predatory appreciation. "The Fox approves. It smells like you could actually protect us now."

Naturally. The Fox had always prioritized power above all else. I retrieved my water bottle and drank deeply, my throat parched from the rigorous training session. "How were the missions?" I inquired.

Hikari fought everything with a pulse, and even some things that lacked one, a somewhat frantic display. "Loud. Sweaty," Soomin admitted, her expression turning sheepish as her usual personality resurfaced. "I froze twice when a D-Rank charged at me. Marco had to step in both times."

"You will improve," was the response.

"Do you truly believe that?"

"I absolutely do. The Fox has significant strength, Soomin. Your task is to learn to rely on her without relinquishing your own self."

A radiant smile transformed her face, lighting it up completely.

"The Fox conveys her gratitude for your faith in us."

"Please relay to the Fox that she is most welcome."

"She also mentioned that the cat carries the scent of trouble and lightning, and advised you to be more discerning about what you invite into your shadow."

"She speaks the truth."

Soomin let out a giggle, a sound so bright and clear it was almost piercing in its unadulterated delight.

Glancing at my phone, the time read 7:43. Seventeen minutes remained until Braxton's scheduled meeting. This was barely enough time to get cleaned up and disavow the morning's events—being thrashed by Raphael and testing abilities that defied conventional understanding.

"I must attend to my hygiene," I stated.

"Alright!" Soomin sprang from the bench, her energy renewed. "I'll go assist Emi with breakfast! She's making pancakes, and she promised I could help flip them, despite my previous mishap with burning them!"

She departed with the same exuberant spirit she had arrived with, her pink hair bobbing with each stride.

The door softly clicked shut behind her.

I found myself alone in the gym, enveloped by the lingering aroma of exertion and the faint, sharp tang of ozone that invariably accompanied Maki’s transformations. My recently acquired abilities had been rigorously tested and proven effective. My connections felt robust, the bonds humming with vitality. My body throbbed with an almost satisfying ache—the deep muscle soreness that signaled the breaking of previous physical boundaries.

Wednesday loomed.

Reyna was approaching, bringing with her an aura of lightning, arrogance, and an unshakeable conviction of her superiority.

And I possessed a mere seventy-two hours to devise a strategy for defeating an opponent who had dedicated her entire existence to preparation, while I had languished in obscurity, subsisting on instant noodles and brooding resentment.

Nel offered her observation, her tone tinged with both amusement and a hint of apprehension.

"Am I?"

"Most likely, yes," came the reply.