My name is Aries. Aries Baxter. 19 years old. And a student from America studying abroad in Japan. The last year and a half here has been a wonderful learning experience. The scenery. The culture. The gangs.

Are chasing me! Why are they chasing me? I did nothing to the them. I was an unintentional witness to a crime. Why me?

I find myself trapped in a dead-end having nowhere to run from the large group. I didn't even have time to curse my bad luck before they started beating me with whatever was in hand. Chains, bats, crowbars. I was being beaten to death.

"Hey!"

A beautiful woman with flowing seafoam green hair was suddenly in between them and me as if by magic. She turned drawing closer to the lump of meat that was my body. She kneeled down before me. None of them dared to move. Was she my savior?

No.

A dull sensation radiated from my heart. She had stabbed me with a knife. The edges of my vision blacked. I reach a hand out as her old eyes stared back at me.

"W-why?"

She stood back up. "I'm sorry but you can't be allowed to live after witnessing my assassination."

She turned and smacked the biggest man out of the group.

"Boss?"

"We do don't have time to waste on useless nobodies, expose of it quickly if it serves no purpose."

"Sorry boss." The big guy rubbed his baldhead."

She continued to chastise him even as my vision finished fading to black. If I wasn't dying it would be a funny scene due to the contrast of size She was tall but looked no more than 140 pounds while he was 250 easy. Everything went dark. Then I woke up.

The sounds of a lark culled me awake. It took me several moments to adjust and realize I didn't recognize a single thing in this extravagant yet modest room. I sit up to get my bearing and my arm seemed to be ensnared by something.

That something was a foreign set of arms the was connected to another's body. That arm was connected to a body with a head full of greenish hair. My mouth opened and a silent scream escaped.

I hear a faint bell that I couldn't pinpoint where it came from. Then suddenly a screen pops up in front of me.

[HACK MENU  unlocked]

I nearly flip from the bed.

Her eyes shot open. her eyes and lips smiled merrily. A huge contrast to the grim stares from last night.

"Good morning Aries."

"Good...Morning." I utter nervously.

She sat up. The sheets of covering her body slid down revealing her small ****** and perfect skin. I shift uncomfortable.

"You look like you seen a ghost."

She didn't seem to remember she had just killed me last night. Wait. I'm actually still alive? What's happening

"Who...who are you?"

She slides from the bed and pulls her panties up. She turns her head to me. "You might break your wife's heart if you continue your jokes."

"Wife!?"

"Of about 7 hours." She holds up her ring finger

"But...I'm only 19!"

"Yeah. Marrying a man 10 years under so suddenly, it was almost too much for my father to take."

Her phone rang and she answered while picking up the rest of her discarded clothes and putting them on.

Another screen popped up

[New Hack(s) Available]

The girl doesn't seem to be able to the see the screen. I open it and look at what's in this so called hack menu. It held a seemingly unlimited amount of options but all but three were hidden behind question marks. The two not hidden said "Body Strengthening rank 1", "Accelerated Healing rank 1" and "Tantojutsu rank 1"

It seems that there will be cost to unlock hacks. But this first one seems to be free but the other two cost "hack points" of which I didn't seem to have any of. I might be losing my mind but I'll indulge and activate the free body strengthening. You should always make the most of your dreams.

"Sorry Aries Something came up that I have to take care of. I'll make things up to you later."

A cough came from behind her near the door from a man in a black suit and tie. Had he been there the whole time?

"Mikako-sama we should hurry." He spoke.

She smiles and heads out. I quickly get dressed and leave Mikako's hotel room and headed down to the lobby stopping just short of it after finding that Haruko was still there.

A message box entered my view.

[HP Quest.]

{Follow Sarada Mikako undetected}

{Reward: 10 hack points}

So this is how I get hack points, questing? Maybe I've played one too many RPG's. Mikako leaves the lobby and gets into a black car. She was going to get away. Was I gonna fail the quest already?

A bike catches my peripherals. I hop on it and follow after the speeding SUV. I pedal my hardest for the next twenty minutes, being sure to stay hidden enough to not be spotted, until the car stops at mansion. I strangely didn't feel the slightest bit exhausted. Mikako and what I took as her guard left the car and entered the mansion. I snuck around back and found a window I could peek in from.

[Quest completed. 10 hack points acquired.]

Mikako was sitting on her knees in a room facing an older man. Beside her was another less developed and shorter woman with long light purple pigtails was also seated next to her. The three all had serious looks on their faces.

"Mikako. My daughter. The time for your ascension to Hand is close. Your training and ability have seen an unprecedented level of cultivation."

"But Uncle I have also met the requirements. Not only that I accomplished them far quicker and efficiently than Mikao. Am I not a better fit for Hand?" The small girl responded almost in a plead.

"Emiru. I only entertain you being here as a favor for my dying brother. Of course the Hand cannot come from a branch of the main family but from the main family themselves."

"It isn't unprecedented. After all, you weren't original a part of the main family until your grandfather become the Hand."

"My decision stands. Mikako will become Hand and you shall serve her. To do otherwise would disrupt order and sow chaos amongst the clan."

"You ask for me to submit to someone so much more weaker than me?" Emiru angrily objected.

Mikako laughed unable to contain the wickedness in it. "Cousin. You seem so distraught. Serving under me is a true pleasing."

Emiru rose to her feet visibly annoyed but swallowing it. "I'd rather die! Both her abilities and skill are a stain on this family she is not strong or worthy enough to carry the Sarada name in comparison to my own. She has still yet to accomplished her final task. Instead she comes back with a sham marriage."

"The marriage is a cover. The reason I'm chosen is because I have skill in subtlety which you lack." Mikako clapped back.

"If spreading your legs is subtle, then yeah." Emiru muttered under her breath.

"Enough Emiru! You will do as told lest suffer my wrath."

Emiru settled down and Mikako began to speak

"In reference to the final task, everything is in place today I will bring the final requirement, a suitable human sacrifice. I have spent untold time and effort grooming this one personally."

"See to it that you do. The ritual will take place in mere days."

"It will be done father."

Emiru walks from the room taking her loss "gracefully".

Mikako soon exits the building and, alongside her driver, reenters her car and speed off.

I Hastily make my way back to the outside of the outer wall. In all of the excitement I had forgotten all about class. I was here in Japan on a scholarship and attendance was strict.

"Is it over here?"

Before I could hop on my stolen bike. She came around the corner. Emiru. Our eyes locked.

"Oh...crap."

"Who the heck are you?"

I needed to think of something fast. "Um...I'm Mikako's husband. She told me about this place and told me to check it out. My school is close by so I decided to stop by on the way here." That's the way to do it mix a little of the truth. I just hope she doesn't ask which school."

She step up closer to me and peers deeper into me. Even though I was six foot one and she was five foot two...maybe three, she felt like she eclipsed me.

"Mikako's? Damn her. Does she know what she has here or is it a coincident?"

I start to put some distance between us. "Well I really should get going, don't wanna be late."

She grabs my sleeve. "Wait. What's your name?"

"Baxter...Aries." I respond wearily.

"Alright Aries-kun it is. I'm Emiru. Mikuni Emiru. Guess that makes us cousins."

"Yeah it does." I laugh rubbing my head.

"Well I'm sure we will see a lot of each other in the future Aries-san. You be safe on your way to school."

"Thanks Emiru-san..."

"Just Emiru." She smiles devilish at my pause. "We are family now."

"Uhh...Emiru. I'll be going now."

"You have something interesting, I think I'll take it." I vaguely make out her words as I make a hasty get away.

I make it to school with no time to spare. I had pushed to pedal harder than I had done trailing Mikako and yet even then I felt no fatigue. I was never considered an elite athlete and would get winded back in America after a full game of 21. That body strengthening hack really was working.

I take my usually seat in the middle isle between my best friends Sotashi Yuto and Mamoto Keita.

"Aries-sama!" Keita came rushing to me dropping down into a dogeza at my feet. "Brother..."

"Even if you beg I'm not letting you copy the assignment." I pull out my material.

He slams his forehead deeper into the ground. "MASTER I NEED YOU!"

The class turned due to poor choice of words. I turn to Yuto. "Yuto-san, he must be stopped."

Yuto was a bit soft spoken due to having very feminine qualities from his slender body to his face to his admittedly sweet voice. So much so, that if you were new you would be hard pressed to believe he was, in fact, a HE.

"Keita-san. That is too much." Yuto stepped to me locking gazes before speaking bashfully. "M-master...I need you."

Even though Yuto was just as eccentric as Keita.

"You both are killing me."

"You guys seem to be getting along fine again."

That was the class president Satsune Risa. Not only was she popular she was also a beauty. But her biggest asset was her big chest.

Keita and his partner and crime both shifted gears and started to act luck star struck teens. They were too out of touch to realize Risa was mostly striking a conversation with me as she smiled.

"Just ignore them Satsune-chan, they are idiots."

She laughed. "I think they just like to live life to the fullest."

The door to the class opens and shuts. My mouth nearly dropped to the floor when she walked up to the desk at the head of the room. Sarada Mikako. Did my life become some sort of manga? Coincidences like this don't happen in real life.

She looked over the class. Her eyes held on Risa then they found me. She smiled. It was as sweet of honey holding none of the malice it held at the Sarada estate. She was quite the actress.

Today's class was admittedly light. At least I think it was. I was too distracted by the fact my murderer and wife was somehow my teacher. Up until last night that was the case, from my memory's prospective. But after questioning Keita and Yuto, It was clear that they had a different set of memories where she had always been.

Somehow this new development was the norm of reality. Speaking of norms I decided to play around with the hack menu and found it almost second nature to bring it up. I was able to confirm I was the only one who could see it which made figure out how it works easier.

I also saw I had unlocked a couple more hacks. Stealth Lv. 1 and Sense Lv. 1. Both seemed to be good hacks. Stealth made it easier for me to move while hidden while make it harder to be spotted. And sense allowed me to perceive the presence of others in a certain proximity.

I had 10 hack points and only had enough to acquire one of the five that were currently unlocked. But which one? All of them are quite useful in honesty. But which is more practical to have now? I sigh in frustration. I'll save that task for later.

The bell rung and everyone began to gather their belongings. Risa came up to me and handed me a bento.

"I made extra so I was hoping you would like some."

"Thanks Satsune-chan. I'd definitely starve it not for you."

"Must be heaven being able Satsune-san cooking everyday." Yuto finally spoke.

"Not to mention being neighbors. No wonder all the guys hate you. You are in an envious position." Keita added.

"Don't confuse Risa-chan's charity for more than what it is." Hiroshi Shinta shot a glance my way with his snide remark.

If Satsune was princess then Shinta was prince. The both came from old money but Shinta's family's fortune was longer.

"That's not nice Hiroshi-san. It's not charity, Aries-kun and I are friends. And please don't use my first name." Risa stood up to defend me.

I smirk and open the bento inhaling deeply. "Yeah Prince. Friends."

He bites his lip in frustration at my taunt before turning away with a smile. "You have a lot turn learn American. Your ways will only bring you suffering. Soon."

And soon was sooner than I thought. I was ambushed just as I left campus. I was surrounded by several unsavory characters equipped with bats, crowbars, and whatever other makeshift weapon they could find. I was getting unpleasant flashbacks.

"Don't look so confused kid. Hiroshi-sama sent us. I'm sure you know what this about."

"Is it that your 'boss' came on his period?"

He laughs. "You sure never learn do ya. Aren't you tired of getting your *** kicked. That bravado may work in the west but here we won't take it. Eventually its gonna get you dead."

I swallow hard as he pulls out a huge knife that was closer to a machete.

"I don't suppose an apology would suffice at this point would it?"

"Not gonna happen. Break his legs boys."

In seconds they pounced on me. Putting their full weight into each swing as I ball up and start to scream out. After a while It dawned on me I wasn't in any pain. I open my eyes to see that my attackers where starting to get winded.

Eventually they rested and allowed me to get up. Aside from my now dirty clothes I looked complete untouched.

"Wow! Were you guys even trying?" I was so surprised I just blurted it out.

Usually I'd have to limp home and ice everything and tend to several wounds. Yet this time I didn't feel so much as a headache. Was this all because of that hack?

The leader of the gang gritted his teeth and swung his knife catching me unaware as I marveled at myself. It hit me across the left side of my torso.

"You're done for bastard don't ever look down on the Ravens!"

It broke skin. Only not much. All he got was a small trickle of blood. I could barely contain myself. When he noticed he broke into a cold sweat and suddenly looked nervous.

I look down at him with the presence of a devil. "My turn."

I drew back and punched him right in the center of his face. The blow sent him flying in to the dumpster near the building and left a body sized dent in it. I had to have been ten yards away.

The rest of his gang froze and realized this was not a battle to be fought here and now and grab their bloody leader and retreated.

That was amazing. Body strengthening not only improved my stamina but it hardened my muscle and increased my physical strength. And I hadn't need to work out not once to achieve it thank God for this hack menu.

I finished my walk home and as I'm crossing the street I am nearly mowed down by a car going way to fast around the corner. I managed to narrowly avoid death. But something caught my eye as the car sped by. In the backseat, Risa was slumped over eyes closed. Beside her was Mikako who was looking off through the opposite window bored.

A notification chimed.

[New quest]

{Rescue Satsune Risa}

{Time limit: 6 hours}

{Reward: 20 hack points}

{BOUNUS: Do not be exposed. +10 hack points}

I break into a full sprint towards the Sarada estate. It was the only place I could think of that Mikako would be taking Risa.

She had mentioned that she would have a "sacrifice" by the end of today. I have no idea what she intends to sacrifice Risa for but I was going to save her even if I hadn't gotten a quest to do it now that I had gained the ability to do so.

Speaking of, I just remembered I have a some points and some hacks I could get. It looked like I somehow unlocked a few more hacks.

Shadow walker rank 1 allowed the ability to move discreetly while in the cover of shadows erasing increasing degrees of noise and visibility. Sense rank 1 gave the ability to perceive my surroundings without having line of sight within an area. And Silver Tongue rank 1 is exactly what you think, it lends a persuasive edge to words.

With the 10 points I had, the only thing I could afford was tantojutsu rank 1. It was best for me to get that one anyhow for what I was about to do. I dump all my points into its purchase. Suddenly knowledge flooded my brain. It was rather intense, but subsided after a few moments.

I grab a small pipe from the ground and swing it a few times. I was amazed that my swings mimicked the know how in my head. It seemed the knowledge infiltrated my muscle and they moved by instinct. I didn't have to even dwell on the techniques. This was kind of an OP ability. I had no fighting prowess before.

Satisfied, I enter the estate the same way I had done previously. Due to the conditions of the bonus objective I decide to hide my identity with a plain looking kabuki mask. It was white with only black eye holes and red lines sparingly etched on its face.

I figure with this mask on even if someone spots me my identity wouldn't be exposed. At least that's my interpretation of the bonus objective.

I look through the same window I had before and Mikako stood in front of men holding the unconscious body of Risa.

"Here it is father. As I promised."

"Remarkable. This body will please Akari-sama quite nicely."

"Of course. I have spent months conditioning her to be an adequate enough offering."

"Indeed. Her life shall grant immense power from Akari-sama. And just in time. I am informed that the rite shall take place in two days."

Mikako smiles. "I couldn't ask for better timing. I shall leave her here father and return when it is time."

"For the blessings of Akari-sama."

Mikako leaves through where she came and her men continue forward with Risa in arms. I follow them around back, all four of the them. They were isolated. There were no better time to catch them off guard. I sprung into action pipe in hand.

I was able to knock out the first one without anyone noticing me. The other three wouldn't go down so easily having spotted me. But thanks to the mask they still wouldn't be able to pick me out from a line-up.

Two of them pulled knives and attacked. My muscle memory kicked and I moved to defend and attack. The current level of my tantojutsu hack gave me complete mastery of just the basics of the skill but that combined with my new physical capabilities made me an overwhelming force and I easily overtook them both.

The last one who held Risa, drew a gun and held it at me. I froze. I was pretty confident that I wasn't a match for a bullet. Not now at least. I couldn't think of a single thing to do.

Risa became somewhat aware for a moment. Long enough to nearly wiggle free from his grasp. In his distraction to hold on he took his eyes off me. I took the chance. He saw me making a play and fired but he was off balance and so he missed. Three times.

I was already too close by the time he readied a fourth and rendered him unconscious.

I moved gracefully and without breaking a sweat and managed to defeat all four of them. I was even surprised by how easy I made it look.

I pick her up in my arms. She was light as a feather to me. I know it was because of my body strengthening hack, but it was taking a little to get used to.

[Quest Completed. 30 hack points acquired.]

I make my way back through the way I came and before long I was outside the outer wall once more then I was in front of Risa's house. I got the key from her bag and opened the door. I removed the mask in case anyone was home.

After I dropped her off in the apartment next door, I entered my own apartment. I stretched out on my couch with my eyes closed, drained. Emotionally not physically. Today has been exhilarating.

"Who would have thought that you were such a catch?"

I quickly open my eyes to find Emiru bent down in front of me. From our positions I could easily see up her skirt at her panties. elegantly sexy with a hint of cute innocence.

I sit up like lightening.

"How the hell...?"

"I got here? I saw some strange man in a mask break into my uncle's place. He proceeded to skillfully knock out trained guards and carry an unconscious body over a stone wall like it was nothing. Imagine my surprise when I followed him here and your face was behind that mask."

She took a sit next to me. I treaded carefully. Even though I had completed the bonus quest before my identity was compromised, I was still unsure how to handle the situation.

"Well what do you want?"

"I want you."

My face turned red. "Me...you want me?"

She sighed. "Not like that. I want you to work for me."

"Work for you?" I say dumbfounded. "Doing what?"

"We are going to take down the Sarada clan. To do that I need to build my own clan."

"Why me?"

"Just this morning the aura around you was nowhere near this as strong as it is now."

"Aura?"

"Every living thing has its own unique aura and yours has gone through rapid increase. Its feels so thick compared to before. How'd you do it. What god you serve."

"Huh?"

She squinted her eyes. "Who did you sacrifice?"

"I have no idea what your talking about. Sacrifice? God? I'm not very religious."

She started to ponder. "You really have no idea what im talking about?"

"Sorry." I shrug.

"So how did you cultivate your area this much so quickly?"

I shrug again.

"Well regardless Aries-san i could use your potential."

"That actually sounds like a hassle I'll have to pass."

She looked grimly serious. "Of course you refuse and ill rat you out you will be dead by the morning."

I swallow. "What do i have to do?"