Du Shentian stared at the floating screen before him, his mind struggling to process the absurd title that hovered in front of his eyes like a cruel joke from the universe.
Buttmaniac (1-Star).
His eyelids twitched violently as if his face itself was trying to reject the existence of that ridiculous title.
"What kind of cursed title is this…?"
Behind him—
Something shifted.
A terrifying pressure suddenly descended like an invisible mountain, crushing down on his entire body and making his bones feel as if they were about to snap under the overwhelming weight.
Cold sweat immediately streamed down his back as his instincts screamed danger louder than they ever had in his life.
A calm yet eerie voice echoed slowly behind him.
"Explain yourself."
Du Shentian stiffened.
Slowly… very slowly… he turned around, feeling as if even the smallest movement might trigger his instant death.
And then he met Luo Xinyan's eyes.
Her silver hair fluttered gently in the ruined wind, moving gracefully despite the oppressive atmosphere that surrounded her like a storm ready to erupt.
Her crimson eyes stared directly at him.
Not at him—
Through him.
It felt as if her gaze pierced through his skin, bones, and soul itself, as though she could see every mistake he had ever made in his entire life.
He opened his mouth to speak—
But his voice choked.
Because he suddenly realized something horrifying.
His sword…
Was still stuck inside her butt.
The moment stretched endlessly as his brain slowly acknowledged the situation, replaying the image of himself heroically stabbing a "demonic beast" only to realize that the beast was actually a terrifyingly powerful awakener.
The air was heavy with killing intent, thick enough to suffocate anyone unfortunate enough to stand within it.
And yet—
Du Shentian swallowed nervously.
"I… I don't want to ruin the moment or anything… but… my sword is still stuck inside your butt."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even the wind seemed to pause for a moment as if the entire world had stopped just to witness the stupidity that had just been spoken.
Then—
[Ding.]
A system prompt appeared before him.
[Host… I truly cannot believe you.]
[In front of a King-Tier marshal warrior, while being an unawakened being yourself… you chose to say THAT.]
[Host, I must admit… your balls are truly made of steel.]
Du Shentian's brain froze as those words appeared in front of his eyes like a sarcastic applause from the universe itself.
"Did the system just mock me?!"
But he had absolutely no time to process the insult.
Luo Xinyan calmly reached behind her back with the same casual movement someone might use to remove a loose thread from their clothing.
Then she pulled the sword out of her butt.
And threw it onto the ground.
Clang.
The metallic sound echoed through the ruins with uncomfortable clarity.
Her killing intent intensified immediately, spreading outward like a silent storm that threatened to crush everything nearby.
"Explain. Now."
Du Shentian staggered backward slightly while raising both hands in surrender, his mind racing to assemble an explanation that might prevent his immediate death.
"I was in this area using a phone booth. Then suddenly I felt something pulling me toward this direction."
"I unconsciously followed the path of attraction and saw a wolf howling in pain inside the crater."
"I thought it was a demonic beast."
"I thought I could kill it, extract its monster core, and sell it for Union Coins."
His voice lowered slightly as he forced himself to explain the embarrassing truth.
"I come from a poor background. I needed the money."
"I didn't know it was you transformed."
He hesitated briefly, but curiosity—combined with his complete lack of survival instinct—pushed him to ask the question anyway.
"Why were you transformed into a wolf here in the ruined district of Dragon Century 007? Did something happen?"
Luo Xinyan's eyes darkened dangerously.
"Stop talking."
But Du Shentian, panicked and foolishly unable to stop his mouth, continued speaking anyway.
"Were you in pain? Or was it… you know… that time of the month when—"
SLAP!
The impact echoed across the ruins like a small explosion.
His head snapped violently to the side as the force of the strike sent him staggering.
The left side of his face instantly went completely numb.
But deep inside, he understood something very clearly.
She had held back.
If Luo Xinyan had used even a fraction of her true strength, his head would have separated from his body instantly.
A King-Tier warrior versus an unawakened warrior—
The difference was like the difference between an immortal and a mortal.
He immediately bowed deeply.
"Thank you for not killing me!"
"I am not sparing you," she replied coldly.
"In one week. Sunday."
"You will come to the Silver Dragon Battalion's Headquarters."
"You will fight me."
Du Shentian's face turned pale instantly as the meaning of those words sank into his mind.
"You are a King-Tier warrior! I'm barely awakened! If we fight, I'll die!"
"I don't care."
"If you don't come…"
Her crimson eyes gleamed coldly.
"I will come and find you."
"And if I do you will experience a pain greater than death, Du Shentian."
He trembled slightly before suddenly realizing something strange.
"How do you know my name?"
For a brief moment, Luo Xinyan's expression looked slightly embarrassed.
But the moment passed quickly.
"You don't need to know."
The wind gathered beneath her feet.
Then she rose into the sky and flew away, leaving nothing but swirling dust and a stunned young man behind.
The ruined district slowly returned to silence after Luo Xinyan disappeared into the sky.
Dust still floated in the air from the wind she had created while leaving. Broken concrete and shattered buildings surrounded Du Shentian like silent witnesses to the most ridiculous moment of his life.
Du Shentian remained standing in the crater for several seconds, his mind still struggling to process what had just happened.
First, he stabbed one of the strongest awakeners in Dragon Century 007 in the butt.
Then she challenged him to a fight one week later.
And now…
A mysterious system was floating in front of him.
He slowly exhaled.
"I survived…"
For a brief moment he simply stood there, staring at the empty sky where Luo Xinyan had disappeared.
Then he turned toward the floating system panel that still hovered quietly in front of him.
"Are you an AI? Or is there some mysterious existence behind you?"
"I've read novels. Sometimes systems are artificial intelligence. Sometimes there is a being watching from behind the screen."
The system displayed:
[...]
Du Shentian narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"There's definitely someone behind you."
The interface flickered slightly.
[You are correct.]
[I am not merely an AI.]
[You can say that there is an unknown entity behind this system. But I am merely a servant of that unknown entity.]
Du Shentian felt his heartbeat quicken.
So there really was someone behind the system.
Someone powerful enough to create something like this.
After a moment of silence, he asked the question that had been lingering in his mind.
"So why did you choose me?"
The system answered immediately.
[I didn't choose you.]
[That unknown entity chose you.]
The answer hung in the air.
Du Shentian went quiet.
An unknown entity.
Some being powerful enough to create a system and casually place it inside a random person's body.
To that kind of existence, he was probably nothing more than entertainment.
A toy.
A pawn.
But if being a pawn of that unknown existence could make him stronger…
Then he will
Without hesitation, accept it.
Du Shentian got on his knees.
He pressed his forehead against the ground.
"Accept me as your disciple."
The system paused.
[...]
[Host. Our relationship is of host and system.]
"I know."
"But teach me."
"You know far more than I do."
"I need strength."
"My siblings are in the Bloodstone Heaven."
"That place is hell."
"King-Tier monsters roam there like insects."
"I don't want them to die there."
"I know nothing in this world comes for free… so take what you want from me."
"But just make me strong enough to protect them."
A long silence followed.
Then—
A massive contract appeared before him.
The contract was more than one hundred pages long.
Du Shentian's eyes widened.
"What the hell is this?"
"How am I supposed to read all this?"
"Can you just give me a summary of the contract?"
The system's tone turned cold.
[Host, you wish to have a contract with me… yet refuse to read the terms and conditions?]
[If I were malicious, I could easily hide clauses that would kill you without you even realizing it.]
Du Shentian remained kneeling.
"If you wanted me dead, I would be long dead already."
"I need power."
"Even if I have to become a pawn for it, I'll accept it."
"In this world, to survive, you need strength, not pride."
Silence.
A long silence.
Then—
The massive contract began to shrink.
The hundreds of pages condensed rapidly into a summarized version.
A new panel appeared before him.
[Contract Summary]
It is a contract between the host and the system. The system will be treated as the Master, and the host will be treated as the Disciple. The system will provide advice from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day. The host will have the final authority to decide whether to accept the advice or not. However, the host must accept every mission assigned by the system and complete it within the given time limit. Failure to complete the mission will result in penalties. The host cannot refuse any mission.
[Accept / Reject]
Du Shentian read everything carefully.
Especially one part.
The Host must accept every mission and cannot refuse.
He slowly stood up.
"Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all for now," the system said.
A faint amusement lingered behind those words.
Du Shentian clenched his fist.
He raised his hand—
And was about to press Accept.
But suddenly—
[Host. Are you truly fine with this?]
[You can die on the missions.]
Du Shentian didn't hesitate.
"If this is your game…"
"Then I'll become the strongest piece on your board."
The system flickered quietly.
As if smiling.
Du Shentian pressed Accept.
The contract dissolved into light.
Immediately afterward, Du Shentian frowned.
"Wait."
"Why are your advisory hours only 9 to 5?"
The system replied calmly.
[Even I deserve to be treated like a salaried worker.]
[In your world, salaried men work 9 to 5.]
[Why can I not receive the same treatment?]
Du Shentian froze.
"…Does the system truly think like this?"
"You're telling me I can use my cheat powers in office hours only?"
He rubbed his forehead in disbelief.
"I never knew systems also wanted work-life balance…"
Then he quickly asked,
"What if I'm in a dangerous situation at night and I need your help?"
[If it is an emergency, I may assist.]
"May?"
[Do not push your luck.]
He immediately changed the topic.
"Can I at least access the system panel after 5 PM?"
[Yes. You may access the system panel.]
[However, advisory services remain restricted to 9 to 5.]
Du Shentian sighed in relief.
"Good. I thought after 5 PM you'd shut down like a government office."
The system replied flatly:
[You should have considered these things before signing the contract.]
Du Shentian smiled confidently.
"I have complete faith you wouldn't fool me."
The system internally thought:
What kind of idiot is this?
Du Shentian suddenly became serious.
"When will you assign missions?"
The system paused briefly.
[You wish to receive missions from today?]
"Yes."
"Time is running out."
"I need to get stronger quickly."
"In seven days, I have to fight Silver Dragon Battalion Leader Luo Xinyan."
"If I don't get stronger…"
"I'll either die or break a few bones."
The system laughed faintly.
[Very well, Host.]
A mission window appeared before him.
[Mission]
Objective: Kill a First-Tier Demonic Beast within 3 hours
Reward: +25 Stat Points
Penalty: None
Du Shentian blinked.
"Why is there no penalty?"
The system went silent.
Then—
The mission window flickered violently.
[Updated Mission]
Objective: Kill a First-Tier Demonic Beast within 1 hour 30 minutes
Reward: +25 Stat Points
Penalty: Death
Du Shentian's face turned pale.
"I was joking!"
"I was joking!!"
The system replied coldly:
[But I am not.]
[Now complete the mission.]
He screamed internally.
Then Du Shentian immediately started running.
He rushed toward the outer gates of Dragon Century 007 as fast as his legs could carry him.
When he reached the guarded exit, he said hurriedly,
"I need to go outside for training!"
The guards looked at him calmly and said,
"Show us your Awakener ID."
Du Shentian froze.
His eyes widened.
"…Oh no."
After awakening his F-Rank ability, he had been so depressed that he never went to the Awakener Association to collect his ID.
He turned and sprinted back immediately.
The system's voice echoed again.
[Thirty minutes have already passed.]
"DON'T COUNT IT OUT LOUD!"
He burst into the Awakener Association.
He rushed to the reception counter.
"I need my Awakener ID!"
The receptionist glanced at him and handed it over.
He looked down at it.
Name: Du Shentian
Awakened Ability: F-Rank (Weak Lightning)
Strength: 10
Speed: 10
Endurance: 5
Total Combat Power: 25
Cultivation Level: Unawakened
The system immediately commented:
[Your statistics are… remarkably poor.]
Du Shentian's eyebrow twitched.
"What can I do? It's the best I could get!"
"But now that's going to change."
"With your help, I'll reach heights no one has ever reached before."
The system responded calmly.
[It is possible.]
[Now move.]
[Half an hour has already passed.]
Du Shentian's eyes widened again.
"STOP ANNOUNCING THE DAMN TIME!"
He stuffed the ID card into his pocket and dashed out of the Awakener Association.
The clock was ticking.
And if he failed to kill the First-Tier Demonic Beast within the time limit—
He would die.
End of Ch 8
Author's Note
This is my first novel, so there may be mistakes along the way. Please feel free to point them out so I can improve.
Also, English is not my first language, so there might be some inconsistencies.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the story!