Devta Bhakt System - The rise of the Protector
Chapter 8: The Super Harem System: Rise of Mranali
"My name is Karan Malhotra," Karan said, maintaining that same aristocratic prestige in his voice, "the heir to the Malhotra family."
Suraj simply' nodded without saying a word and extended his hand. As soon as their palms met, an invisible explosion of energy occurred.
Their respective System screens flashed with lightning speed before their eyes.
Karan's screen flashed a message:
[Ding! Hand-shake process complete. Contact established with a 'High-Level' Host.]
[Reward: You have received a 'Royal War Horse' summon card. It has been secured in the System Space.]
A wave of excitement rushed through Karan's mind. He thought to himself— "Wow! Such a big reward just for a handshake?
And a Royal War Horse, that too a combat one?
Anyway, I'll summon it later; this cloaked figure is truly a jackpot.
Right now, understanding this man is more important."
On the other side, Suraj's screen was flooded with notifications.
That familiar, emotionless, and grave voice echoed in his brain:
[Ding! The touch condition for System copying has been met. Do you wish to copy Karan's system?]
[Warning: Upon copying, a 'Mini Version' of his system will be linked with your Devta Bhakt System.]
Suraj paused for a moment. Giving space to someone else's system inside him could be risky. But then the System presented another report:
[Analysis Complete: The compatibility of Karan's system with the Host is found to be 90 percent. Conclusion—Karan's system has a strong desire to serve the Host.]
A deep sense of satisfaction spread across Suraj's face. He mentally commanded, "System, begin the copy!"
[Copying Process Initiated: 10%... 50%... 90%... 100%! Success!]
At that same moment, a wave of invisible energy emerged from Suraj's hand and entered Karan's body. Karan didn't even feel it, but Suraj's world had changed.
[Ding! 100,000 Multiples Return System activated!]
[Congratulations Host! A One Lakh Multiples Return has been triggered on the copy of Karan's mediocre system. You have obtained the 'Super Harem System'.]
Suddenly, not a text message, but a living avatar appeared on Suraj's screen. It was an incredibly beautiful woman—roughly 20 years old, wearing a red silk gown, with a divine aura shining around her. She joined her hands in respect and bowed before Suraj.
Suraj spoke to her in his mind, "Since you are the 'Super Harem System,' your name from today will be 'Mranali.' And I must say... you are quite beautiful."
Hearing this, the digital avatar, Mranali, saw her cheeks turn pink. She lowered her eyelids in shyness and whispered in a very low voice, "Thank you, my Master!"
Suraj closed the System screen with a smile. He noticed that Karan was still holding his hand, looking at him with strange eyes. Hearing the growing whispers of the crowd, Suraj slowly pulled his hand back and broke the silence, "Brother Karan, do you know anything about today's auction? I heard some people talking about it a while ago."
Karan took a sigh of relief, "Yes, I was heading there myself. If you wish, you can come with me in my carriage."
Suraj thought that being with an influential local person in this unknown city would be beneficial. Both turned and walked toward the grand carriage. The crowd stood watching them leave. Now they were absolutely certain that Karan Malhotra's 'tastes' had completely changed.
Inside the carriage, there was silence, broken only by the sound of the wheels. Karan, who considered himself a clever transmigrator, began trying to extract information from Suraj.
"Brother Suraj, how long have you been in this city?" Karan asked, wearing a mask of friendship.
"Just arrived today," Suraj replied briefly.
"So... where have you come from? I mean, what is your place of origin?" Curiosity gleamed in Karan's eyes.
A mysterious smile appeared on Suraj's lips. Looking out the window, he said in a calm voice, "From very far away... where even the shadows hold a story of their own."
Karan understood that this person would not reveal his identity so easily. He thought to himself, "This guy turned out to be quite a Clever Fox!"
At that very moment, a new notification flashed on Suraj's screen:
[New Title Obtained: Clever Fox]
Suraj felt a faint coolness spread through his heart. He understood that this title was not just a name, but a testament to his caution and intelligence. He was calm on the outside, but in his mind, a map of the auction house was beginning to take shape. He knew that where an auction takes place, not just goods are sold; the egos and destinies of big players are also put on the line.
Suraj gazed silently at the translucent screen that had materialized before him, his eyes scanning the pulsating text.
> [ Ding ! ]
> [ Title Activated — " Clever Fox " ]
> Reasoning: A profound and unusual affinity for the vulpine species has been detected within the depths of the Host's heart and subconscious.
> Effect:This title elevates the Host's cognitive faculties to a new pinnacle.
When contemplating complex subjects, the Host will now think with a precision and strategic depth far beyond that of ordinary mortals.
Your thoughts are no longer merely ideas; they are the opening moves of a grand master on a chessboard, checkmating the enemy before they even realize the game has begun.
> As the system's message concluded, the blue screen dissolved into a faint mist.
Suraj gave a barely perceptible nod, a faint, enigmatic smile playing at the corners of his lips—a smile so subtle it was almost invisible.
" The Fox ".
He had always been drawn to this creature. While others labeled it as "cunning" or "deceptive," in Suraj's eyes, the species was a paragon of wisdom. A fox never squandered its strength; it remained still, it waited, and when the perfect moment arrived, it executed a move for which there was no counter. Suraj could feel it—a sudden, electric sharpness in his intellect, as if long-dormant doors in his mind had been thrown wide open.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling upon Karan, who sat comfortably upon the silken cushions of the carriage.
Karan, still under the illusion that he was the shrewd player in this carriage, had no inkling that the cloaked man before him had already ascended to a mental plane leagues beyond his own.
"Karan," Suraj said, his voice calm and anchored with a weight that seemed to demand the truth.
"If you have the knowledge, and no particular objection to sharing it... could you tell me about the primary items slated for today's auction? I wish to understand the caliber of treasures traded within this city's walls."
A self-assured smile spread across Karan's face. He relished the feeling of Suraj being dependent on his knowledge; it was a sweet balm to his ego.
"Why not, Brother Suraj! There is nothing to hide. My father is the General, the guardian of this city's peace. Because of his influence, the secret auction manifest reaches my hands long before the event even begins."
With a flourish, Karan reached for a leather pouch tied to his silken belt. He pulled out an ancient, yellowed scroll that carried a peculiar scent—the aroma of old ink and enchanted parchment. He unrolled it slowly, angling it toward Suraj so the script was visible.
"Would you like to hear their names and specifications?" Karan asked.
Suraj gave a simple, silent nod. His eyes remained fixed on the list, but his mind was already calculating the variables of profit and risk behind every entry.
Karan placed a finger on the first line and began, "First, the crowning jewel of this auction—the three-year-old 'Sun-Cold Grass'."
Suraj's eyebrows arched slightly. The name alone commanded attention. Sun and Cold—two diametrically opposed temperaments contained within a single herb was a rarity of the highest order.
"Brother Suraj, do not make the mistake of seeing this as mere grass," Karan explained, his voice lowering with gravity.
"The bidding for every single stalk is going to be astronomical. You may not know this, but during the last auction, a mere shard of one-year-old Sun-Cold Grass fetched five hundred Spirit Stones. This specimen is three years old! Its energy density is infinitely more potent and pure."
He paused for dramatic effect before adding, "Can you imagine how vital this is for a warrior's physique? For those who struggle to endure the searing internal heat during cultivation, or suffer from various elemental imbalances, this is nothing short of an elixir of life."
Suraj filed this information away into a corner of his memory. "What is its primary application?" he asked, his tone that of a curious scholar.
"Most high-tier warriors and noble clans purchase it for Body Tempering," Karan noted.
"When one must burn away the impurities within the flesh, this grass keeps the internal body cool so the meridians do not rupture under the strain. Great alchemists—or Hakeems, as we call them—mix this with other rare herbs to forge powerful medicines. And for the wealthiest... they use it to concoct specific Pills."
" Pills ? " Suraj repeated the word as if it were a novelty, though in truth, he was gauging the depth of Karan's understanding.
Karan chuckled, the sound tinged with local pride. " Indeed ! Pills. And it might surprise you, Brother Suraj, that an entire marketplace has evolved in this city solely for those tiny orbs. We call it the Pill Market."
A spark of understanding lit Suraj's eyes as Karan continued, "In the beginning, it was just a small hub for trading basic medicines.
But as the demand from warriors grew, the market expanded until it became the very backbone of this city's economy."
A note of reverence entered Karan's voice.
"Legend says a Great Hakeem passed through here centuries ago.
Disgusted by the filth and chaos of the trade, he laid down the laws. He taught them how to judge the purity of a pill and how to refine its essence. Since then, the Pill Market has become a Pilgrimage Site for millions of alchemists and warriors."
"A pilgrimage site..." Suraj murmured, visualizing the grandeur of such a place.
"Yes," Karan nodded.
"A magnificent Pill Hall stands there now, governed by a powerful council of Hakeems. It is no ordinary place. If one dreams of becoming an alchemist, they must register there, survive grueling examinations to earn a rank, and secure an official Hakeem Token. Once you have that, your destiny is set. Even Kings bow when they speak to a ranked Hakeem."
Suraj watched Karan closely. He saw the respect in the young man's eyes, but beneath it lay a sharp, stinging longing. Karan desired that seat of power, yet his circumstances seemed to bar the way.
With a subtle smile, Suraj asked, "So, Karan, given your vast knowledge, why haven't you sought to become a Hakeem yourself? I can see you hold the position in high regard."
Karan's face dimmed for a moment. He remained silent, staring at the trees blurring past the window. He let out a cold, heavy sigh.
"It isn't that I don't want to, Brother Suraj. Truthfully, it was my greatest dream. But becoming a Hakeem isn't just about memorizing books.
It requires a specific type of energy within the body—Internal Fire, mental focus, and above all, Spiritual Energy."
He looked down at his palms, his voice trailing off in frustration. "Currently... I am not at that level. My body cannot endure the flow of such energy. Perhaps my fate is only to read these scrolls, never to write the recipes within them."
Suraj nodded in silent empathy, realizing the harsh currency of power in this world. "No matter," he said, shifting the tone. "Everyone has their time. Tell me, what is next on the list?"
Karan quickly shook off his melancholy and scanned the scroll again.
"The list is long, but next are the ' Sun - Moon Swords ' . "
Suraj's focus sharpened. Swords—a warrior's true soul.
"These come as a pair," Karan explained. "They are somewhat small in stature, typically used to train the children of nobility in the arts of war.
But many a great warrior has met his end by dismissing them as 'children's toys.'"
He moved the scroll closer to Suraj.
"Read the description... the Sun Sword burns with the intensity of the solar orb during battle, emitting energy so aggressive it can melt an opponent's defensive armor. The Moon Sword is .....