The last thing I remembered from my previous life was the cold barrel of a gun pressed against my forehead and the trembling voice of the woman I had called "girlfriend" for fourteen months.
"You're not human," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "You never felt anything, did you?"
I didn't bother answering. There was no point. Emotions were tools—efficient, reusable, disposable. I had worn the perfect mask of love, devotion, and vulnerability for over a year. It had served its purpose until she found the recordings. The ones where I calmly documented how her pain, her joy, her fear all registered as nothing more than data points.
The gunshot was loud. Then nothing.
Now, there was light.
A sharp, sterile pain bloomed behind my eyes as memories that weren't mine flooded in. I sat up slowly in a luxurious king-sized bed, silk sheets sliding off my chest. The room screamed old money—dark wood paneling, crystal chandelier, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a sprawling modern city skyline dotted with faint glowing rifts in the sky. Dungeon gates.
I knew this place.
System Notification:
[Transmigration Complete.]
[You have entered the world of "Awakener's Odyssey" as Ethan Blackwood, second son of the Blackwood Guild, rank A+ talent (sealed).]
[Full game knowledge unlocked.]
[Dating-Sim Affection System integrated.]
[Villain Points System activated.]
[Main Quest: Defy the Original Plot – Prevent family ruin and eliminate the Son of Heaven.]
A cold smile tugged at my lips. Not because I felt joy. I didn't. But the mask required it, and muscle memory was already kicking in.
I stood up and walked to the full-length mirror. The reflection showed a tall, sharply handsome young man of twenty. Black hair neatly styled, sharp jawline, pale skin, and eyes that could switch from warm charm to icy calculation in a heartbeat. Exactly as I remembered from my multiple playthroughs of the game.
In the original story, Ethan Blackwood was an arrogant second-generation rich kid. He bullied the protagonist, tried to steal heroines, and eventually got crushed when his family's guild collapsed due to a series of "unfortunate" incidents orchestrated by the Son of Heaven, Lucas Kane. By chapter 300 or so, Ethan died pathetically, betrayed by his own subordinates and forgotten by everyone.
Not this time.
I flexed my fingers. The body felt responsive, mana flowing smoothly beneath the skin even though the talent was currently sealed at A+. In the game, the seal would break during the academy entrance practical exam in three days.
Perfect timing.
A soft knock sounded on the door.
"Young Master, breakfast is ready. The chairman wishes to see you before you head to the academy orientation."
The voice belonged to Butler Harris, a loyal but ultimately disposable servant in the original plot. I smoothed my expression into one of polite indifference mixed with slight annoyance—the exact blend the original Ethan used.
"Enter."
The middle-aged butler stepped in, bowing deeply. I scanned his face for micro-expressions. Nervousness around the eyes. Good. The family was already feeling the early tremors of financial pressure from rival guilds. In the game, this pressure would explode into full ruin within two years.
I wouldn't let that happen.
"Tell Father I'll be down in ten minutes," I said, voice smooth and commanding. "And prepare the black Maybach. I want to arrive at the academy in style."
"Yes, Young Master."
After he left, I allowed the charming mask to drop for a moment. My reflection in the mirror returned to its natural state—blank, empty, calculating.
"Lucas Kane," I murmured. "Son of Heaven. Lucky protagonist. Let's see how well your plot armor holds up when someone who already beat the game is playing from the villain's side."
I showered quickly, dressed in the academy's formal uniform—a sleek black blazer with silver accents and the Awakener Academy crest—and practiced a few expressions in the mirror. Warm smile for classmates. Cold smirk for rivals. Slight concern for heroines in distress. All flawless.
Downstairs, the dining hall was grand. My father, Victor Blackwood, sat at the head of the long table, reading a holographic report. He was a stern man in his late fifties, S-rank awakener in his prime, now mostly focused on guild management. In the original story, he would lose everything trying to protect his "unfilial" son.
Not anymore.
"Ethan," he greeted without looking up. "You've been reckless lately. The academy entrance is in three days. If you embarrass the family—"
"I won't," I interrupted smoothly, sliding into my seat. I layered just the right amount of confidence and subtle respect into my tone. "I've prepared thoroughly. This year's freshmen will remember the name Blackwood."
My father finally looked at me, eyes narrowing slightly. I met his gaze steadily, letting a faint, ambitious smile touch my lips. He seemed satisfied.
"Good. The guild is facing… pressure from the Silverthorn Group. We need strong connections at the academy. Especially with the Hunter Association's new policies."
I nodded, already calculating. Silverthorn Group was one of the early allies of the protagonist. In the game, they would help Lucas Kane suppress the Blackwood Guild.
Breakfast was light—poached eggs, fresh fruit, and mana-infused coffee that boosted concentration. While eating, I opened the system interface mentally.
Current Status:
Name: Ethan Blackwood
Talent Rank: A+ (Sealed)
Level: 1
Strength: 18 | Agility: 22 | Mana: 45 | Vitality: 20
Villain Points: 500 (Starting Bonus)
Affection System: Inactive (No targets met yet)
Skills:
- Emotional Mimicry (Passive, Max) – Allows perfect imitation of any emotion. Undetectable by standard lie-detection skills.
- Game Knowledge (Passive) – Complete memory of all main quests, hidden floors, relic locations, and heroine routes.
I mentally allocated the starting Villain Points. 200 into a temporary "Mana Burst" skill for the upcoming exam, 150 into "Subtle Influence" to help with early social maneuvering, and the rest saved for emergency mask reinforcements.
After breakfast, I rode in the black Maybach toward the Awakener Academy. The city outside the tinted windows was alive with hunters. People in combat gear moved between glowing gates, guild recruiters shouted offers, and giant billboards advertised the latest dungeon raid broadcasts.
This was the urban heart of the new world—New Avalon City, transformed after the Great Awakening twenty-three years ago. Dungeons appeared randomly, monsters spilled out, and humanity adapted by ranking awakeners from F to SSS. The Academy was the premier institution, training the next generation through theory classes and real dungeon expeditions for EXP.
The car stopped at the grand gates of the academy. Towering white buildings mixed with training fields and reinforced dungeon portals for student use. Students in uniform milled about, some already forming groups for the upcoming practical exam.
I stepped out, adjusting my blazer. Several heads turned. The Blackwood name carried weight.
"Ethan!"
A cheerful voice called from the side. I turned, already slipping on the "friendly upper-classman" mask.
It was Sophia Reed, one of the nine heroines. Long black hair, bright eyes, B+ talent specialized in healing and support. In the original game, she would fall for Lucas Kane after he saved her during a dungeon raid in the first semester.
Not this time.
"Sophia," I greeted warmly, letting my voice carry just the right note of pleasant surprise. "You're early. Nervous about the practical?"
She smiled shyly, clutching her bag. "A little. My parents are counting on me to rank high. What about you? Everyone says you're going to dominate the exam."
I chuckled softly, the sound perfectly modulated. "I'll do my best. If you need any tips on mana control, feel free to ask. We're in the same boat as new students."
Her cheeks flushed slightly. System Notification:
[Sophia Reed Affection: +15]
Current: 15/100 (Mild Interest)
Excellent. One seed planted.
As we walked toward the orientation hall, I spotted him.
Lucas Kane.
Average height, plain but honest face, wearing a simple hoodie and jeans despite the formal dress code. He looked nervous but determined. Around him, the air seemed to shimmer faintly—the invisible "Son of Heaven" luck halo that would grant him rare drops, timely saves, and heroine affection boosts.
In the game, he would awaken an SSS hidden talent during the practical and skyrocket to the top.
I felt nothing—no jealousy, no anger. Only cold calculation.
He would get his moment in the spotlight.
I would take everything else.
The orientation was standard. The headmaster, an elderly SSS-rank awakener, gave a speech about duty, growth through real combat, and the importance of dungeon raids for EXP. Students would be allowed supervised dungeon access starting next week. Higher ranks earned more freedom and better loot distribution.
After the speech, practical exam groups were announced. I was placed in Group A-3, along with Sophia Reed and—conveniently—Lucas Kane.
Perfect.
We were led to a controlled F-rank dungeon portal on campus grounds. The instructor, a stern C-rank hunter, briefed us.
"This is a simple goblin cave. Your task is to clear it as a team. Contribution will be measured by kills, support, and mana efficiency. Begin!"
The portal shimmered. We stepped through.
Inside, the air was damp and musty. Torch-like mana lights illuminated rocky walls. The first group of goblins screeched and charged—weak, level 5-8 monsters.
Lucas Kane stepped forward bravely, a basic fire skill igniting in his palm. He took down two goblins cleanly. The others cheered.
I hung back slightly, observing.
When a larger hobgoblin appeared from a side tunnel—the hidden mini-boss that gave bonus EXP and a low-tier relic—I moved.
"Sophia, support me," I called, voice steady and reassuring.
She nodded, casting a minor shield on me.
I activated Mana Burst (temporary skill). My movements blurred. I dodged the hobgoblin's club and drove a precise mana-infused strike into its neck. Critical hit. It crumpled.
System Notification:
[EXP gained: 180]
[Hidden Mini-Boss defeated. Bonus reward unlocked.]
[You obtained: Low-grade Mana Crystal x3 + Goblin Lord's Ring (Increases mana recovery by 8%)]
While the others were still processing the fight, I had already pocketed the ring discreetly.
Lucas Kane looked surprised. "Wow, Ethan… that was fast."
I smiled modestly, the perfect humble mask. "Just lucky timing. Good work on the small ones, Lucas."
[Lucas Kane Attention: +5] (He now sees you as a capable rival.)
Sophia Reed's eyes sparkled.
[Sophia Reed Affection: +20]
Current: 35/100 (Growing Interest)
The rest of the dungeon was trivial. We cleared it in record time for a freshman group. The instructor was impressed, especially with my contribution points.
As we exited the portal, the afternoon sun felt warm on my skin. I didn't feel it emotionally, but the mask smiled anyway.
Lucas Kane was already being praised by other students. The protagonist's halo at work.
I didn't mind.
Let him have the cheers today.
In three days, during the official entrance practical, I would break the A+ seal and begin my real climb. I would start stealing the relics meant for him, trigger the first major heroine events ahead of schedule, and quietly funnel resources back to the Blackwood Guild to prevent its collapse.
And when the Nightmare Tower descended three years from now…
I would already know every hidden floor.
Every real boss.
Every god-tier reward that the Son of Heaven was supposed to claim.
I turned to Sophia Reed, who was still walking beside me.
"Sophia, would you like to grab coffee after this? I know a good café near campus that serves mana-enhanced lattes. My treat."
She blinked, then nodded with a bright smile.
[Sophia Reed Affection: +12]
Current: 47/100
I walked beside her, the charming mask firmly in place, while inside my mind ran cold calculations for the next hundred chapters of this rewritten game.
The villain was never meant to win.
This time, the story would end differently.
Very differently.