If anyone tells you luxury doesn't change a man — they've never stayed in a royal palace.
The room I was given could probably house a small army. It was one of those chambers built just to remind you how poor you are, even if you're already rich. The walls were carved with runes that pulsed faintly with mana, glowing gold under the soft crystal lamps. Intricate murals told tales of royal victories and divine blessings — the kind of propaganda that made nobles feel important and peasants feel unworthy.
The floor was obsidian marble, polished so perfectly I could see my reflection smirking back at me. A massive bed, easily big enough to host a council meeting, sat at the center, covered in black and silver silk. To my left, an open balcony overlooked the royal city — a futuristic skyline glowing with magic-infused neon. Floating carriages zipped through the air, and the distant chirpings of exotic birds gave the capital its distinct rhythm: a symphony of old magic and new science.
"Yep," I muttered. "Perfect place for a guy trying to pretend he belongs here."
I walked into the bathroom — correction, miniature sanctuary. The tub wasn't just a tub; it was a small pond with glowing blue runes swirling in the water, releasing steam that smelled faintly of mint and moonflowers. A mirror stretched across one wall, framed with white-gold edges.
I looked into it and couldn't help the grin that spread across my face.
"Well, hello there, handsome devil," I said, tilting my head.
The person staring back wasn't the same awkward noble brat I'd been months ago. My face had sharpened — smooth skin, a defined jawline, lips that looked annoyingly perfect, and black eyes that burned in an amber hue, a faint glow swirling within them from the merged souls. My black hair fell loosely, slightly messy in a way that somehow made me look effortlessly noble.
My body wasn't bulky like a warrior's, but toned — built through a year of surviving my instructor's "fun adventures" in monster-infested wilderness. My shoulders had broadened, and faint scars — trophies of stupidity and luck — marked my forearms.
If I were to rate myself? Easy nine out of ten. Ten, if I were drunk enough.
"Truly, I am the epitome of genetic injustice," I sighed dramatically. "No wonder the heavens hate me."
After admiring myself a bit longer — purely for scientific reasons, of course — I stepped out, drying my hair with a soft mana towel and slipping into the clothes laid on the bed.
A black coat embroidered with faint silver patterns that shimmered when the light hit right, a crimson vest beneath it, and a pendant shaped like the Darknorth emblem — a sword with dual edges of fire and ice. Everything screamed wealth, lineage, and "please don't assassinate me tonight."
With some time left before the royal banquet, I decided to check something I'd been avoiding since my awakening — my Status Window.
"Status," I whispered mentally.
A faint chime echoed in my head, and then a transparent blue panel appeared before me.
[Status Window]
Name: Rishi Lux Darknorth
Race: Human (Mutated Soul)
Age: 17
Title: NONE
Class:Reality Deviant (Rank S)
Flaw:Paradox of Joy
Blessing:Dual Flow
Affinities: Fire, Crystal, Gravity
Spirit:Twin-Headed Serpent (Nivara)
Core Types: Aura Core, Mana Core
Soul Condition: Unified and Stable
Rank: D–
[Skills]
Overall Evaluation:
"He who shouldn't be here is created, even though protected by rules, but too weak to plea. Here the flaw, from fate to its beloved anomaly. You dare to defy the order by merging the souls but nothing can ever be perfect as even void is not. So, here my beloved a flaw you have earned, but remember its not the payment but the sacrifice you have done."
.
"Oh, great," I muttered. "Now my status page writes poetry. Perfect."
The first time I saw it, the screen had been full of 'Error Error' messages — now it looked like the world's slowest update finally finished installing.
"Even this world has lag issues," I sighed. "Maybe I should restart reality."
Still, a few things had changed. It is written that I cannot be evaluated probably due to my class but a message and that is also poetic. But still the 'Overall Evaluation' felt like divine sarcasm. "Too weak to plea"? Excuse me, celestial narrator, I've literally cheated fate and gravity.
I was giving myself false excuses, I knew I was weak and even though i could not completely understand this poetic nonsense, I got to know few things
Firstly, the heaven or fate or whatever it is tried to neutralize me when i was found to be an anomaly but some rules interfered in the process so it then find the loopholes in rules and on the name that nothing can ever be perfect, handed me this flaw.
And the last part is probably to scare me ... or just I cannot i=understand it yet.
Heck, whatever I will think about this later and go in depression by overthinking but now I have a lot of things to check.
Mentally, I clicked on my class name. The text shimmered, rearranging itself into elegant glowing script.
Class: Reality Deviant
A class born from the cracks of destiny — for one not written by fate.
You grow stronger not by walking the path, but by breaking it.You cannot be granted destiny; you must create it.
Class Flaw:
You cannot have titles or honors. Your victories against fate feed the class, not your reputation
.Heaven will not honor what it cannot control.
I whistled lowly."So basically, I'm unrecognizable to destiny and unhirable by heaven. Great resume."
Still, it wasn't entirely bad. It meant I wasn't bound by the cosmic scripts that guided others. In simpler terms — no prophecy, no divine babysitter. Just me, my brain, and my absurd luck.
But, of course, there was that little flaw part. Almost every class had one. Some were minor — like Swordmasters being unable to master any weapon except swords — while others were major, like Berserkers who couldn't stop mid-battle even if their allies begged them to.
Mine? It was poetic — and annoying. A class that demanded I fight fate itself. Because sure, why not make survival harder?. And titles and honor, personally I have never cared about them.
So I scrolled further, and six glowing runic icons appeared — my ClassAspects.
1. You Can Do What Is Impossible
Allows limited defiance of metaphysical rules. The greater the contradiction, the greater the cost.(In short: yes, you can, but don't be stupid about it.)
2. Dual Soul
i) Merged consciousness of two souls enhances your memories, clarity and adaptability
ii) Doubles your training and learning speed.
iii) Your core's size is doubled.
iv) Have two minds, i.e. focus on two things at the same time
(Basically, two brains — one sensible, one sarcastic.)
3. All Weapons
You can wield any weapon type and resonate with its essence. Mastery still depends on skill and practice.
(Finally, no need to justify my random weapon collection.)
4. Runesmith
Access to ancient runic knowledge, creation of enchantments, and manipulation of energy matrices.
(My side hustle and backup career.)
5. No Access
Immune to mental domination, spiritual bindings, and fate-based detection, prophecies and curses.
(Translation: No mind control, no divine spam calls.)
6. Hide & Seek
You can conceal your power, suppress presence, or fake emotions. Appear weak, harmless, or even dying at will.
(For when dramatic entrances and fake weakness are tactical advantages — or just funny.)
I couldn't help but grin. "Now this… this is a class made for chaos."
Even if I couldn't flaunt titles or achievements, who cared? Half the fun was confusing everyone else anyway.
But, I was still disappointed, except for dual soul all other aspects are little lackluster.
I thought I would be granted some transmigration perks. Men, I even had fantasies about system.
Well, it cannot be changed anymore but it had soured my mood a little.
Not that my class was not good but just my expectations were too high.
So, I decided to check my flaw and blessings later.
I dismissed the screen and glanced toward the window. The sun had already begun to set, painting the royal city in shades of molten gold and deep crimson. Floating mana lamps flickered to life along the streets, while noble carriages hummed through the air.
The palace bells began to toll softly in the distance — the signal for the start of the night banquet.
I adjusted my coat, checking my reflection one last time. The faint mark of the twin-headed serpent glowed briefly on my finger — a reminder that even my spirit found all this absurd.
"Alright, Rishi," I said, smiling faintly at my reflection. "Time to go pretend to like people again."
I turned on my heel and left the room — a man of mystery, sarcasm, and dangerously good looks, heading straight into a hall of schemers and stars.