He was lucky.
The War God, who bore the name of the strongest, didn't get angry at Aaron's arrogant, over-the-top words.
This War God, who had desperately craved an opponent ever since killing the Dragon King, stopped his subordinates and lowered his gaze.
In an instant, he had perceived the origin of this weakling—one he could kill by the billion with a single breath, yet who dared to make such a bold claim.
"Insignificant weakling... you are... interesting."
"Try to turn the potential you carry into reality, or... die."
A sublime something manifested, entering the body of the visitor from another world by the will of the strongest god.
As praise for his courage and a reward for challenging the strong, Aaron received the God's Essence.
As punishment for his arrogant words, an anchor was planted in him, and a death god's scythe was placed over his neck, ready to fall at any moment.
He had successfully survived a situation of certain death, avoiding becoming a rare collectible for the Flügel, and had even obtained the God's Essence of an Old Deus. In exchange, a time bomb was now strapped to him, one that could take his life at any second.
Was it a blessing or a curse? It was hard to say.
The only thing that was certain was...
It was all the useless system's fault!!!
And as the party responsible, the system attached to Aaron was naturally well aware of this fact.
"Ahem, ahem..."
"Host, don't be angry. That was just an accident."
"It was the first time, you know. I wasn't familiar with the business. A few growing pains are inevitable."
"I guarantee it, there will be absolutely no problems this time. I'll give you a silky-smooth feeling, an excellent experience!"
The useless system patted its non-existent chest, making a guarantee that wasn't worth a damn.
To this, Aaron had only two letters.
"Heh."
"You said the first time was an accident?"
"What about the time before last, when you threw me into the Sea of Quanta?"
"..."
"And last time, when you dropped me in front of that old bug-grandpa?"
"..."
"Were those all accidents too?"
"But didn't you benefit from all of them?"
The useless system didn't dare to speak loudly, only daring to mutter in a small voice.
"Hmm?"
Hearing that, Aaron was not pleased. His voice suddenly jumped an octave.
"Were those *benefits*? That was clearly maintenance compensation!"
'Get rich through system maintenance'—this saying was true no matter where you went.
Especially when applied to this useless system, which was good for nothing except screwing him over.
The only catch was that the process *might* be just a tiny bit dangerous.
The first time, he was sent in front of Artosh and almost got made into a 'Transmigrator's Skull.' Fortunately, the useless system managed to be useful for once, pulling him out in time and adjusting the God's Essence for him as 'maintenance compensation,' giving him some of the traits of an Old Deus.
Specifically, he became a long-life species (which was useless) and got a buff that let him master abilities super-fast (which was also useless for giving him the power to one-shot everything).
The second time, the system once again demonstrated its superior uselessness. Somewhere along the trans-dimensional route, it must have gotten smacked by the Tree or the Sea, causing him to fall directly into the Sea of Quanta. This time, Aaron received a gift from the Sea of Quanta, as well as the Sacred Blood power passed down in the Schariac bloodline.
The third time, the system finally succeeded in getting Aaron to another world.
How gratifying, how delightful.
But... he landed right in the old bug-grandpa's nest—the Matou household.
And the mission hadn't even triggered yet.
눈_눈
Compared to the previous two times, facing off against the old bug-grandpa was undoubtedly far less dangerous than facing the War God or being chased by Phantoms of the Sea of Quanta.
Aside from the fact that the 'battle' was too R-18 and he needed to wash his eyes out afterward, there weren't any major problems.
But for the *only* slightly normal transmigration experience to be so... 18+...
Aaron had to admit, it left a deep impression.
Combined with the first two experiences...
Honestly, just hearing the system say the word 'mission' was starting to give him PTSD.
But, in reality, it seemed Aaron didn't have the option to refuse.
...
In front of a full-length mirror, the bare-chested young man stared at his reflection with a helpless expression.
On his chest, where his heart was, an exquisite pattern of golden wings was engraved on his skin, rising and falling with his every breath.
Don't misunderstand. This wasn't a tattoo, and he wasn't some delinquent.
This was the whip that the War God of Disboard—the one who was *just* a tiny bit stronger than everyone else, or rather, a tiny bit stronger than everyone else *combined*—had planted on him.
A tool to spur him on to become stronger.
It was the insurance to make sure that once Aaron had grown strong enough to fight him, they *would* fight.
Compared to the War God this thing represented—a being who could wipe the planet's surface with a basic attack and defend a single universe by himself—
this crappy mission arranged by his constantly-failing system... didn't seem so dangerous after all.
At this thought, Aaron gave up struggling.
This was too hard.
"Alright, spit it out. Where to this time?"
"Ahem, Host, no need to worry. This mission doesn't require going to another world."
"..."
So, to avoid messing up, you're just giving up on transmigration altogether?
Unaware of Aaron's internal complaints, the system continued in his ear.
"This time, the mission location is right here in this world. And it's very close to you."
In this world? Close?
A spark of realization flashed, and Aaron seemed to grasp something.
He turned his head, his gaze falling on a map on the wall.
On it, the four words 'Senba Academy' were circled in bold red.
And the system's next words were exactly what he was thinking.
"That's right. This time, the mission is to stop Cocolia from starting the Third Honkai."
-------------------------------------
Honkai. A phenomenon born from the Imaginary Tree due to its competition with the Sea of Quanta.
Its purpose is to filter civilizations, to find one capable of beating the Honkai, giving the Imaginary Tree an advantage in its competition with the Sea of Quanta.
Its difficulty dynamically changes based on the civilization's level of development. In a strong civilization, like the Previous Era of the Honkai Impact 3rd world, the Herrscher of Rock could make an entire continental plate disappear with one move. In a weak one, like the Current Era, all it takes is two Titans to stage the 'pitiful end of the Herrscher' play of the year.
Although the Herrschers, as 'apostles of God,' are pretty pathetic in the Current Era.
The weak ones are routinely beaten up, and the strong ones all defect.
But that doesn't mean the disaster that creates them—the Honkai—is just as pathetic.
The First Honkai occurred in 1961, in Berlin, Germany. The Herrscher of Reason was born. Casualties exceeded 300,000.
The Second Honkai occurred in 2000, in Siberia. The Herrscher of the Void was born. The combined death toll from the meteor strikes and the Honkai was in the tens of millions.
And the Third Honkai is about to happen, right here in Nagazora City, Far East.
Unlike the previous two, this Honkai is not a natural disaster, but a man-made one.
It is a Honkai Eruption deliberately triggered by the current leader of Anti-Entropy's radical faction, Cocolia, in order to create the Herrscher of Thunder.
However, Cocolia is the 'kill 'em but don't bury 'em' type.
She only wants to get the Herrscher of Thunder; she doesn't care how many people die in the process.
This time, the number of people affected is...
"Three million!"