Outside the cursed village of Slumber Pit, the Knights of White stood vigilant, their armor gleaming under the pale sun. At their helm stood General Alexander Frozenlight, a towering figure with a muscular frame and a mane of stark white hair. His eyes, cold and calculating, never strayed from the mist-shrouded village ahead.
The knights had split into four divisions, forming a perimeter around the entire settlement.
"General," a soldier reported, bowing low before Alexander. "The Lord entered the village ten minutes ago. Our formation is complete. The area is fully surrounded."
Alexander's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "So, Brother North and Brother Raka have already entered the cave?"
"Yes, General Alexander," the soldier replied, his voice tight with nerves.
Alexander exhaled slowly, the weight of responsibility pressing on his shoulders. "Brother North is to ascend the throne at the next full moon. We must reinforce our borders and tighten security for the coming weeks."
He raised his hand to his mouth, activating the holographic interface on his wrist. "As your general, I command you: let no soul cross the village boundary. Await further orders."
"Keep your eyes on the village. Do not miss their signal. If they fail to return before nightfall, we move in."
"Yes, General!" the four captains echoed in unison, their voices sharp and resolute.
Alexander turned his gaze back to the village, his voice softening. "Brother North, Brother Raka… return safely. Ancestors, watch over them."
---
As I stepped into the cave, I saw it North Frozenlight locked in battle with the Demonic God of Sloth. The air trembled with divine pressure.
I wanted to help. But how?
How could I save them… when I had no power?
If only I had a system like in the novels, comics, and anime I used to read.
And then, as if summoned by desperation, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in my mind.
SYSTEM ACTIVATED
Name: Yuria
Age: 21
Sex: Female
Level: 1
Blessings: The Blessing of the???
Abilities:
All-Knowing Eyes: Use up to 5 times per day to view someone's status. The stronger the target, the less you can see.
Variable: You are an anomaly. Your existence alters the fate of the world.
Growth: Your potential exceeds that of ordinary beings.
Prophecy: Glimpses of the future, once per week.
Buff-Debuff: Strengthen allies and weaken enemies. Power scales with your growth.
A system? My own system?
It wasn't the overpowered kind I'd dreamed of. These were support-type abilities. But now wasn't the time to complain.
I had to help them. If I could just stay close to North and Raka, maybe I'd survive this.
I extended my trembling hands, mimicking the gestures I'd seen in games. "Buff-Debuff," I whispered.
A black divinity surged from my palms, wrapping around North and Raka. Sloth's ominous glow dimmed just slightly.
SYSTEM ALERT
- Your level is too low to use this ability.
- Penalty incurred.
- You have invoked blessings from three divine entities.
- Lifespan reduced by one year.
- You will lose consciousness for 48 hours.
- Please level up to reduce penalties.
Blood filled my mouth. I collapsed, vision blurring. As I faded, I saw North and Sloth glance at me then return to their battle.
---
Raka clashed with the Purgatorios twisted, cunning beings capable of cloning themselves, though unable to shapeshift. Again and again, he froze the battlefield, only for one or two to survive, hiding in the shadows.
If only they could freeze time like North or the Essence, this would be over. But North was not yet a true god only ascending. His divinity came at a cost.
That's why I sent him to face Sloth. Only he could endure that burden.
"Hehehe… You can't kill us."
"Hehehe… You can't kill us."
"Cannot! Cannot! You cannot kill us!"
Their voices echoed, maddening and overlapping.
As I struggled to think of a way to stop them, a wave of black divinity enveloped me. At first, I feared it was demonic but my instincts felt no threat.
Instead, it merged with my own power, amplifying it. At the same time, the Purgatorios' cloning ceased.
I seized the moment.
"Absolute Zero. Shatter."
A blizzard of divine frost erupted from my hands. The cave trembled. Crystals bloomed across the walls. Half the cavern froze and shattered into glittering shards.
There wasn't a single sign of life.
I stared at the devastation, breathless. Then I turned and sprinted toward North.
Before a destructive power hit me.
---
"For an insect to wield such power… don't you think that's unnatural, God of Ice?" Sloth sneered.
I didn't answer. My eyes flicked to the unconscious girl on the ground, then back to him.
"Maybe," I said coldly.
"She'd make a fine experiment if she survives until our fight ends—"
Before he could finish, my fist collided with his face.
He grunted, using his Authority of Laziness to thicken the air, slowing particles into a cushion that softened his fall.
"How rude for a god," he muttered, brushing dust from his robe. "Don't you know it's impolite to interrupt someone mid-sentence?"
"Person? You?" I scoffed. "Have you ever looked in a mirror?"
"The standard of beauty is subjective. To you, I may be a monster. To others, I'm more than a person."
"I am a god."
"Then playtime is over."
The air shifted. Sloth's aura, once dimmed, flared back to life red and gray, pulsing with malice. Two symbols burned in his eyes: Wrath, glowing crimson, and Sloth, glowing pale gray.
He clenched his fist and hurled a punch toward Raka's battlefield.
A thunderous 'whoosh' tore through the cave. The shattered ice field exploded, a massive crater forming in its center. Raka stood at its heart, one arm raised, his wings forming nine shimmering shields that barely held.
"Hmm… as I thought. Wrath's power is far more suited for battle."
He smirked. "Apologies. I may have injured your dear brother—"
Whoosh!
This time, Sloth was the one sent flying.
I cracked my knuckles. "Seems the new generation has no patience for the arrogance of the old."