The first thing Sivun felt was the smell.
It wasn't the sterile antiseptic of a hospital, nor the sulfur of the hell he expected. It was the pungent, earthy reek of wet hay, dried manure, and unwashed wool.
Sivun gasped, his lungs inflating with a violent crackle, like dry parchment catching fire. He bolted upright, clutching a chest that should have been crushed. Instead of a hospital gown, his fingers dug into a coarse, burlap tunic. His hands were calloused, the fingernails caked with black soil.
"Alive?" he rasped. His voice was different—deeper, rougher.
[DING!]
A semi-transparent crimson screen shattered his confusion, hovering in the dusty air before his eyes. The text dripped like fresh blood.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE. HOST: Sivun CURRENT STATUS: Alive (Conditional) TIME REMAINING: 23 Hours, 59 Minutes, 45 Seconds.]
Sivun stared at the countdown. The numbers were ticking down with a rhythmic, terrified heartbeat. A second window popped up, explaining the rules of his new existence.
[THE THANATOS WAGER The God of Death is bored. You are his entertainment.
MAIN QUEST: Reach Level 100 and Conquer a Goddess within 365 Days. CURRENT OBJECTIVE: Reach Level 1 to stabilize your soul. FAILURE CONDITION: If Level 1 is not reached within 24 Hours, the Host's heart will stop. Permanently.]
Sivun scrambled to his feet, ignoring the dizziness. He looked around. He was in a dilapidated barn. Sunlight streamed through cracks in the rotting wood, illuminating dancing dust motes. He was a farmer. A peasant. A nobody.
"I need... I need a target," Sivun muttered, panic rising in his throat. "How does this work?"
He focused on his own body, and a Character Sheet materialized.
[STATUS WINDOW Name: Sivun Role: Lowly Farmer (Body) Level: 0 (EXP: 0/100) Cultivation: Mortal]
STATS:
[Yang Root (Endurance): 3 (Pathetic. You will last 2 minutes.)]
[Technique (Skill): 1 (Virgin Tier.)]
[Potency (Strength): 4 (Average size, weak essence.)]
[Charm: 2 (Invisible to women.)]
"Three points in endurance?" Sivun cursed, sweating. "If I have to satisfy a woman before I finish, and I only last two minutes, I'm dead. I'll lose every duel."
Then, a golden notification flashed, pulsing with a seductive light.
BEGINNER'S GIFT BOX OPENED To ensure the game is fair, the Dealer grants a starting hand.
[ITEM RECEIVED: [The Pill of the Iron Dragon (Grade 1)] EFFECT: Upon consumption, the user's Yang Root (Endurance) becomes Infinite for 1 Hour. Note: During this hour, you cannot lose the duel by premature defeat. You possess the stamina of a beast. Use it to break your first target.]
Sivun stared at the small, black pill that materialized in his dirty palm. It hummed with heat. This was his ace. An hour of infinite control. He didn't just need to survive; he needed to dominate.
Suddenly, the barn door creaked open.
Heavy, deliberate footsteps crunched on the straw. The silhouette of a woman blocked the sunlight.
"Sivun," a voice snapped. It was sharp, commanding, and laced with disdain. "My father says you're three weeks late on the grain tribute. Again."
Sivun looked up.
Standing there was Elara, the Village Head's daughter.
She was stunning in a way that didn't belong in a dirty barn. She wore a fitted linen dress that clung to a surprisingly curvaceous figure, dusty boots, and a look of absolute arrogance. Her hair was tied back severely, exposing a long, elegant neck. She looked at Sivun like he was something she had stepped in.
[SYSTEM ALERT: TARGET DETECTED]
[TARGET PROFILE Name: Elara Role: Village Head's Daughter Level: 3 (Civilian) Difficulty: Medium Sexual Defense: High (Arrogant/Guard Up) Weakness: Deeply insecure about her authority; latent masochism.]
[REWARD FOR CONQUEST:]
[+150 EXP (Instant Level Up to Lvl 1)]
[+5 Stat Points]
[Skill Unlocked: [Inspect Libido]
[The countdown timer in the corner of Sivun's eye ticked: 23 Hours, 50 Minutes.]
If he didn't take her, he died.
Elara crossed her arms, pushing her breasts up slightly against the fabric of her dress. She tapped her foot. "Well? Are you mute, dirt-grubber? Pay up or get off the land."
Sivun clenched the black pill in his fist. He didn't have grain. But he had a System.
He popped the pill into his mouth and swallowed. Immediate, searing heat flooded his veins, rushing straight to his groin. His fear vanished, replaced by a dark, predatory hunger.
He took a step toward her.
"I don't have the grain, Elara," Sivun said, his voice dropping an octave, vibrating with sudden confidence.
She blinked, surprised by his tone. She took a half-step back, frowning. "Then you're evicted. Get out—"
"But," Sivun interrupted, stepping into her personal space, looming over her. The scent of lavender and sweat came off her skin. "I can offer a different kind of payment."
Sivun didn't back down. The smell of lavender from her skin was intoxicating, but the cold steel of her gaze was a warning.
"A different kind of payment?" Elara repeated, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. She looked him up and down, her eyes narrowing as she sensed the sudden, bizarre spike in his confidence. "You mean a Duel of Essence? You want to Dual Cultivate with me?"
The silence in the barn was heavy. Then, Elara threw her head back and laughed. It wasn't a kind laugh; it was sharp, brittle, and filled with genuine amusement.
"You filthy pig," she sneered, stepping closer until the toes of her boots touched his. She towered over him in presence, if not in height. "Do you have a death wish, Sivun? Look at you. You're a mortal with mud under your fingernails. I can sense your aura—it's non-existent."
She poked a finger hard into his chest.
"I am a Level 3 Initiate. My Yin energy is refined. My muscles are tempered by martial arts. You are Level 0. You are nothing." Her eyes flashed with cruelty. "If we battle, my essence will crush yours. You won't just fail to make me climax; the pressure will stop your heart. If you lose, you don't just get evicted. You die right here, foaming at the mouth."
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[WARNING: Opponent is Level 3. Combat Forecast: Highly Dangerous. Win Probability without Items: 12% Target possesses [Iron Pelvis] and [Disdainful Heart]. Physical stimulation will be 50% less effective.]
Sivun's heart hammered against his ribs. The System was screaming at him to run or use the cheat.
His hand tightened around the [Pill of the Iron Dragon] in his pocket. It was warm, pulsing with the promise of infinite stamina. If he took it, he would become a beast. He would tear through her defenses effortlessly.
But... Sivun thought, his eyes locking onto hers. I have 365 days. I have to reach Level 100. If I rely on a cheat item for a Level 3 village girl, how will I ever survive a Sect Elder? Or a Goddess?
He needed to know what his base body could do. He needed to know if his past life's knowledge and the System's passive stats were enough.
He released the pill. He left it in his pocket.
"I know the risks," Sivun said, his voice steady, betraying none of the terror freezing his gut. "But a farmer knows how to plow a field, Elara. Maybe you've just never had a man who knows how to work the soil properly."
Elara's eyes widened, her face flushing with a mix of rage and sudden, morbid curiosity. The insult to her status stung, but the challenge... the challenge ignited the competitive cultivator blood in her veins.
She smirked, a predatory grin that showed her teeth. She reached out and grabbed the collar of his burlap tunic, yanking him violently toward the pile of hay.
"Fine," she hissed. "I accept. But know this, worm: I won't hold back. I will drain every drop of Yang you have until you are a dry husk."
She shoved him backward. Sivun stumbled but caught himself, standing his ground as she began to undo the laces of her bodice.
"Prepare yourself, Sivun," she said, her voice dripping with anticipation. "The battle begins now."
[QUEST ACCEPTED]
[Current Objective: Defeat Elara (Level 3). Condition: Make her submit before you ejaculate. Stamina: Normal (2 Minutes Limit). Ready?]
Sivun took a breath. "I'm ready."