The scent of pine and snow clung to the air inside Frostveil Hold's birthing chamber, where torches cast dancing gold light across stone walls carved with the sigils of House Valdris, intertwined swords wreathed in ice and arcane runes. Outside, winter winds howled through the mountain passes, as if the realm itself sensed the arrival of a soul not meant for this world.
Justine's last memory on Earth had been the flash of a lightning strike through his apartment window, followed by the jarring sensation of falling through endless darkness. Now, he lay swaddled in woolen cloth, his new body small and fragile, yet his mind was fully awake, sharp, clear, and screaming with confusion.
This isn't possible. I was just playing Aethellys: Fate Weaver for the hundredth time…
He tried to cry, to make a sound that would alert the figures hovering over him, but all that emerged was a soft whimper. His eyes, still adjusting to the light, focused on a woman with silver-streaked auburn hair and eyes the color of frozen lakes, Lady Elara Valdris, wife of Lord Garren and mother to the child he now inhabited.
"Look," she whispered, her voice thick with awe and something else, fear. "The mark… it appeared."
A calloused hand gently lifted Justine's tiny right palm. Lord Garren Valdris, a man whose broad shoulders and scarred face spoke of countless battles, turned his son's hand toward the torchlight. There, glowing with faint silver light against pale skin, was a coiled serpent sigil, exactly as described in the game's lore. The Serpent's Brand, said to mark those destined for corruption and ruin.
"The prophecy…" a midwife breathed, crossing herself with trembling fingers. "The Ironclad Dominion will hear of this. They'll claim the heir of Valdris is a vessel for darkness."
Garren's jaw tightened. "My son is Valdris blood. We do not bow to fear or twisted prophecies. Elara, see to it he's kept safe. I'll speak with the council at once, we'll not let old lies destroy our house."
As the adults moved about the chamber, their voices fading into a distant hum, Justine's mind raced. He knew this story better than anyone. Ashreign Valdris, the name he'd been given in this world, was the tragic protagonist of the game's most infamous route, every choice led to death, exile, or imprisonment. The Serpent's Brand marked him as an outcast from birth, and House Ironclad used it as an excuse to wage war on Frostveil Hold when he came of age.
I can't let that happen. There has to be a way to change this fate…
Just as despair began to creep in, a chime rang out in his mind, clear, melodic, and impossible to ignore.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
[WELCOME, HOST!]
[IDENTITY CONFIRMED: ASHREIGN VALDRIS (JUSTINE – EARTH ORIGIN)]
[VILLAIN GACHA SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
Justine's breath caught in his throat. A system, in this world? It was straight out of the isekai stories he'd read, but he'd never imagined it would happen to him. Words glowed in his mind's eye, sharp and easy to read despite his newborn state.
[SYSTEM BOOT COMPLETE]
[TO CELEBRATE ACTIVATION, YOU RECEIVE:]
[FREE VILLAIN POINTS (VP): 50,000 VP]
[FREE GACHA TOKEN: 1x ANY RARITY SINGLE PULL]
[ADDITIONAL BONUS: 1x LUCK ENHANCEMENT CHARM (AUTO APPLIED TO FIRST PULL)]
[TASK CENTER UNLOCKED]
[VP SHOP UNLOCKED]
[GACHA MODULE UNLOCKED]
"Villain Gacha System," Justine murmured to himself, or as much as a newborn could manage. The name made sense, he'd always been drawn to the game's villain routes, where strength and strategy mattered more than blind heroism. But why call it a villain system?
[SYSTEM RESPONSE:]
[The label "villain" is what the world has assigned to you, Host. This system exists to help you turn that label into power. Strength does not make one evil, choices does.]
A warmth spread through his body, settling in his chest and palm. The Serpent's Brand pulsed gently, no longer feeling like a curse but like a connection to something greater.
[MAIN QUEST UNLOCKED]
[QUEST TIER: GOLDEN]
[QUEST: REWRITE YOUR FATE]
[DESCRIPTION: Prevent the destruction of House Valdris and prove the Serpent's Brand is not a sign of corruption.]
[REWARD: 1,000,000 VP + UNKNOWN LEGENDARY ITEM]
Outside his mind, Lady Elara had returned to cradle him against her chest. Her fingers traced the Serpent's Brand with a tenderness that made Justine's heart ache, she had no idea what the future held, but she loved him nonetheless.
"I promise you, my little Ashreign," she whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "We'll protect you. Your father and I will make sure the world sees you for who you are and not what they fear you to be."
Justine focused on the system interface, determined to use every tool at his disposal to keep that promise. He opened the Gacha Module, where the pull options glowed bright against the dark backdrop of his thoughts.
[GACHA MODULE]
[AVAILABLE PULLS:]
- [Common (C) Rarity Pull: 100 VP]
- [Uncommon (UC) Rarity Pull: 500 VP]
- [R Rarity Pull: 2,500 VP]
- [SR Rarity Pull: 5,000 VP]
- [SSR Rarity Pull: 10,000 VP]
- [UR Rarity Pull: 20,000 VP]
- [GODLY Rarity Pull: 100,000 VP]
[FREE PULL TOKEN ACTIVE: SELECT ANY RARITY TO USE]
[LUCK ENHANCEMENT CHARM ACTIVE: UPGRADE CHANCE DOUBLED FOR THIS PULL]
His first instinct was to use the free token on a GODLY pull, with the luck charm doubling the already guaranteed 100% GODLY tier, would there be extra rewards? But he paused, thinking back to the game's early chapters. Ashreign's greatest weakness as a child wasn't lack of power, but lack of protection. House Ironclad would send spies and assassins long before he came of age; he needed something that would help him survive now.
A GODLY item would be too much to handle as a newborn. It might even draw unwanted attention. Better to choose something that can grow with me…
He scrolled through the options, then made his choice.
[SELECTED: SR RARITY PULL]
[USING FREE PULL TOKEN + LUCK ENHANCEMENT CHARM]
[PULL INITIATING…]
A whirlwind of silver light filled his mind, swirling faster and faster until it condensed into a single, glowing orb. The system's chime rang out again, louder this time, as if celebrating something significant.
[PULL COMPLETE!]
[LUCK ENHANCEMENT CHARM ACTIVATED: UPGRADE CHANCE DOUBLED FROM 3% TO 6%]
[SUCCESSFUL UPGRADE TO SSR TIER!]
[ADDITIONAL BONUS FROM GOLDEN QUEST INITIATION: UPGRADE TO UR TIER!]
Justine's eyes widened in shock. A triple upgrade, from SR to SSR to UR? The luck charm must have done more than just double the chance. The orb burst open, revealing two items that materialized in the physical world as small, glowing objects tucked into the swaddling cloth beside him.
[ITEM OBTAINED: SERPENT'S GUARDIAN AMULET]
[RARITY: UR (ULTRA RARE)]
[DESCRIPTION:]
[A silver amulet shaped like the Serpent's Brand, forged from star iron and infused with arcane energy.]
[PASSIVE EFFECT 1: Protects the wearer from dark magic, poison, and physical harm, scales with the wearer's strength.]
[PASSIVE EFFECT 2: Enhances arcane affinity and swordsmanship ability, allowing the user to blend magic and bladework more easily.]
[ACTIVE EFFECT: Serpent's Veil, Creates an invisible barrier around the wearer and up to three allies for 5 minutes. Recharge time: 24 hours.]
[UNIQUE TRAIT: Binds to the Serpent's Brand, can only be used by Ashreign Valdris.]
[ITEM OBTAINED: VALDRIS SWORD LEGACY MANUAL]
[RARITY: SSR (SUPER SPECIAL RARE)]
[DESCRIPTION:]
[A leather bound book containing lost techniques of House Valdris magic swordsmen.]
[CONTENTS: Teaches Adaptive Swordweaving, a style that allows the user to change elemental properties of their sword mid battle to counter any foe.]
[UNIQUE TRAIT: Unlocks new techniques as the user masters each stage no need for formal training.]
Lady Elara gasped, noticing the amulet glowing against Ashreign's chest. She carefully picked it up, her fingers brushing against the cool metal.
"What is this?" she whispered, holding it up to the light. "I've never seen a Valdris artifact like this… it feels like it's alive."
The amulet pulsed in her hand, then floated gently down to rest against Ashreign's palm, where it fused with the Serpent's Brand in a flash of silver light. The mark no longer glowed faintly, it shone with a steady, warm radiance that seemed to chase away the chill in the room.
Garren had returned, his face grim from speaking with the council, but his expression softened when he saw the amulet. He knelt beside the bed, running a finger over the mark on his son's palm.
"I've read of such things in ancient texts," he said, his voice low. "A guardian artifact that binds to the Serpent's Brand, they said it would appear when Valdris needed a leader who could adapt to any threat. Perhaps the prophecy was not a warning… but a promise."
Justine felt a surge of hope. With the amulet protecting him and the manual teaching him lost techniques, he already had an edge he'd never had in the game. He opened the Task Center to see what else he could do to strengthen his position.
[TASK CENTER]
[AVAILABLE TASKS]
[DAILY TASKS]
1. [EASY: Practice basic movements (for infants: wiggle limbs, focus on objects).
REWARD: 50 VP]
2. [NORMAL: Meditate to strengthen arcane affinity (focus on the amulet's energy).
REWARD: 150 VP]
3. [HARD: Bond with a family member (respond to their touch/voice).
REWARD: 300 VP]
[WEEKLY TASKS]
1. [EASY: Complete 3 daily tasks.
REWARD: 500 VP]
2. [NORMAL: Show signs of advanced development (recognize faces, make intentional sounds).
REWARD: 2,500 VP]
3. [HARD: Protect someone from harm (even a small threat).
REWARD: 5,000 VP]
[SPECIAL TASKS (ONE-TIME):]
1. [Prove the Brand's Purpose, Show the amulet's protective effect to your parents.
REWARD: 10,000 VP]
2. [Master the First Stage, Learn the basics of Adaptive Swordweaving from the manual.
REWARD: 5,000 VP]
With 100,000 VP already in his account from the free bonus, Justine had more than enough to purchase items from the shop if he needed them, but he decided to save most of it for later. For now, he focused on completing the daily tasks to build a steady flow of VP.
He wiggled his tiny fingers and toes, focusing on the sensation of movement.
[EASY DAILY TASK COMPLETE: 50 VP EARNED]. Then he closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the amulet spreading through his body, connecting to the arcane energy that hummed in the walls of Frostveil Hold.
[NORMAL DAILY TASK COMPLETE: 150 VP EARNED]. When Lady Elara stroked his cheek, he turned his head and made a soft cooing sound, nuzzling against her hand.[HARD DAILY TASK COMPLETE: 300 VP EARNED].
[WEEKLY TASK EASY COMPLETE: 500 VP EARNED]
[TOTAL VP NOW: 101,000 VP]
A commotion broke out in the hallway outside the birthing chamber, voices raised in anger, footsteps pounding against stone. Garren stood quickly, hand going to the sword at his hip.
"Who dares disturb the heir's rest?" he called out, his voice carrying the authority of a lord.
A man in dark iron armor pushed his way into the room, Sergeant Kaelen Ironclad, cousin to Lord Ironclad himself. His eyes narrowed when they fell on Ashreign's palm, where the Serpent's Brand glowed bright with the amulet's energy.
"By order of the Royal Council," he declared, holding up a scroll sealed with the Ironclad sigil. "The child born with the Serpent's Brand is a threat to the realm. He must be taken into council custody for 'protection', which is to say, he will be confined to the capital until his fate can be determined."
Garren stepped between the sergeant and the bed, his sword half-drawn. "You will not take my son. House Valdris answers to the council, but we do not surrender our heirs to be prisoners."
Kaelen drew his own sword, the metal ringing harshly against the stone floor. "Then House Valdris will be charged with treason. Lord Ironclad will not allow a vessel of darkness to live."
Justine's heart raced. This was happening sooner than it had in the game, Kaelen wasn't supposed to arrive for another month. But with the amulet's active effect available, he had a way to protect his family. He focused on the amulet, channeling the energy building in his palm, and activated Serpent's Veil.
A shimmering silver barrier burst outward from his body, wrapping around Garren, Elara, and himself. Kaelen's sword swung down, striking the barrier with a shower of sparks, but it held firm, pushing the sergeant back several steps.
"What sorcery is this?" Kaelen gasped, stumbling against the wall. "The Brand is supposed to bring corruption, not protection!"
Elara stared at Ashreign, tears of wonder and relief streaming down her face. "He did this. Our son protected us."
Garren's eyes were bright with pride as he sheathed his sword. "You see, Sergeant? The Brand is not a curse, it is a gift. Tell Lord Ironclad that House Valdris will stand by its heir, and that any attempt to harm him will be met with force."
Kaelen looked from the glowing barrier to Ashreign's calm face, then back to the scroll in his hand. He knew when he was outmatched. With a curt nod, he backed out of the room, his armor clanking as he went.
[SPECIAL TASK COMPLETE: PROVE THE BRAND'S PURPOSE]
[REWARD: 10,000 VP EARNED]
[WEEKLY TASK HARD COMPLETE: 5,000 VP EARNED]
[MAIN QUEST PROGRESS: 10% COMPLETE]
[BONUS VP FOR UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE: 5,000 VP EARNED]
[TOTAL VP NOW: 121,000 VP]
As the barrier faded and calm returned to the chamber, Justine opened his eyes to see his parents staring at him with a mixture of love and awe. Garren lifted him carefully, holding him up so he could look into his eyes.
"My son," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You are stronger than any prophecy. House Valdris will rise or fall with you, and I know we will rise."
Justine cooed softly, focusing on the Valdris Legacy Manual that lay on the bedside table. Even as an infant, he could feel the knowledge within it calling to him, teaching him the first steps of Adaptive Bladeweaving. He closed his eyes, and images of swords dancing with fire, ice, and lightning filled his mind.
[SPECIAL TASK IN PROGRESS: MASTER THE FIRST STAGE]
[PROGRESS: 25% COMPLETE]
Outside, the winter winds had died down, replaced by the soft glow of dawn breaking over the mountains. The sun cast long shadows across Frostveil Hold, but where the light touched Ashreign's window, it caught the amulet at his throat and scattered into a thousand silver sparks, like stars falling to earth.
In his mind, the system interface glowed bright, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. He had his family, his artifacts, and a path to change his fate. The world might call him a villain, but Justine, now Ashreign Valdris, was determined to prove that labels meant nothing compared to the choices you made.
The game had begun, but this time, he was playing by his own rules.
END OF CHAPTER 1
TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER 2: THE FIRST LESSON AND THE VP SHOP