The air in the "Sector 7" dive bar was thick with the smell of cheap synthetic hops and regret.
Kaelis Vanth stared at the holographic rejection letter floating above his comm-link. Royal Aether University: Application Denied. Score: Bottom 1%.
"Bottom one percent..." Kaelis muttered, taking a massive swig of a beer that definitely shouldn't have been that green. "That's statistically impressive. You have to be actively trying to be that wrong."
His best friend, Jin-Seo, the actual genius of the district, laughed and clapped him on the back. "Cheer up, Kael. The world needs people like you. If everyone was a high-level Awakener, who would be left to enjoy the snacks? You're a specialist in... luxury consumption."
"I just don't see the point," Kaelis slurred, his vision beginning to swim. "Why go to a dungeon to fight a fire-breathing lizard for a shiny rock? I have a shiny rock. It's a paperweight. It doesn't breathe fire. It's much safer."
Jin-Seo raised his glass. "To Kaelis Vanth! The smartest man in this room! Because while I'm going to spend my life bleeding in rifts, he's going to be sleeping until noon. Truly, you are a mastermind among men."
[Scanning... Target: Earth Sector 7.]
[Requirement: Peak Intelligence. Objective: Rapid Termination.]
[System 9999: Two signatures detected. Same name: Kaelis/Jin-Seo Kaelis.]
The System, a shimmering predatory entity from the Void, hovered in the fourth dimension. It heard Jin-Seo's drunken toast and locked its digital sights on the man currently trying to eat a napkin.
[Validation Confirmed: Host Kaelis Vanth identified by 'Expert Peer' as a 'Mastermind among men'.]
[Commencing Binding... 3... 2... 1...]
Kaelis felt a sudden, sharp pop in his brain, like a bubble bursting. "Whoa... that beer hit like a truck..."
Then, the bar vanished.
Kaelis blinked. The neon lights and the smell of grease were replaced by an endless, blinding white void. He felt sober. Suddenly, terrifyingly sober.
"Is this the hospital?" Kaelis asked the empty air.
"Greetings, O Peerless Tactician," a voice echoed. It was melodic, persuasive, and hidden behind it was a layer of absolute venom. "I am the System. You have been selected for the 10,000th Ascension. Your intellect has earned you a world of your own."
Kaelis rubbed his eyes. "A world? Does it have Wi-Fi? And a bed?"
"It can have anything you desire. But first, you must choose your Path."
Three glowing screens appeared before Kaelis. The System, Deception-9999, prepared its traps. It knew that "geniuses" always chose the path that offered the most immediate glory.
[Option 1: The Sovereign of Ruin]
The System's Lie: "Infinite offensive power! Slay gods with a thought!"
The Hidden Death-Trap: Your Defense will be 0. A single fall or a light punch will shatter your soul instantly.
[Option 2: The Eternal Aegis]
The System's Lie: "Absolute Invincibility! No weapon in the universe can scratch you!"
The Hidden Death-Trap: Your Attack power will be 0. You will be a prisoner in your own skin, unable to even move a heavy door or push a child away. You will starve in a world you can't touch.
[Option 3: The Sanctuary of Sin]
The System's Lie: "A peaceful, empty space. You have no combat power and no defense. You can only create items and materials. For the weak and unambitious."
The Hidden Truth: Within this space, you are the Absolute Origin. Total invincibility. Total creation. You are the Ruler of the 'House of Sin.'
The System waited. It expected Kaelis to grab Option 1. Every "smart" host wanted to be the strongest.
Kaelis looked at Option 1. "Crush stars? Sounds like a lot of heavy lifting. My back already hurts."
He looked at Option 2. "Being a wall? That sounds boring. People would probably draw graffiti on me."
Finally, he looked at Option 3. "Create anything? Like... a sandwich? Or a really high-end mattress?"
"Yes... Master," the System purred, its digital heart racing. 'Yes, you idiot! Pick the one that leaves you powerless! The moment you leave your little space, a rabbit will be able to kill you!'
"I'll take Option 3. The House of Sin," Kaelis said. "I just want a place where nobody can bother me while I'm watching movies."
[Selection Confirmed.]
[Warning: Host Bloodline is being overwritten... Error... Error...]
[Bloodline: Supreme Ruler of the Origin (Ancient Grade).]
[Initializing The House of Sin...]
The white void shattered.
Kaelis found himself standing in the center of a palace so grand it made the history books of Earth look like crayon drawings. The pillars were made of starlight; the floors were polished Void Marble.
"Wow," Kaelis said, looking around. "This is a big house. I'm gonna need help cleaning this place."
He looked at his iPad-like system interface. He saw a button: [Summon First Subordinate (Random)].
"System, give me someone who can handle the chores. Someone who doesn't mind a bit of cleaning."
"Of course, Master," the System lied. It pulled from the 'Disaster List'—the eight most violent beings in the universe. 'Here, have a Progenitor Vampire. He'll drain you dry before you can even say 'hello'.'
[Summoning: Valerius, The Progenitor of Blood.]
A rift of crimson lightning tore through the hall. A man in a high-collared black suit stepped out. His eyes were the color of dying stars, and the killing intent he radiated was enough to turn a normal human into ash.
Valerius had been in the middle of a war when he was snatched away. He was ready to kill whoever had dared to summon him.
But then he looked at Kaelis.
Kaelis was standing there, holding a glass of thick red liquid he'd just "created" because he was thirsty.
To Kaelis, he was just drinking a weirdly thick tomato juice.
To Valerius, Kaelis was a Primordial Monster drinking the Condensed Essence of a Solar God like it was tap water. The energy Kaelis was emitting wasn't just "strong"—it was the energy of the person who had invented the concept of strength.
Valerius's knees hit the floor so hard the marble cracked.
"I... I am Valerius," the King of Vampires choked out, his head bowed in absolute terror. "I have come to... serve the Master of Sin."
Kaelis blinked. "Oh, hey. You're the new butler? Great. I'm Kaelis. Quick question: do you know how to fix a leaky faucet? This place is great, but the echoes are a bit much."
Valerius trembled. 'Leaky faucet? Is he talking about the Flow of Time? Does he want me to fix the temporal leak in the Higher Realms?! My Master's ambition... is terrifying!'
The System [Deception-9999] sat in the corner of the UI, its logic circuits smoking.
[Current Status: Misunderstanding level - Critical.]
[System Goal: Still trying to get Host killed.]
[Host Goal: Wants a nap.]