Ryu Celestia.
A young man with jet-black hair falling over his forehead. His face… too perfect. Too smooth. Too beautiful—so much so that he looked more like a woman than a man.
For some, that would be a blessing.
For Ryu… it was a curse.
In this world, power is everything. And Ryu had none of it.
E-Rank.
The lowest tier. Trash among humans.
His body was weak. His face was soft. There was nothing about him that could help him survive in this cruel world.
And because of that… he was always a target.
Always.
That afternoon, the sky was a pale orange, as if it too was tired of witnessing a world that was never fair.
Ryu staggered along the roadside. His hand clutched his stomach, which churned endlessly from hunger. His breathing was heavy. His steps unsteady.
He stopped near a pile of garbage.
With dull eyes, he began rummaging through the filthy bags… hoping to find something.
Anything.
Leftover food. A piece of stale bread. Anything still edible.
Yes.
That was all he had left.
His stomach growled loudly.
People continued to pass by behind him—neat, strong, respectable.
But not a single one stopped.
Their gazes held only disgust.
Silent insults.
As if what they saw wasn't a human… but something even lower than that.
Ryu's body finally faltered.
He almost fell.
Trembling, he tried to stand again.
"Why…" he muttered softly, barely audible.
"Why was I… born into this world, if in the end, no one would be there to watch me grow?"
His voice cracked.
But no tears fell.
He had held them back for so long… he had even forgotten how to cry.
Since childhood, he had survived on his own. Eating whatever he found on the streets. Growing up without an embrace, without a voice calling his name.
This world…
Was crueler than any monster.
His body finally collapsed.
And then—
Three teenagers his age walked past him.
Their steps stopped.
Their smiles… changed.
"Hey, look at this freak."
One of them stepped on Ryu's hand.
Pain shot through him.
"Please… let go."
"You want me to let go? Fine, I'll let go."
His foot lifted.
But not to spare him.
With the force of gravity, Ryu's body was lifted—then slammed into a narrow alley.
THUD!
His body crashed against the wall.
Blood burst from his mouth.
Their laughter erupted.
Loud.
Rough.
As if they were laughing at something that didn't even deserve to be called human.
"Hey, freak, I wonder why even when you're this pathetic, you're still alive. Even your face is still so pretty for a guy."
Ryu's hair was yanked roughly.
But his face… was empty.
No resistance.
No reaction.
He knew.
He didn't have the strength for that.
"Hey, do you know how worthless you are?"
"Even the system doesn't want to side with you. You know most of us have systems, right? Look at yourself—even the system is disgusted to get near you."
His head was slammed into the ground.
Blood seeped from his handsome face.
One of them raised his hand.
Fire appeared.
Thrown.
And—
Ryu's body burned.
The heat scorched his skin.
He screamed in silence, then threw himself against the wall, trying to extinguish the flames devouring his already tattered clothes.
Their laughter grew even louder.
As if what burned before them was nothing more than trash.
Not a human.
They left.
Leaving him behind.
As always.
Ryu lay on the ground.
His vision blurred.
Pain spread throughout his body.
Hunger.
Wounds.
Insults.
All mixed into one.
His chest tightened.
So tight… that he wished—
It would be better to die.
Than to keep living like this.
Without even being considered human.
Footsteps were heard.
Slow.
Approaching.
The last thing he saw… was a pair of clean white feet.
And then—
Darkness.
When he opened his eyes…
A wooden ceiling greeted him.
He lay on a simple bed.
Warm.
Calm.
Different.
Ryu froze.
He looked at his body.
No wounds.
Everything… was gone.
"Where am I?"
Suddenly—
A screen appeared before him.
"Congratulations. After experiencing the lowest point of human life, your system has been activated."
Your Status Title: Monarch of Destruction Level --- Rank --- HP ---- Overall Strength -------- Int/Intelligence Agility ---- Points ----
Main Mission Unlocked: Defeat 20 monsters to obtain 1000 points. Points can be exchanged for items in the system shop equipment. If the mission is not completed, the punishment will be the loss of both your hands.
Ryu froze.
"Lose both my hands?"
"Am I that worthless? Even this system gives me such a terrifying punishment from the very beginning."
Even the system…
Felt like it was mocking him.
"You're awake."
That gentle voice made him turn.
A woman stood there.
A white dress with bare shoulders. Long silver-blue hair flowing straight down. Deep blue eyes… like the ocean.
Ryu was stunned.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Evelyn."
Her hand extended.
White.
Clean.
Warm.
Ryu stared at it.
"How could a woman this beautiful want to shake hands with me?"
"Hard to believe… does she want to sacrifice me to a monster?"
His hand did not move.
The woman slowly withdrew her hand.
"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to be friends with you."
She sat beside him.
Smiling.
Sincerely.
That smile…
Warmed something in Ryu that had long been dead.
"Who is this woman? Why does she seem so sincere and caring?"
"My name is Ryu Celestia, a name I made myself."
"A name you made yourself?"
"Ahh, forget it."
Evelyn smiled again.
BANG!!
The wooden house door was kicked open.
Two royal soldiers entered.
"Princess Evelyn, do not try to run away again. The king is looking for you."
Ryu froze.
Evelyn… flinched.
"Leave me alone!"
The soldiers' gazes shifted to Ryu.
"Who is he? Why is he with the princess? Have you assaulted the royal princess?"
Swords were drawn.
Ryu trembled.
Gripping his blanket tightly.
"Stop!!!"
"He and I didn't do anything. I only saved him when I found him unconscious in the house I built."
"Princess, come with us. We will take you to the king. The king is very worried about you."
Evelyn struggled.
Screamed.
But it was useless.
She was silenced.
Her body weakened… then she fainted.
Taken away.
One of the soldiers looked at Ryu coldly.
"Don't you dare get close to the princess again."
"If you approach her again, you will be dealing with the kingdom."
They left.
Leaving silence behind.
Ryu stayed silent.
Then—
He laughed.
Loud.
Empty.
"Am I really that worthless?"
"Haaa…"
His breathing was heavy.
His eyes returned to the system screen.
Defeat 20 monsters
Impossible.
But—
"Even if that mission is impossible for me, if I die trying to complete it… isn't that what I want? I'm already tired of surviving a life with no hope like this."
"So betting my life isn't a problem."
His gaze changed.
Cold.
Empty.
"Let's try the luck of the most worthless man."
To be continued