章 12: Chapter 12 "The Devil is not your friend – I mean system II"
Wade was sitting on his bed with his arms folded across his chest. The windows were open, and the curtains billowed in the wind. And despite his efforts to hide it, he couldn't contain the grin on his face. "So, I completed the quest," Wade announced proudly.
"You did," the system responded.
"Show the stats window,"
[STATS]
/STRENGTH: -100(+1)/
/HP: -100 (+1) /
/AGILITY: -100(+1)/
/INTELLIGENCE: 100(+1)/
/LUCK: -100(+1)/
/TALENT: -100(+1)/
/MANA: 1(+2)/
As he checked the displayed stats, his mouth fell open in shock. "What is this?" he asked, his left eye twitching uncontrollably.
"Did you forget?" the system asked.
[DISTORTED FLASHBACK I]
"Is there a way to win?" Wade asked desperately, tears streaming down his face.
There is a way, but it comes with a price
"Is it better than death?" The pathetic Wade begs for his life, snot from his nose dripping into his mouth.
"Don't worry I'll save you no matter what"
"Thank you, System- Sama, you're the best system in the world." The pathetic Wade sobs. To add effect, he violently coughs, shaking like a sick leaf.
"I'll save you no matter what?" The system yelled, coming to the rescue.
"Thank you," The pathetic Wade replies, his voice hoarse but determined. "I'll always love you system-sama. I put my full trust in you." The pathetic Wade vows through gritted teeth.
"Stay with me... opening the portal to the other system... bleed... bleed... creating pathway... pathway connected... downloading... 5%... 15%... 25%... jump... jump... 80%... 99%...."
100%
System temporarily updated
[BACK TO THE PRESENT]
"What the f**k? That's not how it happened. I remember…
[DISTORTED FLASHBACK II]
"Is there a way to win?" Wade asked courageously, looking handsome even as he's close to death.
There is a way, but it comes with a price
"Is it better than death?" Wade smiles. At that moment, he was as brave as the bravest warrior ever to live. This man wasn't afraid of death.
"It all depends on you warrior"
"Whatever it is, I can take it," Wade said bravely. Almost immediately, a violent cough seized his strong body, causing his Schweizer muscle to ripple.
"Wow, I have never seen muscles like that?" The system yelled, amazed by what he saw. "You must have plenty of girlfriends."
"Thank you," Wade smiled heroically, his voice hoarse but determined. "But I have no woman. To save the world, I put all my strength into growing my power and rejected every female that came my way." The inspirational Wade explained.
"Aren't you ga-
[BACK TO THE PRESENT ONCE AGAIN]
It has been established that both sides are complete liars.
"What am I supposed to do now? Losing all the stats I've worked so hard for, how do I get them back?" Wade argued, frustration building.
"Muscle memory," the system replied. "It should be easier for you to regain the stats you lost, and then some, as long as you pay back the points you owe." It snickered.
"F**k muscle memory," Wade muttered, holding his head. "I might actually die from high blood pressure at this rate."
"Don't worry, the elf race doesn't die from such diseases," the system reassured.
Wade shot a glare at the screen before sighing. "About that power I used last night, what was that?" he finally asked, his curiosity bubbling.
"Remember I told you how you've only scratched the surface of the system?" The screen read. "Well, what happened yesterday was only a preview," the system explained.
"Would I go through such pain and loss every time I use the upgraded system?" Wade asked.
"It won't happen again as long as you unlock the skill condition. But something good came out of it."
"What? Owing the devil money?" Wade retorted.
…
Don't you feel something is different?
Wade wore a thinking expression as he tried to recollect the previous night's events. His eyes lit up as he realized what the system was referring to. "Muscle memory," he whispered, recalling how his bow strength had increased during his hunting. His senses had also heightened, allowing him to smell things clearly and hear distant sounds more clearly. "What does this mean?" Wade asked, looking up at the screen.
"Figure it out," the system responded.
"Right, what do I expect," Wade scoffed, placing his hand behind his head as he thought about Idril grounding him for a week, restricting him from leaving the house. Although he couldn't leave, Wade couldn't help but feel excited about the powers he could wield in the foreseeable future. He switched his focus back to the screen. "What happens to the daily quests since I can't go outside?" Wade asked, determined to find a way to continue earning points.
"The system will arrange quests that can be completed within the confines of your home," the system explained.
Wade replied sarcastically, "Geez, thanks."
"Coming from a man that died a virgin," the system retorted.
"F**k you," Wade replied, his left eye twitching.
Wade wore a thoughtful expression, his brows furrowed as he wracked his brain, trying to remember the events of the previous night. It was as if fragments of memories danced just out of reach, teasing him with their elusiveness. His mind was a haze, but then, like a flicker of light in a dim room, he remembered everything. "M-muscle memory," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the stillness of his room. A surge of excitement coursed through his veins as he remembered the way his bow strength had strangely increased during his hunting. As the dots connected, it sent shivers down his spine. Not only had his physical capabilities heightened, but his senses, too, had become more sensitive. Wade remembered how the forest seemed to come alive with vibrant colors and scents that filled the air, while distant sounds echoed with a clarity that he had never experienced before. A mixture of awe and bewilderment swirled within Wade's mind as he grappled with the implications of this newfound ability. "What does this mean?" Wade questioned,
In a monotonous text, the system responded, "Figure it out."
"Geez, thanks. What did I expect?" Wade scoffed, his tone tinged with a hint of annoyance. His hand instinctively found its way to the back of his head, his fingers intertwining to form a pillow. He thought about Idril grounding him for a week, restricting him from leaving the house. Although he couldn't leave, Wade couldn't help but feel excited about the powers he could wield in the foreseeable future. He switched his focus back to the screen. "What happens to the daily quests since I can't go outside?" Wade asked, determined to find a way to continue earning points. The daily quests, his key to earning points and advancing within the system's realm, was something he desperately needed right now.
In response, the system's texts popped up, its tone filled with a hint of impatience. "The system will arrange quests that can be completed within the confines of your home."
"What's the first quest?" Wade asked
Point System
Try to sneak outside: 30 pts
(Time limit : 3 days)
Wade eyed the screen, and before he could stop himself he said. "You know you're a real bastard, right?"
"You want me to double the quest?" The system asked. It was a dare that could very well go into effect as soon as Wade opened his mouth.
"ehm, it was something my friend back on earth said. I was just remembering it… he was a nice man." Wade replied, clearing his throat.
"…"
Wade avoided eye contact with the screen, looking everywhere but it.
"That's what you got?" The screen read.
"He was a dear friend," Wade added, his lips quivering from trying hard not to laugh.
But you see, the system wasn't an idiot. "I have a dear friend too." The system read.
"Who?" Wade asked.
But the system ignored the question and continued. "He would show his love by giving out lo-est."
"What's that?" Wade asked again, completely confused.
"Ah right," The system snickered. "showing love through his quests. HE WAS A GREAT MAN TO EMULATE." The system stressed the last point, slapping Wade's tactics back in his face.
"I have decided to love you with more quests." The system stated. It was the beginning of hell week.
***
As Wade sat on his bed, staring blankly at the wall, he couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of anger. "That mo**f***, if I can ***, what does he think he can ****, I would go to***" Wade mumbled his words like an incantation, the words completely inaudible. The physical tasks had tested Wade's endurance and strength, leaving his body battered and bruised. But this new form of quests truly pushed him to his limits. The system seemed to take pleasure in toying with his sanity, presenting him with impossible dilemmas and absurd tasks that twisted his mind in knots. The constant barrage of challenges had taken a toll on Wade's mental state. He found himself becoming more irritable and short-tempered, snapping at the slightest provocation. Wade truly wondered if Elves truly didn't get high blood pressure. It has only been three days, and every joy he once felt was replaced by a cloud of frustration that hung over him like a dark shadow.
"I can't take much more of this," Wade muttered to himself, his voice laced with exhaustion. He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, a desperate attempt to calm his racing thoughts.
"You still have a long way to pay your debt," the system reminded him, its tone devoid of any sympathy. Wade clenched his fists, the frustration boiling within him threatening to spill over. It was infuriating to be constantly reminded of his predicament, as if he needed any more motivation to escape this never-ending torment. Wade's mind raced, searching for a way out, a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness. He had to find a loophole, a weakness in the system's design that would allow him to break free. He couldn't continue living like this, trapped within the confines of his own home, constantly under the system's control.
But as Wade delved deeper into his thoughts, he realized that the system had been designed to be flawless. It was an unyielding force, programmed to ensure that the rules were followed. Or maybe he had gotten a faulty one when he was isekaied to this world. I mean, look at that thing. Wade wondered, eyeing the screen.
"More quests?" The system asked.
A sense of resignation washed over Wade. He knew that he couldn't keep fighting against the system's sadistic tendencies. But did that make him stop? No. The m***erf**ker really got on his nerves. It was like trying to swim against a raging current, only to be pushed back with even greater force. Accepting his fate seemed like the only option, but Wade refused to let the system dictate everything.
Wade took a deep breath and straightened his posture. He would face each quest, no matter how absurd or mentally taxing, it was.
"Next quest, burn the house."
Wade was sure one of them would have to die, but he wasn't sure how."
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