I Steal The System

"Failure is your only legacy!" The accusation was bellowed into the crimson, smoke-choked sky, the cruel voice echoing off the barren expanse of shattered remnants of what was once a thriving civilization. The accuser bore little resemblance to the humans who once populated this desolate earth. His visage was more akin to a grotesque effigy of a man, his features marred by deep fissures that pulsed with an ominous glow. Flames danced within these cracks, flickering and flaring as though his very skin was a sea of molten fire. "Why?" he demanded, his tone chillingly calm despite the cataclysm around them. "Why did you betray humanity?" His adversary, a figure wreathed in the same incandescent glow, laughed bitterly. "How could I not?" The answer resonated, as stark and undeniable as the devastation around them. "I yearned for divinity," he confessed, a cruel smirk twisting his disfigured features. His gaze lowered, meeting the eyes of a man sprawled in the dust at his feet. The fall

With a sudden jolt, Lucius' hair bristled and his eyes flew open. He had been lulled into a light doze at his desk when an abrupt disruption yanked him back to consciousness. His wide-eyed gaze scanned the room, seeking the source of the disturbance. "What was that?" he murmured, a note of bewilderment in his voice. His senses were alert, but he couldn't immediately pinpoint the reason for his abrupt awakening. [A system was discovered that was born about this time] The words, wrought in the ethereal light of a hologram, shimmered into existence before him. This was a recent addition to his arsenal of abilities, granted by the ingestion of a peculiar pearl-like object. As Lucius processed the information, a surge of adrenaline propelled him to his feet, his movement so swift that he knocked against his desk. The resulting cacophony drew the attention of his classmates, their murmurs hushed as their eyes fell upon the startling transformation that Lucius had undergone. His drastic m

The rhythmic patter of hurried footsteps echoed ominously through the high school's hallowed halls, growing louder and more frantic by the second. The staff and a few curious students were drawn towards the school's rooftop, their hearts pounding in rhythm with the footsteps. They had heard the gut-wrenching symphony of tortured moans echoing from above, each one chilling them to the bone. It was as if a macabre spectacle had unfolded up there, but they were yet to witness the aftermath. Upon reaching their destination, they were greeted by an eerie silence that hung heavy in the air. A stupefied teacher was the first to break the silence, his voice barely more than a whisper, "Is there nothing here?" His eyes swept across the expanse of the rooftop, finding it pristine and eerily devoid of any human presence. The bloodcurdling screams they had heard earlier seemed like a phantom echo, a chilling figment of their collective imagination. A bespectacled professor, known for his meticul

Every nation has its shadows, and the tropical paradise where Lucius called home was no different. Nestled amidst lush greenery was an imposing structure, formidable and unapproachable. Its austere grey walls were lined with stringent security measures, a clear sign that it was far removed from ordinary human existence. Barbed wire wound around its perimeter, a menacing deterrent that even the most hardened of criminals would find daunting. "Have the new specimen been received?" A middle-aged man with an air of authority inquired. His shoulders were adorned with multiple stars, a clear testament to his high rank within the military. "Yes, Mr. Nefion, the new specimen was delivered a few minutes ago," came the reply from a woman engrossed in a pile of documents. Her hands darted across her desk, busily dialing numbers and flipping through papers. She appeared to be an assistant or secretary, her deft actions ensuring the smooth running of operations. Nefion sighed, his gaze distant.

"I'm not certain why it selected me, but its voice was clear. It said, 'Awaken, my child. Awaken with the scarlet lightning,'" Lucius persisted, his voice hardly more than a murmur. "Interesting," the guard pondered, processing this additional detail. He felt as though fortune had bestowed upon him a golden ticket. This was the break he'd been hoping for, an opportunity to impress his higher-ups and advance his station. "Is that the complete account?" the guard inquired, ensuring he had gleaned every bit of information from Lucius. "Yes, that's the entirety of what I can recall," Lucius responded, his face contorted with discomfort. "Alright, remain here," the guard instructed, not that Lucius had other options. The guard hastened to relay this newfound information to his superiors. The prospect of promotion was simply irresistible. "At last, the scheme is underway," Lucius muttered under his breath as soon as the guard had left. His prior display of fear was merely a facade, a ta