Refused The System

Negotiating With The Digital Devil

"To hell with your absolute efficiency, Vesper! If I have to crawl my way out of this abyss, I'll do it as the master of my own life, or not at all!"

Gerry's declaration echoed through the darkness.

The world around him no longer appeared pitch black.

To his eyes, the air was now filled with floating blue particles, tiny fragments of data drifting through the abyss. The burning sensation that had consumed his abdomen gradually subsided, replaced by a sharp tingling beneath his skin as torn muscles and severed nerves slowly fused back together.

[Emergency Synchronization Complete.]

[Host Status: Stable (Critical).]

[Warning: Regeneration functions have consumed 89% of the System's initial energy reserves. Host is advised to immediately accept the "Main Quest" to replenish energy.]

The mechanical voice remained as cold and emotionless as ever.

To Gerry, it was nothing more than the sound of another set of chains trying to bind him.

Ignoring the pain radiating through his bones, he forced himself into a sitting position.

His hand instinctively reached for his left side.

The skin had closed, but it was rough and uneven. A long, raised scar stretched across his waist, a permanent reminder of Alex's betrayal. The System had deliberately left it imperfect, refusing to erase it completely.

"Main Quest?" Gerry scoffed, his voice still hoarse. "You're still trying to order me around after I forced you to save me without conditions?"

[Correction: The Host did not force the System. The Host merely activated an inefficient emergency preservation protocol. According to logical calculations, without a binding Soul Contract, the Vesper mission success rate decreases to 0.0001%.]

Suddenly, the blue light before him condensed.

It took the shape of a faceless man dressed in a formal robe, standing rigidly amid the black mist of the abyss.

"A projection?"

Gerry narrowed his eyes, staring at the figure with open disgust.

"You want to look more human so I'll trust you, Digital Devil?"

"I am Vesper. Neither devil nor god."

The figure's voice echoed heavily inside Gerry's mind.

"I am an algorithm designed to create sovereigns. Your previous actions violated every law of probability. You chose death over obedience. Statistically, that constitutes a failure of logic."

A raspy laugh escaped Gerry, sending a stab of pain through his chest.

Using the moss-covered rock wall for support, he slowly climbed to his feet.

"That's your problem, Vesper."

He stepped closer, his gaze unwavering.

"You see life as statistics. To me, life is about who holds the reins."

Another step.

"My father saw me as spare parts. Helena saw me as a burden. My brother stole my organs."

He stopped directly before the glowing silhouette.

"If I let you take my soul, I'd just be trading one prison for another."

The projection remained motionless, though its display flickered faintly.

"Listen carefully."

Gerry's voice dropped to a whisper.

"I know you need a host to continue existing in this world. Down here, I'm the only one you've got. If I die, you'll either remain trapped in this darkness forever or wait another thousand years for someone else to fall into this abyss."

His eyes sharpened.

"We die together, or you submit to me."

After several seconds of silence, Vesper finally replied.

"Your analysis is correct. However, without the guidance of the System, you are merely an ordinary human with damaged meridians in the most dangerous place on this continent. You will perish within hours. Logically, cooperation is the only viable solution."

"Cooperation?" Gerry smiled crookedly.

"Not slavery?"

"Then let's negotiate."

"I won't sign your Soul Contract."

"I won't become your Puppet Sovereign."

"I'll remain Gerry Sterling, the sole owner of my body and mind."

[Warning! Host request violates Vesper Core Protocol 01: Absolute Control.]

"Delete that protocol," Gerry ordered coldly.

"Replace it with this."

"Parasitic Symbiosis Protocol."

"You provide the System's functions to me. Status displays, storage, analysis, power enhancement. They are my tools."

"And in return, I'll allow you to remain inside my body instead of degrading into useless data."

The atmosphere at the bottom of the abyss froze.

Even the swirling black mist became perfectly still.

Deep within his consciousness, Gerry could feel Vesper's algorithms struggling against his unyielding will.

[Analyzing Options...]

[Risk of Host Self-Destruction: High.]

[Risk of Total System Failure: High.]

[Searching Sub-Protocol: Consciousness Preservation...]

The blue interface trembled violently before him.

Its color shifted repeatedly between blue and flashing crimson.

For the first time, Vesper was cornered.

Not by strength.

By the reckless determination of someone who no longer feared death.

[Negotiation Accepted with Modifications.]

[Soul Contract Canceled.]

[Host Autonomy Mode Activated.]

[System Access Rights Granted to Gerry Sterling: 70%.]

[Warning: Without full synchronization, pain during power enhancement will increase by 300%. The System will not provide automatic combat assistance.]

Gerry clenched his fists.

A cold current of energy settled inside his chest, pulsing in rhythm with his steadily strengthening heartbeat.

"Three hundred percent more pain?"

He gave a faint smile.

"Doesn't matter."

"Pain reminds me that I'm still alive."

"That I didn't die on their operating table."

"Agreement reached, Host Gerry," Vesper said, its mechanical voice carrying the faintest trace of resignation. "You are the first user in recorded history to treat the System as a functional tool."

"Good."

Gerry's tone was blunt.

"Remember your place."

"Now show me what's left of this body."

A far more detailed transparent panel materialized before him.

---

[HOST STATUS]

[Name: Gerry Sterling]

[Title: Sovereign of the Forbidden Abyss (Unique Status)]

[Cultivation: None (Damaged/Blocked Meridians)]

[Physical Condition: Weak (Post-Trauma/Organ Loss)]

[Strength (STR): 4]

[Agility (AGI): 6]

[Vitality (VIT): 3 (Warning: Critical Survival Threshold)]

[Energy Points (EP): 10/100]

---

Gerry studied the numbers with a cold expression.

His intelligence remained high after years spent buried in the Sterling Clan's library, searching for a way to repair his crippled body.

But physically...

He was pitifully weak.

Even a small child in the Sterling Clan possessed greater physical strength than he did now.

"What about my meridians?" Gerry asked.

"My father said they were destroyed from birth. Can you repair them?"

"The System can reconstruct your meridians using energy from the Forbidden Abyss," Vesper answered. "However, because you rejected full System authority, the process cannot be automated. You must obtain Energy Cores from the creatures inhabiting this place and absorb them manually. The process will produce extreme heat throughout your veins."

Gerry wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

His eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve.

"Sounds better than the Sterling Clan banquet."

"Where's the nearest enemy?"

[Threat Detected...]

[Abyssal Perception Activated.]

The world shifted instantly.

What had once been complete darkness was now filled with moving crimson silhouettes lurking among the black trees.

About twenty-three feet ahead, hidden behind a thorn-covered thicket, Gerry spotted the outline of a four-legged creature with glowing eyes.

[Analysis Complete.]

[Creature: Shadow Wolf]

[Level: Body Refinement Stage 2]

[Status: Hungry / Stalking]

"Stage Two..." Gerry muttered.

"One level above an ordinary human without cultivation."

"And I don't even have a weapon."

He looked down at his feet.

A jagged stone had fallen alongside him from the cliff above.

Bending over, he picked it up and gripped it tightly.

"Vesper."

"If I die within five minutes of this negotiation, I'll make sure your data dies with me."

"Logical Recommendation: Avoid a frontal confrontation. Utilize the surrounding terrain. The Host's Agility slightly exceeds physical Strength," Vesper advised.

Gerry gave no reply.

His heart thundered in his chest.

Adrenaline surged through his veins, dulling the pain in his side.

He was no longer the weak young master waiting for mercy.

He was a hunter preparing to strike.

Ahead of him, the Shadow Wolf emerged from the darkness.

Its pitch-black fur blended seamlessly into the surrounding shadows.

Only its long, gleaming fangs reflected the faint light.

A low growl rumbled from its throat as its crimson eyes locked onto Gerry.