Three years ago, Bai Yang was stripped of his position as heir to the family because his supernatural talent was too weak.
That night, he had a dream. A book slowly opened before his eyes, and every time a page turned, a corresponding scene appeared in his mind, as if telling him: You are nothing but a cannon-fodder character who can be sacrificed for the protagonist bottom at any time.
# A cannon-fodder character doesn't need to be that strong. The right path is to stay weak and keep your head down. #
Fortunately, he was a skilled fighter. He hunted zombies and, staking the life he'd lived for over twenty years, managed to carve out a corner of the base and establish Red Blade.
[Host, the Defy-Heaven-and-Change-Your-Fate System has bound itself to you! As long as you focus on cultivation within the time limit, you can change your death ending.]
Cultivate for 30 hours: Obtain 1 Talent Gene Modification Serum
Go straight to top-tier talent!
Fail to reach it in one year: You will become the protagonist top's son and call him Dad!
Cultivate for 300 hours: Obtain 1 Talent Enhancement Shot
Unlock a new talent ability!
Fail to reach it in three years: You will be teased by zombies (please note, this is not a drill!)
Cultivate for 6,666 hours: Obtain 1 random ability.
The more, the better!
Fail to reach it in five years: Cave/deep sea/forest (choose one of three tentacle punishments)
Bai Yang listened very seriously to the System's explanation: ?
What kind of flashy nonsense is all this?
Bai Yang couldn't believe it. But after cultivating furiously for 30 hours, he was utterly exhausted, his blade smeared with the thick, foul-smelling blood of zombies, and he awakened a second time with an S-rank growth-type talent.
With every swing of his blade, he led Red Blade to heights it had never reached before.
The Bai family did every manner of evil in his name and was denounced for it?
Bai Yang sent the Bai family straight to hell with a single shot.
What? Moral blackmail? Sorry, I have no morals.
The protagonist top and bottom try to throw him into a horde of zombies?
Bai Yang bombarded them from every angle, riddling them with bullets.
Hey, they were actually willing to sacrifice themselves to save me. I'm so moved.
Are you moved?
I... wouldn't dare move.
[Bonus Scene]
One day, Red Blade was recruiting. Chi Guaiguai stood out among a bunch of burly men with his delicate face and frail little frame, catching Bai Yang's eye at once.
He just couldn't understand it. Someone like that belonged in the reserves, not Red Blade.
But during a night of fighting, after cultivating for 300 hours, Bai Yang happened to see that little frame transform into the Grim Reaper's scythe. With one sweep of the enormous blade in his hands, zombies were sliced in half, one after another. The strikes were savage and decisive, without a hint of hesitation. The angles of each cut were like a work of art.
The next day, when he saw the little guy, Bai Yang immediately asked, "What's your name?"
The little guy opened his big eyes. His clear pupils gleamed brightly, and his small mouth hung open, seeming surprised that this older brother had asked his name. Still, he answered carefully, one word at a time: "My name is Chi Guaiguai."
"Chi Guaiguai?" Bai Yang repeated the name, looking perplexed. Then he smiled and said, "I mean, is it possible your name is Chi Mengmeng?"
Bai Yang x Chi Guaiguai
[Please Note]
1. Supernatural ability ranks: 3S, 2S, S, A, B, and C. The protagonist only improves his talent, but his rate of supernatural ability growth is cheat-level.
2. The protagonist isn't a saint, but he really is repelled by the idea of dating at first. Later, he eats his words.
3. A leveling-up story.
Cover art used with permission: artist Dong Zhiji
(2022.8.18)
Theme: We are always moving forward. Some walk on level ground, while others stumble along a rough road. But we all have to cross mountains and ford rivers to witness the journey that belongs to us.
