The night sky was vast, filled with stars that glittered like scattered diamonds on black silk. A single meteor streaked across the heavens, burning brilliantly before vanishing behind the horizon. I blinked, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. The forest around me was dark, but shafts of moonlight broke through the canopy, illuminating the mossy floor in patches.
I sat up abruptly, my palms pressing against the cold earth. My head throbbed as if I had been hit with a brick. "Ugh… what the—? Where am I?" I muttered, trying to steady my breathing. The last thing I remembered was playing my favorite RPG on my phone, munching on chips, and now… this?
The smell of damp earth and wet leaves filled my nose. A strange chill ran down my spine. I cautiously looked around. Towering trees surrounded me, their twisted branches scraping against each other like ancient claws. Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted, and I jumped, nearly falling backward.
"Okay, calm down… it's just a forest. Probably…" My voice trailed off.
A shimmering light caught my eye. Across a small pond, a soft, almost ethereal glow reflected on the water's surface. Curious, I approached cautiously. My reflection stared back at me—but it wasn't mine. Gone were my casual clothes; instead, I wore flowing robes, pale green and embroidered with intricate patterns I had never seen before. My hair, once a messy brown mop, now fell in smooth strands around my shoulders.
I stumbled back. "No way… this… this isn't real."
Before panic could fully take over, a holographic-like display appeared before me:
> [Body Condition: Weak]
[Cultivation: None]
"What the hell is this?" I whispered. My heart pounded. Weak? None? I was weaker than a newborn chicken. I sank to my knees, massaging my temples. "Why do I even have to be weak in this world?!
A sudden rustling in the bushes snapped my attention to the present. Three figures emerged, clad in tattered clothes and wielding swords. Bandits.
"Hand over all your valuables, boy!" the tallest one barked.
I froze. "Valuables? I don't have anything! I mean—look at me!" I glanced down at my new robes and messy hair. Not exactly intimidating.
"Step aside," he said, grinning maliciously.
My mind raced. What could I do? Fight? I barely knew how to throw a punch in this body. As panic set in, I grabbed a random rock from the ground and flung it desperately.
The rock hit a loose boulder nearby. It wobbled for a second… then crashed into the bandits with unbelievable force. They screamed as the boulder rolled over them. The forest fell silent.
I stared, slack-jawed. "Wait… what? That… actually worked?"
From a distance, a silver-haired figure crouched in the shadows, her piercing blue eyes glinting. She was breathtaking, a vision straight out of a fantasy novel. She had an aura of icy authority, yet her gaze carried curiosity.
"Interesting…" she murmured.
I wiped sweat from my brow, trying to appear calm. "Uh… yeah… interesting, indeed." Inside, my heart thumped like a drum. Please don't approach me… I'm not ready to explain anything.
By dawn, the small village near the forest had heard whispers. "Did you see that boy? He defeated three bandits in one throw!"
I ducked behind a cart, muttering, "I didn't even try…"
An elder approached cautiously. "Young master… your skill is extraordinary. Would you consider visiting our cultivation sect?"
I blinked. "Sect? What… why me?"
"Yes," he said. "We require geniuses. Only someone of your talent can help maintain balance in these lands."
I panicked inwardly. Genius? Me? I can barely walk without tripping!
Still, I forced an expression of composure. "I… I would be honored," I said, bowing stiffly. My mind raced, thinking of excuses, escape plans, anything to survive.
---
The gates of the sect were massive, carved from white stone, with banners fluttering in the wind. Disciples practiced martial arts in the courtyard, their movements sharp and precise. I felt out of place, like a newborn deer among lions.
"Step forward," a stern voice ordered. I was led to a hovering crystal. "Activate this, and your potential will be measured."
I panicked. Activate? How? My hand hovered over the crystal, trembling. I touched it… and a burst of light shot forth. Alarms rang. Everyone gasped.
Apparently, the crystal had malfunctioned—its power exaggerated by the system-like magic embedded in the sect. The elders nodded in awe. "Such talent… so refined… a genius unlike any in decades."
I nearly fainted. I… I just poked it. I didn't do anything!
Among the disciples, a girl with fiery red hair glared at me. Another, a mischievous fox-like girl smirked. The silver-haired girl from the forest appeared at the gate, her eyes lingering on me.
I blinked nervously. Why are so many beautiful girls staring at me? I'm literally panicking inside…
That night, I sat on a tree branch overlooking the training ground. The stars were beautiful, but I felt completely out of my depth.
Okay… so I'm weak. I have no cultivation. And yet… everyone thinks I'm invincible. How do I maintain this lie?
A small breeze ruffled my hair. "I guess… I just have to survive until I figure things out," I muttered, trying to sound brave. My reflection in the pond rippled. I didn't look like a supreme expert. But in the eyes of everyone else… I already was one.
---
Scene 8: Cliffhanger Ending
In the shadows, the silver-haired girl whispered, "This boy… he's hiding something. I must see what he truly is capable of."
I shivered. Great… more people watching me… How am I supposed to keep this up?!
And thus, my legend as the weakest man pretending to be invincible began.